Film Reviews by Pete W

Mike Leigh invokes the atmosphere of London in 1950 perfectly. Vera Drake is an ordinary caring housewife and mother with a secret which eventually shames herself and her family. The only slightly heavy handed part of the story overemphasises the "one law for the rich, one for the poor" point which the film makes. Excellent acting all round with not a weak cast member but Imelda Staunton is a revelation.

A reasonably entertaining way of passing 2 hours and twenty minutes. The story itself is recycled from various conspiracy theories and highly improbable but works as a mystery. I haven't read the book so can't judge how closely the film follows the book. Tom Hanks is a bit wooden for me, Sir Ian is a mad Gandalf on crutches and Paul Bettany flagellates himself with vigour.

I'm afraid this didn't really grip me as a story. Too many stereotypical 1980s students and James McAvoy can't pass for 18. Mark Gatiss does a good impression of Bamber Gascoigne though.

Definately not one of those dreadful films about the life and loves of the Windsors but a worthwhile attempt to portray the reaction within the royal household to the death of Princess Diana. At the time, the Royal Family seemed callous and uncaring. In the film some of them still are (particularly Philip) but the Queen herself (wonderful performance by Helen Mirren)is obviously in shock and needs rescuing (much to her chagrin) by young Mr Blair. Michael Sheen has deservedly got a monopoly on portrayals of our former Prime Minister - the voice and mannerisms are perfect. A scene stealing turn as the Queen Mum with an unexpected hard edge by Sylvia Syms. But worth watching for Helen Mirren's performance alone.

If you have an interest and some background knowledge of the French revolution, then you will be interested in this film. If, like me, your prior knowledge is sketchy, you might struggle to retain your interest as the film doesn't explain the historical background and it is assumed that you know who the main characters are and what they stand for. When it was released, the film had relevance to the existing political situation east of the Iron Curtain but that has faded now. Good performances by Depardieu in the role which I think bought him to international knowledge and by Pszoniak as a creepy Robespierre.

A film worth seeing - it explores the political situation in Ireland in the 1920s with a war of independence against the British turning into a civil war. The film has a very definite political bias towards the non-Treaty IRA and against the English and the Free Staters. A more even handed approach might have made for a more gripping drama.

Classic BBC adaptation of two Trollope books. Some very fine acting from Donald Pleasance (who can be quite disturbing even when playing a saintly clergyman) Geraldine McEwan as a battleaxe par excellence and stealing the show is Alan Rickman, outstanding as the slimy Mr Slope. Nigel Hawthorne plays Sir Humphrey Appleby in clerical garb.

A good quality film which seeks to get beneath the skin of the Japanese defenders of Iwo Jima, from the perspective of officers and soldiers. The portrayal of the Japanese is sympathetic, showing them as brave soldiers, even if some of them feel that the sacrifice they are being asked to make is pointless. A good cast deliver solid performances. Be prepared however as practically the whole film is in Japanese.

A collection of British actors adopt American accents (or in Geraldine McEwan's case a totally incomprehensible accent) for this Spanish film. Fairly weak and predictable story line in which most of the characters are unpleasant in one way or another, meaning that you don't really care what happens to them. Main message of the film? If you don't want your mother to find out you're gay, don't leave your pants behind in another guy's bathroom.

Very faithful to Jake Arnott's book, this series follows London gangster Harry Starks through the 60s into the 70s. Lots of simularities with real life characters such as the Krays, Jack the Hat McVitie, Diana Dors (or is it Barbara Windsor?)and Lord Boothby and appearances by safely dead real persons such as Judy Garland and Johnny Rae. Excellent cast with good performances all round. But Mark Strong is perfect as Starks in a performance that holds the whole series together.

A biographical film about Jane Austen - but how much is fact and how much is surmise? Did Austen really nearly elope with the future Lord Chief Justice of Ireland? Half the fun of this film is trying to spot the parallels between the alleged facts in the film and incidents or characters in Austen's fiction. The Austen parents bear a strong resemblance to the Bennetts in Pride and Prejudice, Maggie Smith plays a Lady de Bourg type and I suppose James McAvoy is meant to be either D'Arcy or Willoughby.

Lots of blood, gore and sharp suits. Held together by two good performances by David Thewlis and Paul Bettany as the violent, sexually ambivalent, disturbed and ultimately deranged Gangster of the title.

Over 2 and a half hours long and it feels like it. Convoluted story line which is difficult to follow, even if you can remember what happened in the first two instalments. Johnny Depp is as entertaining as ever but he can't carry the whole film.

A low budget British film set entirely on Hampstead Heath during one summer afternoon. Don't be misled by the title, the film is more about relationships than sex. The film focuses on a number of couples on the Heath - including an elderly couple meeting again after 50 years, a recently divorced couple, a gay couple, a couple on a blind date and a horny young man desperate to couple with anyone (or anything). The script is absolutely spot on and full of touches that will make you smile broadly if not laugh out loud. Quality acting by a number of Englsh actors - Benjamin Withrow and Eileen Atkins as the elderly couple, Ewan McGregor as a manipulative gay man, Mark Strong as an enigmatic wealthy indivdual, Tom Hardy as the horny young man and particularly Hugh Bonneville and Gina McKee on an excruciating blind date stand out.