Scream 4

Tags

2010's, Alison Brie, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Emma Roberts, Erik Knudsen, Hayden Panettiere, Horror, Marley Shelton, Mary McDonnell, Neve Campbell, Nico Tortorella, Rory Culkin, Scream 4, Wes Craven

Film Title

Scream 4

Director

Wes Craven

Starring

• Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott
• Courteney Cox as Gale Weathers-Riley
• David Arquette as Dewey Riley
• Emma Roberts as Jill Roberts
• Hayden Panettiere as Kirby Reed
• Rory Culkin as Charlie Walker
• Erik Knudsen as Robbie Mercer
• Marley Shelton as Deputy Judy Hicks
• Alison Brie as Rebecca
• Nico Tortorella as Trevor
• Mary McDonnell as Kate Roberts

A return to the slasher series with a satirical edge, Scream 4 undoubtedly has its flaws. But it would be impossible to reach the heights of the influential first movie and if you look at it from a singular standpoint, Scream 4 is still rollicking and entertaining, albeit with problems. Plus, you’ve got Wes Craven on directing duties, Kevin Williamson back in the writing department and three of the principal actors from the original trilogy. And in those areas, Scream 4 rocks.

It has been ten years since the first spate of slayings in Woodsboro and Sidney Prescott returns. In the time since, she has written a self-help book and become a very confident woman whose no longer scared of her past. She stays with her Aunt Kate and cousin Jill, who is in her teens and surrounded by friends who adore the movies. Her return is part of her book tour and she reconnects with friends Dewey Riley, who is now the Sheriff and Gale, who is married to Dewey and whose career as a writer has somewhat stalled since moving back to Woodsboro a number of years ago. Dewey is having a good enough tenure as Sheriff of his hometown, while Gale has writer’s block and craves a new challenge. Yet as Sidney arrives, her old nemesis of Ghostface makes his presence felt with a rash of grisly murders, akin to the crimes perpetrated all those years ago. With a new generation of wise ass teens on the block, we learn that the killer may be trying to outdo the original in the way that most reboots do. That means it’s up to Sidney, an inquisitive Gale and Dewey to unearth the psycho before more blood is shed from the people Sidney holds dear to her heart. But just who is starting all these killings over again and what is the overall motive?

Wes Craven, that great iconic director of horror, is firmly in the director’s seat and his obvious expertise in the genre are at play. Though some of it feels stale, Craven has enough energy and style to make Scream 4 at least a worthy entry to the canon. In a sad footnote, Scream 4 was Craven’s last directing gig before his death and he left us with a good movie to go out on. While it has some problems, I will say that it has a bit more a better ratio with laughs and scares than Scream 3 did. meta and self referential areas are still pretty much intact, though they can lack some of the panache the other movies had.  Regardless, the many satiric jibes about endless glut of horror movies that attempt to outdo their predecessors by being outrageous and bigger are well-handled. The in jokes here are pretty amusing it must be said, as a new set of reboot rules come out to play. Because so much has changed in the world of movies and technology, Scream 4 can seem a bit forced as it is a totally different age from when the first three where hot. Saying that, quite a lot of the humour regarding us being such a dependent species on the Internet and the lives of others is particularly tart and barbed; something writer Kevin Williamson knows a lot about. Yet for all the mocking of conventions, it slips into many of them a lot more than necessary. Overall though, the script and return of Williamson are inspired and still very witty when it comes to be self-aware. Just that opening film within a film part is wildly entertaining as a send up to relentless sequels in the gore-filled genre. Seriously too, I loved the homages to the other films in the franchise; a lot of them really stuck in my mind and surprised me. Probably the most glaring flaw is the lack of interesting supporting characters, save for movie savvy Kirby, girl next door Jill and geeky Charlie . The rest of the teenagers are mere cardboard cut outs whose main purpose is to die extravagantly( though that does make the film more brutal and pretty scary it must be stated). The other main flaw within Scream 4 is that it overlong and could have been cut better, instead of dragging quite a big chunk of it out. I believe it’s a flawed movie, but it has some excellent moments that bring us back into the feel of the first troika of works. Marco Beltrami also returns on music duties and kicks up the action and winking to the audience that these movies are a dab hand at. The music has always been a big part of why I love these movies and this doesn’t disappoint, along with some side-swiping writing and inventive deaths.

The returning cast members slip back into the roles they know so well and do it with style. Neve Campbell once more impresses as perennial survivor Sidney, who is now older and more confident than ever before. Campbell portrays Sidney at her most hard-edged and ready for battle, even having a bit of sarcasm and as she’s faced this horror before yet refused to be the victim. That quality of overcoming adversity and personal growth has always been the most effective thing about Sidney Prescott, best embodied by the naturalness and heart of Campbell. She is still obviously terrified by events repeating themselves, but by now can take charge and kick ass with both attitude and soul. All bow down to Sidney Prescott and Neve Campbell for bringing this resilient character back to life. Courteney Cox gets to show that Gale can still be a fabulous bitch who wants her part of the glory solving the crimes, in typically defiant and amusing and near dangerous fashion. David Arquette’s puppy like enthusiasm is still there in funny ways, though it is tempered with a weariness now that the character is older. It was nice seeing these three characters return once more and still be interesting to watch. Emma Roberts is good as the cousin of Sidney, while Hayden Panettiere steals the show as the wise ass, movie buff Kirby. Exhibiting a sassy attitude and flirty sex appeal, she was a lot of fun to watch. Rory Culkin and Erik Knudsen are pretty OK as the movie geeks of the piece, though Culkin overshadows Knudsen because he appears more than him. The gorgeous Marley Shelton is unfortunately saddled with an uninteresting part of adoring police deputy who has a thing for her boss and Alison Brie majorly grates as the bitchy publicist with a big mouth and condescending persona. Nico Tortorella is pretty bland and not at all convincing as a creepy ex-boyfriend of Jill’s, while Mary McDonnell is completely wasted in her role as Sidney’s Aunt.

As flawed as it gets and lazy in some aspects it becomes, Scream 4 is largely an entertaining return to the series, aided by some inventive deaths and characters we know and love. Imperfect it may be, but any Scream is better than no Scream, even with some blemishes to its name.

Bug

Tags

2000's, Ashley Judd, Bug, Harry Connick Jr, Michael Shannon, Psychological Horror, William Friedkin

Film Title

Bug

Director

William Friedkin

Starring

• Ashley Judd as Agnes White
• Michael Shannon as Peter Evans
• Harry Connick Jr as Jerry

A psychological horror that’s more about the ravages of loneliness and the persuasive yet damaging delusions to escape that feeling, is rendered unnervingly by William Friedkin in Bug. Scripted by Tracy Letts from his own play, Bug comes to frightening and intense life under the direction of, and aided by two astonishing performances from Ashley Judd and Michael Shannon.

Agnes White is a lonely and haunted young woman who resides in a battered old motel in Oklahoma. Having been terrified by her now released ex Jerry( who keeps cold calling her) and her son disappearing ten years ago, life hasn’t been easy for her. In between working at a local bar, Agnes gets drunk and does drugs with her only real friend to ease the pain. One night, she is introduced to a mysterious man named Peter Evans. He is a little bit awkward but well spoken and pleasant enough towards Agnes. Slowly, the beaten down woman starts to find a certain companionship with this fellow loner. It’s when Peter is seemingly bitten by a bug that his instability comes out, with him talking of time he spent in the army and how he’s being hunted for experimental purposes. At first, Agnes doesn’t know what to make of Peter and his conspiracy stories, but things take a turn quickly. Having been worn down so much and aching for connection that leaves her too open to suggestion, Agnes soon starts to gel with Peter’s delusional theories of a bug infestation in the motel room. Having Jerry lurking around does nothing to help Agnes and how Peter’s imaginings take hold of her. Peter’s frenzied behaviour and ramblings are enough to convince Agnes of something terrible and paranoid. Sealing themselves inside the crummy motel room away from everyone, insanity breeds and the varied delusions of bugs and conspiracy quickly overtake Agnes and Peter completely.

William Friedkin delves deep into the troubled psyche of the protagonists with his cinematic flair illuminating turmoil and eventual downward spiral. that will make your skin crawl and unsettle your mind as it throws you headlong into delusion and isolation that has damaging effects on Agnes, as created by paranoid Peter. Friedkin is a man who knows how to use a camera for maximum impact; often employing gliding motions before cutting to hand-held restlessness as the story cranks up. Armed with a script by its original creator, the encased and isolated aura of a play is successfully kept but as a string to the film’s bow rather than a weakness. The building atmosphere provided by both direction and screenplay is riveting in slowly pacing events, then unearthing with quick succession the obsessive and troubling path to insanity encountered by the characters. Within Bug, Agnes and Peter feed of the others anxieties and paranoid minds, further slipping away from any form of understanding reality. The thematic value of loneliness and desperation is brought out as something that influences the eventual horror in a most effective manner. Part of this is best envisioned in the fact that Bug largely takes place in one setting; the run-down motel room that has seen better days. Even when some light comes in, it’s a setting that takes on a creepy tone as sanity wanes and the cinematography captures some moody contrasts in colour with harsh, grimy efficiency. Now Bug does get a little too abstract in some parts, but the sheer volume of psychological content and claustrophobic mania of it cover up these cracks to produce a quite startling and horrifying movie. Bug reminds us that all the best and most terrifying horror comes from the mind and suggestion, insuring you won’t be able to quite forget this film after viewing. A sparse musical score brings more attention to the alarming content, yet knows when to pitch in for some doom-laded menace.

I’ve always thought Ashley Judd is a good actress, who for whatever reason, seems to be in movies that are somewhat generic, though her talent largely shines through. Here however, she’s got a role that really shows off her abilities with dramatic full force and allows her to shine. Capturing the pensive sadness of Agnes, who seems resigned and wounded by a terrible life, Judd slowly becomes more and more unstrung as her need for company in turn sends her into insanity. With gutsy anguish and feverish unpredictability, the pitiful and in many ways doomed Agnes is fantastically played by the marvellous Ashley Judd in what is probably her finest performance. Michael Shannon has a naturally intense demeanor to him that is largely from his steely eyes and tough jaw. Even when still and not seeming off kilter, he successfully exudes a sense of restlessness that will soon worryingly combust. These traits, along with a palpable sadness, are wonderfully and frighteningly put on display in Bug. Starting out playing Peter as a little awkward and strange, once the paranoia aspect hots up, Shannon lets loose and his frenzied tics and raw energy come out with spectacular results. It’s safe to say, Shannon’s unsettling and manic performance is not one to forget as he’s so scarily effective in the part. Both of the main stars share a warped and startling closeness that is remarkably intense and worrying. One can imagine that both Judd and Shannon must have been exhausted upon filming completion, given the emotional distress and frenzy they both had to play. Harry Connick Jr provides a beefed up and hair-trigger temper as the convict ex of Agnes, whose appearance disturbs her but is nothing compared to what transpires with Peter.

An an uncomfortable and disquieting horror that drags out the dark recesses of the mind and presents them with skin-crawling assurance, Bug is a movie not for everyone. But for those willing to watch a claustrophobic examination of paranoid delusion and alarming co-dependency(acted with striking intensity) that turns to mania , Bug will be well worth checking out. Just be warned, you won’t be able to shake Bug for some time, which is to give credit to the sheer impact of it all.

Waiting to Exhale

Tags

1990's, Angela Bassett, Comedy, Dennis Haysbert, Drama, Forest Whitaker, Gregory Hines, Lela Rochon, Loretta Devine, Michael Beach, Waiting to Exhale, Wesley Snipes, Whitney Houston

Film Title

Waiting to Exhale

Director

Forest Whitaker

Starring

• Whitney Houston as Savannah Jackson
• Angela Bassett as Bernadine Harris
• Lela Rochon as Robin Stokes
• Loretta Devine as Gloria Matthews
• Gregory Hines as Marvin
• Dennis Haysbert as Kenneth
• Michael Beach as John Harris
• Wesley Snipes as James

A glossy comedy drama concerning the love lives and friendships of four African-American women, Waiting to Exhale definitely has a lot of things going for it on the entertainment factor. But while it has some things to recommend, primarily a hot soundtrack and largely impressive casting, Waiting to Exhale just felt overall too slight of a film to make an impact on me.

A quartet of African-American women( Savannah, Bernadine, Robin and Gloria) all experience differences in romantic relationships and love . All living in Phoenix, their relationships with men are never easy and they often meet to discuss their various problems with the opposite sex over vino and food. Savannah is a television producer who has been having a relationship with Kenneth, a married man who keeps promising to leave his wife. Yet she is growing restless with his lying and contemplates taking charge once and for all. Bernadine thought she had a great marriage and lifestyle. That is until slimy John leaves her after eleven years for his secretary and she is crestfallen. She must deal with how best to move forward and reclaim her life as a single woman. The trouble is she never expected any of this to happen, so must go back to square one again and see what she can do. Robin is a flighty girl still hung up on a no good guy, but having casual flings with other guys while she waits for him to finally be in a proper relationship with her. And Gloria, who discovers that her ex-husband is gay, desperately craves company as her son is soon leaving home. Luckily, a new neighbour, handyman Marvin , moves in and she takes a shine to him. Throughout it all, the four women have their friendship to fall back on and rely on in confusing times concerning the heart.

Forest Whitaker adds touches of class as director and knows how to create nice imagery. I do believe he’s trying his best to bring these stories to life and he makes them at least watchable. The script and other areas are where Waiting to Exhale loses me. It just comes off as rather a few, slight vignettes than as a cohesive story, which is something of a detriment to Waiting to Exhale. I mean, I don’t mind me some episodic stories but usually its when they flow that I go for them, which sadly wasn’t the main case here. I did like the interactions between the women(which have humour to a lot of them and a nice dynamic), but I wish there were more of them to flesh things out a bit more. It was mainly Bernadine’s story that moved me the most; her story felt the most compelling as she grew stronger and shared a tentative attraction with a man going through crisis( a brief but memorable turn from Wesley Snipes). The other stories didn’t quite have the pulling power of Bernadine’s, even though Gloria’s pining for her neighbour was nicely observed. I can see that Waiting to Exhale provides escapism for many, I just can’t quite place my finger on why it felt somewhat flat for me. It started pretty well, but for me, it grew rather tedious and drawn out if we’re talking about the overall picture. I think it is a movie that does have some satisfaction and fun, but one that doesn’t really burn into the memory that well because of a lack of depth. The soundtrack however, with soul grooves, courtesy of Babyface, is really smooth and easy to listen to. It was a redeeming feature in a flawed movie.

A saving grace of this film is the main cast, especially Angela Bassett and Loretta Devine. Whitney Houston, looking gorgeous and stylish, gives Savannah a wry humour and quiet depth that is very beneficial and lovely. Angela Bassett is the main standout as the wounded but clearly not beaten Bernadine. As broken down as Bernadine is, the innate toughness Bassett brings to the screen always came off loud and clear that would be a fighter. I mean watching her torch her lying spouse’s fancy clothes and car was pretty satisfying viewing. Her blend of anger and vulnerability sold a lot of the emotion the film was going for and did it successfully. On the other end of the spectrum is Lela Rochon, who does a good enough job, but feels more than a bit stretched as the mixed up Robin. Don’t get me wrong, she’s quite appealing in parts, yet lacks the depth that the role later calls for and comes off as too weak in terms of acting chops. Loretta Devine really has a ball as the caring but hilarious Gloria, who represents a certain voice of calm amid all the entanglements. I loved her vivacious energy and timing, it was pretty spot on. Gregory Hines is a nice presence as the only really good guy(along with Wesley Snipes) in the picture. The rest, mainly Dennis Haysbert and Michael Beach, excel at playing the weasels who do nothing but promise sweet nothing to the ladies.

Undoubtedly entertaining as Waiting to Exhale is, I just found my interest levels lagging a lot. I will say that it all was shot nicely, had a soulful soundtrack and nice work from the cast(mainly Angela Bassett and Loretta Devine), but there was something missing that stopped it from being special.

What’s Love Got To Do With It

Tags

1990's, Angela Bassett, Biopic, Brian Gibson, Laurence Fishburne, Tina Turner, What's Love Got To Do With It

Film Title

What’s Love Got To Do With It

Director

Brian Gibson

Starring

• Angela Bassett as Tina Turner
• Laurence Fishburne as Ike Turner

A biopic of Tina Turner, her rise to stardom, abusive marriage to husband Ike and eventual freedom is dramatised with verve here in What’s Love Got To Do With It. Now is quite generic and follows the rules of a biopic to the letter, but that shouldn’t distant from the incredible acting, killer soundtrack and revealing glimpse into a woman’s gradual emergence as a liberated and unafraid star.

We begin in Nutbush, Tennessee where Anna Mae Bullock( Turner’s birth name) is a young girl with a big voice. She is abandoned by her parents at an early age and is raised by her grandmother. Flash forward a few years, and she’s a shy and coltish young lady coming to St. Louis to see her long estranged mother. It is here with her sister that Anna Mae first meets charismatic bandleader Ike Turner in a bar. One night when he’s performing, the microphone is passed around the female patrons. It ends up with her and when she belts out a song, everyone is totally surprised. Ike sees something in Anna Mae and begins mentoring her, later giving her the name Tina Turner and structuring his band around her. Soon success is pouring in for Ike and Tina( who marry quickly) in ways she never thought possible. Yet events quickly sour and get darker as Ike becomes more insecure and addled with drugs. This leads to him putting pressure on Tina to perform no matter whether she’s too exhausted to do it. And when she begins to gain most of the attention, Ike’s abusive streak reaches physical heights and brutal beatings, which terrify and cage Tina. Scared to leave despite his torment of her and humiliation at his hands, Tina sticks with Ike, but slowly crumbles under his abuse. That is until Tina finally gains the stiffening of her backbone needed to leave Ike and take control of her life.

What’s Love Got To Do With It is pretty conventional in its main execution like a lot of biopics, but director Brian Gibson still makes it a film to remember with how dark he depicts events behind the curtain. The biggest flaw for me is how quickly everything moves, with certain events and is hit and miss with its timing. Granted, the news footage with a hand-held sort of grain that presents the passing of events in a largely effective manner, even if the screenplay some homes leap frogs some things and leaves you to fill in the gaps. Credit should be given to his grimly realistic the brutality and emotional torture of Tina under Ike is depicted. This unvarnished and at times shocking depiction of events lends a wallop that some biopics miss by trying to be overly glossy. At the centre of the movie is the self-discovery and worth of Tina, who slowly finds a fortitude within herself that enables her to become a survivor. And the other saving grace in the film is the bravura music numbers. From a relentless and exhausting cross cutting performance of ‘Proud Mary’ to the solo triumph of Tina with the title song, the music and its sound are fully alive and vividly staged.

If there is anything that really raises the roof of What’s Love Got To Do With It, it is the two exceptional performances of Angela Bassett and Laurence Fishburne. Angela Bassett strikingly and uncannily captures the feisty, sultry and energetic persona of Turner on stage, while revealing the well of sadness and torment behind closed doors at the hands of possessive Ike. Seriously, Bassett gets so much into the part, that you genuinely feel like you’re watching the real woman in action. That’s one of the highest compliments you can give a star, but it’s warranted with how Bassett turns in a performance of vulnerability, appeal and a burgeoning steel to stand up for herself. Equally as compelling is Laurence Fishburne and his interpretation of Ike. A seductive and very suave guy in the beginning who recognizes the talent in Tina, his mercurial and resentful personality soon comes out with frightening and brute force. Fishburne explosively charts this path and  frighteningly throws himself into the part with superb results. It’s safe to say that the film wouldn’t have been the same or as watchable where it not for Bassett and Fishburne.

Conventional and oversimplified as some of it may be, What’s Love Got To Do With It gets its power from two sensational lead performances of Angela Bassett and Laurence Fishburne. Add to that one hell of a soundtrack, as well as its depiction of the strength that Tina had to gain in order to forge her own success away from the darkness and the film is eminently watchable.

 

How to Make an American Quilt

Tags

1990's, Alfre Woodard, Anne Bancroft, Dermot Mulroney, Drama, Ellen Burstyn, How to Make an American Quilt, Jean Simmons, Jocelyn Moorhouse, Johnathon Schaech, Kate Capshaw, Kate Nelligan, Lois Smith, Maya Angelou, Winona Ryder

Film Title

How to Make an American Quilt

Director

Jocelyn Moorhouse

Starring

• Winona Ryder as Finn Dodd
• Anne Bancroft as Glady Joe
• Ellen Burstyn as Hy
• Alfre Woodard as Marianna
• Maya Angelou as Anna
• Kate Nelligan as Constance
• Jean Simmons as Em
• Lois Smith as Sophia
• Kate Capshaw as Sally Dodd
• Dermot Mulroney as Sam
• Jonathon Schaech as Leon

A heartwarming tribute to female friendship and the shaping of life’s experiences, How to Make an American Quilt is a very sweet and enjoyable movie. It’s nothing revolutionary or startlingly original, but it’s story of looking to the past in order to unlock the future is beautifully directed and acted.

Finn Dodd is a 26-year-old graduate student, who is working on a thesis over the summer. She can’t quite settle on a topic and always changes her mind when she thinks she’s got the right parts. This confusion and inability to come to a decision extends to her boyfriend Sam, who has just proposed. Finn obviously cares about him, but is deeply unsure of whether marriage is a good idea for her. While mulling things over, she goes to visit her Great Aunt Glady Joe and Grandmother Hy, who themselves are sisters usually at each other’s throats. They are both part of a quilting group that includes wise leader Anna; her free-spirited daughter Marianna; stern Sophia; grieving Constance and quiet Em. They are currently in the process of making a wedding quilt for Finn and in their own ways, they each inspire her and give her support in her time of indecision. Over the summer, conflicted Finn is regaled with stories of love from their pasts; some tragic and some inspiring. We glimpse the lessons these older women have learned; from how Glady Joe and Hy became more than a little strained, why Sophia turned into such a battle-axe and in general how love is what you make of it. Also present is a hunky guy named Leon, who takes a shine to Finn and potentially throws a spanner in the works. It all comes down to whether she is ready to make a commitment or live her life in freedom.

Jocelyn Moorhouse beautifully conjures up the loving and touching lessons of life in a straightforward but effective way. We become like Finn, learning about the women who came before her and their experiences with love. Moorhouse aims for the emotions and heart with How to Make an American Quilt, and succeeds in getting you invested in the brief flashes of events that these women now speak of. As sentimental as some of it is, the gentleness and often low-key approach keeps the film on a pleasing level without slipping into overly histrionic content. the pleasures in are listening to the various experiences of these women and how young Finn reacts to them. From heartbreak and upheavals to the starts of companionship, all the stories have some weight on her and impact. Like with any film that weaves together an ensemble story line however, some of the arcs come off better than others that are patchy. This is only to be expected really as it would be impossible to craft something that gave every strand, without it turning into a marathon of a movie. The stories that make the most emotive impression are the ones of Hy and Glady Joe and the flashbacks to Sophia’s early life; where she had some promise but never got the chance to enjoy it due to the inevitability of timing. They are played out in organic and poignant fashion that knows how to get your care. The other stories all have currency, though more than a couple may have been better if expanded upon. If I was to compare this movie to something, the equivalent would be a quilt itself. It’s got some rough edges and is well-worn, but has that cosy and snug feeling that lifts your spirits. The luscious cinematography renders everything with a distinct glow. Thomas Newman’s stirring score is a big plus in this feel good movie.

If there is anyone who can play indecision and curiosity convincingly, it’s Winona Ryder. With her naturally inquisitive and youthful face, she’s excellent casting for Finn. All the confusion and searching questions are there, as she listens to the stories of the past in hopes of unlocking her future.  Anne Bancroft and Ellen Burstyn provide gentle humour, classy depth and consummate professionalism as the feuding sisters, whose grievances are plain to see but whose love for the other more than combats anything completely severing them. Alfre Woodard has the right bohemian air and fun for her role of effervescent Marianna. The wisdom and dignified grace of Maya Angelou stunningly embodies the passionate leader of the quilting group Anna. Angelou possesses a nuanced voice of experience and clarity that is impossible to ignore. I could listen to her voice all day it is that soothing and imbued with sage. Kate Nelligan and Jean Simmons are both moving as two of the women, realising they are linked through one of their husbands philandering. Lois Smith captures the well of sadness arising from someone whose ambitions were cut short, resulting in a hostility and bitterness of character. Kate Capshaw is a breath of fresh air in her small but important appearance as Finn’s flighty mother. She seems very irresponsible but what she ends up saying is quite beneficial and unexpected. Whether big or small in size of parts, all of the ladies here do good work. Dermot Mulroney does well with his limited part of Finn’s boyfriend, letting the female cast members take the lion’s share. Johnathon Schaech is largely there to provide the temptation for Finn, complete with the fact that he never seems to be wearing a shirt.

it isn’t going to win prizes for innovation, but the beating heart and gentleness of How to Make an American Quilt is effervescent that you won’t be able to resist its charms. Just cuddle up and enjoy this nice fable on life and sisterhood.

The Beguiled

Tags

1970's, Clint Eastwood, Don Siegel, Elizabeth Hartman, Geraldine Page, Jo Ann Harris, Mae Mercer, Pamelyn Ferdin, Psychological Drama, The Beguiled

Film Title

The Beguiled

Director

Don Siegel

Starring

• Clint Eastwood as John McBurney
• Geraldine Page as Martha Farnsworth
• Elizabeth Hartman as Edwina
• Jo Ann Harris as Carol
• Mae Mercer as Hallie
• Pamelyn Ferdin as Amy

A most unusual and unsettling tale of sexual repression, desire and revenge, The Beguiled represents something different from Don Siegel and his go to star Clint Eastwood. And that’s precisely what makes it so unique; it’s an unpredictable film that goes into some really dark areas and knows how to craft something shocking in the long run.

It is the Civil War and Corporal John McBurney is discovered wounded one morning in the South, by a young girl named Amy. She brings him to the all girls school she attends for help to his injuries . The stern headmistress Martha Farnsworth reluctantly takes McBurney in, despite her protestations of him being a Yankee which are discovered early on. The school also houses timid but well-meaning teacher Edwina, a group of young girls including temptress Carol and slave Hallie. These ladies haven’t been in the company of a man for a while, save for the occasional visit from the patrol with news of the war. Gradually, John is nursed into help but watched over due to him bring considered an enemy. But his very arrival signals something very dark that will shake the foundations of everyone to the core. The rigid status quo soon begins to crack as each of the women begin developing romantic longings for John. He leads them all on with his advances and manipulations, his conceit for others slowly emerging as he plays with their romantic feelings for his own pleasure. Even the rigid headmistress Martha starts to get hot under the collar and crumble as the facade of her righteousness stumbles, along with the easily influenced Edwina’s belief that John really loves her. Everything boils over eventually into shocking consequences in the school for everyone there . John is left to fend off the wrath of the scorned women that has been unleashed by his toying with their affections and is now coming back to viciously bite.

This refreshingly unusual and heated film provides Don Siegel with a really experimental film that takes a number of unexpected and shocking turns. It feels very much ahead of its time with some of the content it displays, marking it as different and pretty unsettling at the same time in a pretty psychological way. Don Siegel pitches the mood just right, suggesting the onslaught of dark content that transpires in the latter half, in the slow burn of things that allows The Beguiled to take on a measured but rewarding path to chilling finale. The mood is where The Beguiled is it; creeping away even when nothing startling is happening and throwing in little snippets of potential danger for the fun of it. The Beguiled is at its best as a Southern Gothic drama, that rises to fever pitch as sexual thoughts and betrayal tear the relative calm of the school to pieces. Super imposed frames, spinning camera to signify the unrest he will bring and Sepia toned frames are impressive tools in the arsenal of this strange film. In fact, The Beguiled feels very hallucinatory and disorientating in its construction, captured by the effectiveness of Don Siegel and his off-kilter direction. While the Civil War serves as a backdrop, another war between the sexes rages on in The Beguiled with sheer force and horrifying anguish within the confines of the school. At its core, it’s the male dominance slowly being subverted and oppressed by the female alternative that becomes the real backbone of this claustrophobic story. Stifled and feverish are words that come to mind when viewing the switch of the women in the story, slowly bubbling away until spilling over with John facing the full force of the wronged ladies. Some of it feels too over the top, but the percolating hysteria set off by the sly John is best observed in such an intense way that you can overlook these tiny flawed moments. The culmination of perverse sexuality and dark areas of the mind are evinced best in a hallucinatory dream sequence. In it John is with both Martha and Edwina, the three almost intertwined sexually in disturbing fashion through peculiar angles and overlapping images. An insidiously chilling score allows the unusual nature of this story to reveal itself slowly but surely.

Kudos must be given to Clint Eastwood for playing such an unsympathetic and nasty character. Successfully starting out quietly in his smooth manipulation of the women, his base instincts reveals themselves and his machismo emerges shockingly, resulting in all manner of hysteria among the women. Everything John experiences is by his own hand and it’s a credit to Eastwood’s abilities at capturing his moral ambivalence and greediness of his actions that makes the part an interesting one. Geraldine Page splendidly radiates buttoned-up authority under siege as the headmistress Martha, while laying bare that the morally respectable image she projects is covering something darker. Elizabeth Hartman delicately plays the meekness and abused kindness of Edwina, who falls hardest for John and completely under his spell because of her fragile disposition. Out of all the characters, she’s probably the most inherently decent throughout and the one hurt the most. Jo Ann Harris is good in the role of sultry temptress student, while Mae Mercer is wise as the slave who knows the impact John will have and resists his advances. Pamelyn Ferdin shines as the little girl who rescues him and develops a hopeless crush, only to see it dashed and shattered along with her innocence.

A film not easily forgotten is the best way to describe The Beguiled. With its lurid and unusual story, enlivened by the atmosphere and acting, it stands as a hauntingly intense psychological drama.

Priceless

Tags

2000's, Audrey Tautou, Comedy, Foreign Language Film, Gad Elmaleh, Marie-Christine Adam, Pierre Salvadori, Priceless, Romantic Comedy

Film Title

Priceless

Director

Pierre Salvadori

Starring

• Audrey Tautou as Irène
• Gad Elmaleh as Jean
• Marie-Christine Adam as Madeleine

A very satisfying romantic comedy about wealth and gold digging, Priceless is an amusing confection of sprightly energy and winning charm. Just like the main character, Priceless is deliciously naughty and amoral, but always immensely enjoyable.

The captivating Irène enjoys the high life, especially when a man of wealth is paying for it. With her abundance of charms and feminine wiles, she’s armed for digging for gold wherever she can find it. Frequenting the French Riviera with her latest conquest who is boring her, she encounters put upon bartender Jean one evening. The amusing thing is Irène assumes he is a rich man of the world by his appearance. Not telling her the truth, Jean and her share drinks and laughs. Later, things are taken to the bedroom. In the morning, Irène has left and Jean is left thinking of her. A year later, Irène returns to the hotel with her sugar daddy in tow, where she promptly seduces Jean once more. Only this time, Jean gets busted and the truth of his status is revealed. This coincides with Irène’s latest squeeze leaving her with nothing money wise and jilting her quickly. A shocked Irène high tails it to Nice, not realising how smitten Jean is with her. Instead of just forgetting her, Jean finds her and attempts to woo her. takes full advantage of this as her expensive tastes nearly bankrupt the far from affluent Jean. Panicking when his finances are tight, Jean is saved by wealthy widow Madeleine. She has been looking for a new toy boy and Jean fits that bill. Surprisingly, Jean finds he has a knack for gold digging too, with the main objective being to romance Irène in the end . Irène is quite impressed by this show of initiative and offers help in the business she is well acquainted with. Transformed from hapless bar tender to jet set smooth talker, he even begins rivaling her at the game of money. Seeing how successful he has got , Irène comes to see Jean in a new light, which puts her plans for finding another rich man in jeopardy as her personal feelings enter the picture.

Pierre Salvadori is in the director’s seat for this frothy and charming comedy. He knows the way to keep events bright and breezy, before colouring them with a bit more depth than most romantic comedies strive to reach for. His eye for humour and timing, most notably in Jean’s attempts to be seen as a prospect to the girl he loves is what really gets the most laughs. The scenario of the film is hardly what one would call groundbreaking, but enjoyment is the name of the game and Priceless rises to the occasion admirably. Depending on your tolerance level, you’ll find Priceless irresistible or too arch. For me, I fell into the former camp by miles. It’s the old-fashioned vibe and nods to romantic comedies of yesteryear that Priceless excels at emulating, and giving it a bit more than the average modern Hollywood rom coms that we are witness too. What you get here is riotous fun that also stops to consider why Irène would go on the path of a gold digger in the first place. A nice depth arises from that strand of story that definitely caught my attention.  As a movie that deals with the rich and well-heeled, Priceless looks gorgeous, supplying us with picturesque and chic views of the French Riviera. Trust me, you may be considering holiday plans after watching Priceless. The extravagance on show and just the overall seductive view of the rich life is swoon worthy. A sparkling and amusingly jaunty score accompanies the film with effusive energy and playful rhythm.

The talented Audrey Tautou supplies slyness, allure and even a bit of desperation as the material girl everything revolves around. Irène is someone who clearly has a plan to snare someone rich and enjoy the high life at the same time. Tautou makes Irène a minx but not one that is completely unlikable. Sure she goes after men’s wallets more than their hearts and practically obliterates most of Jean’s income in the beginning, but with Audrey Tautou the beguiling persona and glimpses of someone not wanting to fall by the wayside are felt by the audience. Gad Elmaleh is blessed with a sad-eyed expression and certain lugubrious charm to make the part of Jean work. Jean is something of an unlikely gigolo, which is a strength Gad Elmaleh and his lanky appear de play to masterfully. Elmaleh like he’s having fun as the love struck man pursuing the woman who captured his heart and trying to play her at her own game. The enjoyment factor from both him and Tautou transfers to the audience, paying great dividends. Marie-Christine Adam appears as the glamorous widow attracted to Jean, and though the role is more than a tad underwritten, she possesses the elegance and worldly appeal of a successful older woman.

It’s not the most sparkling brand new formula for a romantic comedy, yet the very nature of romantic comedy is to recycle, preferably with style. Which is what Priceless does, with witty aplomb and hilarious high jinks between two potential lovers on the make. With Audrey Tautou and Gad Elmaleh making a fun couple, you can’t really ask for more enjoyment because it’s a frothy and sweet movie that will make you laugh and smile.

 

Scream of Fear

Tags

1960's, Ann Todd, Christopher Lee, Ronald Lewis, Scream of Fear, Seth Holt, Susan Strasberg, Thriller

Film Title

Scream of Fear

Director

Seth Holt

Starring

• Susan Strasberg as Penny Appleby
• Ann Todd as Jane Appleby
• Ronald Lewis as Robert
• Christopher Lee as Dr. Pierre Gerrard

An atmospheric triumph of mounting tension and shocking reveals, Scream of Fear supplies The basic idea of the plot has been done many times before, but Scream of Fear excellently plays with this formula by twisting into something unexpected and shocking. A strong thriller from Hammer indeed. If you want thrills, Scream of Fear is a guarantee to supply that need.

Penny Appleby is a pretty young woman who has been paralyzed for over ten years following an accident on a horse. She has largely lived in Switzerland, but returns to see her father( who she hasn’t seen for a long time) after a companion of hers drowns leaving her devastated. Her father now lives on the French Riviera and has married again, to a woman named Jane. Penny hasn’t met his new bride yet, but thinks Jane is fine upon arrival. The family chauffeur Robert also does his best to make her at home, while she recovers from the shocking loss of her friend. Yet Penny is also puzzled that her father has seemingly gone away from business , as she expected to reconnect with him again after so long. On her first night in the house, Penny encounters something shocking. Seeing a light on in the summer house, she ventures out to check and discovers what looks like her father’s corpse. Terrified, she exits quickly and explains her findings to Jane and Robert . Yet when Jane inspects the summer house, there is no sign of a body. She puts it down to stress and an overactive imagination, calling upon the services of the mysterious Dr Pierre Gerrard to calm the panicked Penny down. Penny is left confused yet convinced that something bad has happened to her father. After seeing his body again, before it promptly vanishes once more, Penny becomes more certain that there is a nefarious plot being undertaken to drive her mad. Penny enlists Robert to help her, mainly because he appears to be the only person who doesn’t think she’s losing her mind. But as Penny investigates, we soon find that everything is a lot different and maybe even more sinister than initially envisioned, leading to a whole host of surprises.

Seth Holt knows the exact ways to suggest something chilling and slowly reveal enough in teasing and mounting suspense. A real feeling and essence of mystery is ever-present in Scream of Fear, right from the opening to the end. As aforementioned, the basic story of someone believing others are attempting to drive the mad has been done many times, but Scream of Fear still keeps it all very riveting and startling by inserting a few tricks of its own. There really is a genuine unpredictability to Scream of Fear, so much so that even when you think you’ve got a handle on things, it completely fools you.  We are left to speculate and guess what capricious machination will befall Penny, as the plot thickens considerably. A big asset in Scream of Fear is the black and white cinematography, which is suitably ghoulish and mysterious right from the opening frames, letting you know that something deeply mysterious is at work. An effective usage of close-ups and nice angles allows the suspense to rise, with a swimming pool sequence where a nasty surprise lies at the bottom is rightfully tense and well lensed as a standout scene. Sound is a key thing in Scream of Fear, and the way its employed is pretty darn impressive. Eerie silence and seeming calm of the surroundings( specifically the outside and glimpses of cliffs and the sea on the French Riviera) that prove to be anything but are captured with. The music knows exactly when to appear and not be too intrusive, letting the mystery and thrills take the biggest stage.

The beautiful Susan Strasberg is just the right person to play the emotionally besieged Penny. She possesses a resilience and alternating vulnerability that is perfect for the part. Penny may be put in danger throughout the film, but she’s intelligent and not just a mere damsel who’s depending on everyone else to help. If anything, she refuses to let her paralysis slow her down and has adjusted to it with a deep independence. Strasberg plays Penny with a self-reliance and steadfast determination to uncover what sinister acts are being committed. Ann Todd successfully stars as the stepmother ,who appears to be a reasonable person but also remarkably shifty in the long run of things. Ronald Lewis is on hand to play the square-jawed, handsome and apparently loyal chauffeur who aids Penny in her search for the truth. Christopher Lee, although not seen as much as I’d liked, is still quite good as the mysterious doctor who is hanging around whenever strange things happen.

Unpredictable and slowly adept at building tension, as well as pulling you in, Scream of Fear is a successfully creepy and unexpectedly smart thriller that really does an impressive number on you. its nothing is as it seems angles make it a fine thriller and one that deserves more attention.

Turn the Key Softly

Tags

1950's, Drama, Jack Lee, Joan Collins, Kathleen Harrison, Terence Morgan, Turn the Key Softly, Yvonne Mitchell

Film Title

Turn the Key Softly

Director

Jack Lee

Starring

• Yvonne Mitchell as Monica Marsden
• Joan Collins as Stella Jarvis
• Kathleen Harrison as Mrs. Quilliam
• Terence Morgan as David

The first twenty-four hours of release from prison of three different women are dramatised in Turn the Key Softly. Although some of the social drama it strives for can get forced, it is largely an honest and sympathetic examination of the paths we may or may not take in life. Strong performances from the female leads help it be watchable.

On one morning, three women are released from Holloway Prison, London. Each woman is somewhat different from the other and slowly we piece together why each was imprisoned. Monica Marsden is a middle class lady who was seduced by crook David and coerced into helping him with his thieving activities. She was caught and David got away, leaving her to take the blame. Stella Jarvis is a pretty young thing who we are lead to believe fell into prostitution so she could afford the material things in life, despite having found seeming happiness with a kindly bus conductor. And lonely Mrs. Quilliam is very poor and has multiple offences of stealing food to provide for herself. Their returns back to society take different turns as they are forced to confront life once more and decide what is to be done, regarding personal feelings, circumstances and the nature of choice. Monica has to contend with oily David entering her life again, Stella must make a choice of whether material wealth outweighs potential happiness with her forgiving boyfriend and Mrs. Quilliam has to deal with being neglected by her daughter and only having her pet dog Johnny for support and companionship. The question is, just which path will each lady take now that they are back out in the world again?

Director Jack Lee does a commendable enough job at bringing out dramatic and emotional impact, though it can be said that some of the film and story is basic and could have done with more extension. After all, Turn the Key Softly only runs for under 80 minutes, which both has a weakness and goodness to it. I think the positive parts manage to raise the film up a lot, and while still flawed, when it hits the dramatic mark it is damn effective. Some of it comes off as more than a little superficial, in particular the rather sketchy way that Stella’s story is written. Her arc has watchable and sports interesting areas, but it doesn’t quite have the gripping power of the other two women’s experiences. Monica and Mrs. Quilliam have the more compelling stories; facing the grim realities of their situations, consisting of trying to not be drawn to a bad influence and crushing loneliness. When the focus is on these characters and their struggles, Turn the Key Softly gains points and a sense of drama. The use of black and white highlights the challenges ahead for the ladies and London in bustling but unforgiving fashion. The film was made in the 50’s and England was still suffering post war austerity, which is subtly referenced by the fact that there is no flash of razzmatazz to the editing of cinematography. It’s largely observant and the unvarnished style suits what Turn the Key Softly strives for. A jolt of tension and suspense keeps Turn the Key Softly good in the last half as Monica’s former flame puts in motion a job, which he drags her into under extreme duress. One of the best things Turn the Key Softly does is not sugarcoat the three main characters or condone what they have done. It presents them as humans, who have made mistakes and are attempting to get back on track once more. The music score is suitable enough when being understated, but there are times when it takes away from the story by going overboard with flourishes.

If there is anything that makes up for the occasionally flawed execution in the film, it’s the acting. Yvonne Mitchell brings dignity, demure grace and indecision to her part of the middle class Monica, who wrestles with her feelings for her slimy former boyfriend and tries to make a life for herself. She’s an intelligent woman but like all of us, not immune to the complex feelings of the heart. This is what Mitchell plays ideally; the desire to move on, but the constant lingering of the past that won’t loosen its grip. Joan Collins, although having the most limited role, is still very charming and brassy as the often vain Stella. She’s got an impudence, dreamy eyes and sassiness to her, tempered with a feeling of uncertainty over her future. The beautiful Joan Collins makes the part very watchable, owing to her naturalness and personality. The trio is rounded out by the weariness and sadness of Kathleen Harrison as the lonely old Mrs. Quilliam, who’s only company is her beloved dog Johnny. Here is a woman of desperation and desolation, who still attempts to keep a smile on her face despite her increasing adversity. You want to give this woman a hug and tell her that things are going to be OK, that’s how emotionally convincing and sympathetic Harrison is. Terence Morgan is the definition of a louse, and a nasty one at that when playing Monica’s crooked lover. Although he’s slick and smooth, you know exactly what he’s up to and really do want him to get what’s coming to him in be way or another.

So while it sometimes doesn’t get beneath the surface of stat it’s intending to display, Turn the Key Softly is still on the whole, a well acted and interesting film that paints a pointed and frequently realistic picture of three women experiencing life and it’s difficulties again after their release from prison.

Il Postino

Tags

1990's, Drama, Foreign Language Film, Il Postino, Maria Grazia Cucinotta, Massimo Troisi, Michael Radford, Philippe Noiret

Film Title

Il Postino

Director

Michael Radford

Starring

• Massimo Troisi as Mario Ruoppolo
• Philippe Noiret as Pablo Neruda
• Maria Grazia Cucinotta as Beatrice

A beautifully moving paen to poetry and altering friendship, Il Postino weaves a quiet yet lyrical spell on you as we watch a shy man flourish under the tutelage of a great poet. A subtle and at times amusing film, Il Postino also has a bittersweet nature that is hard to forget once you’ve seen it.

The year is 1950 and Mario Ruoppolo lives on an Italian island, where the main job for men is fishing. Trouble is, the good-natured and simple Mario hates fishing, so is left to laze about with nothing to do and his father telling him he needs to find a job. This is all subject to change with some exciting news for the island. The very famous poet Pablo Neruda has been exiled from Chile for his political views and is now seeking refuge on the island. As there is a huge influx of mail, a postman is needed to deliver it to the esteemed visitor. Listless Mario gets the job as postman delivering the hoards of mail that arrive for the renowned poet. Mario sets about on this job and while doing it, attempts to converse with Neruda, who is the talk of the town. Neruda is polite enough but aloof as he wants to be in solitude, which Mario doesn’t realise at first. Gradually his enthusiasm and pluck resonate with the old master, who begins to like the innocent postman. A friendship between the two very different men( one an eloquent poet, the other an uneducated postman) is ultimately struck up. Neruda tells Mario of the importance and beauty of words, which Mario takes on board and stores. Around this time, timid Mario finds himself falling in love with the stunning Beatrice, a local barmaid. The trouble is, he can hardly put a sentence together whenever he’s around her. Seeing that Neruda has an excellent reputation with women, Mario implores him for support. Neruda and his mellifluous gift for words encourages Mario to emerge from his shell and give voice to his feelings day by day. As a result, Mario starts to grow in confidence under the guidance of Neruda, and soon enough, his love for the beautiful Beatrice can finally be expressed without him looking like a fool. Over the course of the time spent together by Mario and Neruda, they each make a defining impression on the other that neither will forget.

Michael Radford, a British film maker, directs this Italian language film with a sure hand and buoyant charm that is hard to resist. It’s the simplicity and little moments that cause Il Postino to really make its presence felt. It isn’t a film of big, grand moments; favouring a quiet and languid time for the relationships between characters to manifest and ensue. The interactions between the good-hearted but and stately Neruda are what really interests and pleasingly transfer to the viewer’s enjoyment of watching them come to an understanding that benefits both in ways they didn’t realise. A lot of may be about Mario’s attempts to woo Beatrice which are tentatively done, but his burgeoning friendship with Neruda is the real ace in the hole.  An observant quality frames the impact each man has on the other, with the power of descriptive words passed from Neruda to his young charge eliciting a gentleness and occasional humour. In fact, humour plays a decent part of Il Postino, especially in how Mario woos Beatrice and her stern Aunt misinterprets the whole thing. Yet within the film is a reflective note that can’t be missed. There is a scene later on in Il Postino that is imbued with a relatable pathos and inspiration. In it, Mario finally begins to realise that he is something special and while Neruda has left the island, he comes to see just how much he was impacted by the great man and how he has been changed substantially from when we first saw him. Such a heartfelt and inspiring scene that feels so warm and soulful, it’s just glorious to see. There is a definite tinge of poignancy that comes in the film when Neruda leaves after the warrant for his arrest is scrapped, leaving Mario feeling a bit lost without his mentor. And while there are those who will scoff at the movie and declare that not a lot happens, they are the missing the life-affirming and unobtrusive way that quite a lot happens, just in measured and lovingly rendered vignettes. Il Postino doesn’t need to be grandly over the top of melodramatic all the time; a winning relaxed approach is the right one for such a movie as this. The sun dappled imagery of the Italian island is blissfully gorgeous to look at, complimented by the moving and adventurous score to the piece.

Massimo Troisi is the eponymous postman in what would sadly be his final role. Essaying the awkward mannerisms, pining, childlike eyes and hapless charm of the transforming Mario; is excellently understated and soulful as the beating heart of the film that evolves with nuance from simple-minded and listless man to passionate and inspired person . Most of the bittersweet nature of Il Postino comes from Troisi , who tragically died a day after filming completed. He had a heart condition and postponed surgery to be in the film. Despite struggling, he soldiered through making this film( he had a co-screenwriting credit too), only to sadly not see the greatness of it all coming together. Watching his beautifully emotive and amusing performance is both a treat and a sad reminder of the talented man. Philippe Noiret is just right as the influential Pablo Neruda; brimming with humour, dignity and a thoughtful way about him. It’s easy to see why Mario looks up to the guy. There’s an authoritative and spirited streak that runs through the work of Philippe Noiret , making Neruda a man you could see yourself trusting and learning from. At first he prefers the quiet of being alone, but is won over by Mario and finds himself growing very fond of the man who he can help. Maria Grazia Cucinotta stars as the object of Mario’s affection and while not the most demanding role, her sensual appeal is employed well, that it is easy to see why Mario would become some enchanted by her. Cucinotta possesses a smouldering beauty that seduces the camera whenever she appears.

A sweet yet poignant movie of easy yet invested direction and nice performances, Il Postino splendidly captures the feeling of growing and being inspired lovingly and with a deep heart. As a showcase for the late Massimo Troisi, it ensures his presence and talents are in full glory and act as a touching reminder of his ability. Truly a sweet movie for everyone and one to be treasured.