Love and Other Drugs - 24th September 2013

The Tuesday Night is Film Night film tonight was

Love and Other Drugs

I am in a bit of a dilemma with tonight's film. The reviews I read beforehand didn't look too good. The synopsis, although interesting didn't inspire confidence. Anne Hathaway and some gratuitous nudity was a plus point though.

Let us just spin around the plot before making too much of a judgement. Love and Other Drugs is based on the non-fiction book; Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman by Jamie Reidy. It traces the story of Jamie Randall (Jake Gyllenhaal) a gifted sales rep. who nurtures his talents selling electronic equipment, up until the time when he and a female colleague are caught in flagrante so to speak! Fired after this misadventure, he takes up a position with Pfizer. the pharmaceutical giant, selling drugs to hospitals and it is in this field that Jamie starts to excel.

Whilst trying to persuade a hospital doctor (Hank Azaria) the benefits of his company's drugs over a competitors, he chances upon Maggie Murdoch (Anne Hathaway) who is in clinic to top up on her medication. After this brief meeting they end up back at Maggie's apartment for the first of the sex scenes. And I thought Anne Hathaway was a nice girl!

Maggie is suffering with Stage One Parkinson's and is dependent on her medication. Her relationship with Jamie is purely sexual, this is all she wants, she cannot handle commitment. And so they continue with this frequent and passionate relationship, whilst Jamie gets more successful selling drugs.

So far, so what? The basic plot is weak and the movie did not start too well, 30 minutes in and you're thinking; "is this it?" It does get better, but only just. We have some developing side plots that traverse into the main story, purely for comedy. Jamie's brother; Josh (Josh Gad) makes an appearance early on. Josh is a rich, but gormless geek and seems to have entered into the fray purely to lighten the story. In honesty though, the character was extremely annoying and was initially superfluous to the plot. Although his involvement in later scenes was more worthwhile.

There are several other mini plots and sub stories that traversed the main thread and these added some weight to the somewhat meagre main narrative.

If we depart from the story from a moment, the real deal with Love and Other Drugs is the fact that it cannot decide whether it is a comedy, a romance, a farce, a drama, or a feelgood movie and as it cannot decide, it tries to be all of the above and more. Over compensating for the lack of real story, with farcical, weak willed and sometimes dire overtones. It really should have simplified halfway through rather than diversify. It easily could have created a simplified main plot and capitalised on that, instead of trying to be all things to everyone, which it failed at.

However after halfway, things started to improve. The plot moved on to the introduction of Viagra as a Pfizer product line, so the comedy value and interest on that twist, improved the film. We also see Maggie and Jamie's relationship take a turn when she attends a Parkinson's convention. The scene with the Parkinson's sufferers is really rather good and was very funny, but also with a serious undercurrent.

This was a more memorable part of the film, as the weak comedy took a back seat and the love and romance side of this film then took the lead. This section of the film starts to redeem the weak first part, which is a good thing. The film also starts to obey the laws of romantic-comedies, in that the couple need to split up, before the inevitable pink and fluffy finale. Yes, it all comes good in the end!

In summation; very weak start which picks up after halfway. Allied with a weak but funny story makes this an adequate film, but not one to be overly grandiose about. The plus points must be; Anne Hathaway, she does have the most amazing pair of eyes! She does. Along with other assets and of course she is a really fantastic actress and she plays the part of Maggie so well. Jake Gyllenhaal is also very good and fits the role of smarmy drug rep. so well.

One other note and I have picked up on this before; another good soundtrack. Not sure what it is about American rom-com's but they do have a penchant for British popular music, which again can only be a good thing.

We round off this week's review with the all important TNiFN scores. Love and Other Drugs started with a 5, scraped to a 6 after halfway, but managed to win the audience over, in the last 45 minutes to end with a passable 7 out of 10.

As an aside, it is going to be interesting to see how the words; Viagra, nudity, sex and Anne Hathaway are going to do to the number of hits this website gets!

Until next time.

The Full Monty - 17th September 2013

Tonight there will be no half measures with our film choice, as we are going for;

The Full Monty

Where to start with this 1997 classic? We all know the story, do we not? A mixed bunch of unemployed Sheffield steel workers take it upon themselves to dance and strip their way to some ready cash, emulating The Chippendale's, who had recently set the hearts of the Sheffield womenfolk a-flutter with their erotic, honed and toned display of their Terpsichorean muse.

So, we know the story, well we should do, unless you are very young or have managed to avoid classic British cinematography consistently for the last 16 years! So let us not dwell on the story too much, although in essence, the story is what makes this film so popular. The film was written by Simon Beaufoy, who provided the screenplay for 127 Hours and Slumdog Millionaire by the by. And it is a well rounded story, with many, many different aspects, view points and levels that it keeps you entertained, enthralled and gripped throughout.

Filmed with the gritty backdrop of a forlorn 1990's Sheffield, The Full Monty brings together a strange mixture of characters led by Gary (Robert Carlisle), who tries to be a good Dad to Nathan, struggling to maintain dignity whilst unemployed and estranged from Nathan's Mother.

Gary is mates with Dave (Mark Addy), who is dealing with his unemployment situation and the fact that he is; "a fat bastard!" Along with Lumpor (Steve Huison), this trio open the film with some very funny, but also poignant moments which sets the tone for this comedy. It is a comedy, with some melancholic and sad overtones. Each characters' back story lending gravitas to the comedic front that we see. And this is what appeals so much with this film, you can, and will be laughing one minute and shedding a tear for the same character the next.

Gerald (Tom Wilkinson) joins the throng. Gerald used to be the foreman at the steel works and is living a continual lie as he leaves his Wife every morning on the pretense of going to work, when in fact he is attending the local Job Club with the other unfortunates. Despite this Gerald lives a modest middle class life, with access to his Wife's sunbed, a nice house in a nice area and also goes dancing, so is ideal for a bunch of hapless wannabe strippers to provide guidance, grace and choreography.

On route to the full monty they pick up a couple more hopefuls, namely Horse (Paul Barber) and Guy (Hugo Speer), who bring certain talents to the troupe! And there we have our band  complete and we follow their ups and downs throughout the film. Each one providing some very funny moments, but also displaying some sadder moments.

I could pick out a few favourite funny moments now;

Gerald's interview where his gnomes make an appearance at the window.

Dave getting a child's toy stuck on his wrist.

Dave sitting in the shed wrapping himself in cling film whilst eating a Mars Bar. Also, if you notice in that scene, there is a faux Rocky theme going on, drawing comparisons between the two characters as they prepare for battle.

The opening scene where Gary Dave and Nathan are trying to steel a couple of girders.

Lomper trying to gas himself in his car, but it won't start.

The gentle build up of the dancing in the dole queue to Donna Summer.

Brilliant!

On the flipside to this, you have those moments that move you to tears;

Lomper's Mum dying and the funeral thereafter.

Dave being confronted by his Wife, as she thinks he is cheating on her.

Gerald coming home to the repo. men removing all his belongings.

Gary not being able to see Nathan.

Some brilliant scenes.

Mark Addy and Robert Carlisle are excellent as the lead characters, young Nathan played by William Snape is also particularly good. Tom Wilkinson as the straight-laced Gerald is also worth a mention. Plus all of the other contributing cast, who all bring something to the piece making The Full Monty a classic film that can and should be enjoyed time and time again. It has that quintessential quality that makes it viewable many times and not many films have the ability to say that.

Now, to the all important TNiFN factor, we give it, drum roll please, not quite The Full Monty, but a hearty and well deserved 9 out of 10. And you can keep your hat on!

Bridget Jones's Diary - 10th September 2013

Tuesday Night is Film Night is back to the genre that is, in its shortened form, the rom-com, for tonight we open;

Bridget Jones's Diary 

Can I start with a problem? Can I?

The problem with Bridget Jones's Diary is that it is very popular. It has been seen and applauded by many. (Not by us at TNiFN, I might add). And so therein lies our little problemette, we have to deal with the preconceived idea that it is a good film. And alongside that preconception is the worry that we might not like it, all that glitters and all that. What if everybody was wrong, can we make a mini stand and say; "no! We don't like it"? Can we?

So we need to need to remove the preconceptions, take the movie at face value and make an honest critique of its content thereafter.

We needn't have worried, it has been lauded as a good film, because it is a good film.

So there we are. Problem solved, let us now take a look at the film.

Of course we know that Bridget Jones's Diary, is about Bridget Jones; single, thirtysomething, slightly fat, smoker of too many cigarettes and drinker of too much wine. And we know that this character is portrayed by the fabulous, narrow eyed loveliness that is Renée Zellweger. Bridget yearns for a better life and one new year decides to keep a diary, to help get her life back on track, but her honesty with her diary doesn't help too much.

She soon falls slightly in lust over her reprobate of a boss, Daniel Cleaver, played by Hugh Grant (who is actually just playing Hugh Grant, as that is really the only character he does play. Ooooh! Controversial, but true). However, the thing is Hugh Grant is perfect for this role, so that's fine and it fits in perfectly well with the big-knicker'd Bridget. Unfortunately, this love pairing is skewed by the introduction of some sideline shenanigans from Daniel and his fling with Bridget ends in a flurry with an accusation, a discovery of the 'other woman' and a disgruntled waggle of a fluffy bunny tail!

As one door closes, another one opens and interests are turned to Mark Darcy (Colin Firth). Another ideal casting. Firth plays an old childhood friend of Bridget's, who re-enters her life at one of her Mum's famous 'turkey curry' parties. "Anyone fancy a gherkin?" And from here a strange on off friendship develops.

Ally all of this with a fantastic supporting cast and you have the makings of a really great film. To spin around the notables in the credits, we have the consistently brilliant Jim Broadbent as Bridget's father. The most wonderful Celia Imrie as Una (Bridget's aunt, I think. Don't quote me on that). Sally Philipps as Bridget's friend Shazza, who has a penchant for the "F" word! Some of you will know Sally Philipps from Miranda. Another friend of Bridget's is Jude, played by Shirley Henderson, who maybe better known as Moaning Myrtle in the Harry Potter films. There is a small appearance from John Clegg who was on our small screens regularly back in the 70's and early 80's as La-di-dah Gunner Graham in "It Ain't Half Hot Mum".

So far we have a great cast. A cracking storyline, based on the Helen Fielding novel, some brilliant acting and a fantastic soundtrack. I will say soundtracks are often overlooked as a key element to a movie. The incidental music adds much to the ambiance of any film and it is no exception here. And of course a romantic comedy must have some laughs and they are plentiful in Bridget Jones. Some cracking one liners, some brilliant scenes and laughs all the way, but it is done in such a way that you have multiple layers of story packed in, so you may have a laugh, but it comes on that back of a more melancholic moment.

In summation then and with reference to the first paragraph above, although the preconceived notions abound about the quality of this film, for the ones among us who have not come to terms with the notion of big knickers revealed in the throes of passion, Bridget Jones's Diary is a very good film and it's is a good film for the reasons listed here and more. We like a nice, warming story, with a few laughs to keep us amused on a miserable September eventide and this was ideal.

What about the TNiFN scores I hear you cry? We give it a pink and fluffy 8 out of 10.

See you next time.

Die Hard: With a Vengeance - 3rd September 2013

Tuesday Night is Film Night gets tough tonight. However, that's tough with a bit of cheese, a bit of swearing, a lot of bullets and a yippee-ki-yay thrown in for good measure! It can only be the return of John McClane, in his third outing;

Die Hard: With a Vengeance

I feel it hardly necessary to run through a full plot synopsis for a Die Hard film, they are clearly very popular and the basic premise is the same, but I'll give it a go anyway!

Bruce Willis rolls up yet again as the maverick cop John McClane in this, the third of what was then, a trilogy of films. This time he is working for the NYPD, albeit on suspension, when an explosion rocks the city centre. The perpetrator of this dastardly deed is soon on the 'phone to the New York Police Department demanding the attention of John McClane and insisting he carries out a task, otherwise another explosion will go off.

McClane is picked up, very hungover and in need of some aspirin, what he actually gets is a quick trip to Harlem wearing a rather disturbing sandwich board over his shoulders! Here he meets up with Zeus....

"Yeah, Zeus! As in, father of Apollo? Mount Olympus? Don't f**k with me or I'll shove a lightning bolt up your ass? Zeus! You got a problem with that?"

.....played by Samuel L Jackson. Zeus turns out to be McClane's Good Smaritan and unwittingly they end up as a double act running around New York at the beck and call of "Simon". Simon being the guy on the other end of the 'phone, passing on instructions to McLane and Zeus on what they need to do to prevent more bombs exploding. All these tests and bombs are merely a distraction for the main coup de grâce in Simon's plan, which is to remove the billions of dollars in gold from the Federal Reserve.

Simon turns out to be the brother of Hans Gruber, from the original Die Hard, who died spectacularly as McClane launched him from the Nakatomi Plaza building. So this is a double headed plot; get revenge on McClane whilst helping yourself to vast quantities of gold! Simple.

Simon is played superbly by Jeremy Irons, he is very much like the Alan Rickman (Hans Gruber) character in the first Die Hard, cool, calm, collected and virtually merciless in his intent to rid New York of McClane and the gold.

As with the all the Die Hard movies, this is a flight of fancy grounded in a modicum of reality, McClane manages to survive two hours of the film whilst being shot at, bombed, chased in cars, in trains and on boats. Punched, kicked, dropped from a great height, overturned in a car and many, many other feats of mini human destruction and he does this with probably the "worst headache ever", apparently. But that is what makes these films so good, you get totally engrossed in the constant mayhem, you are firmly gripped with the action with intertwining plots. Plus this time there is the added bonus of riddles and puzzles from Simon, that prompts a great deal of audience participation, trying to work out how to get exactly four gallons of water out of 3 and 5 gallon jugs!

Samuel L Jackson is fantastic as the impromptu sidekick and a great foil to Willis' McClane. They seem like an unlikely pairing, but they get the job done and done with style.

You know what you are getting with a Die Hard film, it is totally over the top action with the virtually indestructible McClane, but it is just brilliant. Bring on Die Hard 4! Fantastic stuff.

As for the TNiFN scores, it is a 8.6 out of 10. It would be more, but one of the female contingent marked it down!