Home ] Biog ] [ Filmview ] Litview ] Gallery ] Links ] Contact ]

 

Filmview

Filmview Archive

Reviews:

Features:

Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll

Ian Dury's distinctive musical style was one the best things to come out of the late '70s, and Andy Serkis captures the man to perfection.  However the script, which focuses on Dury the wayward family man at the expense of Dury the musician, should have been revised.

My Best Of The 2000s In Cinema
DVD Times Best of the 2000s

A review of the best of the decade and a feature containing top ten lists from the DVD Times contributors, together with some insightful comments.

Sherlock Holmes

Guy Ritchie's take on the most filmed character ever is high on action, fisticuffs and thrills, but lower on seriousness, credible plotting and a sense of true Conan Doyle- style detection.  But nevertheless the movie remains an enjoyable Steampunkish romp.

DVD Times Top 10 Films of 2009

2009 was another eventful year in cinema, and here is my top ten, together with those of my DVD Times colleagues, which taken together show a broad and interesting spectrum of taste. 

Dennis Potter on DVD

A look at the increasing selection of the legendary film & TV writer's works now available on disc - and what isn't and perhaps never will be available.

Synecdoche, New York

Charlie Kaufman has surprised us as a screenwriter, with reality-bending pieces such as Being John Malkovich.  Now writing and directing, he comes up with a similarly intriguing tale of art mirroring life mirroring art to the nth degree.  Now out on DVD.

Inglourious Basterds

The Dirty Dozen done Tarantino-style, with some exquisitely tense scenes mingling  with moments of knockabout comedy and a take on World War II you won't find in any history book.  As ever Tarantino blazes his own trail down Pastiche Lane, and the results are constantly entertaining.

This Is Spinal Tap: Up to 11

A 25th Anniversary 3 DVD set of the celebrated rock-mockumentary, with a host of new extras.  What's great about it is the legend continues 'in character', with the band members now older but no less wacky, and the original movie seeming more ground-breaking than ever.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

A film where the visual effects almost eclipse the story, in which the eponymous Mr Button ages in reverse from  dotage to babyhood, giving us an intriguing tour of Brad Pitts of the past and perhaps those of the future.  Some will love it whilst others might find it overblown.  Now out on DVD.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

After a stretch of patchy form, Woody Allen comes up trumps with this sparkling comedy.  Rebecca Hall and Scarlett Johansson play against Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz to produce some vintage moments of Allenesque mayhem.  Now out on DVD.

Revolutionary Road

Titanic couple Kate Winslet and Leo DiCaprio are re-united here, in  Sam Mendes new drama, and this time the story goes beyond the first flush of love into the realms of failed dreams, bitterness and recrimination.  Now out on DVD.

The Wrestler

In Darren Aronofsky's latest, a kind of Raging Bull of wrestling, Mickey Rourke gives an inspirational performance as an over-the-hill loser, desperately trying to stay afloat as everything around him founders.  Now out on DVD.

Female Agents

This action-filled French World War II espionage thriller - in the tradition of Carve Her Name with Pride - is exciting and edgy, like the best war films, but also remains satisfying on the level of drama.  Now out on DVD.

Cassandra's Dream

Woody Allen returns to London and the crime genre for this re-tread of Match Point, which proves surprisingly weak - both on the story-telling and the technical levels.   Now out on DVD. 

The Duchess

Keira Knightley and Ralph Fiennes rub each other up the wrong way in this excellent and occasionally very gritty 18th Century costume drama.  Now out on DVD.

Taras Bulba

Optimum release two 60's classic epics featuring the legendary bald-headed actor Yul Brynner.  In this one he plays a Cossack warload, battling with Turks and Poles in a colourful adventure romp. 

Filmview Archive

Home ] Biog ] [ Filmview ] Litview ] Gallery ] Links ] Contact ]