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angry_ant
Reviews
Dirty Pretty Things (2002)
Chiwetel Ejiofor
A good film, with a slightly jarring sentimental/thriller twist to it. The prostitute character was a bit too 'tart with a heart'.
80% of the film deals with the horrible, daily grind of being an 'illegal' immigrant in London - and this is very good. However, the film is compromised by a totally unnecessary twist that ruins the moral ambiguities built up previously - the audience is expected to revel in the 'baddy's' comeuppance as if they are watching a pantomime.
Loathe to criticise too much as this is a great rarity - a half-decent British film that doesn't feature (i) stuck-up poshos having a right old larf or (ii) grey peasants grimly existing on a Birmingham council estate. And special mention must go to Chiwetel Ejiofor for one of the best performances I have ever seen; all controlled anger and simple expresiveness. A shame he has to pay the bills by appearing in British uber- trash such as Trust and the truly dreadful Spooks.
Insomnia (2002)
Grey and stunning
A very neat film, with a great idea, beautiful setting and two very professional central performances (as you would expect, especially from Pacino), I still feel this lacks something; it didn't grab me at any emotional level.
I remember the magnificent, sombre Alaskan fjord-scapes more than anything.
Ed Wood (1994)
My favourite film, I think
Warm, witty, clever and sad, a great ensemble piece. Gorgeous to look at too. A near perfect film.
Enough one-liners to keep the most cultish fan happy for years ("You the waterboy?", "No! I'm the Director!"), the film treads a fine line between a sharp pathos and slushy sentimentality at the freak show. Burton's virtuoso technique contrasts (and redeems, I suppose) Wood's rank amateurism. Very clever.
Depp is superb, and the ever wonderful Bill Murray excels, but Martin Landau shines (as it were) as the deeply tragic Bela Lugosi.
Superb.
37°2 le matin (1986)
Very silly
but hugely enjoyable in a Gallic, couldn't-care-less, everything for love kind of way.
I defy anyone not to find the piano duet moving.
This is how romantic movies should be done; all heart and madness. Compare this to British travesty "Truly Madly Deeply".