jer-allen Reviews

Weekend (II) (2011)

Weekend

[5/10 · 6 November 2011]

This is a film where low budget certainly means low budget. I realise that some much more expensively produced films can be far too brassy and bombastic - however I do feel that this film was lacking in surprise and depth. There was some quite nice dialogue between the two leads but I would have liked the other characters to have been given more to do. I would have hoped for a little more interest from the leads as well. They went to the usual boring clubs and were of course keen on drugs. Not all gay men are like this. Does it all have to be so downbeat. I would like to have seen a more cinematic treatment in the visuals. This could quite easily have been watched on television. John Sayles - a notable independent director - also makes very understated films but his are most definitely films for the cinema. I don't think this in any way measures up to Brokeback Mountain - I was really drawn into that story. In Weekend I never really knew Russell or Glen - they were too shadowy and my empathy for them was correspondingly weak. Even at the moving climax to the film - I still wanted something more

Stage Fright (1950)

Definitely one of the poorest of Hitchcock's works

[2/10 · 11 April 2008]

This is a surprisingly dull movie by Alfred Hitchcock. There is little of the elegance of camera work or playing with emotions that you normally get in a Hitchcock film. The problem is a general lack of emotion. You just don't feel involved - the plot is preposterous, the behaviour of the characters completely absurd. Richard Todd is a wooden and charmless villain and the tone of the film is full of uncertainty. I was unable to care about the fate of the characters - I even found Alistair Sim over mannered and irritating.

I must say the film does not compare with other lesser known works by Hitchcock. Topaz is seriously underrated - far superior to this as is Frenzy.

To sum up this movie is unusually boring and flags long before the conclusion.

Pursuit of the Graf Spee (1956)

All round brilliant

[9/10 · 23 March 2008]

The documentary style understatement used in this picture makes a welcome change from the usual presentation encountered in other films of this type. There is some fabulous photography and very lightly and subtly sketched character portrayals. Altogether fascinating and unconventional I should think it would repay many repeated viewings. The emotion controlled as it is comes through all the more effectively.The Christmas scenes amongst the prisoners were very effective and the battle scenes conveyed confusion and small acts of heroism shining through. Who cares if they used an American ship for Graf Spee - some people are so pompous - its a superb picture.

Shortbus (2006)

Grade A Bore

[2/10 · 15 December 2006]

Have just been to see this tonight and was greatly disappointed. After having heard that it was above all a very sweet film, instead I found it a very soppy and stereotypical gay movie. The boring overemphasis on sex and not very interesting or erotic sex at that left me just waiting for the end.

The ending was particularly excruciating - just Americans laying on the syrup as usual. When I think of British movies like The Lawless Heart the inferiority of this is all the more marked.

The underground salon that gives the film its name left me absolutely cold. There wasn't one interesting or lovable character in the entire film. They were all narcissistic bores going on ad nauseam about their "prarblems" Above all the film was artistically dead - just a low budget flick.

Give me Terrence Malick any day.

Brick (2005)

Was this put together in someones back bedroom?

[1/10 · 27 July 2006]

Have just been to see this completely bizarre movie this evening. I cannot understand how this film could be considered as entertainment on any level. I very rarely look at my watch in a film - almost never - but I certainly was in this. There was an endless stream of mumbled dialogue and sickening and gratuitous violence. The characters except for Brendan's friend were impossible to care for in any way. The almost complete absence of adults was mystifying and very annoying - this was clearly not a heavily stylised picture - it seemed to have a naturalistic feel.

I felt completely cold about the denouement - I would have been quite happy to see the hero and almost everybody else end up dead.

I just cannot understand how a movie like this can get any distribution.

Brokeback Mountain (2005)

Very affecting

[9/10 · 12 January 2006]

I was deeply moved by this poetic and heartfelt movie. There was a real conviction about the performances. I can well understand the other comments that have been made. The sense of place is palpable -you get a feeling for the vastness of America and the immense beauty of the landscape. I think it is a very well written film, the dialogue has a natural unforced quality. I wasn't really sure that I liked the way the story worked out - in many respects I found it too sad. I am not sure I could willingly experience something as heartbreaking as this more than once. I would like to read the original story and see the differences. I think it is a film that can have an impact on real lives. It is shockingly sad - left me numb with despair and it is hard to get out of your mind. I hope it can change people's views and enable them to understand the complexities of human love a little more clearly. I wish I could say I enjoyed the film but it is too affecting for that.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

A Compelling Evening of Cinema

[8/10 · 20 May 2004]

I saw this movie as I really enjoyed 'Adaptation' one of Charlie Kaufmann's other screenplays.

Some reviews were not encouraging but its nice to be able to say it was very memorable. A virtuoso technical achievement and strangely moving.

My enthusiasm has been further ignited by other comments which I have read on IMDb. This movie seems to make people peculiarly eloquent

The acting of the two leads is impressive and above all the theme of memory is an endlessly powerful one to explore

I think this film will bring people together. It shows us our courage and our vulnerability

The Whales of August (1987)

I have loved this movie for years

[15 October 2003]

This film is a warm and thoughtful study of ageing. All the performances seem very fine to me. Lillian Gish has a remarkable range of expressions - her portrayal has both depth and truth. The photography is beautiful and the music is sensitive and responsive to the images.