Film Reviews by GI

It was no mean feat adapting the famous novel by Herman Melville but this was dream project for director John Huston and viewed today it's a classic Hollywood adventure drama that is exciting, with gritty action and a very plausible use of models. An arguably miscast Gregory Peck, who was a bankable star, plays the infamous Ahab. There is no doubt he's too young for the role but he still does an admirable job in his portrayal of hate-filled obsession. The story is narrated by a young adventurer played by Richard Basehart who signs on for a three year whaling voyage aboard the Pequod. It's only once underway he learns that the mysterious Captain Ahab is committed to hunting just one whale called Moby Dick. A huge white one that has killed many sailors and was responsible for the loss of Ahab's leg. His obsession will drive him to ignore the safety of his crew. There's some great support casting from James Robertson Justice, Harry Andrews, Bernard Miles and Orson Welles cameos as a preacher. If you love classical Hollywood movies then this is certainly one you should check out. It really is a marvellous film despite it's flaws. Huston channels a lot of John Ford in his directing style and the washed out pastel colours give the film a sense of reality. Recently restored to DVD/BluRay this is a real treat for film fans.

The trouble here is that when you put 'Exorcist' in the title you know exactly what you're doing to get every devotee of The Exorcist (1973) either excited or groaning. And The Pope's Exorcist doesn't skimp on stealing well worn scenarios from William Friedkin's classic. So what you have here is a basic demonic possession potboiler, set in the 80s in a gloomy old Spanish chateau, so there's plenty of dark shadows and cobwebby rooms to have a jump scare or two, and a young mother brings her two children to Spain from The US to renovate her deceased husband's family estate. Unfortunately the house hides an evil and soon her young son is possessed by a demon. This prompts the Pope (Franco Nero) to despatch his number one exorcist, Gabriel played by Russell Crowe. This casting is the films strong point, his star charisma holds the film together where a lesser name and actor would have left it mostly laughable. But Crowe adds some seasoning even when the narrative veers into haunted house type territory. All the usual demonic possession tropes are here from vomiting up stuff, weird skin letters, gruff sweary voices etc etc and in that sense it's all fairly unoriginal. Supposedly this is based on the writings of the real Gabriel, a Vatican priest and expert but whatever the truth behind the story is what you have here is a routine horror that is watchable and then forgettable.

The Mist is a horror movie based on a familiar narrative and a homage to the giant monster movies of the 50s such as Them (1954) and The Thing From Another World (1951), indeed director Frank Darabont wanted the film released in black & white to further make that connection but was vetoed by the studio. However his B/W version is available on the BluRay and I highly recommend it over the colour version. Based on a short novel by Stephen King this is a tense, exciting and quite scary monster story where after a severe electric storm a strange mist descends upon a small lakeside town on the east coast USA. David (Thomas Jane) with his young son goes to the local supermarket where along with a host of locals they find themselves trapped when strange and highly dangerous creatures begin appearing in the mist. Like many great films of people being trapped together the central theme is how fear and desperation cause changes in personality and rational people become homicidal. In this film this is represented by Mrs Carmody (Marcia Gay Harden) who becomes a religious fanatic and starts to demand human sacrifice, a demand very much supported by others. There's a great originality to this film, the creatures are very terrifying and unusual. The characters are all brilliantly portrayed and include Toby Jones as a surprising hero. The ending is very shocking so be prepared but I urge you to seek this great film out because it's very, very good.

A remake of Nicholas Winding Refn's 1996 film reset to London and with a bit of the style and 'cheeky chappie' vibe that Guy Ritchie pioneered in his early crime films. It's a fairly simple story really: Frank (Richard Coyle) is a mid level drug dealer who sells his wares in the London clubs and strip joints and is getting more successful to the extent he's despatched an associate to buy a stash of cocaine in Amsterdam and smuggle it back to the UK. But in the meantime he agrees to a one off deal that goes drastically wrong and finds he's in debt to a bigger fish in the trade who wants his money with interest or else. When the Amsterdam deal also goes awry Frank finds his life is in serious danger and he's forced to turn on all his friends. In regard to the story and plot it's nothing overly original or unpredictable but the film does have a swagger and pulse that makes it stylish and very watchable even though the ending is a little disappointing. As a British remake of critically acclaimed European film this hits the spot and is worth checking out if you've not seen it.

Powerful and provocative Mississippi Burning is not only a first rate crime thriller it's a sharp condemnation of American cultural racism that continues to this day. Set in 1964 three civil rights activists are murdered by local Ku Klux Klan members, who include the local police amongst their number, in a small Mississippi town which strictly applies segregation laws. Their disappearance sparks the arrival of two FBI agents, Ward (Willem Dafoe), a young idealist who believes in proper procedure to get results and Anderson (Gene Hackman) a former Mississippi Town Sheriff and now seasoned agent who knows that only by extreme methods will they break the wall of silence in the local community. The theme of the old guard vs the new is quickly established as these two protagonists have a very conflicted relationship but gradually both come to respect the other. Their investigation and it's subsequent escalation sparks a wave of shocking violence as the racist whites attack the humble black community. There is only one redeeming white character, the wife of the racist deputy sheriff Pell (Brad Dourif), she's played with sensitivity by Frances McDormand even recognising her role is essential to enable the narrative to bring the investigation to a conclusion. Occasionally the film thrusts it's message a little too deeply when it doesn't have to because the power of the story is enough. This is arguably British director Alan Parker's best film, it's a gripping thriller that should make you gasp but it's also a fantastic movie that deserves a modern day audience.

It's not until you do a bit of research about this film, a remake of a 2017 French movie, that the reasons it all feels rushed and average is that the main star, James McAvoy, was improvising the whole time and didn't have a clue where the the narrative and his character are going until he made it go that way by his sheer reaction to what the other actors did. All of this isn't apparent when you watch this. It's a basic story, a sort of home grown Taken (2008) set in the Scottish highlands (cue beautiful scenery) where McAvoy's Edmond returns to his former home when his ex wife (Claire Foy) calls to tell him their 7 year old son has gone missing. After a lot of crying and confusion Edmond decides to pursue his own investigation leading to some extreme reactions including torture of a suspect he believes has kidnapped his child. The films swerves from traumatic mystery drama to revenge thriller with little time for any character or theme to emerge and what's left is a 90 minute TV style story that is bewildering and empty of anything meaningful or interesting. I can see why McAvoy was drawn to the project, as an accomplished actor he's given free rein but it benefits the story and audience not one bit. Claire Foy is the one reason to watch this, she's fantastic here.

Clearly a passion project for writer, producer and star Matt Hookings but this historical boxing drama offers nothing that tons of other boxing dramas have done before indeed the narrative follows a predictable arc. This is a biopic of 19th Century bare knuckle champion Jem Belcher, a humble blacksmith who became a celebrated champ under the tutelage of trainer Bill Warr (Ray Winstone). It's a rise and fall story as the working class boy is overcome by the wealth and riches that come his way and then has to claw his way back culminating in a grudge bout with the man who has stolen his crown. Hookings never convinces as the blacksmith with his Oxford grad' accent and the presence of such luminaries as Winstone (his usual gruff, down to earth mentor type role), Jodhi May as Belcher's mother with a permanent disapproving face like a wet lettuce, Russell Crowe as Belcher's alcoholic and fight loving grandfather, Marton Csokas as a nasty aristocrat playing his usual slimy cad thing and Steven Berkoff in a cameo that offers little to the story doesn't help to lift this film. Yes it looks good but the unnecessary sex scenes and the fights never really grab you. It's ok I suppose but a film that is instantly forgettable.

It can't be denied, the Mission Impossible films get better and better. This is a thrilling action film that entertains from start to finish. Most of the old team are back together - Tom Cruise, Ving Rhames & Simon Pegg - and Rebecca Ferguson, Sean Harris and Alec Baldwin return from the previous Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation (2015) with a story that continues the events in that film. Here the plot revolves around recovering lost plutonium that a terrorist organisation wants to make nuclear bombs. There's plenty of tension and this has some very gritty fight scenes especially involving Henry Cavill who plays a CIA agent sent to keep an eye on Tom Cruise' Ethan Hunt. With chase scenes, including an extended one through Paris, shoot outs, and a neat, convoluted plot this is simply great entertainment and provides exactly what great action thrillers should.

If you had any doubts that the Mission Impossible franchise is heavily influenced by the James Bond series then you'll be convinced after this one. The Daniel Craig 007 films are clearly being channeled here even to the extent we are given a world domination criminal organisation in the form of The Syndicate for the IMF to fight (Quantum/Spectre....geddit?). Although having said that it's worth noting that The Syndicate were the regular antagonists in the original TV series so the copying of Bond could just as well be denied. Despite all of this what we are left with is a rather good action thriller that continues to utilise the TV series tropes and pushes the action stunts even further including a now famous opening stunt of Tom Cruise hanging onto the outside of a airplane taking off. The cast is good too with Ving Rhames making a welcome return to a fuller role, Simon Pegg settles in as a major player and Jeremy Renner is somewhat underused. But the addition of Rebecca Ferguson as a double agent, Alec Baldwin arrives as the Head of the CIA and British character actor Sean Harris plays the top baddie. With some great chase scenes, gritty fights and an interesting, convoluted plot this is a worthy addition to the MI series.

Red Dawn is a typical John Milius film, the law of the gun with heroic American underdogs overcoming greater and more evil odds. It's been cited as a 'right wing' film if you want to put a political angle onto it and Milius is certainly in favour of violence as a justified means of moral redemption but really this boils the film down to an action war film that certainly entertains but really lacks any real depth even with the addition of the Cuban former revolutionary turned soldier character who has a rather soppy role as the moral moment of tender mercy as if he's embraced the American Dream. The story certainly has promise and the opening information of the collapse of political structures in Europe leaving the USA in isolation mode (again!!) lends itself to an epic story of a dystopian future but basically here it leads to an invasion of America by a joint Russian/Cuban & others force. In a small Colorado town the oppressive invaders gain an early foothold and ruthlessly establish control. But a small band of high school students have fled into the nearby mountains where they evolve into an effective guerrilla force. This cues plenty of warlike set pieces that are well executed but none of the characters are well developed and these young people are just violent warriors intent on killing and they do a lot of it and often in a cold blooded fashion too. The whole thing is quite implausible simply because it relies on action only and even the presence of solid American stalwarts like Ben Johnson, Roy Jenson and Harry Dean Stanton do little other than solidify the flag waving aspects of the narrative which is emphasised by the film's coda. Patrick Swayze and Charlie Sheen are obviously enjoying the moment as the two main fighters aided by Jennifer Grey amongst others and even the big baddie played by William Smith is never really allowed to get to grips with his job of snuffing out these annoying brats. The 2012 remake added little to this but if you like a straight forward action shoot em up this one and that one does the trick.

There seems to be a plethora of demonic possession films around all of which have the same visual tropes that include gloomy rooms, spine cracking contortions, gruff voices and nuns! This one offers nothing new although it's all presented very well but it simply lacks any excitement or scares and follows a routine storyline that is fairly predictable. A nun (Jacqueline Byers) feels the pull to train as an exorcist despite it being a men only club. She persists and is allowed after her apparent connection to a suspected to be possessed child. It all appears that the 'demon' in question has an issue with the nun going way back so it's a battle of wits between them. Some of the special effects are well done but as I say they are nothing new so the film simply plays out its story and runtime with little to recommend it.

The fourth film in this enduring franchise is the first really great Mission Impossible film. The whole thing is a full on hi-octane action thriller with some fantastic set piece action sequences, a great story and many homages to the original TV series. The opening and the incorporation of the trademark lit fuse into the action sets the tone for the entire film which is a thrill ride from start to finish. A new cast too that includes Jeremy Renner as a new addition to the team, Paula Patton as Carter ( a distinct nod to the TV series which had a female agent called Carter) and Simon Pegg returns as Benji but in an enhanced capacity lending some well written humour into the plot. Ving Rhames only has a small cameo after being a main player in the first three films. Tom Cruise continues as Ethan Hunt who has to be sprung from a Russian jail before he can be given his new mission to recover nuclear weapon launch codes from a dangerous terrorist. The story is truly Bondian as it moves from Russia to Dubai to India and there's a fantastic stunt on a very tall skyscraper. This is first class entertainment and all you could want from an action film. In short it's great stuff.

As you would probably expect from Guillermo del Toro this is a dark version of the famous tale and with very detailed, indeed at times impressive, stop motion animation. I must say I was sceptical that this would work in that telling the story of a wooden boy utilising a filming method that sort of makes all the characters look wooden but it works very well. The story has been moved into 1930s fascist Italy and is narrated by a cricket, Sebastian (voiced by Ewan McGregor). A gentle carpenter is grieving for his son killed in an air raid during the First World War and makes a gangly puppet in a drunken moment of sadness. That night a kindly wood sprite (voiced by Tilda Swinton) gives it life and names it Pinocchio. And off he goes on a journey of discovery encountering the inevitable selfish and nastiness of people before reuniting with his 'father' and learning how to be a real boy. The story differs from the famous Disney version (a surprisingly dark and strange film) and it's quite sombre and at times thought provoking with its themes around grief, childhood, parental control and political ideals. An interesting version that might be a treat for anyone unfamiliar with the story and the cast are good and includes Ron Perlman, Christoph Waltz and Cate Blanchett (as a monkey!).

Coming after The Bourne Identity and in the same year as Casino Royale it is no wonder that this third instalment is grittier, faster and much more hardcore action in the hands of director J.J. Abrams in his first feature film. It certainly set what was yet to come in the later additions to the franchise. Tom Cruise returns as Ethan Hunt now a trainer in the IMF and happily engaged to Julia (Michelle Monaghan) but he goes back on operations to rescue his protegé captured by evil arms dealer Owen Davian played with gusto by Philip Seymour Hoffman. The plot becomes a battle of wits between the two and with some excellent action set pieces with great car chases there remains big hints of the TV Mission Impossible legacy again utilising the masks and managing to break into impregnable buildings including the Vatican. Cruise gets to do lots of heroic stunts and with a cast rounded out with Laurence Fishburne, Billy Crudup and the first appearance of Simon Pegg as Benji, as well as a returning Ving Rhames this is a highly entertaining action thriller.

In the hands of action director John Woo this belated sequel is a much more hi-octane shooting and chasing film and much of the espionage roots that the first film used are lost. The familiar use of masks (from the TV series and used in the first film) are key to the plot here but this is really Woo's attempt at getting as close to a James Bond film as he possibly can and there are many similarities to the Pierce Brosnan series. Somehow this is often cited as the least favourite in the MI franchise by many and I can see why. Woo's over stylised use of slow motion in the fight and action scenes is just too much and there is much too much gung-ho shoot 'em up stuff when Mission Impossible is supposed to be about covert espionage and surprise plot twists. Here Tom Cruise is still a covert agent working for the IMF branch of the CIA. He is given a mission to find a lethal virus that has been manufactured along with an antidote. It's to be found in Australia and a psycho former IMF agent Sean (Dougray Scott) is also after it. Cruise recruits Sean's former lover Nyah (Thandie Newton) to help and soon a very unprofessional relationship begins. So we have a romance chucked in for good measure. Ving Rhames returns as the computer wizard and Anthony Hopkins has a great cameo. As action thrillers go this is actually very entertaining and it's worth re-evaluating if you've not seen it in awhile. It's definitely not as good as other films in this series but equally it's not as bad as you might remember.