Change Your Image
laura-woodruff
Reviews
Amazing Grace (2006)
Beautifully restrained, well acted, knock-out soundtrack
I thought this was a wonderful film - atmospheric cinematography and music and convincing performances from the whole cast. The hook provided by the hymn/No. 1 chart hit "Amazing Grace" clearly helped to anchor the film to popular culture, but the rest of the music soundtrack was delightful, and above all subtle and unobtrusive, the mark of a good score.
The subject matter is so important that any hint of sentimentality would have been intrusive and out of place. In fact, the film was a model of restraint. I can't understand how anyone could have found it boring - I was gripped from start to finish despite seeing it on DVD on my 14-inch television.
Like most people (in Britain, anyway), I knew that William Wilberforce was responsible for the abolition of slavery, but assumed he was a dry old single-issue politician of the "Carthage must be destroyed" variety. The film showed the breadth of his moral vision and the personal price he paid, as well as bringing to life the political chicanery of the times.
I love Ioan Gruffudd and he was as good as ever (see the underrated and under-exposed "Another Life" (2001) for another great performance by him), but Benedict Cumberbatch as Pitt was outstanding. Finney and Gambon were a triumph of casting, and Romola Garai was refreshingly - dare I say it? - restrained as Barbara.
Altogether an excellent piece of film-making on a subject difficult to translate on to the screen.
Le grand Meaulnes (1967)
Once seen, always remembered - a magical film
I've been lucky enough to see this film three times - I once made a 200 mile return journey in an evening to see it at one of its rare screenings - and would watch it again and again if only it were ever screened. It captures perfectly both the dream quality and the desperate tragedy of Alain-Fournier's novel.
The film has haunted me for 30 years, since I first saw it at the age of 13.
If you spot it at your local arts cinema, go and see it.
Come on someone, release the subtitled version on video. After a long and arduous search, I managed to buy the non-subtitled version, but there must be a big enough English-speaking market to make it worth someone's while.
*The unsubtitled version is available at http://www.priceminister.com **Apparently, the subtitled version is available from the Connoisseur Video Collection of Ingram International Films (1-800-356-3577) for $79.95. It's 108 minutes long, VHS format, French with English subtitles.