ghassett-1 Reviews

The Killer Inside Me (2010)

A very raw look into the disturbed mind

[8/10 · 11 February 2011]

After having watched a few films directed by Michael winterbottom and being impressed with Casey Afflecks performance in 'The Assassination of Jesse James' I was quite looking forward to seeing 'The killer inside of me.' Affleck plays a deputy sheriff Lou ford who slowly unravels as he commits each murder, so much that others begin to suspect that he is the one behind the killing of Joyce Lakeland (played with great believability by Jessica Alba) and Amy Stanton (played by Kate Hudson), Lou's would be wife.

the film gives you a sense of what a loose canon Lou is, and how easily he can go off, given the right circumstances and you get a sense into how depraved his mind is, particularly when he turns on Joyce and Amy, killing them with absolute silent ferocity.

Whilst this is not the easiest film to watch, (particularly the killing scenes of Joyce and Amy) I found that it is a film that stays with you long after the film has finished, and really highlighted the sense of you never really truly know what a person is like.

The Last Drop (2006)

Just about the worst war film I have ever seen! - what were the film makers thinking?

[1/10 · 4 February 2007]

I know in the war and post war years the concept of the war-comedy genre was popular - and given the grim times the world faced in those times, it is understandable as to way - (i.e - think of the film one woman went to war). However the last drop is the most terriblest film I have ever seen.

For starters the story line was not strongly thought out, the acting in it was just and well the whole premise of the film was just too unbelievable. Clearly today's film makers have the ability to make decent war films but to have this sort of ridiculous story was almost making fun of war and its horrors and making fun of the resources that are offered to film makers today.

To have the characters chasing after treasure in the middle of war time - come on please! I know a lot of looting of priceless artifacts did take place by the Nazis but the fact that it was made out in the film as that was the entire reason why they were in the war was not realistic. The way the screenwriter and director portrayed the two female resistance workers was terrible - and making out with the sniper out of gratitude - excuse me but I don't think so - and not in the situation that they were. And the English actor who played the Nazi - he should stick to better movies like Gosford Park where he showed off his acting ability.

The other day i watched the war film Sophie Scholl - and even though it didn't have half the 'big' name actors in it and was foreign produced and acted it was the most brilliant film I have seen for awhile and the fact that stupid stupid films such as the last drop (more like the last war film for these film makers) are made, do not do justice to the real stories and real suffering that the occupied countries went through when the Third Reich was in power.

DO NOT SEE THIS FILM.

The Ice Harvest (2005)

hmmm....

[4/10 · 4 February 2007]

whils this film was not god awful it wasn't brilliant either. I suppose the only thing I have to say about this film is the fact that its set in a strip joint is not really appealing for me to watch as a girl.

Whilst the story line did have some redeeming points to it, I thought the story would have far benefited from just having the one story line of how a shady character is after the John Cusack character and when he doesn't comply with the guy's demands he starts to harm those around him, including the character played by Connie Nielson. that would have been a far more better story line. Now my only question is why can't film makers today make a good film -noir style film - think of Double Indemminity and the Big Sleep - brilliant films but today's standards on film noir seemed to have dropped into non-existence.

Mary Bryant (2005–2007)

For the term of her natural life

[9/10 · 30 October 2005]

Mary Bryant is a true achievement considering it is made for television. During the last few years, the Australian film and television industry has been suffering enormously due to lack of funding and lack of good screenplays. After having watched Mary Bryant last night it has restored my faith in the Australian industry.

Mary Bryant is a true Australian tale, telling the story of young Cornish girl Mary Broad, who is transported to New South Wales, to Sydney Cove after stealing a bonnet. on the way over she meets two men, Will Bryant who she marries and Lt. Clarke a soldier in the Queen's naval army who takes a liking to her and ultimately falls in love with her the feeling being returned.

The realism of the conditions the convicts faced in 1788 when trying to build a new colony for themselves is very well done - the best I've seen for a long time. The scene where the male convicts go crazy and take advantage of the women convicts is terrible, not so much in that the film makers expose us too long to the scene, but the very fact that the soldiers, including Governor Phillip (played by Sam Neill) just watch, until one of the solider's quips 'the whores had it coming to them' and Governor Philip saying 'we'll just let things run its course.' Having been a fan of Romola Garai's since seeing her in 'I capture the castle' and 'Daniel Deronda', her performance did not disappoint. She is an excellent actress. It was quite liberating to see her break out of her good girl English rose role she always plays - from the sweet innocent Cassandra in 'I capture the castle' to the sweet innocent friend of Becky Sharp in 'Vanity Fair'.

Jack Davenport's portrayal of Clarke was done very well, brilliantly under played and you got a sense of a man who, like in 1788, became very different if living in primitive conditions on a new land, like the first fleet had to endure when arrived in New South Wales. A clear example is when Mary starts to live with him (in order to help her family escape to Timor - seen in part two) and at times he handles her roughly when kissing her (mixing dominance with pleasure) and beds her at every possible opportunity...a far cry to what he would have done in England. But in those times in Australia, it would not have been an improbable romance.

Sam Neil's portrayal of Phillip did disappoint me a bit, as you did not get a sense of the person behind the title, but you did however get the sense he was a strong character, but that was all. At times the story did tend to slow down a bit, but not enough to make real difference to the story.

An interesting insight into the part of history, which we don't get to see much on Australian television screens and I hope Australia will begin to produce as many high quality dramas as Mary Bryant.

8/10

Jane Eyre (1997 TV Movie)

True to the tradition of Charlotte Bronte

[9/10 · 28 April 2005]

When Charlotte Bronte was a young woman she experienced life as a poor governess. In actual fact she wrote a letter to her sister stating that 'being a governess is no life at all. One is constantly ignored, like you are invisible.' Gathering many materials from her life (including the real life story of a mad woman locked up in the attic), she wrote the wonderful Jane Eyre, a novel about what happens if the poor, plain ignored governess finds true love.

This adaptation of Jane Eyre shows us, not so much a Gothic horror story, but more the love shared between two totally opposite characters, a love which is forceful and all comsuming, like the moors unto which Thornfield Estate sits.

After having watched numerous adaptations of Jane Eyre, I was prepared for yet another half hearted attempt at drama, but was pleasantly surprised. Whilst the story tends to deviate away from the more depressing and theological aspects of the novel, it does however make the story flow much better.

Samantha Morton is wonderfully cast as Jane Eyre, a quite shy woman who is a product of her dreadful upbringing, but still managing to retain a sense of wellness, emphathy and the willingness to fall in love.

After having seen William Hurt in Zepprarelli's Hollywood version of Jane Eyre (which quite frankly did not reflect the true nature of the book), I was quite surprised to find Ciaran Hinds cast as Mr Rochester. but my doubts were soon pushed aside. He portrayed a more realistic Mr Rochester, one whom Charlotte Bronte probably had more in mind when she first penned Jane Eyre. He portrayed a truly tortured soul, who would have done anything to get the love of Jane, even to the point of committing bigamy.

the chemistry between Morton and Hinds is absolutely wonderful, especially when Jane and Mr Rochester part ways - in some ways it was quite mesmerising, watching the intensity of the emotions, Morton and Hinds were able to bring out. It actually reminded me of the wonderful heart wrenching melodramas Hollywood used to produce - in the vein of Gone with the Wind and Casablanca.

I have not seen a better adaptation of Jane Eyre and was only sorry that I had not seen it sooner.