Change Your Image
Mr Bad Guy
Now a house husband I think the politically correct brigade calls me living in Canada with my darling BJ and three beautiful children Dyana, Brandyn and Reagyn.
Quit smoking and became a fat bastard over night. okay, fatter bastard over night.
Reviews
The Seasoning House (2012)
SHOCKING.....In a good way!
I watched this movie last night and the first thing I wanted to do when it was over was to contact Sean Pertwee, whom I have always liked, and tell him that I thought he gave a POWERHOUSE performance of his career in this movie. Sadly, I was unable to contact him via Facebook so I'll just have to hope he reads this.
The Seasoning House's subject matter is a very upsetting and hard to watch in places but.....WOW, where do I start heaping the praise? Well first I have to say that I was shocked to learn, while watching the special features on the DVD, that this is Rosie Day's FIRST leading roll in a movie. She is like a seasoned (pun intended) actor with many years of experience under her belt. This young lady should go a long, long way in the film making business and was totally brilliant as Little Angel.
Kevin Howarth also deserves high praise for his roll as Viktor as he was also totally convincing for his part and EVERY other actor seemed totally committed to making this movie work, especially the young ladies. Paul Hyett (director) also did an exceptional job with some clever camera work on a lot of scenes.
But, as I have already stated, THE kudos in my opinion must go to Sean Pertwee in the roll of Goran. He was so realistic as this character that he REALLY bothered and unnerved me. I have seen pretty much everything he has done but this was by far the one I will remember the most. Amazing Mr. Pertwee, simply amazing.
P.S. Not overjoyed with the ending!!!
Safe Haven (2013)
Was It All Worth It?
I really do not like the "Chick Flick" label. As far as I'm concerned, if it's a good movie, it's a good movie. As for SAFE HAVEN....I did enjoy it although I found it very predictable in several instances. I was also reminded of several other movies, in particular the Julia Roberts, Patrick Bergin movie called SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY. On a lighter note and still whilst reminded of another movie....in one scene where she is lying in her bed (presumably thinking about him) and he is lying in his bed (presumably thinking about her) did anyone else half expect him to burst into "Summer Lovin', had me a blast" followed by "Summer loving happened so fast" from her?.....Just a thought. All in all an okay movie but not one I would rush to see again.
Hustle (2004)
The Con Is Done
I think the one mediocre season people are referring to may well be the one when Adrian Lester took a break and Ashley Walters stepped in as Billy Bond for that season. I personally never took to him as a character but then in fairness to him, Mickey "Bricks" Stone was a tough act to follow both character and actor. Maybe they are referring to the first series without Danny and Stacie (Marc Warren and Jaime Murray) who were also very hard acts to follow. Again I never quite warmed to Emma and Sean Kennedy (Kelly Adams and Matt Di Angelo) although she was very VERY easy on the eyes. Not as easy as Jamie but easy nevertheless.
Despite all these changes I continued to watch because it was such a fantastic breath of fresh air with great stories, likable characters, brilliant writers and exceptional acting. The other reason to stay with it was of course the A & R Team of Ash and Albert played by Robert Glenister and Robert Vaughn respectively. Until this show I had always really disliked Vaughn. He was a smarmy git in Man From U.N.C.L.E. and a nasty cowardly git in The Magnificent Seven although he did redeem himself at the (pun intended) death. Who would have thought that he would pop up in Britain's most famous street?
Then there is Ash, my absolute favourite character throughout the series. He was just great to watch all the time and one got a sense that if push came to shove he would be the first to take a bullet for the others. Remember the blow fish scene in Eddie's bar? Also, I am a great lover of actor consistency in shows and the fact that the A & R Team were in the series from day one to day done was a biggie for me.
One has to give a nod to Rob Jarvis who played dear old gullible Eddie. Can't really call him the comic relief because the show was intertwined with humour anyway along with the action, drama, mystery and sometimes great suspense. Eddie was simply the backbone of the gangs social life from the start. He was their one constant, solid safe haven and perfect straight man for the tricks and itsy bitsy teenie weenie playful mini scams they played on him. They all loved him intensely though, which was clearly evident in a very subtle and touching dialogue from Ash in the final episode. If not for Eddie's bar I think they would have split up years ago so can I get a big Amen for Eddie?
A couple of things I did miss were the way all the action would freeze and members of the gang would freely walk around through a motionless scene and talk directly to you and me. Whether to show us something we may have missed, tell us what was going on or just simply for the pure hell of it THAT, was a great part of the show for me. Also the way every now and again one of them would just give a subtle smile and or facial expression directly at the camera when something was afoot so to speak. Oliver Hardy would do that and it made me smile EVERY time. These little directorial gems were halted in the early years of the series although those looks and smiles did thankfully return in the final. I loved that style of direction in "Alfie" (original with MC) and loved it more so in "Shirley Valentine" but not as much as I loved it when Mickey, Danny, Stacie, Albert or especially Ash did it. It felt like this look or smile was just for me and I believe some of the shows charm was lost when that stopped. Ah well, each director to his/her own I guess.
So the Con is Off or the Con is Gone. The great Hustle is done and.........so am I.
This was supposed to be a couple of sentences but as you can see, I got carried away.......or I should be.....carried away that is.
Okay, Bye.
P.S. Great theme tune as well.
P.P.S.......Just kidding.
The Long Good Friday (1980)
THE Mob Movie
Forget "Goodfellas" Forget "King Of New York" Forget "Casino" And YES Forget "The Godfather" The Long Good Friday makes them all look TAME. Without doubt the most convincing and realistic mob movie there has ever been. Bob Hoskins takes total and utter control and the man IS Harold Shand within the first moment you see him. When people ask me what is your favourite movie I have no hesitation when naming The Long Good Friday. Watch it, you'll see what I mean mate.