September 23rd, 2008
Apparently the Times called this film “Delightful”, and “4 stars” says the Daily Mirror. In fact, this films seems to have received rave reviews from critics across the bored. So it was with some confidence that Katie and I rented Mike Leigh’s latest offering last night.
The only accolade I can think of to give this bore feast of a film is that it holds the record for putting Katie to sleep in the least time possible, I think she lasted 2.65 seconds. Sally Hawkins was the only saving grace in the “feel good” picture, I hope she goes on to better things than this.
I’d love to give you a run down of the plot, or at least the basic premise, but there really was none. Follow any 30-something Londoner around for a week, observing them at even the most mundane task and you’ll have an experience a lot like Happy Go Lucky. About 45 min in I took to forwarding through the chapters on the DVD to see if it would eventually go somewhere - it didn’t. Thank goodness I didn’t waste my time on it. I feel sorry for the people who sat though it (trapped like rats on a sinking ship) at the cinema.
My advice is avoid this film at all costs. 0/10.
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April 27th, 2005
After months of waiting, and checking cinema listing in vein, I finally got to see this film. So was it worth the wait? Unequivocally (is that a real word??) yes! I absolutely loved it, but it’s hard to put my finger on exactly why. The last offering from Wes Anderson The Royal Tenenbaums was, and I don’t think I’m being too harsh here, the biggest pile of steaming turd ever to grace the cinema screen. But the trailer for this film looked awesome, and Bill Murray is in it, and after seeing Lost in Translation I though this has got to be good.
The film is both slick and polished while at the same time feeling rough around the edges. It’s filmed with a kind of hazy filter which gives it the look of Jacques Costeau’s films. Which I guess given what the film is about was exactly what Anderson was trying to achieve. The sound track, a mix of crappy keyboard dance and acoustic Bowie, was perfect for this picture - Understated and very refreshing.
So should you see this film? It’s not exactly what you would call a run off the mill Hollywood blockbuster, more of an art house picture, which given some of the crap poring out of Hollywood is a no bad thing. If you’re prepared to give it some time, and appreciated it’s humour, you’ll end up loving it too - trust me. 9/10
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April 7th, 2005
André 3000, what a dude. Lets face it, he was the star of this film. I’m sure there was a plot line in there somewhere, something about Chili Palmer (Travolta) getting out of the film industry and into the music business, oh and Uma Thurman was in it as well.
But that’s not what this film was really about. It was giving the other actors a chance to shine and be funny, and they didn’t disappoint. I was occasionally a little annoyed when we had to get back to the main characters and worry about the plot.
The Rock shone in a role that was a BIG departure from his days as the Scorpion King and proved once and for all that there is no batter place to learn how to act than in the American wrestling arena. André 3000 was just cool (if not a little nuts) all through this movie, I predict big things from this guy.
Other notable performances came in the shape of Cedric the Entertainer as the upper class gangster dad, and Robert Pastorelli as Joe Loop the laid back hit man. Oh, and of course Christina Milian.
Go see this movie, not for the story – ‘Cos lets face it, it’s a bit thin on the ground. But for the understated cool and comedy that sets the tone all the way through. It’s got to be 7/10 from me on this one.
(Rob: now this is worth finding a cinema for!)
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March 25th, 2005
For some unknown reason I thought it would be a good idea to waste an hour of my life last night by sitting through Harold and Kumar go to Whitecastle (aka. Harold and Kumar get the Munches here in the UK). I wouldn’t say this film both sucked and blow’ed, but there was a definite feeling I’d just wasted £4.
I actually liked the actors playing the two main roles, it’s just a shame that this was their first major film role outside Van Wilder and American Pie. It was all just sooo predictable, from the hill-billy with the fit wife, to the sudden change in the characters personalities when they finally get to Whitecastle. Seriously, I wouldn’t bother. Wait till the inevitable uncut version is released on dvd, this film might actually be better after you’ve developed the munches.
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