ChrisPin1 Reviews

Bedazzled (1967)

Befuddled!

[1/10 · 4 April 2024]

The title says it all.

600 redundant characters are required for a review to be published, so here goes:

What was considered amusing 57 years ago is now tedious, boring, and dated in its undergrad 'humour'. Stanley Donen's spectacular flop in a series of competent movies. As for the performances, the least said the better. What a waste of talent post Beyond the Fringe! If the late Jonathan Miller had been involved, he might just have been able to salvage this mess. Just might...

A further115 characters required... The following verbiage is - as my laptop key to letter 'o' no longer works - a desperate attempt to complete the remaining number of characters. Done!

Mr. Denning Drives North (1951)

Film of its period

[4/10 · 18 October 2022]

Competent direction and generally good performances but what disappoints and categorises the film as a period piece is the treatment of the Travellers in this film, referred to throughout as 'Gypsies'. The stereotypical figures - belligerent male, young woman attracted by bright objects, grasping older woman - are, on a moral scale, worthier than Mr Denning and family all of whom are desperate to conceal essential truths. While the film is entertaining, a number of gaping plot holes and, more importantly, this representation of the 'acceptable' face of racism, prevent me from giving it more than four stars.

Moonlight (I) (2016)

Coming of age movie with a difference

[10/10 · 8 March 2017]

Most of the other reviewers appear to have seen a different film from the one I saw. Or perhaps they fell asleep because there wasn't enough action. One commentator claims to have seen better stuff on TV; perhaps this person should stick to box sets that give instant thrills but fail to remain in the mind and imagination. The film reminds me of the Terence Davies Trilogy (7.6 on IMDb) in mood and pace and it's a hopeful sigh that this thought-provoking film has received an Academy Award.

Razzia (1955)

As gripping as Melville until...

[1/10 · 18 July 2015]

As gripping as a Melville movie - until half-way through when we're shown a rapid sequence involving drug-pushers and -users, portrayed in the worst possible stereotypes as black, lesbian or gay. This underworld sequence ends in a marijuana den with an implied orgy involving Kedrova and the punters (all black). Yes, we are warned at the start of the dangers posed by drug-taking, but the sub-text arising from this scene suggests the worst excesses of Nazi film propaganda. Despite a fantastic cast (Gabin, Ventura, Kedrova) and slick direction/camera work, the final twist is unbelievable and the final images of butch women, simpering gay men and a black male user having a fit leave a foul after-image. Many will disagree with me, but in all conscience I cannot give more than one star to this ideological nightmare.