Film Reviews by HE

The unlikeliest lawyer in the world takes on his cousin's murder charge and thanks to his fiancee and his own wit in the courtroom beats the rap. Such a funny clever script and great acting. Brilliant!

I was really gripped by this film and thought it was well-scripted and acted. Keira Knightley gave a superb believable performance. Refreshing to watch a film of fairly recent events portrayed so well. One I would watch again as sometimes it is only on a second viewing that you reallly appreciate the nuances.

It was a revelation to me that Laurel and Hardy made a British tour in the 1950s in the hopes of getting sponsors for a further Laurel and Hardy film. It was so touching to see them performing their hearts out to admittedly some tired audiences at the start and then going on to wow the crowds in Ireland. For me it was the relationship between these two men which sustained them both through all the punishing touring schedule which impressed and this was brought to life with Steve Coogan as Laurel-brilliant impression and impeccable timing. Ollie was awesome, played by John Reilly. The wives were great fun too. Just the top of the bill as far as I'm concerned.

Thoroughly enjoyed this film-simply told as a day and a night in the life of this ex-mining community. The acting from the various characters was so good. I especially enjoyed the little boy on the bicycle trying to find someone-anyone-to play with! Quite gritty in parts, it was nonetheless a rare film. I think you could watch more than once and still appreciate it.

It was alright-did not inspire or excite as a whodunnit. An interesting scenario and colourful characters; helpful prompts that we were rewinding to explain certain characters' stories in the build-up to the murder. I did like the 50s feel about the story but it is not one i would re-visit.

You would need to know your history of the time and who all the main characters are. Impossible not to smile at the hair and beard worn by David Tennant as John Knox. I think the film attempted to give an idea of what it was like for both Queens, Mary and Elizabeth as monarchs and as women managing 16th century politics for very high stakes in a man's world of the time. I enjoyed it for what it was as I like historical drama but several scenes didn't quite come off, especially the fictional meeting between the two women, a very "Braveheart-like" distortion of the facts, but then I enjoyed Braveheart very much!

A story of love and friendship told in an engaging way which had me hooked from the start. Images and sentiments that I will remember for a long time.

Quite a daring plot for the early 1960s I thought. Jack Lemmon's acting was marvellous. The dark side of morals and behaviour of the time explored, especially the role of women in the home and the work place. Not the impact of Some Like it Hot but still very watchable.

A deeply moving story for our time about people caught in circumstances that bring out the best and the worst in them. Life is complicated and messy and there are times when you just have to make a stand and do what you can. Realistic, sympathetic and at times brutal, I couldn't help but be drawn into the dilemmas around the characters. One of the year's best films.

I found myself really drawn to the different characters, especially Moll played by Jessie Buckley. Superb acting from all the characters involved. The plot was irresistible and the tension well sustained to the last. You could hear every word spoken and there were no gimmicks to distract. it kept me thinking and absorbed. I will look out for future films from this director.

This was a refreshing change from the usual animation films around. Strong characters, good plot and an unexpected setting in southerm Spain. Quite strong emotionally for a U? I would not think it suitable for very young children. I thought it extremely clever to have the bull and the matador change roles in the bull ring to get the message across and the bull in a china shop scene was marvellous. Spoiled a bit by the strong American accents of some of the characters. I expected to be bored but was gripped.

Well worth watching at lots of levels: an insight into the fate of perhaps a number of Hollywood actresses who, after a certain point in their lives, became redundant from the Hollywood scene at that time. She chose to continue acting mainly in theatre which is interesting but in Britain which is even more intriguing. I thought the performances were strong from all the characters. The scene from Romeo and Juliet with Bening and Bell moved to tears. I had no knowledge of Gloria Grahame beforehand but I enjoyed this film very much.

A very disappointing film about a fascinating moral dilemma about being a parent, a citizen, a spouse etc. I was aghast that the characters chose such a public setting to discuss the really grave issues that both families faced. I could not engage with any of them, so had no sympathy at all. The politician could only be a politician, not a Dad, etc. Surely all these fine actors can find better material than this?

Having finally finished watching this film, vastly disappointing though it was, I enjoyed a lot of the extras: interviews, how the film was made but most of all about the life of Agatha Christie herself and this made up for the film itself. Such a fascinating story about a real star of a lady. So I find it difficult to see why, with such attention to the life of the author and respect for her work, that this remake did not work in my humble opinion. I can only agree with the majority of the reviews as above.

Lulled by the beauty & nostalgia of early love so elegantly portrayed, I enjoyed every minute of this film. You could just feel the heat of the long summer days & the sadness of the final parting when he breaks down and phones his mum to collect him from the train station was so natural a reaction, I felt I was seeing a piece of real life. No violence was a welcome relief from the norm. As a film, a tad long perhaps; the different languages I thought a little pretentious at first but as English was the main medium, I rather enjoyed hearing French, German and Italian as well-in Europe people do speak more than one language!