paul-453-556238 Reviews

The Chicago 8 (2011)

What a great movie! A must-see for anyone interested in civil liberties or US history

[10/10 · 5 October 2013]

What a great movie! Filmed in a style that echoes the times, it re-enacts a seminal court case (one that many have never heard of). This was not only an important event for my generation, but also has echoes in the current US.

If you have never heard of the "Chicago 8", you need to see this movie all the more.

Well acted and directed (though some of the multi-angle shots may be off putting). We're the script not taken from the court transcript, it might be considered a bit over-the-top, but it is delivered with panache and flair. Great direction and production.

Offers a useful antidote to sludge like "zero dark thirty"

The Bang Bang Club (2010)

Visceral and realistic tribute

[10/10 · 18 August 2012]

I lived in Johannesburg, working for the Independent Electoral Commission during this period, on a leave of absence from the print media. This is a true-to-life (if slightly glamorized) depiction of a group of fearless and dedicated photographers who probably ultimately defused a potential civil war by their heroic reporting.

Glamorized in that they were a grungier bunch (see the photos in the credits at the end), who took far greater risks than portrayed in the movie. I dare say that the public would not have believed a more accurate story.

Anyone who is interested in the history of Southern Africa should watch this. Nearly 20 years later, it still leaves me shaken.

Also good to see South African actors in the movie, even if most of the leads were imports.