David M. Brown's Blog, page 51

Film Review: The Next Three Days

Review: The Next Three Days Paul Haggis’ drama sees the lives of a family torn apart when Lara Brennan (Elizabeth Banks) is found guilty of murdering her boss following an argument at work. Lara’s husband John (Russell Crowe) is convinced of her innocence and returns to the courts to try and appeal for her freedom.(...)
Film Review: The Next Three Days | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave



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Film Review: The Conversation

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About The Conversation (1974)[image error]Francis Ford Coppola’s provoking mystery-thriller stars Gene Hackman as Harry Caul, an expert surveillance man. A routine wiretapping job turns into a nightmare when Harry hears something disturbing in his recording of a young couple in a park. His investigation of the tape and how it might be used sends Harry spiraling into a web of secrecy, murder and paranoia. Set against the backdrop of San Francisco, THE CONVERSATION is a harrowing psychological thriller that costars Cindy Williams, Frederic Forrest and Harrison Ford and symbolizes the uneasy line where technology and privacy cross.

Starring: Gene Hackman, John Cazale, Allen Garfield, Frederic Forrest, Cindy Williams

Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola

Runtime: 109 minutes

Studio: Lions Gate

 

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Review: The Conversation

Francis Ford Coppola’s tense thriller ironically lost out at the Oscars to Coppla’s second Godfather film. This in no way diminishes it though. I would argue this is better than the uneven Godfather Part II. The film focuses on the taciturn Harry Caul (Gene Hackman) who is an expert in surveillance but he is distant from others, avoiding personal relationships beyond his colleagues and even with them he is somewhat distant. At the outset Harry and his team are based in Union Square in San Francisco and are spying on a young couple, Mark (Frederic Forrest) and Ann (Cindy Williams). Harry’s team are charged with simply recording their conversation before bringing the tapes to the Director (Robert Duvall). After completing the recording Harry is thrown into a quandary when the content of the couple’s conversation suggests they are in extreme danger. 

Putting together a quality recording proves hard work but after hours of meticulous editing Harry deciphers what Mark and Ann are discussing though it remains largely ambiguous. There is talk of them meeting at a hotel and that if knowledge of their activity is known someone will kill them. Harry is hesitant in handing this over to the Director and he becomes even more concerned when he visits the Director’s office and is met by Martin Stett (Harrison Ford). Stett doesn’t take kindly to Harry’s refusal to hand the tapes over to anyone but the Director. Retaining the evidence, Harry finds himself under surveillance and all the time the clock is ticking to a meeting the couple have arranged at a hotel. What fate awaits Mark and Ann? Can Harry intervene to stop it?

The Conversation is a well-crafted thriller that is carried with confidence and skill by Gene Hackman’s excellent central performance. I’m used to seeing Hackman playing loud and confident characters so it was refreshing to see him so subdued in this one. Meticulous but fragile in equal measure, this is Hackman near his best. The story remains intriguing throughout and there is a clever twist waiting at the end. The audience may be outsmarted but I didn’t mind one bit such was the interest the plot had inspired.

This isn’t Coppola’s best film but it’s certainly one of his better works. The Conversation is a very different film to the likes of Apocalypse Now and The Godfather and it was refreshing to see Harrison Ford so early in his career and unusually sinister in this role. In the end this is Hackman’s film though with only that surprise ending managing to compete with his stellar performance.

Verdict: 4/5

(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)

Film Review: The Conversation | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave

Film Review: The Contender

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About The Contender (2000)[image error]White House drama about the behind-the-scenes conflicts involved in the appointment of a new vice-president. When the old vice-president dies, President Jackson Evans (Jeff Bridges) choses Senator Laine Hanson (Joan Allen) as his successor, thereby making her the first woman ever to occupy the post. But congressman Shelly Runyon (Gary Oldman) opposes the appointment and, when he discovers photographs which seem to show Hanson taking part in an orgy, it seems that he will have no trouble undermining her position. Hanson’s response is to stand firm and insist upon her right to privacy, but with the political storm gathering force around her, it is not clear how effective her principled stance will be.

Starring: Jeff Bridges, Gary Oldman, Joan Allen, Christian Slater

Directed by: Rob Lurie

Runtime: 121 minutes

Studio: Icon Home Entertainment

 

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Review: The Contender

Rob Lurie’s thriller enters the dark side of American politics where the aspiring see their dreams destroyed by bitter rivals through any means necessary. The story focuses on President Jackson (Jeff Bridges) who is coming to the end of his second term and with his Vice President dying suddenly he now has a new VP to appoint. Public opinion seems to swing towards Governor Jack Hathaway (William Petersen) of Virginia who has recently risked his life trying to save a woman in a car that went over a bridge. The President is not keen on Hathaway though despite his recent bravery. Instead he looks to Laine Hanson (Joan Allen), a promising Senator from Ohio. Jackson’s hopes of a smooth transition for his VP nomination come unstuck when he is blocked by Congressman Shelley Runyon (Gary Oldman) who favours Hathaway as a nominee instead. The President backs Laine though so Runyon digs deep and proceeds to try and destroy Laine and turn the nation against her.

Laine is married with one child and seemingly has nothing that Runyon can use against her. He gains the support of Reginald Webster (Christian Slater) who goes against the President in helping Runyon ruin Laine. They uncover photographs of Laine in her college years, taking part in group sex as part of an initiation to an exclusive group. The woman who is supposedly Laine is pictured in the midst of a sexual act with two men. When Laine attends confirmation hearings for her position as VP she finds Runyon leading the proceedings and he brings up her secret from college. Rather than react, Laine takes a stand-offish approach, neither denying or confirming the truth and insisting her personal life has no bearing on her role as VP. After leaking these images to the media, Runyon keeps digging and with witnesses coming forward to depict Laine as both a wild child at college and later as a marriage destroyer, things are not looking good. The question is can she survive and win back the trust of the nation?

Although the ending to this film is predictably cheesy, it avoids being too melodramatic thanks to the events that take place before. A solid cast tie this one together nicely with Bridges proving a stubborn but charming President, while Oldman steals the show as the cruel and calculating Runyon. Allen is also good as Laine who suffers so much abuse but simply refuses to be broken. Her actions infuriate both her rivals and supporters but she is willing to stand alone to be treated in a fair manner and judged on the qualities that truly matter as a VP.

Despite a somewhat gushy ending, The Contender is still a very good political thriller enhanced by Oldman’s show stealing performance. This isn’t the best I’ve ever seen from Oldman, of course, but it’s testament to him as an actor that he is the best performer here. The corrupt nature of politics is exposed as rivals resort to some dirty underhand tactics in pursuit of destroying one another. I knew politics wasn’t always fair before. This is just another reminder of how unfair it can be.

Verdict: 4/5

(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)

Film Review: The Contender | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave

Tweedlers’ Jukebox Song of the Week: Trouble

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Ray Lamontagne – Trouble

Our song of the week goes to the wonderful Ray Lamontagne and the opening track from his debut album – Trouble. Tweedle Dave had the pleasure of seeing Ray live in Sheffield when he was on tour with his second album back in 2006 and it remains a memorable gig to this day. This is easily one of Ray’s best songs and conveys his stunning vocals well. If you’ve not had the pleasure of this gifted musician’s work before then it’s never too late to start.

Tweedlers’ Jukebox Song of the Week: Trouble | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave

Film Review: If…

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About If... (1968)[image error]Allegorical drama from director Lindsay Anderson in which a group of non-conformist students lead a revolt against their oppressive masters at an English private school. Parallels are drawn in the film between the bullying, inflexible and snobbish approach of the schoolmasters to their pupils, led by the rebellious Mick Travis (Malcolm McDowell), and the dysfunction and injustice of the British class system at large. As Mick and his gang of cohorts indulge in acts of petty disobedience, such as heading into town to try and seduce a local waitress, the school’s acts of retribution, led by Rowntree (Robert Swann), become increasingly cruel and malicious. Finally, the students are provoked into open rebellion, the bloody nature of which shocked a number of commentators at the time and led to claims that the film aimed to provoke a violent uprising in society as a whole.

Starring: Malcolm McDowell, David Wood, Richard Warwick, Christine Noonan, Rupert Webster

Directed by: Lindsay Anderson

Runtime: 107 minutes

Studio: Paramount Home Entertainment

 

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Review: If… 

Lindsay Anderson’s drama depicts life in a public school where a trio of boys are pushed to the brink and begin a makeshift revolution against the establishment. The film tells their story across the school year beginning with the return of the students from the summer break. Mick Travis (Malcolm McDowell) shows his tendency to rebel by arriving with a hat and much of his face covered. He is slow in getting back into routine but heads for a secluded room where he hangs around with Wallace (Richard Warwick) and Johnny (David Wood). Mick has returned to school sporting a moustache which he has to shave off before the new term begins. The room he and his friends hang around in has a secret stash of vodka and historical images of political leaders and revolutionaries on the walls. The trio are somewhat maladjusted in the school and do not conform to its traditions and rules.

While the Housemaster (Arthur Lowe) and his wife Mrs Kemp (Mary MacLeod) take a back seat to school proceedings, the Headmaster (Peter Jeffrey) entrusts authority in the school with the Whips, a select group of senior students, administering discipline and watched over by their leader Rowntree (Robert Swann). This isn’t a place for the weak or the unusual. One boy is struck round the head when he not only forgets the words to a recitation but doesn’t speak them in a proper manner. Another has his trousers pulled down and he is tied upside down in a cubicle with his head in the toilet just for being a little different. Mick, Wallace and Johnny have minor brushes with authority to begin with but gradually they push the boundaries. Mick and Johnny take an unauthorised trip away from school, steal a motorbike and Mick finds love with a girl at a cafe (Christine Noonan). Meanwhile, Wallace has the beginnings of a romance with a junior Bobby Philips (Rupert Webster). All of this builds to a quintet of Crusaders taking on the school.

If… wasn’t what I was expecting. A tale of students leading a revolution against the archaic system of public school life is there but the film also contains some peculiar and surreal elements. Mick’s encounter with the girl at the cafe begins with a slapped face when he forcibly kisses her before they exchange tiger impersonations before rolling around on the floor, first fully clothed then naked and wild, while Johnny sits obliviously nearby. The school has the students out fighting a war against each other in military gear with explosions all around them. Some sections of the film randomly appear in black and white with the reasoning behind this being debatable though the director did once suggest limited funding. The ending is more a surreal farce than an outright display of violence as the revolution gathers pace but despite all that it’s thoroughly entertaining throughout with a terrific turn from McDowell, giving glimmers of his sublime performance that would follow as Alex in A Clockwork Orange three years later.

If… is a peculiar little film but a brilliant one all the same. It has all the strictness of public school life on display but in its three revolutionaries the system is made a mockery of and everything descends into chaos by the end. The conclusion might be unfortunately abrupt but as a whole this is a very different experience.

Verdict: 4/5

(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)

Film Review: If… | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave

Book Excerpt: Surrender Your Love – Jessica C Reed

Today Jessica C Reed stops by to share an excerpt from her book, Surrender Your Love.  Excerpt from Surrender Your Love A penetrating ringing noise woke me up too soon. I groaned and covered my ears with my pillow, silently begging whoever was making such ungodly noise to shut it. It took me a moment to realize(...)
Book Excerpt: Surrender Your Love – Jessica C Reed | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave



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Film Review: In the Loop

Review: In the Loop  Armando Iannuci’s In the Loop is a spin-off from the hit British comedy The Thick of It and is a satire of events leading up to the start of the Iraq War in 2003. Our primary focus begins with Minister for International Development Simon Foster (Tom Hollander) getting a tad flustered dealing with the media(...)
Film Review: In the Loop | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave



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Film Review: 2001: A Space Odyssey

Review: 2001: A Space Odyssey Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 epic is regarded by many as the finest sci-fi film of all time and sitting through its 2+ hours you can understand the claims. This is a visual extravaganza that holds up well today given the many advances in special effects that the film world has come(...)
Film Review: 2001: A Space Odyssey | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave



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Film Review: Margin Call

Review: Margin Call  J.C. Chandor’s drama depicts the start of the financial crisis of 2007-8 which rocked the world. A Wall Street investment bank experiences a day of mass lay-offs with one of the key figures being Eric Dale (Stanley Tucci). Before he leaves, Eric gives a USB stick to Peter Sullivan (Zachary Quinto) and(...)
Film Review: Margin Call | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave



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Film Review: Ordinary Decent Criminal

Review: Ordinary Decent Criminal  Thaddeus O’Sullivan’s comedy is all about the kind of criminal that captures the hearts of the public. Michael Lynch (Kevin Spacey) has a wild lifestyle. He is married to two sisters Chrisitne (Linda Fiorentino) and Lisa (Helen Baxendale), has many children and loves a spot of crime. For Michael the joy(...)
Film Review: Ordinary Decent Criminal | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave



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