David M. Brown's Blog, page 33

Film Review: Barry Lyndon

About Barry Lyndon (1975)
Stanley Kubrick’s lavish period drama based on the Thackeray novel. Redmond Barry (Ryan O’Neal) is an Irish country boy who falls in love with a well-to-do local girl (Gay Hamilton) and is subsequently tricked by her family into leaving town. Disillusioned with love, the brokenhearted youngster then embarks on an adventure which sees him serve in the Seven Years War, earn a living as a professional gambler, and eventually move into the higher ranks of society when he meets and marries the beautiful Lady Lyndon (Marisa Berenson). However, despite the luck which has brought him such riches, it is this final move, the cynical choice to marry for social advancement rather than love, which brings about Barry’s downfall.

Starring: Ryan O’neal, Marisa Berenson, Patrick Magee, Hardy Kruger, Diana Koerner

Directed by: Stanley Kubrick

Runtime: 191 minutes

Studio: Warner Home Video

 

 

Amazon US Amazon UK IMDB

Review: Barry Lyndon

Stanley Kubrick’s 18th century epic tells the story of Redmond Barry (Ryan O’Neal), beginning with his humble origins in Ireland right through to his rise into the aristocracy and ending with his eventual fall from grace. Barry begins with a passion for his cousin Nora (Gay Hamilton), which she is happy to reciprocate until she meets an English Captain John Quin (Leonard Rossiter). Barry challenges and kills the Captain in a duel and is then forced to flee from home. From Ireland, Barry ends up in Europe, fighting in the Seven Years (1756-63), with the British then the Prussians (long story!), before the opportunity for him to climb higher than ever in society comes along.

Barry woos and marries the Countess of Lyndon (Marisa Berenson) and takes the new name of Barry Lyndon. After years of toil Barry is rich and has everything he could ever hope for. Though Lady Lyndon loves her new husband dearly, Barry has seen her as nothing but another rung on the social ladder and his infidelities, drinking and gambling become the mainstays of his life with no room for his wife. It’s the idyll Barry has long dreamed of but he doesn’t count on the hatred from Lady Lyndon’s son, Lord Bullingdon (Dominic Savage), and as the years go by stepfather and stepson begin to lock horns constantly. Barry always has the upper hand while Lord Bullingdon is a boy but as he matures the stakes are raised and fierce battle lines are drawn from which only one man can emerge as the victor.

Kubrick’s sweeping epic weighs in at three hours and requires a lot of commitment from the audience but it is a wonderful journey. The settings are breathtaking, the costumes fantastic and you will feel fully immersed in eighteenth century society. Barry’s rise and fall is absorbing despite the change in his character. At the outset you will sympathise with the penniless Irish youth but will feel little towards the rich philanderer in the second half. O’Neal is both charming and ruthless in the lead but Barry Lyndon is all about Kubrick’s vision and though it wasn’t well received on initial release the film has deservedly earned many plaudits since.

Barry Lyndon was the last of Kubrick’s epics after Spartacus and 2001: A Space Odyssey and what a way to sign off. While the settings and costumes will stand in memory more than the characters, this is still an engaging film throughout and the classic rags to riches tale though Barry’s fortune is destined to never last. The film’s length may be off-putting to many but if you can look beyond that there is another classic Kubrick effort waiting to be discovered here.

Verdict: 4/5

(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)

The post Film Review: Barry Lyndon appeared first on News of the Worlds.

Film Review: Seven Psychopaths

About Seven Psychopaths (2012)
Irish filmmaker Martin McDonagh writes and directs this crime caper. Colin Farrell leads the cast as Marty, a struggling screenwriter who finds himself entangled with the least desirable elements of the Los Angeles criminal underworld after his best friend Billy Bickle (Sam Rockwell) carries out an ill-fated dognapping scheme, stealing a Shih Tzu belonging to sadistic criminal kingpin Charlie Costello (Woody Harrelson). Christopher Walken, Tom Waits and Abbie Cornish co-star.

Starring: Colin Farrell, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, Christopher Walken, Tom Waits

Directed by: Martin McDonagh

Runtime: 110 minutes

Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

 

 

Amazon US Amazon UK IMDB

Review: Seven Psychopaths

A fantastic line up awaits you in Seven Psychopaths as Colin Farrell portrays Marty, a screenwriter with a deadline. He has the title for his film but nothing else. Good start! Thankfully he has best friend Billy (Sam Rockwell) on hand to offer some advice and inspiration. Billy is involved in a scam with his partner Hans (Christopher Walken), which involves kidnapping dogs before returning them to their owners to claim the reward money. While Billy is often vulgar and a bit of a loose cannon, Hans is utterly devoted to his wife, Myra (Linda Bright Clay), who is in hospital being treated for cancer.

Marty’s problems mount with his incessant drinking which ends his relationship with his girlfriend but worse follows when Billy and Hans kidnap a Shih Tzu named Bonnie. Normally this wouldn’t be a problem but the dog just happens to belong to violent gangster, Charlie (Woody Harrelson), who will stop at nothing to find and recover the dog. With Marty in the midst of a real-life crime saga will he find inspiration for his script after all, or are he, Billy and Hans all going to be hunted down and killed by the vengeful Charlie?

Seven Psychopaths is very violent in places but it is also really funny. Farrell is amusing as the often drunk Irish writer but he is inferior to the naive and unpredictable Sam Rockwell as Billy, whose every action seems to get him, Marty and Hans into even more trouble. However, the film really belongs to both Walken and Harrelson for me. Harrelson is effectively malevolent as Charlie but also rather pitiful in that the mere mention of Bonnie reduces him to tears. Walken, as I’ve so often seen, delivers an effortlessly good performance, offering a funny and sometimes poignant Hans, with his general philosophy on life towards the end well worth the wait.

Seven Psychopaths benefits from a great cast, a funny script and some memorable set-pieces for the protagonists. Very violent in places and often vulgar, this may not be to everyone’s taste but it’s certainly a fun and innovative way of trying to come up with an idea for a movie, though I suspect the majority of screenwriters will stick with the writing at a desk approach. I know I will!

Verdict: 4/5

(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)

The post Film Review: Seven Psychopaths appeared first on News of the Worlds.

Film Review: Departures

About Departures (2008)
When his orchestra disbands, Daigo Kobayashi moves back to his hometown and takes a job preparing corpses for burial. Too embarrassed to admit his new career to his family, Daigo keeps his profession a secret, until he’s faced with the death of someone close to him. Academy Award Winner for Best Foreign Film.

Starring: Masahiro Motoki, Ryoko Hirosue, Tsutomu Yamazaki, Kazuko Yoshiyuki, Kimiko Yo

Directed by: Yojiro Takita

Runtime: 130 minutes

Studio: E1 Entertainment

 

 

Amazon US Amazon UK IMDB

Review: Departures

Yojiro Takita’s drama begins with cellist Daigo Kobayashi (Masahiro Motoki) left devastated by the breakup of the orchestra he is a part of. With money tight, Daigo and his wife, Mika (Ryoko Hirosue), return to Daigo’s childhood home where his late mother has left him a former coffee shop in her will. Daigo endeavours to find a new job to support him and his wife and when he sees an advertisement for “Departures” he quickly applies. Daigo assumes the advert is for a travel agency but instead discovers his role is to prepare the dead. Although the prospect of such work is uncomfortable, Daigo reluctantly accepts the job.

Departures depicts the beautiful traditional Japanese ceremony of encoffining where the dead are ritually dressed and prepared before being placed in coffins. Family and friends look on as Daigo and his boss, Sasaki (Tsutomu Yamazaki), perform their work and though reverence is usually observed, the two men sometimes have to witness emotions overflowing amongst the mourners. As well as Daigo’s work we are given other narrative threads in the form of his relationship with the locals who remember him from his childhood as well as the mystery of Daigo’s father who abandoned him and his mother many years before. Daigo also has the problem of concealing the work he does from Mika, with those in the village that know all frowning on him. The question is does Daigo stick with his new job or does he find a way to return to his passion for the cello?

Departures takes us on a wonderful journey from the intricate streets of Tokyo to a more rural village surrounded by lush scenery and even having a traditional bathhouse for men and women to go and relax. The ceremonies for the dead are beautiful to watch, unsurprisingly moving, yet sometimes humorous; a celebration of those that have passed. The cast are all very good here, with some truly memorable performances, especially from Motoki as Daigo and Yamazaki as Sasaki, whose partnership is almost akin to father and son.

Departures was the recipient of an Oscar for Best Foreign Film at the 2009 Academy Awards and it isn’t difficult to see why. Not only is this exquisitely filmed but we are showered with sumptuous music, moving ceremonies and fascinating Japanese tradition. Although the ending may lean towards over-sentimentality it isn’t enough to tarnish this Japanese gem which is simply a delight from start to finish.

Verdict: 5/5

(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)

The post Film Review: Departures appeared first on News of the Worlds.

Film Review: Before Sunrise

About Before Sunrise (1995)
An American student (Ethan Hawkes) strikes up a conversation on a train with a young Parisian woman (Julie Delpy), whilst Eurorailing in Austria. On the spur of the moment he invites her to spend the day with him in Vienna, and a casual acquaintance turns into something more profound. American indie director Richard Linklater pays homage to French auteur Eric Rohmer as he lets his characters talk their way into, around and out of each others’ affections.

Starring: Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, Andrea Eckert

Directed by: Richard Linklater

Runtime: 102 minutes

Studio: Turner Home Ent

 

 

Amazon US Amazon UK IMDB

Review: Before Sunrise

The first in what has so far been a trilogy of films, Before Sunrise takes place in the summer of 1994 where Jesse (Ethan Hawke) is on a train bound for Vienna and beyond that a ticket home to the United States. Having journeyed from Budapest, Jesse meets French student, Celine (Julie Delpy), who is heading for Paris having spent some time with her grandmother. Jesse and Celine soon strike up a conversation but when they reach Vienna it looks like they’re going their separate ways. Call it foolhardy but Jesse proposes Celine join him in Vienna for one night, see the sights and on the following day they can part. Seemingly unsure at first, Celine agrees to the proposal and their night in Vienna begins.

Before Sunrise is as much about sightseeing in Vienna as it is about the many conversations between Jesse and Celine, both getting to the heart of who they truly are. Jesse comes across as often opinionated and even arrogant at times, dismissive of some of the people he and Celine meet, his scepticism threatening to ruin this chance encounter. Celine is the opposite, much friendlier and polite, always having time for everyone and though Jesse may sometimes offend she easily brushes it off. Through the many places Jesse and Celine visit and the subjects they discuss, an inevitable romance begins to develop but one night isn’t a long time, not even in Vienna, and as the morning approaches they both begin to dread their impending separation.

Though romance is clear from early in the film, it is carefully explored and doesn’t dominate the story. Instead we are given a series of simple set pieces such as travelling on a tram or playing pinball in a quiet pub, and in these instances Jesse and Celine talk about their respective lives and experiences for a while before moving on to see and try something new. You will either warm to Ethan Hawke as Jesse or find him infuriating, but it is hard not to like the free spirited Julie Delpy as Celine. Both actors carry the film well together and the conclusion leaves things very open ended about where their futures lie.

Before Sunrise is an engaging romantic drama, putting two young people together and taking them on a memorable journey through the streets of Vienna. Enough tourist attractions to satisfy any traveler, a fascinating series of exchanges and great chemistry between the two leads make this a very good start to Richard Linklater’s trilogy. I’m certainly looking forward to the next two installments.

Verdict: 4/5

(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)

The post Film Review: Before Sunrise appeared first on News of the Worlds.

Book Excerpt: The Dr Pepper Prophecies – Jennifer Gilby Roberts

Today Jennifer Gilby Roberts stops by to share an excerpt from her book, The Dr Pepper Prophecies. 

Excerpt from Chapter One of The Dr Pepper Prophecies

Okay, I’ve had five minutes of panic.  The guy who was leering at me now thinks I’m about to throw up, because I’ve been leaning back with my eyes closed and a tortured expression on my face.  I’m thinking clearly now.

I might not be pregnant.  I have been late before.  I even skipped one period altogether when I went on that stupid crash diet after GCSEs.  What I need is a pregnancy test.

Somewhat inconvenient then that the plane won’t even land for another three hours.  And Martin’s picking me up at the airport.  They really should sell them on the plane.

Okay, I’m thinking.  There are other ways to tell if you’re pregnant, aren’t there?  Like…okay, I know I read somewhere that you have vivid dreams when you’re pregnant.  And I did have a great one last night.  Colin Firth, the lake scene in Pride and Prejudice.

But then, who hasn’t had that one?

Nipples.  Your nipples go dark brown or something.

Except I can’t really get my breasts out on a plane.

Or can I?

I go to get up and nearly gut myself with the seatbelt I’d forgotten I’d put on.  Now the window seat guy thinks I’m running off to be sick.  I sit down again, jarring my spine, take a deep breath and try again.  Undoing my belt this time.

I walk unsteadily to the toilet.  In fact my knees feel a little weak.  It’s low blood sugar, that’s all.  Or maybe food poisoning from the failed cloning attempt they gave us for lunch.

I’ve slipped into denial now.  I’ve always liked denial.  The sky is always blue and there’s never a queue at the post office.

Or the toilet.  I bet someone’s trying to join the Mile High Club.  I never applied for membership.  I don’t like using aeroplane toilets, let alone want to have sex in one.  They’re dirty and the lighting makes you look terrible.  Plus, is there actually space?

I finally get into one.  I lock the door, pull my top up and my breasts out.  Then I study them very carefully.  They look normal to me.

Of course, it might just be too early for it to show.

What else?  There must be something else.  Morning sickness – don’t think so.  Dizziness – low blood sugar, low blood sugar.  C’mon, I watched all those medical dramas.  Think.

I have it!  If you’re pregnant, your cervix turns blue!

Well that’s a fat lot of use, isn’t it?  I can’t exactly get a quick look at my own cervix.

Or can I?

I mean, theoretically, all I need is a mirror.

It might work.

And it’s not like I have anything better to do.

I pull off my knickers and hike up my skirt.  Hmm, in fact, I’d better take it off.  I dump them both on the toilet seat.

First hitch, mirror is on wall.

Finally, gymnastics comes in handy.

I get one foot up by the wash basin and keep the other on the floor.  Then I sort of tilt myself so I can see.  It’s not working.  I can’t see the right bit of me.

I get onto the toilet seat, put my leg up again and try that.  That’s better.  I’m kind of in the right place now.  I try to see.

Nope, no good.  Can’t see anything.  Need a smaller mirror.  And maybe a miner’s helmet for my finger.

It was never going to work.  I’ve gone mad, haven’t I?  Post traumatic stress disorder.

I try to get down.  I catch my foot on the tap.  Oh shit, I’m falling!

Ow.

My butt hurts.  And I hit my head on…

Oh, God, no.

The ‘call for help’ button.

About The Dr Pepper Prophecies (2013)
Mel is a twenty-five-year-old underachiever with a terrible job, too much time on her hands and a perfect younger sister. Her work and love lives hit a new low when she ends up working for her ex. 

The one good thing in her life has always been her best friend Will, who has seen her through every crisis from lost toys to pregnancy scares. Now a successful accountant, he looks a prime catch to his girlfriend Natalie, who’s determined to replace Mel as the woman in his life. 

Despairing of improving her own life, she sets out to help her friends instead.

After all, what’s the worst that can happen?

A contemporary romantic comedy (chick lit) based loosely on Jane Austen’s ‘Emma’. Similar in style to works by Sophie Kinsella and Jane Costello. Perfect as a summer read. Enjoy!

Amazon US Amazon UK Goodreads Shelfari LibraryThing Facebook


About Jennifer Gilby Roberts
Jennifer Gilby Roberts lives in Richmond, North Yorkshire with her husband, small daughter, two middle-aged cats and a lot of dust bunnies.  She loves to write romantic comedies and has written two novels, four novellas and a variety of short stories.

 

 

 

Goodreads Amazon

Book Excerpt: The Dr Pepper Prophecies – Jennifer Gilby Roberts | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave

Game Review: Splatterhouse

Review: Splatterhouse (Arcade)

Time to roll back the years with this one. Back in 1988 Namco released this classic side scrolling beat ‘em up. I wasn’t even ten years old at the time but I remember it well. The game begins with student couple, Rick and Jennifer, making their way through woodland on a stormy night before taking refuge in West Mansion, a.k.a Splatterhouse. Sounds like a nice holiday resort, right? Think again. The mansion is home to Dr West who is rumoured to have been instigating some peculiar experiments. This turns out to be the case when Rick is mortally wounded by demons and Jennifer abducted. Don’t despair though. Rick is revived by the magical Terror Mask which leaves him resembling Jason Voorhees from the Friday the 13th franchise, hockey mask and all.

Now revived, you take charge of Rick who has to work his way through the mansion, battling an assortment of demons and gruesome experiments. Rick can punch, kick, or rely on some useful weapons such as iron bars, meat cleavers and even a shotgun at one point. The levels are welcome in their variety with Rick starting in a dungeon before making his way through the mansion, through a sewer and even back outside in the rain. Every now and again you will come up against a tough boss that takes some wearing down but our resourceful hero isn’t short of a few tricks when he needs them. It’s not just the demons you have to worry about though. The mansion itself is your own worst enemy with a series of obstacles to overcome and never trust the furniture because it doesn’t often stay still for long.

Despite its age Splatterhouse still looks good. The musical segments that accompany each level are all great and add to the general eerie feeling of the mansion. You can’t beat games like this one that were so prevalent at the arcades. As horror goes it doesn’t come across as unnerving as it did when I was younger but it’s still a less than pleasant stay in the mansion. Befitting the dark storyline, the ending is surprisingly downbeat and there is no reprieve for Rick who was to return in a series of sequels to this one.

Splatterhouse remains a memorable beat ‘em up, drawing on influences from horror films that had gone before. Though it’s a brief experience the journey of Rick is still one worth taking. There are no cliche happy endings here, just a brutal path through one bizarre and twisted mansion.

Verdict: 4/5

Game Review: Splatterhouse | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave

Film Review: Silver Linings Playbook

About Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
Life doesn’t always go according to plan. Pat Solatano (Bradley Cooper) has lost everything–his house, his job, and his wife. He now finds himself living back with his mother (Jacki Weaver) and father (Robert De Niro) after spending eight months is a state institution on a plea bargain. Pat is determined to rebuild his life, remain positive and reunite with his wife, despite the challenging circumstances of their separation. All Pat’s parents want is for him to get back on his feet-and to share their family’s obsession with the Philadelphia Eagles football team. When Pat meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), a mysterious girl with problems of her own, things get complicated. Tiffany offers to help Pat reconnect with his wife, but only if he’ll do something very important for her in return. As their deal plays out, an unexpected bond begins to form between them, and silver linings appear in both of their lives.

Starring: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Jacki Weaver, Anupam Kher

Directed by: David O. Russell

Runtime: 122 minutes

Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay

 

 

Amazon US Amazon UK IMDB

Review: Silver Linings Playbook

Matthew Quick’s debut novel, The Silver Linings Playbook, is the best book I’ve read in 2013 so the prospect of a film adaptation was obviously one I welcomed. Pat Solitano Jr (Bradley Cooper) is released from a mental health facility at the outset after eight months of treatment for bipolar disorder, which was ordered after he attacked a work colleague he found in the shower with his wife, Nikki (Brea Bee). Pat comes home to live with his kind hearted mother Dolores (Jackie Weaver) and OCD and football mad father, Pat Sr (Robert De Niro). Pat immediately begins his plan to win Nikki back by improving himself as a person both physically and mentally.

Pat begins well enough but when he is invited to a dinner party he meets Tiffany Maxwell (Jennifer Lawrence), the sister-in-law of his best friend, Ronnie (John Ortiz). In Tiffany, Pat finds someone as troubled as himself and very slowly they become friends though it’s far from a smooth start. Tiffany also lives with her parents and has suffered with depression following the death of her husband. She and Pat veer from mutual understanding to frequent and often volatile arguments, but when Tiffany offers to help Pat contact Nikki, he makes more of an effort with her. However, there is something quite important Tiffany wants in return.

I sympathise greatly with David O. Russell adapting such a great novel for the big screen. It’s so easy to get it wrong and after seeing my favourite book, Norwegian Wood, ruined as a film adaptation I was nervous about Silver Linings Playbook. Inevitably, changes have been made and I was worried by just how much of the book had been lost and replaced with different ideas. Somehow Russell has taken a deeply moving story and retained the essence of what made it so special in Quick’s novel. The film is aided by some truly wonderful performances with four of the actors (Cooper, Lawrence, Weaver and De Niro) all receiving Oscar nods. Bradley Cooper is excellent as Pat, capturing his myriad of moods and many struggles, lashing out at everyone around him only to find they all remain by his side. Much has been made of rising star, Jennifer Lawrence, and she is undoubtedly the film’s highlight here with a stunning performance that captures Tiffany’s strength in her assertiveness and anger, but also her tenderness and fragility as well. The chemistry between the two leads is fantastic and although on reflection this film isn’t as good as the book, it certainly isn’t far off.

Silver Linings Playbook is worth all the praise it has enjoyed. This is a film that is romantic without being schmaltzy, funny without being detrimental to the serious subject matter it addresses, but most importantly it is moving and heartwarming in its portrayal of mental illness. Pat receives seemingly everlasting support and understanding from his family and friends, which is something that everyone who has ever been affected by mental illness truly needs. If I had to choose I would recommend reading the book first. Whether you go for the book or film, or even both, you’ll find it hard not to be moved by the story of Pat and Tiffany, two people who have suffered greatly for different reasons, but amidst the confusion, detritus and search for meaning in their lives they somehow find and connect with one another no matter how hard it is for them to do so.

Verdict: 5/5

(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)

Film Review: Kind Hearts and Coronets

About Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)
Director Robert Hamer’s fiendishly funny Kind Hearts and Coronets stands as one of Ealing Studios’ greatest triumphs, and one of the most wickedly black comedies ever made. Dennis Price is sublime as an embittered young commoner determined to avenge his mother’s unjust disinheritance by ascending to the dukedom. Unfortunately, eight family members (all played by the incomparable Alec Guinness) must be eliminated before he can do so.

Starring: Dennis Price, Valerie Hobson, Joan Greenwood, Alec Guinness, Audrey Fildes

Directed by: Robert Hamer

Runtime: 106 minutes

Studio: Criterion

 

 

Amazon US Amazon UK IMDB

Review: Kind Hearts and Coronets

Louis Mazzini (Dennis Price), the tenth Duke of Chalfont, is in prison and awaiting execution the following day. To pass the time he decides to write his memoirs of how he came to be in such a fix. Louis’ mother is originally from the D’Ascoyne family but was dismissed after running away with an opera singer. Louis is born of this union but his father dies on the day of his birth. When Louis’ mother contacts her family for help in building a career for her son, they deny her existence and refuse to acknowledge Louis. On her deathbed Louis’ mother wishes to be buried in the family vault but this too is refused leaving Louis to vow a bitter revenge.

Louis’ means of vengeance is to find a way to not only contact the D’Ascoyne family but to systematically kill individual members and thus pave the way for himself to become the next Duke. There are eight members between Louis and the dukedom, each one played by Alec Guinness, and he has to resort to clever tactics to dispatch them without arousing suspicion. Louis’ efforts are hindered when he falls for Edith (Valerie Hobson), the wife of one of the D’Ascoynes, and to make matters worse his childhood friend Sibella (Joan Greenwood), who spurned Louis for a richer man, is frequently visiting him and watching his rise through the noble family. The stronger Louis’ position becomes the more fixated she is on marrying our calculating hero. What becomes of Louis though? Will he escape prison? Does he end up with Edith or Sibella?

The reputation of this excellent film certainly precedes it with many of the accolades belonging solely to Alec Guinness in the eight roles he plays, covering different ages, professions and even gender. Each of Guinness’ creations are memorable but as good as he is, the plaudits should really go to Dennis Price as Louis. He carries the film alone in the early stages, his narration throughout is a constant delight and you will laugh at the many methods he uses in removing members of his family. The end scenes are fantastic and though the narrative is left open ended it is an apt way to round off a funny and engaging story of revenge.

Kind Hearts and Coronets is often regarded as an Alec Guinness masterpiece but Dennis Price makes this film as much as Guinness in my opinion. A delightful script, a fabulous range of characters (most of them Guinness) and an ending that will leave you debating Louis’ future complete what is an unmissable film.

Verdict: 5/5

(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)

Film Review: Rushmore

About Rushmore (1998)
RUSHMORE is the story of a gifted, rebellious teenager named Max Fischer (Jason Schwartzman), a 10th grader at elite Rushmore Academy. Editor of the school newspaper, captain or president of innumerable clubs and societies, Max is also one of the worst students in the school, and the threat of expulsion hangs permanently over his head. Max’s world is rocked when he falls for elegant 1st grade teacher Miss Cross (Olivia Williams) and he plans to erect an aquarium in her honor — then finds himself competing for her affections with his friend, steel tycoon Mr. Blume (Bill Murray), the wealthy father of two of his classmates.

Starring: Jason Schwartzman, Olivia Williams, Bill Murray, Brian Cox, Seymour Cassel

Directed by: Wes Anderson

Runtime: 93 minutes

Studio: Touchstone Home Entertainment

 

 

Amazon US Amazon UK IMDB

Review: Rushmore

An unlikely love triangle is the basis of Wes Anderson’s quirky school comedy. 15 year old Max Fischer (Jason Schwartzman) is a student at Rushmore with failing grades as he spends all of his time on extracurricular activities. He has founded a series of clubs and is also busy writing and directing plays, with many students eager to be cast. Max becomes friends with Herman Blume (Bill Murray) an industrialist with a failing marriage who has two sons enrolled at Rushmore, both he considers a disappointment.

Both Max and Herman come to admire one another for different reasons but a spanner is thrown in the works in the form of a new teacher, Rosemary Cross (Olivia Williams), who teaches first grade and has previously been widowed. At first it is Max that tries to woo Rosemary but when Herman also falls for her, friendships are set aside and an all out war begins. With Max’s ingenuity and Herman having a taste at life again, the former friends now enemies stoop very low to get one over on the other!

Anderson’s film has all the charm and absurdity of The Royal Tenenbaums and The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou, with so many carefully crafted characters. Schwartzman is great in the lead as Max who doesn’t appear to be the stereotypical rebel, dressing more smartly than anyone in the school but spurning education much to the annoyance of the headmaster. Murray delivers both a humorous but sometimes sympathetic turn as Herman, lost in something of a midlife crisis and offering echoes of his later turn as Bob Harris, though I think he was more together than Herman is. Williams rounds off three great leads as the beautiful but delicate Rosemary, whose kindness to Max and Herman quickly backfires.

Rushmore is a hilarious and often bizarre comedy, blending slapstick with a witty script and idiosyncratic characters to create a winning formula. The three leads are all great and the supporting characters with their own unique traits make this one memorable return to school.

Verdict: 4/5

(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)

Book Excerpt: Winter’s End – Clarissa Cartharn

Today Clarissa Cartharn stops by to share an excerpt from her book, Winter’s End.

Excerpt from Winter’s End

It was one of those rare days when the sun would shine over the mass of dense dark clouds. She did not know how long the good day would last but she wanted to make the best use of it. She drove down the highway and toward Broadford. Jai sat beside her, his eyes focused on his book. Hannah meanwhile was clearly busy as there was silence reigning in the car, other than her occasional burst of excitements in between the beeps of her Nintendo DS device.

Ten minutes later, the row of shops and busyness of the small town began to emerge in the distance. As Emma neared the co-op, she couldn’t help but admire the blue of the sea that bordered the bay.

“How long are we going to be?” asked Jai, looking at a white van pulling out of a parking bay.

“Hopefully not that long,” she answered. “We’re short of groceries and general cleaning stuff.”

“Would it be okay if you dropped me at the library while you’re doing the shopping,” he asked.

“Jai…,” she started.

“Please Mum,” he said. “I really can’t be bothered following you and a trolley today.”

“Fine,” she sighed. It might be for the best, she thought to herself. “How about you, Hannah? Coming with Mum or staying with Jai?”

“Jai,” she replied without looking away from her game.

Emma swung at the turn and pulled in front of the library. “Jai, I need you to stay here until I get back” she reminded. “Okay?”

“Yes,” he said hopping out the door quickly in case his mother changed her mind.

“Jai?” she called out through the window. “Stay here. And take care of your sister.”

“Mum, chill!” he shouted back as he ran after Hannah, who was already racing through the doors of the library. “I heard you!”

Emma watched them disappear between the automatic doors before heading back into the main street and towards the co-operative store. She parked at the closest parking bay she could find. She glided out of her car and walked briskly towards the supermarket. An elderly couple walked by her giving her a curious second glance.

She didn’t think much of it and began her routine of hunting for items on her shopping list. A few others smiled at her as she walked by them with her trolley. She smiled back aware that she was now living in a much smaller part of the world than she was used to. She was bound to get recognised sooner or later as the woman who moved from London to Breakish with two kids.

“You’re the woman who moved to Breakish with two kids, right?” asked the middle aged blonde cashier. She looked Emma over with a smile as she swiped the shopping items.

Emma returned a small, nervous smile.

“I’m Lisa,” the cashier said.

Emma glanced down at her name tag. “Lisa” she read silently.

“I’m Emma,” she said aloud.

“I live two houses down from yours,” Lisa said. “Where did you come from?”

“London,” Emma answered.

“London?” a weaker, older voice answered from behind her. “I’ve been to London once. A long time ago.”

She looked behind her to find an old man approximately in his eighties holding a gallon of milk and a box of cereals. His old wrinkled face held up a frown high on his forehead, a set of spectacles sat at the end of his nose and his thinning grey hair was slicked back. He looked back at her with steel greying eyes.

“Matthew,” Lisa growled. “Don’t mind him,” she told Emma. “He is actually quite a sweet old man once you get to know him. Isn’t that right, Matthew?” She gave him a side grin as she swiped another item across her scanner.

Matthew Allaway harrumphed in indignation looking away. “You should stop with the chit-chat, so I can get on my way,” he grumbled.

Lisa smiled again and turned to Emma. “I’m at number 17. If you need anything don’t be afraid to knock.”

“You live next to Mrs. Kinnaird’s property then,” said the old man, his eyes giving Emma a harsh appraisal.

“Yeah,” chirped in Lisa quickly before Emma could answer. “I know, ” she said as she rolled up her eyes.

Lisa put the items into a shopping bag. “That would be a hundred and fifty three pounds and forty-four p’s.”

“Do you mind if I use a credit card?” asked Emma.

“Certainly not,” said Lisa, pulling forward the mobile terminal and handing it over to her.

Emma punched in her pin. “Lisa,” she asked quietly over her eyebrows. “Is there something I need to know about Mr.s. Kinnaird?”

Lisa stared at her blankly. “No,” she muttered at last. “Here’s your receipt.” She handed Emma the small slip of paper.

Emma took it hesitantly. She bit her lips thoughtfully as she picked up her shopping bags.

“Stay away from the old lady,” said Matthew.

Emma turned but Matthew was not looking at her. He was laying his gallon of milk and box of cereal on the counter. Lisa tried to avoid Emma’s questioning stare.

“She’s trouble. Always have been,” added Matthew, turning slightly towards her now. He gave her the same icy cold look that he had given her earlier.

About Winter's End (2013)A sweet love story that will have you curling your toes and tingling for more…
When young widow, Emma Winston leaves her life in London with her two children for the quieter Breakish in the Isle of Skye, all she wants is a simple life. And for a while, she thinks she has it.
That is until she meets the mysterious Mrs Kinnaird who suddenly feels that Emma might make the ideal bride for her wealthy playboy grandson, Chris Cameron- a man who holds his own dark secrets.

Further still, when Emma’s brother-in-law, Richard Winston follows her to Skye to tell her he loves her, Mrs Kinnaird manipulates all her power to keep Richard away from Emma.Will Emma finally let go of her past and learn to follow her heart?
Amazon USAmazon UKGoodreads
About Clarissa CartharnClarissa Cartharn has always had a deep love for language. Her pursuit of it has led her to attain a BA majoring in English Language and Literature, sought a career in English teaching for six years before finally becoming a lawyer. But when she took up the pen, she realised what she was really desiring for was the cathartic release of her wild imaginations via writing.

Clarissa is interested in learning new languages and is currently on a quest on conquering Mandarin Chine

 

 

TwitterGoodreads

Book Excerpt: Winter’s End – Clarissa Cartharn | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave