Sir Calumn
05-12-2004, 05:17:AM
Having not been to the cinema for quite some time, and with my girlfriend complaining I didnt do enough with her, I managed to see three films over the last few days.
The first is one I saw with my brother, Beyond the Sea, a biopic directed by, produced by and starring the great Kevin Spacey. I have to say, while I had always know Spacey to be an incredible actor, and suspected he would be an awesome director, I had no idea he could sing and dance so damn well. His performance was totally electrifying, and I was really getting into songs I wouldnt normally like. The pace and stylishness of the whole thing was really incredible. However, Spacey does have all the talents listed above and more, but one talent he doesnt have is making me be interested in Bobby Darin. In an era containing the likes of Sinatra and Crossby, why he chose this guy I've never heard of I really dont know so while I enjoyed it all, I didnt really get into the storyline or care too much about what happened. With this in mind, I would rate this film 6/10 though really, Spacey's performance deserves much more than that.
Next up, I went with my gal to see Enduring Love. I really didnt know what to expect, but let me tell you now this film is absolutely incredible. One of the best films I have seen this year, it is an extremely dark, tense and gripping thriller with a totally original storyline and awesome performances by Rhy Ifans and Daniel Craig, fast becoming one of my favourite actors. The 'balloon scene' is incredibly well shot, and the cleverness with which references and flashbacks too it are made is superb, but that is just one of many stunning factors which make this such a great film. My only possible criticism, apart from the gay kiss which I had to close my eyes for, would be that not enough is made of side issues which could be tied more into the storyline, such as Joe's (Craig) occupation, but all in all this is a magnificant film with a brilliantly shocking ending and, despite the repetivity of some areas, not even close to being boring in any areas. A trademark smooth supporting performance from Bill Nighy is the icing on the cake, leading me to give this film 8.5/10
Finally I went with some friends to see The Merchant of Venice. It is one of the few majors Shakespeare plays I have never read, so I have been interested to know the story for sometime, so when a film starring Al Pacino and Jeremy Irons turned up, naturally I grabbed the oppertunity and was not disappointed. This has to be among the best Shakespeare adapted films for both its brilliant depiction of the issues and the staggering performances by the main men. The fact that this film is set at the correct time in history is really a bonus, and the issues are covered so well by the director Michael Radford. The visible treatment of the Jews is as unpleasant and heart-renching as possible, while remaining believable, and one switchs between sympathy, pity, hatred and loathing for Shylock (Pacino) as smoothly as I expect Shakespeare himself intended it. Alright, Radford does skim over some of the 'Shakespearisms', such as the lighter notes and dainty misunderstandings, as if they bore him and he is keen to just get back to Pacino, and alright, Pacino is on screen a bit more than perhaps he should be, and maybe the film, at 2hrs 20mins, is a bit too long but all in all it is a superb adaptation of what I now see as a wonderful play, and a film which all should try to see, even though the performances of the younger actors are about school play standard. 7.5/10
The first is one I saw with my brother, Beyond the Sea, a biopic directed by, produced by and starring the great Kevin Spacey. I have to say, while I had always know Spacey to be an incredible actor, and suspected he would be an awesome director, I had no idea he could sing and dance so damn well. His performance was totally electrifying, and I was really getting into songs I wouldnt normally like. The pace and stylishness of the whole thing was really incredible. However, Spacey does have all the talents listed above and more, but one talent he doesnt have is making me be interested in Bobby Darin. In an era containing the likes of Sinatra and Crossby, why he chose this guy I've never heard of I really dont know so while I enjoyed it all, I didnt really get into the storyline or care too much about what happened. With this in mind, I would rate this film 6/10 though really, Spacey's performance deserves much more than that.
Next up, I went with my gal to see Enduring Love. I really didnt know what to expect, but let me tell you now this film is absolutely incredible. One of the best films I have seen this year, it is an extremely dark, tense and gripping thriller with a totally original storyline and awesome performances by Rhy Ifans and Daniel Craig, fast becoming one of my favourite actors. The 'balloon scene' is incredibly well shot, and the cleverness with which references and flashbacks too it are made is superb, but that is just one of many stunning factors which make this such a great film. My only possible criticism, apart from the gay kiss which I had to close my eyes for, would be that not enough is made of side issues which could be tied more into the storyline, such as Joe's (Craig) occupation, but all in all this is a magnificant film with a brilliantly shocking ending and, despite the repetivity of some areas, not even close to being boring in any areas. A trademark smooth supporting performance from Bill Nighy is the icing on the cake, leading me to give this film 8.5/10
Finally I went with some friends to see The Merchant of Venice. It is one of the few majors Shakespeare plays I have never read, so I have been interested to know the story for sometime, so when a film starring Al Pacino and Jeremy Irons turned up, naturally I grabbed the oppertunity and was not disappointed. This has to be among the best Shakespeare adapted films for both its brilliant depiction of the issues and the staggering performances by the main men. The fact that this film is set at the correct time in history is really a bonus, and the issues are covered so well by the director Michael Radford. The visible treatment of the Jews is as unpleasant and heart-renching as possible, while remaining believable, and one switchs between sympathy, pity, hatred and loathing for Shylock (Pacino) as smoothly as I expect Shakespeare himself intended it. Alright, Radford does skim over some of the 'Shakespearisms', such as the lighter notes and dainty misunderstandings, as if they bore him and he is keen to just get back to Pacino, and alright, Pacino is on screen a bit more than perhaps he should be, and maybe the film, at 2hrs 20mins, is a bit too long but all in all it is a superb adaptation of what I now see as a wonderful play, and a film which all should try to see, even though the performances of the younger actors are about school play standard. 7.5/10