THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF DAVID COPPERFIELD
I first saw Armando Iannucci’s wittily scripted adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic just before the London Film Festival for which it was chosen as its opening film. It is an impressive piece of filmmaking from the director of IN THE LOOP and THE DEATH OF STALIN with a terrific but most importantly integrated cast.
Sarah Crowe deserves her BAFTA nomination as Best Casting Director for her vision and free reign in offering leading roles to a majority of ethnic actors. Dev Patel is effective as the eponymous hero and begins the film by introducing the story to a packed audience from a theatre stage – it is a suitably theatrical device which enables Ianucci to make the most of his eccentric characters and colourful locations highlighting Copperfield’s quest to become a writer in Victorian England.
It is mischievously performed by a luminous cast but most successfully by Ben Whishaw as Uriah Heep and Hugh Laurie as Mr Dick. They both relish the eccentricity of their characters and deliver truthful performances unlike some of the other actors like Tilda Swinton, whose Betsey Trotwood belongs to a different film altogether.
Overall a mixture of styles and on a second viewing the film’s flaws are more apparent while the comedy is not as funny as it thinks it is!
NO FATHERS IN KASHMIR
This powerful story written and directed by Ashvin Kumar tells the story of a young British teenager called Noor (Zara Webb), who travels to Kashmir with her mother to meet her grandparents for the first time. It is a journey of discovery especially after she meets Majid (Shivam Raina), who leads her to the woods nearby the place where their parents amongst thousands of other men have “disappeared”…
A story told with passion by Kumar who also plays a significant role in this superbly photographed film. The pace occasionally needs to be sharper but overall it is a very impressive work from a budding filmmaker!
THE GRUDGE
Nicolas Pesce the director of PIERCING gives a new lease of life to the remarkable Japanese horror franchise created by Takashi Shimizu in 2002. There have been many versions since then including a few American remakes. This one begins in Tokyo, 2004 and follows the story of an American woman, who still haunted by the vengeful ghost returns home to her family. A couple of years later the body count escalates and Detective Muldoon (Andrea Riseborough) is determined to solve the case…
It is an intriguing and hugely atmospheric film cleverly constructed by Pesce, who plays with time while telling the story from different perspectives. This fragmented device works well before all the pieces of the whole jigsaw come together. The handpicked cast including Demian Bichir, John Cho and Jacki Weaver deliver dedicated performances in this superior horror that will satisfy fans of the genre.
THE HOLY MOUNTAIN
Following the recent restoration of EL TOPO Arrow Films continue their stellar work with another re-issue of Alexandro Jodorowsky work made in 1973. The shocking and dream like tale of “The Alchemist” (played by Jodorowsky) leader and guru of a group of loyal pilgrims in quest of spiritual enlightenment. Provocative and deeply stylised images of Christ like figures, slaughtered animals and castrations that will shock and mesmerise in equal measure.
There is no equal to Jodorowsky’s vision and imagination and his distinct designs make Fellini’s movies look more like MARY POPPINS.
BAD BOYS FOR LIFE
The original BAD BOYS made in 1995 was fresh and fun while the sequel already looked tired and outdated back in 2003. Now does the world really need yet another adventure from this weary duo? Directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah make up in energy in what the story line lacks in comprehension and focus despite the fact that six writers have been recruited to develop plot and characters. Marcus Burnett (Martin Laurence) and Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) join a special team of the Miami police department in order to bring down a vicious drug cartel…
Many unconnected scenes in the first half which also has a feeling of déjà vu before the explosive climactic sequence desperately struggles to bring the whole film together.
PAW PATROL: READY RACE ESCAPE
This Canadian animation feature from Nickelodeon provides amicable fun for smaller undemanding children and thankfully it doesn’t outstay its welcome. The team of the lovable rescue dogs are delighted to become the pit crew of their racing hero The Whoosh. But first they have to outsmart The Cheetah, who never fails to repeat her favourite catchphrase “If you can’t beat them cheat them”…
It may lack the sophistication of Pixar but overall it is unpretentious fun despite the loud shouting voiceover work.
DVD Releases:
CREEPY: As the title suggests this psychological thriller is suitably creepy. The action follows the story of criminal psychologist and former police detective Takakura (Hidetoshi Nishijima) who moves to a new home in a quiet suburban area in Tokyo with his wife Yasuko (Yuko Takeuchi) hoping for a fresh beginning. Yasuko is keen to meet her neighbours including the mysterious and ever so slimy Mr Nishino (Teruyuki Kagawa).
Writer/director Kiyoshi Kurosawa wisely takes his time in setting up the situation and introducing his characters before things get out of control. Intriguing and hugely atmospheric!
VIGILANTE: Darren Bolton originally made this into a short before he developed it into a full feature. Perhaps he should have left it as it was because the story of Pep (Simon Cassidy) a Neighbourhood Watch enthusiast who takes the law into his own hands feels repetitive and overextended. However, the fly on the wall kind of pseudo-documentary is a good idea with a committed performance from Cassidy as the self-proclaimed local hero.
