Film Reviews by CD

This is a classy film which combines some really tough World War 2 civilian drama with art, romance and some real villainy from Professor Seeband (Sebastian Koch), as the Doctor/Father in Law. The film is rather long, but it never drags as the film moves effectively from East Germany to West Germany which allows a new cast of characters and the artistic influences to be brought out. The art is really interesting and the characters and acting are of a very high standard.

This a brutal and at times quite disturbing film which reminded me of Lord of the Flies. The interest is really in the tensions between individual wills and the values of the group, and how individuals are controlled by the discipline of the older leader and the rules within the the organisation. The move from the hills to the jungle makes the locale a lot more interesting and the film gets steadily more violent as the stakes are raised. A good film of this genre but a bit too dystopian for my personal taste.

The Russian middle class context adds an interesting extra dimension to this sad story of a boy suffering and running away as a result of a marriage break up.  There is a contrast between the relatively supportive institutions and the selfishness of the two main characters.  The tragedy is that one can see the problem start to repeat itself in their subsequent relationships.  The director manages somehow to elicit sympathy for the husband and wife, which is quite an achievement given how the film progresses. Strongly recommended.

A fairly typical outing for the Carry On Team with all the familiar characters and nudge and wink jokes, mainly of low quality!  I watched this as a reminder of Barbara Windsor who sadly passed away in 2020.  It’s much more however a film for Kenneth Williams, Peter Butterworth, Kenneth Connor and Charles Hawtrey to shine a little although in my view this is a lesser film than other Carry ons.  The best bits are the 1970s context (clothes, class mores, accents, sensitivities, complete lack of technology, insecurity over going abroad) and the upbeat end. There are some funny moments in the hotel as well particularly in the meal scenes. 

I am big fan of Brad Pitt and Tommy Lee Jones, but this film gives them little scope to shine. It really falls between being a space movie with limited special effects and one that tries to analyse a father-son relationship, when the characters are not really developed enough to give it credibility. There are some clever and shocking moments, but the action sags badly at times in spite of bringing in quality actors such as Donald Sutherland in a brief but welcome cameo role.

I was impressed by this film. 1930s Russia is an interesting backdrop and the acting is generally excellent. The part of the film in the Ukraine is quite shocking and memorable. The script-writer does a good job in linking up to real life events and the end is well done. There are also some interesting asides to George Orwell and Animal Farm. I'd certainly recommend to others.

I am not an avid Elton fan, but I rate this film very highly. The acting is excellent and the hits keep coming, sensitively positioned within a storyline that cleverly covers Elton's early life and his performances. The ups and downs are well captured with some great choreography and dance routines. It is funny in parts but also shows the personal challenges and strains from early family life through to stardom.

This film does a good job in bringing out the personal side of the Kursk tragedy and the bond between the men and between their families waiting on the shore. The difficulty that the leaders in the hierarchy had in communicating what was happening and in accepting any help comes across well. The claustrophobic and perilous environment in the sub is well shot and the main actors are strong. The heroism of the Russian crew comes through strongly, and the film avoids a simplistic judgement on the tragedy and the attempts at rescue.

The actors do their best with a limited plot, constrained script (mainly via diving mask and intercom) and context. The shark sequences seem repetitive but the Mayan underground caves add a little bit of drama. The teenage characters are not too one dimensional which is a plus and there is a refreshing lack of cliche around who falls prey to the sharks. I stayed to the end as there was enough here to keep watching, but not quite enough to be entertained.

A really superb film with great performances across the cast.  Don’t expect to see much battlefield action but the balance of the film is brilliant with just the right amount of morality and emotion told through the views of the different characters.  Powerful stuff and I can see why this film has received such high ratings since its release.

Interesting to see an Icelandic Farm and appreciate the pressures on people trying to make a living from the land. The film has a predictable direction but it is enjoyable and flows along well. The lead character (Inga) is strong but there is a lack of other strong characters across the film to make it really interesting as a drama. Well worth a watch though.

The performance of Elisabeth Moss mainly earns this film 4 stars from me. The context of an abused spouse trying to escape an unhappy marriage is not an unfamiliar one in the movies (e.g. see the excellent Julia Roberts' film "Sleeping with the Enemy"), but The Invisible Man adds another sci-fi/ horror direction. There are some scary bits and a lot of action, but ultimately I found the plot a bit unsatisfying and the film a little overlong. The conclusion however is worth hanging around for, and there are plenty of little tricks and turns to keep the viewer's attention throughout.

I found the action sequences at the start of the film particularly exciting. The tension within the film of the claustrophobic world of the submariners and the need for swift decision making is quite gripping to watch, and also the almost super-human listening and identification capabilities built up by the specialist sonar operator. As other reviewers have commented, it was a shame not to have the original french language, but this film is well worth watching all the same.

I have watched this film a couple of times over the past 5 years. The acting is good and the plot and script work well. It does not deteriorate into obvious horror territory but slowly builds tension gradually convincing the policemen that all is not as a normal homicide incident. The lift itself and the limited scope for any doubt that the murderer is one of the passengers makes the finale scarier. Overall a clever film. Highly recommended.

I thoroughly enjoyed this western, having watched it alongside "Ride the High Country", also starring Randolph Scott. I had not really been familiar with Randolph Scott until seeing these films, but rate him really highly having now seen his portrayals of mostly good natured, positive characters. In "The Tall T" the support characters are excellent - a group of believable desperadoes, and an increasingly gritty Maureen O'Sullivan - and it is impressive as to how quickly these are built up in an exciting film of only 74 mins. The screenplay and scenery are top order and there is a satisfying conclusion. I like the way that Randolph Scott gives the same instruction to Maureen O'Sullivan as he gives to Nancy Gates in the film Comanche Station - "just keep shooting".