Four Weddings and a Funeral

Tags

1990's, Andie MacDowell, Charlotte Coleman, David Bower, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Hugh Grant, James Fleet, John Hannah, Kristin Scott Thomas, Mike Newell, Richard Curtis, Romantic Comedy, Rowan Atkinson, Simon Callow

Director

Mike Newell

Starring

• Hugh Grant
• Andie MacDowell
• Kristin Scott Thomas
• Simon Callow
• John Hannah
• James Fleet
• Charlotte Coleman
• David Bower
• Rowan Atkinson

A most beguiling and funny romance that helped launch the career of Hugh Grant, Four Weddings and a Funeral has lost none of its witty edge, eccentric characters and unexpected pathos.

Charles(Hugh Grant) is someone who can’t seem to keep a relationship. He’s a perennial bachelor, never the groom. With a rag-tag group of friends- cynical Fiona(Kristin Scott Thomas), her not too bright brother Tom(James Fleet), partners Gareth and Matthew(Simon Callow and John Hannah), sassy flat mate Scarlett(Charlotte Coleman) and his deaf brother David(David Bower)- he’s always attending weddings. In most cases, he is late due to clumsiness. Although he’s never seemingly considered marriage or a serious relationship, he finds his world changed when he meets Carrie(Andie MacDowell). She’s an American wedding guest who he meets at the first nuptials. They hit it off and  spend the night together. But timing isn’t on their side and Carrie leaves for the States. The next time they meet(at another wedding) Carrie is engaged to someone else. For the first time in his life, Charles actually falls in love with someone deeply. But even though it’s clear that Carrie has some feeling for Charles, can anything come of the attraction seeing as though their timing is nearly always off?

Director Mike Newell brings polish and pace to proceedings with direction that allows the events to have amusing and fun atmosphere throughout, coupled with moments of sadness and reflection. As the events centre around the what the title says, we know to expect eventfulness, but it’s surprising how well crafted this romantic comedy is. Although it seems we may know where events are going, a few little twists and unexpected moments raise it from just another comedy romance. The Oscar-nominated screenplay from Richard Curtis is a big success at fleshing out the characters as they navigate the sea of love. The script makes us enjoy the company of these people and we grow to love them. They all have wit, charm and purpose in the story and you enjoy feeling like you know them as they encounter all manner of awkwardness at functions. From being seated at a table of exes to improvising when forgetting wedding rings, they all occur in hilarious fashion. Between the skill of Newell and the fun of Curtis, Four Weddings and a Funeral is a good-hearted success. Laughs flow like great wine and the entertainment factor is high.

But Four Weddings and a Funeral also has a bittersweet undercurrent to offset any worries of overly sentimental treacle. I mean if you aren’t crying at the funeral scene where ‘Funeral Blues’ is delivered, you’ve clearly not got much of a heart. This movie can deliver on the serious stuff and isn’t afraid to either. This balances with the buoyant feeling of the overall film that has a laugh at love’s complexities and bad sense of timing. Four Weddings and a Funeral is heartwarming stuff with that added something extra, that lands it in the pantheon of excellent romantic comedies. A lovely and tentative score backs up blossoming romance and all the feelings love brings out in people. And one can’t forget the use of ‘ Love Is All Around ‘by Wet, Wet, Wet to close out the film.

Heading the cast is the irrepressibly charismatic Hugh Grant. Though he’s visited the persona of bumbling and foppish leading man many times in his career, this was where it started and is one of his best. Grant just boasts this lovable rogue and awkward vibe to him that really makes a mark in the film as he finally discovers love may in fact be on the cards for him. Endearing is the perfect word for Hugh Grant’s star making presence here. People occasionally rag on Andie MacDowell by saying she’s not the most expressive actress and sometimes it’s true ,but I think she is quite well cast as the potential love interest. She’s got radiance, vitality and a certain mystery that I love and displays they under good direction MacDowell is really something.  Plus her burgeoning chemistry with Grant is delightful. Kristin Scott Thomas is reliable as ever, turning the role of the sarcastic Fiona into something more by revealing that her behaviour stems from unrequited love. Simon Callow and John Hannah are wonderful scene stealers playing the only happy couple among their group of friends. Callow is brash and full of life, Hannah is more subdued but wise. Both compliment the other in an inspired way that is convincing and involving. James Fleet is a hoot as is Charlotte Coleman as the most off the wall member of the gang and David Bower as Charles’ brother, who comes in handy in a crisis. An amusing small part is filled with great humour by Rowan Atkinson as a completely inept vicar.

A winning romantic comedy with heart and laughs, Four Weddings and a Funeral is hard to resist.

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The Man from U.N.C.L.E

Tags

2010's, Action, Alicia Vikander, Armie Hammer, Elizabeth Debicki, Guy Ritchie, Henry Cavill, Hugh Grant, Spy, The Man from U.N.C.L.E

Film Title

The Man from U.N.C.L.E

Director

Guy Ritchie

Starring

• Henry Cavill as Napoleon Solo
• Armie Hammer as Illya Kuryakin
• Alicia Vikander as Gaby Teller
• Elizabeth Debicki as Victoria Vinciguerra
• Hugh Grant as Alexander Waverly

A super slick and retro-tinged reboot of the 60’s television show brought to life by the great direction of Guy Ritchie, The Man from U.N.C.L.E is a stylish and delightfully light-hearted spy movie that will leave you with a ridiculous grin on your face because of the utter enjoyment and excitement there is to be had with it.

The year is 1963 and the Cold War is at its height. Suave and super cool CIA agent Napoleon Solo, who was once a former thief, manages to extract the beautiful mechanic Gaby Teller from East Berlin. Their attempt at this is only hampered by the interruptions of violent and hulking KGB agent Illya Kuryakin. Gaby is the daughter of a scientist who has been kidnapped and forced to help craft a nuclear bomb. With Gaby now seemingly safe for the time being, Solo is briefed by his CIA head about a dangerous new mission, with a very big and unexpected difference. All traces of this potential nuclear disaster point to a shipping company headed by the seductive Victoria Vinciguerra and her husband, who are both Nazi sympathizers. With their plan for the nuclear bomb, both the KGB and CIA are worried about the potential worldwide crisis it would bring. The two agencies agree to work together, and this is where the debonair Solo comes into contact once more with the taciturn and efficient Kuryakin. They are to work together to infiltrate the Vinciguerra company and rescue Gaby’s estranged father, along with acquiring his research for either government covertly. As part of the cover, the quick-witted Gaby comes along pretending to be the fiancée of Kuryakin. The mission, that takes them from Germany to Rome, is not going to be easy, especially because of the intense rivalry and dislike between Solo and Kuryakin. But soon enough, the mismatched agents see that they must put aside their differences and competitive nature aside in order to work as a team in order to avoid a world destroying plan, that is now dangerously in quickening motion.

From the opening of the movie with a groovy title sequence detailing the history of the Cold War set to a slinky soundtrack, you know that The Man from U.N.C.L.E will definitely be a delightful way to spend a few hours. Guy Ritchie directs with colourful exuberance, crafting this world of espionage as one of glamour and danger, which often intertwine. From the use of split-screen and unusual camera angles, Ritchie seems to be firing on all cylinders and this is for the better as it gives kinetic energy and well-timed humour to the proceedings. A quick fire script of blisteringly amusing one-liners and situations is an utter marvel and really delivers in the thrill department too. Costume design is suitably eye-catching and the sets recall the early Bond movies with luxurious mansions, castles and racetracks. A jaunty and adventurous score underlines the light-hearted, breezy atmosphere of the film, merging perfectly with well-chosen songs from the 60’s. You’d think that with all this visual splendour taking place that The Man from U.N.C.L.E would suffer in the story department. Thankfully, the plot of the movie retains interest throughout with its pastiche of spy action and mismatched buddy humour between the dashing Solo and moody Kuryakin keeping everything ticking over with panache. There will be those that will hop on the bandwagon and say that the movie is nothing but a show of excessive style, but I for one loved the style and thought that it complimented the movie, rather than hindered it.

Ritchie assembles a truly inspired and game cast who play their roles with such ease and charm. Heading this is the dapper Henry Cavill, whose smooth and cool as a cucumber personality make Solo a likable maverick style hero. Relishing the humour and equally adept with the physical stuff, Cavill shows that he has the requisite skill set to become a future contender for the role of James Bond. Equally as impressive is Armie Hammer, who uses his large frame and imposing stance to portray the violent and tough Illya. Yet he resists the temptation to just make Illya a massive brute and nothing else. He does this by infusing the character with a reluctant humour that is very funny as he begins to come around to the idea of working with Solo, who he holds deep animosity for. The wonderful Alicia Vikander( who is fast becoming one of my favourite actresses) is luminous and sparky as Gaby, who in the beginning comes across as just a quick-witted but very sweet pawn in the game. In reality, she is whip-smart and knows a lot more than she’s letting on. All of this, plus sparkling chemistry with the leading men, make the performance by Alicia Vikander a joy to watch. As the other female in the movie, Elizabeth Debicki is delightfully cunning and poisonous as the femme fatale with dangerous plans on her mind. And rounding out the cast is Hugh Grant, who has the necessary adroit humour and authority to play a spymaster, pulling many of the strings on the mission.

A colourful, amusing and thrilling spy caper, The Man from U.N.C.L.E is in a nutshell a movie that is full to the brim with wit, action and fun.

Love Actually

Tags

2000's, Alan Rickman, Andrew Lincoln, Bill Nighy, Billy Bob Thornton, Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant, Joanna Page, Keira Knightley, Kris Marshall, Laura Linney, Liam Neeson, Love Actually, Martin Freeman, Martine McCutcheon, Richard Curtis, Romantic Comedy, Rowan Atkinson, Thomas Sangster

Film Title

Love Actually

Director

Richard Curtis

Starring

• Alan Rickman as Harry
• Bill Nighy as Billy Mack
• Colin Firth as Jamie
• Emma Thompson as Karen
• Hugh Grant as David
• Martine McCutcheon as Natalie
• Laura Linney as Sarah
• Liam Neeson as Daniel
• Thomas Sangster as Sam
• Keira Knightley as Juliet
• Andrew Lincoln as Mark
• Martin Freeman as John
• Joanna Page as Judy
• Kris Marshall as Colin
• Rowan Atkinson as Rufus
• Billy Bob Thornton as US President

Over the Christmas period, I only got chance to see a couple of movies. Love Actually happened to be one of them. I’m not the biggest fan of romantic comedies but decided to watch it because of the all-star cast. I must say I was pleasantly surprised. Sure there were parts that were clunky and lagged in terms of pacing, but for the most part, I enjoyed it for its cosy look at romance.

Love Actually focuses on various people in the run up to Christmas in London and how love affects them in different ways. We have Billy Mack, an ageing rock star trying to make a comeback with the help of his put upon manager. Harry, the manager of a designing agency who has his head turned by his provocative secretary  and whose wife Karen begins to suspect something. Jamie, a writer who vacations in a French cottage after catching his wife cheating on him. He begins to fall for his Portuguese housekeeper Aurélia, although he can’t profess his feelings as he doesn’t speak Portuguese. David, the newly elected Prime Minister begins to develop feelings for Natalie, a junior member of staff in 10 Downing Street. Sarah, a worker at Harry’s agency is left with the difficult decision as to whether she make a move on an enigmatic worker or care for her mentally ill brother. Daniel is grieving for his late wife while finding out about his stepson Sam’s crush on a girl in school. Mark records the wedding of his best friend to the stunning Juliet, who he has always adored but has never spoke. And the stories just keep on coming as love changes the lives of the characters in the seasonal time of year.

Writer and director Richard Curtis creates a film that is unabashedly sentimental but this does add some charm to it. With so many stories, Curtis manages to keep most of them interesting. Although some fall flat and don’t engage as much as the others. The whole segment with the character Colin, who travels to America in the hopes of attracting woman, could have been cut as it is funny in parts but a little needless in comparison to the rest of the tales on show. Also, some of the actors are not really used in effective ways to make them interesting to the audience. Martin Freeman and Joanna Page are both talented but their story of two body doubles falling in love never really goes anywhere.

Now, on to the positives of Love Actually. Despite being saccharine, it does have a bittersweet tone to various chapters. Mark’s pining for Juliet, who finds out when she watches the wedding video he recorded and finds it is composed of footage solely of her, is a bittersweet tale . This story may have its limitations in terms of character development, but is still an enjoyable segment none the less.  Out of the star-studded cast, Bill Nighy, Emma Thompson and Laura Linney are the standout performers. Bill Nighy is absolutely hysterical as the washed up rocker attempting to reach Christmas number one. Emma Thompson is natural and moving as Karen, the wife of Harry who feels sadness for the fact her husband is attracted to his secretary. The scene in which she stands in her room, tears falling from her eyes after expecting to get a necklace as a present ( it is in fact for the secretary) , but instead receiving a CD is touching and melancholy to say the least. Laura Linney is luminous as the conflicted Sarah, caught between her caring side that wants to help her ill brother and her lonely side that wants love from someone. That isn’t to say the rest of the cast isn’t good, but these three stars are the ones you will most remember. Colin Firth is excellently suited to the role of Jamie, who is enchanted by his housekeeper. Liam Neeson managed to be warm and caring as the grieving father, helping his son as he feels the neglect love can inflict and he tries to impress his crush at school. Thomas Sangster excels as the pining Sam, head over heels for the most popular girl in school. Andrew Lincoln and Keira Knightley rise above the limitations of their tale to give us the now memorable scene of him professing his love for her through cue cards. Hugh Grant and Martine McCutcheon are good as the lovestruck PM and the junior member of staff who are drawn to each other in a reversal of the Notting Hill formula. Fun cameos are provided by Rowan Atkinson and Billy Bob Thornton.

It may be sentimental and cloying, but Love Actually does manage to warm the heart and doesn’t fall into the same old convention of everyone ending up happy. The fact that some of the relationships in the film don’t work makes it more interesting and not as clichéd as many a romantic comedy. Not for everyone, but cosy and festive viewing for romantics.