The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel - 23rd April 2013

Tuesday Night is Film Night goes all exotic tonight as we head off to India and see what is in store at;

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

We actually saw this one at the cinema when it came out and we loved it then. So, it was rather pleasing that the DVD came through to us, via the medium of a birthday present, but will it be as good on second viewing?

The film follows the multi-threaded stories of a collection of very British retiree's from various backgrounds, who seek a new life in the beautifully presented (in the brochures at least), Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, somewhere in the middle of a hot, humid and dusty India.

Each character has a different story to tell and these are retold to us, as our pensionable patrons are thrown together in, what turns out to be, a dilapidated hotel, run by the anxious to please Sonny Kapoor. Sonny, played superbly by Dev Patel, is the third son in a successful family. Unfortunately, the run of success ran out when it reached Sonny. Although his aspirations and dreams for the hotel are grand, his ineptitude for business is clearly evident.

As the different stories unfold, each characters life starts to intermingle with the other characters, to produce some absolutely lovely moments. It would be unfair of me to unravel a lot of the stories here, as it would spoil it for those who haven't seen the film and if you haven't, then you really must.

With a fantastic cast, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, teems with talent. Maggie Smith (Dame Maggie, if you please), is sidesplittingly funny as plain speaking Muriel Donnelly. Some of the things she says are little non-PC, but outrageously funny.

Judi Dench (Dame Judi, if you don't mind!), brings some gravitas into the mix, with a bitter sweet portrayal of staid housewife and newly widowed Evelyn Greenslade.

Tom Wilkinson, (not a Dame!), plays Graham Dashwood, who is no stranger to India and returns to rekindle an old relationship, and one that surprises his fellow guests.

Bill Nighy plays Douglas Ainslie, as only Bill Nighy can. Aided and abetted by Penelope Wilton as his insufferable wife.

The cast of wrinkly patrons of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is completed by Norman Cousins (played by Ronald Pickup), an oldie looking to kindle some long lost passion, with anybody he can lay his hands on. In the same vein Madge Hardcastle is on the look out for rich single men wandering around India. Madge is played by the gorgeous and multi-talented Celia Imrie.

A fantastic cast. A superb story, based on the book These Foolish Things by Deborah Moggach. A great setting and some brilliant, laugh out loud moments. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is a joyful stroll through the lives of these seven OAP's, showing that life can begin with new outlooks, new adventures and new friends. Yes, it's a life affirming feelgood, fun film, but what's wrong with that?

You'll love it.

And it scores 9 out of 10 here.

The Woman in Black - 16th April 2013

Tuesday Night is Film Night takes another genre twist this week and probably for the first time, we settle down to enjoy (?) a horror movie. Will we be shaking all over, as we look upon;

The Woman in Black

Of course the initial draw towards The Woman in Black for us, was the starring role for Daniel Radcliffe, being as we are a house of Harry Potter fans, but the character that Radcliffe plays; Arthur Kipps is a far cry from Harry Potter.

Kipps is a young lawyer, who is sent to a remote coastal village, to uncover the paperwork of a deceased woman, who lived at the foreboding Eel Marsh house. However, his efforts are thwarted by the appearance of the ghost of a scorned woman, dressed in black. And it seems like every time she appears, another child dies, in a strange and horrible way.

Adapted from the Susan Hill novel, the screenplay by Jane Goldman is superb. Although the story is excellent, it is all about the suspense, the great camera work, the special effects and the soundtrack. There are many things within the film, that will make you want to scream out loud or will send shivers coursing down your spine. Especially the collection of Victorian toys and creepy dolls with  eyes that follow you.

A lot of the suspense and horror, if you like, comes from the subliminal camera shots. Yes, there are lots of full on scary moments, that fill the screen, and your ears with screeching violin strings, but it is the fairly silent moments, when you, the viewer and Arthur Kipps, need to take a double-take, was that really a face at the window? Was that a figure standing in the distance?

So, good story, great camera work and superb acting. Daniel Radcliffe handles the role of Kipps with aplomb. Other actors of note were Ciarán Hinds as Sam Daily, the only character to actually befriend Kipps. Also, Kipps has a four year old son, who is cared for by their nanny, as Kipps' wife had died. The nanny is played by the delightful Jessica Raine, who is probably better known as nurse Jenny Lee in the TV series, Call The Midwife.

Sam Daily's wife in the film is also very well played by Janet McTeer, a fine character actress, who has appeared in her fair share of period dramas.

All in all, The Woman in Black is a fine return to the big screen for Hammer Films. It certainly does the genre proud and will leave you cold and afraid to look out of any windows for awhile.

We rate it as an 8 out of 10. Now to go to bed with the light on!

The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas - 9th April 2013

This is possibly going to be the hardest blog to write about a film, not really room for levity when you consider the subject matter.

The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas

Based on the John Boyne book of the same name, The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas traces the story of two 8 year old boys, bought together by fate, but divided by faith, politics and a barbed wire fence.

Bruno, the son of a German army officer, who gets moved from Berlin to a new posting as the commandant at a concentration camp. The whole family have to move, so Bruno, along with his sister Gretel and their mother, try to begin a new life near the camp.

Although Bruno is forbidden to play in the back garden, he manages to sneak out and finds himself exploring the woods. On one of his trips, he finds the perimeter fence of the camp and just inside, he spots Shmuel sitting quietly. Shmuel is the same age as Bruno and they start talking. Bruno asking many questions about this strange "farm" that Shmuel works on. He also asks why he is still wearing his pyjamas. The trips to the fence increase for Bruno and he starts to bring food for Shmuel and their friendship develops.

The film beautifully portrays the innocent friendship of the two boys, unaware of the atrocities that are happening all around them. We see the heart break and hardship through their innocent eyes.

Some notes on the acting in this film; the two boys are fantastic, Asa Butterfield as Bruno and Jack Scanlon as Shmuel really capture the essence of the innocent nature of the two 8 year olds. Also David Thewlis who plays Bruno's father, the camp commandant, puts in a splendid performance, which underlines the brainwashed mentality of the Nazi's, their tyrannical hatred of the Jewish people and is the complete flipside of innocence.

The film understates the severity of the subject matter, but does so because of the untainted views of the boys, but this does not detract from the harrowing truth of life inside the perimeter fence.

It is a gripping film, one that will clearly evoke many emotions, including sadness and anger. It is good to explore the differing views of the parents, as well as the children. Although it may not be, for some, an easy film to watch given the subject, but the story, as it unfolds, has you hooked and compelled to watch, to see how the friendship, born out of innocence, matures, grows and ultimately ends.

A totally brilliant film and a must see one at that. And if all that you garner from this film, is a modicum of knowledge about the atrocities that went on, then it is no bad thing. It is a fascinating, unbelievable, harrowing and incredulous period of recent history and one that should never be forgotten.

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas scores 8 out of 10.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower - 2nd April 2013

Tuesday Night is Film Night is doing the rounds of the genres, this week we try a "coming of age" movie. Will it be a failure or will we learn;

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Based on the best-selling novel by Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a modern classic that captures the dizzying highs and crushing lows of growing up.

Starring Logan Lerman, Emma Watson and Ezra Miller, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a moving tale of love, loss, fear and hope and the unforgettable friends that help us through life. (This product description was stolen from Amazon).

Down to the nitty-griity. Logan Lerman plays Charlie a shy, retiring and somewhat troubled teenager, starting his "freshman" year in high school. The nature of his internal turmoil becomes apparent, the further into the movie you get. Via flashbacks, we learn as to why he suffers from the occasional blackout and the disturbing mental imagary that floats about in his head, from time to time.

And it's not just the down to untimely death of a close friend. There's more. You really need to see the film to fully appreciate the issues that the young Charlie is suffering from, just merely describing them here, will not do justice to the fantastic acting of Lerman, as he portrays the fragile wallflower that is Charlie.

However, although he is subject to some bullying, it's not all bad for Charlie and he soon falls into a clique of older students, who take him under their collective wings and nurture his talents.

Emma Watson, who is really sublimely gorgeous as the caring (and occasionally sultry) Sam, who Charlie falls for in a big way, but who is herself, troubled by a trail of hapless relationships.

Along with the extremely camp and very gay Patrick (Ezra Miller), they bond together in a relationship that sees our wallflower blossom and mature.

It is a heartening film, where the underdog, battered by life's pressures and torments, finally gets through to the other side. Although Charlie does not make this journey with ease or unscathed and the mental torture that gets him through is evident, shocking and upsetting.

It is not then, a feelgood movie. Although the outcomes are inevitably favourable, the journey is arduous. There are casualties along the way. And although Charlie "comes good" in the end, it is not in the same vein as a true feelgood movie, you cannot feel good about the mental anguish that is suffered along his journey.

I maybe skirting around the issues, but you can only truly appreciate the outcome, when you see the details. It is a gripping movie, it is a sad movie, it is a happy movie, above all it is a brilliant movie. Underpinned by the fantastic screenplay of Stephen Chbosky. Each twist and turn takes you to another place and not necessarily where you think it will go. It's a gritty drama, but is lighthearted in places. And throughout, a ridiculously good soundtrack fills the spaces, when the dialogue ceases.

I cannot praise this film enough, if I could sit and watch it again now, I would. It seemed to have everything in it that I like about a movie and that is reflected in the TNiFN score of 9 out of 10.

A must see film. In fact the DVD cover boasts that the film is; "The best film of the year"!

It is not wrong.

Skyfall - 26th March 2013

Here's a first for Tuesday Night is Film Night, we take on a James Bond movie. So will it be oh oh heaven, or does Mr Bond take a tumble in;

Skyfall

So Skyfall is your typical James Bond film. The plot really doesn't require any description, as it is the same as every other previous Bond movie; evil genius tries to take over the world and James Bond is there to stop him.

In this case the evil genius is Silva, played by Javier Bardem. Silva has appeared from M's past and is out to haunt her. MI6 is under attack and Bond must stop the threat.

Bond is not really about the plot, it's more about the action and the special effects and there is no shortage of action in Skyfall. Daniel Craig is superb as the indestructible Mr Bond. However, it is Judi Dench as M that makes the film for me. Dame Judi is superb.

As with most Bond epic's, the budget has been spent on major location shooting and brilliant effects. The lighting and camera work in the finale, set in Scotland, is superb.

Also, the focus seems to have been on action and drama, rather than the cheesy Bond humour and sex that have been prevalent in previous Bond incarnations. And this is no bad thing. Skyfall keeps you on the edge of your seat, although it is apparent that nothing seems to kill James Bond, no matter how many bullets fly or explosions tear the landscape asunder, he keeps on going.

Yes, Bond movies are formulaic, but they are based on a winning formula, so why change it?

Skyfall, is a winner.

7 out of 10 in this house. Everyone's a critic!

Enigma - 19th March 2013

Just a quick blog for this Tuesday Night is Film Night film, as we watched it during a bout of illness and didn't get chance at the time to write up anything. Anyway, here's a quick rundown on;

Enigma

It is March 1943 and the staff at Britain's top secret intelligence headquarters, Bletchley Park, are struggling to break a new German naval code. Tom Jericho (Dougray Scott) is a mathematician newly assigned to the unit, and thanks to his brilliant insights the apparently unbeatable code begins to reveal its secrets. However, Tom has another, more personal, problem to solve - his former lover Claire (Saffron Burrows) has mysteriously disappeared, leaving only a few confused traces in her wake. Joining forces with the missing woman's bespectacled housemate Hester (Kate Winslet), Tom sets out to investigate.

OK, so it's a stolen synopsis from Amazon, but it covers the basics. Enigma is a good film, it's plausible, based on real locations, but it's woefully inaccurate with some of the Bletchley Park history. Plus, they didn't use Bletchley Park for any of the exterior shots, which is a little disappointing.

When I say it is inaccurate, I do so based on my knowledge of what actually went on at Bletchley and it is highly unlikely that some of the shenanigans that are portrayed in Enigma, would actually have happened.

That aside, it is entertaining and wonderfully filmed. Kate Winslett is gorgeous and makes the film for me.

It is a shame that the real Bletchley Park did not feature. Watch out for a cameo appearance from Mick Jagger, who stumped up some cash to fund the movie.

Enigma is only a good film, because of it's historical contents, albeit inaccurate, I still enjoyed it.

7 out of 10.

The Lost Valentine - 12th March 2013

Well, here we are again. Tonight we have gone for, what looks to be, a tear jerking, romantic tale of love and loss.  Will it be love at first sight or the big heave-ho for;

The Lost Valentine

Released in 2011, The Lost Valentine is a made-for-TV movie. Normally, this should start alarm bells ringing. Made-for-TV movies are notoriously bad, but this one came highly recommended.

The story is as follows; Caroline Thomas, played superbly by Golden Girl; Betty White, is an old romantic who, although being told that her young husband was missing in action in the Second World War, still makes an annual pilgrimage to the Union railway station, to mark the day when she last saw him, as he departed for active duties.

The day that he left was Valentines Day.

Every year Caroline returns, hoping that he (Neil Thomas), may someday return. She has been doing this, for 65 years, every since they parted in 1944.

The story of this epic devotion, is picked up by the local TV network, who set up their glamourous reporter; Susan Allison (played by the ever-so lovely Jennifer Love Hewitt), to cover the story. Susan is not so sure that the story has any gravitas and says as much, accidentally in front of Caroline's grandson Lucas (Sean Faris). And although this meeting of Susan and Lucas gets off on the wrong foot, you know that there is a spark between the two, thus providing us with another layer of romance.

Susan eventually gets to interview Caroline and this is where the film starts filling in all the necessary detail, utilising flashbacks to the 1940's, where the young Caroline and Neil first get together.

Fair enough so far. The approach, layering and scene setting of the movie is very formulaic. However, what sets this film apart from the rest, is the story. We all know how the Americans love their war veterans (and rightly so). And we see in The Lost Valentine elements which are very believable. You can almost sense that it's real, that someone would have revisited such a special place, for so many years, just to relive the parting of a loving couple and hope beyond hope, that one day their loved one would return.

Above and beyond the great story, it is the way that it is bought to life on our screens so superbly by Betty White and Jennifer Love Hewitt.  Aided extremely well by Sean Faris, that makes all the difference. If you believe the storyline, then this is enhanced by some great acting.

It is without doubt a tearjerker. Some may suggest that it's a little too much and over steps the line between a good romantic story and into a somewhat cheesy affair, but I would suggest not. I think it portrays a tender, believable story, laced with emotion, pride, honour and respect.

A good film and thoroughly enjoyable. Which scores a massive 9 out of 10 in this house.