Film Reviews by GI

A good, solid British golden oldie from director Roy Boulting tapping into the, usually American, fear of communist fifth columnists attempting a takeover. A series of explosions at dockyards that is clearly sabotage brings in a wily Scotland Yard detective (Liam Redmond) and MI5 who soon start to build a cache of suspects. The film has a neat suspense building narrative with police surveillance and subtle visits to cause fear amongst the conspirators. They target a weak link who ends up getting kidnapped by his erstwhile friends and the clock begins ticking as the bad guys plot to blow up a power station. There's a gritty gun battle in the films climax and a smarmy politician gets his comeuppance. There's a quaintness to the images of the police use of telephone kiosks, morse code and rooms full of card indexes in this modern day and yet the film retains a good thriller narrative. Today it's an example of British film making when there was a fully established and world wide respected industry that produced such great entertainments as this. Worth checking out for the sheer nostalgia of the experience.

Clint Eastwood's second film as director is heavily influenced by the style of Sergio Leone especially A Fistful Of Dollars (1964) and there are similarities in a few scenes both from a story perspective and theme, and it's one of Eastwood's most violent films. This includes some questionable depictions of sexual violence and this has resulted in the film being dismissed today as gratuitous. Even taking Eastwood's mysterious stranger as a western anti hero it is a shock when he carries out a brutal rape in the early stages of the story. But this is a very original take on the revenge western and Eastwood, almost solely, has made big efforts throughout the 70s and beyond to keep the western alive and in High Plains Drifter he added the most interesting element of the supernatural although he has always denied the main character is in anyway supernatural but he's deliberately sidelining the strong images and narrative clues that lead the viewer to this interpretation. The opening and closing shots of the drifter appearing and disappearing are the most famous but there are other significant hints, not least the drifter's ability to remarkably guess what various other characters are about to do. In the small gold mining town of Lago a mysterious stranger arrives one morning and threatened by the three town bullies quickly despatches them demonstrating he's a gunfighter of exceptional skill. But the town has a dark secret that's connected with the release of three bad guys from prison who are expected by the townspeople to arrive and reek revenge on them. They hire the stranger to protect them but he too has a sinister agenda. Above all this is a tremendously entertaining film with the great Geoffrey Lewis as a sadistic outlaw and a host of actors that Eastwood used in many of his films. This film is also a fine example of Eastwood's ability to make a film on a small scale, it is tightly shot and edited with some great western vista cinematography, this is a cut above other films from this period. A great example of a 70s revenge western and an important film in the genre.

Reminiscent of Tom's Midnight Garden (1999) and even, in many ways Back To The Future (1985) this is a childhood fantasy, fairy tale that looks at the way children perceive their parents. Eight Year old Nelly (Joséphine Sanz) travels with her parents to the isolated forest located house of her recently departed grandmother in order to clear the house of her possessions. Nelly's mother Marion is struggling with grief and has a history of sadness that Nelly is very conscious of. Overcome Marion returns home leaving Nelly and her father at the house. Playing in the woods one day Nelly meets a girl of the same age building a den just like her mother once did as a child and coincidentally also named Marion. As they bond in friendship Nelly becomes convinced that her new playmate is her mother somehow the past and present having fused together. This is a gentle, calming story about childhood and the realisation that your parents were once children and had the same worries and fears that we have all experienced. There is something a little spellbinding about this film making it one to check out.

This wonderful romantic comedy is so original, funny and touching, it's the definitive romcom for anyone going through any form of reflective life crisis. Based on the book by Nick Hornby the action is moved from England to Chicago, there's a great soundtrack and Jack Black has never been funnier. But this is John Cusack's film, he really nails the thirtysomething man who is forced to reflect on his life by making Top Five lists including his break-ups when his girlfriend leaves him. He plays Rob, the owner of a cool Record Store with its two assistants who drive him crazy. He's a depressive man always unhappy with his lot so when his girlfriend, Laura (Eben Hjejle) leaves him because their relationship has become stale he has an existential crisis which includes tracking down some old girlfriends to ask them why they left him. Is he doomed to be abandoned? is his big worry. Of course the film looks at life is what you make of it and often the things that make us happy are already within our grasp. One of the funniest films to break the 'fourth wall' and brilliantly directed by Stephen Frears this remains one of my very favourite films. Superb support cast includes Lisa Bonet, Tim Robbins, Catherine Zeta Jones and Joan Cusack. And there's an awesome soundtrack. A treasure and a must see film.

Ken Loach's political thriller about the murder of an American Civil Rights lawyer investigating torture by the British security forces in Northern Ireland at the height of 'The Troubles' certainly divided audiences especially in the UK. It's loosely inspired by the 'Stalker Enquiry' with Brian Cox playing a top UK detective, Kerrigan assigned to investigate the murder but who finds himself out of his depth in the convoluted politics and twisted morality of Ulster during this time. A small international group of civil rights lawyers led by Paul Sullivan (Brad Dourif) and his partner, Ingrid (Frances McDormand) is preparing a report on the use of torture and a possible 'shoot to kill' policy by the British Intelligence forces. He is given a recording by a disaffected soldier (Maurice Roëves) that he claims has evidence of high ranking politicians in a major plot that includes bringing down the Government. When he is murdered Kerrigan is sent to investigate but finds he is up against an obstructive police force and may himself become a target. Loach makes no attempt to hide his assertion that the security services and British Government were engaged in a dirty war involving a shoot to kill policy. Cox is superb here, a no nonsense copper who faces a crisis of faith in what is a very sharp thriller, with double cross and murder at the heart of the well written story and although director Ken Loach's films are unapologetically political in theme and narrative this is a topnotch British film.

This comedy crime thriller is well worth checking out especially for the very adept central performance by Olivia Cooke as the title character. It's Irish setting adding to that feeling of tough yet funny situations. There's an element of Tarantino mixed with the film style of something like In Bruges (2008) or The Guard (2011) here and added all together makes for a really enjoyable film. Pixie is the step daughter of a local gangster (Colm Meaney), who dotes on her but her step brother (Turlough Convery) hates her. Pixie's mother died in mysterious circumstances and she's determined to get to the bottom of it and take revenge. She uses her natural beauty and sassiness to control the men around her including two hapless locals (Ben Hardy & Daryl McCormack) who inadvertently get embroiled in her plans when they gain possession of a large quantity of drugs coveted by all the big baddies including a criminal gang of Catholic priests. It all rattles along at a nice pace and has plenty of big laughs along the way and there's some bloody violence thrown in to put it on the dark side of comedy. Alec Baldwin has a small cameo but offers little other than some star presence but overall this is a joy.

This explicit drama about the American porn industry is less an exposé than a study of consent about which it asks complex questions. It's a tough watch and whilst the film steers a middle ground between condemnation and acceptance of the industry it ultimately leaves an unpleasant feeling. In her breakout role Sofia Kappel plays Linnea, a nineteen year old Swedish girl who travels to LA to make it big in porn films. Changing her name to Bella Cherry she dips her toe gingerly into the world but soon makes decisions to push her limits in order to make it to the top. The set pieces look at how the films are arranged with the female participants given failsafe codes and when there's a female director on one shoot Bella is apparently carefully nurtured to ensure she is ok even though the action is extreme sado/masochistic. In comparison Bella later takes part in a male directed film where she soon feels very uncomfortable and despite promises from the men around her she is verbally abused for wanting to stop. This has, in parts, a documentary style to it and as such it is an uncomfortable film to watch but the central performance is excellent and this is an assured first main feature for director, Ninja Thyberg. Interesting but difficult.

As prolific as Nicolas Cage is with the films he churns out you never know when one is going to surprise you. I don't mean surprise by Cage going even more deranged or manic in a character but the opposite. Here's just such a film, a restrained, interesting drama that sets an early tone for a revenge narrative, all very Cage, but then becomes something quite different. Here he plays Rob, a hermit who lives in the dense Oregonian forest above Portland, in a small shack from where he hunts truffles which he sells to a young businessman from town, Amir (Alex Wolff). Rob has a truffle pig to which he is very fond as it's his only companion. Until one day someone breaks in and steals his pig. With no hesitation Rob makes his way out of the wilderness and recruits a reluctant Amir to help him track it down. The course of this hunt is not what you expect as Rob's very interesting past is gradually revealed and a surprising one it is too. So don't expect another 'old man with a special set of skills' story as in violence is the trade. This is a more gentle, subtle and at times heart warming story with some interesting twists. Cage is rather good here showing a tender and seasoned characterisation that marks him for a sensitive and nuanced actor. There's a wonderful scene where he visits a posh restaurant in his pig search, a place where they specialise in 'deconstructed' local dishes and Rob effectively manages to 'deconstruct' the very pompous chef. It's all quite well presented and well worth checking out if just to see Cage as he can be.

Even though this is a conventional comedy it has a sweet nature and is very watchable. Admittedly it could've been a lot funnier with a better script but it has a heart warming feel and an enjoyable vibe. Set in Texas the story follows Willowdean (Danielle Macdonald), a plus size teenager, bullied and ridiculed at school for being overweight but who rises above it and spends her days with her best friend. She has a warm nature but despairs of her former beauty queen mum, Rosie (Jennifer Aniston), who still obsessively organises the local beauty pageant and calls her Dumplin' meant affectionately but doesn't realise that it promotes taunts from Willowdean's fellow students. In protest at the stereotyping of women's body shapes she signs up for the pageant, much to her mum's dismay, and finds other students who don't 'fit' the image also sign up. They of course transform the event. Putting aside the issues with beauty contests as a whole this has a strong message especially for young people about body image and it's all held together by the strong character and performance of Macdonald. The soundtrack is by Dolly Parton as her songs are an inspiration for Willowdean and there's a great set piece at a club where Dolly impersonators perform and help the girls with their style. A film that does what it says on the tin and all perfectly well so well worth checking out.

A fantastic heist movie from Taylor Sheridan who also wrote the brilliant Sicario (2015) and directed by David MacKenzie who brings the vastness of the Texas plains into the narrative of this elegiac crime thriller and modern western. There's something of the Coen Brothers about this film and it's easy to set it alongside No Country For Old Men (2007). Jeff Bridges, excellent as ever is the cynical cop chasing down Chris Pine and Ben Foster as the two bank robbers who you can see are doomed from the start. There's flashes of sudden and gritty action, some family drama and a mournfulness about the film that sets it as a cut above. Two brothers, Tanner (Foster) and Toby (Pine) begin a spree of clumsy robberies of small town banks, they only go for cash drawer money and soon to be retired cop Marcus (Bridges) believes they are raising a specific amount. Trying to guess which town they'll hit next Marcus and his partner take to the roads which climaxes in a dramatic confrontation. A fantastic, punchy thriller that is highly entertaining with a real sense of the classic American crime film.

A poignant drama set against the backdrop of a 1980s Britain nosediving into recession, unemployment and violent racism, the time of inner city race riots. Set in Margate in a seafront cinema called The Empire, which was once a grand four screen picture house with a ballroom but is now fading with only two screens left operating. The selfish manager Ellis (Colin Firth) oversees a small family of staff led by Hilary (Olivia Colman), the duty manager, who is conscientious and dedicated to her job along with the projectionist (Toby Jones) and a team of ticket sellers etc. But Hilary deals daily with her loneliness and depression that all times threatens to spill over into a breakdown. When a young black man, Stephen (Micheal Ward) joins the team his open honesty and kindly nature attracts Hilary and they begin a tentative relationship. But when that ends Hilary's mental state declines drastically. This is an ode to the magic of cinema but that is not the main theme here. This is a film about human connection and bittersweet relationships highlighting that everyone carries private demons that are often never revealed to even those closet to them. The film doesn't shy away from the violence erupted from blind racism either. Colman is nothing short of awesome here delivering a note perfect performance as the emotionally unpredictable Hilary, indeed when she does 'lose it' her set piece rant is a masterclass in great screen acting. A sweet, very heartfelt film from director Sam Mendes who also wrote the screenplay with a real feel for the times and humanity.

Another fantastic drama from director Pedro Almodóvar and emotional tour de force that hints at comedy but delivers tragedy and ultimately happiness. With his trademark flamboyant colours and a moving performance from Penélope Cruz this is a wonderful film. She plays Janis, a professional photographer who after a brief relationship with married man Arturo (Israel Elejalde) falls pregnant. In the maternity hospital she shares a room with teenager, Ana (Milena Smit) and they bond. Ana is scared and fearful of motherhood as her pregnancy is unwanted, and later she reveals the circumstances behind it, whereas the more mature Janis is looking forward to this new phase of her life. Events bring them closer together and drive the narrative. Intermixed in this story of the two women are thematic links to Spain's continued pain from the Civil War as Janis is determined to find her great grandfather's remains after he was murdered by Francoists, indeed Arturo is the expert who is searching for the mass grave where it is believed he is buried. Almodóvar delivers a plot full of conviction even though it feels a little contrived at times. It has such an emotional punch backed by fantastic performances that the whole film works perfectly. This is a little marvel of a film and a must see.

An epic, historical drama that is now hailed a classic of American Cinema since being newly restored with director Michael Cimino's definitive cut. The film's infamous release history and its bankrupting of United Artists followed by a poorly structured edit gave the film a poor reputation and indeed in that version it's a mess. But when viewed in all its full length this is a stunning achievement and it's a really beautifully shot film. Loosely based on real events of a range war in 1890 it hosts a brilliant cast that includes a moody Kris Kristofferson, a gaunt Christopher Walken along with John Hurt, Sam Waterston, Brad Dourif, Isabella Huppert and Jeff Bridges and a young Mickey Rourke. It's a very self indulgent piece of film mostly because of the sheer spectacle yet the detail is unbelievably fantastic in every scene. Kristofferson is Jim Averill, a Wyoming lawman, with a community made up mostly of European immigrants. He's in love with a local prostitute (Huppert) who he discovers is on a 'death list' made up by a stockbrokers association who view the influx of immigrants as a threat to their use of the range. This is a long film that delves into the roots of modern America attacking corporate greed that puts itself above ordinary people and it attempts to emphasise that America is a diaspora of peoples, a mix that makes it unique and wonderful but sadly riddled with racism and bigotry. The film also highlights that America was formed from violence and the misuse of law to attain personal wealth a trademark. The prologue set in Harvard University twenty years before the main narrative is where Cimino shows that youth, hope, love and joy are the drivers for human relationships but these are lost when greed overcomes those passions in later life. Averill becomes more and more disillusioned with the state of things culminating in the epilogue where he finally succumbs to utter despair and sadness. There's a spectacular climactic battle as the homesteaders turn and fight to protect their families and land although there are no heroics here. A clever film, a superb narrative and richly filmed and a movie to savour time and time again.

A science fiction/horror film that is not for the faint hearted. It's graphic and bloody and does not shy away from the start at getting you gasping. This is clearly intentional to highlight the main narrative of being trapped in someone else's head. In the nearish future a secret corporation carries out assassinations by transferring the mind of their killer to a subject close to the victim. Tasya (Andrea Riseborough) is a top class assassin and is being groomed by her boss (Jennifer Jason Leigh) for bigger and better things but she's beginning to have a mental breakdown. When she is transferred into the mind of hapless Colin (Christopher Abbott) in order to kill his fiancée and her father she begins to lose control and finds it increasingly difficult to identify who she/he is at any one time. The story is certainly ingenious with possibly the influence of Total Recall (1990) at play and there's the body horror influence of director Brandon Cronenberg's father, David. At its heart the theme is about the use of technology to influence people's needs and thinking such as in marketing and in this story Colin works as a person who covertly monitors peoples laptop cameras to observe the decor of their homes and their desires, it's all about the coercive control of the modern consumer pushed to extremes. The film is sleek, strange, violent and engrossing, well worth checking out.

An interesting mood piece with a tour de force central performance by Ben Whishaw who really gets deep inside the role. He plays Joseph, a lonely airport security officer who suffers from insomnia and has unrequited feelings for work colleague, Lily (Jasmine Jobson). After a visit to his cold and overly critical parents Joseph begins to have a mental breakdown which culminates at work and sets him off on a surreal odyssey through the streets of London where his behaviour becomes more and more erratic. Whishaw gives Joseph a disturbing physical transformation of ticks and twitches, gurning and bizarre behaviour as he encounters strangers until he visits Lily to help her with a TV connection problem. Needing a new cable for her TV Joseph moves into a series of robberies when he finds he has no money. In a lot of ways this is a gripping psychodrama with violence forever expected to spill out but each time Joseph seems to move onwards on his journey to emotional breakdown. An interesting film which does feel as if it's been dragged out into feature length but it does have some very interesting ideas and visuals of a man on the edge of collapse.