Heartless

Heartless is set in London, but a very dark and twisted version of the city, something completely original. Jamie discovers that the capital has a dark underbelly and that there are demons stalking the streets. Well, spend a night in Soho is my advice, you’ll see plenty of demons there. The reality of the place is more fantasy than gritty realism and this is all in the movie’s favour as we are dragged into this strange distorted world. There’s an element of Neil Gaiman’s “Neverwhere” about this alternate London and it makes for a very absorbing backdrop to an inventive and quietly brilliant movie.

Jim Sturgess gives a fantastic performance as a man who is never sure of what is real and what is not. Equally so, the audience remains befuddled throughout the movie until the astonishing ending which really is one of those unexpected twists that makes the viewer gasp. Backing Sturgess up are Clemence Posey as Tia and the always excellent
Noel Clarke as AJ. All in all, the cast couldn’t do better and they lend a real class to an already strong script. Is Jamie suffering from some kind of mental illness? All will be revealed. Or will it?

Visually the movie is stunning with the rich and complex cinematography in the film cleverly mirroring the theme of photography that runs through the narrative. The movie is extremely well plotted with Ridley showing that he really can write as well as direct and there are many twists to keep the viewer guessing. This isn’t a movie that releases it’s grip for one second, from the initial visually arresting sight of Jamie and his birthmark, it holds the attention all the way through. It’s an unusually thought provoking film for the horror genre as well, constantly questioning our perceptions in a way that really makes an impact on the viewer. Highly recommended, this one is a must see.

Children of Glory

Released in 2006, the movie is about the eventual revolt against Russian rule that came in 1956 and cleverly, highlights the so significant water polo match fought by the two countries in the 1956 Olympics. Historically accurate, this movie depicts a time which still evokes powerful emotions in Hungary, their people were controlled but unbowed and the fierce patriotism of the times comes strongly to the fore, used as a binding love which unites the oppressed and strengths their resolve.

All of the characters are strongly written and acted to perfection. Dobo Kata is excellent in the lead and Iván Fenyö; is typically good and a more familiar face to English speaking counties. Károly Gesztesi is tremendous as the polo coach, determined and moving in his simplicity. The acting honours however have to go to the standout

Viki Szávai as Eszter, a character who will not make it all the way through the film and who is played with such realism and ease that it’s hard to believe there’s an actress inhabiting the character at all.

Every one of the characters is very easy to empathise with and connect to, even if many of them are not all that likeable. Direction wise, no punches are pulled with graphic scenes of shootings and brutality being presented unfettered, a reminder of the casual horror of this kind of occupation. Contrasted against this, the love story of the two leads is tremendously effective, and again very believable. These really are people who would give their lives for the other, so powerful and binding is their love.

It’s a thought provoking film, exploring the themes of dying for your country, and what freedom fighters are really fighting for. As such it will leave many concerned and perhaps re evaluating their thoughts. But of course, that is what all the best movies do, make the viewer challenge what they already know. “Children of Glory” is remarkable, compelling and powerful. One to watch again and again, just superb!

Levity

One day, he suddenly finds that the parole board has decided that his time in jail is over and without warning, he is catapulted from the relative safety of his imprisonment into a world hat is now completely alien to him. Mow middle aged and wild looking, he tries to find the kid’s sister, his aim to help her as much as he can to atone for the murder of her brother. His only guide in this semi spiritual quest is the ghost of the child himself. However, Adele, the sister is not ready to meet the man who murdered her brother and Manual’s only hope is in the kindness of a priest.

Thorntonbrings Manual an incredible sense of reality, you can really believe in the character and he becomes sympathetic, even though he is playing a child murderer. Holly Hunter as Adele is also excellent, brushing off his well meant advances as she has her own world to cope with and cannot be bothered with this wild haired middle aged stranger. And of course, Morgan Freeman also puts in a noteworthy performance as the no nonsense priest who takes Manual in and gives him some structure to his chaotic life. also standing out is Kirsten Dunst playing a wayward teen who finds herself attracted to the ex con.

This movie is very much a character piece and all of the cast bring a class to the movie, interpreting an excellent and often very witty but always real script. Solomon started put as a scriptwriter and this shows in his directorial debut, he directs with sensitivity and skill and allows all of the cast plenty of screen time to do their work. There’s nothing flashy about his direction, it is confident and well paced. Well worth a watch.

Resting Place

As you might expect the officer was black, the son of the characters played by Morgan Freeman and CCH Pounder, Luther and Ada Johnson. The local sheriff though somewhat sympathetic, is adamant that the rules shall not be changed, even for a military hero and so the film deals with the issues that were still extremely prevalent in 1972. Despite the fact that there were laws made to ensure equal rights for all, it seems that some were still more equal than others. A repulsive state of affairs but nevertheless a true rendition of the prejudices that many blacks still faced and indeed do face to this day.

The leads throw themselves into the story with great gusto but also with feeling and sensitivity. Nothing is trivialised here, there are points to be made and they are made with strength and power. It is a tale of the fading strength of white supremacy and the emergence of a more equal society, inevitably encountering resistance from the old guard who are either set in their ways and scared of change or are simply pure bred racists. As you might expect, Morgan Freeman is exemplary in his role of the beleaguered father who fights for the rights of his son to be buried in the town he loved, but it is Lithgow who steals the show as the conflicted major. This isn’t a movie that sets pout to preach, the story and characters are absorbing and well portrayed, but it is one of those movies that certainly packs a punch and makes for challenging viewing. Highly recommended and one that deserves to be seen far more widely.

Paper Clips

Elliot Berlin and Joe Fab directed this moving and at times heartbreakingly brave documentary which covers how a group ofTennesseeschool children collected six million paper clips as part of a project…one for each Jew that died in the holocaust. Bearing in mind that most of these children are brought up on devoutly Christian families and in neighbourhoods where there are few “ethnic minorities”, this was clearly an eye opening experience for many of them and their journey of discovers makes this one of those films that renews your faith in humanity.

The film is extremely well constructed and accessible enough to be seen by children, whilst containing enough detail to also be absorbing to adults. But it isn’t the factual side where the movie really excels, that is in the emotions evoked as you watch it. The children come fact to face with the stark reality of life and death in the concentration camps when the meet with some of the survivors, victims who tale their stories without bias, to keep the memory alive and counter those ridiculous people, again many from the American mid west, who try to insist that the holocaust never actually happened. This is a powerful reminder that it did and chillingly that it could happen again. The message really gets across to these kids as they hear harrowing details of the brutalities inflicted on prisoners of war involved in the Nazi’s “final solution” and what is fascinating is to see that often the teachers and vice principals learned as much as did the students.

The story is told with great grace, dignity and a lot of humour as the relatively small town mindsets of the children are confronted, challenged and eventually changed, their view of the world widened and this film does exactly that to the viewer, transmitting the same experience and understanding in an incredibly engaging piece that many have suggested should take it’s place on every school’s curriculum. Highly recommended and well worth more than one viewing.

Death Defying Acts

Starring Catherine Zeta Jones, Guy Pearce and professional Brummie Timothy Spall this is an engaging tale of the famous illusionist Harry Houdini…though not a tremendously accurate portrayal of his belief system.

During Houdini’s tour of England, he lands up in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1926. A vibrant place where riches and poverty live side by side. Houdini arrives as a superstar, with stage entertainment in those days evoking the same sort of fervour reserved for movies nowadays. There he meets Mary McGarvie (Zeta Jones) who, with her daughter Benji manage a hand to mouth existence by working as pickpockets, stealing not just money but information to use in their stage show in which Mary reveals amazing information about members  of the audience, all gained by these methods. Both of them idolise Houdini and when they realise that he is coming to town, and what is more is offering a massive cash prize to anyone who can prove their abilities. Cynically, Mary puts her plan into action, but Sugarman (Spall), Houdini’s manager is no fool and realises that Mary and her daughter are fakers and performers only. However, he has reckoned without Mary’s feminine wiles which she deploys to devastating effect on the famous Houdini himself. The question is, can he perform one of his amazing escapes from her clutches or will he be seduced not only by her body, but by her promise to put him in contact with the spirit of his dead mother.

Guy Pearce and Catherine Zeta-Jones in Death Defying Acts

This is a great film, making full use of theEdinburghlocation and giving us a fascinating and twisted love story between to great characters in Houdini and Mary. Though some liberties are taken with the real Houdini, it doesn’t affect the movie in any way which delivers a richly layered character piece while also delving into matters beyond the grave with creditable frankness. All of the leads play their roles with great believability though the standout is Spall who rapidly becomes exasperated at his client’s infatuation with Mary, seeing right through her scam. Superbly shot and edited, this is a real gem of a movie featuring some of the best actors working today.

Highly recommended.

China Girl

Right in the tradition of “Romeo and Juliet”, though this time, the China Girl’s story is relocated to downtownChinatown. Writer Nicholas St John provides some strong material for the stars James Russo, Richard Panebianco and Sari Chang to get their teeth into and the result is a film which keeps the viewer’s attention hooked.

Tony and Tye are two young people from opposite sides of the fence, he from the rapidly shrinking Italian community, she from the burgeoning Chinese population. Both families have connections to crime syndicates and so are at hate filled loggerheads. You can see how this is going to end and it isn’t going to be well. There isn’t much more to the tale as the tragically doomed lovers are torn apart by the intercine warfare happening between their families and it seems like the hate and violence will never come to an end.

Ferrera’s movie is direct and uncompromising in places, playing out the seedy conflict between the two sides with some often shocking visuals which underline the danger that the two innocent and pure young lovers face. Well, innocent and pure compared to their parents. Panebianco and Chang are both worth watching in what must have been some of their earliest roles and Chang particularly brings a subtle tenderness to Tye, however their inexperience does show through at some points and it is the supporting cast who really make the movie flow and hold together the narrative.

Ferrera’s direction, as is to be expected is fluid, imaginative and striking, with tremendous flair in the lighting and set design complementing the cinematographer’s work. As such it is a real treat for the eye and with such a strong script, the movie never fails to impress, even though there are some moments of extraordinary dodgy dialogue which do take the viewer out of the experience for a short time. It’s also notable for a wonderfully over the top appearance by David Caruso who is always good value in any movie so why not give it a go?

Walk on Water

In 2004, director Eytan Fox released this astonishing and multi layered movie, a close and powerful examination of culture, sexual and personal clashes.

Based on a screenplay by Gal Ushavsky this is a story or revenge and then understanding from two men on opposite sides of a variety of fences. It starts with a shock as the main protagonist, Eyal is taking a sightseeing trip along the amazing scenery of the Bosphorous then, without warning, kills a man who is sightseeing with his wife and child by lethal injection. It transpires that Eyal is part of the Israeli secret service and is doing his best to escape from their control, having had more than enough of the job but he is given an order to track down a Nazi war criminal. Eyal resists the order, seeing little gain in killing someone who although clearly evil, is now an old man. He gets to know the man’s grandchildren and becomes changed by the experienced, moved by their compassion. His superior tries to manipulate him emotionally but Eyal is able to make his own mind up and refuses to go through with the killing.

The film covers many issues and does so with passion. Homophobia is addressed, as is the conflict between Israel and Palestine, not to mention the still in some ways unresolved issues of the atrocities committed during the Nazi regime, which still to this day unfairly haunts Germany. Lior Ashkenazi is astonishing as Eyal, charismatic and powerful, dominating the entire film without for a moment seeming that he is overwhelming it. This is helped by a magnificent supporting cast and a script that reflects life in that there are no easy answers, nothing is ever black and white. Knut Berger, Caroline Peters and Gideon Senner also excel, with Senner cast as Eyal’s boss, a man who is committed to making sure that the world never forgets about the horrors suffered by Jews at the hands of the Nazis, yet a man who has become blinded by his hatred for the perpetrators.

Walk on Water is a stunning and powerful drama movie that deserves to be seen by as wide an audience as possible.

Anne-Marie Duff

Two strangers, Anna and Stephen come together thanks to a chance meeting with a man who is waiting on a station platform for his wife. Their meeting sparks off a chain of events that is going to end up having massive significance in their lives as they start to examine everything that is going on around them, from their relationships to their working lives and they both begin to challenge their beliefs about what they really want. They both have a series of decisions to make that my be hard to face but which, if they can carry them through will ultimately change their lives for the better and may even bring them together once more.

The Waiting Room

This is a beautifully written, shot and acted movie without any great spectacle apart from that which exists in the lives of everyday people. The movie doesn’t pretend to be anything that it isn’t and is extremely confident in doing so and although it’s ending is somewhat predictable, there are a lot of twists and turns along the way, making it an intriguing and dramatic examination of human interpersonals.

Although it runs for nearly two hours, the movie never drags and the central performances are engaging enough to hold the interest throughout. Especially good are Anne Marie Duff and of course, Frank Finlay who never turns in a bad performance in anything and the supporting cast are all uniformly excellent and very believable, which is a great help to this movie. In fact the whole film is convincing and realistic, set against a wonderfullyLondonurban background, very rooted in reality. There are laughs along the way as well and the viewer will be left with a feeling of self examination that is unusual for such a movie. Unusual and in it’s own quiet way, quite riveting.

Phillippe Torreton and Siobhan Hewlett in Monsieur N.

Starring Philippe Torreton and Richard E Grant, this is the tale of the final days of Napoleon Bonaparte, adapted from a work by Rene Mansoir. It’s also a tale of two countries, England and France and the responses that the great dictator provoked from both.

Monsieur N. starts in 1816 with Napoleon and a few close and trusted supporters exiled to the island of St Helena but he is not going to be allowed to perish in peace as the new governor of the island, Hudson Lowe is determined that the British government will not have to fork out for such a costly prisoner for very long. The movie is driven by the mystery that still persists about Napoleon’s death and final resting place, examined in flash forward sequences and makes for a subtle and detailed narrative examination of one of the most famous figures in history.

Monsieur N.

The film was made in both French and English with the respective countrymen speaking their own language, which gives it an extra realism lacking in many of the stories of Napoleon, and also underlining the division between the two countries.

All of the performances are exceptional and very real, especially Torrenton as Napoleon himself, a very well judged interpretation of the script which brings life to a character all too often seen as a one dimensional tyrant.

This Napoleon is sensitive and well rounded, showing far more of the dimensions of the man’s character than usual and making him ultimately a very sympathetic figure.

The supporting cast also do well with Richard E Grant being a particular standout. Shot beautifully and acted subtly, this is a wonderful movie that is a cut above other historical fare.

A must see.