Stoker Review

 Stoker

Director: Park Chan-Wook

Stars: Mia Wasikowska, Nicole Kidman, Matthew Goode, Dermot Mulroney & Jackie Weaver

Running Time: 94 mins

Release: 1 March 2013

After India Stoker's father Richard Stoker (Mulroney) dies, her uncle Charlie (Matthew Goode) whom she never knew existed decides to stay to comfort her and her unstable mother Evelyn Stoker (Nicole Kidman).

Mia Wasikowska absolutely steals the film as India. I see her as a grown up Wednesday from The Addams Family but a little less morbid. She is a introvert, intelligent, inquisitive, somewhat emotionless (in a good way) lonely, polite and very peculiar. We see the film through her perspective. In some part I feel this film is about the loss of her innocence as the events of the film transpire, not to spoil anything. By the end of the film you'll either love her or hate her. One thing is for sure she goes through a lot in this film.

It's a very restrained performance which could of easily been overdone because of her characteristics and that of which would of ruined the film. She uses a lot of body language in this film and in one pivotal scene you get the gist of what is going on without saying a single word. Also she shares some brilliant chemistry with Matthew Goode in one really pivotal and somewhat beautiful scene with a piece of music by Phillip Glass.

Nicole Kidman plays India's mentally unstable mother Evelyn Stoker. Her and India have a dysfunctional relationship to say the least. She's also rather unassuming too, she seems somewhat oblivious to the events that happen around her early on in the film. Her one little speech towards the end of the film is very good and may upset tome but it's about her and India's relationship. She feels like having India as a daughter has ruined her and her potential, not much is really said about her past. She also becomes infatuated and charmed by Charlie. I know people give Kidman a lot of flak of late for her acting but she excels in this.

Matthew Goode plays the enigmatic and charming uncle Charlie. He plays the part absolutely fantastically. He's very intelligent, cultured, a charmer and very polite though there is a much darker side to him. Though later on the film I found myself to sympathise with him somewhat as his background is slowly eked out. His performance is perfect very nuanced and chilling. He expresses so much with just his eyes. Outside he looks normal and warm but when you look in his eyes there's a coldness to them. His delivery on the “ I just want to be friends” is faultless. His chemistry with Kidman and Wasikowska is on point it could not be better he is equally attached as he is detached from his family. He also has a great car too.

Dermot Mulroney plays Richard Stoker India's favourite parent of whom she went of hunting trips with. He does not say all that much in the film then again he he has a small role and he features in one pivotal scene of which he really sells. He also looks a bit like Gregory Peck in this film.

Jackie Weaver plays Aunt Gwendolyn Stoker. The only other film that I have seen her in is Animal Kingdom. She is very good in this too and she has a rather small but pivotal role. She's very good in her two scenes that she's in.

The soundtrack is superb to say the least, it's exquisite and it's done by Clint Mansell a british musician mostly known for his collaborations with Darren Aronofsky. This soundtrack is suitably very gothic and deliciously dark I absolutely love it. Park Chan-Wook could of not chose a better choice in my opinion. I also hail this as one of my all time favourite film soundtracks. I love the score when India is down in the basement that sent a chill down my spine. I have to have this soundtrack.

Equally impressive is Park Chan-Wook's filming, it's a thing of pure beauty. Everything is done deliberately. He's a fantastic director who perfectly showcases his artistic vision in the film. I love the shot of Evelyn's hair which turns into grass as he moves the camera down it's done effortlessly. I love the use of the light in the basement shifts between shots. Also the sound design has to be the best I have ever heard. I know some people can find it grating or annoying but I absolutely loved it, the sound of the hard boiled egg shell cracking against the the table. And the tightening of India's grip on the pencil. There's a lot of visual motifs in this film.

I cannot write this review without mentioning Wentworth Miller who wrote this film. For his first ever writing credit he's done phenomenally well. The characters are well drawn out and the script is superb. There's a lot of themes coursing through the veins of this film but I don't want to spoil them for you, but once you've seen it you'll understand. One thing is for sure your in for one delectable, dark, gothic and Hitchcockian treat.

The Elephant Man Review

 The Elephant Man

Director: David Lynch

Stars: John Hurt, Anthony Hopkins, John Gielgud, Hannah Gordon, Wendy Hiller, Anne Bancroft, Michael Elphick, Freddie Jones, Helen Ryan and Dexter Fletcher.

Running Time: 124 mins.

Release: 10 October 1980

This film tells the story of the Elephant Man Joseph Merrick ( Hurt) ,though in the film he's called John. Who's enslaved and abused by Bytes (Jones) scraped a living as a sideshow freak. That's until Dr Frederick Treves (Hopkins) finds him to initially test him for his deformities and gradually a friendship forms as Treves discovers there's a man of great intelligence and sincerity beneath his monstrous deformed appearance. This film is an absolute tear jerker. I have never cried so much watching a film.

John Hurt masterfully plays Joseph Merrick there's no other real way to describe it I was left speechless by his performance. Merrick is a man of great intelligence, sincerity, honesty and very cultured to say the least in a wonderful man. For Years he's been abused by Bytes and the audience to the sideshow show. There's so many scenes with him in that bring a tear to my eye like when he recites text from the bible which Treves has not taught him, meeting Treves wife (Gordon) and Mrs Kendal (Bancroft) and others which I won't spoil for you. He 's near nigh unrecognisable in appearance and voice. It must have been very hard for him to move about under the heavy prosthetics that he had to wear for the film. This film really shows off Hurt's phenomenal talent which he showcases in all his films. It's a shame he never won a oscar for this because he really deserved it for this role.

Equally Anthony Hopkins gives an Oscar worthy performance as Dr Frederick Treves. Merrick's saviour, protector and friend. He's the first person to see Joseph for what he really is unlike his counterparts in the hospital you could say to an extent he's a maverick. Treves is is a family man though we don't see much of them in the film. He's confident, charismatic, intelligent and ahead of his time. Interestingly Treves questions his own morality in the film as we see he's helping Joseph, but in his mind he compares himself to Bytes but exploiting him to the rich. I know Hopkins is Welsh and he does a clear cut english accent in this filmThe friendship that develops between the two is brilliant and grows at a natural pace. The first time Treves sees Merrick is such a poignant and expressive without a single word being said. Hopkins is a marvellous actor.

Anne Bancroft plays Mrs Kendal, a beautiful theatre actress who hears of Merrick through the newspaper and feels compelled to meet him. She's only in a handful of scenes in the film and her character plays a big part in the story as she's really the only character we see who wants to genuinely meet Merrick. Like I said before her first scene with Merrick is absolutely beautiful and one of the best scenes in the film. I know Bancroft to be American and in this films she does a english accent in this even though at some times it escapes her but I have no qualms with that.

Freddie Jones plays Mr Bytes who runs the Sideshow that Merrick is initially a part of. He is a nasty little man and there's a sense of restrained menace to him in the early scenes of the film as he tries to charm Treves with his showman skills. He's a real Dickensian character and Freddie Jones plays him brilliantly and he interacts with the other cast members very well giving off a touch of evil. He mistreats Merrick badly, he treats him much less than a animal and these scenes can be hard to watch at times. This may sound odd but in his last ever scene i felt a little bit of pity for him well I did anyway.

John Gielgud plays Carr Gomm a doctor and friend of Treves. He is in a higher position than Treves and is unsure of Joseph Merrick when he enters the hospital until the 'The Lord is My Shepard' scene. Shortly after that he warms to Merrick and is fascinated by him. He's only in a few scenes of the film albeit very important ones especially the hospital committee scene of which Princess Alex (Ryan) interrupts for Merrick's benefit. He's absolutely fantastic in the role.

Hannah Gordon plays Anne Treves, Frederick Treves wife, she's only in one scene in the film and it's one of the finest scenes in the movie, you could say that she makes the scene. With watching Merrick break down into tears over her being nice to him. And her break down when Merrick talks about his mother and how he feels he's let her down. It's a understated performance given by Gordon she's magnificent in the role. Now looking at her IMDB page I recognise her.

Wendy Hiller plays the head nurse Mothershead who has some character development to my surprise. At first she doesn't much like Merrick and doesn't like the idea of having to look after him but as more of the man beneath the visage is revealed she grows to like Merrick. And is in actual fact glad that he's at the hospital towards the end of the film.

Michael Elphick plays the Night Porter at the hospital, he visits Merrick at night and frightens & abuses him and soon gets the idea to exploit him to his friends, following in Bytes footsteps. He's in quite a lot of the film. He's cheeky, somewhat likeable but also a bully and always looking to make a quick buck. He's brilliant in the role and Elphick is a fantastic actor and it's a shame he died at the age of 55 of a heart attack.

Helen Ryan plays Princess Alex who becomes interested in Merrick's case and decides to intervene in at the hearing it's a very small role and she does well in the part and looks equally regal.

I never recognised the young Dexter Fletcher till the end credits of the film. Four years after his first role as Baby Face in Alan Parker's Bugsy Malone. He's still very much fresh faced in this film as Bytes Boy/lackey. As he's already from London he did not have to put on a London accent for the film. His character goes through some character development in the film as early on in the film he follows in the footsteps of Bytes and bullies Merrick but sheds some good when visits Treves to tell him about Merrick and towards the end in one of the most bleakest scenes in the film he decides to help Merrick and abandon Bytes without saying much a word redeeming himself. He does very well for a 14 year old.

John Morris writes the music for the film. He's not a well known musician and his score is very period authentic to the period of the film. It's suitably gothic and very minimal in parts which suits the tragedy of the film it's very beautiful.

I've not seen many David Lynch films the only ones I have seen is Eraserhead which I didn't get or like and then Wild at Heart which was a surreal dark romance film which I really loved. It could be argued that Elephant Man can be titled his most normal film even though It has some surreal elements to it. You can see flourishes of his other work throughout the film. Before I watched the film I heard that Lynch directed this film, which I personally found to be a strange choice but when I watched it I felt he was the perfect fit. It's beautifully shot in black and white which helps encapsulate the nihilism and the look of the smog dirty London of that time it's beautiful. I

t's a film that shows the best and worst in humanity and the morality of man. Throughout the film you can't help but feel pity for Merrick which is not the real intention of the film it tells you to respect him. There's also the theme of class which I love and will be a major part of an up and coming review.

This film is a masterpiece. An unlikely marriage of a surrealistic director, a real story, a mainly British cast and old fashioned Victorian values which has resulted In one of the greatest films ever made.

If.... Review

 If....

Director: Lindsay Anderson

Stars: Malcolm McDowell , Christine Noonan, Richard Warwick, David Wood, , Rupert Webster, Robert Swann, Hugh Thomas, Peter Jeffery, Arthur Lowe, Mary MacLeod & Graham Crowden.

Running Time: 112 mins.

Release: 19 December 1968

This film focuses on a prefect at a public school simply called College and in this school there's a student called Mick Travis (McDowell) who's of the rebellious sort. He and his friends have had enough of the hierarchy at College and decides to redress the balance of hierarchy once and for all over the school year slowly plotting their plan.

Malcolm McDowell gives an outstanding scene stealing performance as Mick Travis a middle-class rebellious school boy who's sick and tired of the hierarchy within College and has violent thoughts and fantasies about committing violent attacks on his oppressors. He's very passionate about his cause “There's no such thing as a wrong war. Violence and revolution are the only pure acts” and what he believes in and forms rebellious group The Crusaders.

His one true pure act of rebellion in the film is stealing a motorcycle and riding it with his friend Johnny clearly enjoying their freedom.

Travis is very charismatic, intelligent, passionate,spirited and has a wicked dark sense of humour and has a real rebellious streak in him throughout the film by simply not obeying the rules and he's also a fantasist w as the film smoothly moves from reality to dream. He also has some of the best lines in the film. He effortlessly pulls off being a well educated public school boy with a blue collar like fantasy of carrying out his revenge on his oppressors . Despite being 25 when he made the film. He's not snooty or snobby like some public school boys seem to be represented as.

Christine Noonan plays The Girl whom Mike and Johnny meet at the cafe when they steal the motorcycle from the dealership. Her one big pivotal scene is the cafe scene which goes from reality to Mike's dream fairly quickly. She then appears sporadicly in later scenes which makes you question If she's real or not. I personally believe that at first she's real then in the later half scene In the cafe she's not and every scene thereafter. I believe from the second half of the cafe that she is a part of Mike's fantasy as he's clearly sexually attracted to her and she's working class and he would like to believe that she would join in in his crusade.

She only says a handful of lines within the film but her character has a pivotal role and she plays the part very well indeed.

David Wood plays Mike Travis one-of-few classmates Johnny an equally rebellious school boy who gallantly joins in with Mike and his mis-behaviour. He has the look of a cheeky school boy and he plays the part very well it's a shame he's not done much since but now he's a famous children's author.

Richard Warwick plays Wallace another one of Mick's few friends who joins in Mick's Crusade. He's also homosexual or bisexual as he forms a relationship with Bobby Phillips (Rupert Webster). He's a very grounded character and plays his part very well it's unfortunate that Warwick died very young at the age of 52.

Rupert Webster plays Bobby Phillips the youngest member of the Crusaders. He's bullied by his peers and the whips and does not really have anyone to talk to or confide in. He's clearly attracted to Wallace as we see in the Gymnastic scene. It would be a fair point to make that his attachment to Wallace is what makes him join the group. He's a really good supporting character in the film. He's a really good actor it's a pity he did not act much after this.

Robert Swann plays Rowntree the chief whip prefect who's very snobbish, wicked stern and nasty and has it in to get Mick and his friends. As they don't follow the rules and gives them a hard time for it. He's the bane of Mick's hatred towards the Whip's. He's incredibly spoilt and always gets what he wants he even has power over some of the members of staff there. It would be fair to say that his character is a bit big for his boots. His one big scene is when he canes Mick, Johnny and Wallace for not following the rules is really harsh but true. He is exceedingly good in the role.

Hugh Thomas plays Denson another chief whip/prefect whom I find personally to be the most typical depiction of a prefect. I don't mean that in a bad way or anything. He's really bossy, strict,lazy patriotic, cruel, vindictive and also power mad as well as being a sexually repressed homosexual. He hides this as he does not want to be mocked or punished. He's very lazy as he gets one the “scum” Bobby Phillips to look after his every need and to be honest I don't think he would even wipe his own backside. He too also likes dishing out punishment to Mick and his friends.

Arthur Lowe plays Mr Kemp a lecturer within College who's in a very high position within the school he seems to be the most stern and strict member of staff within College compared to some of the teachers that we see in the film. He also has a much younger wife and they have a strange relationship. I'll mention her later on. He's fantastic in the small role.

Peter Jeffery plays the Headmaster who's not really in control of the school. He seems rather wimpish and too soft to be a headmaster. He's not stern enough. He gives the pupils pretentious pearls of wisdom. His character almost seems comic.

Graham Crowden plays the History Master who is the most laid back liberal teacher that I have ever seen on screen to date. I was astounded. He let's his pupils say what they think of a time in history if they think it's right or wrong without a single text book getting the way. I could tell he was an engaging teacher. He even comes into class whistling a tune riding on a bike !. In the church scene earlier in the film he looks completely un-interested. In some parts I feel he's like Mike in his own way. I personally feel he was not in it enough and he plays the part perfectly and stole his one real scene.

Mary MacLeod plays Mrs Kemp Mr Kemp's much younger wife. As the running time goes on in the film you can tell that she's in a loveless marriage and she's sexually repressed which is evident in some scenes. One being when Mick and his friends talk to her in the dining hall gently flirting with her and after they leave she's touching her chest and the other being during the battle re-enactment scene she's walking around the Seniors rooms and locker rooms nude touching their clothes. Her role is very small put a pivotal one as she represents a part of the sexual repression within in the school and it's conforming rules.

Also I cannot forget Geoffrey Charter who plays the perverted chaplain and Jute played by Sean Bury who plays a first year student who presents to us what happens to new pupils in the school to make them model students for the school. It's great that we see this film through the eyes of a senior (Mike) and a first year (Jute).

The music is done by Marc Wilkinson and he does a brilliant job on a practically sparse score. The most famous track is a quire with slow drums playing at the same time which works as Mike's theme in my eyes.

Lindsay Anderson has done a fantastic job making this film on a very small budget. It's shot very realistically and in some ways it looks like it's been shot in a documentary style. I should go on to say that some scenes are in black and white and this is not done for any artistic reason or anything it's solely done to keep the budget low as they could not afford lighting and such like for colour. The colour scenes merge well with the black and white perfectly. There's not one shot of place in this film. Also this film is the first in the Lindsay Anderson Mick Travis Trilogy the second part being O'Lucky Man ! And the final part being Britannia Hospital in all of which McDowell has a lead role.

This film is very thematic and tackles a lot of issues; society, hierarchy, power, sexual repression, class and rebellion. All of which are relevant today no wonder it was a controversial film back then. It's an absolute British Masterpiece and I am very keen to see the other parts of the trilogy.

Cool Hand Luke Review

 Cool Hand Luke

Director: Stuart Rosenberg

Stars: Paul Newman, George Kennedy, Lou Antonio, Strother Martin, Clifton James, Morgan Woorward, Jo Van Fleet, Anthony Zerbe,Dennis Hopper, Harry Dean Stanton & Joy Harmon.

Running Time: 126 mins

Release: 1 November 1967

in the late 1940's after serving in WWII Luke Jackson (Newman) is arrested and put in a prison chain gang for being drunk and disorderly whilst cutting off the heads of parking meters because he's in a 'Small town, not much to do in the evenin'. The film is about Luke's fight to never give up or conform to the rules of society or prison headed by Captain (Strother Martin). Whilst becoming a hero and inspiration for his fellow prisoners.

I've heard of Newman and seen his films in passing though never really paid attention to them till now and I have heard that this is one of his most famous iconic roles alongside Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid, The Sting, Hud, Harper and The Hustler.

I was in complete awe of him in this film, he gives a completely outstanding nuanced performance bringing Luke to life giving him real heart and soul so that you can relate, like and sympathise with him. It's a trait that i've heard he possesses for all his roles. He's simply put an everyman and I feel Luke is the true epitome of cool. He starts off being a complete loner and outcast and very much likes it that way. He never gives up nor conforms to any constraint of society be it in the outside world or in prison he'll always fight the rules and get back up from the beatings or put in the box, he does not know how to quit. He has a very laid back attitude hence the nickname Cool Hand Luke.

Early on the film he angers Dragline (Kennedy) who's the big man of the prisoners and they have a boxing match the next day and Dragline keeps knocking him down and he keeps getting back up fighting no matter the beating. Dragline is impressed with Luke's defiance and drive to never give in and begins to respect him and become his friend. After consuming 50 eggs in a hour for a bet he garners the admiration and respect from his fellow prisoners whom hero worship him which he never understands the nature of. He never wanted or chose the role. It then puts unwanted expectation of him to live up to his rep which he'd rather live without !. He's very intelligent, brave, cynical, witty, laid back and charismatic. He also has a cheeky smile which shows his defiance for authority. He has some absolutely amazing lines in this film including “Yeah well....sometimes nothing can be a real cool hand”, “Nah- calling it your job don't make it right. Boss” and “Well that oughta be easy for a genuine son of a bitch”

He is one of my all time favourite characters and Dragline says it's best with “He's a natural born world-shaker”

George Kennedy is equally compelling and loveable as Luke as the big, burly and kind-hearted somewhat man-child Dragline. I could see why he won an Oscar for his role. Him and Luke don't exactly start on the right foot at the beginning of the film but they soon become firm friends. Dragline is inspired and in awe of Luke as he has the fight in him that he himself has lost since been put in the can and conformed And in some part Luke has given him back that fighting spirit. You can tell he cares for Luke greatly when Luke gets put in the box and they come in from roadworks he looks at the box knowing his friend is inside without saying a single word. It expresses so much.

He has such an iconic booming voice too. At first I didn't like Dragline at all but as the film developed he grew on me as a character as Luke brings out his character development. He may be a big man but he's no bully he's much quite the opposite. He also has some absolute fantastic lines in this film, so much son in fact I won't say any of them. Dragline is one hell of a good character.

Strother Martin is a character actor mostly famous for his western roles as that's what he mostly done created an iconic character Captain the Man of the chain gang prison. Who's known for uttering the most quoted line from the film: “What we have here is. . . failure to communicate” which serves as a tagline to the film.He likes all the prisoners to fall in line and Luke is a stickler for the rules, the fly in his ointment and he'll never break him no matter how hard he tries. He also refers to the prisoners that attempt to jump the fences have rabbit blood in them. He's a tough man who does not do all that much he keeps his clean and as Luke would say “he is one rough old boy”. He also has a great southern American accent.

Jo Van Fleet plays Arletta Luke's mother she's only in one scene in the film as it's a pivotal one as it shows the differences between the two and what she wanted for him. Though she understands that her son won't conform to society and that he needs to find his place in the world. It's a great scene. It's not much of a spoiler she dies in the film and we see Luke's wordless reaction to her death.

Lou Antonio plays Koko, Dragline's friend and sort of lackey, his face looked familiar though I can not place it. He's very good in the role.

Anthony Zerbe plays Dog Boy a inmate who works for the officers of the prison who's in control and charge of the dogs of which he uses as a tool to threaten the inmates, he's a rather nasty character but you can sympathise with him how he feels about his dogs.

I didn't know that Harry Dean Stanton in this he plays Tramp a fellow prisoner who comes in at the same time as Luke, like him he has come in for petty offences. He's very good in his small role he sings Just a Closer Walk With Thee which suits the tone of the film completely.

Dennis Hopper plays Babalugats. His character does not really talk it's mostly a silent role and I didn't expect him to be in this film and I was surprised he was in this film. His character is called Babalugats as he babbles quite a lot in the film and does not talk much sense.

Clifton James plays Carr an officer who looks over the bunk house where the inmates sleep. Most famous for his absolutely brilliant 'Night in the box' speech it's a really iconic scene.

Morgan Woodward plays Boss Godfrey or 'No Eyes' as he's called as he wears aviator shades that cover his eyes making him looks soulless he's a stoic and a iconic figure who puts fear into most inmates aside Luke of course. He's the law of the chain gang and is just waiting for someone to cause trouble so he can shoot his gun.

Joy Harmon plays the Girl or Lucille as Dragline likes to call her. She's in only one scene the carwash scene which has been regarded one of the most sexiest scenes in film history. She's provocatively washing a car whilst wearing a very tight dress which garners the chain gangs attention it's a iconic scene and Dragline has some brilliant lines in this scene including one of my favourites “Anything so innocent and built like that just gotta be named Lucille”. Watching the documentary after I had seen the film really gave it some insight to the scene and Harmon's remark on the scene is terrific she supposedly didn't know what she was doing !.

The iconic composer Lalo Schrifin composed the score for Cool Hand Luke and what a beautiful score it is, it's a rather laid back easy going sound score much like the character Luke himself though it can rack up in the more tense scenes of the film,. I have heard of his work before but never of him he's done a great score on this film, I was really impressed with it.

Stuart Rosenberg has done a outstanding and phenomenal job shooting this film. It looks great for a film that came out in 67 especially on Blu-Ray it looks incredibly cinematic and far better than I was expecting I love the air shots in the film where the camera is looking down on the vans which are transporting inmates and when they clear the roads it really gives you a scope of the setting and it looks very barren there. The close up shots are great too especially Godfrey which him look other-worldly.

This film is very thematic covering conformity, society, authority, rebellion, friendship,the human spirit, being an outcast and a underdog who'll never conforming to the rules of society of what's expected of you.Also in some part heroism. You may notice the biblical references in this which I won't say but gives you another way to look at the film, that part is not heavy handed mind you.

The film is an absolute American classic, a one off like Luke never to be seen again. Luke is an anti-hero and a iconic one at that and one of the last true rebels to be seen on the silver screen. I'll watch this film again and again it's a masterpiece in every single sense of the word.

Goodfellas Review

 Goodfellas

Director: Martin Scorsese

Stars: Ray Liotta,Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Lorraine Bracco, Paul Sorvino, Frank Vincent, Chuck Low, Gina Mastrogiacomo, Christopher Serrone & Samuel L. Jackson

Running Time: 146 mins

Release: 26 November 1990

Based on the true story of a former wise guy Henry Hill's (Liotta) rise and fall through the mob spanning almost 30 years all the way from petty thief to a coke addict and dealer with his best friend Tommy Devito (Pesci) and mentor James Conway (De Niro). The film shows the New York blue-collar side of the Italian Mob and it's rules.

Ray Liotta plays Henry Hill for a majority of he film and I have to say he's absolutely flawless and perfect in the role. I have never seen him in a film and he's one i'll be looking out for in films in the near future. I know this film to be a rare instance when he is in a leading role as I know him to be mostly in a supporting role. He's a great leading man in this. He's very charismatic, likeable, intelligent, sleazy & manipulative and when pushed violent and he knows exactly how to get out of a sticky situation. As the events of the film go on he becomes paranoid. Like some mobsters he likes to keep his hands clean and does not like killing people and when he see's people being whacked or buried he's rather sickened and upset by it unlike most mobsters in the film who have become immune to it. This trait makes him the most sympathetic mobster in the film in my eyes.

He also has turbulent stormy relationships with women as a whole in this film. With his wife Karen (Bracco) (which i'll discuss later on) and his mistresses Janice (Mastrogiacomo) and Sandy (Debi Mazar). He's much more focused on work than he is with pleasure. Wanting to better himself from his humble poor beginnings. You can see why he wanted to become a mobster. He really stands out in every scene. He's certainly an actor i'll be looking for in the future and I think he looks a little like Joaquin Phoenix in this film. He also narrates the film brilliantly.

Joe Pesci plays Henry's best friend Tommy Devito a loose cannon mobster who's really hot headed and always feels he has something to prove, he's rather childish. He's the most coldblooded of the mobsters that we see in this film in my eyes. Whacking mobsters and innocent people has zero affect on him, he feels no regret, remorse or pity for those he kills. He's really a disgusting character What offsets this is his innocent relationship with his mother who's played by Scorsese's mother Catherine Scorsese, who also appeared in The King of Comedy as Rupert Pupkin's mother. As she does not really have any idea of what her son does. The scene with him Henry and James in her kitchen is particularly brilliant. It's familiar territory for Pesci being a hot headed violent psychopath as he was in Raging Bull (though more restrained) and Casino. He's absolutely brilliant in the role.

Even though I don't feel any sympathy for the character he's somewhat likeable in his own way.

De Niro is on brilliant perfect form as James Conway. Henry and Tommy's mentor. In like most gangster films that he appears in he plays a gangster though there is one that is against type and that's The Bronx Tale which he directed himself. He's really an intelligent, cool and charismatic character especially in the scene where Cream's Sunshine of Your Love plays and that's all i'm saying. You can see why Henry and Tommy look up to him. He's far more professional than Tommy and Henry. He's not so detached from humanity like Tommy as and when he kills an innocent person for no reason he really has a go at him. You could say James is Tommy's leash he tries to keep him under control and not lose his cool. When things start going south in the film he becomes really paranoid and starts whacking some of his former associates so they can't lead them back to him as he does not want to go back inside.

I'm really surprised that Lorraine Bracco has a major part in this film as Karen Hill. Early on in the film you don't suspect her she'll be a major player in this fill. But when her narration begins you know. You can tell Henry cares about her greatly but as the years go on her their relationship becomes stormy and he becomes unfaithful to her but she's still attracted to him. Also she's robbed of her innocence later on in the film as she becomes drawn into her husbands criminal activities. Also she's the same age as Ray in this film 34 even though they both play younger and older than themselves. I've never heard of Bracco and after looking her up I know she has not been in any major films since. She's really good in the film and I'm surprised she has not been in more.

Paul Sorvino plays Henry's first mentor and father figure Paul Sorvino, a big time mobster in the community. For a big time gangster we don't see him do anything really bad. He's brilliant in the role I must say and completely believable. He's always trying to look out for Henry as he is protege and even though Henry goes over him later on the film he still looks out for him. This makes him likeable and relatable. In that scene particular he appears to be a disappointed father.

Mastrogiacomo plays Janice Rossi, Henry's main mistress. I have to say she looks a bit like Juliette Lewis in this film. She does not say all that much in the film, I really must say she barely says a line at all and she's very good in her small role and conveys a lot of emotion even though she does not say much.

Chuck Low plays Morris Kessler a advertising salesman, his latest scheme is hard to blow off wigs. He is a major player in the big heist in the film and see's himself the brains of the operation when he clearly isn', he's very delusional and runs his mouth a lot constantly asking James for his money which is not a wise move. I've seen similar characters in other films.

Frank Vincent plays the unfortunate made man mobster Billy Batts who angers Tommy who later gets whacked by him, he's great in his one and only scene and his beating and death is rather brutal.

Samuel L. Jackson plays Stacks Edwards a bar guitar player who get's involved in the big heist in the film. Prior to seeing the film I had no knowledge that he was in it and I was really surprised when I saw him in it.

Christopher Serrone plays the young Henry, he has about 20 minutes and his scenes are too narrated by Henry as he is reflecting on his early years. He is very good in the role.

There's a lot of themes in this film; prosperity, poverty, friendship, loyalty, betrayal. I was really surprised how in-depth it was in the workings and rules of the mob and how people came up from being blue collar.

The soundtrack in this film is compromised of artists spanning the nearly 30 year duration of the film featuring the likes of Bobby Darin, Aretha Franklin, Cream, Muddy Waters & The Shangri-Las, The Crystals among many others and the songs are all well placed in the film, there's not a song that's not in place. Some of the songs act like themes to some of the characters. Of course The Rolling Stones feature on the soundtrack which is one of Scorsese's traits in his films, they are never out of place.

Martin Scorsese films with his usual stylistic professional flair there's not much else I can say on it. It's sheer brilliant and could of not be done better in my eyes. The acting is flawless, the script beats along with the pace of the film, the soundtrack is perfect and well fitted and there's a great sense of period authenticity to the film with the costumes, interiors, cars and music. I can see why this film is one of his best regarded films but it does not top The King of Comedy which is my absolute favourites Scorsese film.

The Raid: Redemption Review

 The Raid: Redemption

Director: Gareth Evans

Stars: Iko Uwais, Joe Taslim, Donny Alamsyah, Yayan Ruhian, Pierre Gruno, Ray Sahetapy, Tegar Satrya & Eka 'Piranha' Rahmadia

Running Time: 141 mins

Release: 18 May 2012

In Jakarta, Indonesia there's a slum and in this slum there's a 30 storey tenement block run by a ruthless and merciless crime lord Tama (Sahetapy) and the majority of tenants are his personal army of thugs and killers making it a near nigh impenetrable fortress. 20 elite S.W.A.T. Cops enter the building to take down Tama, though as their mission begins they soon realise it will be very hard to make it out alive let alone to get Tama.

Before continuing on with the review I should mention that this films fight scenes are (mostly) in the Silat style and variations of it and they are simply outstanding one of the many reasons to watch this film.

Iko Uwais is the star and the main protagonist of the film. He plays rookie cop Rama who has a mission of his own when they get inside the tenement. He also has a wife and a unborn child who gives him hope and a reason to fight for, to get out of their alive. He's brave, courageous, intelligent, quick and one hell of a fighter. He features in most of the fight scenes, all of which are intense & high octane. But his ones are the best. The moves he performs in this film really take your breath away. I can't say much more without spoiling anything is but what he does early on with a truncheon and a knife really sets the proceedings of what's to come. He is an absolute bad ass in this film.

He's absolutely amazing and believable in the role of Rama, you really root for him through the film and we see the film mostly through his eyes. He goes through a hell of a lot in this film. It's really a commendable job for his first western released film and I cannot wait to see him in more, he's a true action star in the making.

Joe Taslim plays Rama's superior Sgt Jaka, he's the second in lead protagonist. He seems to be the only other cop in the film that seems to trust Rama's abilities from the get go.Like Rama he believes in the right thing to do; carry on with their mission and get out of their alive. He's a fantastic actor though he's only in one fight scene.

Gruno plays Lt Wahyu, a big giant brute of a man, he's ruthless and quick on the trigger and basically screws up the cop's operation which I won't spoil for you. His fight scene in the drug room is awesome and I honestly did not expect him to do what he did. He's the most complex character of the cops.

Satrya plays Bowo, a fellow cop who dislikes Rama, that's until he gets injured and Rama helps him. He's great in the role albeit it's a small one

Rahmadia who's a stuntman plays Dagu a cop who can fight just as good as Rama and he really proves himself in the drug room scene which I loved.

Sahetapy plays the sadistic, smart, ruthless crime lord Tama, he does not have much screen-time for a villain but he's great in every scene and I must say I really admire how he retains his cool through the film. He's a right evil son of a bitch too.

Donny Alamsyah plays Andi, one of Tama's chief underlings and is the brains of Tama's operation. I can't say much about him spoiling anything, but I will say he's one complex character and he features in the best fight scene in the film.

If Iko's the main protagonist, Mad Dog is the lead antagonist. He's played pitch perfectly by Yayan Ruhian. He steals every scene he's in,he's magnificent to watch. He plays him with such intensity. There's nothing human behind his eyes he's a savage wild animal. He does not like to kill his opponents with guns or melee weapons, he would rather get down and dirty and do it with his hands. He is an excellent fighter and near nigh unstoppable and relentless and incredibly quick. He does not know how to give up. Both his fight scenes are excellent and stand out scenes of the film and they are both quite long and really shows how brutal he is. I'm surprised how agile he is for a man over 40 !. I'm really pleased that Ruhian will be back in The Raid 2: Berandal

Garth Evans has already become one of my favourite directors. He's really blown me away with this film. He has shot this film expertly, creatively and inventively. There's nothing quite like it. The fight scenes are some of the best shot scenes I have ever seen. He really gets in close to the action at times making you flinch and drop your jaw in awe at the same time.

I particularly love the corridor fight scenes, the drug room fight scene and the final fight scene are amazingly shot I could not fault them at all and I cannot forget the tense scene where Rama and Bowo are hidden behind a fake wall while one of Tama's thugs thrusts his machete into the wall. I really loved the panning shot from behind the wall to in front of it it's a really tense and the last hour is pure cinematic gold. Evans really know how to build the tension and the ante. I loved every minute of it. The fight choreography is the best i've ever seen and there's practically is barely any CGI in this film.

What really helped with this was Mike Shinoda's and Joseph Trapanese (of Tron Legacy fame) electronic score it's beautiful to listen to. Every track suits the atmosphere of the particular scene. I really love the sort of techno dance track that goes with Rama vs The Machete gang. I was really surprised that Shinoda did the score of this film, well had a part of it. I know him from Fort Minor and Linkin Park and it's great that he's turned his hand to doing film scores I would really like to see him do more. I really need to get this soundtrack.

I watched the film on Blu-Ray and on the disc there's an interview with Shinoda and Trapanese about the film score which I watched after the film and it was very interesting to watch. It gave me an insight to how they did the score.

Wrapping up this review I have to say from the heart . Thus film is simply the most taut, exciting, tense, blistering, brutal,realistic,atmospheric, claustrophobic, stunning and amazing action thriller that i've ever seen. There's no substitute or compromise The Raid is one of the finest action films ever made and my personal favourite of it's kind. If you've never seen this film and your keen to see it your in for one hell of a ride and bring on The Raid 2: Berandal !

This film is an absolute nasterpiece.

Entertaining Mr Sloane Review

Entertaining Mr Sloane

Director: Douglas Hickox

Stars: Peter McEnery, Beryl Reid, Harry Andrews & Alan Webb

Running Time: 94 mins

Release: 27 July 1970

Kath (Reid) takes in a new lodger Sloane (McEnery) a handsome and amoral and immoral young man who begins to manipulate (both mentally and sexually) her and her brother Ed (Andrews). Though Kath's father Kemp 'Dada' (Webb) recognises him as the murderer of his former employer.

I've never heard of Peter McEnery before let alone any of his work and I was really surprised by his performance in this film. I never suspected him to have a northern accent either, he delivers an incredible performance as the jack the lad wide boy Sloane who's immoral, amoral, cruel, bitter, often funny and somewhat sympathetic and incredibly charismatic and a absolute charmer. He really knows how to turn the screws and manipulate Kath and Ed and bullies Dada. He sexually toys with Kath and Ed with how he dresses and what he does and and has a way of words to get them around. He can be viscous of which is shown in a few instances of the film, they are brief but they show what he's really capable of. McEnery acted in a lot of films during the 70's his amount of work has died down a lot.

Beryl Reid an actress whom I know to be a character actress though i've never seen her in anything before, she really steals the film in this as a ageing nymphomaniac who toys and seduces with Sloane. The character has a lot of depth to her I think she's the most fleshed out of the cast and it seems that she has dual personalities and can flip just like that. She's playful, manipulative, cunning and incredibly intelligent, though at some points in the film she seems a bit dopey, you don't really know what she's like towards the end of the film. She's meant to be 42 but she in fact looks 10 years older and roughly she was when she did this film. You could tell she was having a fantastic time in the role.

Harry Andrews plays Kath's brother Ed, he's also the son of Kemp and has fallen out with him. He's a businessman and drives around in a roofless pink car with far too much suspension which makes it hilarious to watch when it's moving !. He's gay and Sloane knows how to toy with him as indicated in their first scene. I find him to be the best character in this film as he's incredibly vile, bitter and cruel but not as much as Sloane and he has a stormy relationship with his sister. The dialog between them is absolutely wonderful and a joy to hear. He undoubtedly has some of the best lines in the film. Andrews inhabits the role very well and does a stellar job at it making you believe that such a character is real. It's also how he looks too and mannerisms that helps his performance, he's a really good character actor and I am really keen to see him in The Ruling Class which has Peter O'Toole in.

Alan Webb plays Kemp also known as Dada and I really have to say watching him reminded me of Albert Steptoe from Steptoe and Son with the way he dresses, looks, acts and says reminded of me of him so much I just kept thinking to myself Albert Steptoe would of said/done that !. I would go as far to say Wilfrid Brambell would of played him perfect too. He's the most sympathetic of the characters and like Reid and Andrews he's a character actor and he's brilliant in the role.

I cannot write this review without mentioning Joe Orton's terrific tact for writing. He was a play writer who had some of his work adapted to films; well this and Loot. Known for black comedies this film in particular has a dark unexpected twist. Also his dialog is brilliantly written I had no faults with it the characters barbs at each other are sharp and memorable. I should also mention the dialog is basically about the plot there's no diversion from it at all.

As it's based on a play there's minimal locations; the graveyard and caretaker of the church house which is suitably & beautifully gothic and a brief scene at a pool and down the shops which is perfect for the film. The sets are brilliant and slightly claustrophobic which helps with the atmosphere of the film Hickox has done a outstanding job directing this film.

The music is done by George Fame who also sung the catchy theme tune which plays in some instances of the film. He also uses music for visual cues which I found rather unusual as they were quite loud. I should also mention that Behold, thou hast made me my days by Orlando Gibbons, that plays in the intro of the film is beautiful in the title sequence of which is tragic as this film was made a few years after Orton's untimely death.

If you love well acted, black comedies with brilliant dialog you could not do much better watching this film. it's simply fantastic.