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scotfilmnut
Reviews
V (1983)
dated but still class
I think because of the introduction of Blue/green screen technology and computer graphics - V can come across as abit dated but it is still very entertaining and full of fabulous colourful, yet realistic characters. Ham Tyler, played with gusto by Michael Ironside, is one that sticks out and stays in my mind and also jane Balder - a sexy bad woman alien known as Diana...love it! The weapons and spacecraft are also top draw sci-fi creations and Donavan (Marc singer) is so brilliantly dramatic in his physical stances - also love it...but the bad guys/aliens are still quite menacing in the way we know that want to actually eat all of us.
I hope they re-make this as a ten part mini series!!
Rise of the Footsoldier (2007)
No more cockney wannabe hard-nuts
I am fed up of British Films being set "Darn Sarf" and showing us how dangerous it can be because it is run by Football Hooligans (Leach) turned Drug Lords in the space of a few decades!! Who cares!!?? Why make a movie about this loser! The difference between this movie and Snatch or Lockstock is that the latter)s) were more tongue in cheek and i feel that this movie took itself all too seriously. There is a very violent mass brawl on the underground that was shot well but so what - we've seen this nonsense before. The other problem i had was the bad - i've seen these actors doing this before - acting. Not good acting at all. Some of these actors have been superb in other works but when they get in front of a camera i feel that they are desperate to prove how tough they are and push out the text. I just think way too many reels have been wasted on this subject matter and a good decade should pass before we see this type of flick again. Please no more effin and blinding!
Saxon (2007)
V.Good solid debut from Director
Greg loftin has written and directed and produced (Phew!!) his first feature Saxon and it got its first showing at the Filmhouse in Edinburgh at the International Film Festival...and what a successful & impressive (micro budget also) debut it is! (Aug 24th) The movie centres around Eddie (a brilliant Sean Harris) who is in search of a missing mate after leaving prison - he is hired by the mate's wife to find him and also he must pay off a bunch of nasty fishmongers before he loses his eye as payment. (the other has already been removed by the fishmongers) There are also nods to British cult classics like Clockwork Orange and the kitchen sink dramas of the 60s when the scenes are intimate between Harris and his female co-stars (This Sporting Life comes to mind)...I think this film has a certain cult potential but will not be to everyone's taste - some scenes are very strong and the story demands attention and respect.
The film starts at a fast pace but then changes pace - and at every turn there is a new twist - so we have a violent opening (but thank God this does not turn into another Gangster flick) followed by a nice scene between Linda (Sarah Matarves) and Eddie and then we are introduced with Tongue Firmly in cheek to "The Bailiffs". The pace changes work and the main performances are solid.
The colours of the film are beautifully shot and stand out - esp the grim housing estate (Saxon it's called - hence the name) and the music is a nice original accompaniment to the scenes.
Many of the characters are introduced at random at first - from the Lighterlady, Russell (an excellent Drew Edwards) and a mad fishmonger chasing Eddie (a scary Stephen Manwaring), an insane tramp and we are left slightly bemused as to what these various characters are up to (we find out) but as i engaged with the story, it all came together right at the end with a twisted yet funny sense of logic. The characters are brilliantly quirky and this film does not take itself too seriously and has a very British feeling about it...It's almost insane...
Saxon was a refreshing change to watch at the cinema and a breath of fresh air! Hope it makes it nationwide.
the Film Nut (Edinburgh 2007)
Narc (2002)
Dangerous beauty in harsh reality
When i first watched this i was taken a-back by the shear shocking beauty of life's reality!! One minute Jason Patric is holding a Crack dealer or fighting with a crack dealer and getting his hands dirty BUT in the next scene he is cradling his baby with the same hands but this time with a Serene gentleness. We show the way life can change in a split second and that we never know what is around the corner. Also, ray liotta's performance is nothing short of a Tour DE Force and i was taken aback at the actor's physical transformation and grounded physicality on screen - much like Stallone in Copland. I have sadly never seen this movie on TV, which mans that execs have ignored it! Why may i ask??
Swimming with Sharks (1994)
Brilliant back stabber of a movie
To me this was Kevin spacey's finest hour in comic terms - his line delivery and nasty character are a mouth open performance and i loved it! Couldn't stop laughing at the abuse he gave his new understudy Frank W. I was also scared as an audience member every time the newbie opened his mouth...I wanted to shout at the screen and yell - "No, you'll only get your ear bent by Buddy!!" It is a shame that this film is not so universally shown and known - i think the writing is as sharp as the acting and actors - Micheele Forbes, Benicio del Toro (Yes him) Spacey and Frank Whalley - all appear in fine form and also the ending (which i will not give away) is an amazing twist - true Holloywood! I'll stick to my day job!