vincedeehan Reviews

Classic Artists: Yes (2007 Video)

A deep, deep dive into the world of Yes.

[9/10 · 9 July 2022]

I just finished watching this magnificent documentary on Yes. My brother recommended it to me and I am so grateful he did, as I enjoyed every second of it.

It's a shame that we don't hear from Tony Kaye and Trevor Rabin. Trevor Rabin is featured briefly, but clearly from an older interview and isn't really talking about Yes but his soundtrack work.

What I loved about this documentary is how I feel I now know the band members a bit better. They come across as very passionate about their music and are very warm and witty and have a great sense of humour. Bill Bruford appears to be a very serious chap, but he has great insight into the band and I enjoyed listening to him.

It's currently available via Sky Arts in the UK and I would highly recommend it.

Thanks to everyone involved in making it.

In from the Side (2022)

A superb drama about gay men and rugby

[8/10 · 31 March 2022]

I was very lucky to be at the second public screening of IN FROM THE SIDE at the BFI Flare Film Festival at BFI Southbank in London on Saturday. March 26th 2022. The world premiere was the night before.

I was blown away by this film. At first it seems like the film is about two gay men who have an affair, but there is so much more going on in this highly engaging film.

The film grabs your attention from the start and holds it throughout what is actually rather a long film, but it didn't feel a single moment was wasted. I found I was totally engaged with the story and thoroughly enjoyed every minute.

The rugby scenes are so well filmed that you actually feel you are on the pitch, right in the thick of the action. You can feel every thump and the mud!

Having spent about a year as a beginner to rugby, training with an inclusive rugby team in London, the Kings Cross Steelers, I can vouch that all the scenes centred around the workings of the club and the scenes in the clubhouse after the matches, rang absolutely true.

The script is superb and there are some really funny lines in the film that are very well delivered by the very talented actors. The film also took me by surprise and got me choked up with emotion at many points, in the second half of the film. I almost burst into tears at a couple of scenes towards the end. I won't say which ones, you'll have to experience it for yourself!

The film also has many great moments of humour. The packed house at the screening were roaring with laughter at many points, which is a joy to experience at the cinema. Something you really miss out on, when watching a film at home.

The film was shown on a really big screen and this made the whole experience very immersive.

The film ends with a really funny scene which I won't spoil, but leaves the audience with a big smile on their face.

I was absolutely bowled over when the end credits started and there was some superb animation, which I really wasn't expecting. As the credits rolled, I could see that the film's director Matt Carter not only co-wrote the script, but was also the cinematographer and composed the music and sang the superb end theme song! He also did the animation sequence too and the special effects and probably lots of other jobs. What a hugely talented man. I predict a great future for him!

The audience response was rapturous, and I am not exaggerating. There was a whole lot of love for the film coming from the audience.

The whole cast and crew did a superb job. I've never seen a film like this before, where being a gay man was so well explored and from such a unique perspective.

I think this film will appeal to a very wide audience and may also show people that gay men come in all shapes and sizes and can't be easily fitted into standard stereotypes. We are just as diverse as everyone else and just trying to live life as best we can.

It's a really fun film. Please look out for it and enjoy!

Best wishes to everyone involved in the film.

The Christmas House 2: Deck Those Halls (2021 TV Movie)

Thoroughly enjoyed this sequel. Roll on Christmas House 3!

[8/10 · 3 January 2022]

We just watched THE CHRISTMAS HOUSE 2, here in the UK. We loved it! The original film was good, though not great. I found the focus on the christmas decorations in the first film almost unbearable to watch. It seemed so over the top and infantile that grown ups would spend so much time and money transforming their lovely home into such a gaudy spectacle!

I only really watched the original as I was keen to see how the gay couple were presented. Sadly, they were portrayed as very minor characters in the first film. Though the gay adoption storyline was a nice touch and very progressive for these kinds of films.

I am delighted to say that THE CHRISTMAS HOUSE 2 is a much, much better film. It's a very satisfying story and all the characters get a chance to stretch out and breathe.

The cool magician played by Chris Gauthier returns and pops up in lots of scenes throughout. The gay couple now are given a much more prominent role and I liked how they were presented. What I found funny was that, intentionally or not, the straight brother plays his character in a much more camp way than his gay brother - who plays his part in a much more masculine way. A nice twist, if possibly unintentional?

There are two great scenes where the gay brother played brilliantly by Jonathan Bennett has a heartfelt conversation with his husband and later his brother about his awkwardness of feeling like he is seen as lesser than his straight brother. Powerful scenes.

The storyline about the straight brother and his romance with his girlfriend and his awkwardness when the father of her child shows up, is really well handled. The young boy actor, Mattia Castrillo, is really superb and delivers his lines with great wit and style.

One of the funniest moments in the film is when Robert Buckley's character is mimicking the British accent of his girlfriend's ex. The ex speaks with a posh British accent, but Robert Buckley puts on a strong Cockney accent. Whether this was intentionally the wrong accent or not, it was hilarious and I had to rewind to watch it again as it was so funny.

I also enjoyed the subplot about the parents of the brothers and their amateur dramatics play about a dirty Santa!

It's striking that hardly any of the 10 reviews on imdb seem to even mention the gay characters in the film. Is this a sign that many viewers, presumably in the US, are NOT comfortable seeing gay characters in films? Or is it a sign that it's not a big deal, so it isn't worth mentioning? Sadly, I suspect it's the former.

I am a gay man, so seeing gay characters in films like this is a VERY big deal to me, as it's sad how we've been shut out of films like this for so long. It's refreshing that, finally, things are changing and they are making films aimed at a mainstream audience that shows the world that we are here. We always have been and we are part of families too.

Thanks to everyone involved in making this film. Bring on THE CHRISTMAS HOUSE 3 !

Christmas Cupcakes (2018 TV Movie)

I really enjoyed it

[7/10 · 2 November 2021]

I really enjoyed CHRISTMAS CUPCAKES. The actor playing the uncle has some very funny lines. I think at one point he said something like "A bird in the bush is worth two in the hand", or something like that. The actress who plays the old lady steals the whole film in my opinion. She was brilliant.

Rooms (1974–1977)

A gem of a drama from the 1970s

[9/10 · 17 February 2021]

Just seen my first episode of ROOMS on Talking Picture TV in the UK. The episode I saw was from 1977 and was about a divorced man having a visit from his daughter. The writing was superb and the acting was terrific. The young actress who played the teenage daughter, Debbie Farrington, was exceptionally good. I couldn't have enjoyed the episode more and am looking forward to the next episode. It's currently showing in the UK on Talking Pictures TV at 2pm and 5:30pm, every Wednesday and Thursday.