Change Your Image
adsmradford
Reviews
Old (2021)
Life's a beach. Then you die.
Odd little film about human guinea pigs and medical advancement. Tourists visit a luxurious tropical hotel and are invited to visit a private, secluded beach during their stay. The day out at the beach leads to some very odd side affects on the visitors.
The premise of this film is very interesting, thought provoking and at times quite disturbing. The first half was for the most part quite good but it fell apart during the second act. The acting which had been acceptable became borderline dreadful and the direction and camera work jarring.
Of course the underlying message is our fear of illness and ageing, especially when we have absolutely no control of the process.
Could have been good but missed the mark.
The Lost City of Z (2016)
Wonderful performance from Charlie Hunnam.
I loved this fascinating, heart breaking film about the trials and tribulations of being a great early 20th century explorer. Hunnams performance, without doubt, is breathtaking. His range from brave and fearless army major to an entrepid and single minded explorer and back to tender, loving father and husband, actually takes you on a huge emotional and physical roller coaster leading to the final distressing 20 minutes. Like many of these films and this one is no exception, we have the juxtaposition of well oiled and sophisticated Edwardian London with the primeval and sometimes horrifying Amazonian jungle. Where people are actually eaten alive by piranhas. And ancient tribes metamorphasize from the vegetation to rain terror on interlopers.
A slow burner and not to everyone's taste. But I thought it was beautiful and thought provoking.
And on an end note the photography was exquisite.
Night of the Demon (1957)
A Demonic Treat.
For me this film and Rosemarys Baby have to be two of the finest Occult Films ever made. Strangely the demon featured in both is remarkably similar. Both directors using the images of demons from medieval woodcuts. Perhaps Polanski was inspired by Night of the Demon.
A very fine British production with a well known American star, Dana Andrews, in the lead. It slowly burns its way to its ultimate conclusion. With plenty of startling moments during the spooky and disturbing journey.
Special Effects are good for 1957 and although many complain about the visualisation of the demon, the more I've watched it, over the years, the more I've found it to be very integral to the fabric of the film. Especially when it's viewed metamorphisising from a distance. Horribly disturbing.
Great acting from all the cast, excellent score and Tourners direction is at its very best.
Thoroughly recommend.
The Courier (2020)
Teetering on the edge of nuclear war.
Absolutely cracking film based on real events.
Cumberbatch puts in one of his greatest performances as a British businessman/courier who secretly delivers details of The Soviets build up of nuclear weapons on Cuba to MI6 & the CIA, with the help of a high up Soviet Colonel who detests Kruschev and all he stands for.
A thrilling film that has one on the edge of one's seat throughout. The early sixties lend themselves well to these spy thrillers.
The Soviets were brutal to all those that betrayed them. Shot in the head and an unmarked grave. We sent or allowed ours to abscond to Moscow and live the rest of their lives in gloomy misery.
Great film deserves a higher score.
The Barkleys of Broadway (1949)
Fred & Ginger in Colour. Wonderful!
Although not one of their best films together, it's great to see the old troupers in colour. Both are 10 years older than the last RKO Fred & Ginger musical but there's no denying they haven't lost their touch. Fantastic energetic and elegant dancing that belied the fact they were both approaching middle age.
Many people say they didn't get on but the truth was that they admired each other greatly, Fred often said that Ginger was a real trouper and his only partner that never complained, plus he admitted she was a far better actor than him. Ginger thought his dancing and choreography was wonderful and that he really had a lovely tenor voice.
There is a great deal of excellent comedy in this film and the comic timing between the leads is exceptional. One forgets how funny they could be together.
This film is a delight of it's genre and the last film the famous twosome made together. It's not perfect but Fred & Ginger are....as they always have and always will be.....forever. Still adored by millions.
Rosemary's Baby (1968)
You don't want to go where Rosemary goes.
Probably one of the most elegant Occult Films ever made. Polanskis direction is faultless as is the gamine Mia Farrows performance.
Set in the disturbing Gothic Dakota Building (home for many years to John Lennon and Lauren Bacall), a young couple, hoping to start a family, rent an attractive spacious apartment there but it's not long before they meet the neighbours, in the form of the wonderful Ruth Gordon (did she ever give a bad performance...of course not) and her softly spoken but decidedly creepy husband. From then on Rosemary's life is turned upside down and her very existence becomes a living nightmare.
From the dreamy but disturbing soundtrack to the expert and unfussy camera work this film is an absolute must see for film buffs. Probably Polanskis finest film.
The Damned Don't Cry (1950)
Joan Crawford is going to hell at breakneck speed!
If you enjoyed watching Mildred Pierce, Humoresque, Queen Bee etc, you're really going to enjoy this film.
Joan plays a poor downcast wife with a young son and a miserable skinflint husband but when the son is killed riding his bike, watched on by Joan (her acting is heartbreaking for that moment) she packs her bags and goes looking for a better life. Sadly, she has to throw out some moral baggage on her journey. Starting with working as a cheap clothes model at a fashion wholesaler who entertains the male buyers after hours. She proceeds up the social ladder to become mistress to a crime syndicate boss who transforms her looks, deportment and education with the aid of a broke society dame. Unfortunately her boss/boyfriend has really only done this so he can send her to the West Coast to entrap and be party to the murder of a younger rather handsome hoodlum, who wants to take over the syndicate. Joan of course falls for the young thug and that's where her artificially constructed life falls to pieces.
Great Film Noir, with some solid acting, great settings, glossy production and of course Joan, who as always carries the film on her beautiful broad shoulders.
The Father (2020)
Dementia a disease that robs you literally of everything.
Hard to review this film other than to say Hopkins performance was pitch perfect and Coleman has never been better.
It's moving, touching, desperately sad but cleverly shows how the mind of an elderly person in the grips of dementia cannot perceive the world around them with any logic, as the sands of reality, beneath them, are constantly shifting. Loved ones motives become suspect, the dead appear alive, locations shift without warning and bewilderment is their constant companion.
I will never want to watch this film again, once was quite enough. But the direction and acting were utterly superb. If you ever need to watch a film about a loved one's descent into the dark abyss of dementia watch this film. Its near faultless and a masterpiece in its genre.
Archie (2023)
Archie eventually learns to leave the past in the past.
Enjoyable but flawed. Isaacs gives a good performance as Archie Leach who masqueraded as Cary Grant for over 50 years. A persona he wore like a beautifully cut suit. But underneath the Saville Row suits Archies heartache and deep-rooted misery over his childhood and poverty stricken early life often comes to the surface off screen. 4 failed marriages due to his controlling nature and other problems haunt him and despite his aversion to being a father due to his own childhood, his life is saved in his 60s with the birth of his daughter to actress Dyan Cannon. Who sadly divorces him for unreasonable behaviour.
However, the acting laurels in this production must go to Harriet Walter as his mentally frail mother whom he thought was dead for 30 years due to a lie told by his reprehensible father. Cary saves her from a mental institution but fails to bond with her due to her excessive possessiveness and mental instability. Grants life does draw comparisons to Chaplins both had mentally ill mothers but whilst Chaplin took his to Hollywood where they had a reasonable relationship, Grant kept his mother in the UK unable to risk damaging his carefully crafted Cary Grant persona. As always Walter shows her wonderful acting ability.
Timelines in this production are not always correct and Archies brother died before Archie was born. And certain areas of Grants life are glossed over. But it's a reasonable and enjoyable effort.
Amadeus (1984)
Possibly one of cinemas greatest films.
It's difficult to praise this wonderful film enough. 140 minutes flew by as we were treated to some of the worlds most beautiful music, lavish sets, outstanding costumes and absolutely Grade A acting.
F Murray Abraham who plays the bitter, disillusioned court composer Salieri, who can't believe that despite years of pleading and praying to God, to make him a genius, is passed over, by The Almighty, in favour of the worldly and frankly childish and vulgar Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Staged in flashback Salieri, now spending his twilight years in an asylum, recounts how his and Mozarts lives crossed and remain enmeshed until Mozarts early death. A relationship that brings little pleasure to Salieri, as he witnesses, to his chagrin, Mozarts brilliance and popularity soar whilst he plods away creating pleasant but completely unmemorable music.
Special mention must go to the Opera scenes especially the one involving Don Giovanni. It nearly rips your soul from your body. Hideous and wonderful. Rather like this magnificent film. Dazzling on the surface but so dark and Dantesque if you scratch off the gilding.
Dream Horse (2020)
Dreams do come true.
What a charming feelgood film.
We all know that many towns in the Welsh valleys have had a terrible time over the past decades and many of the people living in these communities have lost heart and merely go through the motions every day. So for a supermarket employee to dream of breeding and running a racehorse seems an utter impossibility. However, with the help of her syndicate she does and the lovely horse wins several races including the prestigious Welsh Grand National. Pride in their Town is restored as well as a feeling of great Welsh national pride. Performances all round are strong expecially Collette and Lewis. A film that makes you laugh and cry and burst with pride for the townsfolk but mainly for the kindly, inspirational woman who made it all happen.
Great these small, heartwarming British films are still being made.
Swing Time (1936)
Swing Time or Top Hat?
Fred & Ginger fans have bickered about this for over 80 years. Personally I prefer Swing Time, not that I don't like the sublime Top Hat. However, I enjoy George Stevens direction more than Sandrichs. Astaire & Rogers are given room to develop their characters and the plot is slightly more plausible. Not the mistaken identity storyline! That had become rather tiresome.
Fred's character is an habitual gambler that comes upon a pretty dance teacher, Ginger, whom he falls for....from then on there's shenanigans galore until the final satisfying scene. The dancing is literally sent from heaven with their final dance being one if the greatest ever filmed on celluloid. Rogers was never lovelier and her and Astaires partnership reached its zenith with this and the preceding Top Hat.
Utterly magical. Two truly great artists. That personified the Golden Age of Hollywood. The publics favourites for 7 years. Thank goodness we can still visit them regularly on DVD.
Passengers (2016)
Robinson Crusoe finds his Girl Friday.
A love story based on deception is nearly destroyed by the truth.
A huge space ship carrying 5000 passengers and crew, in suspended hibernation, are travelling to a new world when the ship runs into a meteor storm which damages the systems. One of the side effects is a passenger is awakened from hibernation and forced to live alone on the vast ship for a year before he takes matters into his own hands and awakens a fellow passenger with a variety of results.
A beautifully made film that does have the odd plot hiccup but Pratt and Lawrence make an exceptionally attractive and engaging couple and Pratt is never better than when he is playing remorseful and heroic.
Thoroughly recommend this Sci-fi love story.
Anna (2019)
Little Orphan Anna.
Ignore the naysayers. This is an all action film about a beautiful KGB assassin. It's made as slick , violent entertainment and if you don't enjoy this type of film don't watch them.
An orphaned and downtrodden Russian girl wants to join the navy but ends up in the KGB and becomes one of their top assassins. But all she really wants is a peaceful life with complete anonymity. But in order to achieve this she becomes a triple agent.
Huge body count throughout the film with some very exciting set pieces. However, the acting laurels have to go to Helen Mirren, who plays Anna's bad tempered old Russian KGB operative.
If you enjoyed Atomic Blonde and Red Sparrow you'll enjoy this.
Funny Face (1957)
Astaire & Hepburn in beautiful but dull musical.
Firstly the good points. Photography, costumes, set decoration and Gershwin songs. Sadly, thats where it all ends. The script is silly, old fashioned and forced and Astaire looks far too old for Hepburn, who despite looking beautiful plays such an irritating character that it's impossible to 'empathise' with her whether she's happy or sad. The fashion photo montage scenes in Paris are an utter delight and it's at this point that the story almost catches light. But unfortunately we sink back into psycho clap trap, Parisienne beatnik parties and some pretty mediocre dancing and acting non of it helped by the worn out old script.
I'd like to love this film but it was made 20 years too late. Had it been made in 1937 with Ginger it would have been a much better kettle of fish.
An emphatic 7 and that's being very kind.
Shadowlands (1993)
Exquisitely crafted British film.
Hopkins made Remains of the Day and Shadowlands in 1993. Both beautiful performances. Ironically both men he portrayed were emotionally repressed, one from his position in life the other from a childhood trauma. But whilst the butler in Remains of the Day never breaks through his emotional dam Lewis the author and theologian does, when his wife is diagnosed with terminal cancer, he realises he does truly love her and they spend what little time they have left, safe in the knowledge both are loved.
Special credit must go to Attenborough for crafting this beautiful film, the script which is tender and intelligent and composer George Fenton for scoring the music perfectly. The supporting cast were truly excellent but it's Hopkins and Wingers film.
I remember cinema audiences being transfixed by this film, when it first came out. Waiting until the credits had finished rolling before leaving the cinema, in silence. A masterful piece of film making.
We love to know we are not alone.
Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)
MGM does what it does best...truly great musicals.
Judy Garland didn't want to make this film, having read the script she was less than impressed. Luckily Vincente Minelli talked her round and the rest is Hollywood history.
Set in 1904 the story revolves around a middle class families ups and downs over a year. Beautiful vignettes mark out each season.
Being made in 1944 at the height of WWII the nostalgia setting is dialled to very high. Reflecting on supposedly happier times and strong loyal, family values. But it's non the worse for this. Beautiful sets, exquisite technicolour, good costumes and of course wonderful songs that are reminiscent of vaudeville songs at the turn of the 20th century.
Garland is the star of the picture but her supporting cast is superlative. Special mention going to Margaret o Brien, playing the youngest and slightly unusual and oddball daughter, with an incredible amount of depth and intelligence.
Watch this film and be swept away on a wave of technicolor nostalgia. Fantastic offering from the MGM musical department under Arthur Freed.
The Lady from Shanghai (1947)
Art House Film Noir.
Rita Hayworth was still at the very height of her beauty in 1947 whether she had long red tresses or short platinum hair. Her real hair colour was dark brown because she was of Spanish origin. But the studio insisted she was made over. To appeal to a wider audience. Now I don't necessarily agree with this but to be fair to Colombia Studio turned her into an absolute beauty. Plus she was one of the best female dancers in Hollywood. David Niven said she was one of the most gorgeous women he ever met (I'm sure he met a few) and one of the sweetest.
Back to Lady From Shanghai, an unusual film noir, with a twisting turning story and spectacular ending. However, the script is slightly too off beat and 2 viewings are necessary to understand the vagaries of the plot. Which does have rather large holes in it. The post production whilst being generally good sometimes looks a little rushed and the editing is jarring at times. What isn't jarring are the beautiful close ups of Hayworth. Obviously despite their marital difficulties Welles was still in love with her. Another one who loved her for decades was Head of Columbia, Harry Cohn, who whenever photographed with her looks like a love struck schoolboy. Odd as he was generally a monster when it came to his female studio stars. But Rita he adored.
I admire many aspects of this film and enjoy every viewing but it's a flawed gem.
Jane Eyre (1943)
Black and White Gothic Masterpiece.
Fontaine came into this film having made Rebecca 1940 and Suspicion 1941 with Hitchcock, receiving a Best Actress Oscar for the latter. So her acting ability was never in question. Her performance in Jane Eyre is pitch perfect. Jane having led a life where she spent her formative years in a cruel, bleak charity school, has learned through trial and error to keep her feelings and emotions tightly buttoned down. When she reaches 18 she then accepts a position as a governess in order to escape her miserable surroundings. Little does she know that her destiny awaits her in the guise of the mercurial Mr Rochester whose ward she is to govern. Welles plays Rochester and does some very fine Wellsian acting. Roaring, dismissive, mocking and self pitying but also tender and and generous to those around him. Jane is initially confused and intimidated by his manner but as she gets to know him a warmth and understanding blossoms between them but he's hiding a wretched and tawdry secret in the tower of the castle that will change their lives forever.
I'm not surprised this is one of the most beloved film versions of Brontes estimable novel. Its a very fine piece of work and shows that Hollywood could make high quality films when they so desired. Aldous Huxleys script condenses the book whilst keeping to the spirit of the novel.
The camera work, sets lighting and costumes are superlative. A great film that deserves to be considered a classic.
Casablanca (1942)
Casablanca, probably Warner Bros greatest achievement.
Starting with a script that was pencil sharp and lacking in sentimentality, acted out by Hollywood's greatest, we certainly came to care, very much, about the 3 people involved. And when Bogart says "we'll always have Paris" at the end of the film, it's a very strong man that doesn't have a tear in his eye. Claude Raines should also be given credit, we know he never made a bad film but his comedic and ironic performance was a masterclass. That man could act and it never showed.
The scene where the competing National Anthems (France v Germany) were battling it out, still has to be one of the most heart stirring moments in a WWII film.
Credit to all involved in this production. We know Bergman didn't enjoy making it and for Bogart it was another Warner Bros. Potboiler but something happened....the famous song, the casting, the razor sharp script.... all three came together and created a black and white masterpiece. Utterly wonderful. I never tire of seeing it.
Clueless (1995)
Emma becomes Clueless.
A charming reworking of Jane Austens Emma set in 1990s Beverley Hills.
Colourful and amusing, Cher (Silverstone) imagines she's a great matchmaker, arranging her school friends romantic entanglements, which prove to be hopeless, especially her own choices in boyfriends. Her one true love is right under her nose but it takes the whole of the film for her to realise that he's the one for her and not the annoying and judgmental young man she assumed him to be. Her classmates left to their own devices find their own appropriate partners whilst Silverstones arc from fashionable air head to more thoughtful and considerate daughter and human being is completed by the end of the film. Its not Ingmar Bergman but its a delightful teen film and was a huge success in 1995.
Barbie (2023)
Billion Dollar Barbie.
I doubt this film will be remembered in 80 years. Its no Wizard of Oz. However, it caught the zeitgeist in the summer of 2023. And made its truly talented female director hugely bankable.
Barbie (the beautiful Robbie) goes into the real world accompanied by Ken (an almost as beautiful Gosling) her ultimate fashion accessory, when she suffers from strange un Barbie like symptoms. Thoughts of death, flat feet etc. From there views on feminity and masculinity are explored and the everlasting tug of war and power shifts between men and women.
Beautifully photographed with magnificent sets. Both will be nominated for Oscars. The leads are top notch, Robbie makes a stunning Barbie and Gosling a hilarious Ken.
What Barbie has done has got people back into the cinemas and revitalised the film industry. For that alone it deserves 10. Well done.
Cinderella (2015)
An utter delight.
Although lacking the charm of the original Disney animation of 1950, this is a much more fleshed out live action version. Kenneth Branagh has done a fine job directing this film.
Acting is of the very highest calibre. Not surprising when looking at the cast list. And they've all been given a good script to work with. Special mention must go to Cate Blanchet as the Wicked Stepmother. She is despicable but we are shown that lost love and disappointment has made her a bitter, unpleasant woman who bullies young girls and uses her ridiculous, spoiled daughters as a way to improve her position in life. Not a good role model.
Lily James is captivating as Cinderella and the blossoming love between her and the prince is utterly charming. She is a good role model, who believes kindness and courage will help you attain your dreams.
Special affects are wonderful as is the musical score. A delightful family film, that I imagine could be viewed multiple times.