laura_macleod Reviews

A Summer in Genoa (2008)

Sensitive heartfelt film about grief and from the child's perspective

[12 August 2022]

I re-watched it after some years and found it just as beguiling however this time I realised it is a film about grief and loss but particularly from the child's perspective . Clearly the child carried the burden of her mother's death. The film is filmed in Genova where the father has a teaching job soon after bereavement. From a child's perspective the city is a maze of confusion, sensory impact and then the lingering memory of her mother juxtasoposed within dreams, nightmares and a backdrop of a strange unknown city . Excellent placement because Genova is old and heavy with ghosts of the past. Unlike Chicago where they are from; Genova is full of emotion, expression , dark and light and an altered reality. It is a film about the loss of mother, wife and friend; all central protagonists are suffering and attempting to come to terms with a void. There is a heart within Keener's performance which carries the love of protector, mother and friend. Somehow, through the fragmented and sad days there is a path that shows out of the darkness and in to the light and life carries on. A truly sensitive and deep film.

Good Luck to You, Leo Grande (2022)

Extremely manipulative film on elder sex and improbable male lead

[22 July 2022]

There are a few ways to view Good luck to you Leo Grande; see it as a kind of comedy with dark humour or some preachy know it all lecture on sex and generations but I found it very voyeuristic and shallow. First of all it assumes that most women of Emma Thompson's age would have led practically sexless lives - how far from the truth. Most women of her generation were extremely active when young in the sexual revolution and would be the opposite of her lack of experience. Yes, there is the aspect of growing older and having less sex naturally and not having the beauty of youth to acquire desirable partners - but this film goes a step too far. It suggests that older women are in fact sexless and with major hand ups - this all portrayed with a female script writer and female director. Astounding!!!! A male director would have most probably put a far more complimentary spin on an attractive older woman - look at Anne Bancroft in The Graduate. Instead we are presented with an extremely handsome male 'prostitute' so kind and nice and intelligent and a total fabricated stereotype - what an insult to male sexuality. Leo Grande character is unrealistic as portrayed in this film. He is portrayed with a massive mother complex (of course!! Why else would he be seeking sex for money with matriarchs?). An absolutely unrealistic script and scenario painted over with a luxury hotel room and of course bringing in one of his client's ex pupils in the coffee shop? ( she is a teacher) YEAH RIGHT - completely ridiculous . The film is a manipulation of reality - sorry but older women are having hot sex naturally and most male prostitutes are not going to be doing it for free like at the end of the film because this is sell out - film makers today in this woke generations can't handle the truth . Emma Thompson is a great actress no doubt about it but the baring of her totally naked body and its flaws at the end was just pure voyeurism and a cheap shot to convince the audience that after this improbable scenario - she suddenly accepted herself? No way - as usual we are spoon fed saccharin and tosh.

tick, tick... BOOM! (2021)

Fantastic film that makes your heart soar

[3 April 2022]

I am not a musical fan however this film made me want to go and see Rent by the late Larson and anything associated with the creator of this uplifting film. For people is the arts this is a must see - the struggle, the sacrifice, the pain and the effort to make meaningful beautiful artistic creations and so many give up because its so darn hard. Tik Tim Boom is a masterpiece of making an ordinary untalented person like myself, understand what this path in life is all about. Beautiful film, outstanding performances and should have won the Best Picture Oscar with Andrew Garfield winning Best Actor Oscar. There is no way that the winner of Best Film 2022 can measure up to the depth of Tik Tim Boom which spoke to the millions of people around the world in the creative arts industry on a very deep level and Garfield's performance far outpaces the performance of a certain somebody who got best actor instead.

King Richard (2021)

This film should never have been made

[3 April 2022]

Extremely bad taste in the mouth watching this film - I mean the father of the William's sisters is still alive albeit he is with dementia however why make a film about such successful people's father because it is clear they never would have made such success without him . Seems like betrayal. Oh and of course the insatiable greed for even more money. However the lead was cast extremely well - Smith is darkness personified and life certainly does imitate art in his case.

Boiling Point (I) (2021)

Intense engaging drama that makes you want to stop going to restaurants

[12 January 2022]

This film is brilliantly acted and produced and directed however its bad news for the British hospitality sector. Frankly everything that happens during this engaging piece of drama is probably true in some form or other. A total reflection on 21st century work ethic and the public at large - its all here warts and all. Its a jungle out there and its not nice.

The World to Come (2020)

Like watching paint dry but paint is more interesting

[30 July 2021]

The dull monotone voice as a VoiceOver of the main actress already sets the tone at the beginning of an extremely boring lacklustre unconvincing 'pioneer' tale which never reaches its mark. Totally contrived and unconvincing piece of drama. There is zero substance to this film - none of the protagonists convince in their roles. Not even bothering to explain this story because its pointless. Four actors and no connection to the community they live within - just endless diatribe of meaningless dialogue with sex scenes between two women thrown in. Awful.

Divorce (2016–2019)

The critics didn't like it but a lot of people did including me

[12 January 2021]

I came across Divorce first series on a plane trip somewhere - I watched half of the first series on the way to my destination and the other half on the way back and enjoyed every minute of it. Sarah Jessica Parker is brilliant as a middle class New England mother and wife with a passion for art - who has fallen out of love with her husband, the wonderful Thomas Haden Church. What ensues is the inevitable divorce and the effect this has on their lives, their friends and their children. It's done so well. Divorce is also very funny as well as treating this subject with respect and perspective. Series one is great and series two is better. Series three got terrible reviews but I have to say they are uncalled for. Perhaps the writing is not as sharp and the situations not as believable however the series is brought to a measured ending which is not sentimental or dramatic - just real . Divorce is heartfelt and human all the way through and with superb acting its a wonderful show.

Falling (I) (2020)

It does not work - boring and irritating

[13 December 2020]

Viggo Mortensen is one of the world's greatest actors but his gifts do not stretch to this genre of film making. Falling just does not work. The story could have been interesting but there is zero charisma between the actors; I found myself losing interest within the first ten minutes ...I carried on truly wishing this was redeemable ....a bad script, terrible editing (what on earth were these flashbacks all about? ) No sooner did you get engrossed in any part of the story building then the whole thing collapsed to a flashback that completely destroyed the storyline. Maybe there was an element of wanting to portray the dementia mind and how it works but this technique did not work. Very disappointing

Made in Italy (2020)

this was bad - sentimental and terrible script

[4 December 2020]

It's hard to even finish this - the script is terrible and even some very respected actors cannot save it. There are some really awful actors in it too. Everyone likes a bit of lighthearted entertainment now and again but nothing can save this from being schmaltzy and predictable.

Twin (2019)

It's a really stupid storyline - totally unbelievable

[24 April 2020]

The first episode brings you in to an unusual Nordic world which is dramatic and remote. The main protagonist and his twin, obviously played by the same person - have an intriguing back story juxtposed with interesting characters....all looks good. Then there is a really life changing event which the rest of the story has to hang on...until the end. It just does not work or sustain itself. Remember this is a very small Nordic community where everyone knows everyone. This event is going to totally stand out and be known for miles around. What happens is ridiculous...unbelievable and then with poor acting by the female protagonist - no, no, no. Boring and stupid. It takes a very long time to get to scenes that explain nothing about why the wife obviously hated her husband.......the children are not going to recognise their father immediately ? C'mon, it is poor TV

Giri/Haji (2019)

The best thing I have ever seen on television

[17 November 2019]

I could go on and on about this TV series because it is so beautifully realised. This is essentially a crime drama set between London gangland and yakuza Tokyo but it is an amazing achievement of cross culture story telling. There is depth and understanding of all the issues within human nature woven into masterful tale that never falls in to cliche or boredom. It is unique. There are flaws and lapses in the story but this is overshadowed by a cast that delivers every step of the way - beautiful cinematography, animation, script, directing and a climax that is compelling and moving.

The Aeronauts (2019)

No substance but great special effects of balloon journey

[9 November 2019]

The story is not based on true events and so its best to take it as fiction. The claim that it is partially based on a true story is hogwash too. The story begins with a high academic scientist wanting to ascend in the balloon in order to prove that weather can be studied and predicted. His assistant turns out to be a gorgeous young woman who is the widow of a balloonist who fell to his death to save her from their balloon. If one suspends belief the film unfolds pleasantly and with some excitement as they ascend through storms and clouds and phenomenon - there is a hint also of some kind of romantic inclination between them although it is never realised. The real grip of the film occurs when they ascend to a mind blowing altitude of over 30.000 feet and almost freeze to death. What happens next is downright ridiculous as the fair maiden manages to defy all the odds and physically climb to the top of the balloon to allow air out of the frozen vent nearly losing her life in the process. The scientist appears to be in last stages of hypothermia but recovers still looking like a Hollywood star. The entire film occurs in the balloon with a few scenes elsewhere - the stars look wonderful and the special effects are great - however one leaves the cinema with a sense of emptiness - the film is a hot air balloon to be honest - vapid and hardly to be remembered .

Judy (II) (2019)

Renee delivers a 10 star performance in lacklustre film

[16 October 2019]

If you are going to make a bio pic about the fabulous, tragic Judy Garland then get right in to the whole story (they did this with Edith Piaf's story in La Vie en Rose which was breathtaking). One gets the feeling that there was a limited budget on 'Judy' and most of the budget must have gone to Renee Z's fee because she is so worth it. Her performance is spot on as the aged Judy Garland, warts and all. The film is set during the last year of Judy's life with some flashbacks to her childhood and her abuse from the big studios. Judy Garland was more or less 'sold' to Hollywood and this left her with a gaping hole in her identity and with major addiction problems. Renee Z portrays Judy's suffering and her dwindling talent to perfection. However this is not enough. The film is fractured and vacant on many levels with most of the scenes either in a London hotel suite or on stage. Supporting actors do not seem as committed to the film as Renee Z. Maybe that was the point of it from the director's point of view - to make Judy the 'star'. It is clear that Judy Garland had a complicated messy life and a hell lot of natural talent; rather than only concentrating on her humiliating decline - the film should have had more structure and bigger characters all around.

Joker (I) (2019)

A really important film at frightening times

[7 October 2019]

Never was there a more pertinent film for a time when society is beginning to fragment and people are becoming disenfranchised from family, core human values and love. Joker is not a 'Batman' type movie of the super hero genre; no, its much more important than that. Joker is not make believe; it's real. It's happening all around us and all over the world. Yet what is happening simultaneously, are the incredible webs of lies and deceit that are spun to delude and keep the truth down.Joachim Phoenix delivers an incredible performance that is central to the film's success. Bet he won't win an Oscar though because the liberal elite will find this film a tad hard to swallow. Liberal feedback is that the film is too violent however the trailers before this film started were 'acceptable' violence of endless garbage gratuitous films for the brain dead. Joker is a symbol of all those people in the world who are not cared for, loved or cherished - firstly by their nearest and dearest and then by society itself. When these people begin to disintegrate, we walk straight past them; be they addicts, homeless, refugees, mentally ill and the suchlike. Social media has only ingrained humanity's ability to isolate and take advantage of people's weaknesses or to downright use people to make money and so the 'super elite' are born. The super elite are the version (rats are everywhere in Gotham) who prey on the filth all around them. As we see Joker begin his downward spiral in to severe mental illness we can only lament that this illness permeates every part of media and politics and drug companies and crime of modern society. Joker leaves one question unanswered - where do we got from here?

Summer of Rockets (2019)

Waste of time; what on earth do the BBC see in him?

[31 May 2019]

I'll never watch another work by this man again - I tried to get in to his previous series but dived out after hardly a first episode...found his style to be stilted and complicated. However, the cast in Summer of Rockets is absolutely faultless and it is with this in mind that one is drawn in to a promising storyline of intrigue and espionage. The first four episodes are certainly engaging. The last two episodes descend in to a ridiculous conclusion that is confusing and a total let down. What on earth is this all about? Poliakoff must be an incredibly vain man. Certainly celebrated by the elite and given poetic license to spin a story that appears to have so much meaning....but leaves one empty - drivel. What a waste. An example of the times we live in.

Capernaum (2018)

A film that transcends the art of film making

[27 February 2019]

Capernaum is one of the best films of my lifetime - the central performance is astounding. It is not only a story about refugees and the Middle East crisis although that is the back drop - it is a story about the worst of the human condition. When people are in abject poverty they are capable of losing their humanity to survive - Capernaum is brave enough to show the brutality, the degradation, the poverty, the starvation, the loss of human integrity and does not spare the details - but it also shows the slivers of light that permeate the terrible darkness. At the heart of all this is ignorance - a seething quagmire of ignorance made worse by war and loss of identity. Important questions are raised; why do some people in the midst of such misery find the will to survive and never lose their ability to give love and why do others only feed off misery in parasitic mode. Children are the hope of the future and this film enforces their innate wisdom and ability to survive against the odds.

The Danish Girl (2015)

Beautiful evocative and special

[5 January 2016]

Most people cannot appreciate beauty anymore. This film deserves NO criticism; it is beautiful on all levels. Nothing is perfect hence a 9. The central performances are astoundingly good. The cinematography/sets/costumes/ etc etc are perfection. Now to the story - listening and reading the critics I expected to be disappointed; you know the types - they either need some kind of special effects to blow the mind or some kind of twisted dark story to get the positives going - but this film is subtle, opens the mind to new possibilities of human experience and the pain and the joy of life. Who would ever think to remember a Danish man from long ago, who was a trans-gender. A man who was talented and sensitive; full of love yet living in a world where such things as trans-gender were considered mental illness. Who would have imagined his beautiful and talented wife, who was a person of immense loyalty and love. Who would imagine their story? It is so interesting to take the journey of this film. A wonderful film.

Testament of Youth (2014)

Beautiful film about a woman's perspective of war

[26 January 2015]

This is a beautiful film on many levels. The main protagonist is very sensitively played by Alicia Vikander and I found her performance totally convincing as a young Vera Brittain. We are immediately drawn in to another world that has long gone - Britain of 100 years ago....however, what has changed in terms of fruitless war and lost lives? We have learnt nothing and that is the tragedy of the message of this film. I found the costumes, the sets , the atmosphere of the film 100% engaging and accurate. The idea that Vera Brittain was born in to privilege and was one of the first women to be accepted at Oxford University is already a testament to her character and courage and determination. What follows are the harrowing stories of how those dear to her are effected by the banality and evil of war. Testament of Youth is about lost youth and how war achieves nothing at all. Hundreds of thousands of brilliant young people were lost in the two great wars, not to forget the countless wars of history. We are still in the midst of war even in the 21st century - thanks to politics and greed and madness of humanity. The film and the performances are very striking and reach one's heart. I think it is original to see a film that focuses on the experience of a woman at war. Society is largely frivolous - it takes patience and respect to sit through this and learn.

Boyhood (I) (2014)

Not at all interesting after an hour - a disappointment and a wasted chance

[17 July 2014]

Boyhood begins with a flourish - two extra sweet kids with big personalities in a typical American household of the 21st century (ish!). We are introduced to Mason and his sister and everything about them is cute, open and what you would expect from children of their age but with something special too. There is promise in this film - funny family episodes, great acting from Arquette and Hawke plus cameos from a variety of interesting people. We see the kids get older and various traumas occur from the Mother's poor choices in men and parenting - as Mason reaches about 15 years old, the film suddenly gets very stale and very boring. He is no longer cute - but that does not matter if only the director could have got something out of him that was not a monotone of dialogue that has been imbued with the dull monotony of the brain dumb video game generation - something really happens to those kids - they become robotic and that goes for his sister too. Feel very sad to see it - all the personality goes out of these kids from too much computer deadening. That would not matter so much if only Linklater could have followed up perhaps even a 10th of the story lines - so many people left to wander away and no one knows anything about them and the effect on the kids. I mean the mother has a life changing relationship with an alcoholic university professor with two kids that are obviously bonded with Mason and his sister - they spend some years living together - the impact of this split is left high and dry. The film goes on for about 1 hour and 40 mins too long and the aspects of Mason's story that are brought out from the director in these long winded and terribly slow agonising (can't wait to leave the cinema) minutes are very boring. Sadly I left the movie not caring two hoots about Mason and that seemed a waste to me.

The Invisible Woman (2013)

Outstandingly beautiful and sensitive film with wonderful period accuracy

[13 February 2014]

To the critics...get a life! Do you know how difficult it is to create a film about Charles Dickens, celebrity of the Victorian era which is a very long time ago AND get all the atmosphere of this period of history 100% in place? The costumes, the props, the locations and the acting are beyond wonderful. It is almost as if one steps back in to history during The Invisible Woman and tastes the world when celebrity was all about writing books and giving readings...without the mass marketing of celebrity culture. Dickens is marvellously portrayed by Fiennes, a middle aged Dickens by then, with Tom Hollander giving an equally good performance as Wilkie Collins. Dickens is at the height of his fame, but still proving himself and making sure he keeps his reputation firmly in place which is a necessity in Victorian times. It is amazing to see the struggle of the people at that time; the poverty and the hardship that Dickens wrote so well about - but also the confines of a super judgemental society and how women were still kept firmly in their place too!. Dickens had a large family and he was a large character - his family were there but he was not engaged as a family man except in terms of having his entertainment. Felicity Jones is gorgeous and accomplished in her role as the actress Dickens falls in love with and takes as his mistress. Her life as it would have been, is laid bare with Jones giving a wonderful insight in to the Victorian dilemma of sex and passion versus respectability and role of women in society. This is a top class film and puts many of the current films out there to shame.

Anna Karenina (I) (2012)

Exquisite adaptation and one that gets to the heart of emotions

[27 September 2012]

I was very cynical coming in to this adaptation and the first 5 minutes were not capturing my attention; then suddenly the sheer beauty and originality of this film hit me and I was sold. This is a film to see on the big screen so don't wait for the DVD. Keira Knightley is magnificent as Anna Karenina and I have to say it is her best performance to date. She captures something ethereal about Anna and one can feel her yearning to be free from the constraints of the society she is part of and yet also her struggle to truly set herself free with her love for Count Vronsky. Vronsky is very sensually played by Aaron Johnson and I have to say his sensitivity is very touching. Jude Law and a magnificent cast really impress. Joe Wright has given us a spectacular and original piece of film making - dramatic, beautiful and a feast for the eyes. I cannot praise it highly enough. The sets are amazing, the costumes and the close ups of Knightley's beautiful face and a range of emotions are keenly felt. I found the portrayal of Russian high society very aptly told. This film is a modern classic.

A Dangerous Method (2011)

It is an emotionally and intellectually engaging film

[21 February 2012]

You need to have an interest in psychoanalysis to really find something in this film - it is not a film that one can particularly 'enjoy'. The play, Talking Cure, from which it has been adapted was fantastic with Ralph Fiennes and Jodhi May - this film adaptation cannot surpass the power of the play in my opinion. I think it is very brave of Cronenberg to take this on and he could not have achieved it without stupendous performances by Viggo Mortensen and Michael Fassbender. The competitive nature of these two psychiatrists who both gave the modern world the ability to look into human neurosis and mental illness - has been very well portrayed. Freud as the father figure, controlling and wise - not wishing to see Jung as taking his theories into another dimension of interpretation. The love/hate relationship between them - all this is well done. What fails is the Sabine Spielrein aspect - which is the crux of the story. The reason is partly the casting of Keira Knightley. Ms Knightley simply does not suit the role. She is atrocious at the beginning and as the film progresses she does grow into the part- but the damage has already been done. This role needed to be taken by a much more experienced actress with some gravitas in order to be taken seriously. I also feel that when an actress takes on multi million dollar promotions for things like Chanel No 5 perfume and does silly films on motorbikes to promote it - then it is indeed very hard to take her seriously in a role that absolutely strips her bare - in all senses of the word - a role that would need to see her heart and soul and all that suffering that comes with it. Ms Knightley does not manage to portray the heart and soul of a deep enough person to convince us that she is Sabine Spielrein. It does inevitably spoil the film. But it was a commendable effort all in all as a film .

Shame (2011)

Shame is the title but is it really the crux of it?

[14 February 2012]

There are stories that are about life and all the aspects of life itself and then there are stories that are less like stories and more like studies of people and psychological issues.These kinds of films often leave the viewer with a sense of loss - precisely what Shame does - it brings the viewer into the depth of severe psychological disturbance in two particular individuals and makes one feel the loss that is consuming these people. Brother and sister; obviously victims of sex abuse in childhood of some order - and their current lives and dysfunction. Fassbender plays a man off the scale with severe emotional trauma that manifests itself in constant sex addiction - he is in break down. His sister, played by Mulligan is also in breakdown - the interesting family dynamic that is seen between siblings in abuse cases - they love/hate each other and are left to do the parenting which can never work. Some viewers will find the cold hearted sex scenes at time repetitive and indeed they are. But McQueen is clever in that he brings the viewer on a journey to see the severity of the addiction and all the forms it manifests in - leaving the protagonist tortured, exhausted and haunted. The added burden he takes on, is wanting to be the protector of his sister and then rejecting it - obviously he failed in protecting her in childhood and it still remained in the form of guilt. Often dysfunctional parents do a very heinous crime, in that they project on the children they are abusing ,that it is their fault - thus the long journey to break away and the healing process to even begin. Shame and guilt are heavy barriers in healing. Fassbender's performance is mesmerising. He deserves an award for it. It takes one to the heart of addiction and emotional dysfunction. The end of the film is ambiguous - did he break the cycle or didn't he? Society lends itself to sex and sexual abuse and addiction - on some level we are all obsessed with sex and it passes us by because we are not 'addicts'. The addict can find the outlet easily in modern society as it lends itself to all the vices and pain - but not readily does it lend itself to love. The sense of loss at the end of the film comes to the viewer as it is not clear if the protagonists made it through the darkness to the love that was obviously there in them too, waiting past the trauma and past the addiction.

The Beaver (2011)

10 out of 10 for Gibson's bravery

[5 December 2011]

OK, Mel Gibson used to be a very hot actor that everyone loved. Then he became famous and got caught in the trap of celebrity and fame. His aged face tells the story. The Beaver is not going to win any awards; not because it isn't a good movie - it is. However, with the history behind it of Gibson's rants and misdemeanors and the way he has offended the big boys of Hollywood; Gibson has no where to go anymore. But then he has great friends like Jodie Foster who believed in him and that is why The Beaver is a fascinating film - it tells the story of Mel Gibson and it is clothed in another tale that is probably highly unlikely in real life - BUT, it does explain why Gibson acted the way he did reading between the lines. The Beaver is the story of a man in a nervous breakdown, communicating to the world through a beaver hand puppet during his breakdown and then to the point of total collapse. In between this tale, is the effect on his family , his work and how the world sees him. The theme of the film is mental illness and Gibson does a fine fine job in acting - he really is a tremendous actor. What is really important here, is that Gibson bears his soul through the channel of the film script and I find that very admirable. It is his way of explaining himself and it is a humbling act. I have to admire Jodie Foster too because she is fearless. As the opening credits roll we see that the film has been financed by an Abu Dhabi film production company - how very obscure and not often seen in a Hollywood production. But of course, this is not a Hollywood production - this is a story beyond that - Hollywood is ruled by certain groups of people that Gibson offended - it takes brave people to tell their story against the odds.

The Deep Blue Sea (2011)

Atmospheric to a fault

[30 November 2011]

The Deep Blue Sea is a wonderful wonderful play but does not transfer to the big screen so easily. The director has got lost in some kind of over-kill on the atmosphere of the film. Rather than telling the story; which on the big screen needs to be fleshed out with depth and background; he gives us endless music score and terribly long shots of faces; this simply goes into the melodramatic rather than believing in the characters. Rachel Weitz is an amazing actress but she is far too young for the part of Hester, Greta Saachi played her in the play and should have done the movie too - she was great in the part and the right age. The point is about Hester, she is not a young beautiful woman anymore, and Weitz is absolutely young and beautiful. It beggars belief that any woman as Weitz physically portrays would be in the position Hester finds herself in. The film score is absolutely annoying, the beginning of the film is whimsical and the score goes on and on to dream like sequences of Hester's suicidal frame of mind - this does not work and is not a good introduction to the film at all. Frankly, I found myself bored in large parts by this film. I do think there is an accurate portrayal of 1950's society and the lack of rights for women; I am an avid Rattigan fan and believe that his plays document a very important part of British cultural history, I am disappointed this film did not make a better job of it.