Change Your Image
Anthony Williamson
Reviews
That'll Be the Day (1973)
Lifeless
Striving hard for the authentic feel of the late 1950s scene in working class England and the realistic films of the period That'll be the day is unfortunately weighed down by the double burden of an unimaginative script and David Essex. He tries to be deep and meaningful but emerges as a tedious bore. The eyes of his fellow actors seem to glaze over whenever he recites his lines and because his character and performance are so lifeless you are left with the overwhelming desire to give him a good slap. The one redeeming thing about this whole misguided venture is that - much like during his recording career - he does hardly any real singing. Dull.
Manchester United: Beyond the Promised Land (2000)
Real passion.
There should be a great film about the greatest sport in the world. Unfortunately this is not it. Seemingly created to take more money out of the United fan's pockets - got the key ring, bought the three away shirts, now buy the DVD. For the real passion behind football check out Michael Palin's Golden Gordon which is a good deal closer to reality than this featherweight carelessly thrown together production.
Body Double (1984)
Homage?
This film has been described as De Palma's homage to Hitchcock. A more fitting homage would have been for De Palma to have rented a Hitchcock video and stayed at home instead of foisting this twaddle on the public. De Palma co-wrote the script so he has no one to blame but himself for the half baked plot devoid of originality, tension or surprise. If in the first ten minutes you have not worked out how this story is going to develop and it's denouement you have not seen enough second rate tv thrillers. It has absolutely nothing to recommend you waste two hours of your life. Watch Rear Window instead.