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Film thread 2010

Starts tonight with "Never Let Me Go" about which I have me doubts.

Sara Nathan ● 5819d115 Comments

What was it you hated about the novel, Sara?

Susan Kelly ● 5819d

I loved the book. Not sure about the film tho. I await Sara's view with interest.

Chris Hurley ● 5819d

I suppose it was the sci-fi-ness of it all and the sheer implausibility of the basic premise. Difficult to go into details for fear of spoiling it for others. But I liked the allusiveness and the way what was happening could be inferred but wasn't explicit till really late in the book. Didn't understand the passivity throughout...but grateful to the Rocket book club for getting me to read it.The film has some good playing by Carey Mulligan and Keira Knightley and is rather beautifully shot but I thought the script clunking in places and unsubtle - though when I said so in the Q & A afterwards, the writer (Alex Garland) got all defensive and twitchy.  Ishiguro was interesting though and said the whole thing was a study in passivity and compliance - which made sense. Is doing dreadfully apparently at the US box office - doesn't open here till January. Interesting so probably worth seeing though am not sure if more so not having read the book - which is always the adaptation problem - amazing how little of even a short book you can get onto the screen.

Sara Nathan ● 5819d

I read in The Times today that the director has only done music videos before, or was it adverts? Odd choice, in that case.

Susan Kelly ● 5818d

He admitted to adverts - chose his director of Photography on the basis of his skills in commercials.

Sara Nathan ● 5818d

On the subject of the passivity of the principal characters, I think that's part of the point Ishiguro is making: that people accept what they're brought up with and don't question it, however appalling.Are you generally against SF? I love it.

Susan Kelly ● 5818d

Loathe Sci-fi...but am even more agin dystopias which I think this can really be classified as.Ishiguru or Garland made the point that people volunteer to go to war...and that we exploit the third wolrd which we can't see so directly but I thought that missed the point about the passivity: a soldier doesn't go knowing he will die at a defined time and generally hopes to be fortunate and live. Serving your country need not be passive acceptance but everything about this dystopia was that.

Sara Nathan ● 5818d

There was filming on Turnham Green last year and from what I remember, it was for "Never Let Me Go".Any recognisable local locations? ;)

Michael Robinson ● 5817d

Even pre-warned, I didn't notice any. Lots of very flat coastal stuff and the school made the most impression so sorry, didn't spot anything.

Sara Nathan ● 5817d

Nothing wrong in starting in advertising or music short films - many of our better UK directors learnt their technical skills there initially I believe! At least better than USA where the pornography industry is so large it is the starting point for many in the film industry to get experience on the technical side (directing, editing and cinematography!

Joe Conneely ● 5815d

My friends daughter visited the Toronto Film Festival in August and I asked her what impressed her most.(In 2007 she chose Juno.)  This time she said Danny Boyle's 127 days was the one that stood out for her and that Buried was rather interesting as well. The King's Speech won the Peoples Choice Award. (I think half of Canada, male and female is in love with Colin Firth!) As for myself I'm looking forward to Barney's Version but I have a feeling I may be disappointed. Anyone know if these films are out here?

Marlene Plimley ● 5815d

Can't wait for the Kings Speech which sounds great and also stars Geoffrey Rush whom I adore, I think Helena Bonham Carter too and is directed by Tom Hooper who is not only HUGELY talented but is the son of good friends of mine ( the Hooper who is advising on the Royal Mail)Not out till peak awards season though as there are high hopes for it.I am looking forward to The Debt - based on Ha Hov an Israeli thriller which is rather gripping. The remake stars Helen Mirren playing the heroine whose name has been anglicised - and is the same as my daughter's - who is rather chuffed to be played by her!

Sara Nathan ● 5815d

I enjoyed this BBC film based on real events in 1968 rather more than i thought I would. Very classy cast (My husband says Bob Hoskens was just playing Bob Hoskins but I thought he was better than that.) Sally Hawkins who seems to be in everything and some very strong support from a trad British cast plus Richard Shiff(west wing) as yankee baddy trumped by Mrs Castle and the Dunkirk spirit. Mostly good script if occasionally predictable and I think too much swearing for 60s verisimilitude. But a good watch overall.

Sara Nathan ● 5805d

I loved Made in Dagenham.  I went with my Mum who wanted to see it because she was friends with one of the women who worked at Dagenham during the strikes.I didn't have high expectations based on the trailer.  I think the trailer showcases the worst aspects of the film in many ways - emphasising the 'comedy' and swearing.I loved Sally Hawkins too but enjoyment of the film does rather depend on whether you take to her or not as really she is the film. Thanks for 'verisimilitude' - I do like to learn a new word!

Terri Scooper ● 5805d

One day I will manage to include "transriparian"* which was included in my first ever Radio Authority license application papers as a challenge to staff!* means "across the river"

Sara Nathan ● 5804d

How the founders of facebook did it..you would think this would be a geeky nerdy film but actually it's about friendship and betrayal more than programming.Written by Aaron Sorkin - the onlie begetter of West Wing - so the script is cracking and starring - bizarrely as a successful nogoodnik one Justin timberlake - who was really good.I thoroughly enjoyed it and was amused that the reat of the (large) audience at Acton view, were almost all in their teens and early twenties.How to be cool: become a billionnaire before you are 25.

Sara Nathan ● 5804d

I found Made in Dagenham predictable and slow. It's a story that could do with being told, only with a better script.

Susan Kelly ● 5803d

I loved this film, as you say cracking pace and very amusing in places. Highly recommended, even if you know noting about Facebook!

Chris Hurley ● 5803d

Yes George's death was seriously predictable as was the visit of the frustrated posh woman (as if her kid would have been at the same school anyhow)Still, I did quite enjoy it.

Sara Nathan ● 5803d

Not only was his death predictable, I even thought to myself, 'He'll have hanged himself' and there were his swinging feet as she came in the door! Agree about the school; just possible that it was a grammar school and that the poshos were sending their kid there, I suppose.

Susan Kelly ● 5802d

After all, the sadist was wearing a gown!

Sara Nathan ● 5802d

Rather a good performance by Andrew Lincoln, I thought.

Susan Kelly ● 5802d

...but the movie isn't.lesbian couple have kids by sperm donor they grow up and are curious. He comes into their lives with tricky consequences.Both inarticulate and implausible and Julianne Moore and Annette Bening can't save it.And - especially compared to The Social Netowrk - a really dire script.feel very out of kilter on this one but there you go.

Sara Nathan ● 5797d

That's a shame I like both those actresses and it was on my to see list!  Did it have good reviews?

Jen Morty ● 5797d

Much better than we thought it deserved.Going to Another Year (mike leigh) tomorrow and Chico and Rita about which I know nothing

Sara Nathan ● 5796d

A fantastic Mike Leigh film about a nice middle aged couple getting a year older while their friends get unhappier/drunker/less able to cope. It has fine acting from Jim Broadbent and about half a dozen others and a cameo for Imelda Staunton (cos a mike leigh film wouldn't be complete without...?)Every frame a rembrandt too and really excellent design and music.Nothing really happens and there's no plot to speak of but it is joy to watch and, though long, doesn't feel it.

Sara Nathan ● 5795d

An animated film about love and Cuban music. Almost an opera but rather strange. the animations of the backgrounds; the cities and the dream are wonderful but the rest rather jerky ? on purpose.Loadsalatin music so great if you like that - but left me a bit cold. Silly love story with tributre to the great jazz and bebop musicians.Mostly in Spanish with sub-titles.

Sara Nathan ● 5795d

This is a hoot of a film based on a comic strip novel by Posy Simmonds and directed by Stephen Frears.Roger Allam as the womanising writer and Tamsin Greig as his put upon wife are both great fun as is Dominic Cooper (hearthrob from Mamma Mia and the History Boys) as the bad guy drummer with the bulldog. It tails off at the end but there are lots of laughs and sly digs at romantic and crime writing and writers. Music's quite fun too.I think it sank without trace when released earlier this year but my mum and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Sara Nathan ● 5793d

I agree that it was hilarious. I think it did okay at the box office, though expect it was seen as a 'woman's film'.

Susan Kelly ● 5793d

You would hafve thought - seeing it was hilarious AND by Stephen Frears and with all that talent, it would have done fantastically well - but I haven't spoken to anyone who has even heard of it. Such a shame.

Sara Nathan ● 5792d

Nowhere would have been better!A total turkey: self-indulgent, tedious, over-long, badly and under-written...I could go on.Who cares about the inner angst of a suffering, rich successful, world famous, handsome and sexually prolific international movie star? Not me - or anyone else with whom I watched this dreadful movie.The trip to Italy in the middle seemed designed only to show that Ms Coppola (for it is she directing) has connections with Italian film. Duh! I think we knew that.Plus the product placement of extraordinary brazenness - buy a Lamborghini because it features in what seems hours of this flic - including excessively long opening and closing sequence.Apparently won an award at Cannes but to huge scandal and generally attributed to the director (thanks to Mom and dad in the credits - yuck) being really matey with Tanrantino - chair of judges there.Total waste of time.

Sara Nathan ● 5785d

I'm not into thrillers - even ones starring George Clooney. But this was OK in that he was in almost every frame. Not up there with Burn after Reading or Up in the air but not dreadful (especially when seen in one sitting with Somewhere - see above - than which it was undoubtedly better)But it was quite confusing in plot and tone.Beautifully shot mostly in Italy - really using the locations to their fullest. I think people who like this sort of flic would probably enjoy it.

Sara Nathan ● 5785d

This is a rather interesting adaptation of a Mordechai Richler book. It's very Jewish and very Canadian though all the lead actors are American or British - which I suppose says it all about Canada.Stars Paul Giametti as the not very likeable Barney who goes through three marriages and cocks everything up (actually there's a successful quarter century in the middle but that doesn't make for great filmic suspense so is skated over.)The inponderable concept is that the mildly cute but short and fattish Giametti character who drinks far too much whisky and smokes all the time especially when watching interminable ice hockey games, could ever land himself with both Minnie Driver and Rosamund Pike (the former a rather more plausible JCP - if that's what a Jewish Canadian Princess is - than the latter)Must be something about the short Jewish producer fantasy of landing the tall golden shikse as happens in so many movies ever since Annie Hall.Dustin Hoffman predicatably steals the show as Barney's dad - a hard drinking, Jewish, Montreal cop - quite a lot of incongruities there too. And Hoffman's real life son plays his screen grandson.It's a mostly funny, sometimes sad movie, especially towards the end) which I enjoyed. Obvious award only for best make-up and prosthetics but not bad. Opens end January

Sara Nathan ● 5781d

Sounds interesting. I've seen Minnie Driver play Jewish roles before , most notably in The Governess. is she Jewish?

Susan Kelly ● 5780d

Don't think so but she has a sort of appearance that is adaptable to it...unlike Rosamund Pike (I assume on no evidence) who couldn't look less so! Or Giametti for that matter who is Italian/Irish ish

Sara Nathan ● 5780d

I am envious Sarah. I've been waiting to see this film for some time. I read the book in 98 - not my favourite of his BTW. Solomon Gursky Was Here (which I am reading for the third time) takes a lot of beating. Now I see Robert Lantos has acquired the film rights. I think I may know the real-life character in Barney's Version upon whom the father was based. I very much doubt Minnie Driver is Jewish.  Her father was the infamous Ronnie Driver from Swansea who passed away last year.

Marlene Plimley ● 5780d

I heard Minnie Driver being interviewed by Jonathan Ross and he kept referring to her being Jewish. (I think she may have gone to school with his wife.)

Vivienne Duggan ● 5780d

Wikipedia says:"Driver was born Amelia Fiona J. Driver[1] in Finsbury Park, London, the daughter of Gaynor Churchward (née Millington), a designer and former couture model, and Ronnie Driver, a Welsh businessman and financial advisor from Swansea.[2][3][4] Driver's mother was her father's mistress, and her father's wife was not aware of his other family.[5] Driver has Irish, Welsh, Scottish, French, and Italian ancestry."But she plays Jewish women A LOT. It's being an actress I guess

Sara Nathan ● 5780d

This charts a couple's relationship at two points: when they met and a rocky patch about seven years later.It took a decade to get produced and you can sort of see why...it's a commonplace story of lower middle class American life - not very dramatic or likeable characters.The flashbacks are rather confusing at first because they are not hugely differentiated and the stars aren't starry enough for you to tell immediately who is being who when.It didn't engage me hugely though the rest of the screening audience seemed to enjoy it.the best bit was in the Q & A with Michelle Williams (NOT starry enough to hold one of these on her own and very prone to acressy/ditzy speech)Still she told us about one scene, shot on the Brooklyn Bridge when she has a secret (yes that secret ovvie) and the boy wants her to tell him. She won't and the director instructed him to find it out and her to resist. So Dean (Ryan Gosling) climbs over the rails and fence and looks like he's about to jump - and she tells him. But apparently it was done for real - it WAS on the bridge, there was only one take and the producers rushed over shaking and burbling about helf n safety - whole thing spur of the moment! Loved it as a story and hope it was true.

Sara Nathan ● 5778d

This is a low-to-no budget two hander (effectively) starring Brenda Blethyn and Sotigui Kouyaté in a rather moving story about two people from wholly different clutures meeting and getting to know each other while searching for their grown children in the aftermath of the London bombings of July 2005.A lot of it was improvised and all shot in about three weeks on location in Stoke Newington and interiors in the south of France. The movie is more in French than English - tricky for Brenda Blethyn who spoke none when filming was mooted.her co-star died in April just after winning best actor for this role in the Berlin film festival and she says that he was already seriously sick during filming - sitting in a wheelchair on oxygen until the director called "action" and then tottering on to do his scenes. I really liked it - though enjoy isn't quite the word but something this unglamorous (and unrealistic - everyone in London is charming and helpful and unabusive!)low-budget AND in French is unlikely to make a box office stir.

Sara Nathan ● 5776d

It's on my DVD list.

Susan Kelly ● 5775d

What a waste of some fine acting talent!This was sold as a thriller with a romantic heart but actually it's an wholly implausible yarn about London gangland.Some good lines - almost all spoken by David Thewlis who steals the show. Good London locations including the Criterion and the arches under Southwark Bridge just by Ofcom. Overall Southwark comes out of it all pretty badly as a desirable place to hang out.The rest is a terrible waste of Colin Farrell, Keira Knightley, Anna Friel and Ray Winstone - who seems to play his usual character, cubed. Anything with a corpse count of over ten is a flop in my book anyhow and this is bloodier than most...shame because the first couple of scenes looked quite promising. But after that there seemed no plausible motivation or rationale for anything much.Shame.

Sara Nathan ● 5774d

It's been getting terrible reviews.

Susan Kelly ● 5773d

wholly deserved...except for some of the acting - Keira Knightley is really not bad as the twitching needy film star (can't think why!) and David Thewlis is fab!

Sara Nathan ● 5773d

This was the original one - much acclaimed - not the American remake. And it's nominated in best film not in the English language category.So it was a bit of a surprise when it started - looked fab - characters and landscapes rather well judged - but in ghastly dubbed and badly translated version.It stopped after 25 minutes and a grovelling publicist apologised profusely for showing the wrong version.So I can tell you the first 20 minutes augers well and I hope to get to a screening soon.We finished the Xmas shopping instead.

Sara Nathan ● 5773d

Always start with the declaration of a conflict of interest: I know the director (Tom Hooper) very slightly and his parents (and dedicatees!)very well indeed. So you may want to take the following with a fist of salt - but it's all true anyhow.This is the best film of the season so far. It tells of how the stammering Bertie, brother to Edward V111, came to the throne and made his seminal broadcast as war was declared.It's a great story, with a fantastic and funny script, beautifully acted and shot.I would have thought Colin Firtha shoo-in for nomination for best actor and possibly a winner. Geoffrey Rush as the Aussie therapist is wonderful - almost equal billing - and Helena Bonham Carter delightful as Queen Elizabeth (best supporting actors all round)What's interesting is the psychology and the pathos and the anger of this naval officer with the enormous speech impediment brought on by an abusive childhood.I loved every minute and so far as I could tell, so did the rest of the audience.  General Relaease in early January.

Sara Nathan ● 5773d

PS was apparently supposed to clock that the title was in homage to "Sunset Boulevard" but didn't...That was a far superior movie - same premise with the star and all except in the original she's older(Gloria Swanson) and he ends up (and indeed starts) face down in a swimming pool - iconic stuff.Maybe not having seen it for 30 odd years is a feeble excuse - but I couldn't see they had much in common - certainly not style, wit, engagement and pathos, all of whihc I recall the first having and the remake almost wholly lacking.

Sara Nathan ● 5772d

So this pretty young ballerina played by Natalie Portman, goes barmy while training to dance Odette/Odile.,,,in a psychological thriller. Except I thought that was what generally happened to thrusting young ballerinas - except it presents as anorexia.I suspect this was agony if you know much about ballet - which I don't - lots of dancing in it.Amazing special effects as she gets more bonkers and quite gripping but it's hard to care a lot.

Sara Nathan ● 5767d

I thought this was going to be better - a jolly rom-com I thought...with Anne Hathaway, Jake Gyllenhall (who looks more like the chap who plays the singy teacher in Glee every time I see him) except he's a feckless rake selling Pfizer drugs and she is early onset Parkinson's sufferer. I kept wanting her to buzz off to Oxford and get the anti-tremor implant but all that internet research he does and he never finds out about it.So the movie starts all fun and promiscuous and ends with lurve and suffering. Not really my idea of a date movie.

Sara Nathan ● 5767d

The best film I have seen this year. As you say, it was very moving, and the subsequent death of one of the leads makes it more so. And I do think Londoners were a little bit like that for a few weeks in 2005.

Martin Lovick ● 5765d

This movie is jinxed as far as I am concerned: the first time it was dubbed into really rubbish english and we only saw twenty minutes; on this ltest attempt in the cavernous cineworld in the Haymarket, the heating had failed and we sat and shivered (empathising with all that Sweidsh snow and pining for shnapps) for all two and a half hours plus forty five minute interview with the star.if you liked the book, then this is a pretty good adaptation - the characters well-realised and acted and no abominations though inevitably a few omissions and elisions. Fab scenery too of course. If you haven't read and enjoyed the books, why would you go in the first place? Anyhow, according to cross husband, the whole thing was too implausible and ghastly to be true, And I would agree to the extent that some things that don't seem so extraordinary on the page, are very odd indeed on a huge screen. How many sadists per head of population can Sweden possibly have?Still, I (who loved the book) thought it good entertainment with great core cast.

Sara Nathan ● 5765d

On at the Waterman's next week.

Susan Kelly ● 5764d

I hope it has heating.

Sara Nathan ● 5764d

This latest Danny Boyle movie tells the true stroy of a young man - keen outdoor type - who idiotically goes on a bike and hike on his own in the wilds of Utah - or maybe Nevada - without telling anyone where he is going. All fine until there is the inevitable rock fall on him in a canyon, trapping him by the arm. The 127 hours is until he sorts himself out and rescues (most of)himself in a particularly gruesome manner.There is a ten minute sequence about an hour and a quarter in that is literally unwatchable - not just by me but by quite a few of the screening audience tonight. Apart from that, it is well acted with the lead, James Franco, being in practically every shot - it's almost a solo turn.Gripping but no laughs.

Sara Nathan ● 5763d

This three hander about a rather odd kidnapping has its ups and downs. the cast is good - featuring Eddie Marson, who played the psychotic driving instructor in Happy-go-Lucky and reg in Vera Drake, with Gemma Arterton (tamara in Tamara Drewe reviewed in this thread and Elizabeith Bennett in "Lost in Austen")It's not very interesting for some time and I was a bit restive...but there are some gripping and unpredictable twists to the plot and the end is a roller-coaster.A very small, Isle of Man film - maybe more telly than big screen - but it got better.

Sara Nathan ● 5762d

..that you  have agreed to act in a real turkey with a rubbish script and that being Jack Nicholson or Reese Witherspoon or that chap Owen something who is EVERYWHERE won't help you?Well, you don't of course, but this rom-com isn't really either rom enough or funny enough and is wholly unsatisfying. I even got up and went to the loo in the middle and, as my husband commented afterwards: "golly it must have been bad - you NEVER do that"And it was at least half an hour too long.Would advise going  to the re-issue of the "Little Shop around the corner" instead if you are in rom-com mood.

Sara Nathan ● 5755d

This story - based on fact - of the French monks in a tiny community in Algeria where terrorists are omnipresent and the government and army are corrupt and not in control, is rather moving.It is quiet and slow and there is a lot of religion, especially plain song, but their lives unfold as the monks decide whether to retreat to France or stay with the community and villagers they have nurtured.It's about decision-making and charismatic leadership and who and what makes things happen.The shooting and scenery are beautiful (so is the plain song) and the end is really moving without being trite.Really worth seeingNo laughs!

Sara Nathan ● 5749d

Sundance festival winner is documentary of American soldiers in Afghanistan. The film team were embedded with the unit as it took up a posting in a dangerous valley area and then set out to set up a forward outpost (the Restrepo of the title) to try and confront the local militias.Amazing footage over the year odd period they were based in the area, certain members inevitably getting killed in ambushes and some very revealing after the event interviews with the survivors after they had left the battle zone and were in Italy.While many reviewers have commented on the authenicity of the documentary and a great war movie, the one abiding impression I come away with was given how these soldiers are trained and used in missions and the tactics applied in fighting the local militias, this is a conflict like Vietnam that the USA and allies will never win from the evidence in this film.

Joe Conneely ● 5749d

Loved this; well worth renting. Again, no laughs.

Susan Kelly ● 5748d

Wholly delightful and rather moving story of Rwandan children trying to get to the world cup. Great mix of live action and cartoon for fact and fantasy. Wholly suystained by five child actors but not a childrens' film.Beautiful scenery and music too.We loved it.Lots of laughs, some tears.

Sara Nathan ● 5745d

Stars Tilda Swinton so you know it's going to be weird and it is. Very pretty and wholly inconsequential for all except the last ten minutes or so. Looks fabulous and music by John Adams really interesting. But imposiible to get engaged with the problems of stinking rich Italian family.Almost no plot and what there is consists of two events: one wholly predictable and the other an accident.Seems rather longNo laughs.

Sara Nathan ● 5744d

Wasn't that out last year,  sure I saw it ages ago.  Doesn't Swinton have affair and rather horrid rendezvous in the countryside with her young lover?

Jen Morty ● 5744d

Yes I think it came out early summer - not as long as last year - it falls in this year's consideration though. Not a must see.

Sara Nathan ● 5744d

Poor white American trash do awful things to each other somewhere in the isolated south.Rather a luminous performance by the lead actress Jennifer Lawrence who looks like she is going places...and quite a lot of country music which is good if you like that sort of thing.It all seems wholly hopeless throughout and rather depressing but there is a glimmer of a better future by the end (I don't think that counts as a spoiler because it's a tiny gleam and it's pretty unremitingly depressing and hopeless even so..)No laughs (again)

Sara Nathan ● 5744d

Peter Mullen's latest feature recalls his adolescence in the rough part of Glasgow. Slight problem for this soft southerner that at points only the obscenities were understandable - though the gist was generally apparent.The blurb says it is humorous but I must have missed it among the knives, drunkeness and gang warfare that formed the everyday occurances in this tale of Gorbals folk.It is well made and the central role played by Conor McCarron in what looks like his first part, is very convincing.Maybe you can also spot Billy Eliot's dad in there somewhere.Long, still no laughs but rather gripping.

Sara Nathan ● 5744d

is directed by Julian Schnabel who did the fantastic "Diving Bell and the Butterfly" about the locked in chap. That was a wonderful, focussed film which was great - though troubling - to watch.This on the other hand is a great sprawl theoretically about a Palestinian girl growing up in Israel from 1973 to about 1990. But it is also about the founding of the school she goes to and Palestinian troubles and beastly Israelis and peace talks and etc etc. So there is a focus probelm and it is a,so difficult to develop a relationship with the characters (I thought it was based on a true story but apparently on a novel. Should have been alerted by a brief cameo early on by Vanessa Redgrave which was just a bit of a statement in itself.The best things are the cinematography, which is sort of washed out and saturated at the same time, and the brief sequences about Miral's relationship with the Israeli girlfriend of her cousin. But that is all too short.Ok music too til the credits sequence.But the shapelessness and the superficiality are rather overwhelming.Not the glimmer of a single laugh.

Sara Nathan ● 5741d

This isn't in contention as it has no UK release yet and probably won't get one, but it is a 2010 film so I thought I wouldn't waste it!It's based (like so many movies this year) on a true story - this time about a bunch of Hassids (you know, the extreme Jewish guys in sidecurls and blackhats in Stamford Hill and Brooklyn) who get caught up in smuggling ecstasy into New York from Amsterdam - after all, these guys travel all the time, are meshugganah frum - very religious - so who would suspect them? That's it really. Not a thriller more a look at motivation.The interesting thing is that the star - in full curls and fur hat - is Jesse Eisenberg who's shtick is obviously young, nerdy Jewish boys as he is also the lead in the Social Network which is a better and more interesting film.This one is quite sweet really and there are, if no belly laughs, at least a few wry grins at the hypocracy of it all.

Sara Nathan ● 5741d

OK I should have got to this earlier in the year but no kiddies to go with anymore so I didn't.What a great movie: I laughed, I cried. The story is moving the animation sublime and the music - mostly Randy Newman - fantastic and apposite.Better than Toy Story 2 and up there with the first one - and you don't actually need a child to justify watching it. I wish I had earlier.Contender for best picture as well as best animated - though just behind the kings speech in my view.

Sara Nathan ● 5740d

Kristin Scott Thomas vehicle of peculiarly French banality.English woman (You have to explain the accent)married to rather shitty French doctor with teen kids none of whom appreciate her enough, falls for Spanish builder.It doesn't end well. Music and landscape faintly reminiscent of Jean de Florette but not up there in quality.Banal script and no laughs (again)

Sara Nathan ● 5740d

Jolly hard work!Christopher Nolan (Batman begins/the prestige) takes an idea of being abe to invade a target's mind through bending his dreams which is rather clever and on the plus side adds an amazing cast: Leonardo di Caprio, Ellen Page, Michael Caine and zillions of others plus an incredible score and on the minus, far too much shooting and even more too much CGI/special effects. Do men only dream in violence?Still, if you like action films with incredible special effects, this is for you...and if you like psychological drama, it might be too.You would think there might be some laughs but, outside the inherent implausibility of Michael Caine being Leonardo's father, there really weren't any.We could discuss the ending if you like...but that might spoil it for others.

Sara Nathan ● 5739d

A sort of western set in 30s America and based on a true story about a hermit who wants to go to his own funeral...and does.Strong playing from Robert Duvall and Sissy Spacek with good support. Great lighting and cinematography and permeated by country music.Another one however that has no UK opening slated and I suppose won't really now (though it must have played for a couple of days to get into contention)I thought it quite sweet.

Sara Nathan ● 5739d

Rather charming animation with the voices of Steve Carrell, Russell Brand and, wait for it, Julie Andrewes (not sounding like herself) about a criminal mastermind out for world domination whose plans get undermined by three cute orphans. Really quite funny. We loved the line where he goes to get a loan from the Bank of Evil (formally trading as Lehman Brothers)Several laugh out loud moments, good animation though not up there with Toy Story 3

Sara Nathan ● 5739d

People are talking about Toy Story 3 as a best-picture contender at the Oscars!

Susan Kelly ● 5738d

Yes I know - it's a thin year and a wonderful film so maybe it has a chance.I prefer Kings Speech, Another Year and Social Network and I would have thought Inception in there with a shot too - though not my favourite

Sara Nathan ● 5738d

This is a rather moving and well-made film about coming to terms with the death of a child.The leads are strongly played by Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart with some strong support from Sandra Oh (greys anatomy)and Dianne West.Understated script and style - really rather convincing - look out for the scene between mother and daughter in the cellar - and absolutely no laughs...in fact lump in throat practically throughout but in a good way.  Definitely one of the better ones this year.

Sara Nathan ● 5738d

...in contrast is a waste of almost all of Britain's and some of America's finest talent.Honestly if you had Tim Burton directing and the whole Sweeney Todd team from Helena Bonham Carter (Mrs B) and Johny Depp plus Matt Lucas and Anne Hathaway and Frances de la tour and every British voice currently working, you would have thought you could have come up with something better than this mish-mash. Good costumes and makeup but, again, far too much CGI. No charm, no suspence, no real emotion. Virtual complete waste of however long it was - seemed interminable.Couple of laughs with Matt Lucas playing Tweedledum and Dee but not enough to conquer the imbecility of the rest of it.Since you ask, no I didn't like it much.

Sara Nathan ● 5738d

Low be it spoken but I never saw the original - westerns not really being my thing...but this Coen bros remake/hommage is rather good and certainly streets ahead of their last flick, A Serious Man, which I loathed.Jeff Bridges plays the one-eyed marshall, Matt Damon the Texan marshall and Hailee Steinfeld the girl...the one with the real true grit! It moves at a stately pace and the language matches it - unusually for a western it actually sounds how they might have spoken in the mid 19th century. Beautifully shot too of course and rather good music - very traditional western style with references to Appalachian spring and other classics.Not replete with laughs but the odd wry moment.Definitely worth seeing even if you're not really a western fan.

Sara Nathan ● 5737d

If you can find a copy the novel on which the film is based by Charles Portis is a well worth it (and easy) read and well written in the context of the times it records although written in the 60s.On a separate note and reflective of your thread Sara, can I record the sad recent death of PETER POSTLETWHAITE, a great English actor in a variety of roles (my personal favourites being in Usual Suspects and In the Name of my Father) - a rare talent and reflective of that outstanding talent pool and socially committed orientation of late 60s/early 70s young UK actors.

Joe Conneely ● 5737d

He was great wasn't he - watched him only yesterday in inception and he had roles in many fine films and in theatrical roles too.He looked much more than 64 though didn't he - i wonder if he had been ill for some time.

Sara Nathan ● 5737d

For me the problem with this is that it's a boxing film and, much as I don't care for westerns, frankly they are ambrosial compared to boxing flicks - which do seem rather similar (unless starring Hilary Swank of course - but even then the trail to glory is pretty grim)Anyhow this is another based-on-a-true-story (this year's motif!) flic about this boxing family. Stars Christian Gale and Mark Wahlberg and Amy Adams...she makes rather good poor Irish American trash and Mark Wahlberg - who also produced - is plausible. But Christian Gale altogether too much of a starry hunk to be believable.Too much actual boxing for me but fans will probably enjoy it.

Sara Nathan ● 5737d

Per BBC News portal item he had cancer many years ago but had made full recovery at that time it was believed. Sadly re-appeared more recently and proved inoperable plus he had been a life long smoker it seems having started when he was ten!

Joe Conneely ● 5736d

This is a war film, set wholly within a tank - the audience sees only what the soldiers can see - which is plenty of blood in technicolour.It's tough, uncompromising and I would have to have been paid substantial sums as a professional reviewer to watch very much of it.Have just reminded myself that I am doing this for fun.Can't tell you how few laughs in the first however long I watched.

Sara Nathan ● 5736d

A sort of rom-thrill - if there is such a thing - set in Buenes Ayres in the 70s and recently. Rather gripping with fine central performances and a twisty plot.A tad long but definitely one of the better ones.

Sara Nathan ● 5736d

And I have voted so I suspect that is it for a while on new films!

Sara Nathan ● 5735d

My husband went to see Somewhere yesterday; he found it pretty pointless and said several people walked out.

Susan Kelly ● 5734d

the young girl is quite good but I agree - otherwise without merit.Walking out is quite a statement though.Does he like westerns? I thought True Grit a stunner!

Sara Nathan ● 5734d

No, he doesn't like westerns.Loved this cartoon, which had a very limited release but is on at the Watermans at the mo, voiced by Toni Colette and Phillip Seymour Hoffman. I laughed out loud several times but it's also sad in places.

Susan Kelly ● 5734d

I love both of them so will try to get there.Have gone straight from films viewing though to the complete (15 programme) first series of an unusual Israeli soap called Srugim - about the peculiar romantic lives of the orthodox of Jerusalem. Alternative title "no sex in the Holy City". It's a hoot.

Sara Nathan ● 5734d

This is a surprisingly tense film given that we know the outcome from the start. Great acting from a group of unknowns (well, to me, anyway).As Sara says, not a lot of laughs but it's gripping despite the slow unfolding of the tragedy.

Susan Kelly ● 5733d

Sara,As the owner and main poster on this thread are you going to start a new "Film Thread 2011" before this one gets too long/unmanageable?

Joe Conneely ● 5733d

Not the owner - just prime mover!I do it for the BAFTA season - which starts in October and ends in a couple of weeks...round two has just opened.If anyone wants to start a general film reveiw thread, that's great! I see shamefully few outside the screening season.

Sara Nathan ● 5733d

Dark drama starring Javier Bodem (no country for Old Men and vicky christina barcelona) as a flawed lowlife who is also a clairvoyant.It is almost unbearably miserable throughout set in the slums of Barcelona among the illegal immigrants, dealers and other lowlife. Our hero has a bipolar, drunken, whoreish ex-wife, some dodgy ways of earning a living, redemptively, two cute kids and he's really not very well.Nothing good happens and there are no laughs and it's very long. But curiously compelling and he is fab.

Sara Nathan ● 5731d

Sounds like just the thing for the winter blues. Not!

Susan Kelly ● 5730d

Honestly the level of misery in this year's crop is just astonishing.Am going to have to go to daytime kiddies stuff to cheer myself up

Sara Nathan ● 5730d

In winter and a tough economy, what we need are comedies -- lots and lots of comedies.

Susan Kelly ● 5730d

Was going to give this a miss in spite/because of loving the books and knowing it was directed by Michael Apted who is a bit of a hero of mine. But there you go, got the start time of Harry Potter wrong so there I was.And the special effects/cgi/3Dness of it all was fab - if you like that sort of thing, which in the case of 3D I don't much...makes me very tired very quickly.In this case though, it didn't quite swamp the film in that as books they have almost been unfilmable because of the magical kingdom, talking animals, dragons and monsters. So there is an arguement at least for it.But this seemed very long and the characters were pretty cartoonish. Bravely however, the essentially spiritual/Christian message was retained so it was true to the books in that sense.Am not quite sure to whom it would appeal.A few, very few sort of smiles...no real laughs

Sara Nathan ● 5730d

Yes Susan, we need Ealing Comedies to make an overdue comeback! And if they don't you can get many of the prior output at knock down prices on the internet especially Amazon. I still think Terry Thomas is one of the most under rated comedy actors of all time!

Joe Conneely ● 5730d

a rather classy heist movie starring, part written by and directed by Ben Affleck. I never think it's a good idea when one person hass too many roles but - apart from the end and the extended gun battles in which miraculously no-one seems to shoot on target much, it's not a problem.Co-stars include Jon Hamm (Mad Men's Don Draper - swoon!) and the late Pete Postlthwaite in what must have been about his last movie.Bit of romance and the odd smile thrown in so not bad if you like cops n robbers.

Sara Nathan ● 5730d

I really enjoyed The Town too, though that was ages ago and I should think it's available only on DVD now.Dawn Treader was too long -- the ending seemed interminable -- but I do enjoy the eye candy that is Ben Barnes (happily, without the faux Spanish accent this time) and young Will Poulter almost stole the film as Eustace.

Susan Kelly ● 5729d

Golly this was exhausting - exacerbated by a 40 minute walk to and from the Park Royale Vue - but not only that: I was gripping my son's manly hand throughout and shrieking about four times - luckily hardly anyone else at the showing. And every sinew tensed throughout. I'm knackered just watching!Anyhow it was a hoot at the begining as the every famous RADA graduate of the last thirty years whiffled onto the screen: I thought Bill Nighy only just kept his composure as the minister of magic and the Rickman Snape and Neeson Voldemort only pale beside Timothy Spall's twisted villainy...oh and Helena B-C - who can do no wrong this season - hasn't enough to do but is wholly enchanting.I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would, and more than the other children's films and animation (apart from Toy Story) I wonder if it would make sense if you hadn't read the book - I did so ages ago and some of the detail did seem inexplicable. But then I'm not a real groupy. Addict son says it was really true to the book and the best film since the first one.The effects, design and cinematography were all stunning: all those muted greys and browns - you can tell the grown up world after Hogwarts is going to be no fun from the begining. "Ron" still can't act but the others weren't bad.Quite a few laughs actually among the horrors, spells and snakes

Sara Nathan ● 5729d

That's Ralph Fiennes as Voldemort, not Neeson. Hard to tell under all that make up.

Susan Kelly ● 5729d

Sorry  - silly me - it's the lack of nose that does it!

Sara Nathan ● 5729d

is a sort of thriller/who dunnit based on the book by Robert Harris and co scripted by him. Directed by Roman Polanski(!) and starring Ewan McGregor, Pierce Brosnan and Tom Wilkinson, it's OK but the slightly limp conclusion is more of a let down here than in the book and the plotting seems slightly dafter and implausible somehow.Liked the music and there were some good and funny lines - especially by and about the Blair-like former Prime Minister with the much cleverer wife.Plus - and I didn't notice this till the end, we went straight into the story at the start with no credits....actually come to think of it, so did HP and the DH. Now there's a film-making innovation to support.Another one I missed when it opened hnearly a year ago.

Sara Nathan ● 5729d

Just been to see this. Agree some parts were unwatchable, but I don't like the sight of blood, whether real or fake (and the bits I did see looked pretty realistic). James Franco was brilliant, and I thought the direction by Danny Boyle was excellent.

Chris Hurley ● 5728d

Hoodlums and gangs in 1964 in - wait for it - Brighton.It's a remake of an earlier flic and of course based on the novel by Graham Greene and therefore fiercely catholic and retributative.Helen Mirren and John Hurt as the oldies rather better than the ingenues...and there was the chap who played Steptoe too.The design and the feel of the early 60s was really excellent but the rest not really.Very thin on laughs.

Sara Nathan ● 5728d

Saw it last night at the small but perfectly formed Waterman's Cinema Brentford.It is a ripping yarn based on a true story(The Long Walk by Slavimor Rowitz)which me and several of my mates at school read when about 13 yrs of age.A good story,well told and the landscape where it unfolds is breathtaking.A film with a beginning,a middle and an end.Terrific stuff.

Keith Iddon ● 5725d

Apologies...Slawimor Rawicz...

Keith Iddon ● 5725d

Not to knock the movie (which given directed by Peter Weir one hopes would be good), but my brother advises me the original book on which it is based has been subject to some dispute as being true. This it seems is what has led to the change in title for the movie plus Weir himself referring to it as largely fictional.

Joe Conneely ● 5725d

You may well be correct Joe but it is a ripping yarn none the less.

Keith Iddon ● 5725d

The old man went yesterday and found it a trifle overlong. I decided to give it a miss.

Susan Kelly ● 5725d

Anyone seen this? Sounds racy! Also sad.

Susan Kelly ● 5725d

Saw the trails and thought it probably not for me.

Sara Nathan ● 5725d

I reviewed it 23/11Ok but not spiffing....quite hard work and no laughs.

Sara Nathan ● 5725d

at last night's awards - I thought it a whole lot better - though obviously much more American - than the Social Network.Am worried about the Oscars - though not BAFTAPeople queueing for showings which is rare outside blockbuster land.

Sara Nathan ● 5723d

Went to see it tonight. Not really my cup of tea but Natalie Portman was very good. The Guardian previewed it a while ago with some "real" ballet dancers who said Natalie was believable. The cinema (Shepherds Bush) was packed.

Chris Hurley ● 5707d