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cgrimmette
Reviews
The Merchant of Venice (2004)
Sets the standard for Shakespeare Films
In all areas this Shakespeare film adaptation not only makes the great bard accessible to those unfamiliar with his work but to the sometimes mistaken belief that Shakespeare works transfer poorly to the screen. Off course the great mans work brings out the best in actors performance and this has got the lot. Lyn Collins excels, Irons is five star along with the rest. Al Pacino rubber stamps his position as probably the best film actor alive today. His portrayal of the Jew Shylock is clever and brings out a sense of compassion for Shylocks predicament and the situation he finds himself in. This lessens the call of the anti-semitic brigade as the context Shylock finds himself in at that time can be applied to non Jewish situations today.
The Doberman Gang (1972)
Good Fun
1972 is a long time ago and judged by todays standards many might dismiss this as a poor B movie flick. On the other hand judged by todays TV standards this is a great laugh and if it was produced now it would be a success. We love dogs and hate banks. How often have you sat on the porch looking at the stars and wondered how the hell can I get back at the bank who just charged £30 for going slightly overdrawn. Mans best friend comes to the rescue. The producer of this film deserves full credit for his foresight and a remake is long overdue perhaps with Brad Pitt as the staring role and Courtney love as the lead Doberman. Okay with died hair. I jest, just love a so called 'B' movie form 1972 thats entertaining.
The Devil Rides Out (1968)
Based on a true story
This is an entertaining film and still grips the viewer despite being made in 1968. Based on Dennis Wheatly book who took the story from actual events that occurred in Burnham Beaches around the 30's. The locations are good and the atmosphere maintained in the film gave many surprises. It is interesting to note that the corporation of London who own Burnham Beaches would not allow filming so the production had to move to Black park several miles away. Despite this the film is very entertaining and certainly has a fear factor. The authenticity of the film to the book is truthful and caused quite a stir in the late sixties from the people of Burnham who were unaware of the goings on in this natural landscape.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)
Change for change sake
No nice long crescendos just short ones. I know fitting the TV episodes into two hours is hard and trying to make it different difficult this interpretation lacked the intelligence obvious in the subject matter. For example anyone of any intelligence, and the service tries to recruit the best would make excuses not to attend the Christmas office party. The nature of the subject matter and the risks involved require intelligence. If the employees need a special spy proof box to hold meetings in then they obviously not intelligent enough to know when and what matters. The original TV adaptation brought out how serious security affairs are handled in a moderate and intelligent way. This is more true to life in the seventies than this film displays. A crescendo could of been made of the ricky tarr affair, smaller crescendos could of been implemented in the circus infiltration. The brief homosexual reference of peter Gilliam whats the point? Finally Stephan graham do you really need the money? All in all this film might be okay for those who have not seen the TV episodes and are more unaware of what intelligence is all about.