Film Reviews by BS

I was surprised at the negative reviews for this film.

I think the problem is that this is a farce in the classic British tradition, and has to be judged as such, rather than something more sophisticated. The cast is excellent, and have fun with their characters. The script is strong with some great moments and gives pace and energy. The plot is convoluted, but not hugely important as it is set up to support the scenarios.

It is true that non of the characters are likeable, but I don't think that detracts from it. Tilda Swinton is brilliant if a bit typecast as cold and unsentimental. Frances McDormand is superb as insecure and, ultimately, completely out of her depth. I thought Brad Pitt's gormless personal trainer was hilarious.

There are some shocking surprises onscreen, but what is odd is how a number of key events happen offscreen. This is particularly true of the denouement, which felt like it was not the original plan.

While it isn't Raising Arizona, it is certainly worth a watch, and served well while ensconced on the sofa on New Year's Day.

A deep, heartfelt film that goes to the heart of a parent's experience.

The relationships unfolded with subtlety and depth, the powerfull symbolism gave it heft and the ambiguous end was pure Almodovar.

It was the perfect allegory for the loss of the child a parent once knew, and their replacement by an unknowable stranger.

What's more disappointing? That it's the first truly shit Ozzy film I have seen, or that it had the makings of about 5 totally different decent films.

Really.

Please don't

Good mixture of reconstruction and documentary. It shows its age (2014, before Russian became a bad guy again) but heartfelt, charming and moving. Stanislav is irascible and rude, but wears his rightful status of hero lightly and seriously.

My favourite part has to be the offhand way in which Matt Damon and Ashton Kutcher are rejected out of hand...

...and a show stealing cat actor. Could be Lynch at his best if it wasn't too subtle for a male directorial hand. Really really good if off track arthouse is you thing. And it really is mine.

The worst excesses of New York pseudo-intellectual claptrap. Could be interesting... but unfortunately not. She can't even dance. Annoyingly, I really like both Lena Dunham and Woody Allen.

If this was American, it would be cheap and lazy, full of poor caricature and lazy plot. It would never be made in the UK. But the Ozzies make into a sharp, poignant, bittersweet comedy. It has some of the best toilet based one liners I have ever heard; delivered at a cracking pace, but with a laconic underarm that makes floater humour seem almost charming. It reminded me of Priscilla in that it turned what could have been light titillation into a deep and moving experience.

Oh, due to a quirk of my DVD player, the soundtrack was missing, which focused the mind and made it feel like a proper documentary. This may have made the film even better. Either way, please please do not miss this film.

Oh Cronenberg, why hast thou forsaken us?

So unutterably shit I switched off 40 minutes in. There will always be something in the back of my head saying 'Maybe if you'd watch it all the way through you may have loved it'. Maybe. Maybe one day when I am paralysed in old age, sitting in front of a television seeking entertainment for the final years of my life I will return to it, but only after I have watched every Adam Sandler movie first.

It is that bad.

It is hard to approach such a cinematic staple without being disappointed, but this really really doesn't. It is a comedy yes, but it is really touching, deeply moving in parts, and emotionally raw. The characters have depth as well as being extremely funny. The unsung hero of the film is the card game, which is one of the most masterful constructs/foils of any comedy you will see. The only downside (and it is minor) is that the female roles are way too light.

No, this is no masterpiece. Yes, it always has that weird emotionless mask that Soderberg can't seem to shake. But it is a hell of a film considering the subject matter and basic plot. If you are a budding script writer or director, it is a masterclass of how to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

It just doesn't seem like a real story. The structuring is excellent. It grips and holds and takes you along. The end will bring you to your knees in a moving yet charming way. It is a shame that other reviewers have revealed the plot, because I went into it blind and couldn't believe it was real. Do it.

Oh god I wanted to love this film. It has my two favourite actors in it. It is a fascinating subject matter, and a fascinating premise. It is beautifully shot (the opening 30 minutes is some of the most subtly stylish cinematography you will ever see)... but... God it was tedious. Shame shame shame.

That was a joke. Please please don't watch this film. Please just watch 28 Days Later again, even if you have seen it a thousand times. It is infinitely better.

From the outset it is powerful, enthralling, deeply moving and impossibly French.

As a father of a young son myself, the complex, evolving, well considered relationship between the two male leads moved me to tears. To top it all, it was beautifully staged and shot. Awesome.

OK, I will admit I struggled to recognise and differentiate some of the characters, but it was powerful and touching, and felt all the world like the most dramatic documentary you have ever seen. The words were hypnotic to the ear, and striking to read, and told an eternal, universal story that could have been based in Manhattan and still worked. I watched it twice.

Really wonderful.