Tuesday Night is Film Night is back yet again. This week we are going for another drama, this time from 2013 and starring Halle Berry, but will anyone answer;
The Call
Well crikey Moses, by jingo and words to that effect! What a film!
A quick synopsis, before telling you what we thought. Halle Berry stars as Jordan Turner a Los Angeles 911 operator, who we soon establish is brilliant at her job and is highly respected by her colleagues. The film starts with Jordan on the end of a 911 call for a suspected break-in, which turns to an abduction, followed by tragedy for the young girl concerned. Jordan is helpless on the end of the telephone and soon realises that all her attempts to help are in vain. This marks a massive turning point to her career, as her confidence is severely dented and she ends up moving away from the telephone and starts training new recruits.
That covers the first twenty minutes of the film, with the scene set. We then fast forward six months to pick up the story and we start to build upon this initial set up and we soon find Jordan back on the shopfloor, as she steps in to takeover a call to one of her new operators. The similarities between this call and the one six months ago, start to evolve. Casey Welson, played brilliantly by the young Abigail Breslin, is abducted from a shopping mall and is bundled into the boot of a car. Luckily, she has her friend's mobile on her and calls 911, this is where the call is picked up by the new operator, who hands over to Jordan. Jordan has to calm Casey down and start to find out where she is, who has taken her etc. This is where we see Jordan's professionalism kick back in and she starts to take control of the situation. What then follows is basically a cat and mouse tactical battle between Jordan, the kidnapper and the police.
It is very difficult to actually put down exactly the plot of the film, as it will detract from your enjoyment, should too many spoilers be broadcast here, needless to say what seems to be an abduction, turns into so much more, with plot twist after plot twist. And it is this constant variance away from formulaic plot lines, that makes The Call such a gripping film. Every turn seems to go another way, as layers of drama are added. It is certainly a thriller, it is certainly compelling and it is certainly dramatic. We were sweating with fear here at TNiFN Towers!
Halle Berry is absolutely fantastic as Jordan. Abigail Breslin also, as the young teenager caught up in this somewhat gruesome adventure. Michael Eklund is particularly brilliant as the mad Michael Foster, the abductor of Casey. There are crime dramas and thrillers, but The Call is almost in a league of its own. Brilliant story, brilliant acting and superb dramatic twists to keep you on the edge of your seats and hiding behind the sofa in equal measure.
It is always good to watch a film where you think you know where you are going, but then you get taken off on a tangent, which puts a whole new spin on the story. The Call ticks all the requisite boxes and more. There was certainly no falling asleep with this movie, gripping, thrilling edge of the seat stuff!
The supporting cast also play a vital role in maintaining the tension. The music also provides that extra layer of dramatic effect and even the way the film is shot, with the camera angles used, add to the overall effect. It is one of those films where you want to look away, but can't. Even at those most gripping moments, where you know something bad is about to happen, but you can't take your eyes off the screen. Fantastic stuff.
Hopefully we have whetted your appetite and intrigued you with enough storyline to make you want to see it, it will certainly be worth your while. Although the ending may deviate slightly from what you might consider should happen in reality, it does provide some major plot twists, which will have you shouting at the TV screen, then cowering behind a cushion too! You know things will end up alright in the end, but how they get there and what route and how "alright" it will be, is not known until the very end, so keep watching.
We often say that film is a "must-see", but if you like your drama's dramatic and your thriller's thrilling, then The Call must be on your list of films to see, because it is all those things and more.
TNiFN Rating 98%
IMDB Link
Tuesday 21 October 2014
Tuesday 14 October 2014
Parkland - 14th October 2014
Tuesday Night is Film Night is back yet again, it doesn't seem like 7 days ago that we were here before. This week's film is a drama based upon the events that occurred on and around November the 22nd 1963 and a subject much loved (by some) here at TNiFN Towers; the JFK assassination. Tonight we are watching;
Parkland
Parkland recounts the chaotic events following the assassination of John Fitzgerald Kennedy in 1963. It is based on Vincent Bugliosi's book "Four Days in November: The Assassination of John F. Kennedy" and as such, is a fascinating 93 minutes if you are a scholar of the JFK assassination. If you're not, they you may find the story somewhat tedious, as the events and outcomes are obviously predictable. It certainly divided the room here at TNiFN.
To counter the lack of storyline, for those who do not find the history fascinating, they have cast Zac Efron as one of the lead characters, so there is some visual stimulus for the ladies. Effron plays Dr. Charles 'Jim' Carrico, a doctor at Parkland Hospital, Dallas who attended to JFK on his rushed arrival to the emergency room.
The film is interspersed with real film from 1963, including the famous Zapruder film, which captures the actual moment that the fatal shots were fired. Parkland makes good use of this 8mm film and the character of Abraham Zapruder, played magnificently by Paul Giamatti and switches between Parkland hospital and the scenes with Zapruder quite often.
Another thread to the story followed closely by Parkland, is the interaction with the local FBI agents and Lee Harvey Oswald, as played out by the inclusion of FBI agent James Hosty played by Ron Livingston (last seen here at TNiFN in Drinking Buddies). Hosty was investigating Oswald prior to the assassination. We also have Special Agent Forrest Sorrels played by Billy Bob Thornton as a leading character and his involvement with Zapruder over the development of the 8mm film in Zapruder's Bell & Howell camera.
The action and drama surrounding the story is well portrayed in Parkland, the mixture of archive footage and realtime events is very well done, the accuracy of characters, especially Zapruder and Oswald is very well researched and the likenesses uncanny. Obviously, with an extremely well documented event such as this, the need for accuracy is foremost and Parkland has achieved that accuracy with a high degree of realism, portraying the unseen events with a perceived clarity, which gives fans of the whole JFK phenomenon an added boost.
As a JFK film it is certainly up there with Oliver Stone's epic "JFK", however if you are not intrigued by the events of November '63 then Parkland is just another gritty hospital drama, with an inevitable outcome. If however, you are verging on the obsessive with regard to all things JFK, then Parkland is yet another superb drama based on real facts and real events, adding clarity and / or complexity to an already amazing story, bringing to life some of the real characters who are now an integral part of modern American history.
In summation, Parkland is a room divider, but also a great film. Certainly worth a watch and one for the "play again" list.
TNiFN Rating 82%
Parkland
Parkland recounts the chaotic events following the assassination of John Fitzgerald Kennedy in 1963. It is based on Vincent Bugliosi's book "Four Days in November: The Assassination of John F. Kennedy" and as such, is a fascinating 93 minutes if you are a scholar of the JFK assassination. If you're not, they you may find the story somewhat tedious, as the events and outcomes are obviously predictable. It certainly divided the room here at TNiFN.
To counter the lack of storyline, for those who do not find the history fascinating, they have cast Zac Efron as one of the lead characters, so there is some visual stimulus for the ladies. Effron plays Dr. Charles 'Jim' Carrico, a doctor at Parkland Hospital, Dallas who attended to JFK on his rushed arrival to the emergency room.
The film is interspersed with real film from 1963, including the famous Zapruder film, which captures the actual moment that the fatal shots were fired. Parkland makes good use of this 8mm film and the character of Abraham Zapruder, played magnificently by Paul Giamatti and switches between Parkland hospital and the scenes with Zapruder quite often.
Another thread to the story followed closely by Parkland, is the interaction with the local FBI agents and Lee Harvey Oswald, as played out by the inclusion of FBI agent James Hosty played by Ron Livingston (last seen here at TNiFN in Drinking Buddies). Hosty was investigating Oswald prior to the assassination. We also have Special Agent Forrest Sorrels played by Billy Bob Thornton as a leading character and his involvement with Zapruder over the development of the 8mm film in Zapruder's Bell & Howell camera.
The action and drama surrounding the story is well portrayed in Parkland, the mixture of archive footage and realtime events is very well done, the accuracy of characters, especially Zapruder and Oswald is very well researched and the likenesses uncanny. Obviously, with an extremely well documented event such as this, the need for accuracy is foremost and Parkland has achieved that accuracy with a high degree of realism, portraying the unseen events with a perceived clarity, which gives fans of the whole JFK phenomenon an added boost.
As a JFK film it is certainly up there with Oliver Stone's epic "JFK", however if you are not intrigued by the events of November '63 then Parkland is just another gritty hospital drama, with an inevitable outcome. If however, you are verging on the obsessive with regard to all things JFK, then Parkland is yet another superb drama based on real facts and real events, adding clarity and / or complexity to an already amazing story, bringing to life some of the real characters who are now an integral part of modern American history.
In summation, Parkland is a room divider, but also a great film. Certainly worth a watch and one for the "play again" list.
TNiFN Rating 82%
Tuesday 7 October 2014
Behind the Candelabra - 7th October 2014
Tuesday Night is Film Night takes on a biopic tonight, as we place our feet up on the piano stool and watch;
It doesn't take much working out to realise that Behind the Candelabra is a biographical film about Liberace. However, it only covers a particular period of his life, from 1977 to his death in 1987. To be more exact it covers the period when Scott Thorson and Liberace enter into an alleged (our lawyers have told us to say) relationship. The film is based on the book by Scott Thorson; Behind the Candelabra: My Life with Liberace.
Apparently, Liberace was gay! Who knew?
Enough of the background, down to the film. First and foremost let us just say that Michael Douglas, who plays Liberace is fantastic! His mannerisms, his voice, his character are all exquisitely played out by Michael Douglas. Alongside Douglas, there is Matt Damon as the young Scott Thorson, who caught Liberace's eye, after another glittering performance in Los Angeles and he was soon bought in to attend to Mr Liberace's every need. Scott became the next in a long line (allegedly) of young male assistants to the keyboard king, wherever Liberace went, Scott was coming up close behind. Literally.
Behind the Candelabra follows this often heated affair, where Liberace dotes upon the young Scott, showering him with gifts and even arranging plastic surgery so that Scott will look more like Liberace! We see their love affair blossom, plateau and then spectacularly fall apart. In honesty, the first two thirds of the film seemed to lack a little impetus, but this is down to the scene setting, the set up and the continuing storyline, there just wasn't too many sparks, or plot peaks. However, that all changes as things heat up and the Liberace and Scott partnership implodes. And the the end of the film was quite magnificent for all concerned, apart from Liberace, as he died! But those final scenes were quite moving and although the finale was a bit over the top and cheesy, but wasn't that Liberace all over?
As for the supporting cast, Dan Ackroyd is great as Liberace's manager Seymour Heller. Scott Bakula appears a few times as Bob Black, a friend of Liberace's. Debbie Reynolds plays Mrs Liberace (Liberace's mother) and is superb in the few scenes she is in before she dies. Also Rob Lowe is magnificent as the spaced out doctor accountable for the plastic surgery and the drugs supply.
All in all, Behind the Candelabra is a fascinating true (allegedly) story of the glamorous life of Liberace and Scott Thorson and their tempestuous relationship, from the glitz and glamour of the early days in Las Vegas to their very bitter and public break-up in the 1980's.
We always find biopic's fascinating here at TNiFN Towers and this was no exception. Fantastic acting from the main cast and some good piano miming from Mr Douglas. Actually, he didn't mime the piano playing, some very clever CGI effects placed his head over the top of a skilled piano player, who did all the piano parts.
As for the scores, Behind the Candelabra doesn't quite hit the high notes, but instead remains upright with a grand;
TNiFN Rating 79%
Behind the Candelabra
It doesn't take much working out to realise that Behind the Candelabra is a biographical film about Liberace. However, it only covers a particular period of his life, from 1977 to his death in 1987. To be more exact it covers the period when Scott Thorson and Liberace enter into an alleged (our lawyers have told us to say) relationship. The film is based on the book by Scott Thorson; Behind the Candelabra: My Life with Liberace.
Apparently, Liberace was gay! Who knew?
Enough of the background, down to the film. First and foremost let us just say that Michael Douglas, who plays Liberace is fantastic! His mannerisms, his voice, his character are all exquisitely played out by Michael Douglas. Alongside Douglas, there is Matt Damon as the young Scott Thorson, who caught Liberace's eye, after another glittering performance in Los Angeles and he was soon bought in to attend to Mr Liberace's every need. Scott became the next in a long line (allegedly) of young male assistants to the keyboard king, wherever Liberace went, Scott was coming up close behind. Literally.
Behind the Candelabra follows this often heated affair, where Liberace dotes upon the young Scott, showering him with gifts and even arranging plastic surgery so that Scott will look more like Liberace! We see their love affair blossom, plateau and then spectacularly fall apart. In honesty, the first two thirds of the film seemed to lack a little impetus, but this is down to the scene setting, the set up and the continuing storyline, there just wasn't too many sparks, or plot peaks. However, that all changes as things heat up and the Liberace and Scott partnership implodes. And the the end of the film was quite magnificent for all concerned, apart from Liberace, as he died! But those final scenes were quite moving and although the finale was a bit over the top and cheesy, but wasn't that Liberace all over?
As for the supporting cast, Dan Ackroyd is great as Liberace's manager Seymour Heller. Scott Bakula appears a few times as Bob Black, a friend of Liberace's. Debbie Reynolds plays Mrs Liberace (Liberace's mother) and is superb in the few scenes she is in before she dies. Also Rob Lowe is magnificent as the spaced out doctor accountable for the plastic surgery and the drugs supply.
All in all, Behind the Candelabra is a fascinating true (allegedly) story of the glamorous life of Liberace and Scott Thorson and their tempestuous relationship, from the glitz and glamour of the early days in Las Vegas to their very bitter and public break-up in the 1980's.
We always find biopic's fascinating here at TNiFN Towers and this was no exception. Fantastic acting from the main cast and some good piano miming from Mr Douglas. Actually, he didn't mime the piano playing, some very clever CGI effects placed his head over the top of a skilled piano player, who did all the piano parts.
As for the scores, Behind the Candelabra doesn't quite hit the high notes, but instead remains upright with a grand;
TNiFN Rating 79%
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