Film Reviews by Pete W

Someone in France saw "Shakespeare in Love" and decided to do something similar about their national playwright, Moliere. Entertaining enough but I expect it would have been more interesting if I had more than a long forgotten French A level standard acquaintance with the works of Moliere

I found this a disappointing sequel to "Elizabeth", mainly because of the liberties taken with history and geography. The film is centred around the Armada - which would make Elizabeth in her 50s which Cate Blanchett clearly is not. Walter Raleigh is given a starring role in the defeat of the Armada but there is no mention at all of Cecil or Leicester. The affair between Raleigh and Bess Throckmorton is moved forward by 5 years and it is suddenly possible to see the coast of France from Tilbury. All this inaccuracy (and an invasive musical score) eventually overwhelms the film despite good portrayals by Blanchett, Clive Owen and particularly Geoffrey Rush.

OK, the message of the film might be a little trite but I defy anyone not to find their foot tapping along to the lively dance numbers. Travolta makes a good fat lady, Pfeiffer is a great bitch and there are quite a few new kids on the block who can sing pretty well. So sit back and enjoy.

Superb performance by Timothy Spall who shows us the humane side of an executioner and the eventual trauma which his profession causes to those who carry it out and their families. The film evokes the atmosphere of the 1930s to 1950s when capital punishment was an accepted part of everyday life but by the mid 1950s we see the unease caused by executions of innocent men like Evans and Bentley and of women - Ruth Ellis in particular. A strong cast all round. Based on fact, only one incident appears improbable but may be true for all I know. Recommended for those who enjoy a thought provoking film on a serious topic, well acted.

Mike Leigh invokes the atmosphere of London in 1950 perfectly. Vera Drake is an ordinary caring housewife and mother with a secret which eventually shames herself and her family. The only slightly heavy handed part of the story overemphasises the "one law for the rich, one for the poor" point which the film makes. Excellent acting all round with not a weak cast member but Imelda Staunton is a revelation.

A reasonably entertaining way of passing 2 hours and twenty minutes. The story itself is recycled from various conspiracy theories and highly improbable but works as a mystery. I haven't read the book so can't judge how closely the film follows the book. Tom Hanks is a bit wooden for me, Sir Ian is a mad Gandalf on crutches and Paul Bettany flagellates himself with vigour.

I'm afraid this didn't really grip me as a story. Too many stereotypical 1980s students and James McAvoy can't pass for 18. Mark Gatiss does a good impression of Bamber Gascoigne though.

Definately not one of those dreadful films about the life and loves of the Windsors but a worthwhile attempt to portray the reaction within the royal household to the death of Princess Diana. At the time, the Royal Family seemed callous and uncaring. In the film some of them still are (particularly Philip) but the Queen herself (wonderful performance by Helen Mirren)is obviously in shock and needs rescuing (much to her chagrin) by young Mr Blair. Michael Sheen has deservedly got a monopoly on portrayals of our former Prime Minister - the voice and mannerisms are perfect. A scene stealing turn as the Queen Mum with an unexpected hard edge by Sylvia Syms. But worth watching for Helen Mirren's performance alone.

If you have an interest and some background knowledge of the French revolution, then you will be interested in this film. If, like me, your prior knowledge is sketchy, you might struggle to retain your interest as the film doesn't explain the historical background and it is assumed that you know who the main characters are and what they stand for. When it was released, the film had relevance to the existing political situation east of the Iron Curtain but that has faded now. Good performances by Depardieu in the role which I think bought him to international knowledge and by Pszoniak as a creepy Robespierre.

A film worth seeing - it explores the political situation in Ireland in the 1920s with a war of independence against the British turning into a civil war. The film has a very definite political bias towards the non-Treaty IRA and against the English and the Free Staters. A more even handed approach might have made for a more gripping drama.

Classic BBC adaptation of two Trollope books. Some very fine acting from Donald Pleasance (who can be quite disturbing even when playing a saintly clergyman) Geraldine McEwan as a battleaxe par excellence and stealing the show is Alan Rickman, outstanding as the slimy Mr Slope. Nigel Hawthorne plays Sir Humphrey Appleby in clerical garb.

A good quality film which seeks to get beneath the skin of the Japanese defenders of Iwo Jima, from the perspective of officers and soldiers. The portrayal of the Japanese is sympathetic, showing them as brave soldiers, even if some of them feel that the sacrifice they are being asked to make is pointless. A good cast deliver solid performances. Be prepared however as practically the whole film is in Japanese.

A collection of British actors adopt American accents (or in Geraldine McEwan's case a totally incomprehensible accent) for this Spanish film. Fairly weak and predictable story line in which most of the characters are unpleasant in one way or another, meaning that you don't really care what happens to them. Main message of the film? If you don't want your mother to find out you're gay, don't leave your pants behind in another guy's bathroom.

Very faithful to Jake Arnott's book, this series follows London gangster Harry Starks through the 60s into the 70s. Lots of simularities with real life characters such as the Krays, Jack the Hat McVitie, Diana Dors (or is it Barbara Windsor?)and Lord Boothby and appearances by safely dead real persons such as Judy Garland and Johnny Rae. Excellent cast with good performances all round. But Mark Strong is perfect as Starks in a performance that holds the whole series together.

A biographical film about Jane Austen - but how much is fact and how much is surmise? Did Austen really nearly elope with the future Lord Chief Justice of Ireland? Half the fun of this film is trying to spot the parallels between the alleged facts in the film and incidents or characters in Austen's fiction. The Austen parents bear a strong resemblance to the Bennetts in Pride and Prejudice, Maggie Smith plays a Lady de Bourg type and I suppose James McAvoy is meant to be either D'Arcy or Willoughby.