brettdriscoll-721-16128 Reviews

Cyrano (2021)

An Understated Masterpiece!

[9/10 · 17 January 2024]

With Peter Dinklage in the lead role - a polished and refined, dramatic actor - this had to be at least an interesting movie. The trailer opened the story and immediately my interest was piqued. Reminiscent of Steve Martin's 'Roxanne' and with a villain from the 'Moulin Rouge' playbook, I pressed play and sat back.

Opening teasingly within Roxanne's, (the love interest), dressing room, the period was set around the 17th century with all its fashionable glamour and brilliance. Played by Haley Bennet, a seductive and mischievous Roxanne must marry to secure wealth or face the reality of insolvency.

Suddenly a musical number reveals itself. Subtle story-telling with wonderful, natural voices and stunning dances that occasionally take centre stage.

Enter Cyrano de Bergerac, a historical figure of the 1600's, a master swordsman who espouses magic in his eloquent poetry and speech. He is more than a man except he is a little person in stature.

He seeks the love of Roxanne but will not reveal his feelings; they are best friends, confidents. She reveals she has fallen for a new, handsome soldier in Cyrano's army and asks his support to flirt with him.

What this movie brings together are excellent actors, stunning performances, dazzling costumes, live sets, (filmed in Italy) and magical elements of song, dance and commanding literature.

If you are a fan of Peter Dinklage, this is a must-see. If you love creative musical plays, this has just the right amount. And if you have a soft spot for romance, this is just perfect with the odd tear or two.

This is a masterpiece of theatre and film.

The Whale (2022)

How Did This Get Passed Up at the Oscars?

[10/10 · 10 April 2023]

I have waited a while to watch this at the cinema. I wanted the noise around it to quieten down. I'm so pleased I did. The cinema was boutique, small capacity and just a few attending as it neared its run.

I was wrapped up in his - (Charlie played by Brendan Fraser) - story from the very beginning and teased by the few characters he interacted with to fall deep into his situation.

Both the actors who played his nurse / friend and his daughter were deserving of Oscar recognition, just as the film is a milestone of cinematic excellence. Direction sharp, fluent and warm. Editing was perfect.

Brendan deserved his Oscar; he left me sobbing uncontrollably at the end and my thoughts back to key scenes takes me to the edge.

I have no criticism of this movie. It is simply brilliant. But be warned; it is confronting, very emotional and dives into the worst - and best - of human behaviour. It is not crude nor sexual, simply in-your-face humanity.

Eternals (2021)

Unless you have more important stuff to catch-up with....

[6/10 · 22 January 2023]

I finally worked my way through The Eternals. I wanted to fill in my Marvel Timeline knowledge and this one was a mystery to me.

Perhaps I should have left it a mystery. It's three hours I could have spent gardening or doing housework.

I feel like it was runner up in a competition for the foundation philosophy of The Church of Scientology. Stan Lee and the gang must have been smoking some badly seeded stuff to come up with this story.

And their powers - please! I know Superman can fly, Captain America has immense strength, Ironman has integrated technologies and so on but these Eternal guys seem to have powers that are made up as the need arises.

The SFX were good and the CGI intense. Perhaps Marvel should have let this franchise slide by the director's chair though...

Inside Man (II) (2022)

How did it fit into 4 episodes?

[9/10 · 11 December 2022]

A seriously black tale of loose threads and vague characters. After one episode, it felt impossible that the story unfolding could be told and concluded in just three more instalments.

Stanley Tucci plays a highly intelligent character - which is almost his typecast persona - on death row in the US, filling in his days solving crimes for which he is totally equipped, despite his unusual predicament.

On the other side of the Atlantic is a disconnect of characters playing out a real-time, crime drama.

Allow yourself two hours for episode three; you will not want to stop watching this series until the messy conclusion.

The Queen's Gambit (2020)

Chess got sexy!

[10/10 · 19 November 2020]

I never thought I would ever be consumed by watching chess, but chess was never played like this! Everything about this series is stunning - sets, wardrobe, actors and a stunning leading lady. The depth of this story is powerful, the characters are beautiful, the flashbacks entertaining, filling in numerous gaps that lead to a wonderful conclusion. Recommend start watching it early in the day so you can binge it by dinner time....

Tully (2018)

What a beautiful story.

[9/10 · 16 May 2019]

I wasn't sure what to expect with Tully other than the story of an overwhelmed mother obtaining the assistance of a smart, young nanny. The interactions between the mother Marlo and her 'night nanny' Tully are engaging, enough, funny and uplifting after Marlo has struggled juggling her life, daughter, mildly autistic son and now newborn girl and neglected, doting husband. The conclusion is satisfying, wholesome and beautiful, while being confronting and thoroughly realistic. Enjoy Tully.

Stan & Ollie (2018)

I forgot they were actors.

[8/10 · 3 March 2019]

This is not a film for those who didn't know Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. This is a film for nostalgic fools like myself. The story is wonderful, the cinematic history valuable, the recreation of the old routines had tears in my eyes. But mostly it was the performance by two mature, leading actors who had the mannerisms and idiosyncrasies of one of the 20th century's most wonderful comedic duos so well learned, before long I had forgotten I wasn't watching the real Laurel and Hardy. Brilliantly executed and a pleasure to enjoy.

Midnight in Paris (2011)

What a delightful movie!

[8/10 · 3 March 2019]

Most surprising, the realisation in a writer's mind of the perspective of a person's reality. Funny, clever, entertaining, this is now my favourite Woody Allen movie, not a dark comedy or depressing drama like so much of his work but a beautiful complexity of French history woven through a love story. Worth the watch, satisfying, rewarding.