Change Your Image
m-rimmell
Reviews
The Godfather (1972)
20 million years in the creation..
In 1968 I met the great man Marlon Brando with Charles Chaplin after the completion of 'A Countess from Hong Kong'.We all had lunch together. During our meeting I gave him a piece of amber on a leather string which I was wearing and he had admired and commented 'You are wearing the mystical stone ,20 million years in the creation'. He tucked it into his shirt. I have always wondered particularly as I watched Marlon in 'The Godfather' if he kept his promise always to wear it. I was told years later that he did ..but I have no way of knowing. Maybe someone out there knows.I was meeting the two great men in my capacity as an art dealer and they commissioned from one of my artists a portrait of Sophia Lauren in bronze..At 83 I am writing my memoirs to be titled 'SENTENCED TO LIFE'.Sir Charles and I spoke of the similarities of our beginnings..He in a Home for Waifs and Strays ...Me too...His mother confined in a lunatic asylum ..My mother too.'The Colney Hatch Insane Asylum ' in North London ..He then stated 'Remember ! From the moment we are born. We are sentenced to life'.As I wrote my memoirs 50 years later it seemed to be a perfect title ..
Love in the Time of Cholera (2007)
Having read this wonderful book..It seemed almost impossible to do it justice..
I must admit first that I worked on this film..My one fear was that we could'not do it justice..The incredible genius of Gabriel Garcia Marquez. 'Magical realism'... One never knows even as we dress the sets and struggle with that expression.. Having waited a few months I viewed the film...Apart from a few personal bloops..I felt that Mike Newell did a great job..That all those journeys we made accompanied by body guards was worthwhile... I was proud of what we achieved ...I think it is a film to see NOT having read the book..but worthwhile nevertheless.. This would be my final film at almost 80....I felt it was a fitting exit..
The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
A roller coaster ride of magical unreality
I came to the cinema like a client promised the most wonderful menu at a 3 star Michelin restaurant.It was truly an absolutely visual feast but alas as much as I pushed the offering around my plate I found nothing by the time the credits rolled..
From the opening establishing shot of the impossibly located Grand Hotel Budapest to the self indulgent and utterly pointless dialogue I had to wonder how on earth did wonderful artists become involved in the folly of The Grand Hotel.. What on earth were they doing in this self indulgent piece of nonsense.
Anna Pinnock as the Set Decorator as usual came to the plate and did the most incredible work but I felt like a duck being prepared for the Pate menu...
Sorry Mr Anderson and all those reviewers who have been taken in by the Emperors' new clothes... Such a waste of great talents from artists to designers etc..etc..I can only add that like all great artists there has to be a detractor or two and I do not consider this man to be a great artist just overly self indulgent...
Imagination ,invention, does not a genius make.If I had felt in need of visual stimulation there are endless museums and galleries I can visit beginning with Tate Modern.
What a waste of 90 minutes or so .It felt like a lifetime ...
What a waste of the considerable budget!!
Poirot: Five Little Pigs (2003)
Working on Poirot
I have after all this time read the reviews..I was the Set Decorator..and I have to say to work on Death on The Nile and 5 Little Pigs was a joy plus a few others... The period is my favourite . One always hopes'that one gets it right...There are'so many Poirot fans . Any slight error of period will be spotted....So I get rather paranoid to please' just that one expert of Agatha Christie... I still have one or two reminders of Death on The Nile, The menus from The Karnak. My original notes at the time...and a few small pieces that I loaned from my collection... Before this came Jeeves and Wooster with the great Eileen Diss as'designer.. Retirement is now upon me.......No more Poirot, No more Jeeves , Longitude etc..etc..I can now watch out for the errors...and stay silent ...