oateseditor-73121 Reviews

The Blockhouse (1973)

Not a film

[4/10 · 28 March 2024]

The makers seem to have forgotten why films ate called movies - because the pivtures move.

They have scored an own goal by locking their internal cast in the dark underground for an hour and a half. It is simply unwatchable. To make matters even worse if that were possible they have underlit it that's turning the whole thing into an ordeal for anyone who decides to watch this film. We needed I was a bit more at the front of the pool to tell us what these people are going through, much less time spent underground simply not interesting. And we should have the scene when they're just covered. As it is it seems that the directors don't want to tell us the story. What's the best will in the world I found it very very difficult to watch and I have to admit that I spun forward after the first 45 minutes at double speed at least to the end of this film.

Napoleon (2023)

TV not a film

[4/10 · 23 November 2023]

This seemed like a television series of 13 episodes all joined up and run through a projector posing as a film. It is astonishing that no one pointed this out to the director at the script stage.

Joakim Phoenix never convinced, he always looks as if he has just come out from an argument in a New York alleyway.

Much of the dialogue is mumbled and many of the dialogue scenes were underlit.

In the end you've just settled for third.

Art direction was superb, costumes stunning, action scenes terrific

But if you want to explain the French Imperial Guards 100% allegiance to Napoleon, you have to do a bit more than have him hand to one slice of bread hand it to 3 of them.... this basic lack of storytelling is evident throughout.

Is Ridley waning? What a shame.

Columbo: Identity Crisis (1975) Season 5, Episode 3

All unconnected nonsense

[3/10 · 30 August 2021]

Even the cast, all acting their socks off, look puzzled by this completely incomprehensible plot.

Up River (1979)

Unusual reality for a "Western"

[6/10 · 4 August 2021]

A great little film trying to get out here. Largely spoilt by inept editing which showed little sense of timing, pace & rythm.

Also a poor to bad soundtrack with way too big atmos. Tracks mixed v unevenly.

Spot fx - such as horses hooves etc etc lamentable.

The flashback the trapper has on hearing of his daughter's death is endless. The entire picture sits down at this point and never gets up again.

The picture could still be made much better with an experienced editor carefully pacing the whole.

If a montage was needed why not one of the cabin being assembled?

The climax of the film is rushed & v sketchy.

I applaud the film for the reality of the situation - the audience really gets a feel for the period and its hardships.

A really refreshing eye on the early colonisation of Canada.

Islands in the Stream (1977)

Queen Mother

[4/10 · 15 June 2021]

A subtitle tells us the date is 1940

David Hemmings tells us he is :"celebrating the Queen Mother's 87th birthday."

What?

In point of fact in 1940 : "The Queen Mother" was : 1) Aged 40 2) She was The Queen.

She didn't become The Queen Mother until 1952.

This inaccuracy makes the viewer doubt the veracity of the rest of the screenplay.

The Duchess (2008)

Fox

[5/10 · 27 December 2020]

With Amanda Forman as Exec. Producer how could Charles James Fox be so woefully miscast?

Jassy (1947)

Miscasting

[7/10 · 27 October 2020]

In a film which is great fun and really gives you an idea of the social manners of the period there are two outstanding pieces of casting.

One is Basil Sidney who gives a bravura performance wonderfully sustained over the entire film. I am amazed he did not become a major star.

Two I simply don't understand the attraction of Esma Cannon. She may have been cast well in other films but this is one of the worst pieces of casting I have ever seen. Far too old for the part, Esma doesn't help it by overreacting fantastically throughout the entire film.