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Reviews
Bracken (1980)
Not Quite Sure..
Tara TV is repeating this show at the moment, and I really don't know what to make of it. On the one hand, it has Gabriel Byrne in it. He's a fine actor, and it's nice to see him before he went Hollywood in both person and accent. On the other hand, if I didn't know it was made by Irish people, I would have thought it was taking the mickey something chronic. Every stereotype you can imagine is there, "Irish love drink" "Irish live in hovels" "Irish are thick" you name it, it's there. So, you see, I'm not quite sure what to think.
The Man in the Iron Mask (1998)
Flawed treasure.
SPOILERS: References to events are included in this comment. This film reinforces all the values that seem to have been thrown away these days. It is about love, honour and friendship, and doesn't have gratuitous sex or violence, or glorifies being a ganster. Well done. Gabriel Byrne stole the show. Masterful acting from almost all concerned, but because his character was more fleshed out than the others, he wins. I was not disappointed by the romance as others were. The dialogue was a bit flowery, but then, this is how the upper classes would have spoken.
I despise DiCaprio, he just doesn't make an effort. Malkovich's emotional distance is what I would expect from a dangerous warrior, but his stems from laziness. Now to start the arguments: Accents do not a movie make, or unmake. Being troubled by such trivialities bemuses me. (That said, kudos to Skaarsgaard as he copies Malkovich's accent superbly!) As for the final battle, the Palace Guards turn their faces away before firing. Hence, their atrocious aim. Also, Aramis was walking with a limp afterwards, because he got hit.
Nice touches: the Lieutenant's respect and devotion for D'Artagnan. The roses given to the Queen. (I see the treason here: the Queen is young and healthy, able to bear another heir, precisely what the Old King didn't want!) All in all, flawed treasure.