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Julius Caesar: The Making of a Dictator (2023)
History becomes clearer
My understanding of Roman history is fairly limited but this short series without speaking characters but a range of speaking heads blends nicely the facts, so far as they go, and a feel for the harsh Roman times. There are clearly parallels to be drawn with later political events although it would be stretching it to say the moral is clear. Caesar was an ambitious man and his way forward was helped by other ambitious but less capable men.
That the Roman republic lasted so long was itself amazing and that the dictatorial system which followed was also pretty successful is a commentary on both systems, but we should be cautious in applying more than some general principles to modern democracy or to modern self appointed demi-gods.
Overall, informative and entertaining. Ideal television.
The Power of the Dog (2021)
Nice scenery, shame about the plot
On the basis of its nomination for many awards I sat down to watch this with great anticipation. What a disappointment. The plot? A sociopath causes a lot of upset to his brother, sister in law and her son and then, when he seems to be softening a little, gets ill and dies. And he takes a very long and tedious amount of time to do it. I would like to say more but you can only use so many asterisks.
Black and Blue (2019)
Lots of action, lots of holes
With a couple of big falls and a gunshot wound, the indestructible Naomi Harris undertakes her shift from hell. This is not high class fare but it does take a hard look at American police and the all too prevalent them and us approach, ironically emphasized by the "protect and serve" message on a police car. The plot has more holes than a string vest but you can't complain about the action and the tension created. As usual, all the massive fire power of the baddies is overcome (mostly) by a few well aimed shots form a pistol. And the levels of injury some characters endure but still come back for more strains credulity. Not a bad film and will fill an hour and a half quite well, but don't expect to feel you have been watching a documentary.
The Last Voyage (1960)
Still a gripping drama
This was the first film I ever watched on a colour television over 40 years ago and I found it quite frightening. A recent viewing was less traumatic not least because a lot of disaster movies have passed under the bridge since then. However, on the plus side the action starts straight away and never really lets up and the special effects are still pretty good even for pre-CGI. On the minus side, the plot is very derivative, the dialogue is pretty dire and some of the acting is wooden enough to have braced the bulkhead. However, if you have never seen it, look out for it, I don't think you will be disappointed.
The Favourite (2018)
A lost opportunity
Having seen all the rave reviews, the awards and the short clips, I was really looking forward to seeing this film. However, whilst the acting was excellent and the film moved along quite briskly, this was frequently spoiled by either the very irritating bonging or over-loud music. None of which seemed to add anything to the story.
I accept this was not intended as a biography, although the main characters were based on real people, the plot could actually have been more interesting if 18th century politics rather than the bedroom had been explored in more detail. Both Anne and Sarah outlived all their children and in Anne's case must have affected her already poor health. However making fun of this seems a rathe dismal approach compounded by some ridiculous scenes - the dancing for example - which were not funny, just puerile. More wit and less lavatorial humour could have really helped.
An okay film but I shan't be watching it again..
Dunkirk (2017)
A big disappointment
I wasn't alive when Dunkirk happened so it is difficult to assess the realism of the events depicted in this film even if it would be better called "Dunkirk - an impression". Clearly there was no real story line beyond the fact of the evacuation but it was unclear why the 1 hour flight, the 1 day boat and the 1 week on the beach needed to be highlighted since, by then interweaving the separate dramas and adopting almost dream sequences by the end, any difference was unimportant.
I am sure people behaved stupidly, badly and irrationally as well as heroically but seeing navy ships moored in the middle of the channel and then being bombed seemed beyond ridiculous. And, given the efforts to create realism, putting the rescued soldiers in 1960s British Railway coaches really jarred.
As for the "music"! I am a great admirer of Hans Zimmer but with the planes, the boats and the sea, it really didn't need the pounding, ear-splitting noises that he created to accompany sinking boats and bombed soldiers. The only bit I liked was the brief quote from "Nimrod" at the end while the Spitfire was on its magic glide.
I understood the film was episodic and had many changes of time and I could follow those, but it never seemed to catch the overall reality of this awesome event. I was really hoping for more, much more.
Close to the Enemy (2016)
What was it all about?
Having sat through all seven episodes in the hope that something would make sense or I would understand the point of the whole farrago, I remained disappointed.
In the final episode, it is true, the tension was screwed up during the wedding - was Callum going to object during the ceremony or speak out during the best man's speech? It was a bit like the Duke of York leading his men - nothing happened, he just went on looking grim and murderous and why Rachel found him so attractive, I don't know. Then, suddenly, in the prosaic surroundings of a chicken run, Harold does the deed, before swanning off to a sunny retirement in France. So that was that then, and building a snowman healed all the hurts and solved all the problems at this very problematic hotel?
Not being quite old enough to remember 1946, I can't say how realistic the environment was - it certainly wasn't sooty enough - and the old vehicles all looked too clean but, even given the rigours of war, there were just too many strange, pointless and plot-less elements to the story. If the point being made was that war isn't great and that people end up damaged, then OK, but it didn't need seven hours to do it.
Maybe giving the author lots of money and then letting him direct it as well was not a great move - I am sure Hollywood can vouch for that!