Sleepy Hollow

Tags

1990's, Casper Van Dien, Christina Ricci, Christopher Walken, Horror, Ian McDiarmid, Jeffrey Jones, Johnny Depp, Marc Pickering, Michael Gambon, Michael Gough, Miranda Richardson, Richard Griffiths, Sleepy Hollow, Tim Burton

Film Title

Sleepy Hollow

Director

Tim Burton

Starring

• Johnny Depp as Ichabod Crane
• Christina Ricci as Katrina Van Tassel
• Miranda Richardson as Lady Van Tassel
• Marc Pickering as Young Masbath
• Michael Gambon as Baltus Van Tassel
• Casper Van Dien as Brom Van Brunt
• Jeffrey Jones as Reverend Steenwyck
• Richard Griffiths as Magistrate Philipse
• Ian McDiarmid as Dr. Lancaster
• Michael Gough as Notary Hardenbrook
• Christopher Walken as the Hessian Horseman

Chilling, blood-soaked and visually ravishing, Tim Burton’s take on Washington Irving’s classic story is a creepy tale of murder and the supernatural with nods to Hammer Horror. Bolstered by a strong cast and a striking colour palette, Sleepy Hollow is a must for old-fashioned horror fans.

Ichabod Crane is an awkward, eccentric and unorthodox policeman in 1799 New York. His methods, such as autopsies and checking for fingerprints are criticised by those around him as they are peculiar and deemed unimportant. Ichabod is also plagued by his blurred memories of a past trauma involving his mother which he begins to piece together. He is given the task of uncovering the murderer in a small remote town known as Sleepy Hollow. Four people have been murdered in a short space of time, each of the victims was decapitated and their head was not found. Arriving in the dour town, Ichabod meets with the town elders; Baltus Van Tassel, the most respected and richest citizen, solemn Reverend Steenwyck, nervy Magistrate Philipse, quiet Dr. Lancaster and menacing Notary Hardenbrook. While Ichabod believes that the murderer is a man, the elders have a very different idea. They believe the carnage is the work of the Headless Horseman, a former mercenary in the war who delighted in chopping off the heads of his victims. The Horseman would eventually befall the same fate at the hands of soldiers. The elders are convinced that the Horseman has returned for revenge. Initially very skeptical and trying to think logically about what killed the victims, Ichabod begins to understand this story after his own encounter with the vengeful spirit. Spooked but still determined, Ichabod attempts to unravel the mystery with the help of Katrina, the romantic and enigmatic daughter of Baltus and Masbath, a recently orphaned boy who sees Ichabod as a surrogate father. Gothic chills and bloodshed follow as the mystery deepens into the realms of the supernatural.

From the opening frames of fog and carnage, we are transported into the gothic world of Tim Burton, who is clearly having a ball with the source material. Burton infuses Sleepy Hollow with an unnerving atmosphere of fear and mystery by utilising shadow and slow-building suspense.He respectfully tips his hat to Hammer Horror with scenes such as the eerily misty woods, a mysterious person clad in a cloak who glides through the woods one night and the wise crone who dwells in the cave, whilst also giving a darkly humorous and sly edge to proceedings. Visuals in Sleepy Hollow are second to none, with the looming houses of the town casting an ominous atmosphere and the gnarled Tree of the Dead a particularly terrifying sight to behold. Sleepy Hollow may be gory in many scenes as crimson and scarlet fill the screen, but at least it has a gripping story to keep it from falling into a full on gore fest. Danny Elfman provides a haunting and spellbinding score of choir chanting, uneasy strings and dreamlike percussion that perfectly sets the mood of impending terror that awaits Ichabod upon his arrival in the eponymous town.

Johnny Depp heads the impressive cast as the nervy and free-thinking Ichabod. He conveys fear, skepticism and radical thinking whilst giving us some darkly funny moments when Ichabod’s modern techniques are questioned by old-fashioned values. Christina Ricci is luminously enigmatic and dreamlike as Katrina, whose secretive behaviour and beauty soon cause her to become the object of Ichabod’s affections whilst aiding him in his unearthing of the sinister legend. Miranda Richardson makes for a mysterious character with her evasive presence and strange smiles every so often that slip from behind her image as a model wife. Marc Pickering conveys maturity and courage as Masbath, who helps Ichabod and develops and deep father-son bond with him. In supporting roles as the village elders;Michael Gambon, Jeffrey Jones, Ian McDiarmid and Michael Gough are respectable and intelligent. Casper Van Dien is well suited to the macho character of Brom, a potential suitor to Katrina who begins to feel threatened by the presence of Ichabod. And not forgetting Christopher Walken, who portrays the Horseman in flashback and adds a terrifying intensity and menace to the role.

A spellbinding, eerie and visually stunning horror film, Sleepy Hollow is both an affectionate throwback to old horror movies and a suspenseful thrill ride of mystery and danger, crafted with eccentric care by Tim Burton.

Hamlet(1990)

Tags

1990's, Alan Bates, Franco Zeffirelli, Glenn Close, Hamlet, Helena Bonham Carter, Ian Holm, Mel Gibson, Nathaniel Parker, Paul Scofield, Stephen Dillane, Tragedy, William Shakespeare

Film Title

Hamlet

Director

Franco Zeffirelli

Starring

• Mel Gibson as Prince Hamlet
• Glenn Close as Queen Gertrude
• Alan Bates as King Claudius
• Helena Bonham Carter as Ophelia
• Ian Holm as Polonius
• Paul Scofield as the ghost of King Hamlet
• Stephen Dillane as Horatio
• Nathaniel Parker as Laertes

In this adaptation of the classic William  Shakespeare tragedy, Franco Zeffirelli assembles an unexpected but engaging cast and directs with vigour and atmospheric skill in an attempt to show an individuality from other versions of the play. And he certainly does a good job of it.

The film begins with the funeral of Hamlet’s father, the King of Denmark. Hamlet’s mother Gertrude is saddened but seems a little too close to her late husband’s brother Claudius. Surely enough, the two marry soon after and Claudius becomes king. The young Prince Hamlet is puzzled by this courtship at first, but information regarding the sudden remarriage soon comes his way in eerie fashion. One night after hearing from his trusted friend Horatio that an apparition has been wandering around the castle at night, he is visited by the ghost of his father, who informs him that he was murdered by Claudius so he could take the throne. Hamlet swears revenge on his uncle and descends into madness as he attempts to complete the murderous task.

The first thing to note in Hamlet is the visual style. Dark and hushed shades of blue over the castle, which are juxtaposed with glaring images of sun capture the themes of life and death and the complementary nature of each. The camerawork is stunning as it glides around the surroundings and quite often nestles close to a character, this technique is especially useful and full of impact when Hamlet delivers monologues. Ennio Morricone provides the atmospheric and melancholy music, giving Hamlet a gloomy and suspenseful edge. What many purists will take issue with is the removal of certain parts of dialogue and the transference of certain pieces into different scenes. Yet, with this the film has a strong pace and in some ways makes it more accessible to those unfamiliar with the play. Only at certain times does the removal of parts of dialogue cause Hamlet to lose its way.

Heading the cast is Mel Gibson as Hamlet. At first I wasn’t sure that Gibson would fit the role of Hamlet, but surprisingly he makes the role his own. He contributes vigor, sadness and madness to the part as Hamlet becomes more vengeful and his delivery of dialogue is excellent. Unlike many who portray Hamlet as constantly brooding, Gibson has more fun with the role by adding intelligence and a playful smile which eventually gives way to sinister grins . Glenn Close is effectively cast as Gertrude who changes from grieving widow into a sexually liberated woman after marrying Claudius. The scenes between Close and Gibson are interesting to watch because of the ambiguous nature of their relationship. This unusual examination of mother-son relations adds dimension to the story and adds an edge to the classic piece by giving it more dramatic prominence. Alan Bates makes for a quietly villainous Claudius, whose scheming is masked by a courteous exterior. Helena Bonham Carter brings deep sadness to the role of the tragic Ophelia, whose treatment at the hands of Hamlet sends her spiralling out of control. The sight of her bare foot, chanting old love songs with wild eyes and mournful voice whilst wandering around the castle is a chilling sight to behold. Ian Holm makes for an intelligent Polonius, while Paul Scofield gives wisdom to the part of the King’s ghost. In supporting roles, Stephen Dillane and Nathaniel Parker are wonderfully effective in the parts of Horatio and Laertes.

Liberties taken with the text aside, Zeffirelli makes a vigorous movie of Hamlet that adds another spin to the classic tragedy.

Coriolanus

Tags

2010's, Brian Cox, Coriolanus, Gerard Butler, James Nesbitt, Jessica Chastain, Paul Jesson, Ralph Fiennes, Tragedy, Vanessa Redgrave, William Shakespeare

Film Title

Coriolanus

Director

Ralph Fiennes

Starring

• Ralph Fiennes as Caius Martius Coriolanus
• Gerard Butler as Tullus Aufidius
• Vanessa Redgrave as Volumnia
• Brian Cox as Menenius
• Jessica Chastain as Virgilia
• James Nesbitt as Sicinius
• Paul Jesson as Brutus

A visceral, blood-soaked modern-day adaptation of the William Shakespeare tragedy which marks the directorial debut of Ralph Fiennes, Coriolanus proves that Shakespeare is just as relevant today as he has ever been with themes of political manipulation and war.

In a battle ravaged version of Rome, riots are taking place on the streets due to a shortage of food and a brutal war is raging against the neighbouring Volscians. The brilliant Roman general Caius Martius is a vicious and brutal warrior  just returning from combat with his old enemy Tullus Aufidius. Upon arrival, he is bestowed with the powerful title of Coriolanus. His ambitious mother Volumnia and influential Senator Menenius persuade him to run for political office, but this doesn’t fair well with Coriolanus as he looks down at the common people and sees them as contemptible. He does however obey his mother and strive for power within the political sphere. Other members of the senate have different ideas about this and begin to incur the wrath of the people who detest his arrogance and slander towards them. This causes them to rise up against the general and he is subsequently banished from Rome as a traitor. Once banished, Coriolanus wanders through the war-torn countryside and comes across his sworn enemy Aufidius. Betrayed by his people and filled with deep rage, Coriolanus forms an unlikely alliance with his old opponent and they plan to take revenge on Rome.

With his directorial debut, Ralph Fiennes brings a gritty realism to the scenes of war and utilises close-ups and dizzying tracking shots to get to the heart of emotion. Updating Shakespeare into a modern context must have provided a challenge, but Fiennes pull it off admirably and shows that the Bard’s work can be applied to modern events just as it is classic events from centuries ago. Admittedly, at first hearing the classical dialogue of Shakespeare spoken in a modern setting can be hard to understand and get used to, but once you become attuned to the words and style the benefits of Coriolanus are deeply rewarding. The score is laced with a militant precision as Coriolanus begins his encroaching plans for revenge with the aid of his old enemy and the impending notion of tragedy.

What really gives Coriolanus its power is the astonishing cast assembled. In the title role, Ralph Fiennes is fierce, arrogant and raging as he changes from ‘man to dragon’ and declares vengeance on Rome. Fiennes gives the role his all and really gets to the heart of this complex character with his powerful delivery and barely contained intensity that radiates from his eyes. Gerard Butler is impressively tough and suspecting as his sworn enemy who becomes an ally. Vanessa Redgrave is brilliant as Volumnia, the autocratic mother of Coriolanus. Ambitious, influential and  overly supportive, Redgrave brings a whole range of emotions to the part of this matriarch and speaks her lines with authority and confidence. Her scenes are electrifying with Ralph Fiennes as she attempts to reason with him, whilst also issuing her powerful and domineering hold over her son. Brian Cox is effectively used as a powerful Senator who is firmly on the side of Coriolanus, whilst Jessica Chastain exudes vulnerability and tenderness as Virgilia, the wife of Coriolanus. James Nesbitt and Paul Jesson relish their roles as politicians who succeed in manipulating events so that Coriolanus is banished.

Dramatic, violent and gripping, Coriolanus is Shakespeare updated in visceral and powerful fashion, boasting fantastic performances and assured direction.

Pollyanna

Tags

1960's, Adolphe Menjou, Agnes Moorehead, David Swift, Hayley Mills, Jane Wyman, Karl Malden, Kevin Corcoran, Nancy Olson, Period Drama, Pollyanna, Richard Egan

Film Title

Pollyanna

Director

David Swift

Starring

• Hayley Mills as Pollyanna
• Jane Wyman as Aunt Polly Harrington
• Karl Malden as Reverend Ford
• Richard Egan as Dr. Edmond Chiltern
• Nancy Olson as Nancy Furman
• Adolphe Menjou as Mr. Pendergast
• Agnes Moorehead as Mrs. Snow
• Kevin Corcoran as Jimmy Bean

Based on the timeless children’s book, Pollyanna is a beautifully realised portrait of the indomitable spirit of one person raising the dour spirits of those around her featuring stunning cinematography and winning performances. Sure it may be a little sentimental, but it doesn’t fall into full on schmaltz thanks to the talent on show.

Pollyanna is the sweet-faced orphan of the title who is sent to live with her rich Aunt Polly in a Vermont town named Harrington in the early 1900’s after the death of her parents. The town is a dour place of no fun because of Polly’s severe hold over the place and the way no one will question her. Pollyanna on the other hand is a cheerful young girl with an optimistic outlook on life no matter how grim it appears, even in this place where children should be seen and not heard. This stems from her late father’s ‘Glad Game’, which consists of finding happiness in the things around you and not taking for granted what you have. The young girl soon begins to change the town around her with her sunny disposition and acts of kindness that win over the occupants of the town, even the reclusive Mr. Pendergast and the hypochondriac Mrs. Snow . The other residents of the town who have been cheerless for years begin to see the goodness of life and how there is always something to be glad about because of the ray of light that comes with Pollyanna. Yet can Pollyanna’s infectious charm reach her Aunt just like it has everyone else?

Director and writer David Swift brings the story to life with engaging characters and adventures that will surely raise a smile from many audience members. Glorious Technicolor brings the town of Harrington to life, as the young Pollyanna brightens the lives of those around her. A prime example of this is the bazaar in which the town raises money for a new orphanage. Smiles, glorious lights and stunning camerawork give the scene a childlike sense of wonder and the innocence of life that will no doubt stir nostalgic feelings. The music score for Pollyanna captures the initial austerity of the town and later the thawing sadness in favour of joy. Yes, Pollyanna may get sugary at times and the pace may get a little uneven, but these are minor flaws in this beautiful fable about the joy of a child and the far-reaching effects of it.

The cast all contribute stunning work to this heartfelt and classic story. Hayley Mills is the perfect choice to play Pollyanna. With large expressive eyes and a smiley face, Mills imbues the title character with effervescent pluck, charm and love. The role could easily have become annoying and cloying, but thanks to Mills, Pollyanna remains a breath of fresh air in grim surroundings who can find the good in almost everything in around her. Jane Wyman is suitably stern as Aunt Polly, who can’t seem to tolerate happiness and rules over the town with a severity that clashes with Pollyanna’s optimism. Karl Malden is uptight as the local reverend whilst Richard Egan provides emotional honesty as a former lover of Aunt Polly’s. Nancy Olson is charming as the housemaid who is the first person to be won over by Pollyanna. Adolphe Menjou and Agnes Moorehead are crusty and no-nonsense as two of the town’s residents, whose defensive behaviour begins to thaw  as they rediscover the joy of life. And not forgetting Kevin Corcoran as Jimmy Bean, an orphan who befriends Pollyanna and often leads her into mischief.

Timeless, charming and emotionally satisfying, Pollyanna is a feel good film if ever there was one that the whole family can enjoy time and time again.

 

 

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 7

Tags

2000's, Alyson Hannigan, Anthony Stewart Head, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 7, Emma Caulfield, James Marsters, Michelle Trachtenberg, Nicholas Brendon, Sarah Michelle Gellar

So here it is, my review of the last season of Buffy. After spending seven years fighting the forces of evil, this is when our eponymous warrior’s journey ends. And what an epic journey it has been. I have really enjoyed revisiting one of my favourite shows and I hope my reviews have done the series justice as well as entertained my loyal followers. Spoilers will follow in this review.

Buffy(Sarah Michelle Gellar) is back to her old self after overcoming depression and traumatic events brought on by her resurrection in Season 6. She is embracing her destiny once more and helping prepare her sister Dawn(Michelle Trachtenberg) in the art of fighting. Sunnydale High is rebuilt and Dawn begins to attend. It seems that the Hellmouth still resides underneath the school and that an Ancient Evil known as The First will soon rise. The First can take the form of the dead and is a keen manipulator of those in comes into contact with. Buffy gets a job as a guidance counsellor for the students, although she is suspicious of Principal Wood. It actually transpires that Wood is the son of a vampire slayer and he joins Buffy in her fight later on. Elsewhere, Spike(James Marsters) has returned from Africa after being reinstated with a soul by a demon. The new-found soul begins to drive Spike into mania as he struggles with knowing all the hurt he has inflicted on people. Matters are also complicated as we see how Wood’s mother was a slayer Spike killed many years ago and how he now wants revenge on Spike. Willow(Alyson Hannigan) is rehabilitating with Giles(Anthony Stewart Head) in England in an attempt to harness her magic for good, before returning to her circle of friends. Giles later reappears in Sunnydale with a band of girls who are Potential Slayers in need of training for the impending fight with the First and its army of lethal and feral vampires. In other news within the gang, Anya(Emma Caulfield) is once again a vengeance demon, yet doesn’t find her old life as fulfilling as it once was. Add to that the fact she still cares for Xander(Nicholas Brendon), and she decides she wants to be human once more.  Andrew returns to Sunnydale under the influence of The First who appears to him as Warren. It manipulates him into killing his only friend Jonathan. Andrew is later found by Willow who takes him to the house for information. Eventually, after much adversity, Andrew becomes a trusted member of the group. With the First rising up and intent on spreading pain and destruction, it is down to Buffy and her pals to fight in an epic battle of good vs evil in which only one will triumph. The only question is, who will survive the carnage?

Season 7 retains some of the darkness of Season 6, yet gives it an epic feel as Buffy heads towards the apocalyptic battle. With the First, we have an interesting and extremely menacing villain. It sends shivers down the spine as it takes the form of the deceased, including Buffy herself as she has died twice. Watching as it manipulates innocent people and causes them to do its bidding is indeed a chilling sight.It even manages to use Spike for killing, finding a way to avoid setting off his chip that stops him hurting humans. Spike later has his chip removed at Buffy’s request, as it begins to malfunction. The First’s  helpers are the vicious vampires mentioned earlier and The Bringers, men clad in monk robes with their eyes carved into symbols who pursue Potential Slayers with the intent to kill. These two groups add further danger for Buffy and her friends in attempting to avert The First from its plans. And not forgetting Caleb, a deranged priest who works for the First and is the one who gouges Xander’s eye out in a sickening scene. The concept of the Potential Slayers is interesting as we watch Buffy become a mentor to them and develop emotional attachments whilst teaching them how to fight the impending doom. We see Buffy transfer her skills to them and give them more guidance than she had when she first became aware of her calling. It’s also great to have Faith back after she became a renegade slayer. After burying her grievances with Buffy, she agrees to help her in the fight. Emotions run high in this season, this is typified by the deaths of two main characters. The characters in question are Anya and Spike. Both of their deaths are very sad, though Spike’s is given edge by the fact that he dies being his sarcastic, bad ass self for the great good during the final battle. And speaking of the final battle, it is one hell of an emotional ride. Tears fall, bodies bleed and carnage ensues as Buffy and the gang face the apocalypse and she finally fulfills her destiny. If you’re not emotional by the finale, you clearly don’t have a heart. To say it’s an epic finale, is a huge understatement. The last moments of Buffy, flanked by friends and allies with tears in her eyes and a half-smile as she contemplates her future are the perfect conclusion to this amazing series.

For this final season, all of the cast bring their A game. Sarah Michelle Gellar rounds out her tenure as the eponymous slayer with a moving, strong and heartfelt performance. We’ve watched her grow from being a reluctant fighter trying to live a normal life to woman warrior who is capable of anything when she puts her heart into it. Gellar is nothing short of amazing as she finishes in this iconic role of Buffy that will forever be in my memory. Nicholas Brendon is reliable as the lovable Xander who now represents reason and resourcefulness, despite getting brutally injured by one of The First’s many helpers in the form of sinister Caleb. Alyson Hannigan captures Willow’s angst at attempting to control her magic, but also the goodness within her that helps her friends in times of need. James Marsters is electrifying as Spike who is now firmly on the good side but still has his wounding retorts and fierce fighting to make him a valuable ally. It’s sad to see Spike die in the finale, but at least he went down fighting and had Buffy’s care with him. Emma Caulfield is luminous as Anya who finally expresses her feelings for Xander,even after everything they’ve been through. Anya’s death is also packed with emotion and is quite an unexpected moment in the show. Michelle Trachtenberg grows up as Dawn, revealing the buried strength under the naive and vulnerable surface. And it’s good to have Anthony Stewart Head back as Giles, and a fitting time for him to re-enter the show as it draws to its end.

From action-packed opening to emotional end, Buffy has been one hell of a ride and Season 7 does the series credit as we bid goodbye to the ultimate warrior battling against the forces of evil. I hope my reviews have been informative and people have enjoyed them. Watching them again has been a really great experience and so enjoyable in revisiting one of my favourite shows.