Film Reviews by JG

This is a high quality rendition of a 70+ year old film, though putting a spoiler into the film’s synopsis is unfortunate. The theme is very dark and intimidating, so the PG rating is a bit surprising. The loose handling of suspects within the Police Station/DA’s office, and the ignorance on the part of the investigators of basic ‘gangster speak’ stretch credibility. The film builds tension effectively towards the end, though the chase scenes do come across with a touch of the Keystone Cops.

Joseph G-L makes a very engaging lead character, played with real passion and immense skill, and the supporting cast give us wonderfully warm characters. The walk itself is portrayed immaculately in its impossible daring and unique artistic beauty. On top of this, though, it’s the recreation of the Twin Towers in all their minute detail and massive scale that steals the show!

At 169 min, strap in for a long ride.

Very engaging performances from all the cast, especially so the three lead players. TARS was a character I really warmed to. Overall a wonderful visual and aural spectacle, and despite its duration it held my interest throughout. It probably could have been a little shorter without losing any of its impact or meaning, though. The dialogue was, to my ears at least, a bit obscured in some of the critical scenes.

A character study of a gentle, good-natured man, Odd Horten, as he negotiates retirement from a long career as a train driver. Odd’s story is told with subtle humour as he embraces the unfolding adventures.

The cast have given us a set of lovingly crafted characters whose quirkiness is initially endearing and amusing. However, what there is of a plot is spread thinly, and is somewhat repetitive, to the point where the film is a third longer than it should have been. No excuse then for the unexplained abrupt changes in attitude within the family members. I feel that the actors have been let down by a poorly assembled finished article.

It's impossible to know what life was like for a 9 year-old boy in 1970 Belfast, but I feel as though this film could be a very realistic depiction. It is blessed with wonderful performances from all of the cast who imbue their characters with genuineness, warmth and depth. Stand-out Jude Hill gives us a nuanced and very believable Buddy. The cinematography is breathtaking throughout, and is ably carried along by a gorgeous Van Morrison soundtrack. The storytelling always feels grounded, and manages to avoid unnecessary sensationalism.

Based on the talented cast, this film should have been a corker. But the direction and editing were woefully poor, and the script lazy, giving us trite, wooden performances and clunky discontinuities in plot and character development. Christopher Ecclestone did the best he could with what he was given, but his performance was stifled by the surrounding mediocrity.

If you can downgrade your expectations and sit back and admire the setting, you can enjoy the film. However the acting is, in the main, rather wooden, and the script disappointing, making the scenes come across too often as clunky. The husband-wife portrayal by Gleeson and Huppert had no credibility. I agree Marisa Tomei is the one giving the most genuine character portrayal by far, with uncomfortably crafted support from Greg Kinnear.