Film Reviews by GI

Although ostensibly a sequel to That'll Be The Day (1973) this is thematically a very different film. Beginning in 1963, a couple of years after the end of the previous film, Jim MacLaine (David Essex) is now a member of a struggling pop group. He seeks out his old friend and mentor, Mike (Adam Faith) to help them by becoming the band's roadie. Mike's ability to wheel and deal soon has an affect and the band's fortunes begin to grow. But fame has a price. This is one of the best films about the music industry and it's a stark condemnation of the reality of fame. In summary it's about the rise and fall of a rock star and Essex gives a quite remarkable performance as the selfish Jim who sacrifices all to get to the top. The soundtrack is a delight with songs from the 60s through to the early 70s and the film borrows snippets from the history of real bands most notably The Beatles in the scenes of the early years in a 'cavern' type bar. This is film that deserves rediscovery, it really is a remarkable story of how business overrides the artist and eventually destroys him. One of the best films about the price of fame. Newly released and restored for DV & BluRay this is worth checking out.

This is a really smart British kitchen sink drama set in post war Britain and charting the early years of a young man deserted by his father who, despite his intelligence, abandons his future, runs away from home and tries to discover some direction in life. Rising pop star David Essex is rather excellent as the young man, Jim MacLaine, and courageous with this role as Jim is a despicable character. Cowardly, deceitful and lacking any sense of responsibility the film follows his life from leaving his domineering mother to fairground worker and his eventual return home, marriage and ultimate desertion of his wife and child. Along the way he treats women as objects (in part revenge for his early rejection by girls) and at one time rapes a teenager. So for Essex to not only take this role but also manage to play the part with such conviction warrants applause. The film accurately creates Britain of the late 50s and early 60s and the depiction of an everyman who yearns for fame and fortune but who is selfish and weak is superbly done. Ringo Starr gives an excellent performance as Jim's friend and mentor but who is ultimately betrayed by him and the remaining cast are all fabulous including James Booth, Robert Lindsay and Rosemary leach. The soundtrack is fantastic with many classic rock 'n' roll songs from the period. A forgotten gem and a drama that deserves rediscovery so highly recommended if you've never seen it.

A rather formulaic and thoroughly predictable British comedy from the same team that made Fisherman's Friends (2019), and here we have more of the same type of narrative. It's a film that seems rushed as issues get resolved with lightening speed with dollops of script loaded exposition hurtling towards the ending we all see coming from the first ten minutes. Here we have prodigal son and former pop star Cal (Jon Davies) returning to the failing Somerset village pub run by his grumpy Dad (Martin Clunes) and younger brother Jake (James Buckley). The village nasty is successful landlord and rival pub owner Pritchard (Luke Treadaway) and the film follows Cal's endeavours to brew an award winning beer while trying to win back his old girlfriend (Gabriella Wilde) from Pritchard. It's all very unpretentious, creates the quintessential and idyllic English village scenario and filled with characters such as Mark Addy's local drunk, Paxman. A film that is enjoyable but forgettable.

Writer and director Chris Nash is clearly a fan of Friday The 13th series, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Saw series and no doubt every slasher film ever made as he creates a melting pot of all of them here. Another, often tiresome, Cabin In The Woods scenario, with seemingly endless scenes of the killer meandering through the woods with the camera staying a safe few metres behind him most of the times. I will say though there's some imaginative and very gory killings, one of which is quite unique! In short a group of youngsters stay in the aforesaid cabin, find a pendant at a deserted shack in the woods and take it which brings to life the corpse of 'Johnny', who stalks them killing as he goes. I didn't find much new here apart from the odd death having some imagination behind it. It's a slasher film about a zombie who wanders the woods with murder on his mind.

A space set thriller that is watchable but hinges on a somewhat ridiculous premise. A few years in the future the International Space Station crew of three Russians and three Americans, all scientists, have their harmonious existence on board carrying out experiments thrown into disarray when a major nuclear war erupts back home between their two countries. The crew can only watch in horror as the blue/green Earth turns into a fiery red nuclear holocaust landscape. The tensions begin when both sides are instructed to take control of the station by any means. In other words science out, politics in. This is where the film is a little too unbelievable in that these highly educated and dedicated scientists very quickly change into murderous psychos. There is little attempt at a script where the six of them have to think about their predicament, not least of course going home to a nuclear decimated world; this is never discussed. Overall this is ok and there's some interesting visual delights and some nervous tension but overall it's forgettable.

Of the various sequels that have been made since Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991) this is the only one that has made a valiant attempt to take the franchise into a fresher territory. The result is actually far better than often reported and this is due to it being a full on post apocalyptic combat film rather than the hackneyed time travel and chase story that all the other films have followed. This one is set in 2018 after the nuclear war and the rise of intelligent machines in the guise of 'SkyNet' that sees humanity as a threat to the Earth and its own future and so begins a campaign to wipe out any surviving people. John Connor (Christian Bale), aided by the knowledge provided to him by his mother after her battles in the past with Terminators, is trying to convince his superiors how to fight the war. At an attack on a SkyNet installation he discovers the plans for the building of Terminators but his bosses already have a plan to defeat the machines. Then John meets Marcus (Sam Worthington), a drifter who has amnesia but who holds the key to maybe winning the war. This film has a great vision of a future after a nuclear war and is filmed in washed colour tones that highlight the dystopian landscape. The effects are excellent and there are homages and references to the first two Terminator films. The action set pieces are really very good and the plot quite clever although you have to be very familiar with the first two movies to understand the timeline affects that have been caused. Anton Yelchin plays a young Kyle Reese and Helena Bonham Carter cameos as a scientist working for Cyberdyne Systems in the past. A much better film than cited and whilst it's not a patch on the first and most original films this is worth checking out.

One of those rare sequels that's as good if not better than the original and certainly this broke new ground with digital effects and is a much more ambitious affair than the 1984 first film. As a science fiction action thriller it's hard to beat this, it's ambitious, bold, exciting and has some fantastic set pieces which, at the time of its release were really ground breaking. The chase sequences, especially the final climactic chase involving a helicopter and tanker truck, remain impressive even though they've been much copied since. When you think about it the story is much the same as the original film, this time director and writer James Cameron cleverly inverted the protagonists to toy with audience expectations. But even now, knowing who is on who's side doesn't detract from the sheer spectacle and entertainment value. The backstory here is that since the events in 1984 Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) has trained to protect her son and is a modern day warrior but she's been caught trying to blow up a computer factory and is now incarcerated in an asylum. Her young son John (Edward Furlong) is in foster care and a bit of a delinquent. This is the situation as the film begins. Once again, from the future where mankind is battling global annihilation by super intelligent machines, a Terminator (Robert Patrick) is sent back this time to kill the young John, a future leader for humanity. He in turn sends back a protector, this time a re-programmed Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger). So in essence Schwarzenegger becomes the good guy this time around and has to take on an advanced model of assassin, one that can change shape which results in the innovative effects the film is now famous for. But apart from the action, chases (after all the Terminator films are basically huge chase stories), there is an interesting look at what it means to be human, a theme often found in sci-fi narratives. This is explored more in the two extended versions of the film - the Special Edition and Ultimate Cut. These are the ones to watch and include more in regards to the boy's relationship with the machine programmed to learn and befriend people rather than kill them. There's also some extended scenes and Michael Biehn cameos in a dream sequence plus some more effects as Patrick's terminator begins to malfunction in the film's climax. (The Ultimate Cut has a coda added which is the only difference in the extended versions). In short this film is action packed, great fun but also has something interesting to say in the genre. An important film and if they'd ended it there that would have been ok as most of the films that have followed are mediocre or downright poor.

Visually spectacular in places this science fiction film entertains because the screen charisma of star Ryan Gosling, who carries this film which drifts into silliness at times so it lacks the gravitas the narrative implies, the saving of the Earth. Gosling plays Grace, a brilliant scientist who has been sidelined by the scientific community for his theories on the origins of life and resorts to being a humble school teacher. This is a role he loves though so being recruited by icy Government scientist, Eva (Sandra Hüller) to be part of a team trying to save the world ends up with him being a very reluctant astronaut. The film begins with Grace awakening from a deep coma aboard the space craft with no memories. He soon gets them back though and the reasons are told in flashback sequences which helps break up the story especially where it risks becoming a bit dull. Ultimately this is a story of friendship, tolerance and difference centred around Grace's relationship with a strange alien that he encounters who is on the same mission for his planet. Nicknamed Rocky, due to his rock like appearance, they bond and resolve the problems, obviously. Rocky is a bit ETish and occasionally the comedy injected into the film is tiresome and only just manages to keep the film from farce because of Gosling's persona. He is eminently watchable as a screen star and carries this film only occasionally drifting, for me, too far into slapstick. There's a charm to the main storyline though and the film doesn't try for awe or tragedy making it more of a family space adventure than a serious save-the-world epic.

Although it spawned a series of films this, the first and original, is still an important and utterly entertaining science fiction action thriller. It cemented Arnold Schwarzenegger as a major star and opened up the future for director James Cameron. Viewed today the sharpness of the editing and the completeness of the story shine out. It is a brilliant conceived plot and as time travel narratives go it is well thought out. Even the obvious model work is extremely well done and doesn't detract from the films look nor its achievements. There have been a few films that place humanity against machines or AI that include such classics as 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), Blade Runner (1982) The Matrix (1999) and Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) each exploring slightly different themes. Here the story commences in 2029 after a nuclear war and intelligent machines have risen from the war intent on destroying what remains of mankind. To do this they send a killing machine back in time to 1984 to murder the mother of a future resistance leader. To try and stop this the human leader sends back a soldier to protect her. What follows is a really exciting action film with Linda Hamilton playing the naive teenager suddenly finding herself pursued by a relentless and unfeeling killer and finding help and eventually love in her protector, Reese (Michael Biehn). Terminator 2: Judgement day (1991) broke new ground in special effects and is often cited as the best in the Terminator series but this the first is still a key science fiction film and is equal to the sequel for it's audacity, vision and superb story. It's an important film in the genre and TechNoir sub genre. Worth checking out again to remind yourself just how good it is.

A faultless, riveting and brilliantly conceived mystery thriller with a beautiful love story at its heart. François Cluzet ( the French equivalent of Dustin Hoffman - he even looks like him) is Alex, a paediatrician, who still grieves for his wife Margot who was murdered by a serial killer eight years ago although for a time Alex himself was a suspect in her death. When the bodies of two men are discovered close to where Margot was killed the police reopen the investigation and soon Alex finds himself under suspicion again. When he receives an enigmatic email that suggests Margot is still alive Alex finds he's caught in a conspiracy where everyone has a secret about the past and he is forced to go on the run. This film never misses a beat, the plot hooks you in and keeps you guessing throughout and it rattles along at a marvellous pace. It's shot in a stunning series of pastel colours that make the whole thing rather wonderful and I challenge anyone to find a finer thriller than this. With a support cast that includes Kristin Scott Thomas and Marie-Josée-Croze this is about as good as you can get for a modern genre piece. And to top it all there's a romantic thread that binds the whole story together in a rather magical way that will leave a tear in your eye. Highly recommended if you've never seen this.

A solid seafaring adventure story set in during the Napoleonic Wars starring Alec Guinness as the firm but fair Captain of a British warship that sets sail to join the fleet in the Mediterranean. He's beset by problems from the sadistic martinet second in command (Dirk Bogarde) and the slow build up of a disgruntled crew tired of the poor conditions and routine punishments in His Majesty's Navy. There's some swashbuckling action along the way although this is mostly a well performed character study with first class performances. Anthony Quayle plays the head of the mutineer crew. It's an entertaining British film from the early sixties with a plot that has been done before but if you have a fondness for such films it's worth rediscovering.

Here is a relationship drama, a coming of age drama, a social introspective all rolled into a scathing vision of American privilege. Set in the early 1970s this follows the dysfunctional, bored and hypocrisy of two families where sexual repression dominates their dull lives. The Hood family of Ben (Kevin Kline) and Elena (Joan Allen) is one of deceit, as Ben is having an affair with Janey (Sigourney Weaver) of the Carver family. The two families are friends although this weak connection highlights that hypocritical need for social interaction that is entirely based on lies. The Hood's children, Paul (Tobey Maguire) and Wendy (Christina Ricci), are exploring sexual awakenings to various degrees with Wendy, experimenting with both the Carver children (Elijah Wood & Adam Hann-Byrd). Drugs and alcohol blending into their world of jealousies and confusion. Into this melting pot of angst the adults lie to one another, are lured to a swingers party, with various highly charged results, whilst the their children interact behind their backs with tragic results. The climax occurring during the titular ice storm. This is an interesting and convoluted drama, very well written, and a sharp condemnation of that strata of American east coast society that hides it's falseness behind money, religion and status. An interesting film that holds a relevance today.

For those that grew up with children's favourite TV series such as Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet and the like should absolutely love this. This uproariously funny 'puppet' film takes Gerry Anderson's 60s TV shows that used 'supermarionation' and adds adult humour in a political satire of the 'War On Terror' ripping into the heart of America's arrogant foreign policies and it's deluded sense of itself as the country that has a duty to save the world. Broadway actor Gary Johnston is recruited into Team America who cover the world rooting out terrorists and WMDs. He has to infiltrate terrorists and kill them aided by their super computer called I.N.T.E.L.L.I.G.E.N.C.E. But the team soon discover they have been betrayed by the Film Actors Guild (F.A.G.) who are in cahoots with North Korean dictator Kim Jong IL. This is really funny stuff and occasionally pushes the comedy boundaries that'll either have you rolling in the aisles or really cringing. There's a puppet sex scene, there's puppets dying bloody deaths and a highly funny and quotable script. Homages to other films can be seen throughout with Star Wars being particular favourite and you'll forever say Matt Damon's name in a certain way. With some great songs this is a highly original comedy and a film to return to again and again to spot all the jokes interwoven into the story. It's a riot and definitely one to see if you've never seen it.

One of the definitive American films of the 70s with a mesmerising lead performance by Robert De Niro. He plays Vietnam veteran Travis Bickle. Suffering from PTSD, he has insomnia and takes a job driving a New York taxi on the night shift where he witnesses the degradation and sleaze of the city night life. Pent up, bigoted and steadily slipping into psychosis Travis attempts to find normality in his life but socially inept and uneducated he cannot relate to others. He tries and almost succeeds in a relationship with the beautiful Betsy (Cybill Shepherd), a campaign worker for a local politician. But when this collapses Travis decides a different path which involves trying to 'rescue' 12 year old prostitute Iris (Jodie Foster) from the clutches of her pimp (Harvey Keitel). Travis decides his only route to salvation is through the catharsis of violence. Taxi Driver is a key film in the 70s 'cinema of loneliness' that incorporated works from eminent directors such as Arthur Penn, Stanley Kubrick and Robert Altman. It's a study of the toxic and destructive American masculinity in the post Vietnam War era and a very powerful one at that. With a score by the legendary Bernard Herrmann that is both ominous and reminiscent of 40s and 50s Hollywood and some key moments from the opening slow motion scene of the taxi emerging from the city smog to De Niro's improvised "you looking at me" soliloquy, this is an important film that every film fan needs to see and see again. A study of the perverted product of American society that leads to unprecedented gun violence. It's a masterpiece of modern cinema.

A compelling, outwardly disturbing true story set in Brazil in the early 1970s when a military dictatorship took over the country. The drama recounts the emotional plight of the Paiva family centred around the mother, Eunice (Fernanda Torres, in a dominating and focused performance). With her husband, Rubens (Selton Mello), they have five children and live in a suburb of Rio de Janeiro. Rubens is planning the building of a new house for them all and was previously a left wing politician. One morning agents of the regime ask him to go with them to make a 'deposition' and he is never seen again. Eunice, herself is arrested and tortured, but eventually released she focuses on protecting her family, remaining stoic and protective while she tries to find out what has happened to her husband who the authorities deny they have arrested. This is a story of courage, intelligently told and centred on a mother's protective instincts in the face or real terror, especially as the family are kept under constant surveillance. The performances are excellent, with Torres superb and the children are all flawlessly played. I did feel however that the film shields itself and the audience from the full extent of the horrors of the regime especially in the narrative decision to focus on Eunice's aim to retain normality at home including her resolve to never cry in front of the children. This focus on Eunice doesn't allow the film to really display the effects of the countless miseries the regime inflicted. We get a glimpse occasionally as the children, especially the eldest, tries to probe her mother for answers. But this is a minor criticism in many ways because this is a first rate drama deserving of the accolades it has received.