Disadvantaged, alas

Movie review of "Vantage Point".
Published on facebook.com, 17th April 2008.

A good idea, poorly executed and hammily directed one must say. Chances of a chubby American tourist, clutching a digicam, keeping up with two secret service agents as they pursue an assassin through Madrid? Unlikely.

Likelihood of two secret service agents firing off handgun rounds in a busy Spanish street like it's the Wild West? Pretty low I'd say.

Likelihood of a secret service agent marching out to presidential protection duty without even a bulletprooof vest, particularly after being shot by a would-be assasin in the recent past? You be the judge.

All in all there are fair performances from the actors involved, though Whittaker's performance is a long way from his brilliant portrayal of Idi Amin, and poor Dennis Quaid has a permanent scowl that nothing seems to remove. It is the director, however, that should probably foot most of the blame though. 11.59 and 58 seconds...AGAIN?! "OH MY GOD" exclaimed one cinema-goer in the theatre where I saw the film, and he's probably right.

No fish out of water here, except the director

Movie review of "Lady In the Water".
Published on facebook.com, 11th April 2008.

Well, it's not BAD I suppose. Doesn't have the epic "Eureka" moment of The Sixth Sense, that's for sure. But, think along the lines of Pan's Labyrinth or even The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe in terms of kiddy-esque suspension of disbelief and you're on he right track.

Strong screenplay and good performances all round, though the director's cameo I found a little annoying, similar to Tarantino not only relentlessly popping up in the middle of the Grindhouse double bill, but also blatantly copying George Clooney's mannerisms expressed in "From Dusk 'Til Dawn".

Suspense is kept simmering away as the various tenants - and the viewer - try to figure out who has which 'other world' role and the lack of bad language or gore, though not necessarily adult themes, make it innocuous enough for family viewing. Giamatti is, as ever, a real pleasure to watch.

One way to make ironing fun

Movie review of "Iron Man".
Published on facebook.com, 2nd April 2008.

Wow. Yeah, I know what you're thinking: "Isn't this just another Marvel/DC Comics cash-in?" Well, I have to say that this movie fills the void between the last Batman and the next (Dark Knight) one quite nicely.

Equal measures of action, plot, character and screenplay, this is a very smartly- formed package of a summer blockbuster.

Excellent casting too, by the way. Downey is superb as an authentic immoral playboy, and there are no highbrow, Batman or Fantastic Four-esque moral issues at play here. He's flawed, he's selfish, egotistical, and more of an anti-hero for the majority of the film. And, whilst all the high-tech requires suspension of disbelief, his character does not. The same can be said for Paltrow, who plays his long-suffering assistant. This is not your regular, fall-at-the-feet of the hero bimbo role, but a punchy portrayal of a modern, intelligent woman in full control of her emotions and urges. The fact that they DON'T get together is another credit to Favreau. It's also nice to see Bridges in a villain role rather than his typecast bla bla do-gooder variety.

The script too is above average, with a fair smattering of laughs and some real zinger lines. My own favourite is Paltrow's, "Sometimes, I even have to take out the trash". More witty dialogue comes about with Downey, who in the absence of any friends builds an almost human relationship with the various powerful IT devices around him.

All in all it's an excellent value package of entertainment, and the effects et al make the trip to the cinema well worth it - don't wait for DVD on this one.