Film Reviews by JD

About a year ago Barry Norman had his top 100 films published in a paper. I watched as many as I could bear and eventually gave up. They were all like this. Desperately dated very slow and soporific. I don't mind an elegant film but it has to keep going.

Not much about the north. This is a drama set in the Cray twins era brimming with violence extortion and corruption. The acting is good but there is far too much brutality for me to enjoy it. I did not bother with episodes 4 - 9. Recommended if you think Layer Cake should be a PG certificate.

The plot is nothing without Robert whose unreciprocated love although initially compelling becomes exhausting. Beautiful photography but ultimately inconsequential.

I have never heard of Janet Frame or any of her books but I found this account of her life very moving. There are moments of beautifully acted grief and the sense of childhood pain is constant. I found the fairly obvious boot polish on her teeth, as an attempt to portray decay, a little distracting, but overall I recommend this as a moving biography.

The way that Quin turns from loathing to loving Kingsley is predictable protracted and unconvincing. That aside brilliant acting by Kingsley and action sequences that distract you from breathing. The plot is good and requires no suppression of disbelief but quick enough to enthrall.

This film should not be watched by parents with teenage children. The plot is initially difficult to believe but Neeson's sublime acting convert it into a compelling and emotional film that drives along. The action / fighting scenes are a little "superhero" and are therefore out of context but forgiveable.

Surely only Kingsley could have made an alcoholic murderer both empathisable and extremely funny. At no point is it overstated and the humour runs deep. The romance is fortunately fairly incidental and adds to the plot rather than slavishly following the hollywood checklist.

The photography has an amateur quality which I thought might be intentional and gives a distinct feeling. The acting is very believable. The plot is generally dramatic and the dramatic scenes truly unforgettable.

I could have done without the immodest prologue from the veterans. I was however taken back by Schwimmer's acting. About as different as conceivable from the "canned laughter every 4 seconds" that we are used to. Very believable and at times intimidating to watch. Some of the other acting however was on a level with Bilko. Generally however emotional and compelling.

The action is everything in this production. The plot is thin and unbelievable. The acting is poor (Jolie has not got to where she is today on acting skills) but the action sequences, particularly the opening car chase scene, are fairly good if not totally original.

Very very slow. I tried to watch it three times and never made it passed 20 minutes. May be one to watch with a crate of Red Bull.

In American films I find Cruz pretty but not inspiring. Spanish is clearly her medium. She was absolutely fantastic. The plot is bleak and the setting unglamorous but this film is eminently watchable.

This spoof on Tomorrow's World just does not know when a joke cannot be stretched any more. When it starts off there is the faint satisfaction of recognition then a smirk of the slap stick humour then a grimace of a joke too far and then the tedium of comedy that never worked.

I found this style of comedy very self indulgent. I was hoping to find more of Hot Fuzz and Spaced but it is not here. This comedy is timelessly weak.

Like many sketch review based comedies this is good in parts. The good bits are very good. It is surprisingly dependent on mood if you rewatch it as I did different bits are much more entertaining.