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Reviews
Screen Two: The Grass Arena (1991)
A Truly Harrowing Film
A young, succesful boxer is given the ultimatum; give up alcohol, or a boxing career. As he chooses the latter, he settles down to a new 'life', among the down-and-outs of his local park. The brutality of this existence is brought home to the viewer on several occasions, as John (the main character) is both witness to, and the victim of several particularly violent assaults. During a brief spell in prison, he learns to play chess - which leads to a form of spiritual awakening. He walks away from "The Grass Arena", and competes in chess tournaments. Depressing in places, but ultimately inspiring and compelling, it shows us how we can all triumph over seemingly insurmountable odds.
Tomorrow Never Comes (1978)
Recommendation
Well worth seeing. The plot concerns the return of Frank (Stephen McHattie) to his home town, as he has been away working. In the meantime his girlfriend, Janie (Susan George) has moved out of their pokey apartment and into a beach-hut of a luxury hotel complex, owned by a rather unlikeable character, played by John Osborne (II).
Frank finds out she's been sleeping with the hotel's owner, and shoots a policeman who's been sent to the hut. Thus ensues a seige, with Raymond Burr, Donald Pleasence, and Oliver Reed sent along to help out.
I don't really know what exactly it is that I like about this film - possibly the naiive and innocent way Frank lives his life; by simply walking into one brick wall after another. Or maybe it's the "one man picnic" Oliver Reed has, where he decides to stage an impromptu beer commercial outside the hut (after they've cut off it's water supply).
Either way, if you've never watched this film before, I recommend you do. It also has an unhappy ending; for some reason, I prefer unhappy endings aswell.
Get Carter (1971)
Excellent British Gangster Film
A London-based gangster goes back to his roots in the North to attend the funeral of his brother.
The low-lifes of the North East, are portrayed faithfully enough by Ian Hendry, John Osborne, and Bryan Mosley. But, what I like most of all about this movie, is the way a grief-striken Jack (Caine) is compelled to declare war on roughly half of Newcastle's underworld... As I'm not permitted to include spoilers, I can't tell you the outcome of this warfare but I will say that it has an ending that's all too believable. There are some great lines uttered by Caine during the course of the film, as he uses all his wit to try to unravell the events surrounding his brother's demise - in fact, this film combines the atmosphere of a thriller, with many a humorous aside; all of which adds to it's entertainment value. All this, and a brilliant score aswell. A must-see film, which doesn't try to be like it's transatlantic counterparts and is all the better for it.
Nothing Lasts Forever (1984)
Weird And Wonderful
A truly bizarre film, but all the more entertaining because of it. Starts off in the style of a 1930s science fiction, and just seems to get stranger and stranger. I particularly liked the guided tour of the lunar surface for the paying tourists who laughed when their guide made a comment on the crashed Soviet probe she drew their attention to. The idea of native "moon people" (who look like native Hawaiians), also being another nice touch. Obviously, there was a very creative mind at work here.
Repulsion (1965)
Superior film-noir
A great film about a young neurotic woman who finally loses touch with reality altogether, to become psychotic. Set against the backdrop of swinging London, the main character (Deneuvre) is like a square peg in a round hole; never speaking unless she is spoken to, and seemingly disinterested in the advances made by her well-meaning suitor.
The life of a mentally ill person - it's vacuity, and pointlesness - are emphasised brilliantly in the film's screenplay and music. One can't forget the little things in this film, the way she stops to stare at a crack in the pavement ["am I cracking up?"], the potato which starts to sprout, the rabbit Deneuvre leaves out of the fridge and just forgets about (not to mention the halucinations and neurotic fantasies) - sheer brilliance on the part of whoever was responsible.
Another thing I like, is the way that Deneuvre never succumbs to histrionics, but just pretends that everything's alright all the time (or simply says nothing at all).
Probably, quite an accurate study of mental illness in it's own right.
Polanski's 1st film in Britain, and probably a 'classic'.
Ed Wood (1994)
Wacky, But All True.
I suppose it's all too easy to make a comedy film about the career of Edward D. Wood Junior (the producer of "Plan 9 From Outer Space" - one of the worst films ever made, apparently). I'd give "Ed Wood" 10/10, particularly for it's portrayal of the burnt out Bela Lugosi (who had practically both feet in the grave when Ed discovered him). Hillarious (all the more so, when one realises that nearly all this actually happened), and moving (Lugosi's treatment for drug addiction, followed by his death), this film can't help but be entertaining.
Kraft Mystery Theater: House of Mystery (1961)
An Approval
I saw this film a few years ago, and couldn't believe how frightening it is. I don't think I've seen anything that has given me the creeps quite so much. I also like the Irene Handl one-liner to her policeman husband, to the effect: "You'd better take your time going round there, so you don't get hurt". But seriously, the use of flashbacks within flashbacks, and the ending, also.
Le salaire de la peur (1953)
Excellent
This really is an excellent film; well worth seeing, at least once. Quite simply, a forgotten gem (that audiences in the U.S. would need subtitles to watch). The fact that these men driving the trucks could die at any second during the journey, plays on the mind to such an extent - I think that's the film's forte.
Guest House Paradiso (1999)
An Acquired Taste
Anyone who has watched "The Young Ones", "Filthy Rich And Catflap" or "Bottom", knows exactly what to expect from Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson. This film won't disappoint fans of their particular style of humour, but it is an acquired taste, as has been mentioned. I think, at the end of the day, that it's really poking fun at English pompousness, and our self-inflated view of where we stand in the overall scheme of things (or am I just trying to be clever here). The sight gags, such as this unfortunate dwelling's location, sandwiched between a sheer cliff face on one side and a rather ghaslty sprawling nuclear power plant on the other somehow grow one you; and end up just becoming too funny for words. There are some annoying scenes which do let the film down though, particularly the over-the-top tour de force of projectile vomitting from the guests (due to a "last supper" of radio-active fish) which culminates in a decidedly unfunny "Indiana Jones"-style escape down a corridor. Mayall and Edmondson had a good formula with this movie; if only they could have given it all a bit more thought aswell. The jazz composition from the Bonzo Dog Do Dah Band at the end, is a scream though.
Annie Hall (1977)
Overrated
I've seen this winner of the best picture OSCAR a number of times now, and I just give in. What do people see in Woody Allen, or this film? Most of the time, I found myself laughing out of politeness at most of the "gags", because this guy's supposed to be so hilarious. He's always going on about New York City, and how great it is and how stoopid everyone else is in comparison. (The kids in his class, for instance, in one of his flashbacks, who he kindly refers to as "jerks" (and he should know)). The kind of humour he uses is a form of inverted snobbery mixed with so much sentimentality it almost makes you sick. Maybe some people love that kind of thing. (I, for one can't stand it). All I can say is, if this production won the best picture OSCAR, I'd hate to think of whatever it is that came second.
Les visiteurs (1993)
Very Good.
A medieval french knight and his 'baldrick', are transported from the 12th century to present day France (1992). Extremely effective comedy of misunderstandings and manners in a bourgeious setting. Throughout most of the film the medieval duo are mistaken for a couple of harmless cranks, and until the knight discovers that the castle has been converted into a hotel and has a new owner, the film seems to be going no-where. Some hilarious set-pieces (the baldrick eating the cling-film along with a sandwich, and later on, cleaning his teeth at the table of a posh restaurant, gargling and finally spitting all over the table) are so funny because the medieval duo don't think they're doing anything wrong at all. Tres bien.
Dance of the Vampires (1967)
Ringing Endorsement
One of the best vampire movies I have ever watched. Doesn't fall into the trap of being unintentionally funny (, or so unfunny, it's just a bore to watch), but manages to combine lightheartedness and vampire horror surprisingly well and to a good, 'haunting' effect - there were obviously some talented people working behind the cameras. The acting is also a joy, not least from Ferdy Mayne and Iain Quarrier as the two resident vampires of the local Transylvannian castle. To conclude, it's hard to find a fault in a film this good (vampires being my pet subject aswell), that I'm surprised it's not talked about more often. The musical score by Christopher Komeda alone is enough to make one want to watch it more than once... The acting is particularly good, today's highly paid young thespians seem to perform like planks of wood in comparison to the likes of Alfie Bass and Jack MacGowran, and there are also no confusing computer-enhanced special effects (micro-chips were very thin on the ground in 1966) which seem to leave me at least feeling disorientated and baffled. The viewer is instead left to watch studio sets and costumes that a delight to behold! 10/10.