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Reviews
The Beautiful Lie (2015)
Liked it.
The review I just read suggests that I watched a different mini-series. However, that is not so. The difference of opinion, fortunately, is just that. Some people like me liked it, others like the person who gave it two stars obviously did not. It is not high-brow, but it is interesting and entertaining, and at least to me, that's enough. Sarah Snook deserves good scripts, and this one probably did not stretch her. Worth a look and a listen because some of the music is very interesting, and I found the emotional tension quite realistic. The irrational behaviours exhibited by several of the characters were believable, and not unlike what I have seen in real life. Not all productions are going to be highly cerebral, and that is alright because sometimes it is entertaining to just watch, not think too much, and enjoy watching reasonable actors and actresses.
The Words (2012)
This film has destroyed my lack of faith in film makers.
For some years now I have become increasing desperate in my search for good films, and rarely in the last 10-years have I seen excellent films. "The Words" is an excellent, honest story and a beautiful piece of cinema. Most of the films that I regard as excellent from that lamentable 10- year period have gone pretty much unnoticed, or have been praised rather lightly. For "Tinker Taylor", only the fine acting was mentioned. Reviews of "Quartet" have been tepid, while "Fast and Furious" X+Y+Z gets the box office credits. The latter is understood but unfortunate. Why have Hollywood and others almost forgotten how to make films like "To Kill a Mocking Bird", "The Door", "The Third Man", "The Pawnbroker", "A Patch of Blue", and a "A Taste of Honey"?. Well, with "The Words" excellence is back. Congratulations, and do it again. Look for some unrecognized writers who just might be able to string together a good yarn, and use this film crew again to tell their stories.
Nine (2009)
I seem to be the odd one out.
Having read other reviews, I get the feeling that we must have watched different films. I enjoyed the film, the actors, sets, and weirdo directing. the music was interesting, and the imagery clever. I suppose it is one of those films that one just has to accept comes from someone's not so straightforward imagination. Not everyone likes all art and this is no different. I regret that others did not get the enjoyment from the film that I did. Maybe I am easy to please, but usually I disagree with most well-known critics. After all, how did Meryl Streep get an Oscar over Bette Middler (no offense Ms. Streep), and how did Jack Lemon suffer the same fate from the same film and Dustin Hofman (also no offense). Thank goodness some of us think differently. Congratulations to the makers of Nine.
Quelques jours en septembre (2006)
An engaging but flawed film.
This is another film stultified by self-conscious direction and faddish photography. I have had enough of blurry, shaky, false colour cinematography for the rest of my life. Watch a Clint Eastwood directed film and see story-telling, in-focus, at its best. See also The King's Speech for developing characters. A Few Days in September had a good cast with wonderful actors like Binoche and Tuturro, although Binoche was not capitalised. Unlike other reviewers, I found the young people's discourse right on the mark for generation Y. Tuturro's psycho character might be an accurate parallel for what the American state thought was acceptable at the time of the story. Who knows, American international behaviour has been much more bizarre that Tuturro's character at times. Maybe too, a Venetian contact provided the large case and heavy calibre rifle locally rather than has been suggested that it was taken through customs. Despite its serious flaws, I enjoyed the story, and just seeing Binoche a lot in close up, such a wonderful face to photograph. To the director, don't forget that someone has to watch the film and does not need to get irritated by art for art's sake, especially when it "ain't Picasso". The version I saw did not have sub-titles and this hurt the film for me because my other languages are not European or Arabic. I look forward to more of Binoche and Tuturro but not blurred vision. It was not, as Binboche suggested, another way of looking at things.