Compliance (2012 90min.) [Film4 11.20pm &+1]
Thriller based on a true story, starring Ann Dowd and Dreama Walker. A man claiming to be a police officer calls a diner and asks the manager to assist in detaining a female employee who is accused of theft. But his instructions on how to deal with the suspect become increasingly heavy-handed.
There's an interesting idea at the heart of this film - the role of authority figures in our lives and how much trust and faith we place in them.
Sadly, even at an hour and a half, this idea is stretched far too thin and the story becomes a little repetitive and lacking in interest as a result.
It also wanders a little too close to old fashioned exploitation in several scenes for comfort.
Dreama Walker is excellent in the lead role but she could have done with a better supporting cast and script to make an average film into a very good one.
and also, Film4's Kurosawa mini-season ends with
Sanjuro (1962 91min.) [Film4 1.05am friday &+1]
Nine naive young warriors plan to overthrow the corrupt officials who rule their town, but prove hopelessly ill-equipped for the task. An unkempt wandering samurai comes to their aid, tutoring them in the harsh realities of fighting and honour. Akira Kurosawa's action adventure sequel to Yojimbo, starring Toshiro Mifune and Tatsuya Nakadai. In Japanese.
For the most part this is a light hearted romp compared to the full-on drama of Yojimbo. The film makers have a lot of fun with the conventions of the samurai and period costume drama while telling a slight but entertaining story.
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