g-white723 Reviews

12 Angry Men (1957)

Brilliant Performances Bring Jury Drama to Life

[9/10 · 25 May 2024]

This is a classic movie by famous director Sidney Lumet. I think this might be his first film actually. Its about a jury convening in a room to decide the fate of an accused murderer. At the start of the movie it is made clear this decision would sentence the accused to the Electric Chair. They all think he is guilty except one person, and hence the drama unfolds as they pick apart the case of the accused.

I didn't read too much into this movie to whether there is any message, but I think it is just showing difficulties being on jury service. Some people don't want to spend too much time analysing the evidence, some people are ignorant bigots, some people just want to be somewhere else, but everyone wants to defend their opinion, and in this movie there are a lot of angry exchanges. I thought this was true to life from my experience on jury service.

The one flaw in this film is the ridiculous idea of the Henry Fonda character who wants to re-examine every bit evidence and come to a completely alternate conclusion to the others in the room. That's what lawyers do. By the time you convene to make a decision, you should already be clear on the evidence, and the credibility of witnesses, but for this film, for it to work as a drama, we are expected to believe that none of the presented evidence has been properly cross examined.

Anyway the acting is fantastic. The actors come across well as a cross section of society. They are quite civil to each other, but the underlying friction in the group is compulsive viewing.

Lee J Cobb is fantastic as the angriest of the 12 angry men.

Civil War (2024)

The Ambiguity Of The Film Is Its Strength

[10/10 · 22 May 2024]

I've been reading a few reviews and I'm not sure people really understand the meaning of this film. Its more an anti media film than an anti war film. Its beautifully shot, and very stylish, but to me what is great about this movie is that lead characters are quite ambiguous, and through the movie you are thinking are they good or bad people as they photograph the horrors of the civil war.

Kirsten Dunst is the only actor I knew and she plays an experienced photographic journalist, who has won awards. She has a young teenager alongside her who is learning to how to take a good photograph, and there is a male lead who is just a journalist who wants to interview the president. Its how they react to the events of the war, which is what the film is about.

At start of the film the young apprentice takes a photo of the journalist as she is walking among dead bodies, and taking photographs of them. This is an uncomfortable scene which sets up the theme of the movie, which is the moral value of journalism and perhaps also the society which consumes it.

The film title is misleading. I think most people were expecting a good versus evil, or some politics at least. The fact that no politics are presented suggested to me that the politics is irrelevant in this story. Its the two cheeks of the same backside idea. Both sides are as corrupt as each other.

I think this is a great film, and I left the theatre thinking over what I just watched. I'm glad it wasn't one of those Gerard Butler movies with Good & Evil caractures.

The Rig (2023– )

Surprising Sci Fi Series

[7/10 · 16 January 2023]

I was surprised this series turned out to be an eco sci fi drama. There is a good cast (some familiar faces from In The Line of Fire, and GOT.) I liked the setting, which is the middle of the North Sea on an oil rig, and the emotions of the characters, some of whom want to get back home, and others who feel the rig is there only home, and the dangers involved working in the harsh environment, and the vulnerability of being so remote from civilization.

The science fiction element was a bit fantasy for me, but I thought it had potential. I don't see many eco thrillers so it was it felt unique to me.

I would definitely be interested in a follow up series.

The Game of Their Lives (2005)

(Probably) The Biggest Upset in Football History

[8/10 · 12 June 2016]

The is a good film about probably the biggest upset in football history - certainly it is viewed that way in the UK. In 1950 England's football team was regarded as the number one team in the world. They had never competed in the World Cup because they viewed it as beneath them in some way (as did the other British teams). England had never been defeated by foreign (non British) opposition on home soil, so they were a tad arrogant.

This is an interesting film about football history. The game very much in its infancy in America, starts in St. Louis where the manager scouts a set of amateur players to play for the national team. Gerard Butler plays the goal keeper Frank Borghi, which in a bad team, turns out to be the hero, and Wes Bentley plays team captain Walter Bahr. Interestingly the team captain had a much bigger role than they have today. He was involved in team selection and tactics. The Americans realise early on they are likely to get a hiding from the more experienced professional teams, but that is where the emotion of the film comes in as the team bond around the hero goal keeper and team captain.

Probably because this is a really embarrassing moment in England's football history, and America's ambivalence towards the game, explains why it has taken 60 odd years for this story to come to the big screen. The period details, and sports action looked authentic and the big finale is a highlights coverage of the famous game. The acting is fine all round.

As a football fan this is an entertaining and informative film. I've only ever seen black and photographs of the this game so it great to see a film which fills in the full story. 8/10.

Ecstasy (II) (2011)

"Ma' drugs are better than yours!"

[6/10 · 1 March 2016]

Billy Boyd playing DJ 'Woodsy' yells that immortal line while in hospital as nurses try to give him some of their sedatives.

I quite liked this film and its underrated because the acting and script are pretty good. Adapted from a book by famous novelist Irvine Welsh, this film is about the ecstasy culture of the 90's. There have been a few films which capture dance club scene better than this, but in my opinion this is still a good film and its more than just about getting high. Its about love and death and family and friends.

Adam Sinclair (Lloyd) and Kristin Kreuk (Heather) are the lead actors and their relationship forms the heart of the movie. Its actually quite difficult show a believable love story. Its so easy to get it wrong. This pair did a good job. The club scenes were pretty good and I generally liked the soundtrack, and it captured the party drug taking well.

I liked the fact that the actors and script didn't elevate the characters into anything other than just ordinary people. Lloyd doesn't have job and Heather is unhappily married and works for the anti-narcotics association whilst raving at weekend. Yes that put a wry smile on my face! There are extraordinary people around them (gangsters) and drug trafficking storyline to keep story interesting but basically this is a romance with some drugs thrown in. Its the love drug vs the real thing sort of story. 6/10

Get Carter (1971)

Sleazy 70's gangster classic.

[6/10 · 10 February 2016]

I watched this recently as it is a well-known British classic thriller. As with a lot of these older films (made in '71) the sound quality wasn't great. That slightly spoiled my enjoyment of the film.

If I was to choose a soundtrack that complemented a film perfectly, I would choose the Get Carter theme. The tune opens the film with a solo played on a harpsichord (I think) which evokes a sense of disaffection, and then in the film we arrive by train at a industrial wasteland that is Newcastle in the 1970's. Also a bass guitar is playing a groovy riff in background, and that is after we have witnessed in the film gangsters enjoying a porn film. The music sets up the film perfectly.

It has been a while since I watched this film. It certainly reminded me of classic 70s TV programmes like The Sweeney and Play for Today. Gritty, sleazy and with a aftertaste of poverty. Looking back at it though it's quite a straightforward revenge flick. There isn't much character development for Michael Caine as Carter, but he is still good in a quiet, reserved performance.

One surprise for me was that the film starred the famous English playwright John Osborne as one of the northern gangsters (Cyril). He is famous for writing plays such as Look Back in Anger. There is northern twist to this film with the backdrop of austerity in Newcastle played against the rich London gangster. Hands full of pound notes and drinking beer out of a straight glass. This brings an added interest to the film. I really thought the setting of the film is one of the most enjoyable parts of it, and alongside the haunting music really captures your interest more than it would in another location.

If you want to recapture life in Britain in the 1970's you will love this movie, and it has some of the best British actors in it like Caine and Ian Hendry. The film starts fairly positively for Carter and then descends gradually into hell as he seeks more and more revenge. In the end there is no good guys left including Carter. I gave it a 6/10 because I felt it could have developed the character's back story a bit more, but it is one of those films that stays in your head long after the film ends.

Manhunter (1986)

Budget serial killer movie with a great ending

[6/10 · 8 February 2016]

This is a film which has its moments but in general there is budget feel to this - like it was made for TV rather than cinema. That is why I marked down to a 6/10.

As I mentioned in the title the ending is superb and very dramatic. One of my favourite endings to a film.

This film is precursor to all those Hannibal Lecktor films that what were so successful in the 1990s. My understanding is that this film was based on the book 'Red Dragon', but they didn't want to call it that because people might think it was martial arts film. Hannibal Lecktor is played by Scottish actor Brian Cox in a more subtle way than he would be portrayed in later films. The main stars though are William Peterson as Will Graham, the mentally scarred man-hunter. He would go on the make that role his own in CSI, and Tom Noonan as the very scary and believable serial killer nicknamed the 'tooth fairy'. These two actors deliver memorable performances and elevate this low budget movie into a cult classic.

Not quite as accomplished as Silence of the Lambs but still worth a watch.

The Revenant (I) (2015)

Visually Stunning Epic Western

[8/10 · 23 January 2016]

I think this movie can be classed in two categories - "movies for the big screen" and "movies for men". The last category is tongue-in-cheek because I know there is a 'movies for men' channel that usually shows really bad films. I watched this at the cinema with a group of friends. The women did not like it as much as men did - that is all I am saying, but all agreed that the cinematography was amazing.

It is a story of survival in the wilderness in 19th century America. I think fur trapping was a lucrative business at the time and these guys were out there doing their job when catastrophe falls on them. Leonardo DiCaprio (Glass) and Tom Hardy (Fitzgerald) are the two main actors in this film, and they do a good job. One of the main themes of the film is revenge and these two actors play well against each other. The other theme is survival and this picture is relentless in the displaying hardship endured in what appears to be a endless winter wonderland. The film is shot completely in winter which is great if you like epic landscapes and there is plenty to admire in the beautifully shot locations.

There is also a running theme through the film of Indian tribes and their relationship with the 'white people', who were pushing them off their land. Glass and Fitzgerald I felt represented different views of the settlers on the Indians. One was of including their culture, the other was excluding it. I thought it was quite interesting with the racism agenda at the current Oscars that this film, which could win the best film, does convey a subtle anti-racist message.

Two and half hours, but not boring at all. A must watch in a cinema though. The visual display is enough in itself to make it a good watch - 8/10.

We Are Your Friends (2015)

No chemistry in the Chemical Generation

[5/10 · 16 January 2016]

This is a film about a group of young men partying in the San Fernando valley. A place that is just too far away from where all their dreams can come true in the Hollywood hills. The main character Cole (Zac Efron) has talent and ambition to become a headline DJ, but instead of going to college to learn his art he hangs out with his friends, who are drifting in the party drug scene, until he meets an established artist James Reed (Wes Bentley).

This is aspirational movie about having a dream and going for it, and all the obstacles and pitfalls that go with it. There are moments in this film that I liked - when Cole shows a conscience several times as the story unfolds, and James Reed the hedonist selfish mentor self destructing, but the main storyline is one of romance between Cole and Sophie which didn't really get going for me. I felt there was no chemistry between the two of them. That really left the film flat though it does improve towards the end.

The art of making music from your laptop is interesting but superficially explored here, and there was a lot to this film that just didn't add up: the friends - Mason, Ollie and Squirrel are quite an odd collection of mates with not a lot in common, and Cole really would be more of computer geek than he appears in this film. Overall I felt disappointed because it didn't get interesting until the end, and by then it was too late to recover. 5/10

Chariots of Fire (1981)

Nostalgic, Nationalistic Film about Sporting Ethics

[8/10 · 7 October 2015]

The name of this film Chariots of Fire is also a line from a famous poem / hymn called Jerusalem. It is treated as a national anthem amongst many in England. This film taps into nationalistic pride of winning in sport while conveying a subtle message that the ethics of the Olympic Games are lost in the pursuit of success.

Two sportsmen from a bygone era Harold Abrahams (Ben Cross) and Eric Liddell (Ian Charleson)are rivals for the gold medal sprint at the Paris Olympic Games. Both are incredibly talented but very different personalities even though they are both outsiders in the society they live in. Abrahams is the son of a migrant Jew who is studying Law at Cambridge and feels out of place amongst the establishment he so detests, while Liddell is also a foreigner in his own land as he was born the son of a missionary in China and he is now back in Scotland but his religious views are seen as a bit odd.

This film is based on real life people and an extraordinary situation which occurred in 1924. These guys ran in a different era when amateurism was the right way to compete, and Christian values were still relevant to a lot of people. Abrahams is unashamed ambitious and just wants to be the best and win for himself and his country and university. Liddell is also ambitious, but his religious activities with the missionary interferes with his goals, but he is convinced by his father that running in the name of God is honourable.

There is an exploration of what motivates athletes, how to take defeat and how to run a straight race which is quite interesting. There also some other athletes in the group - Nigel Havers plays Lord Linsey who is competing in the hurdles. He brings another angle to the film as a true sportsman who just loves taking part. He plays a crucial role near the end of the film.

There are good performances from the lead actors, and I thought the sporting action looked realistic while keeping the period details very well. The Vangelis music score is another major reason to like this film. There are some cheesy moments of athletes back slapping each other and pompous speeches about God King and Country, but on the whole this is an interesting movie - 8/10

Precious (II) (2009)

Unexpected Great Movie

[8/10 · 26 September 2015]

I watched the DVD of Precious, and not knowing a lot about the film prior to watching it, I didn't have high expectations. There were no big name actors in this and it was about an obese young woman. Usually I wouldn't watch a film like this, but I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the film and the acting.

Precious is the main character and she is an obese black teenager from Harlem who we find has learning difficulties. We are then introduced to her home life with her mother and we find that she has been brought up in very difficult circumstances. Not a lot is going favourably for Precious but she has a break by being introduced to a alternative teaching scheme and from there things start slowly to change for her. The film is about her breaking free from the hole that she finds herself in at the beginning.

I really like this film because the two main actresses were so good that they brought a quite bleak story to life. The dynamic between Precious and her mother was unforgettable. There personalities shone through in two incredible performances. There is a lot of swearing and violence but I never thought it was gratuitous. In fact it was this relationship that I thought was the best part of the film. I never expected anything as brutal and engrossing as that, and as a viewer you get sucked into the plight of such a hopeless situation.

Outside of her home, Precious finds a chance of a new life through her class teacher and class mates. Again the acting was really good and we see Precious having some fun in class and some welcome humour in that situation.

8/10

Upstream Color (2013)

Art-House Horror Film with Pigs

[6/10 · 3 August 2015]

Yes if you like art-house pig orientated drama this one is for you. I would love to explain what the heck this movie is about, but I don't know where to start or end or even give you a clue.

My view is that this is a film intended to make a subliminal effect on the viewers subconscious. This is a horror film with a story involving a girl, a worm, some pigs, and a strange man wearing headphones who makes recordings in the countryside, but it doesn't make much sense. Instead the scenes are pieced together some quite disturbing, and it leaves an impression on you, which is difficult to put into words. I'm not even sure if the film is supposed make any sense. Does that make it worthless? Well I didn't dislike the film so it must have some worth.

What I did like was the soundtrack which gave the film an eerie quality, and oddly the strangeness of the film made it accidentally quite interesting at times. The weird pig farmer kept appearing out of nowhere. He looked so weird I actually started to find him amusing, which was a relief after some horror scenes, and the pigs - what was that all about? I did find some of the scenes quite sick but on the whole this accidentally was not bad. I gave it 6/10.

Sunshine on Leith (2013)

Love the Song, but The Film is a Dud

[3/10 · 16 July 2015]

I am part of a film club and this film was sent to me in error (it should have been American Hustle), but, hey I quite like the Proclaimers, so what the heck I watched it.

Big mistake. This was a bad film for many reasons, but I feel guilty slagging it off, so I will try to be fair. On the good side I thought the young lads playing the soldiers were pretty good, and Edinburgh, where the film is set, was majestic. There was even some cheeky humour in the film with appearances from the Proclaimers, and a sly reference to the film Trainspotting, but the script was dreadful, and singing was cringe-worthy. How could you murder a song like Sunshine on Leith? They managed to on this film. The song 'Its over and done with' was quite appropriate for this film. It was the song that perfectly summed up my thoughts after the film.

The problem really, although I never really thought of it when I listen to the Proclaimers, is how sentimental this is. It was sickly sweet to begin with and then I just didn't care about the story. The Proclaimers are quite a political band with the roots in nationalist politics. That didn't seem to come through just more and more schmaltz.

As the film ended it occurred to me that when you make a bad musical it is worse than a bad film because it is more memorable for the wrong reasons. This film falls into that category.

3/10

Blue Is the Warmest Colour (2013)

Pornographic French Meandering Drama

[5/10 · 26 May 2015]

This was a long film without much of a story. I guess you could say that it was character study of a young (quite beautiful) girl. She is a sensual person and falls for a lesbian with blue hair. They have a relationship, but their relationship is based on sex and in reality they are quite different. That's it .

In between there are erotic lovemaking scenes, which are hard-core porn. What is it with French films? There are long scenes of people eating dinner, or having sex, or just dancing at a party but the story never moves on? Yes we get to know the characters more and more as the film progresses but is the story going anywhere? In my opinion - not really.

The acting though was good. I have not come across these actresses before (pardon the pun) but I thought both of them managed to be engaging. It's a 3 hour film. It's not boring but that is because the actresses put in good performances. I give it 5/10.

Under the Skin (I) (2013)

Weird Sci-fi Movie which is ultimately disappointing

[4/10 · 25 May 2015]

Having watched the trailer for this film, I was very excited about watching it. It promised to be a different new kind of film - a strange art house sci-fi film, but when I came to watch it I just thought it was strange.

What saved this film from disappearing into obscurity is Scarlett Johansen, who looks even more sexy as a raven haired android than she ever was as a blonde (and I didn't think that was possible), and some interesting scenes in the film where apparently amateur actors play roles in scenes with Scarlett Johansen. One in particular where she picks up a man up who we find has deformed face, and she tries to seduce him, which I found strangely fascinating. The performances were good. Some of the dialogue with the amateur actors gave the film an unusual quality - a freshness which was fun to watch, but I didn't get the story. I think the script had a few holes in it which damaged the film irreparably. That is why I give it a 4.

There Be Dragons (2011)

Dark Spain - where there be dragons

[10/10 · 25 May 2015]

I loved this film for several reasons 1, it introduced me to a forgotten conflict in 20th century , the Spanish Civil War, 2. it was a great story, 3. the lead character is a catholic priest. Its not the usual film you see on DVD, and that is a good thing.

I rented this DVD because I wanted to learn more about Spain's civil war, and this film did not disappoint me because large sections of the film covers that period. Dougray Scott plays a journalist looking into the past to learn about the real life religious character Jose Maria Escobar (who I had never heard of). He finds out that his father knew this man, and there the secret history of his father's role in the Spanish civil war unfolds. I was captivated by this story until the dramatic end.

Afterwards I questioned whether this was an fair reflection of that conflict because both sides come out of it badly, except the church. The dark past of Spain is not always seen outside of Spain. I was quite shocking in parts to see how divided the country was (and maybe still is). Even though some people may disagree with me that this film is biased, it felt like it was trying to be fair and convey a positive message about forgiveness.

I couldn't find any flaws in this film .It introduced me to interesting subjects like the Spanish Civil War, and Opus Dei, and it was a heart wrenching film with an ultimately positive message. That is why I give this film a 10.

Filth (I) (2013)

Unfilmable story

[6/10 · 1 November 2013]

Filth, the novel, was exciting and experimental, but because there are so many extremes in it, it is very difficult to sanitise it for a movie going audience. How do you make a talking tapeworm work on film? It is a character in the book. Very difficult. Compromises had to be made and some of the racism, sexism, homophobia etc etc had to be toned down if not cut out completely.

I watched the film at a local (noisy) theatre. The performances were decent and the film was passable as pale reflection of the book, but I felt there were many edited cuts in the film which were bizarre. At one point David Soul (starring as a taxi driver) started singing his big pop hit from the 70's "Silver Lady". Jim Broadbent as Dr Rossi popped in and out of the film without much explanation of why he and Bruce "Robbo" Robertson were having these one to one sessions. Inspector Bob Toal is trying to write a book but it doesn't tie up with the rest of the film. Luckily I have read the book before and know the story well, but if I hadn't, I think I would be a bit confused.

Stealing the show for me, is John Sessions as Chief Inspector Toal. He captures the character of the book as a traditional white police officer out of date in a modern world.

Sliding Doors (1998)

Love's Sliding Doors Open then Shut then Open Again

[9/10 · 17 August 2011]

I must confess that romantic comedies are not my type of film, but I make an exception for Sliding Doors. I have watched this film many times now and it still brings tears to my eyes. I don't know why because I know the story inside out by now.

The story is about Helen, a young PR girl, who is having no luck with her job or with her boyfriend. She shares a home with her wayward boyfriend Gerry, a man who is trying to write his first novel and having a secret affair. At the start of the film she gets sacked from her job and then the film gets very interesting because two story lines develop as she makes her way home. As she gets on the tube, the train's sliding doors close and one story begins, but then the sliding doors open and the alternate story begins. The two stories revolve around Helen and her boyfriend Gerry, and two other people James, and Lydia. One story shows one twist of fate as she misses the train, the other story shows another set of circumstances as she gets on the train. Both stories play out scene by scene in a delightful romantic comedy. It is the great performances by all the cast, a brilliant idea, and a witty script that make this film a classic in its genre in my opinion.

As with the best comedy, there is also tragedy that befalls the players in this drama, and you end up realising how complicated life is and how fate plays a big part in our lives.

As someone who hates rom coms, I have to say that Sliding Doors is still one of my favourite films, and I watch it whenever it comes on the TV. There is so much to watch in this film: the growing love between Helen and James, or the comical attempts by Gerry to hide his affair with Lydia, or there is the twists and turns as the rocky relationships reach a climax by the end of the film.

British films don't get much better than this. A great movie.

Machete (2010)

Plenty of blood for your bucks

[5/10 · 14 August 2011]

This film is a total gore-fest with plenty of beheadings and dismemberment. I could swallow the over the top violence, but when 'Machete' becomes a bit of lover as well I found that a slash too far. Danny Trejo, the man with the unforgettable face, is 'Machete' the star of the film, but there are also notable appearances by Don Johnson, Robert De Niro, Jessica Alba and others. Also please note there are quite a lot of sexy ladies in this film, which certainly made it more watchable on my part. Still that couldn't save this film. It was a bit too long.

The highlight of the film for me was when the sexy women started shooting guns: I like simple pleasures! I obviously liked Machete going on the rampage killing a few bad guys. Also, one of the stars of the film, who I nearly forgot, is Steven Segal who plays a villain very well and he says 'puneta' in nearly every sentence.

Trainspotting (1996)

Choose Life - Choose Trainspotting?

[8/10 · 8 September 2009]

I watched this film back in the 90's in a old cinema that had seen better days. The film, on the other hand, was very new wave British cinema by comparison. This film really kick-started the career of Danny Boyle onto the international stage with a good combination of talented actors, cool music, amazing script and imaginative film editing.

I was totally blown away by the film. The narration by Mark Renton, played by Ewen McGregor, throughout the film brings a depth to the film, which is balanced by the antics of the Mark's friends, who are a larger than life group of drug takers and deviants. The 'Choose Life' speech at the start of the film is one example of interesting social commentary narrated over scenes of drug taking, thieving, football and fighting.

Robert Carlyle, Jonny Lee Miller, Ewen Bremner, Kevin McKidd, and Kelly McDonald provide the main supporting roles. There seems to be a good camaraderie amongst this group of mates that makes for a dynamic film, which is just as well because there isn't much of a story, just a tale about friendships and how to break free from the past to make a brighter future for yourself.

Not sure why 'Trainspotting' - trains really have no part in this film at all except as background objects. Perhaps it was an comic attempt (by writer Irivine Welsh) to lure some trainspotters away from their train spotting activities to see another side of life - who knows.

Inglourious Basterds (2009)

Not as bad as expected

[6/10 · 7 September 2009]

This was a really well made film, but the story was just pure nonsense and probably disrespectful to some soldiers who died for their country during WW II. I am not happy to see brutal treatment of defenceless soldiers passed off as entertainment.

A band of trained Jewish American killers go on the rampage near the end of the war, brutally torturing prisoners of war. Some of the scenes were disgusting. Their objective is to take out Hitler and his acolytes, and so end the war.

It is a long film beautifully shot in northern France. Some of the performances are superb, and to be fair not all the Nazis are cardboard cutout baddies. Daniel Bruhl plays a German war hero who has romantic desires on a Jewish woman played by Melanie Laurent, who is also being hunted down by an SS officer played by Christopher Waltz. This drama brought little bit of sanity amidst the mindless violence, and those three actors were outstanding in this film.

Just as I was enjoying the film, the ending descended into B movie madness. On the whole it was an enjoyable film, but obviously (as is always the case with Tarantino) there is far too much graphic violence. I did expect a much worse film after seeing some reviews, but I think Tarantino managed to pull off a quite a controversial film in the end.

Braveheart (1995)

The Bloody History of Scotland

[9/10 · 21 August 2009]

One thing which defines Scotland's history is that much blood was spilt in battles with the English over territory and power. Scotland's history seems to be a series of tragic mishaps and defeats in battle, and I think this film describes an important moment in Scotland's story when the country united against (what they saw was) a common enemy.

Braveheart is quite a long film but although I've seen it many times I never tire of watching the whole lot again and again. The film starts with Wallace as a youth and then moves to when he becomes a young adult and then onto a seasoned warrior. Mel Gibson does this whilst looking middle-aged throughout the whole film, however I have to say that Gibson, who won many Oscars for this film, certainly deserved more plaudits for his performance in this film as he is runs up and down mountains and then kills a few English in battle, invades England, and damn well unites a country (all in one fine performance). It must have been a gift of a role to play. Unfortunately much of the legend of William Wallace is actually legend, and not based on factual history. Another notable performance was that of Robert the Bruce. Torn between his family and his countrymen, the bloke who played 'The Bruce' turned in a moving performance. In fact the acting throughout the film was first rate.

The historical inaccuracy is a hot topic about this film, but I think the critics are exaggerating the flaws of the film. One real error is the relationship that Wallace has with the Princess of England. Even someone with no historical background can see that was a total fabrication of the truth.

The film really describes Scottish History in a 3 hour film. Some of the detail may be incorrect, but the battle of Bannockburn, where the Scots beat a much stronger English army is a major historical event in Scotland's history. I think that was the first time heavy horse cavalry was defeated by foot soldiers. This battle seems to have been moved in time so that Wallace could lead the battle. In fact Wallace was dead and gone by then, but it was his inspiration that led to that battle.

The Class (2007)

Classroom Honour

[7/10 · 21 August 2009]

I just watched this film last night, and although the subject matter was depressing, I think it was factually accurate of the type of stupid behaviour we now see in classrooms all over the world. The main character Joosep is an introverted teenager that doesn't get along with his classmates to such an extent that they regularly pick on him. It is quite excruciating to watch the regular bullying that takes place, and the futility of his situation. At the beginning, the film states that this story is based in truth, which is quite sad. What angered me, and I think is a flaw in the film, is that there is no overt criticism of the school, or the teachers where this drama takes place. The teachers are so unaware of what is happening that it is quite ridiculous. The bullies are portrayed as evil, but for me the teachers are just as bad.

Having already watched the very good film 'Elephant', I new quite early on how this drama would unfold, as it is very much the same kind of story, but still this film held my attention to the bitter end. I thought the kids were really good especially the performance of the bullies ( I can't remember their names but one character was called Anders). They reminded me a lot of characters from my own school days. In the end it is a matter of honour that ends the story. In my opinion, this film is more accurate than Elephant but it doesn't have the dramatic impact, as you can guess the ending very early on.

The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)

Its just one big car chase

[6/10 · 18 August 2007]

I just saw my first Bourne film last night and I was quite impressed by it, but its basically one big car chase in several cities of the world. At the end it made me think of the introduction, "Bond....James Bond" except now I was thinking "Bourne....Jason Bourne". Many comparisons have been made recently but I think this is a superior Bond type film.

It's good because its fast-paced, action-packed, and it's well done. The much mentioned hand held camera, works well in the chase scenes but it is distracting elsewhere in the movie. The acting of Matt Damon and David Strathairn are very good. Damon is in some decent fight scenes and Strathairn is the evil adversary at the CIA. It was funny seeing Paddy Considine playing against type as Guardian journalist with a man bag. I thought much of the other actors were pretty wooden lifeless characters.

I liked the film but would not watch it again hence the six stars (just above average). The main problem is that it is a one dimensional, all action film with not much else to hold the viewer's interest. There are some beautiful locations in the film and the chase scenes are awesome. Although it's well made, there is no depth to the characters in the film.

The Proposition (2005)

Worst film I've seen for a long time

[1/10 · 2 August 2007]

I had high expectations of this film and for some reason thought it was a British film. It is in fact an Australian film with British finance.

This is the worst film I've seen for a long time. There are typical problems of phony Irish accents, gratuitous violence, and a lot of miscasting. All the good guys were bad and the bad guys were good, which is okay if you can pull it off but in the end there were no likable characters in the film.

For a variety of reasons this film is a shocker but surprisingly a lot of people like it. If you like violence this film has plenty and with graphic close-ups, but I hated the dialogue and the acting.