Reviews

What a great film. A real sleeper, one has to wonder why it didn't make more money? Actually that makes me like it even more, and I can't help feeling Roger Donaldson's underdog Bert Munro character tells us something of Donaldson's own journey through life.

Anyway on to the film.

There is more soul in this films two hours, than in the last two (maybe 10) years of Hollywood flicks. No one gets killed, no one gets shot or shot at, virtually every character is so memorable, and yet totally believable, not to mention so well played.

I'm wondering where all these great actors have been hiding. (more about this later)

Special effects are exactly what they need to be, not Hollywood overblown, just totally transparent. Anyone who has ever raced a machine right on the limit, or rather not knowing where the limit is, will be in awe of how they captured those moments in the film, that rush, blur, and vibration that seems part of you, to the extreme your very eyeballs vibrate in your own head, blurring even further.

More than one scene left me wondering just where the world has gone wrong today, and long for those days, when people were still people, and prepared to make an effort to help a total stranger, so obviously out of his element in a far off land. I haven't been to Utah, but I hope there are still people there today, like they were in the 60's

Another appealing asset, is a total lack of Hollywood marketing hype, and no need to suspend your disbelief….. (as they so love to say)

No, this is a REAL film, about a real guy. I can't help wonder, if the Hollywood marketing bods, missed the point totally, After all dealing with reality is not a strong point in marketing circles ;-)

Speaking of missing reality, that reminds me. MPAA, Rated PG-13 for brief language, drug use and a sexual reference. Who are you kidding? DRUG USE! Your all fired! I'm sorry but I don't believe even the bureaucrats at the DEA, have listed "ground up dog's balls", Or medically prescribed Nitroglycerine tablets, (used since the early 1900's to this very day) It's only just a little over ONE hundred years of history guys. I guess you don't get out much.

Well what else can you say about Sir Anthony? Sir Anthony Hopkins is a great actor, as I think most will agree, And this film proves that yet again, in a not at all typical role for him. His chameleon like skills put him right in time and place and character. I'm not quite convinced with his Southland accent, which is not quite flat enough IMHO, but all same, it's a good attempt, probably better than mine, (and I'm a Kiwi) Regardless, he captures that "I can do that" Kiwi attitude so well, and delivery is timed to perfection.

Christopher Lawford playing Jim Moffat is SUCH a standout too. From his first scene, the moment he climbs out of his car, you KNOW he's a speed freak. He has that laid back Southern California poise, tan and smile, with his 1000-mile stare. I was racking my memory to recall a 1960's racer of that name, before realising the character he plays is a composite of several real racers. Absolutely convincing!

Bruce Greenwood plays a more minor role, but nails it also. I loved the scene when he first meets Munro, and can't tell what to make of him, What a classic.

Speaking of classics, Chris Williams, Tina character is hilarious. Especially in the scenes where she tags along with Munro, and the reactions to the bizarre duo.

Finally Jessica Cauffiel. What a darling. A sweet 60's belle, with a heart and smile bigger than a mountain. She totally steals more than one scene from Sir Anthony.

It is a very rare film indeed that can appeal to men and women, boys and girls of all ages, after all everyone has their dreams and ambitions, and asks "what if", even though we so often forget them as we get older, being reminded of them by a film is no bad thing, and it bonds with you along the way. Yet it takes it's time, and tells the tale with a deliberate style, and finesse. Like this film Munro was a larger than life character, who REALLY did things in HIS time.

This is a feel-good film, about humanity, spirit, and passion for life, and living your dreams, whatever your age.

Firstly a word about this IMDb voting business. I'm a film buff, I can and generally do find enjoyment in most films, and this is a good example. If I were voting for the screenplay, direction, acting, it would get a 3. Technically a 6, yet for the cinematography a 10. I'm not fence sitting here, as a film is generally a team effort, utilising the skills of many, and to succeed the director/producers have to pull it all together, and pull up those lagging behind, not let them pull you under. Sadly the latter appears to be the case with "In God's Hands", hence the fact I find it hard to give a single vote, due to this disparity of skill, But all will become clear, as you read on,

Well although it's a few years old now, "In God's Hands" deserves some comment I feel. I've had it on DVD a few years, and only just got around to watching it a second time, (thanks to the random button on my DVD archive), as I probably would not have bothered otherwise.

But having got through it, it does have some redeeming qualities, and a few mind blowing ones, hence this additional comment for IMDb.

It is one of those films that could have been so much better, if only they had stuck to a core story line. Great surfing, huge waves, awesome locations, and some of the best cinematography you will EVER see, (but more on that shortly).

Where it all goes horribly wrong, is the fact these amazing surfers, some of the best in the world, are simply NOT actors. They are not aided by the fact much of the dialogue scripted them, is hammy beyond belief, the result of which nearly sinks this film.

Had the makers actually committed to making a surf movie, scrapped all the sub plot, and story lines used, it would have made a far better movie.

Actually the scenes with Brion James, show up the leads lack of acting ability, which isn't really fair on them, they are world class surfers after all, not actors. But it is a good example of just how a skilled actor, much like good special effects are transparent, You accept the performance without a second thought. The reverse is not true, and poor performances/acting ability, delivery, timing etc, tend to stand out during much of the surfers dialogue scenes. Maylin Pultar is worth a mention here, Parisian multi talented, multi artiste, really smolders in some scenes, and knows how to pull it off too, much of the time without a word uttered, (take note lads, this is how you should have handled your dialogue as well).

So back to the movie, and this is the sad bit really, this has to be one of the prettiest films of the last 20 years. John Aronson is without question a master behind the camera, knowing when to lock off, and not move the camera, to maximise the impact of some JUST PERFECT composition. When it's all out there, right in front of the lens, having the maturity to lock off, and just roll. GREAT, so seldom done these days, it is like a breath of fresh sea air. Such a shame, the writers were not as skilled.

The shots filmed from right there in the surf are great too, god knows how they did that safely?

The soundtrack is worth a mention here, as it is pretty good too actually, the big waves need some big subs though, but those frequencies go way, WAY down, so caution to those with unbalanced sound systems, and a preference to high volumes.

So what does all this leave us with? Well a mixed bag I'm afraid.

If you're a script writer, this is how NOT to do it. If you are a stills photographer, and/or have an appreciation for the golden rules, section, ratio, mean, light, shade and shadows, you will love this film, drop the audio out, cue up a Café del Mar CD, sit back and enjoy. If you're a budding cameraman, this is how it's done, make no mistake, old school rules or not, I can't think of more extreme shots, from locked off to in the surf! And if you are into surfing, you can't go wrong with this one, the surf scenes are simply great.

So it is what it is, (pity they didn't just let it be).

This is one of the few films I have EVER seen, I would call TOTAL RUBBISH!

It is a shame to see a talent like Nigel Benett, wasted in such trash.

It truly has NO redeeming qualities,

The screenplay is completely incoherent, to the point one has to only imagine the editor, had some kind of brain aneurysm, whilst working on it.

Somewhere after what may, or may not be, the second act, there is a 20 minute motorbike, "chase", that simply serves no purpose, other than to show off some "special effects" and explosions, and even they are so cheap, it is embarrassing to watch.

I have no idea, how you even get finance, let alone insurance to make such a film.

This film makes Plan9 from Outer Space look like Lord of the Rings! At least Plan9, had ambition, beyond its years, or finance.

Life is too short, >AVOID< >AVOID< >AVOID< >AVOID<.