GilraenEstel Reviews

Brokeback Mountain (2005)

Like all adaptations, it falls a little short.

[9/10 · 10 January 2006]

Firstly, I would like to say that I am a HUGE fan of Annie Proulx's short story. I must have read the damn thing fifty times. She is such a gifted writer, able to sum up Ennis' whole life with just one beautiful, poetic sentence. I seriously fell in love with the story and was so excited when I discovered that they were making a movie version.

Ang Lee was definitely the right man for the job as he is such a gifted director. I've been a fan of his since I saw the Ice Storm back in '97 and his cast are almost spot on. Jake Gyllenhaal is a perfect Jack Twist, just the way I pictured him and his last scene with Ennis is probably the best piece of acting I have seen in a long time. Michelle Williams' Alma was also a revelation - she sure has come a long way since Dawson's Creek. Anne Hathaway was good as Lureen, a character completely padded out for the movie. My only problem was Heath Ledger. He's just not Ennis. OK, he plays him as the reserved and monosyllabic person that he is but he's just lacking something. I am not disputing that he wasn't amazing (and very brave) but there just wasn't Ennis'... sadness, for lack of a better word. Also, I felt that the passion between the two was lacking somewhat.

Despite these small faults it was still an amazing movie, and I hope that Gyllenhaal and Williams pick up Oscars for their amazing performances. Well done to all involved.

Grange Hill (1978–2008)

Being a teenager - at it's most painful.

[29 January 2001]

When you were a teenager, it always felt as if the world was against you. No matter what you did, how much you tried to impress people - there was always something wrong, someone to put you in your place.

That is the brilliance of Grange Hill - it depicts British school life excellently: the everyday hum-drum of moving from one lesson to the other; the mind-numbing, soul-crushing hell hole that you have to attend every day for five years; the peer pressure and the bullying and most of all, realising that this is your life and it's never going to change. (And no, I didn't like school much!)

When you were at school, there was always kids whose parents were getting divorced, gay, on drugs, seriously depressed, victim of abuse or pregnant. Grange Hill doesn't just present the problem, it explores how that problem came about, the effect on that character and most of all the reaction of their peers when it all comes out (which it always does). There is always something compulsive about watching on the tele what you know to be happening all around you, what happens to your closest friend or worst enemy - because it's real.

Compulsive viewing for any one who is/was a teenager.

Gorillas in the Mist (1988)

A wonderful portrayal of one woman's dream

[10/10 · 10 January 2001]

Who was Dian Fossey? Enviromental enthusiast? Insane eco-warrior? Or both?

Gorillas In The Mist is the story of this extraordinary woman whose work with Mountain Gorillas in Congo, and subsequently Rwanda, quite possibly saved these beautiful creatures from extinction. Her hard work and determination in studying these wonderful animals led to an amazing living arrangement with them.

How simply amazing must it be to touch, play and hold hands with a silverback Gorilla in the wilds of Africa? How would it feel to find that same silverback with his head, hands and feet cut off by poachers? To be frank, these gorillas were Dian Fossey's children - each had a name, each had their own unique trait - so it is hardly surprising that she became a little possessive and started treating the animals as her own. The horrors that she experienced on those mountains would send anyone mad.

Sigourney Weaver is simply superb as Fossey, portraying her hard work and gradual decline into insanity with that touch that only a few actresses possess. Her chemistry with co-star Bryan Brown adds to the feel of the film and the fact that she was brave enough to go anywhere near real gorillas is fascinating. To be fair, the two hours do drag a little, but Weaver is talented enough to carry the film through it.

Weaver once said "I only get the parts that Meryl [Streep] passes up" but to be honest, I couldn't imagine this brilliant woman being played by anyone else but Sigourney.

American Beauty (1999)

Be sure to look closer!

[10/10 · 28 November 2000]

"This is the highlight of my day. It all goes downhill from here" This line delivered by Kevin Spacey in his usual dead-pan voice while his character, Lester Burnham, is masturbating in the shower, sets the scene for the entire film - a film that left both me and my friend dumbfounded as we left the cinema.

As I hadn't read any of the reviews before going to see the film (as is my custom), I had no idea what I was going to see. All I knew was that this was the film that had sold out across London's West-End while on limited released. What I received is one of the most awe-inspiring and deeply profound films I have ever seen! Not only does it rip open the pretense that everybody in America is happy and ready to live the American Dream, it deals with a subject that many films are afraid to show - an older man lusting after an under-age girl.

Kevin Spacey is wonderful as Lester, a man trapped in a pitiful life. He deserved his Oscar and might well become the Jack Lemmon of our generation - an acting genius. However, I feel that Annette Bening's nomination was undeserved - yes she was brilliant as Carolyn, but she didn't have the emotional underlayings that Spacey gave to his character. If I were on the Academy, I'd have nominated Wes Bentley as Best Supporting Actor and Thora Birch as Best Supporting Actress - both gave their characters their all, and managed to portray them so realistically!

My one complaint about this film is Mena Suvari. I think that she was cast in the role of Angela simply because of her looks and not her acting ability. However, saying that, I can't imagine anybody else in her role!

10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

Another teen-take on Shakespeare - but really quite good!

[7/10 · 28 November 2000]

I am a huge fan of Shakespeare and when hearing about this film while it was in production, I experienced this sudden feeling of dread. I mean, Tommy from 3rd Rock and Alex Mack from The Adventures of Alex Mack acting together in a take on The Taming Of The Shrew? I thought PUH-LEEZE!!

But when I actually saw the film, I was pleasantly surprised. The acting was good (although the little references to the Shakespeare were a little cringe worthy) and the chemistry between Julia Stiles' Kat Stratford and Heath Ledger's Patrick Verona was amazing! And to be honest, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Larissa Oleynik were really good (even though they aren't in their respective T.V. shows).

Julia Stiles was the best thing about this production - although Larry Miller as Katerina and Bianca's over protective father was superb!

Beautiful Girls (1996)

A Little Gem

[7/10 · 28 November 2000]

Having gone to my local video shop, wanting to rent either Gladiator or a big-budget blockbuster type film for my 'Girls Night In', I came across this in the Bargain Bin for only £2.99(about $5). I figured either the tape was run down (with it being ex-rental) or the film was crap and nobody ever rented it. However, the prospect of Matt Dillion and Timothy Hutton in the same film made me buy it (although my girlfriends were discouraged!)

So after a marathon evening of Gladiator followed by Being John Malkovich, I popped this in the Video and was enthralled! The acting was great and the story relevant to real-life. Everybody goes through these problems, after all. The chemistry between Willie (Timothy Hutton) and Marty (the wonderful Natalie Portman) was brilliant - even though the subject is considered taboo.

Matt Dillion's little triangle with Mira Sorvino and Lauren Holly is an entertaining sideline and Michael Rapaport provides the comic relief as we watch his crumbling relationship with Martha Plimpton. Rosie O'Donnell is also hilarious as the down-to-earth ready-to-break-your-balls-if-you-step-out-of-line type who is happy to rip the rose coloured glasses from your face whenever she feels its necessary.

There is a real sense of friendship between this all-star cast and that really the defining factor in this film. However, the real stars are Hutton and Portman who are simply brilliant. She has perfected the little vixen role in Leon (aka The Professional) and although the characters of Mathilda and Marty are completely different, there is that little inkling of a girl wanting to be loved by a man in her performance. Hutton handles his role with care - and his Winnie-The-Pooh speech is simply heartbreaking!

Care (2000 TV Movie)

A Wonderful Portrayal of a Harrowing Subject

[10/10 · 6 November 2000]

For the past few years, stories of child-abuse within childrens homes has been in the news throughout England and Wales.

This story concerns Davey Younger, a mischevious lad who's put in care for a tad of trouble-making, and is subjected to unspeakable horrors by the people who are supposed to be looking after him. Davey finds that everyone that he turns to simply doesn't want to know or simply doesn't care. Even the suicide of his friend John isn't enough to cause an investigation.

Then, we see Davey as a grown man, trying to forge a relationship with single-mum Pauline and her three children. He seems normal to the outside world, and even to Pauline, but when the story breaks in the news, Davey begins to crack.

Steven Mackintosh deals with his role as Davey wonderfully, portraying him as the mixed up, confused person that he is. This film is excrutiating to watch and the ending is unbearable. However, director Antonia Bird deals with both the subject and the film extremely well (just as she did in Priest(1994)) and presents a wonderful film for those who can actually bear to watch it.

Fight Club (1999)

Extreme Violence or Just Plain Fun?

[10/10 · 1 November 2000]

I must admit, when I first heard about Fight Club I thought it was just another Brad Pitt film which would have no depth or storyline. Then when I discovered it co-starred the wonderful and extremely talented Edward Norton AND directed by David Fincher (the man who gave us Se7en), I just had to see it.

Fight Club left me dumbfounded. Never before have I walked out of a cinema feeling that I have to sit through a film all over again.

The sheer brilliance of the plot, the acting, the script and the direction (not to mention the twists) makes Fight Club probably the best film of 1999 and one of the top ten films of the 1990's (we must not forget the brilliance of the Shawshank Redemption, Gods and Monsters and Leon).

Brad Pitt was wonderful as Tyler - I must admit I was surprised by how well he did. Edward Norton was perfect as the Narrator, he was so sarcastic and so very convincing. I cannot believe that the Academy didn't nominate him for a third time - his performance in Fight Club equaled that of American History X and was almost on par with Primal Fear. I must admit, I'm not Helena Bonham Carter's biggest fan, but she did bring something to Marla's character that was truly amazing.

As Tyler says - "The first rule of Fight Club is that you don't talk about Fight Club". To be truthful, it's the only thing I COULD talk about and I reckon it will be the same for anybody.