Mean Creek

By Mal -
5 out of 10
While reasonably well acted, key plot points were almost skipped over, making it difficult to empathise with the characters. Could have been a great film if extended and explored in more depth, but as it stands, it was decidedly average.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Diving Bell and The Butterfly

By -
10 out of 10 This film is based on a book by Jean-Dominique Bauby who suffered a massive stroke rendering him "locked in", completely paralysed apart from the use of one eye and retaining all of his mental faculties. It is mainly shot from Jean- Do's perspective of the "present" interspersed with his memories of his past before his stroke and his fantasies from his internal world following it. The emotional reality of the writer's struggle in coming to terms with his condition as well as the pressure on his family and those around him results in some very moving moments within the film. The very fact that this is a true story of a man who wrote a whole book about his experience by merely blinking is a credit to the therapists that worked with him as well as a tribute to the character and determination of the man himself. All in all, this is well made and compelling film which I would watch at least another 2 times and I will definitely be reading the bo...
Read more

In The Loop

By Mal -
8 out of 10 Feels strange reviewing this film as a film rather than as an extended episode of a TV series. Regardless, let's carry on and climb the mountain of conflict. This film is great. But then, I love The Thick Of It too. Drawing from, but hopefully caricaturing, the real-life absurdities and politics of... well, politics, the film follows a relatively lowly minister in the UK government who finds himself drawn into controversy. The controversy in question relates to the likelihood, or otherwise, of the UK and US going to war in the Middle East. You'd be right to think this is based around the recent war in Iraq. It blatantly is; and the writer's said as much. Given that, it feels like the black comedy on show should have been as painful as it was funny, but... it wasn't. Or rather, it wasn't for me . That's worrying in itself, because it really bloody should be painful viewing. The incompetence and deceipt that's played out really should frighte...
Read more

Antichrist

By Mal -
2 out of 10 Gratuitous, over-the-top, up its own arse, pretentious, art-school bullshit that I'd expect from an immature, attention-seeking student, not a seasoned, successful film-maker. Is Lars von Trier like this all the time, I wonder? The film would like to think it's deep and challenging, but... it's just not. Visceral maybe, but also quite missable. Oh, and it's got a close-up slow-mo of Willem Dafoe 's erect penis and swinging balls in it too — you have been warned. That aside, some of the scenes were quite beautifully shot. Some of the acting in the earlier parts of the film was pretty good too. Pity it was all wasted in this nonsense of a film.
Read more