WILL MEET THE FOCKERS FOLLOW NEXT WEEK?
I hope this mediocre batch flickering fairy dust, doesn’t bode ill for the rest of 2010.Those in charge often think that come Christmas, the paying patrons are sure to be so overwhelmed by good cheer, that any middle aged actor in a Santa suit or— Heaven Forbid!— the entire Leon Schuster back catalogue will suffice; hope not.
A STRANGE CONNECTION
To begin on a high note however, after the charm of Moulin Rouge! last week, it is reassuring to realize just how fine an actress Nicole Kidman really can be. Lately, her output has been patchy rather than perfect.
KIDMAN LIGHTS UP THE SCENE
Birth [e.tv.Thursday.20.30] made in 2004 is a well made, thought provoking inquisition into identity. Must our earthly incarnation remain static, or can love conquer time and spatial restraints. Birth doesn’t quite how when or how to end, but some of the plot premises are intriguing, to say the least.
FIRE CRACKERS
Of a more straightforward comic book/graphic novel nature is V for Vendetta [SABC3.Friday.21.30]. If today is nasty, tomorrow promises to be diabolical. There is more than a nod to George Orwell, Big Brother is watching you, but how much does he see? There is an effective use of pyromaniac motifs; both Guy Fawkes and Joan of Arc seem to take a fiery turn.
WHAT A SHOT
Some things do go up with a bit of a bang. The mainly British cast is keenly competent, Stephens Rea and Fry, John Hurt and Rupert Graves compliment Hugo Weaving and Natalie Portman very well indeed. The film is set in England… a short time from now… In V for Vendetta, London is Falling, rather than Calling.
A DANCE IS A WISH YOUR HEART MAKES
The Prince and Me [SABC2.Saturday.16.00] is 80% pure fairy tale, with a few rough realistic edges; no frogs though! Julia Stiles gives a sweetly convincing performance as Me.
THE BOOK WAS MUCH BETTER
If you think that Stephen King films badly, Dean Koontz has been mauled by filmmakers. Hideaway [e.tv.22.30 and 02.00] was so atrocious that Koontz asked for his name to be removed from the final product, well he might.
THE PROLIFIC MR.KOONTZ AND A RECURRING CHARACTER
I rather enjoy Koontz as a writer; if he is read correctly, yes, unnatural, horrible, hardly human things happen to his heroes and heroines; the best ones feature a dog too. But at heart, Koontz retells an age-old story, the survival of the little man against terrifying odds, often Koontz’ diabolical Goliath is brought down with a sling and a stone.
IN THE GOOD OLD DAYS
Many moons and stars ago, Kiefer Sutherland and Julia Roberts were once a hot item, when she dumped him, days before the nuptials; the tabloids had a collective orgasm. Joel Schumacher, who has the distinction of being John Grisham’s favourite director, was behind the camera for the (then) lovebirds and Kevin Bacon in Flatliners [e.tv.Sunday.22.10 and 01.50].
THE YOUTHFUL CAST OF FLATLINERS
The movie is yet another attempt to show humans ‘playing God,’ tampering with the notions of life and death, a stimulating proposal that doesn’t produce satisfactory results, although Julia Roberts is always arresting, I don’t care what the critics are saying about Eat Pray Love.
DON CHEADLE IS AN OUTSTANDING ACTOR
If it’s intelligent, real life drama you crave (if one can call an idea by Steve Martin and the meanderings of the FBI real or for that matter, intelligent), try Traitor [M-Net.Friday.21.30 and Tuesday.23.30], where Don Cheadle and to a lesser extent Guy Pearce are better than their material.
A CONDITION THAT IS DIFFICULT TO FATHOM
Adam [M-Net.Monday.21.30] examines Asperger Syndrome, a form of autism which is very easy to misdiagnose or miss altogether. Like Alzheimer’s disease, the condition has been around forever, only now it seems more prevalent, because it has a name. The film tries to steer clear of melodrama and presents a case study with clarity, humour and compassion.
BOB WITH BEN STILLER
Comedy has traveled many new roads, not all of them funny or even hygienic since Meet the Parents [e.tv.Saturday.20.00] was made in 2000. In it, Ben Stiller is quite restrained and fairly amusing as he pits his wits against the potential parent-in–laws from hell, Robert de Niro and Blythe Danner.
BOB IN COMEDY MODE
de Niro does a fine turn of sending himself up; this has become a habit, sometimes a little on the boring side. Here the knowing scratch and raised eyebrow work every well indeed.
THE ADVENTURE BEGINS
The Hangover [M-Net.Sunday.20.05] mined an unexpected box office treasure, four guys in a stag situation have been done before, but this one, with its gentle grossity and smirking irresponsibility seems to hit the right spot. The movie has its moments, and bodily functions are fairly well controlled. …And, yes, there is a tiger in the tank.
KURT RUSSELL AS BEARDED HERO
The remake of that 1951 sci fi classic, The Thing [SABC3.Saturday.02.30] originally titled The Thing From Another World, is really a sequel than a remake, as such. In the 50s, they somehow did ‘things with an attitude that slither’ so well and cheaply, aimed, of course, at the drive in circuit. Films of this genre shouldn’t be intellectualized too much, director, John Carpenter often gets a teeny bit carried away.
WITH GOLDIE
Kurt Russell is fine in the lead, stuck in the snow, with nastiness all around. I have always been rather fond of Kurt Russell, a Disney star in his youth, The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes; well that was a bit of a peek into the future, if ever there was one.
AS ELVIS
In the 80’s,he stared with Meryl Streep in Silkwood and almost became a big star. Nowadays, apart from appearing in some ‘cult movies’—Escape From New York and Big Trouble in Little China—he is best known for being Mr. Goldie Hawn and step dad of Kate Hudson. He also, when the mood takes him, does a mean impersonation of Elvis.
SEEING INTO THE FUTURE
H.G. Wells wrote The Time Machine as long ago as 1895; the novel has in fact, been filmed before, in the early 60s. Wells really set a standard for this type of futuristic writing, he also wrote War of The Worlds.
MAN AND MACHINE
This version [SABC3.Friday.19.30] of the classic tale of time travel stars Guy Pearce, Orlando Jones and Jeremy Irons. The idea of traveling through time is almost faction now, isn’t it?
A CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK
I find time travel very compelling, much better than a trip to Mars. A trivia trinket: the movie was directed by Simon Wells, HG Wells’ great grandson.
LOVELY TO LOOK AT
The obsession with vampires continues, Hugh Jackman stars in Van Helsing [SABC3.Saturday.19.30], Dracula is running loose, this production throws in Frankenstein’s Monster and The Wolfman for good measure, it’s been done before and better, too; Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstein springs to mind.
A HAPPY LOOKING CAST
Two action heroes return this week, Harrison Ford may look a little older, but Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull [M-Net.Saturday.03.20] has Stephen Spielberg at the helm, and Cate Blanchett to add a deal of style and technique.
PLENTY OF FUN AND GAMES
For a full review of this movie, go to Google Custom Search: Search TVSA, at the top of the Main Page. You can also search there for any other films reviewed by me during the last 18 months.
GRACE JONES DOESN'T HELP AT ALL
View to a Kill [e.tv.Friday.20.30] was Roger Moore’s last outing as James Bond, he and the whole effort creak alarmingly.
HORSE SENSE
To end, a horse opera with a heart, Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story [e.tv.Friday.14.30] starring Kurt Russell and Dakota Fanning is lump in the throat deluxe, with a believable story and nicely rounded performances.
MOTHER OF SUNDAY
A split vote on my pick this week, Indy [M-Net.Saturday.03.20] cos I’m a fan, and Birth [e.tv.Thursday.20.30] because, at heart, I’m a romantic.