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Reviews
Duel (1971)
A directorial classic
For any young wannabe director this film should serve as the ideal tutorial. For starters so low was its budget that there was no room for the use of any fancy special effects or big name actors. Instead we have none other than Dennis Weaver pretty much carrying the film single-handedly.
Although that is not even half the story because as already alluded to this film is all about the direction. The camera work is so so good that what is just a dirty old truck is thoroughly convincingly portrayed as an evil beast. Incidentally making out the truck to be the enemy as opposed to its driver is just another example of Spielberg's innovatively clever direction. From a personal point of view the use of the car radio to alert the audience to David's mood was very simple but no less effective. There are of course many more examples of the quality of the direction which won't be mentioned here for the sake of conciseness.
Weaver of course deserves a mention for his emotional performance but all the plaudits must go to Spielberg for creating this tense edge of your seat thriller. An absolute masterpiece.
10/10
The Party (1968)
Masterful slapstick
This really is Peter Sellers doing what he knows best. This very funny film contains some wonderfully well timed gags. A personal favourite was the washing of the shoe in the water feature although there are many more.
Sellers produces a performance that actually convinces you that he is Indian so good is his accent. In all honesty he does single-handedly carry the movie but that should not detract from its greatness.
This was a glossy production and it was perhaps too long as the movie did drag in places. In particular I thought the dinner party scene was too drawn out and concentrated rather too much on the haphazard waiters - Sellers was the star and no one else in this movie was ever going to touch him but this is arguably a directorial shortcoming.
This film also has a great soundtrack with the Academy Award winning Henry Mancini (although not for this film) behind the composition.
For anyone that likes a laugh this film comes highly recommended.
8/10
The Aviator (2004)
A career best performance from DiCaprio
The one thing to say about this film above all else that DiCaprio's performance is quite simply sensational. He displays new hidden depths that we had not seen before from this undoubtedly talented actor. One has to say that it was a brave move by Scorsese casting him in this film after he was totally and utterly miscast in Gangs and completely overshadowed by Day Lewis. In The Aviator the opposite was true as I can hardly think of an actor who could have pulled this role off so well. The performances generally are very very strong, with the talented Cate Blanchett worthy of mention. Jude Law as Errol Flynn was also very entertaining and right on the money.
As to the film itself the sheer degree of work and thought that had clearly gone into this production was extraordinary. Time and again Scorsese seems to pull it off with one of the most versatile catalogues of work behind him of all directors. As always the camera-work was spot on from one of the best in the business at this element of a film, as was the choice soundtrack which is certainly another one of Scorsese's directorial fortes. This film must surely be in the running for at several Oscar nominations.
If one had to be critical it was a rather long movie perhaps too long, but this should not detract from its status as an instant classic.
10/10
Let's Get Lost (1988)
Jazz icon; musical legend
This film is a must see for any Baker fan and even any Jazz fan. Baker really did redefine the 1950's jazz scene with his combination of mesmerising trumpet playing and angel like vocals. His instantly recognisable style has brought joy to many jazz fans over the years and even now his legend lives on some 16 years after his death in the most mysterious of circumstances.
This film tells a very candid story of Chet charting his terrible affliction with drugs as well as honing in on his god given talents. It is very highly recommended and is long overdue for a release on DVD as some fellow reviewers have alluded to. I will certainly be first in the queue to buy this must see title if and when it is re released.