Script review - "Love Actually" by Richard Curtis

  Curtis said he restructured this in the edit maybe he did but it feels very close - Nicole Kdiman referenced instead of Claudia Schiffer and there's the African sequence which was filmed but cut.

There's a sub industry of hot takes about the flaws of this film, many from the US who I think are annoyed their country is described as a bully. And the fat jokes clunk and they could've jettisoned Colin in Wisconsin and yes flaws flaws.

But it's very sweet - grieving widow and step son have a lovely bond and satisfying pay off, the Prime Minister plot is (fat jokes aside) charming, the married woman stuff is great, no it makes no sense Sarah doesn't schtup Karl but it works, the flabby friend-in-love-with-mate's-wife story is redeemed by the cards at the end. So many iconic moments.  

Script review - "An Education" by Nick Hornby

 For the most part really enjoyed this - tale of young woman during that odd British period of 1962 before things went wild, falling for older man, parents controlling but also manipulated, pop culture was French, education was well funded. I like that the guy wasn't a complete villain - he did love her in his dodgy way.

At the end she turns into whiny boomer, blaming her parents for it all, blaming the school, going off to Oxford and having a high old time. 

Movie review - "Frankie Vaughan The Heart of a Man" (2008) ***

 Not the feature with that name starring Vaughan but a documentary about the singer-actor. I mostly know him from Let's Make Love where he has a weird grin and creepy vibe; he made a few more films in England, mostly with Anna Neagle, and had.a lot of hits. 

It's a very positive depiction - I assume it's true. Loving husband and family man, gave a lot of money to charity, easy to work with, turned down a chance to shag Marilyn Monroe, tried to stop knife fighting in Scotland. 

Talking heads include Tim Rice, Val Doonican and Vera Lynn. 

Movie review - "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince" (2009) *** (warning: spoilers)

 Cripes. This was a hard slog at two and a half hours. It's Dumbledore heavy and it really hit me how much more fun Richard Harris would've been than Michael Gambon. There's maybe half an hour of decent material here - Helena Bonham Carter leading an attack at the Weasley house and then at the climax. The rest is a bit of a trudge.

Ron and Hermoine are sidelined, especially Hermoine who just hangs around and moons about Ron. Harry is with Ginny who is so dull. I get the feeling Rowling by now was just coasting towards her Harry maingame and didn't care. For instance there's a terrific moral dilemma for Draco, the son of a baddie, promised to baddies who doesn't necessarily want to be bad, but it's basically skimmed over. I did like Alan Rickman, the goodie who seemed to be a baddie becoming a baddie.

David Yates' direction is competent, and I know dealing with these machines is like piloting a beast, but he doesn't seem able to extract emotion out of stuff even the death of Dumbledore. Maybe he can if you've read the books, because then you've got the memory of the books.

Movie review - "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" (2007) ***

 Harry in trouble - joins a secret society Bulldog Drummond style. JK Rowling attacks tabloids who were presumably giving her a hard time. Imelda Staunton is great fun. Hermoine and Ron don't have much to do. Helena Bonham Carter steals the show in what is admittedly the flashiest role. Harry kisses some girl then she sort of vanishes.

Book review - "Conclusions" by John Boorman (2020)

 Second volume of Boorman's memoirs isn't as entertaining as Adventures of a Suburban Boy. Money Into Light or his Projections diaries but is still worth a read. Boorman is a good writer and if this period involves his less renowned films - Tailor of Panama, The General, Tiger in the Tail - it's still of interest. I enjoyed the profiles of people like Bob Chartoff and his kids. Others such as his Irish mates was less compelling.

Movie review - "Ned Kelly" (2003) **

 I was curious to revisit this. I remember what a big deal it was at the time and how no one seems to talk about it now. It made a lot of money (domestically) but certainly didn't "stick" in people's minds. I think they might recall there was a Heath Ledger Ned Kelly movie but that was about it.

The opening few minutes are effective with its beautiful score and photography and some nice images... and Heath Ledger is charismatic... but the problems soon emerge... 

What is the take they had on Ned Kelly? Villain? Hero? Enigmatic anti hero? Revolutionary? It all feels... blah. There's no passion. Or viewpoint. It's like no one wanted to make it except for maybe the art department.

I totally would have green lit a film on Ned Kelly from the team that made Two Hands. But that had a clear point of view. A hero battling with a clear goal. This doesn't. Ned is kind of put upon... but not really. He takes bunch of people hostage... then releases them and they are fired on so Ned is trying to save the hostages, is that right? (I wonder if the film had voice over added and lines of dialogue like "let's save the hostages" added).

He is hard to dramatise and the filmmakers don't succeed here. I don't mind inventing a Ned Kelly love story, I mean no one really knows but... there's no point to the Naomi Watts one. The scenes have no heat. You could cut her out of the film and it wouldn't mean anything. In contrast, Saskia Burmeister's quick turn as the girl who Ned gives a ride to and encounters at Glenrowan has real emotional weight because she clearly admires him and she's there. Why not put Naomi Watts at Glenrowan and have her killed? Give the piece some bite? 

On the sunny side the sets, costumes are great, as is the music. The beards, unfortunately, mostly look fake. There are some effective moments such as the death of Aaron Sherritt (this scene always works, it did in the Douglas Stewart play), Geoffrey Rush taking the sash at the end.

Other moments glimpse what the film could've been: the aforementioned Saskia-Heath stuff, the scene where Ned chats to his brother. I think this was the core problem for me: Ned Kelly had no relationship with anyone. He had a stock, removable romance with Naomi Watts, but I never got the sense of his friendship with Joe Byrne, or Steve Hart, or a relationship with his mother or his brother or sister. It fails to bring to life any of the Kelly women (this is a common flaw in all Kelly adaptations).

A mess. A frustrating mess. The Ned Kelly story is a challenging one for film adapters but one thing is clear... it needs a strong point of view. This doesn't have it.

Movie review - "Quantum of Solace" (2009) **** (re-viewing - warning: spoilers)

I really like this movie, cannot understand the hate other than it depicts the Americans as unscrupulous baddies, Felix Leiter aside.

It has terrific action - a duel with two planes, a chase on foot - and is beautifully shot, full of stunning images - the final Zabriskie Point like building. The script is full of great lines and has memorable characters and moments - Olga Kurylenko's avenging agent, Giancarlo Giannini's world weary former agent, the death of Gemma Arterton is an enjoyable Goldfinger homage.

Mathieu Amalric is an excellent villain, smart and sadistic - when he fights Bond it's like a vicious cat (he's not as strong but he might hurt him), who eats an apple when meeting officers to show his contempt.

There are moving moments like the death of Giannini - the action slows for this and admittedly the editing does feel a bit frantic and choppy at times. I liked the plan to corner the world's water supply and the locations (Bolivia) and that Bond clearly loves his creature comforts.  I did laugh at the concept of Canadian Intelligence, but I loved how Bond didn't get with the girl at the end, that wouldn't have felt right.

Oh and it doesn't go for to long too.

It's an excellent Bond entry.

Movie review - "Mamma Mia" (2008) ***1/2

Why did this hit so big when say The Producers didn't do as well on the big screen? Especially with Pierce Brosnan singing so badly and a similarly inexperienced film director?

I think having more stars in it was enormously helpful.  So too was the Greek Island scenery, and an infectious good nature. It's better directed than The Producers. The story is fun, the show is fun.

There's great aspirational stuff for older and young women - older woman get to gaze at Meryl Streep, who gets to sing Abba, and have two outrageous friends (Julie Walters and Christine Baranksi) and be pursued by three hunks (Stellan Skarsgaard, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth), and live in the Greek islands, and have a great relationship with her adoring daughter. Younger woman get to pretend to be Amanda Seyfriend, who gets to sing Abba, and have two outrageous friends, and be pursued by a hunk (Dominic Cooper).

Peter Bogdanovich must look at this and go "why were they so harsh on me for At Long Last Love this lot can't sing any better than my cast" - but this has a better story and scenery and a stronger over-all cast.

Movie review - "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" (2005) ***

Mike Newell takes over the directors chair and does a no-nonsense but sensitive job. There's lots of quidditch in this - and a big role for Robert Pattison plus Brendan Gleeson running around with one eye. It's good how Pattison's character is so perfect and he's killed. There's a contest which seems rather full on and makes you wonder why parents are so keen to send their kids there.

Movie review - "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" (2004) ***

The series gets a new director, more of an artist... Alfonso Cuaron, who moves the camera around more - a lot more, indeed after a while it was like "alright Alfonso, you can stop moving the camera around".

I like how they're aging the characters - hair more toussled, ties undone, a bit more rebellious. The plot concerns an escaped prisoner (Gary Oldman) who may be bad, a new master of the dark arts (David Thewlis) who may be bad. I liked bits of this like the reveal of a rat, and the final shot, but didn't find the story as compelling.

Movie review - "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" (2002) ***1/2

The second Harry Potter film shows an increased confidence from everyone around - director Chris Columbus, the young actors. There are some excellent additions - Ken Branagh's show pony wizard and Jason Isaac's Malfoy are both terrific - and the old reliables remain, well, reliable: Richard Harris, Maggie Smith, Robbie Coltraine, Alan Rickman, Richard Griffiths.

I wasn't a big fan of the perennially whining Dobby but I did like how he was liberated at the end - this was very touching. There's more sport, more monsters, good banter between the three leads, a decent mystery about who has opened the chamber of secrets, Ron's sister is ideal stakes. The kid who plays Tom Riddle wasn't very good - and I wish the film didn't go for so long, there were places it could have been cut, if only trimming dialogue.

Movie review - "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" (2001) ***1/2

I think the filmmakers on this one did a really good job. They had to be faithful to the book and made a lot of smart decisions - cast young actors who actually suited the roles (they couldn't act but were well cast), surrounded them with some superb British talent, ponied up for some gorgeous photography and art design.

It's a visual treat for the eyes - all those sets and effects and interesting buildings. It's not particularly well directed (I think Chris Columbus is a better producer than director) and John Williams' score feels wearying - it's something we've heard too many times.

But the set pieces work - visiting Hogwarts and the alley, the battle against the troll, the Quidditch game, the final battle. The film has a good heart - like Star Wars, which it resembles in many ways, some in story (innocent boy is of royal lineage, there's a force which attracts good and bad, colorful comic relief) but also in being a lively rehash of old tropes.

Daniel Radcliffe's acting at this stage was really the look, a smile and a double take - but he is a pretty good Harry. The same could be said for all the young actors.

I wish Richard Griffiths had more screen time, he was such fun, as was Fiona Shaw. Robbie Coltrane and Maggie Smith are terrific value, and Alan Rickman is superb as Snape. Ian Hart is a little undercooked but I guess that's the point of the role, to not notice him (I remember when I first saw the movie I couldn't recognise the actor... he really needs that turban for individualisation).

Script review - "In Bruges" by Martin McDonagh (warning: spoilers)

Astonishgly good script - very simple, two gangsters are hiding out in Bruges in Belgium, done almost like a play with lots of dialogue. But the stakes are high - one of the men has shot a priest and accidentally killed a boy; the other is unsure what he'll be told to do.

There's a lot of beautiful set up and pay off - a dwarf is introduced for comic effect then comes back to be killed like a small boy; a woman seems to be a bit of sex love interest, then tries to rob the guy, then helps redeem him; the villain Harry is a three dimensional person with a strong code of honour, a family, his own demons (molested by the priest).

Bruges is a real character in this - medieval, boring, touristy, characterful, suspected by the English/Irish. This ends with Ray having survived and about to kill himself - we're not sure if he'll go through with it.

This came with a strong reputation - people had urged me to see it - and it totally stands up.

Movie review - "Scoop" (2006) **1/2

Minor league Woody which you might have resented paying $15 for at the cinema but at home free on TV it's fine. The one real dash of inspiration comes when Ian MacShane dies (off screen) and pops up on the ferry to the land of the dead... then he drops his knowledge off to Scarlett Johansson and kind of plops out of the movie. It's Scarlett playing Nancy Drew with magician Woody Allen.

Like many later Woody movies there's elements from his earlier ones - Manhattan Murder Mystery in particular but also New York Stories (the magic segment). Romola Gorai pops up to suggest young Scarlett have an affair - and that's it. Seriously that's her role.

Scarlett is winning and pretty - as is Hugh Jackman, who plays the main suspect. It has pleasing locations and photography and Woody isn't bad. Admittedly my expectations were so low after hearing so many bad things about this but I enjoyed it.

TV movie review - "The Falklands Play" (2002) ****

A TV play about the Falklands War, not shown by the BBC because it was considered too sympathetic to Margaret Thatcher. I thought it was a well written, concise tight view of events - strongly acted, gripping to see. It was sympathetic to Thatcher and there were one or two "isn't she awesome" moments, but it really was her finest hour.

The cast is very good - people like Patricia Hodge and James Fox. Ian Curteis is an excellent writer and I wish Australia could make one off historical dramas like this.

Movie review - "Definitely Maybe" (2008) **1/2

The Working Title rom com done in America, though it still feels very English - so much of the humour comes from embarassment and awkwardness (Ryan Reynolds being busted with toilet rolls and talking to his young daughter about sex, sexually confident female leads), and there are some scenes that feel so English (a love poem to smoking).

I like Reynolds as an actor and as a star when he's doing his sarcastic thing. But he seems uncomfortable playing a shy Everyman - it's a role that needed Hugh Grant or someone more boffin-y. He's kind of a nothing. Kevin Kline is fine in his colourful support cast but you know someone like Bill Nighy or Rhys Ilfans would have knocked it out of the park.

As the trio of girls, Elizabeth Banks, Rachel Weisz and Isla Fisher are fun and beautiful and Abigail Breslin does what's required as the girl. I enjoyed the passage of time stuff, hated that Reynolds took so long to give the book to Fisher, the support casts and Bill Clinton stuff always felt like it was going to do more than it did; it's good (if that's the right word) to have a movie acknowledge the pain of divorce. This wasn't perfect, but it has charm and it lingered in the mind.

Movie review - "Gosford Park" (2001) *****

A wonderful movie, perhaps Robert Altman's best - he has an entirely fresh setting (a mansion in the early 1930s), a new - for him at anyway - genre (Agatha Christie type murder), a superb script by Julian Fellows, a complex subject matter (class system of the time), and a sensational cast. He keeps his indulgences under control and focuses on tackling things with a fresh, withering eye.

Everyone is so good - Maggie Smith's bitchy aristocrat, Kelly MacDonald's sweet little maid, Clive Owen's brooding man of mystery, Helen Mirren's devoted maid (heartbreaking at the end with Eileen Atkins), Kirsten Scott Thomas' sensual lady of the house, Michael Gambon's horrible aristocrat (with his little dog everywhere), Emily Watson's wise old maid (I predict she'd wind up as a top Hollywood executive or a leading madam), Bob Balaban's pushy producer, Camilla Rutherford's dopey aristocrat, Tom Hollander's panicky son in law, Alan Bates corrupted butler, Richard E Grant's campy and vengeful footman, Jeremy Northam's Ivor Novello, Eileen Atkins' lioness cook. Even Ryan Philippe is good as an annoying bisexual actor.

It's consistently entertaining and interesting - it has a social point, some marvellous dialogue, and a decent story. A masterpiece.

Book review - "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" by J.K. Rowling (2003)

Number five in the series starts interestingly enough with Harry getting expelled, but then it's rescinded, and Harry joins a creepy secret society, the Order of the Phoenix and takes part in some exceedingly dull adventures. This book felt as though it went on forever, and was agonising to get through and I was becoming really annoyed at the series love for Imperial adventure (complete with forelock tugging servants and Bulldog Drummond style secret societies)... when, towards the end, all hell breaks loose and it becomes awesome.

Movie review - Bond#20 - "Die Another Day" (2002) ***

Pierce Brosnan got worse as James Bond as the years went on - this was his fourth time out and not only was he becoming distractingly old, his continuing inability to say a funny line remains amazing. He is wound uptight and anxious, limiting the impact of this entry, which has many fine moments. Or at least, it does at the beginning - the second half is just plain silly.

The action sequences are back to their high standard, with some truly spectacular and thrilling segments: an opening hovercraft chase through the mine-riddled DMZ in Korea, a full blooded fencing match that turns roughhouse, a shootout in a dodgy clinic in Cuba.

The story isn't bad either - finally, the opening sequence from The Man with the Golden Gun is used... Bond is captured and spends a long time in Communist captivity, and returns a possible rogue (although why wasn't he brainwashed as in the novel?) It reuses the novel Moonraker device of the villain assuming an identity of a rich person who then seeks revenge against the West, something which pops up in a lot of movies (A View to a Kill, Goldeneye).

But still... the script has problems. The team of Purvis and Wade would later be rewritten by Paul Haggis and from this I see why (NB I know it's hard to tell who wrote what based on film credits and I'm making the following judgement on the assumption that they contributed more to this one): they've got plenty of good ideas but don't always seem to make sense. For instance, the fencing match between Bond and Graves (Toby Stephens) is exciting... but not really motivated, there's no point to it, it doesn't add any new information, or pay off in an interesting way. (Yes it prompts Graves to invite Bond to Iceland but surely he could have done that anyway). It's cute how Graves turns out to be a North Korean general... but to have become a billionaire that's that famous so quickly? The finale of the Iceland sequence has Bond driving against time to save Jinx (Halle Berry) who he barely knows... he ignores the villains escaping with a top secret laser and instead goes for some bit of tail.

While watching the latter I thought to myself "that's something Roger Moore's James Bond would do" and this movie more than ever seems to seek to recapture the spirit of the Moore Bonds, with its invisible car, sexually harassing Bond and really silly CGI surfing in Icelandic waters sequence.

American Bond girls are normally the worst and this does nothing to break the mould. Jinx is a decent character - spunky, tough, brave, good name - and Halle Berry is pretty, but she's just too nice and, well, Halle Berry to be believable as a kick arse action hero. (She is no Michelle Yeoh.) At times she seems like the star of some cheesy 90s straight to DVD flick... and adding to that is Michael Madsen as her boss. (When Madsen and Berry do a scene with Judy Dench and Pierce Brosnan, it's like a mashup of action movies)

Rosamund Pike is beautiful and has two effective moments - being an ice queen as she strips off her clothes and hops into bed with Bond, and then randomly appearing at the end dressed in leather pants and bra wielding a sword while on a plane. But she feels underutilitised - as if she's missing a scene or something.

Rick Yune is an excellent villain henchman, Toby Stephens a irritating villain (he does his best but plays the part in an overly flaring nostrils style, rather like Rik Mayall as Iron Man), John Cleese makes an unwelcome return as Q, Madonna is jarring although her title tune was okay, Samantha Bond is fine as Moneypenny.

Setting the action in Cuba, North Korea and Iceland is fresh; I'm not surprised the South Koreans were offended by the finale, which has the Americans completely in charge of their country's defence; occasionally the visuals are far too influenced by the Fast and the Furious and XXX. This wasnt as bad as some claim - it's got some great bits - but a fine first third is thrown away.