vansantfan Reviews

A Rainy Day in New York (2019)

When it rains it pours..

[9/10 · 7 February 2021]

I've always been a fan of woody Allen's directed films. This reminded me with the pace and obviously the weather of midnight in Paris. Timothee chalamet is a great actor and very beautiful too! Loved him in call me by your name. Ellie fanning is also well cast and the script is terrific and hilarious at times. It's a sweet charming movie and I was engaged throughout. Gatsby played by chalamet finds a good chance to enjoy new york with his girlfriend ashleigh who is on a project college related journal to meet a film director who's making his latest film. What could possibly go wrong?

There ensues one hiccup after another (literally with ashleigh) as the sweet couple endure disaster after disaster. The script is very witty and it really brought a smile to my face. Selena gomez surprised me too, I knew her as a singer but she is also very charming and funny in a dry ironic way. Overall a feel good film one that I'll enjoy again and again. A very satisfying happy end.

23 Walks (2020)

Well paced

[9/10 · 6 February 2021]

I really liked this film it had a nice pace to it and I'm a big fan of Alison steadman anyway so it's nice to see her in film. Dave John's gives a terrific performance too and plenty of good comedic lines. The dogs were fantastic. It reminded me a bit of a Mike leigh film in its pace and script. Funnily enough steadman was married to Mike leigh for 20 odd years!

It has moments of sadness and comedy combined. The scenery was nice where they walked their dogs and the houses used looked cosy. Overall an impressive film, one that I'll keep on dvd to watch again.

The Return (2003)

Trials and tests

[10/10 · 2 January 2020]

This was a terrific film and I was engrossed in it from the beginning. I feel it on many levels. A story of relationships and trust that have been broken. In the film although it wasn't religious I felt there was an element of gods trials. Or even a herculean test. The cinematography was beautiful the setting cold and wild but so awe inspiring. There was an underlying sense of paranoia throughout and of biting the bait or trying not too. It was discovering how a broken relationship can be mended and the trials you go through to reach that possibility. The two young boys were as terrific as the father in their roles. Since Ivan was called chicken in the early part of the film he wanted to redeem himself. He mistrusted his father and still needed to impress his brother Andrei.

There was a quiet threat from the father in the film which kept you guessing. All building to a sad haunting ending that will stay with me. I will certainly return (pun intended) to this absolute gem of a film.

Verve (2016)

Sweet little gem

[10/10 · 3 June 2019]

I thoroughly enjoyed this drama and was impressed not only by the acting and script but also the feel of being young( again!) The film captured that being young with uni ahead of the characters the first day of their lives after a great last summer. Carl stole the show for me with great timing to his comedic lines. Sophie and jims romance was sweet and believable. It made me want to be young again going to uni and a whole world out there to be discovered. Made me smile and cry this gem of a movie. Highly recommended.

Captain Phillips (2013)

decent film, hanks at his best

[8/10 · 11 February 2014]

I'm not a huge hanks fan i do like him in some films but in this he was terrific,especially the last half hour or so. It is so far the best film i have seen from 2013. Taken the material it folds out like a thriller and a drama - a very unflinching and tense one.

Hanks plays Rich Phillips captain of a cargo ship delivering food to poor countries in Africa. But the pirates were after money and lots of it! Overall i give this film 8 and hope Hanks gets a nod for an Oscar maybe, unless i see a better performance from 2013.

Worse things happen at sea so the saying goes and this is a confirmation on how scary out at sea can be especially in pirate waters. Bandit land. The Somalians were the ultimate villains and played their parts just as convincingly as Hanks did.

12 Years a Slave (2013)

underwhelmed and left wanting more

[7/10 · 11 February 2014]

When i hear 'masterpieces' and greatest film made quotes i instantly want to turn off. But i was intrigued. I remember when people were whistling Dixie over inception and that i gave 4 out of 10. So i carried my sorry ass to the cinema with trepidation and no expectation.

Now slavery and the slave trade is sickening and wrong and we all know that but this film had the material to make a good story but it failed as a drama and mood piece and lacked emotional punch. Seriously i went away so disappointed because it could of been better. Why did i feel this way?. I wasn't convinced by the performances and the material. I hated the script and i didn't feel sad one bit. Therefore i must take from it that i am a cold hearted bastard! It was merely a decent film and i much preferred Django Unchained. But not one of the greatest films ever made and far from a masterpiece.

Pure (I) (2002)

pure morning

[8/10 · 4 January 2014]

pure is an example of how good British gritty socio- realism dramas can be when they get it right. I was surprised by Keira Knightley too who has usually adopted for costume drama roles. The star of the show is no doubt Harry Eden played wonderfully as the suffering mature son of a heroin addicted mother.

The film has a strong cast and the story is a realistic portrayal of a suffering family on a hardened estate. This film may just put you off drugs for life! Some of the scenes are heart breaking and emotional and it makes me count my lucky stars I was never involved in petty crime and drugs. Yet I can relate to the film and the characters. People are sucked into drugs by animal dealers and they just sit back and watch the carnage while Harry ( a 10 year old boy) picks up the pieces. solid stuff. 8/10

Anche libero va bene (2006)

realism hits the home and the heart

[9/10 · 4 January 2014]

Watched this film tonight and it had a big impact on me. I related to the family and was interested how it panned out as I was brought up in a single parent family. I know what those kids went through, I knew the pain of the father trying to hold a job and bring up the kids. The acting was top notch and nothing seemed forced. It reflected a slice of life that people don't always think about. They were content and not that poor but fairly poor.

Tommi was perfect in his role as was viola his sister. They had a great camaraderie between them and the acting was natural. The children in the school felt like they belonged in another era, their behavior seemed to be impeccable and something I wish we could see in todays society. A great directorial debut and I will always come back to this gem.