derekdeksmith Reviews

My Fair Lady (1964)

Great actors, enjoyable songs, and terrific set

[8/10 · 14 December 2023]

The film must be viewed as of its age. In the ensuing 60 years, attitudes have changed and Henry Higgins, many might think, deserved much worse than he received.

Rex Harrison, Stanley Holloway and Wilfrid Hyde-White were stalwarts of stage and screen at the time, but it's Audrey Hepburn who steals it. She's the centre of every shot, whether she's wearing 'that' hat or not. I could, as a Londoner, and with an uncle who worked in Covent Garden, criticise her accent, but it is a comedy musical, so I won't. It didn't spoil the film for me.

The highpoint for me was Holloway, as Alfred P. Dolittle, whom I enjoyed the most with his convoluted justification of his morals. I sang, 'Get Me to the Church on Time' at my wedding reception. And who could argue against the logic. 'I Could Have Danced All Night' is delicious, and even 'I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face' is tear jerking in its melancholy.

It's aged a bit, but still a great film.

Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)

Perfect script, excellent acting, beautiful photography

[10/10 · 14 December 2023]

One of only two films I've rated 10, and this is the better one. The script is both delicate and incisive at the same time. The acting is sublime, but then it could be nothing else with Greenwood, Hobson and Guinness, together with Price in his tour de force. That he played two parts is lost in the adulation of Guinness who, if anything, over-acted in every one of his eight parts, while everyone else played it straight. The film is subtly incisive in it's comments on class, and the sexual repression of the era.

Harmer, as director, excelled.

Ealing comedies were always triumphs. Produced on shoestrings, the best scriptwriters were grabbed and the best of British acting was only too pleased to strut their stuff. Valerie Hobson's class as an actor was obvious, and as a person when she stuck by her husband, John Profumo, when he had to resign his seat in Parliament due to what was then an outrageous scandal, although nowadays such conduct would have looked good on a CV for Prime Minister. Almost mirroring Kind Heart's comments on class and sex.

I won't go into the plot, nor give any spoilers other than to say this is a film to watch time and time again, as well as being one to cherish. 10* every time.

Zombieland: Double Tap (2019)

Not quite as sharp as the first film, but still entertaining

[7/10 · 15 April 2023]

I don't watch many zombie films and had to be talked into seeing the first Zombieland. I loved it. Laugh-out-loud fun.

I delayed watching Double-Tap (clever title) because I was sure the addition of other characters would water in down, but I needn't have worried. The highlight of the sequel is, for me, the play-off between Wichita (Stone) and the impressive Madison (Deutch).

The script was very strong, with one-liners abounding, perfectly delivered by Stone and Deutch. The former's bitchiness was precise. She's an excellent actor. Deutch's dippiness could have become irritating, but she was, remarkably, endearing. Harrelson, Eisenberg, and Breslin were as entertaining as they were in the original. Dawson took a great part.

The story wasn't as strong as the first film, which was a bit of a disappointment, but overall, a thoroughly entertaining film with some classic moments. I've marked it down one slot from the first, but it was close.

It's not a film to ponder, to discuss with friends on a boozy night, hoping to work out what the meaning of life is, but it's enough that it is just so much fun to watch. I'll remember the performances of the leads, particularly Stone and Deutch, and the interchange between them, for some time.

Recommended.

The Dry (2020)

A really immersive film. A superior who-done-it. Recommended.

[8/10 · 24 March 2023]

I've been a big fan of Aussie films: from Muriel's Wedding to The Rabbit-proof Fence, they've got something to say. They stand up in their own right and are a blessed relief from films about characters from comics. The Dry is reinforcement of my belief that a good story and good acting beats special effects.

The Dry contains two stories, intertwined cleverly, and we have no idea how one affects the other until near the end.

The photography is a large part of the film. The drought is the titular star, and is the permanent backdrop. We see the comparison between the 'before' and 'after' repeatedly. The dried-up river/stream bed, and the more or less innocent fun in the cutbacks is heart-breaking in the context of the story.

Bana is great at the lead, as are O'Donnell as fellow-cop Raco, and O'Reilly as the love interest. But, and it is a massive plus, the overwhelming talent that is Aussie acting reserve, is shown by the others in the film. Not a weak performance from any; not even an average one. Well done the cast.

It shows life, such as it is, in small-town Australia. Taken from the novel by Jane Harper. If you've not read it, nor the two sequels, you have a treat coming.

Comfortably 8, and, in fact, so nearly a 9. The first sequel, Force of Nature, is in post prod. I don't want to scare the team, but they have a great film to live up to.

Recommended, but have a glass of water near you as you'll feel dehydrated by the end.

Jackie & Ryan (2014)

A sweet musical

[7/10 · 4 February 2023]

As musicals go, this one is no La La Land. The plot is rather thin. Almost evanescent, there are no plot twists, and the outcome is about as predictable as it gets, but the leads are rather pleasant and do their best with what they are given. The photography was a bit uninspired, with beautiful vistas all but ignored, although full marks for the industrial doom. There's a bogeyman, all viciousness telegraphed. There's a sweet child, a little too sweet given her backstory. Friends are all wonderfully friendly, without side, anger or resentment.

So why the 7 stars? It was rather sweet. The music was excellent, enjoyable and entrancing, even if you aren't a fan of Country. Foot tapping times make up for the rather slow parts of the storytelling. We all know the ending well before quarter way through, but the ambiance is enticing. This, you can't help thinking, is the way all relationships start.

Pleasant acting, pleasant location, wonderful music: what more could you need for a lazy afternoon?

It won't change your life, but it might make you feel more positive when facing your minor problems.

Easy A (2010)

It won't change your life

[7/10 · 8 November 2022]

This isn't an in-depth account of school life, reputation and bullying. It lacks characterisation of actors who are significant to the plot. We are required to accept that the stunning Emma Stone is something of a wall-flower. All in all, there are a number of ways in which this film could be criticised.

On the other hand, the script is delicious, with surprises, laugh out loud moments, good acting and clever build ups to denouements. It's a fun way to spend 90 minutes or so. It is well worth watching.

Cleverly, the script is not patronising. Stone is meant to be clever - it's part of the plot - and the dumb ones, while in the majority, are confused. As one would expect. As you can see, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a little film, but it is a little gem. I've rated it 7. If it could give it 7.5, I would have.

The Ipcress File (1965)

Of its time, but doesn't show its age

[8/10 · 2 July 2021]

The Ipcress File shows Caine at his subversive best. He transformed the British film industry, showing that common as muck actors could be heroes. Caine's Harry Palmer was a working class anti-hero, as he was in Alfie and The Italian Job. He was even more revolutionary when playing posh people in Battle of Britain and, particularly, the underrated and misunderstood Zulu, with the brilliant Baker - who was a miner's son from Wales and a communist.

Private school actors had, up until the advent of the likes of Caine and Baker, unconvincingly, and unsympathetically played working class men, normally as criminals or ineffective, just waiting for the landed gentry to help them in their misery. Never again though, not after Palmer and Charlie Croker.

The Ipcress File is of its time but doesn't show its age. There are one or two attitudes, particularly the way he treats women, that sound a gong, but in general it demonstrates how us commoners can overturn the tyranny of the toffee-nosed without all the agro of the guillotine.

His last great working class hero film was The Man Who Would Be King. After that, he softened and his brilliance shone fitfully. We can still thrill to his Palmer though.

Great film. Great actor.

The Lincoln Lawyer (2011)

The positives comfortably outweigh the negatives - recommended

[8/10 · 16 September 2018]

I was put off this film by a friend when it was released. I was told that with my impaired hearing, I'd miss too much of the plot. So I got the DVD, put on subtitles and gave it a go.

I'm so glad I did.

The two highlights for me:

The acting

There were no great tests of range or ability in the script, but that should not take away the fact that there wasn't a weak performance in the whole cast. Most were impeccable, and out in front was the excellent Matthew McConaughey. He didn't put a foot wrong and was so very believable. It's not that difficult to gain sympathy as a loveable rouge, but perhaps not one as obnoxious as McConaughey was at the beginning, but he pulled it off.

The plot

It built at a steady pace, something that is often missing in modern films, giving time to place incidents and information. We were given time to settle in, pick up the details and get to know people before any real plotting started. There were no tricks. We were kept up to date most of the time and when we weren't, it was made obvious.

Negatives:

The dialogue

Even my subtitle software got confused at times by Matthew McConaughey, the most notable being a pre-child hearing. OK, so the accent placed him; even I, from the UK, could understand the nuance. It was just the words that I couldn't. I'd have been floundering to understand the film in a cinema.

Visuals

I like to have memorable scenes but most were generic. I know a court is a court, is a court, but an unusual camera angle might have been nice.

Clues

There were a lot of clues as to what the outcome would be. I liked to be surprised with red herrings, but it was too predictable. Even with the final switch; I'd already worked it out.

Overall, a pleasant waste of a couple of hours. I was sucked right in. I used to be a police officer and I regularly gave evidence - 135 full witness orders in two years, the highest in my force. I know what goes on and what goes on is not what went on in this film. However, this did not detract one bit - real life court procedures are boring. It was great entertainment.

I enjoyed it.

The Vault (I) (2017)

Not the most mind-stretching film, but fun

[6/10 · 29 December 2017]

I'm with most of the other reviewers. It ticked along with the occasional good bit.

It gave away the twist early on and that made the big reveal at the end rather obvious. I think we all could have written the final scene; that was naff. The film cut no new ground, the scares were a bit weak and the sound made subtitles essential for me.

But if you want to put your feet up after a hard day, watch something that is not too testing, but is fun, then this one is quite good. I won't watch it again but I'm glad I did this time.

There are no big names in it but the cast did well. No one stood out and the script didn't give all the good lines to one highly paid actor.

6 out of 10 is a little generous, but it was a smidgen better than 5.

I enjoyed it.

House! (2000)

A very pleasant way to spend an evening

[8/10 · 24 October 2017]

It won't change your life. There's no road to Damascus moment and neither is it seminal. However, it is well acted, especially Kelly McDonald who's superb in everything she does, and Miriam Margolyes, who is the same, with a story that will leave you with a warm feeling inside.

I'm not sure why I liked it, but like it a lot I did.

It ticks along at a steady pace, being both humorous and entertaining, giving the viewer the impression the cast also enjoyed acting in it.

On the negative side, there's no bad language, no nudity, no confusing plot and no pointless CGI. On the positive side, it is fun.

Low Winter Sun (2006 TV Movie)

Strangely enticing

[10/10 · 19 October 2017]

Mark Strong shows why he is one of the best male British actors around nowadays. From Emma to Tinker Tailor he dominates films and that's what he does in this dramatic story. He is torn apart in front of our eyes. His conflict is played out and you know it is going to end badly, but you can't help but hope.

The bit with the contents of the bag was pointless and in normal circumstances I'd have marked it down a star for that, but given how strong the rest of it is it is forgiven.

There's a strong (sorry) cast as well, with some brilliant acting, making you think they had been hand picked for who they are. The cops are bad but human. The baddies are worse. The atmosphere of Edinburgh comes through a treat.

I loved it.

Grand Tour: Disaster in Time (1991)

A clever little distraction

[7/10 · 31 October 2014]

I saw this soon after its original release and would love to see it come out on DVD for Region 2.

It is a low-budget gem: well written, very well acted, with an interesting and surprising storyline.

The film moves steadily without breaking into much of a sweat until the rapid build up to the revelation to the 'reason'.

It is strangely engaging. I had something else to complete urgently but the 90 mins. seemed much more important.

I'd love to see it again. If you get the chance, then do so as you'll enjoy it.

A gem.