Film Reviews by KF

Disappointing

No shortage of money spent on scenery, props and extras. You just wonder why this story justified such expenditure. Who authorised it?

It's done well enough but never really captures the moment. There are much better ways to spend over two hours of your life.

Not very engaging

No chemistry between the stodgy Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga. Poor dialogue, poor direction, not very engaging!

Of limited appeal

I was wondering why a film like this would get made but, judging from the reviews, it seems it has an appeal to some people. But not to me! I thought it was self absorbed emotional masochism and didn't interest me in the slightest.

Not what you might think

Doesn't start very promisingly, you think it's going to be one of those films where self absorbed characters do nothing of any note. But you'd be wrong! It gathers momentum with plenty of twists and turns and some excellent acting. Surprisingly enjoyable!

Fascinating but....

How unflattering to American youth is this film? Hard to believe 4 college students could be so stupid, drugs must have been involved surely. Didn't really like the juxtaposition between the real characters and the dramatic characters, would have preferred the (barely believable ) story to unfold on its own. Unlovely film with unlovely characters and rubbish F strewn dialogue but quite fascinating all the same!

Vacuous nonsense

Actually thought Nicholas Cage did better in this rubbishy film than he has in other recent efforts. I would suggest, however, that he should choose his films more carefully in future! The film itself is dark, with little to engage your interest or provide any memorable moments.

The answer to jaded shark movie palates.

The producers came up with an innovative answer to revitalise jaded shark movie palates. Make the shark bigger! And it works! (sort of)

No surprises here

Easy to watch comedy with Rowan Atkinson doing what he does best, well supported by Ben Miller and especially by Emma Thompson.

If you've seen the earlier films there's nothing here to surprise you though, it's very much more of the same but obviously not so fresh.

Read the book instead

I didn't enjoy Dan Stevens' portrayal of Dickens but otherwise there were characterful performances not least from Christopher Plummer and the scenes of early Victoriana looked authentic (and expensive!). One wonders, however, whether there was really a story worth telling here, we've had so much Dickensian drama from the BBC and others over the years.The stories told by his books are better I think than the story told by the film.

The story deserved better.

I think the film gets better marks than it deserves because of the nature of the story, It deals with a weighty issue and even if half true it's an amazing story that deserves to be told. It never gripped me, however. Surely this was a dangerous and threatening time but you never felt the danger, instead there was an underlying flipness about it that undermined any sense of authenticity. I also thought the lead, John David Washington, lacked screen presence, charisma and gravitas.

You'll need patience

The film deals with some weighty personal issues in the context of young girl's adherence to the rules of the Witness Movement but in an agonisingly slow and low key manner. Some might find it revealing. It certainly isn't a Witness Movement recruitment film. A good effort for what it is perhaps.

A Refreshing change

An old fashioned romantic film noir. Executed with English style and charm by a very good cast. A refreshing change from American cocaine snorting, in your face, comic book characters, special effects, sub standard dialogue tedium that seems to have popular appeal these days.

Contrived

Some agonisingly slow scenes of inactivity, rehashed scenes from better movies, nothing original or imaginative or, frankly, very interesting. A bit creepy here and there but not scary.

Fails to engage

Based on a true story , this should have been as engaging as the many other mobster films, but it isn't! Disjointed, surprisingly low key too often, gloomy cinematics, lack of screen presence amongst some of the cast. Just about watchable,

Watch and forget kind of film

Denzil Washington let down by an Inferior plot and dialogue. Becomes more predictable as the film goes on, one or two good action scenes though. I agree with others, not a patch on the original - why are sequels always so disappointing I wonder.