Movie Review - Recipe For A Perfect Christmas

Recipe For A Perfect Christmas

AKA Smothered

2005

The Cast

  

Even though this is a story about a romance between a Food Critic and a Chef the alternate title for the movie is a better choice to describe the film (and then it's not the best) for a couple of reasons.

Firstly, though the romance is okay and it does add to the heartwarming atmosphere of the film it takes second place to the relationship between Mother (Baranski) and Food Critic daughter (Pope).  I really did enjoy the cracked and broken relationship they have formed after the death of the husband and father and neither one knew how to cope with his passing.  The only trouble being that it doesn't quite feel right and lacks in believability. Though each of the actresses is great in their portrayals of a happy fun loving Mom and a no-nonsense career-minded daughter; when the reason for their separation is revealed even their characterisations can't sustain the believability.

Secondly, the romance isn't really believable. When the chef asks for a review from the food critic she manipulates him into taking her mother out on dates, so as to keep her out of her hair so she can complete her column before the deadline.  He takes Mommy out on a few dates and he likes her.  Though the writer and director try to sideline the audience into thinking they could be a couple, they add a couple of scenes that show the Chef's slight (and it is only slight) interest in the daughter.  What the story needed were a few more similar scenes where their relationship blossoms and blooms.  Unfortunately, this doesn't happen and it makes the story and film feel awkward at times.  This could have been a better movie.

This is one to watch if there's nothing else on or your snowed in during a blizzard and have caught up on everything else.  Be aware that this is a Romance Movie set around Christmastime and not really a Christmas Movie.

I give this romance a not so soppy 5.75 out of 10.

The Film Clip

Movie Review - A Nanny For Christmas

 A Nanny For Christmas

2010

The Cast

This is an above average Christmas film to make you feel happy and full of the joy of the season.  It tells the story of Ally (Vaugier), an advertising executive who loses her job just weeks before Christmas.  Unable to pay the bills and mortgage she asks her friend, Tina (Thompson) for a lending hand, as her sister works for a top Advertising Agency.  Unfortunately, there's some confusion in what positions she's applying for and instead of getting a job in the company Ally is hired to Nanny the bosses kids.

One of the saving graces of the film is that the kids are not nasty.  So many of these types of film have the children being shown that it's better to be nice than naughty, so as to avoid Santa's naughty list.  So what we have is a heartwarming tale of a family pulled apart by ambition and career finding their way back to the right track and getting their priorities straight.

The acting, on the whole, is pretty decent, though there are a few moments where Cain does a good job of hamming it up.  I'm not too sure if this is intentional, though, for me, the film would have been stronger if his character had been straight and not over the top - as the comedic value was lost to the film.

Overall, this is a nice Christmas film that I would recommend to all who love this time of year.  It's also a nice family drama and romance, so if you enjoy them then grab a hot chocolate and put your feet up this winter and enjoy. 

I give this a nice and cosy 6.25 out of 10.

Trailer

Movie Review - London Road

London Road

2015

BBC Films / Cuba Pictures

BBC Two

5.25 / 10

This musical is based on the National Theatre stage production which is based on actual events that took place in London Road Ipswich.

In 2006, London Road had a problem with prostitutes who had moved into their street.  Not only were the working girls touting for business but they were having sex in view of the residents.  Then five of the women's bodies were found and one of their neighbours was charged and convicted of the offence.  This is the story of the residents' thoughts and feelings during the incident and their attempt to recover from the stigmatism which was caused.

Musicals aren't my favourite type of movie though I did like the classics.  Though the music and songs are more contemporary in this film.  Unfortunately, it's that same music and songs that injure the film.  I liked the idea of the songs encompassing and including the tenants' actual comments, however, there just isn't enough of them and the lyrics end up being repeated too much.  This repetition is very annoying and nearly had me turning it off a couple of times.  It would have been nice if Adam Cork, who composed the music, had spread his wings a little more as most of the songs are very similar and add to the monotonous feel.

Luckily the filming by director Rufus Norris is interesting and well crafted to suit the music and songs, as well as the narrative when you have the residents speaking.  It's also these acting sequences that hold the film together as the are very well skilled at their craft.  It's these elements and not the musical ones that make you relate to the characters and understand just what they were going through.

If it hadn't been a musical then I believe this would have been a much greater film.

If you like contemporary musicals this may be for you.  If you're thinking about watching this for members of the cast - Olivia Coleman or Tom Hardy, be aware that they are not in this film for long.  In fact, none of the cast is, and I like the movie more because of this.  Each actors playing the residents appear to have the same screen time.  Though, if you're a studying filmmaker or you're just interested in well-made and shot movies then I'd recommend this for you.

Free Kindle Drama Novel

The Tao Of Touring

By Rod Lawless (with illustrations by Rachel Bryant)

This is not a book for the average reader. It could stretch you, offend you and may even make you ask questions. If you don't intend contemplating what's within the pages, it's probably not for you. This is more a philosophical and esoteric investigation into life than merely a fictional work. In many stories, the character gains a different perspective on life. Taken to heart, this publication has the potential to do that for the reader too. Maybe you want fiction, but are also interested in science and metaphysics and desire something to delve into. If so, step inside.

Brandon has been given 'bad' news. Instead of going to pieces he goes to France, a final motorcycle ride to ponder philosophy, Taoism and life and experience freedom.

What appears to be a chance meeting sends his plan awry. He is shown a book that makes him contemplate and question reality, and finds himself on a metaphysical quest for truth. Just how much of life can we rely on? Does what people believe make a difference? Is all existence as we know it, an illusion?

As reflective teachings open up for him, he discovers accepting 'what is' to be a more important choice than 'what could be'. If his thoughts do create the world, as Buddha said, what is he thinking to make someone want him dead?

Click Here To Collect

Movie Review - Signed Sealed Delivered: The Impossible Dream

Signed Sealed Delivered

The Impossible Dream

2015

Moon Water Productions / Muse Entertainment Enterprises : The Hallmark Channel / Muse Distribution International

8 / 10

This movie is the apotheosis of what the series represents.  In the film, not only are the issues of hope when things appear blackest are addressed but so are the concepts of sacrifice, love, obsession, and truth above all else.  All of this is Signed Sealed Delivered in the usual heartwarming package that leaves you with a warm feeling and thinking that everything is right with the world.

The writers, Matha Williamson (the stories creator) and Brandi Harkonen do another wonderful job as intertwining a myriad of events into an enjoyable show.  This is actually a continuation and conclusion of the story from "Truth Be Told" as the Postables are taken before a Closed Senate Committee regarding national security.  As they tell their story, in a roundabout fashion of information that's come into their possession concerning the whereabouts of Lieutenant Randilynn Amidon; the missing mother of  Pheobe from the last film.  Their testimonies are interspersed with scenes of Lieutenant Amidon in Afghanistan.  All of this coincides with the Postal Pageant to find the next Miss Special Delivery, in which Rita is enrolled.  If this isn't enough then Steve, Shane's old love, is back and helping the team to find the missing Lieutenant.

On the whole, all of this is handled superbly, and I particularly loved the opening titles with the Postables marching side by side into the Committee meeting, the bit with Norman brought a smile to my face and a laugh to my throat.  Director Kevin Fair does some nice shots and segues, however, there are some sections which let the film down a little and these are mainly confined to the outdoor Afghanistan scenes.  If it weren't for these then I may have given the film a Ten.

The cast once again is impeccable and right on target with their characters and their portrayals.  Mark Valley gives off the right sense of power and swarthiness that you can understand what Shane saw in him.  Zak Santiago is back as the brilliant Ramon Rodriguez.  Christina Bianco is great as Mindy, one of the contestants in the pageant, and boy does she can wail.

Do I recommend watching this movie, I do and strongly.  However, because of the characters and their back stories, I think you would get better enjoyment from this movie if you had watched the series and previous movies.  It's well worth it.

Movie Review - Signed Sealed Delivered: Truth Be Told

Signed Sealed Delivered

Truth Be Told

2015

Moon Water Productions / Muse Entertainment Enterprises : The Hallmark Channel

9.25 / 10

I am pleased to say that the writing team of Martha Williamson and Brandi Harkonen are back on track after the previous episode, which resolved Oliver's estranged marriage.

They have managed to put the series back on track as they revert to the tried and true structure.  The main story is that of the lost letter, with the postables lives taking second place.  In this movie, the lost letter comes from a military officer stationed in Afghanistan.  The letter is to her daughter...

The story does a very good job of telling a story of loss, hope, and heartbreaking truth.  Back on the home front, we learn more about Oliver and his past as his father comes home to visit with some shocking and groundbreaking news.  It also seems that Oliver's wife is not the only family member he's estranged from.  There's so much going on in this episode that it should keep you entertained.

The direction is up to par with the previous episodes as Kevin Fair is still in the Directors chair and the resident cast is consistently good and builds their characters and ongoing relationships well.  The extra cast of Gregory Harrison as Oliver's Father, Joe O'Toole; Megan Charpentier as Phoebe Amidon, and William B Davis as Harper, Pheobe's Grandfather; are very good in their roles, especially Charpentier. 

If you've watched the previous episodes of the movies and series then you should like this one, though if you're not familiar with Signed Sealed Delivered then I would recommend watching from the start as it's the best way to relate to the characters... and it's worth it.

 

Video Nasty - Man From Deep River

Man From Deep River

1972

AKA: Sacrifice

AKA: Deep River Savages

Roas Produzioni / Medusa Distribuzione : International Trading / Shriek Show

5 / 10

Though this made it onto the Video Nasties list when it was released and classified as a horror film I must admit to finding little horror in it at all.  It is more of a drama, with gore, about a photographer in the Thailand jungle who is captured and subsequently brought into the tribe where he has to marry the chief's daughter to stay alive.

It also isn't a bad movie...

The major trouble with the film is that it's all staged, which means the scene's of animal cruelty are real.  With other films of this ilk, most of the cruelty scene's were filmed by a third party for documentary reasons, though added to the movies for entertainment; you can usually notice the difference in film quality.  So the cockfight and the snake vs mongoose are real, though I'm unsure at to the decapitation of the monkey skull so they eat the brains, as there is a cut which may indicate they changed out for special effects - one can always hope.

However, at the heart of the film is the change in John Bradley's (Ivan Rassimov) character from being a captive to a reluctant member of the tribe to a fully fledged tribe member, thrown into the mix is the love story between himself and Maraya (Me Me Lai).

It's not a fantastic film though Umberto Lenzi directs nicely, though I think the steady pace is a little too slow at times.  It is beautifully filmed and I like that Lenzi filmed it in vivid colour and resisted making it more grimy and gritty.  However, this beauty has a downside some of the sets are too clean and structured, not what you would expect to find in the middle of a jungle.  The actors aren't too bad either and do a respectful job of bringing the tribe to life and showing their traditions and day to day living habits.

I really wouldn't recommend anybody to watch the film as it falls between the gaps trying to please everybody.  For example, for an adventure, it's too slow so if you like adventure films you may not like this.  The love story, which is more suited to this pace, at times could have made a decent "chick-flick" in its own right, though I don't think lovers of this style of film would enjoy the torture and cruelty aspects of the adventure. 

Nergling - The Video Nasties Scare - The Man From Deep River

Movie Review - Dragon Hunter

Dragon Hunter

2009

Ground Glass Entertainment / Dragon Hunter Films : Cinedigm / IndieReign / Koan / Metrodome Video Ltd.

5 / 10

Since this is a story about a man who is a Dragon Hunter in a world of Orcs, Elves, and Dragons you would expect to find this review in the Fantasy section.  However, as a fantasy film, it pretty well sucks.  The Dragon is only in the movie for a few minutes and the orcs you see are just a band of five, dispatched in seconds, and the special effects for them are quite weak, they're just men in masks.  The Dragon, on the other hand, is a pretty decent CGI for a low budget flick.

Realising the budget wouldn't be so large the writer and director, Stephen Shimek, decided to make it about the journey of brothers Darius and Kendrick, played strongly by Erik Denton and Maclain Nelson respectively, take to get to the Castle Okarda to train the last Dragon Hunter.  On the way, they for alliances with a band of soldiers who accompany them on their mission.

As a drama, it's an above-average film with some really nice camera shots.  I particularly liked the way Shimek created the love scene between Darius and the Elfin Raya, portrayed elegantly by Kelly Stables.  There's a nice chemistry between the pair and as they move in for their first kiss a rain shower starts, and you know what the rain drop hitting the leaf really represents.

The actors have above average acting skills and give the most to their roles.

The only things that irked me were the amount of time the journey took; they walked a lot... and must have passed the same tree at least three times, this slowed the film down quite a bit... not to the point of boredom, but close.  Then there was the swordplay when the Hunter was training.  It would've been advisable to bring in an expert to show them how to wield a sword correctly.

This is not a fast and action-packed movie it's a slow meander through the fantasy realm and therefore not for everyone.  I enjoyed it thought I wouldn't rush to watch it again... or ever.

If there's nothing else to watch and you can't get out the house for some reason, then this could pass the time quite well.

Movie Review - Signed Sealed Delivered: From Paris With Love

Signed Sealed Delivered

From Paris With Love

2015

Moon Water Productions / Muse Entertainment Enterprises / Muse Entertainment LLC : Hallmark Movies & Mysteries / Muse Distribution International

6.75 / 10

I was looking forward to this episode in the Signed Sealed Delivered series as soon as I read the title, "From Paris With Love" ... at last Oliver will have to deal with his estranged wife and their future together... or not!

I was right, but I was so wrong.

There are three stories in this movie, not only does Oliver (Eric Mabius) have to choose his future but his and his wife Holly's outcome affects Shane (Kristin Booth) in a way that she had perfidiously told herself wasn't real; so she has to face up to the truth of her feelings.  Them there's the story of a husband and wife going through tough times and whose marriage was on the rocks.  Could trouble be waiting around the corner when The Postables deliver the divorce papers he signed years earlier?

There's quite a bit to be resolved in this episode and though the creator Martha Williamson wrote the story with Brandi Harkonen (both have strong stories in the TV series, and Williamson's were always the best of the bunch) this film feels as flat as Lassie - run over by a Steamroller.  I even found one of the characters rather irksome.  Holly O'Toole (played by Poppy Montgomery) is a very two-dimensional character when compared to all the others in the cast.  Though I am uncertain if this is the writers' or director's fault or their vision of the character or that Montgomery couldn't portray the character correctly.

Then there's the plainly obvious fact that there's NO chemistry between Holly and Oliver.  This is as shame as it would have added an interesting dynamic to the story.  It's actually hard to believe why they married each other, even with the flashbacks there's just not enough between them.

I wouldn't believe it could have been either the writers' fault or the director's because of the strength of previous stories, however, the story of the husband and wife isn't as deep or as strong as it should have been.  We, the audience, should have felt for them as we have felt for previous dead letter receivers.  Except for this time, instead of this being the main story it actually feels more like an aside, it's told and resolved so fast that no drama or tension is created.  This in itself is highly unusual for the series.

So with just these three problems the usually happy and warm atmosphere is quite diminished and verges on nonexistent.  Thank God for Rita (Crystal Lowe) and Norman (Geoff Gustafson) as they keep this atmosphere ticking over.  Poor Norman may have an opponent in the affections for Rita, in the shape and sound of heavily accented Ramon Rodriguez (joyously portrayed by Zak Santiago who keeps the character teetering on the edge of over-the-top).

So I will hope and pray this movie is the exception to the rule and that the next instalment will have me smiling with joy... through the tears.

If you've watched the other episodes then give this a watch to tie-up loose ends.  Though if you've not watched any then I'd stay clear of this one until you've caught up.  It's not really a stand-alone episode, and not reflective of how good the series is.

Movie Review - Signed Sealed Delivered: For Christmas

Signed Sealed Delivered

For Christmas

2014

Moon Water Productions / Muse Entertainment Enterprises : The Hallmark Channel / Muse Distribution International

8.25 / 10

This is the first of the TV movies about The Postables; Oliver O'Toole (Eric Mabius), Shane McInerney (Kristin Booth), Rita Haywith (Crystal Lowe), and Norman Dorman (Geoff Gustafson) - and what better way to kick them off than with the Christmas Special... and what a Christmas Special.

Jordan Marley, played by Rob Estes, turns up at the Post Office and introduces himself to the team and hands them a lost letter which needs their utmost attention.  At Christmastime, more than any other, the deadline to find the recipient of the letter is more important.  Which becomes even more so when the recipient isn't Father Christmas... but God!

This Christmas the team have to pull off a Christmas Miracle when they come across the sender and find the reason for the letter.

Oliver is revisited by an old memory of a bleak Christmas Past and the samaritan who helped him through the hard times.  We learn of Shane's reluctance to celebrate Christmastime as a religious occasion.

How will the team bring light to the darkness threatening the season?

The writers of the special, Brandi Harkonen, Kerry Lenhart, and John J Sakmor along with the creator Martha Williamson, who wrote the teleplay do a wonderful job of keeping the characters and their backstories going, adding to the family feeling of the cast.

As always, they keep the heartwarming and joyful atmosphere simmering throughout the movie, even though they are dealing with some austere subject matters, including death, loss, and loneliness.

The actors are on the mark with their characters and appear to have no difficulties in bringing them to life in a longer format.  If anything, the longer format suits this program much better.  Forty-five minutes was good but with double the time, you get more detail in the storytelling and time to build characters.  There's even a nice cameo from Marion Ross (Mrs Cunningham from Happy Days) as Oliver's old school teacher... what could be better(?)

If you like Christmas movies then this is one that should be on your list to watch; it's made mine.  If you want a movie with a heart that will make you feel good then this is worth a watch.  Merry Christmas To All...

Series Review - Signed Sealed Delivered

Signed Sealed Delivered

2014

One Season Of Ten Episodes Before Becoming Regular TV Movies.

Moon Water Productions / Muse Entertainment Production / Special Delivery TeleProductions : The Hallmark Channel / Muse Distribution International

9.25 / 10

This program is one of my guilty pleasures.  It's a fantastically schmaltzy good-natured and light-humoured tale of four postal workers who's everyday job weaves them into the lives, troubles and tribulations of people and their relevant happy-ending outcomes.

Oliver O'Toole is the die-hard postal worker who loves his job and carries it out to his own regimen; Eric Mabius does a brilliant job bringing a loving and caring personality to him, who is so staid you can only tell his emotions by his demeanour or his loss for words.  This is a beautiful character, who has a subtle deepness to him, very well crafted by writer and creator Martha Williamson.

Kristin Booth portrays Shane McInerney or as Oliver always calls her Miss McInerney.  Shane is the technical advisor who has been newly appointed to the department, she is self-assured and often butts heads with Oliver, usually concerning his routine and dislike of technology.  Though the chemistry between them is palpable right from their first meeting.

Norman Xavier Dorman is the brilliant but slow-on-the-emotional-uptake colleague, who is in charge of tracking down addresses based on the minimal of clues.  Geoff Gustafson is exemplary in this role as he can wear a plethora of bemused and confused faces; he's also given the character a set of hand gestures for when he's nervous or thinking.  Martha Williamson has created a great personality in Norman Dorman.

Last, but not least is Rita Haywith, who is a shy and retiring person always eager to help... and hopelessly in love with Norman, which she portrays and says in her own way, though Norman never really catches on.  Crystal Lowe is great as the gawky assistant with a good heart and will.

These four work in the Dead Letter Office.  The place where wrongly addressed, unreadable, or damaged mail lands.  It's then up to Oliver and his team to get those pieces of mail to their relevant addresses.  If this cannot be deduced by the front or rear of the envelope then they are allowed to open it and read the contents, but only to the point where a delivery address can be confirmed.

It's on Shanes arrival that a new rule is implemented and the team go the extra distance by getting personally involved and going the extra mile to get the mail to its intended target.  This includes helping a Grandmother find her Grandson before a killer can; find an Afghanistan veteran who believes he doesn't deserve his life; help two soul-mates to rekindle their love; Help a father find his Son and Granddaughter; Help a Mother to bring her estranged Daughters together; Help a Father to understand his daughter better; Revive a musician's life, memory, and love; Give a Father a means to save his Daughter and better understand his dead wife; Reunite a child with his twin Brother and Mother...  It is also on Shane's arrival that the dynamic between the team begins to evolve and grow.  Both Norman and Rita start to come out of their shells and their relationship starts to slowly... ever so slowly... bloom.  Oliver starts to realise he has to start coping with his emotions and feelings over his estranged wife.

Though not all the stories have completely happy endings - tissues will be needed - the overall feeling at the finale of each episode is one of hope, warmth, and surety that everything will work out okay.  In this day and age, this is a hard thing to do without making it feel silly and unrealistic.  However, Williamson and the writing team on the series, do a brilliant job of giving the audience a more than satisfactory ending, each time, and leaving them with a warm feeling in their hearts.

There's nothing too fantastic about the direction of the episodes, no fancy shots or camera angles or coloured filters (the closest you get is a close-up of Oliver in the pouring rain, at night, soaking wet, pondering if he should post a letter or not).  This is a good thing though as what makes this series such a wonder is the stories and the characters.

I would recommend curling up with a loved one on a cold night with a hot cup of chocolate and just let yourself be carried away on the joyfulness for forty-five minutes...  Maybe this can be one of your guilty pleasures too.

Movie Review - Secrets Of The Summer House

Secrets Of The Summer House

(2008)

Incendo Productions : Incendo Media / Lifetime Movie Network

5 / 10

Since this is a television movie the subject matter has been toned down.  This would have made a good average budget DVD release movie and could have handled the matter a little more accordingly.

That said, the director, Jean-Claude Lord (who directed Visiting Hours (1982) and Second Chances (2010) - reviewed in my blogs), does an amiable job with the story by John Benjamin Martin and Donald David Martin.

This is a ghost story, but due to lack of horror elements and the amount of time it takes to get to the ghostly action, it is more of a drama.  This has so much of a TV movie feel to it.  The characters are stereotypical; you can see the twists coming; and the characters relationships are pretty standard and have been done a thousand times before.  Nevertheless, the actors and the director do make the film watchable... and at times, enjoyable.

Lindsey Price who plays the lead role of Nikki Wickersham gives a passable rendition of a troubled woman who loses her husband, though it's not played as a tear-jerker.  Nikki's friend, Margie Mancuso (played by Sadie LeBlanc) and her handyman boyfriend (Niall Matter) are pretty realistic and believable, to a point - this is a TV Movie, after all.

It's the lack of direction the story takes which is a stalling point for the film.  It sits uncomfortably between, drama, thriller, mystery, and horror.  This makes it a bland affair, had the writers or the director chosen just one path to take this could have been better.  It needed to be spookier with more tension.  The mysterious elements could have been heightened and extended upon.  Because the cause of the haunting is hateful, terrible, and unpleasant it was required to be much darker than portrayed here.

If there's nothing on the telly and hell has frozen over, then you could do worse than watch this film.

Movie Review - My Old Lady

My Old Lady

(2014)

BBC Films / Cohen Media Group : BBC Two / Curzon Film World / Universal Pictures Entertainment.

8.25 / 10

The trailer for this film pushes it towards being a comedy, though what you actually get is a profound observation of life and the ways that our decisions have effects on others, sometimes not for the best.

The story starts out on a comedic level with Kevin Kline's character, Mathias Gold (which he portrays charmingly), turning up at an apartment in Paris, which his father owned, only to find an old lady living there.  Mathilde Girard, played perfectly by Maggie Smith, is the tenant who had sold her apartment to Gold's father on a life lease; this means he has to pay her a monthly stipend until she dies, at which point the apartment then becomes his.  This stipend now passes onto Mathias.

Being in desperate need of money he decides to go ahead and sell the apartment along with the ongoing contract.  However, as we progress through the film we are introduced to Mathilde Girard's daughter, Chloe who is portrayed beautifully by Kristin Scott Thomas, who is utterly opposed to both Gold and his plans.

As the obstacles build up to his scheme other secrets and lies are revealed which takes the movie into a melancholic and bittersweet province.  This adds depths to all the characters as they start to reveal their true selves and feelings towards one another.

Credit is due to the main actors as they pull this off seamlessly and make you empathise with them.  The writer of the play, as well as this screenplay and director of the film, Israel Horovitz does a magnificent job of taking everyday life and placing it under a microscope.  The change from comedic to bittersweet is so smooth and realistic that it draws the audience into the film more without them realising that the entire attitude has changed.

The only thing I found slightly irksome was the happy ending.  This is certainly one way the story could go, but there are a couple of others too - one, not so happy - the other, totally bleak.  With the feel of the story towards the end, I think the happy ending was thrown in to let the audiences know that everything works out in the end...  However, this is not the sentiment at the heart of the movie, because of this the ending feels strange and a little strained.

This is a wonderful piece of storytelling and film-making and is worth a viewing, especially if you like to see life as it really is.

Movie Review - Stonehearst Asylum

Stonehearst Asylum

(2014)

Icon Productions / Sobini Films : Lionsgate / Millennium Entertainment

7.5 / 10

From a master of mystery & suspense, comes a journey into the dark depths of the mind...

...well not exactly.

This is based on a short story by Edgar Allan Poe, "The System Of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether."  The term here is "based".  Because they've tagged on Poe's name they've made it into the horror genre without making a horror film.  In fact. there's not much mystery or suspense in this movie either.

Don't get me wrong this is a solid story with a great cast of British actors, including good performances from Kate Beckinsale as Eliza Graves, Ben Kingsley as Silas Lamb, David Thewlis as Mickey Finn, Jason Flemyng as Swanwick, and Jim Sturgess as Edward Newgate.  Brad Anderson also does a good job of bringing out the performances of the cast and setting a decent atmosphere within the confines of the asylum, not as unsettling and mysterious as it should have been, though.

There was plenty of settings and scenes where Anderson could have created tension and suspense, which could have added an oppressive atmosphere to the asylum, making the film stronger and a little darker.  For me, this film was too light and required more sense of mystery, given the synopsis of the story - there could have been twist on twist. 

However, the main storyline was the blossoming love story.  This annoyed me as the stronger elements were pushed to the side and even ignored - with all that is lacking in this film, I believe it's more drama than anything else.

That said, the story was okay but it was the good acting, direction, and location, which kept my attention and my finger from hitting the stop button.

A good film but could have been so much more.

Worth a watch while cuddled up with your loved one on the sofa.  A watch once movie.

Movie Review - The Lone Ranger

The Lone Ranger 

(2013)

Walt Disney Pictures / Jerry Bruckheimer Films / Silver Bullet Productions : Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures / Buena Vista Home Entertainment

6.5 / 10

As a kid, I remember watching the old black and white television series at my Nan's while mum and dad did their shopping.  Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels bringing much-needed justice to the wild west.  In 1981 they brought out The Legend Of The Lone Ranger, another big budget movie, for its time, and I remember I enjoyed that too.  So when this was released I had to watch it, after all, it was The Lone Ranger, starring one of my favourite actors, Johnny Depp...

...  However...

This is the most ludicrous telling of The Lone Ranger mythos ever filmed.  It verges on the insane and stupid.  It definitely feels as though they had too much money in the budget to burn and they did just that with the completely farcical CGI, of which there is way too much.  In one section it looks like the director was trying to better the awesome, and equally silly, horseback running of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, by having The Lone Ranger ride Silver on top of the train carriages and then through them; it's just not awesome, just silly.

Poor Johnny Depp's acting skills seem to now range from Jack Sparrow to Native American Jack Sparrow, even the headdress he wears gives his silhouette an all-to-familiar feel.  He's also brought across Helena Bonham Carter from his directing buddy Tim Burton.  It's a shame though as it appears only Mr Burton can give these two good actors decent enough characters to push them into giving a great performance.  

Unfortunately, the director here, Gore Verbinski, can only manage mediocre performances from the talented cast.  The worst thing being the actual acting scenes.  These look to have been added so the actors can actually stretch their acting legs a little.  These scenes though appear boring and dull, nearly to the extreme.  I think the main problem is there's not much characterisation to be done, apart from Tonto... and one man cannot hold a film of this size together.  The other characters should have been deeper and better thought out.  When you have a cast like this use them to their best potential, even if you need a rewrite, or two, to do it.  Spend the budget there and not the needless CGI segments.

So why the average rating if I didn't like the movie?  Well, there are a few things which give the mythos of The Lone Ranger a more powerful storyline.  Tonto's story is the prime example; as far as I remember no film or television series touched on why Tonto is called Tonto (which means fool); in this telling, there's a perfectly good and plausible explanation for his naming.  There's also a nice spiritual side with The Lone Ranger's horse, Silver, actually being a Spirit Horse who chooses which ranger to bring back from the dead, after Cavendish's ambush.

The comedy, which mainly comes from Johnny Depp, is right on point and pretty funny.  There are also some great Iconic moments in the film, especially Tonto standing at the top of a ladder on a speeding train, once you see it you'll understand.

So it's these issues that raise the film out of the doldrums to become a "watch once" film, possibly on a wet Sunday afternoon, after a decent dinner, and with the family.

Movie Review - Starred Up

Starred Up (2013)

Film4 / Creative Scotland / Northern Ireland Screen / Sigma Films : 20th Century Fox / Tribeca Film

2.5 / 10

This is a hard-hitting film based on the story of Eric Love, portrayed brilliantly by the talented Jack O'Connell, who is "Starred Up" - transferred from a young offenders institute to an adult prison, due to his violent behaviour.  Eric finds he has been moved to the same prison in which his father is incarcerated.  Their relationship is a troubled and loveless one, based on hate, mistrust and misunderstanding.  You think this would make for some interesting situations, though the writer, Jonathan Asser, missed the opportunity to add some depth into the characters and story. 

So what you have is a bleak and violent movie without any reason or story - it starts and ambles on through to the end - this had the possibility to be as good as Scum.  After watching it I had to ask myself what I had taken from this film?  The answer was, unfortunately, nothing.

The acting, other than Jack O'Connell was average or below.  The direction was mediocre at best and brought nothing to the telling of the story.

Only if you're a fan of Jack O'Connell then maybe watching this film once would be of interest to you, though I cannot see who this film would interest.

Movie Review - Matinee

Matinee (1993)

Universal Pictures / Renfield Productions / Falcon Productions : American Broadcasting Corporation / Image Entertainment / MCA Universal Home Video

6 / 10

This is a strange film that sits in a weird void between genres and styles and thus doesn't seem to work quite as well as Joe Dante's other works.  The good thing is that you can tell this is a Joe Dante film, so if you liked Gremlins, Small Soldiers, Innerspace, etc, then you will probably enjoy this tale.

It's set at the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis and try's to build on the troubles and worries of the people at this period in time.  Enter Lawrence Woolsey, played enthusiastically by John Goodman and his assistant Ruth Corday, portrayed by Cathy Moriarty, who is in town to promote his new B-movie "MANT!", for which he is also pushing "Atomo-Vision".  Then there's the story of the town's teenagers, who become involved in helping Woolsey in his venture.  However, this is where the story starts to fall flat as some of these tales are bland, to the point of boring.  Simon Fenton, playing Gene Loomis, gives an okay performance.  Though the rest of the younger cast are below average, which is a shame as Omri Katz did good work on Hocus Pocus and Eerie, Indiana; and Kellie Martin who has given decent performances throughout her ongoing career.  Robert Picardo gives a wonderful comic performance as the Theater Manager, Howard, who is more interested in the Crisis than what's happening in his movie theatre.

There are some good scenes in the film, especially concerning the B-movie "MANT!", and Joe Dante's direction, John Goodman's and Robert Picardo's acting keep it just interesting enough to keep your finger off the stop and eject button.

If one Sunday winter afternoon there's nothing on worth watching and this appears in the guide, then I would say, "grab a coffee and some chocky biscuits, settle down and chill to this movie."

Trailer

MANT! Trailer

MANT! (Short Film)

Movie Review - Lost Letter Mysteries

Lost Letter Mysteries

aka Signed Sealed Delivered

Love and Tragedy [Pilot Episode]

Front Street Pictures / Muse Entertainment Enterprises : Hallmark / MovieMax Family

2013

9.5 /10

This is a lovely well thought-out movie, that is well directed and superbly acted by a talented cast, headed by one of my favourite actors, Eric Mabius. who I originally saw in The Crow: Salvation.

I really loved the idea of the "Lost Letter Department" whose sole job is to get the undelivered mail to where it's intended destination.  If they cannot read the address on the envelope then they are allowed to open the letter, but they are only allowed to read as far as they need so they can deduce a delivery address, as it's a federal offense to tamper with mail.

In this case, though, they keep running into problems in determining the destination so they have to keep reading.  As they do the viewer is shown the story of the letter's writer and becomes embroiled in their tale.

The reason this works is the juxtaposition of the two ongoing stories, as well as the different characters within each.  It gives quite a lot of detail to keep you interested and entertained.

Eric Mabius plays Oliver O'Toole who is a stuffed shirt, but with a heart of gold.  He likes his rules and regulations though if there's a logical explanation to circumnavigate the rules to get the desired outcome, then he will.  He is a solid and strong character, a good lead.

Kristin Booth portrays Shane McInerney, "Miss McInerney" as Oliver likes to call her and the chemistry between them is nice.  She comes to the Lost Letter Department by accident and can only get redeployed to her desired department after a couple of months.  Even though she isn't good at hiding her disappointment, it's Shane who is pivotal in pushing the investigation to its conclusion.  It's her curiosity and enthusiasm that help make her a well thought-out character.

Then you have the two "Side-Kicks"  Rita Haywith and Norman Dorman, played nicely by Crystal Lowe and Geoff Gustafson.  These are the "Geeks" of the Lost Letter Department, but add a depth to the team, which makes the show stronger.

Even though there are some adult issues represented in the story these are handled with maturity and in a light manner.  This is not a doom and gloom show, and for that reason I loved it.

What works really well is the great direction, it cannot be easy to intertwine two stories and keep it well paced and smooth.  The director makes this look effortless, all adding to the enjoyability of the movie.

I would recommend this to everybody, especially the lovers of heart-warming tales.