Some mini reviews this time around for recent releases, including some available online…
Life
It is easy to see what attracted director Anton Corbijn to this story of James Dean’s brief friendship with Life magazine photographer Dennis Stock. Having made his name as a music photographer, and his best previous film also being based on a venerated doomed figure – Ian Curtis – this is right in his comfort zone. It s evident that Corbijn is more interested in Stock’s story, as his is the more rounded character, and it features the movie’s best performance from Robert Pattinson, who continues to impress in his post Twilight career.
There aren’t any great insights into the enigma that is James Dean, but the brief glimpses of Hollywood at that time are a lot of fun, and Sir Ben Kingsley is a hoot as Jack Warner.
Rating: 7 out of 10
MacBeth
Shakespeare adaptations ultimately succeed or fail based on the quality of the actors’ performances. In that respect the film is a qualified success as it features outstanding performances from Michael Fassbender as the scheming king and a trio of marvellous supporting turns by David Thewlis (Duncan), Sean Harris (MacDuff) and Paddy Considine (Banquo). The film really comes to life in the scenes shared by MacBeth and either MacDuff or Banquo.
The usually excellent Marion Cotillard fares less well as a marginalised Lady MacBeth, and some of the younger performers can be seen visibly struggling with the text. Also, less successful is the overly mannered direction by Justin Kurzel, featuring too many 300 style slow motion fight scenes, and other unnecessary visual flourishes.
Still a must see for the clutch of performances by actors at the top of their games.
Rating: 7.5 out of 10
Captive
Based on a true story of an escaped convict who takes a troubled woman hostage, this is fairly mundane stuff. I was probably the only person attracted to this film by the director – Jerry Jameson – who made some of my favourite made for TV films in the 1970s as well as the underrated Airport ’77. He does a decent, workmanlike job, especially considering that he is now in his 80’s. David Oyelow is okay as Brian Nichols, the escapee, but his role is badly underwritten. The woman taken hostage, Ashley, is struggling with a drug addiction (you can tell that she is an addict as she doesn’t wash her hair!). Kate Mara does much better than you would expect in the part, her performance is the best part of the film.
What neither actors can overcome, however, is a really clunky script. At times I wish I could have rewound to savour some of the terrible dialogue, the extremely awkward shoe horning in of a faith message and a truly horrible performance by Michael Kenneth Williams (a long way from The Wire) as the detective trying to track down Nichols.
Rating: 5 out of 10
Legend
This is real example of how a trailer can mislead an audience. Coming across like as a violent gangster action movie, I was wary that Legend will have glamorised the life of 2 pretty abhorrent criminals. However, both the Kray brothers are presented as vicious, unhinged, thugs, and the story largely concentrates on Reggie’s relationship with Frances Shea.
Whilst that was a pleasant surprise, it also created other problems that proved to be insurmountable. Reggie and Frances’ relationship just isn’t interesting enough to sustain a movie, and Emily Browning is really insipid as Frances, with her annoying voice over adding nothing. The much more interesting story about how the brothers rose to infamy is sidelined, and the supporting characters are not fleshed out at all.
What that leaves is just one reason to watch the film, Tom Hardy’s magnificent performance as both Reggie and Ronnie. He deploys subtle physical differences to differentiate the 2 men, and it is easy to forget that you are not watching 2 different actors.
Rating: 6 out of 10
A Syrian Love Story
Given a limited cinema release and a couple of showings on the BBC, this is a noble, moving documentary about a Syrian family trying to cope with the unfolding political crisis in their country.
It is a film I admire more than loved, and it seemed a little uncomfortable prying into a marriage breaking down under the pressure placed on it. The writer / director, Sean McAllister does a good job overall but also tends to place himself into the film more than necessary.
Rating 7 out of 10
Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief
I enjoyed this documentary about the secretive religious cult much more. Admittedly one-sided, it features fascinating interviews with ex members and some great archive footage. The scenes showing how Tom Cruise is treated are particularly eye-opening.
Also given a limited cinema release and being shown on Sky Atlantic.
Rating: 8 out of 10
The Goob
Released earlier this year, and now available on demand, The Goob is a bleak, overpraised, British drama. A coming of age tale set in rural Norfolk, it is unremittingly grim, and I found it very hard to engage with any of the characters.
It does feature another good performance from Sean Harris, and a surprisingly effective one from Hannah Spearritt. However, there is little else to recommend.
Rating: 4.5 out of 10