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Hawkino
Reviews
Staggered (1994)
An undiscovered gem of a film!
When I recently checked the TV schedules and saw that this was on the menu I made sure that I programmed my video recorder, and I was not disappointed with the end product! Martin Clunes is the hapless groom who is spirited away to a remote Scottish island by his devious best mate, and has to find his way back to the church on time to tie the matrimonial knot. There are plenty of laughs along the way and Sylvia Syms is superb as Margaret, the domineering mother-in-law from hell, who detests the very sight of poor Neil (Clunes). Griff Rhys Jones is great as the pervy salesman, resplendent in leather/spiky bondage pants! The characterisation is spot-on throughout and the performances make for an entertaining romp, even though you have to suspend belief for some of the scenes (I'm sure a that a near-naked man would arouse more interest even at a remote Scottish airport, but that is a very minor point). Even Neil Morrissey, Clunes's sidekick from the hit comedy "Men Behaving Badly" gets in on the act as the wedding videographer. All in all, a very engaging British comedy which had me smiling and laughing out loud more than I could have previously imagined. (8/10)
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
Astonishing
Quite simply, a movie that draws you in and provokes all kinds of emotions. You feel such a strong empathy for the plight of the patients that you find yourself willing them revolt to rise up against the system. Only Jack Nicholson could've played a character as strong and vibrant as McMurphy, and a better supporting cast I have yet to see to this day. Whilst watching this film I cried both tears of laughter and tears of sadness, and through the tears I found a sense of some immense but undefinable human truth trying to reach out to me. "Astonishing" is a word that I do not use lightly in any walk of life, yet in this case it is the only single word that I can find to describe this truly remarkable film.