The Cracksman

So I'm a sucker for a heist movie, but since the hero was Charlie Drake I kinda knew what I was letting myself in for.  Charlie Drake is one of the legendary comics of the 60's, and this film met every expectation as such, heavy handed farce with an everyday working man becoming first an unwitting master thief and a then an unwitting hero, and he got the girl.

Being a Saint fan I wanted to see what an aging George Sanders was up to, and having enjoyed The Protectors, I wanted to see what a young Nyree Dawn Porter was like, and as I said, a heist.

You have to be ready for this vintage of comedy, loud and brash, like a Norman Wisdom or George Formby film.  The writing was pretty good, able to reach all ages, from kids with slapstick, and some delicate double entendres for us old uns.  Throw in some dancing girls, fisticuffs and social commentary and you have a well rounded, if old fashioned film.

Oh, and look out for a young Ronnie Barker too.

Animal Kingdom.

I really liked this.  It's one of those working class gangster movies.  The villains are not your Hans Gruber super villains, not your DeNiro/Mann studious master thief.  These guys are like you'd see in The Bill, The Sweeney, Hill Street Blues.  They are led be a brutal matriarch who Neighbours fans will probably recognize.

I am learning a new respect for Australian films, I've always known they are out there, but for some reason it's easier to find foreign language films than down under movies.  Sure with films like Heavenly Creatures, Muriels Wedding and Prescilla Queen of the Desert we know they are capable of top quality output, but a lot of it is forgotten or hidden.

So I won't go into plot details, just let you know that this is more than about a boy becoming a man, it's a good solid study of malevolent behaviour in an action (but not explosions every two minutes) flick.

True Grit (John Wayne)

I guess it was his turn to get an oscar, and he didn't have many chances after this.  I was very dissapointed, probably because I was fresh from the Coen Bros version.  The DVD kept skipping, but is didn't seem like we were missing much.  This late Western seemed to be packed with every cliche, except the strong sassy girl was younger than before.

Sure the visuals are all you could want from a good Western, Wayne did an adequate job, but compared with other roles?  The gal was a let down, she lacked the strength and the hidden frailty we saw in the Coen version.

Fans will hate me for saying the above, but not a wonderful film.

Requiem For a Dream

I was attracted to this film by the soundtrack, and a strong recommendation from a friend I trust.  I was not dissappointed on either count.

This film is bleak, from the get go to the conclusion, don't look for a happy ending, unless you count a merciful release as happy.  Having said that, getting through the darkness is a fantastic journey, and one you can appreciate for it dark humour, and wonderful visuals, especially the mothers bad trip.  This is a junkie/druggie movie, but I don't feel compelled to pitch it against Trainspotting or scenes from Pulp Fiction, Refer Madness or lawks too many I can't remember.

I saw this after Black Swan, and think that it is as compelling a film, Aronofsky has a grim eye that stays on the sane side of Gilliamesque, making very full, rich films.

Not for the feint of heart,
K rated.

Panic

This is a fun little black comedy.  The usual overbearing grandfather wants his grandson to carry on the family business, but the father wants his son to have a better career than hired killer.

A few brutal scenes, but overall a decent, not too sappy comedy.  I enjoyed it and would recommend it with an M rating.

Chocolat

Well, this is not the Chocolat I was thinking of watching, with Juliet Binoche et al, this one was, found here on IMDb was an earlier war time drama set in French controlled Africa.  It's a typical coming of age movie with looks across cultures and social norms.  It has much the same flavour as "Walkabout", but a very different story line.

It's been a few months since I saw it, and remember little of the film apart from broad desolate landscapes, people getting caught on differing sides of social gaps, with several relationships falling afoul of this situation.

Worth seeing, but a bit ponderous and lethargic at times.  Photography was okay.

The Bed Sitting Room

"The Bed Sitting Room" has to be one of the most bizarre post apocalyptic films of the 60's, but that is not surprising since it was written by Spike Milligan.  The cast is just an amazing list of big names from British film, radio and TV.  Spike is not the only Goon present, Harry Seacombe also makes an appearance, Peter Cook and Dudley Moore appear together,  the most surprising to me is Ralph Richardson taking the title role.

The film is set in the shambles that was once London.  The few head of state has been identified, Mrs. Ethyl Shroake, as she is closest living relation to the pre-war monarchy.  All we encounter either totally lost their marbles in the war (which only lasted 2 minute 28 seconds) or are acting very British about everything.  The atmosphere is one of optimism, that Bulldog Spirit will see us through.

I think Goons fans will get more out of this than the rest of us.  Check in your sense of reality before you tune in to this surreal, but ultimately human film.