Paul's Talk

La Terza Madre (Mother of Tears: The Third Mother)

Completely devoid of atmosphere, class, stylishness and any semblance of direction, "La Terza Madre" is a tremendous disappointment and perhaps the final nail in the coffin of what has become Dario Argento's career. His outpùt over the last decade had been of systematically decreasing quality, but the hope always remained that going back to his roots would breathe new life into his art. After this, however, there are no two ways about it: the man truly has lost it. That the film was either shot or (for some incomprehensible reason) transferred to digital should tell you all you need to know about just how far he has fallen.

Much like the work of his contemporary, Lucio Fulci, "La Terza Madre" is nothing but an excuse to pile on the gore. The film goes completely out of its way (and much to the detriment of its already troublesome pacing and what little mood it had reluctantly managed to generate) to focus on the violence. The first kill,: poorly edited, amateurishly staged and drawn out beyond comprehension, is enough to reveal where the film's priorities lie: blood and guts uber alles. Throw in an insurmnountable ammount of expository dialogue (a necessity, perhaps, due to budgetary restraints but no more the pleasant for it), putrid acting (Dario Argento tends to bring out the worst in his daughter) and a point-and-shoot directorial approach that any hack with a camera could have duplicated and you are left with a lifeless mass cobbled together seemingly at random by people with nary a clue as to what they were doing or, more importantly, why.

The horror frat boys (as exemplified by Eli Roth, their idol and patron saint) will no doubt love the film, laughing and hollering their way through it and that is perhaps the saddest thing of all. If this film is any indication then Argento has become everything he was always unfairly accused of being, a parody of what he actually was, a one note running joke. Forget style over substance: his trilogy capper is gore AS style AS substance, and all the cameos in the world from former collaborators can't save it from itself.

Dung fong tuk ying (Eastern Condors)

Léon (The Professional)

Professional killer Jean Reno reluctantly takes in a 12 year old girl after her family is murdered by corrupt police detectives. Luc Besson's mix of offbeat characters, humour and high octane action tends to be a little hit and miss, but in Leon he found the perfect balance between sensitive character study, emotion and tense action sequences. Pot plant loving, milk drinking loner Reno is the antithesis of the usual testosterone-soaked, gung-ho action hero and with no glib one liners or macho posturing, he takes no pleasure in the mayhem he induces; he's just very, very good at it. His relationship with a young Natalie Portman is sincere, funny and touching, and although emotionally ambiguous (at least from her adolescent point of view), it never crosses the line into sexual creepiness. Complimented by an excellent supporting cast, especially pill popping psychopath Gary Oldman who is the perfect foil for Reno's solitary hitman, and wonderfully scored Leon is easily Besson's best work and one of the best action thrillers around.

Running Scared

A great role for Paul Walker, showing that he?s not just a pretty face. A very naturally acted film, with a non-stop moving storyline.

A lot sure can happen in a day!

Effects all though quite simplistic, were effective.

Disney's A Christmas Carol

First off the CGI and details in this film are phenominal, the story tells the traditional Classic tale by Charles Dickens and is brought to life superbly by the likes of Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman and Bob Hoskins.

It?s definitely worth seeing this film in 3D if you get the chance, not quite enough popping out of the screen at you moments, but none-the-less a wonderful watch.

The rating for the film is PG, but would have to admit there are a few things there that may scare the really young a little.

The Score

What Director Frank Oz has put together here are three generations of outstanding Talent.

A sophisticated Heist movie, character driven, with an exciting build up to the Criminal Mastermind Operation. Exciting, tense at times and genius work with the use of the character ?Brian?.

This film gets added to my favourite film endings list.

Revolutionary Road

This one makes it to 4 stars based purely on the acting. It is a performance driven film as there isn?t so much as a storyline more about a fly on the wall watching of the ins and outs of a couple's relationship.

The content acting-wise was huge and I?m sure quite challenging to both main stars.

Reunited again, are Titanic stars, Winslet, Dicaprio and Bates.

Nothing like I had expected the film to be and yet an intriguing tale of love.

Låt den Rätte Komma In (Let the Right One in)

I have to admit I watched this film, knowing nothing about it at all and had I known it was a vampire film, perhaps I wouldn?t have watched it with the same enthusiasm, however this is the most naturally acted Vampire film that I?ve seen to date.

Two fantastic child leads and the storyline came across more like a genuine murder tale.

Slightly stretched out in parts, but most certainly worth the watch. The accompanying music is simply beautiful.

Eu Sei Que Vou Te Amar (Love Me Forever or Never)

A live-action stage play.
No,I'm serious,the spotlight belongs to simply two characters who simultaneously ravish,mock,joke,blaze,torture (need I continue?) each other,a no-bars exploration to a recently divorced couple's systematic breakdown.It's not about the quarrels yet Jabor's flourishing video-projections leading to talkative realities are the concept after all,of deception and alternative lies,and they're not exhausting at all!
Chacon may be the experienced acting force but the solo tango is Fernanda Torres' privilege who could probably act the whole film by herself!

Méditerranée

Bassae

Black Hawk Down

Well this was a tough 2 hours and 10 minutes for me, I won?t deny. I don?t have a great track record when it comes to war films, but despite my slight struggle?WOW?never seen a war film like it!

The film grips you from the get go and seems like an almost seemless transition from scene to scene, with much realistic bloodshed.

Acted in a very natural way, I?m glad this didn?t received the over-emphasised Hollywood Action touch that many of this type of film has.

This film definitely makes a big impact and certainly opens the eyes to the viewer in terms of what the job entails. If it can help my ignorance on the subject, I?m sure it can help many others too!

Inglourious Basterds

Down by Law

Fireworks (Hana-bi)

An ex cop tries to spend time with his dying wife during her final days, but a Yakuza loan shark refuses to leave him in peace. A typically understated marriage of violence and poetry from Beat Takeshi, Hana Bi examines loss and mortality in a deeply personal way. It shares many of the themes of Sonatine, but is not as brutally nihilistic; there is much warmth in the often wordless scenes with his wife which have far more humanity than the contrived schmaltz we are used to from most mainstream film making. Takeshi's laconic persona is taken to the extreme in this film as he silently deals with the loss of his child, his wife's illness and his guilt over his suicidal ex-partner's crippling injury, although he still manages to find humour with the use of some oddball supporting characters. In other words another typically brilliant and artful Beat Takeshi film.

Training Day

One of my favourite performances from Denzel Washington and a great corrupt undercover police story.

What a first Day!!! I really like the fact this all happened during one day, it added a realistc feel to it and a view to the escalating circumstances, whilst the characters grow throughout.

What Lies Beneath

The thing that makes this film work so well, is the cleverly placed, typical Horror type scenarios, that never seem to materialise, yet keep you waiting for them to happen, check through the film, they are all there. Hence this becomes an edge of your seat Thriller, with heightened intensity that keeps your mind challenged.

The Magdalene Sisters

A brilliantly acted, very down to Earth story depicting realistic activities within the many of the asylums in Ireland during this era. Horrific circumstances that allows women to be treated as prisoners for shaming their families, whilst repenting their sins.

The individual stories of each are tales within a tale and are a harsh reality reflected of the time, where pride is thicker than water!

Hard hitting British Drama at it?s best.