Shutter Island - 28th May 2013

Here at Tuesday Night is Film Night we get to watch the film of the book tonight. (Yes, we have read the book), but will it be the same, better or worse, as we head towards;

Shutter Island

Not sure where to start with Shutter Island. The story is tricky to explain, without giving too much away, so I will only outline the basics.

The book by Dennis LeHane was brilliant, however would the cross over to film work? Would the layers of complexity found in the book be lost on screen? Again, a tricky one.

OK, let's just lay out the story and list the cast.

Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Teddy Daniels, a US Marshal sent to Shutter Island, to investigate the disappearance of a female patient, who was incarcerated on the island for murder. I should point out that Shutter Island is the home of Ashecliffe Hospital, a hospital for the criminally insane.

Teddy is partnered by Chuck Aule, played by Mark Ruffalo and between them, they try to start to unravel the disappearance of Rachel Salando. They are met at the hospital by Dr Cawley, one of the head psychiatrists at the institution. Sir Ben Kingsley puts in a fantastic performance as Dr Cawley, who seems to be somewhat obstructive to the Marshal's investigations.

Another cast member of note, is the great Max Von Sydow, as Dr Naehring. It's not a huge part, but one that is delivered with aplomb. You may remember Mr Von Sydow from such films as Flash and Escape To Victory.

Back to the plot. There is a lot more to Teddy Daniels than meets the eye. It transpires he has been waiting to get onto the island, to try to find another patient at the hospital, who he believes killed his wife in an arson attack on their home. So there is a multiplicity of threads to the story, which in the book has further complexity that doesn't quite make it to the film. One aspect that the film did very well, was the flashbacks in Teddy's life, that are key to the story. And these flashbacks are better on film than their are in the book, as you have no need to visualise the scenario and it is apparent that they are a flashback.

However, that is where the story outlining must end, as you have to watch the film, or read the book to discover what really goes on, on Shutter Island. There is clearly a twist in this tale. And a cracking on at that.

DiCaprio is utterly fantastic as Teddy Daniels. He portrays the clever and sharp witted Marshal with a gritty edge, but can turn on the water works, in the more delicate or distressing scenes.

I think, over all, the film does the book justice, but I would always read the book first, that way you will appreciate some of the depth within the story, that doesn't quite make it to the screen.

Onto the scores. Shutter Island gets a respectable 8 out of 10.

Rocky - 21st May 2013

Tuesday Night is Film Night takes on a classic tonight, as we travel back to 1976 and take a look at what could be a heavyweight champion of the world of film, or a puny pugilistic poke at the world of boxing, of course it's;

Rocky

Rocky may well be a classic, but it's not been seen in this household. It seems an odd choice to make, when a lot of the TNiFN films are pink and fluffy chick-flicks or rom-com's.

So, why Rocky?

I think the only reason we decided to watch it, is because we visited Philadelphia on our American holiday and actually went to the "Rocky Steps", which is more accurately known as the Philadelphia Museum of Art. We had some pictures taken at the same spot and so decided to check out what the film had to offer.

Poor excuse, but true. So anyway, was the film any good?

Rocky was written by and stars Sylvester Stallone, playing small town boxer; Rocky Balboa. Rocky has boxed for many years and has not made it beyond the small time fights, supplementing his meagre prize money, with wages he receives from debt collecting for a loan shark.

Alongside Stallone we have Burt Young as Paulie Pennino, Balboa's friend. Paulie's sister is Adrian Pennino, played by the lovely Talia Shire. Adrian is the love interest in the film, for Rocky. Finishing off the main characters, we have Burgess Meredith as Mickey, Rocky's trainer and Carl Weathers playing Apollo Creed, the unexpected opponent in the film.

The film follows the story of Rocky, an unknown boxer, who through a stroke of luck, gets to have a crack at a world title, when Apollo Creed, current heavyweight champ, comes to town. The idea being, that Creed defends his title, by taking on a well know opponent. When this deal falls through, they decide upon the outlandish notion, that he takes on a complete unknown, giving them the opportunity to box against a legend. Clearly, Balboa is the complete unknown. America being the "Land of Opportunity" and all that.

That's the basic premise of the film and we all know that Balboa goes from an out of shape, unknown back street boxer and trains up, to take on Creed in the films finale, but in the route to get there, does the film live up to it's legendary status?

We don't think so.

Stallone's dialogue is almost unintelligible throughout the film. In his first outing as Rocky, he seems to be more at home with the meat thumping, than he does talking. His interactions with Adrian are slightly better, but the scenes with Mickey and Paulie seem to be weak and somewhat stale.

In fact the only real saving grace is Talia Shire, as the shy and retiring love interest, who starts the film as a quiet, unattractive, straight laced and demure Adrian. Seeing her blossom as the story  progresses, adds some colour to a very black and white performance from the Italian Stallion; Stallone.

I guess for a film that is nearing 40 years old, it wasn't so bad. Also, I'm sure it would have been good at first viewing, back in the seventies, but with a plethora of sequels, the thin plot seems weakened further, by the passing years.

However, if you like Stallone, and you like a gritty, sweaty, punch up storyline, give it a go. However, I'm not so sure that subsequent Rocky films will make it to the hallowed Tuesday Night is Film Night slot.

Rocky clearly loses on points, scoring a measly 5 out of 10. Better luck next time Rocky!

Quartet - 14th May 2013

Tuesday Night is Film Night attempts to brighten a wet and miserable May day, with a film from 2012;

Quartet

Quartet is based on the Ronald Harwood stage play of the same name and is set in the fictional nursing home for retired musicians, Beecham House. At Beecham House, fading and aging musicians spend their twilight years, entertaining themselves, and others, with their various musical abilities.

The first thing to note about this British film, is the stellar cast. All the leading actors are instantly recognisable and are very well suited to the characters they play. Michael Gambon plays retired musical director Cedric Livingston, who attempts to lead the residents of Beecham House, in a gala performance to raise funds, for the upkeep of the home.

Tom Courtenay, Pauline Collins and Billy Connolly play Reginald, Cissy and Wilf respectively  who are all retired opera singers, but also form three parts of a quartet, famous some years ago for their performance of Verdi's Rigoletto. However, the problems start, when the fourth member of the quartet, who just happens to be Reggie's ex-wife, turns out to be the latest resident of Beecham House. Maggie Smith plays the fourth quartet member; Jean Horton and tempers and relationships are frayed at Beecham House, as the past is dug up.

Quartet starts out to be a melancholic amble through the slow and steady lives of the residents of Beecham House. It takes a while for the film to get going and for the story to develop into a cohesive plot, however getting there, albeit slowly is worthwhile, as it gives the cast time to grow, develop and introduce some levity into the proceedings, which breaks the seemingly slow start.

It is a shame that the music scenes, especially surrounding the quartet, were edited in such a way, that we didn't actually see them singing. This, ones supposes, is because the cast could not in reality sing, in such a style that would befit their characters. However, to counter this, experienced (and aging) musicians and singers were used, interspersed with the actors, to bring some authenticity to the proceedings.

Overall, Quartet is a  slow, almost graceful movie and a credit to it's director, one Dustin Hoffman, in his first major film directorship. It produces all the qualities required for a feelgood film and ticks all those boxes.

One to watch.

Scoring a respectable 7 out of 10 with the TNiFN audience.

Butter - 7th May 2013

Tuesday Night is Film Night returns after a week off and this week we choose a movie straight out of left field.

Will it be Anchor's away and a Lurpak of lies? Or have we struck Kerrygold and be rolling in Clover? As we sample some;

Butter

It is often said in these TNiFN blogs that storylines are formulaic and movies, of a feelgood nature, can be repetitive. This cannot be said of Butter. There is a feelgood factor yes, but the story is unique. It's certainly the first film we have seen based solely on butter carving!

To the story itself, Jennifer Garner plays ambitious wife, Laura Pickler, whose husband; Bob (Ty Burrell) has been the Johnson County butter carving champion for the last 15 years. (Stick with it, it gets better!)

After 15 consecutive years of wins, the judges believe it is time for Bob Pickler to step aside and give someone else a chance. Pushy wife Laura doesn't think so and picks up the carving tools herself.

However, she hadn't considered a challenge from 10 year old orphan; Destiny. Destiny (Yara Shahidi) has been fostered many times, but has never felt at home, until she finds herself in the home of Ethan and Jill, who manage to nurture her artistic talents and encourage her to enter the butter carving contest.

From here, the story rumbles on gently, but without much to write home about. An encounter with a pole dancer, some butter carving sabotage and sexual favours for a favour, pad out the middle section of the film. The ending is predictable, but pleasant, for those of us who like the feelgood factor.

Butter is quite a jolly film, some swearing, some sex and some laughs, but however much you like the uniqueness of the story, it cannot hide the very thin plot. Some elements of the movie have little relevance to the story, or at best, have been added to bolster the story somewhat.

Jennifer Garner is really good, but we do like The Garner. Yara Shahidi is fantastic as Destiny, but even great acting cannot make up for the weak story. Some of story was funny, but not enough to have you rolling in the aisles. There was probably more laughs in the gag reel at the end.

In summary, Butter was OK, a unique story-line, funny in places, but I can't Believe It's Not Better!

It's a 5 out of 10 for Butter.