Being an avid comedy fan, I am often undecided when asked my favourite comedy, but a title that I often think of when posed this question is 'The Producers'. Not the appallingly dreadful 2005 remake but the classic 1967 one, arguably the funniest movie ever and the best Mel Brooks films ever, which is impressive considering that it is in competition with such comedic masterpieces as Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein and High Anxiety. The Producers stars Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder as men with a brilliant scam for making millions. This plan, that "Under the right circumstances, a flop (stage production) could make more money than a hit", is thought up by an extremely timid accountant when he sees that the person he is working for, an unscrupulous has-been stage producer Max Bialystock, has accidentally made $2000 dollars more than he needs to. His idea is that if he had more financing than he needed too, he could give financers back the small percentage of the flop"s profits they paid for and pocket the rest. Max takes the plan seriously to the accountant"s horror and the accountant (Leo Bloom) is soon coaxed into the plan as well. After several liaisons with ridiculously hilarious characters (including the plays author, a mad Nazi and a satirical character LSD spoofing the hippies of the time) and everything going brilliantly terrible, they are on their way to making a huge flop, watch the film to see if they succeed. The audience is also lucky enough to witness some of the resulting flop play and are witness to some sets as dazzling and epic as many 1940's Technicolor musicals and songs as outrageous and funny that ever before. What"s more, is that whereas comedies are often criminally overlooked at Oscar night, this film achieved critical acclaim and won the best screenplay and Gene Wilder was nominated for best supporting actor. Although by some the film has been accused of having a thin plot, many others simply see it as being directly to the point, which I think it is. It is not "thin" or "flimsy", Mel Brooks has merely written a sharp and zany film which does not allow any time for irritating talkative scenes and instead jumps straight to the plot and gags.
Goodbye West Wing. Very much a tie up loose ends season, this collection shows you the race to elect the new President, Leo's demise, Toby's trial but not much about the existing White House staff. When you are so used to watching scandal, political fire fighting, back stabbing and betrayal, to watch a series that looks keen to get to the end and just pick a winner already, the end when you do get there is a bit of a let down.
Already having wrenched the cinematic world's attention with his first two masterful films, JSA and Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance, South Korean director Park Chan-Wook created his calling card in 2000 with Oldboy. Winner of the Grand Prix at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival, Oldboy leaves everyone who sees it shaken, and ultimately changed, in its wake. Oh Dae-Su is just a man, ordinary, until one day, when after a bender he disappears from sight and wakes up imprisoned. He wakes up in what appears to be a hotel room, only he cannot leave. The only things he has to keep him company are a TV and a painting of Jesus Christ on the wall. Fifteen years pass in Dae-Su's imprisonment and during this time he learns of his wife's murder and that he is the prime suspect and spends his entire "sentence" toughening up for the day he is free and will completely and utterly destroy his captor. The camera work and cinematography during the montage showing his time in hell is astounding, taking advantage of CGI in very effective but understated ways, as well as showing the pain and confusion of 15 ytears of uncertainty in a very short span. One day he wakes up outside, with no explanation and no direction. Soon enough he is on his mission to find the truth about his captivity, the night he is released he goes to eat and in order to prove to himself that this freedom is real, he requests the waitress to bring him something "alive", setting the scene for one of the most talked about parts of the film, the octopus. After Dae-Su eats the octopus he passes out and the waitress takes pity on him and allows him to sleep in her apartment, the beginning of a bond that goes deeper than either of them know. She joins him on his quest and soon enough he is face to face with his captor who gives Dae-Su a challenge. He has five days to either figure out for himself why he was captured or everyone woman he cares for will die. What follows is an hour and a half of the most intense cinematic experience of my life. Dae-Su's passion, and for that matter Park Chan-Wook's, drips from every frame of this film. The characters in the film have the kind of passion for life that only comes from extreme adversity, and it doesn't get any more extreme than Oldboy. Oh Dae-Su puts his own life on the line over and over again through the film and without qualm. Not to mention the twist ending that everyone was talking about and yet no one mentioned because it was so perfect and so shocking that it could only be appreciated in the context of the film and to take it away from that context it would lose its power. These were of the most transforming 2 hours of my life as a cinephile. Tartan's 2 disc special edition of Oldboy is worthy of the film, with the second disc packing a number of featurettes on everything from the film's music, to its judicious use of CGI, to very entertaining and informative interviews with the cast and crew. This is a film which will be a reference point for film geeks from here to eternity, nothing like it is likely ever to be made again. That is fine with me, because this is an absolutely perfect film.
The filmmaking career of Chilean auteur Alejandro Jodorowsky has been very spread out. He has made fewer than 10 films since his debut feature Fando Y Lis in 1968. In 1989 he released Santa Sangre, perhaps his most accessible, and yet instantly recognizable feature film. Santa Sangre is a metaphysical allegory set in mid-20th century Mexico. The follows Fenix, the son of circus people, who, in his young adulthood develops a Norman Bates-like relationship with his mother. To attempt to explain the plot of this film would be to do it a disservice, not because it would give away plot points, but because it is so rich that one would undoubtedly leave out something wonderful. The film does great justice to the circus and its amazing inhabitants, a world in which Fenix feels at home, and yet it is a world where nothing is real. When Fenix's mother become incapacitated at the hands of his philandering father, it becomes Fenix's job to be her right (and left) hand. This position creates many conflicts within Fenix as he not only acts physically on her behalf, he also is forced into a psychological bond from which he nearly doesn't escape, no matter how hard he tries. The film features scenes unlike any you've ever witnessed, and watching this film is like watching the machinations of a deranged, but ingenious, mind. Alejandro Jodorowsky has managed to create something magnificent with Santa Sangre, a truly experimental film that is somewhat accessible to anyone with anything more than a passing interest in film. The film was made in English, so as to give it even greater distribution and financed by Claudio Argento, who begged Jodorowsky to create something with a discernable plot and this was the response. A success by any measure. The Anchor Bay 2 disc set also features a full length television documentary from France titled "La Constellation Jodorowsky" which is a wonderful visit to the director's past. While there are many who know Jodorowsky only from his film work, he has also worked extensively in experimental theater and has written dozens of science fiction books. This DVD is a wonderful value and a worthy addition to any cinephile's collection.
El Bonaerense is the tale of an Argentinian country bumpkin locksmith known as "Zapa" who manages, through nepotism, to escape the trouble he has found himself in in the country; and makes it all the way to the capital to join the Buenos Aires police force.
The film's pace is slow and languid, and at times achingly so; but this aptly mirrors the sweltering and stifling heat of the Argentine capital; the hours of ennui passed in a police porta-cabin; the sense of frustration at an impossible job, made even more impossible by the ineptitude of new recruit Zapa; not to mention Zapa's own disinterest in the job.
Throughout the film Zapa is as reticent as a character can be. We witness him silently let the scenes of corruption pass him by; he has no interest in morality, not that his fellow police officers are above bending the law, but Zapa is a fish out of water: and when a fish finds itself out of water should it judge the law of the land?
El Bonaerense is a quiet an unassuming tale of a man who is both morally and existentially stagnant; a tale of a man who prefers the simple country life, but, thru familial favours alone manages to grow and make some noise.
Left to his own devices Zapa the country locksmith would forever remain Zapa the country locksmith - instead he returns a man of means in uniform: el bonaerense....
Persuasion is the story of love lost - which for those of us who have experienced it - can be a heart-wrenching thing to go through. Austen's heroine, Anne Elliot, thinks she has missed the chance of a lifetime, when 8 years previously, she turned down the opportunity of marrying a young, naval officer, after listening to family and friends rather than her own heart. When Captain Frederick Wentworth, now wealthy, is re-introduced to her, she is certain it is too late - or is it?
This is one of the best adaptations of Persuasion that I have ever seen. Whilst certain parts of it are not in keeping with the book and may lack accuracy (for the Austen perfectionists out there), it is an excellent attempt at capturing the essence of the story.
Both leads, Sally Hawkins and Rupert Penry-Jones, give superb performances as Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth, with Penry-Jones, being almost as smouldering as Colin Firth was as Darcy.
I would highly recommend this adaptation to anyone who loves Austen or simply wants a very romantic night in!
Audition is a slow burn. Known mostly by reputation at this point, Takashi Miike's Audition is a horrifically suspenseful film that very successfully dupes the viewer into a false sense of security before what could be a relatively mild romantic film turns sinister. Shigeharu is a widower whom everyone, including his teenaged son, encourages to get back in the game, but it has been so long how does he go about it? Well, a colleague of his sets up an audition for an unmade TV pilot in hopes of showing Shigeharu something he likes. A little deceptive, but it has the makings of a wonderful romantic comedy. Shigeharu finally sees one woman whose demure personality makes her perfect Japanese wife material, Asami. For the first 45 minutes of the film, the viewer is left in a position of limbo, wondering where this is all going as nothing specatular seems to be happening, that is when it happens. It would be rude of me to pull the cat out of the bag and explain the entire plot because the films success relies of the element of surprise and lulling the viewer into complacency. Allow me simply to say, that all is not as it seems, and this film is not for the faint of heart, or stomach. Asami, it turns out, has some issues to work out, some things that she has been trying to get over with past relationships, but those relationships tend to get a bit rough. Miike's ability to blend fantasy and reality, dream life and waking life, and keep the viewer guessing is pure genius. As Shigeharu confronts different phantasms, he is left wondering, much as we are, "who is this woman?" He often has fantasies that turn out not to be true, and, unforunately for him, he trusts this woman for a little too long. It is only in the final 10 minutes that we see the real Asami in the flesh, and Shigeharu discovers that his fantasies were all too real. This Tartan DVD features an exclusive interview with Miike at the International Film Festival of Rotterdam, a favorite of his. Listening to Takashi Miike speak you do realize that he is a serious artist, and even while sometimes making a dozen films per year, he manages to put his stamp on everything. Not unlike the mark Asami leaves on Shigeharu, kiri kiri kiri...
Once in a great while, a director's debut feature turns out to be something so fresh, that it sets the tone for the rest of their career. Such is the case with Kim Ji-Woon's "The Quiet Family." The film was made in 1998 and starred two of South Korea's current megastars Choi Min-Sik of "Oldboy" fame, and Song Kang-Ho from a number of Korean blockbusters including "Shiri", "Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance", and "The Host." The story centers around a family whose patriarch has decided to take out of the rat race and into the mountains to run a bed & breakfast. The extended family includes the father and mother, two daughters, two sons, and grandfather, and the only on who seems to be having any fun is Dad. They go for a long stretch with no customers until one day, a distraught looking young man turns up and gets the royal treatment. Unfortunately for the family, as they go to wake him up in the morning, the man has committed suicide. Desperate not to drum up any bad publicity, the family decides that rather than report the death to the authorities, they'll dispose of the body themselves. The pattern repeats itself and this black comedy picks up steam and becomes a fantastically funny game of hide and seek between local authorities and The Quiet Family. While the plot of this film is a bit tricky, it paces itself well, but one of the real strengths of this film is the direction. The opening credits sequence is a thing of beauty, juxtaposing 90's the latino gangsta rap of Tres Delinquentes with the absolute boredom of the main character laying on the couch watching TV, and the camera work is amazing. I can't think of many other first time director's who would attempt a tracking shot of the length to open their film. Kim Ji-Woon has gone on to make several other outstanding features, including the underrated "The Foul King" and the critically acclaimed "A Tale Of Two Sisters". Choi Min Sik as the elder brother who is shiftless and a little bit slow is fantastically funny and nowhere near the same person as in "Oldboy" and Song Kang-Ho as the lazy younger brother is great in a very understated performance. The UK DVD features a making of documentary and a short film by the director which is only subtitled in english for this release, making it well worth the purchase. Anyone in the mood for some great black comedy could do a lot worse than "The Quiet Family".
This film was made in 1967,and is still fresh and energetic.
It also contains one of Sidney Poitier's most underrated performances.
Based on a true story,Poitier plays a teacher who wins the hearts of unruly school kids by being honest with them.(Ironic as Poitier played a troublesome school kid earlier in his career in Blackboard Jungle.)
It also boasts a chart topping hit by Lulu who also stars.
I recommend this film for all 60's enthusiasts.
The show that has everything....nostalgia, action, romance, humour, mystery, brilliantly under acted with
one-liners to die for.
Not a weak episode in the whole collection.
Guaranteed you will watch over and over again.
THE BEST TV SERIES EVER !!!
It's easy to get carried away when writing a review, whether that's bigging-up something that was just quite good, or slating something that was a only a bit patchy in places.
I'm going to avoid that trap - THIS FILM IS A---MAZING!!! (I'm being as objective as I can!!). The fact that The Departed won best picture at the Oscars this year showed what a joke those awards can be.
This film reeks of originality and yet also has ties to Del Toro's previous work, most notably Chronos and The Devil's Backbone - his ability to get mesmerizing performances from children is wonderful, with Ivana Baquero a revelation as Ofelia.
Critics have made lazy comparisons with Edward Scissorhands because of the film's dark fairytale nature - that's unfair and innacurate, this film isn't played for laughs or overly sentimental. Instead it is heart-wrenching, uplifting, shocking and unnervingly beautiful in equal, frequently changing measures.
How many times can you say you've seen a film full of monsters where man is the worst kind? How many times can you say it was a relief to see the heroine die (to find true happiness)?
Thie film will mess with you but in the best possible way - give it your time and you will be rewarded...
A wonderful feel-good movie. Bill Murray plays weatherman Phil Connors who is forced to live the same day over and over again - Groundhog Day!
An inspirational tale which is much more than just a comedy. It resonates in all of us because it is through his mistakes that Phil will learn to appreciate all of what life has to offer and realise he wants to be a better man.
Bill Murray's finest hour. Along with Andie MacDowell, who has never been more beautiful, and Stephen Tobolowosky's scene-stealing performance as Ned Ryerson, Harold Ramis' Groundhog Day will live on and on as a superb character study of a man who realises that nothing changes except himself, and how he affects those around him.
If you've never seen this film, you are missing something truly special!
Its difficult to explain the full relevance of this powerful drama/documentary style movie. Yes it covers a battle fought many years ago and yes it gives an insight into the attitudes of many different people affected by the event. But it is also well filmed and I am sure highly original at its time of release. However when you prize the underlying arguments and comments from the drama and place them in the context of today and the war in Iraq or for that matter Vietnam, the conclusions, arguments and issues become much more real, more compelling and rather more scary and prophetic. This is a drama/documentary not to be missed and essential viewing for anyone interested in the subjects mentioned above and for its compelling drama.
A great family film. With humour levelled at both the younger generation and plenty of double-entendres for the grown ups in the audience you can be sure of being entertained through out.
The story is good with loveable characters. Excellent graphics especially in the chase scenes though the sewers.
All in all well worth a watch.
A total revelation. Anyone who was around in the Thatcher Years will absolutely love this. It's the ultimate trip back to the Eighties. The Comic Strip Team of Rik Mayall, Dawn French, Ade Edmondson, Jennifer Saunders (and many others) were at the cutting edge of anarchic comedy and set the boundaries for many up and coming stars. This is the COMPLETE set including a disc with a very entertaining insight into the founding of the team and it's creators. Also bear in mind that the very first Channel 4 Broadcast in 1982 was their Enid Blyton spoof "Five go Mad In Dorset." This is an absolute must-have for anyone who loves alternative comedy.
What an excellent movie. My wife and I are not great Johhny Cash fans but instead have an appreciation of his music, however, this was a well made insight into his life. Well acted by Phoenix and Witherspoon, they made the characters come to life. The film made interesting observations on Cash's inspiration for his songs and showed how quite often gifted people can have flaws in their character. Even if you have never listened to Cash's music I would recommend this will to you.
Gene Loves Jezebel a fantastic live band comprising a wealth of excellent songs played by highly accomplished musicians.Led by Jay Aston (JP Aston) vocals and guitar with James Stevenson lead guitar, Chris Bell drums and Pete Rizzo bass.
Formed in the early 80s and with many albums behind them the real glj toured the UK in late 2005 and wowed all that came.
This live dvd includes highlights from their albums House of Dolls, Kiss of Life, VII,Immigrant ,Promise and Discover.
Big in the USA in the mid 80's and always a pull in the UK along with their peers...The Mission, Spear of Destiny and The Cult etc.
An exciting live band who still tour and live on the web.
A welcome release and a valuable document on a still exciting band. The real deal.
Excellent dvd boxset for anyone, so much fun, and will make you laugh your ass off so much.
This film is from 2 of the 6 writers from the Scary Movie franchise which is kind of funny (in places) however Epic Movie is NOT!
After a depressing day at work I wanted to watch something funny and light, when I finished watching the film I felt slightly more depressed and frustrated that I wasted 90 minutes of my life!
I know the idea of the film is to collaborate 'Epic' movies into one storyline but it made absolutely no sense. There are so many bad bits but the worst was a scene on a pirate's ship where the broke into so called 'hip hop' music, what was that all about!
I enjoyed watching Pirates Of The Caribbean, Chronicles Of Narnia and Charlie & The Chocolate Factory but thanks to Epic Movie, I am unlikely to watch them again!
I give this movie zero rating, you have been warned!!
Truly classic series although the dvd release is a little disappointing in term of quality and extras.
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