What Richard Did (2012 83min.) [Film4 11.15pm]
Freeview premiere
A wealthy teenager manages to seduce another student's girlfriend, but his confidence is shaken by her continuing friendship with her ex. His insecurity results in a violent confrontation that has unforeseen consequences, and leads to his seemingly charmed life rapidly falling apart. Drama, starring Jack Reynor and Roisin Murphy.
Directed by Lenny Abrahamson (who then went on to make the excellent Frank) this sombre and careful character study follows the descent of the title character (superbly played by newcomer Jack Reynor) as he travels from school golden boy to wretched, haunted misfit.
Seen by some as a parable for the journey the national psyche of the Irish nation went through during it's dramatic economic expansion and equally dramatic fall; it's an ensemble piece that relies on mood, atmosphere and some terrific acting by the young cast backed up by a well cast group of supporting adults - Lars Mikkelsen is especially good as Richards dad.
All of the drama comes from the situations that Richard causes by his actions and the film is so well made that we never feel as though we are wallowing in his predicament, but rather the audience is taken along on the fascinating and compelling journey of a haunted young man.
Not much in the way of laughs - but a sturdy and well developed piece of small scale drama.
Thursday, 3 September 2015
Friday, 24 July 2015
Freeview film of the day : friday 24th of July
Easy A [2010 88min.) [Film4 11.00pm &+1]
Comedy starring Emma Stone. When a little white lie about losing her virginity makes the previously anonymous Olive Penderghast the talk of school, she decides to exploit her new-found notoriety to improve her social standing. But being "easy" comes with mixed blessings.
There's a superb performance by (the then relatively unknown) Emma Stone at the heart of this updating of Hawthorne's classic novel The Scarlet Letter.
There's also more than a hint of John Hughes' 1980's High School set comedy films and a terrific supporting cast, including Patricia Clarkson, Lisa Kudrow, Malcolm McDowell and Stanley Tucci.
If you've seen Juno and enjoyed that film's combination of sharp wit and comic teen angst then Easy A will be right up your street.
The condensed running time means that hardly a moment is wasted and the film moves along with real zip.
It's very, very funny and it's appeal is not limited to younger viewers as all of the characters and situations are given equal weight by director Will Gluck.
Comedy starring Emma Stone. When a little white lie about losing her virginity makes the previously anonymous Olive Penderghast the talk of school, she decides to exploit her new-found notoriety to improve her social standing. But being "easy" comes with mixed blessings.
There's a superb performance by (the then relatively unknown) Emma Stone at the heart of this updating of Hawthorne's classic novel The Scarlet Letter.
There's also more than a hint of John Hughes' 1980's High School set comedy films and a terrific supporting cast, including Patricia Clarkson, Lisa Kudrow, Malcolm McDowell and Stanley Tucci.
If you've seen Juno and enjoyed that film's combination of sharp wit and comic teen angst then Easy A will be right up your street.
The condensed running time means that hardly a moment is wasted and the film moves along with real zip.
It's very, very funny and it's appeal is not limited to younger viewers as all of the characters and situations are given equal weight by director Will Gluck.
Friday, 10 July 2015
Freeviews films of the day : friday 10th of July
Black Narcissus (1947 100min.) [Film4 2.45pm &+1]
Classic drama starring Deborah Kerr as one of five Anglo-Catholic nuns who establish a school and hospital in a disused harem perched on a mountain pinnacle in the Himalayas. As the nuns struggle to cope with the sensuous atmosphere of their surroundings, the intrusive male presence of the local English agent brings further disquiet.
Nuns go mad in the Himalayas in Powell and Pressburger's ravishing adaptation of Rumer Godden's novel, and thanks to clever production design and Jack Cardiff's Oscar-winning colour cinematography you'd never guess it was filmed entirely at Pinewood Studios.
Deborah Kerr plays the young Mother Superior of a British sorority that sets up a mission in a former harem, where they gradually fall under the spell of the sensuous atmosphere and the cynical but attractive English agent (David Farrar in unfeasibly short shorts); but it's Kathleen Byron who provides the film with its most memorable moments as she cracks up and starts wearing lipstick.
Attack The Block (2010 84min.) [E4 9.00pm&+1]
Sci-fi action comedy starring Nick Frost, Jodie Whittaker and John Boyega. On the mean streets of South London five teenagers in the process of mugging a woman are disturbed by an alien invader. Soon their housing estate is overrun with beings from outer space and the hunters have become the hunted.
The debut feature film from the Joe half of Adam & Joe, who both wrote and directed, is a fairly straightforward alien-invaders-meet-locals-who-fight-back story made more interesting by the setting and Cornish's sharp script and fluid direction.
The always reliable Jodie Whittaker steals most of the acting honours as the character who starts the film as a victim but discovers herself during the course of the action and there's an amusing cameo by Nick Frost as a high-rise dope dealer.
The story itself isn't up to much but the setting, the tone and the script's neat use of language make the film what it is and Cornish's love of the genre shines through every frame.
An entertaining and (in parts) exciting film with a strong ensemble cast working hard with some interesting ideas.
Yojimbo (1961 105min.) [Film4 12.55am saturday &+1]
Period action drama starring Toshiro Mifune. Sanjuro is a laconic lone samurai who arrives in a town terrorised by bitter rivals. After an impressive demonstration of his swordsmanship in a brawl, Sanjuro is hired as a bodyguard and uses his deadly skills to destroy both gangs.
Combining moments of comedy, intrigue and sudden, shocking violence, Kurosawa manages to celebrate the samurai genre at the same time as he is subtly subverting it. Toshiro Mifune is tremendous as the wandering warrior who sells his sword skills to both sides in a feud-torn community only to dupe them both into mutual slaughter.
Directly responsible for the Spaghetti Western sub-genre.
Classic drama starring Deborah Kerr as one of five Anglo-Catholic nuns who establish a school and hospital in a disused harem perched on a mountain pinnacle in the Himalayas. As the nuns struggle to cope with the sensuous atmosphere of their surroundings, the intrusive male presence of the local English agent brings further disquiet.
Nuns go mad in the Himalayas in Powell and Pressburger's ravishing adaptation of Rumer Godden's novel, and thanks to clever production design and Jack Cardiff's Oscar-winning colour cinematography you'd never guess it was filmed entirely at Pinewood Studios.
Deborah Kerr plays the young Mother Superior of a British sorority that sets up a mission in a former harem, where they gradually fall under the spell of the sensuous atmosphere and the cynical but attractive English agent (David Farrar in unfeasibly short shorts); but it's Kathleen Byron who provides the film with its most memorable moments as she cracks up and starts wearing lipstick.
Attack The Block (2010 84min.) [E4 9.00pm&+1]
Sci-fi action comedy starring Nick Frost, Jodie Whittaker and John Boyega. On the mean streets of South London five teenagers in the process of mugging a woman are disturbed by an alien invader. Soon their housing estate is overrun with beings from outer space and the hunters have become the hunted.
The debut feature film from the Joe half of Adam & Joe, who both wrote and directed, is a fairly straightforward alien-invaders-meet-locals-who-fight-back story made more interesting by the setting and Cornish's sharp script and fluid direction.
The always reliable Jodie Whittaker steals most of the acting honours as the character who starts the film as a victim but discovers herself during the course of the action and there's an amusing cameo by Nick Frost as a high-rise dope dealer.
The story itself isn't up to much but the setting, the tone and the script's neat use of language make the film what it is and Cornish's love of the genre shines through every frame.
An entertaining and (in parts) exciting film with a strong ensemble cast working hard with some interesting ideas.
Yojimbo (1961 105min.) [Film4 12.55am saturday &+1]
Period action drama starring Toshiro Mifune. Sanjuro is a laconic lone samurai who arrives in a town terrorised by bitter rivals. After an impressive demonstration of his swordsmanship in a brawl, Sanjuro is hired as a bodyguard and uses his deadly skills to destroy both gangs.
Combining moments of comedy, intrigue and sudden, shocking violence, Kurosawa manages to celebrate the samurai genre at the same time as he is subtly subverting it. Toshiro Mifune is tremendous as the wandering warrior who sells his sword skills to both sides in a feud-torn community only to dupe them both into mutual slaughter.
Directly responsible for the Spaghetti Western sub-genre.
Monday, 6 July 2015
Freeview film of the day : monday 6th of July
Animal Kingdom (2009 108min.) [Film4 11.15pm &+1]
Australian crime drama starring Ben Mendelsohn, Joel Edgerton, Mike from Neighbours and James Frecheville. After his mother dies of an overdose, young Joshua Cody takes up his grandmother's offer of a home. But he must also gain the acceptance of his three career-criminal uncles, who are under investigation by the local police.
Australian writer/director David Michôd's feature debut is a terrific piece of film making with a gritty but realistic central story that spins off in any number of directions and includes at least three "oh no!" moments of genuine shock.
Packed with great performances, but special mention for Jacki Weaver who received an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of the mater familias to this trio of hard-bitten, brutal but fading would-be gangsters.
It's a remarkable film that is highly recommened to everyone, but especially to those who found Chopper (to which this film has a stylistic resemblance) to be a gripping and taut piece of cinema back in 2000.
A really, really well made crime drama.
Australian crime drama starring Ben Mendelsohn, Joel Edgerton, Mike from Neighbours and James Frecheville. After his mother dies of an overdose, young Joshua Cody takes up his grandmother's offer of a home. But he must also gain the acceptance of his three career-criminal uncles, who are under investigation by the local police.
Australian writer/director David Michôd's feature debut is a terrific piece of film making with a gritty but realistic central story that spins off in any number of directions and includes at least three "oh no!" moments of genuine shock.
Packed with great performances, but special mention for Jacki Weaver who received an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of the mater familias to this trio of hard-bitten, brutal but fading would-be gangsters.
It's a remarkable film that is highly recommened to everyone, but especially to those who found Chopper (to which this film has a stylistic resemblance) to be a gripping and taut piece of cinema back in 2000.
A really, really well made crime drama.
Friday, 26 June 2015
Freeview film of the day : friday 26th of June
Hanna (2011 106min.) [Film 4 9.00pm &+1]
Action thriller starring Cate Blanchett, Eric Bana and Saoirse Ronan. Teenager Hanna has never left her home in the Finnish wilderness and has spent years in isolation being trained to be the perfect assassin by her ex-CIA father Erik. But Erik has unfinished business with the Agency and so he leaves Hanna, who is soon forced to put her skills into practice to elude the murderous attentions of a ruthless intelligence officer.
The absurdly talented Saoirse Ronan leads the cast in director Joe Wright's spirited attempt to mix together the conventions of the conspiracy thriller and the surrealism of European fairy tales.
A very strong supporting cast (Eric Bana, Cate Blanchett , Olivia Williams, Tom Hollander and Jason Flemyng) add depth and weight in the acting department and the visual style is suitably dreamlike and off-kilter to match the oddly twisted storyline.
Distinctly odd but also enjoyable.
Action thriller starring Cate Blanchett, Eric Bana and Saoirse Ronan. Teenager Hanna has never left her home in the Finnish wilderness and has spent years in isolation being trained to be the perfect assassin by her ex-CIA father Erik. But Erik has unfinished business with the Agency and so he leaves Hanna, who is soon forced to put her skills into practice to elude the murderous attentions of a ruthless intelligence officer.
The absurdly talented Saoirse Ronan leads the cast in director Joe Wright's spirited attempt to mix together the conventions of the conspiracy thriller and the surrealism of European fairy tales.
A very strong supporting cast (Eric Bana, Cate Blanchett , Olivia Williams, Tom Hollander and Jason Flemyng) add depth and weight in the acting department and the visual style is suitably dreamlike and off-kilter to match the oddly twisted storyline.
Distinctly odd but also enjoyable.
Tuesday, 23 June 2015
Freeview film of the day : tuesday 23rd of June
Holy Motors (2012 111min.) [Film4 11.50pm &+1]
Freeview premiere
Drama starring Denis Lavant. A day in the life of a mysterious man who is chauffeured around Paris in a limousine assuming a variety of disguises including an old bag lady and the flower-chomping Monsieur Merde who crashes a photo shoot at a cemetery.
This is not going to be to everyones taste. Director Leos Carax specialises in making films that constantly teeter on the edge of falling apart ; his style is languid, he isn't afraid of shocking or offending the viewer, he prefers inter-connected sketches to what we would normally consider a narrative and he is firmly rooted in the French nouvelle vague/arthouse tradition where meaning is often obscured under several levels of image.
If you're still thinking 'that sounds interesting' then Holy Motors should work for you - otherwise avoid it as you'll only get angry.
Holy Motors has a story (of sorts) it revolves around a day in the life of Denis Lavant's character who travels around Paris in a swish limousine adopting a different persona each time the car stops and he interacts with a different person (or group of people).
Along the way he meets Edith Scob, who (sort of) reprises her role from the classic 1962 French horror film Eyes Without A Face; Kylie, who sings a brilliant Neil Hannon song and a near unrecognisable Eva Mendes.
It's messy, self-indulgent and deeply arty - but it's visually stunning and the performances are terrific. If you sit back and allow yourself to go along on Carax and Lavant's journey you may find yourself surprised at just how much you enjoy this distinctly odd work.
Freeview premiere
Drama starring Denis Lavant. A day in the life of a mysterious man who is chauffeured around Paris in a limousine assuming a variety of disguises including an old bag lady and the flower-chomping Monsieur Merde who crashes a photo shoot at a cemetery.
This is not going to be to everyones taste. Director Leos Carax specialises in making films that constantly teeter on the edge of falling apart ; his style is languid, he isn't afraid of shocking or offending the viewer, he prefers inter-connected sketches to what we would normally consider a narrative and he is firmly rooted in the French nouvelle vague/arthouse tradition where meaning is often obscured under several levels of image.
If you're still thinking 'that sounds interesting' then Holy Motors should work for you - otherwise avoid it as you'll only get angry.
Holy Motors has a story (of sorts) it revolves around a day in the life of Denis Lavant's character who travels around Paris in a swish limousine adopting a different persona each time the car stops and he interacts with a different person (or group of people).
Along the way he meets Edith Scob, who (sort of) reprises her role from the classic 1962 French horror film Eyes Without A Face; Kylie, who sings a brilliant Neil Hannon song and a near unrecognisable Eva Mendes.
It's messy, self-indulgent and deeply arty - but it's visually stunning and the performances are terrific. If you sit back and allow yourself to go along on Carax and Lavant's journey you may find yourself surprised at just how much you enjoy this distinctly odd work.
Saturday, 20 June 2015
Freeview film of the day : saturday 20th of June
Rush (2013 117min.) [Ch4 9.00pm &+1]
Freeview premiere
Motor racing drama based on a true story, starring Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl. The 1976 Formula One season is dominated by the intense rivalry between two brilliant drivers: the maverick James Hunt and the methodical Niki Lauda. As their quest for dominance of the sport grows more intense, tragedy seems almost inevitable.
Chris Hemsworth plays Hunt as a boozy, lazy, ladies man blessed with natural charm and talent while Daniel Brühl as Lauda is the technically minded perfectionist who scowls and gripes his way through his professional and personal life.
The two ends of the spectrum personalities of the central characters allows scriptwriter Peter Morgan to dig deep into the psyche of the two rivals - the scenes set in pre-race drivers meetings where Hunt teases and mocks Lauda's obsession with safety are superbly done.
Ron Howard's direction of the action scenes is quite thrilling and the sights and sounds (and the constant presence of sudden death) of 1970s Formula 1 are brilliantly re-created.
Olivia Wilde is terrific as Hunt's long suffering girlfriend/wife Suzy and Christian McKay is an absolute joy as Alexander Hesketh, the wealthy playboy who gives Hunt his first drive.
Even if you know nothing about (or care nothing about) Formula 1 racing don't be put off : the film is very low on technical chat and backstory and very big on personal relationships, spectacle and thrills.
Hugely entertaining.
Freeview premiere
Motor racing drama based on a true story, starring Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl. The 1976 Formula One season is dominated by the intense rivalry between two brilliant drivers: the maverick James Hunt and the methodical Niki Lauda. As their quest for dominance of the sport grows more intense, tragedy seems almost inevitable.
Chris Hemsworth plays Hunt as a boozy, lazy, ladies man blessed with natural charm and talent while Daniel Brühl as Lauda is the technically minded perfectionist who scowls and gripes his way through his professional and personal life.
The two ends of the spectrum personalities of the central characters allows scriptwriter Peter Morgan to dig deep into the psyche of the two rivals - the scenes set in pre-race drivers meetings where Hunt teases and mocks Lauda's obsession with safety are superbly done.
Ron Howard's direction of the action scenes is quite thrilling and the sights and sounds (and the constant presence of sudden death) of 1970s Formula 1 are brilliantly re-created.
Olivia Wilde is terrific as Hunt's long suffering girlfriend/wife Suzy and Christian McKay is an absolute joy as Alexander Hesketh, the wealthy playboy who gives Hunt his first drive.
Even if you know nothing about (or care nothing about) Formula 1 racing don't be put off : the film is very low on technical chat and backstory and very big on personal relationships, spectacle and thrills.
Hugely entertaining.
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