BlackNarcissus Reviews

Shank (2010)

Rubbish Kidulthood Rip Off

[2/10 · 8 April 2010]

Menhaj Huda & Noel Clarke have a lot to answer for because without the success of their 2006 film Kidulthood this piece of crap would never had seen the light of day.

The worst thing is we'll be seeing a lot more of this kind of thing as people - I don't know who - are paying to see this, having opened to Top Ten Box-Office in its first week.

I guess I was warned in the opening credits of this film it wouldn't amount to much. How so, well, it features a man taking a dump in the street and thats how I felt having sat through all 90 Minutes.

What I'd like to know is what the likes of Colin Salmon & Robbie Gee were thinking to be associated with this.

Set in a future London that looks a lot like, well, the city today. I'm guessing its supposed to say something about "Urban" life & the street. Ya get me!!

The film I assume is trying to tell the viewer that violence is bad however everything it says the opposite. A dog fight played out as a video game & theft is alright as long as its for your "Fam". Even the climatic fight at the films end is botched cop out.

As I said before we are going to see a lot more of this kind of thing before we see any decent Urban set films.

Don't bother to pay good money to see this don't even get it on DVD. Wait to it shown on TV hopefully at about 1am on a cold Wednesday night.

Absolutely rubbish.

http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=14198203

Charlie Wilson's War (2007)

Thoroughly Entertaining & Surprisingly Amusing Film

[8/10 · 11 December 2007]

Told in flashback, the film opens in 1989 with Charlie being given award for his role in the defeat of Communism. I must admit my heart sank as at the thought of have to endure yet another earnest, somewhat boring and overlong life story. How wrong was I, because that short scene is as close as the film ever gets to boring.

The film is full of entertaining & amusing set ups and cracking dialogue in some of the most unexpected places. The next scene after the Awards ceremony is Charlie in a Hot-Tub with some naked women and a guy trying to get him to invest in a TV programme. Another rather amusing scene is about 3 quarters into the film comprises Charlie, a group of his rather sexy Secretaries, Phillip Seymour Hoffmans CIA Man and a bottle of Whisky. As to dialogue what about this for a line, "The Senator says, He can teach us to type but can't teach us to grow Tits.". OK, School-boyish I know but the film is laced with great lines.

As to performances well Phillip Seymour Hoffman as usual steals every scene he's in. Hanks is OK but surprisingly to me anyway was Julia Roberts who is very good in the role of a rather eccentric Texas Oil Millionairess.

Charlie Wilson's War is one of the best non Musician Bio-pics in a long while as well as being that rare thing a film that entertains, amuses as well as informs all in equal measure.

Battle for Haditha (2007)

Powerful & Provocative Film

[8/10 · 12 November 2007]

I saw this film at it's London premiere at the Odeon West End as part of the London Film Festival.

I guess Nick Broomfield was getting sick & tired of seeing Michael Moore ripping off his Documentary style so made this his Second feature film in as many years. Like the earlier film, Ghosts (www.imdb.com/title/tt0872202/), the Battle for Haditha is based on fact.

The film tells story of the events of November 19, 2005, when a troop of US Marines exact revenge for an earlier attack which killed one of their number in the Iraqi town of Haditha.

The Film focuses on three different viewpoints, the first of Iraqi insurgents, which in this case isn't some mad Mullah but an old man, who we learn is an ex-Army officer and his son. The second focuses on a Corporal Ruiz, a young Marine who you feel wants to be anywhere but Iraqi and the finally the film focuses on a young Iraqi couple and their extended family.

The film is shot Cinéma-vérité style and at times is very harrowing. But it's to Broomfields credit that he to my mind he doesn't simply demonize the US soldiers. Instead you get to understand how young men put in a situation that you the viewer couldn't understand let alone cope with, could just lose it after a comrade is killed. Likewise, in the films portrayal of the insurgent fighters Broomfield manages to make you think what would you do, if, as in the film, your a professional soldier made jobless by a an Occupying force. How do you feed your family, and wouldn't you feel some resentment to the occupation forces for making you jobless. But it's in the Iraqi families, caught between the US forces and the Insurgents that the film is at it's best. They can't do the right thing for doing wrong. It is they who bear the brunt of either Insurgency retaliation or US Forces heavy-handedness. They who ultimately will and are the losers in Film.

This is a powerful film which deals with all aspects of the problem fair mindedly, but doesn't shy away from the truth. Don't let those who haven't watched the film put you off seeing the best portrayal of the War on Terror to date.

Black Narcissus

http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=14198203

Retour à Gorée (2007)

A Great Musical Odyssey

[7/10 · 11 November 2007]

Another great pick from the guys at the London Film Festival. I must admit I only saw this film as my first choice Night Train (www.imdb.com/title/tt1032941/) was sold out. But it turned out that I landed on my feet, as Goree was great.

If you've seen the film and you know your Classics, I should have stated the film is more a Musical Jason and The Golden Fleece then The Odyssey.

The film follows African Musician Youssou N'Dour's journey to bring Jazz back to Africa. His journey takes him from Atlanta to New York to a pre-Katrina New Orleans to Europe and ultimately to Africa and the Island of Goree in Dakar; Senegal in order to recruit musicians. The film is more than a series of Musical performances those are great by the way, it's also a spiritual journey.

The spiritual journey is best conveyed by the reactions of musicians Idris Muhammad and The Harmony Harmoneers. Idris comes over initially as a larger than life figure but once he's in Africa you get the impression that he's fulfilling something that has laid dormant in him. Likewise the Harmoneers, go thorough a change. You initially sense a tension between them and the other musicians N'Dour has recruited as they are last to be recruited. But they too, go through a transformation on a trip to Goree and the Fort where Slaves were kept before travelling to The Americas. Trust me you'll have a lump in your throat when you hear them sing a Gospel tune against the background of the Fort.

At the screening I attended the Director stated that Yossou may release the music from the film at a later date I do hope does. Likewise I hope the people of Dakar and Sengal get to see the film.

A really Great Musical film with a Spiritual element to it.

BN

http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=14198203

Killer of Sheep (1978)

Stangely Compelling Film

[7/10 · 7 November 2007]

For the life of me I wonder what prompted the people at the London Film Festival to screen this film at the NFT.

Filmed sometime in the 70s in Black & White it's the story of a family told over maybe two days and is strangely compelling.

There's no typically Afro-American Urban film scenes just a story about a family and what do. Children play games, dad goes to work and mum looks after the home, an everyday story of life. But don't let that put you off because the film really draws you in somehow. It features a great soundtrack of tunes taken from the 30/40s and some strange (to my mind) editing.

Do try and see this film if it's at a Festival near you because you too will be drawn into it as I was.

Weirdly Wonderful Film.

Black Narcissus

http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=14198203

In Prison My Whole Life (2007)

Illuminating Documentary

[6/10 · 6 November 2007]

I saw this film recently at the NFT as part of the London Film Festival at what was surprisingly a very well attended screening.

The documentary's main focus is to look at the case of Black Panther Mumia Abu-Jamal, who currently awaits death for the murder of a Philadelphia Policeman on the night of December 9, 1981. The date also happens to be the day that William Francome who is the films main narrator was born in the UK.

Francome takes a personal interest in Mumia's case and travels across America trying to make the case that he has been the subject of a grave miscarriage of Justice. In support of his case he gets some great interviewee's ranging from Angela Davis & Moam Chomsky to Mos Def & Snoop Dogg (who I must say was really interesting and thoughtful). As well as lawyers, political activists and Mumia's relatives.

Unfortunately, instead of focusing on the actual case which at it's heart is still a mystery. In that, Mumia was at the location and a policeman was killed (There's a strong suggestion that the policeman was killed by a third party possibly another cop). The film instead widens out to look at Police Brutality, Racism in America and the Death Penalty amongst other things.

That said, if like me you knew nothing of the Mumia or his case, the film is an eye opener. From the beginning the film has a great use of Graphics and Music and is well put together. I doubt that there is anyone who having seen the film wouldn't be interested in knowing more about the case.

The real pity is that the film though made with a lot of British talent (The actor Colin Firth was an Executive Producer) there is little chance it'll get seen in the UK outside festival screenings.

Illuminating and well put together documentary which I definitely recommend seeing.

Black Narcissus http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=14198203

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Daddy's Little Girls (2007)

Half Decent Film Why No British Release???

[6/10 · 12 September 2007]

I saw this film recently at the Black Film Maker International Film Festival here in London.

Not at all like Perry's previous films which have both been premiered at the festival in the last few years. Instead of broad Christian Cross-Dressing Gun Totting Comedy, what we have here is a gentle romantic drama with a smattering of jokes here and there.

At got to say it wasn't to bad though I have to admit I preferred the Meadea films. The performances were OK especially the leading actors Union & Elba. The story is a bit hackneyed but I guess that's the cynic in me. You kind of knew exactly how the film was going to end from the open credits. The audience I saw it with loved it.

That got me thinking why can't you see Perry's work in the UK other than at the BFM Film Festival. Why not release the films on DVD, any visit to Dalston/Brixton/Harlesden in London will tell you that's there's a great illicit trade in Perry's films.

Anyway, if you like a undemanding and somewhat unoriginal romantic drama this is just the thing for you.

Black Narcissus

How to Eat Your Watermelon in White Company (and Enjoy It) (2005)

An Excellent Documentary

[8/10 · 24 April 2007]

To paraphrase the Learner and Lowe song Thank Heavens for Uncut. Because there is little or no way this excellent Documentary would have been shown in the UK without them.

If like me you only knew about the iconoclastic Melvin Van Peebles from his sons Mario's film Baadasssss!. This excellent, entertaining and at times quite funny Documentary will be a real eye opener. It's a warts and all portrait of a life that has definitely been lived to the full.

Oh and what a life, at one time or other Van Peeble's has been Airman in the US Air Force, Cable Car Operator, Film-Maker, Novelist, Broadway Musical Producer, unbelievably a Wall Street Trader and Recording Artist all in some 75 years. Renaissance man seems such an inadequate term for this most individual of men.

As I said earlier the film really is an eye opener for the casual viewer or those of us (I think there may well be many of us) who only knew of the Sweetback film. Take for instance the fact that after the success of the film he would only make one further film in the 70s and wouldn't make another film for over a decade. That he taught himself Financial Market trading and was one of the first African-American Traders on Wall Street. That he had not one but two Broadway Musicals running at the same time and the first of which gets nine Tony nominations. There is a small part of me that thinks he must have made some Faustian pact to enjoy the amount of success he's had.

The film has some real laugh out loud moments such when he recalls spraying his office with the scent of Watermelons and the reaction that this would have on White visitors. Or when someone recounts Van Peebles juggling of his various lovers.

As I said earlier this is an really enjoyable documentary about one of America's most extraordinary men. A definite must see if at a Cinema or Festival near you.

Dirty Laundry (I) (2006)

A Delightful Little Comedy

[6/10 · 6 April 2007]

I managed to catch this film recently and you know what I'm rather glad I did. It's a great little comedy with some cracking one-liners and a fair few laugh out loud moments. For the life of me I can't understand the low marks its got.

The story of an African American guy called Patrick who after a 10 years living in the City gets called back to the small Southern town where he grew up. Welcomed back into to his family, little do they know that he's Gay and little does he know of what he left behind in his home town all those years a go.

It features a great scene chewing comedic performance from one of my favourite actresses Jenifer Lewis as Patrick's snobby aunt Lettuce. As well as that look out for Loretta Devine as his mother who is her usually good self.

The film fizzes with one-liners for example. "You can't make a Soufflé with Powdered Eggs". Said from one woman to another who's having trouble having children.

The film owes a lot to the work of Tyler Perry to my mind and if you like his Medea Films you'll love this. Well worth a look if its at a cinema near you.

Provoked (2006)

Aishwarya Rai .......... Not Just a Pretty Face

[7/10 · 3 April 2007]

I saw Provoked at a packed screening at the Tongues on Fire Film Festival in Mid-March. I must say I was pleasantly surprised how good both Ms. Rai and the film were. This may in no small way be due to the Director Jag Mundhra who should be pleased with the finished film.

Watching the film it kinda struck me that its the kind of film that seems to have gone out of fashion. An intelligent entertaining (that might be the incorrect word in view of the subject matter) issue film that doesn't patronise its audience.

This is easily Aishwarya Rai best Western/English Language film to date and could mark the start of an interesting phase in her career. Cast, to my mind against type, she plays Kiranjit Ahluwalia a battered Housewife who after years of Physical, Mental & Sexual abuse kills her husband by setting fire to him while he sleeps. Kiranjit would later be jailed for life for murder and then successfully appeal the decision and in doing so change English Criminal Law.

I must say that Aishwarya really did show there's more to her than her looks. If you've seen her other English Languauge films this is a complete step up performance wise. Especially, when you ask yourself who would you get to play an Indian Battered wife, I'm sure like me you wouldn't have cast Ms. Rai in a Million years, based on seeing "Mistress of Spices" & "Bride and Prejudice" respectively.

Aishwarya gives a really good performance, she managing to convey the fact that she (Kiranjit) is supposed to be a good wife & mother so if her husband abuses her if must be her fault. But Ms. Rai is really at her best when she has killed her husband and is in something of a daze with the whole enormity of the situation. She really manages to have you believing this is how the real Kiranjit acted.

An important subject handled intelligently, I can't recommend this film highly enough.

Sugarhouse (2007)

Rather Good new Brit Film

[6/10 · 4 March 2007]

I got an invite to see a Preview screening of Sugarhouse Lane last Wednesday & it was a well attended affair in a Hotel screening Room.

The film is set in London, but not the tourist type London you'll have seen in most British Films. Thankfully there's no shot of 'The Gherkin' building which seems to have plagued all films set in London since around 2000.

Most of the action (if thats the right word) takes place in around a derelict warehouse in/or around a Council estate. D takes Tom to this place in order to do some business but has other plans. Unfortunately this is were the films Stage origins let it down because, the film becomes wordy & rather confined to this single location. The film is beautiful to look at, the DoP should be very proud of themselves. I saw the film in the company of a Film Director and that was a comment he agreed with. Look out for the final Crane shot at the end of the film which is just great..

As to the performances, there's a really great performance from Ashley Walters as D a Crack Addict/Hustler. IMHO it much more than the clichéd "Blackman Druggie" part British Black actors are asked to play. It's a really convincing turn as an addict up there with Willie Ross's Drunk Father in 'Rita, Sue and Bob Too' and Samuel L. Jackson's performance in 'Jungle Fever'. There's also a good performance from Andy Serkis as Hoodwink a Northern Irish hard man. Oh, look out for the girl who plays Hoodwinks girlfriend I think in the titles she's called 'Pregnant Girl'. She's in the film for no more than 5 - 6 minutes tops but there's something really striking about her.

I must admit I was expecting something different but that said, I was pleasantly surprised. The film is much better than say other films set in London with Urban theme's like 'Breaking and Entering'. A film well worth having a look at when or if it gets a UK Theatrical release.

District B13 (2004)

Why Oh Why Can't we do this in the Britain

[8/10 · 28 June 2006]

On seeing this film, I was struck that the first thing to come to my mind was the old Carly Simon song 'Why'.

Why is that in a country that likes to boast it has a "Film Industry" we can't make films like this. Why is it that the USA, India, Italy, Japan, China and even France; the most snobbish country on the planet when it comes to 'Culture' can make this type of film and good old Blighty can't. Why is it there can be no Light just Heavy to our films,it didn't use to be like this but somehow we just lost the art of making 'Movies' for want of a better word. By that I mean this film isn't going to win any awards it's a piece of Bubble Gum but oh what fun to have as the Pop Group Madness might say.

District 13, as its called in the UK is an action film, by the Master of the European, no France School; Luc Beeson. The film isn't as good as his other films Le Femme Nikita or Leon but it's one of the best small budget action movies in a long while.

************************** BEWARE NEXT PARAGRAPH CONTAINS Spoiler ***************************

Set in a Dystopian Future Paris (think Mad Max styling) were the citizens live in a ghetto of crime and were the Police fear to go. Ostensible the story of two guys, one a local from District 13 who's been wrongly imprisoned and the other a Cop who are brought together to work for the French Government when a Nuclear Warhead goes missing (As they tend to do, if you will it's a bit like Escape to New York).

The beginning of the film certainly packs a punch, with a 5 minute action sequence built around the French phenomenon of 'Le Parkour' or 'Free Running'. I defy anyone not to be impressed by this sequence of stunts, which clearly had no Blue Screen/Special effects (Please note Bond Producers). From then on the action never lets up mixing Martial Arts & the Free Running. There's also plenty of Gun play for the John Woo element.

No doubt our esteemed group of UK Film critics will slaughter the film, but what do they know.

All in all this is a great film, slickly made with no stars but plenty of action.

Definitely one to see.

Kidulthood (2006)

At last a great little Film , and it's British too

[8/10 · 5 March 2006]

If like me you have despaired at the way that the London has been portrayed in films over the last 10 or so years this film is a God send. This is a London that truly reflects the city as it is today and not as it was in the 50s, like films such as Notting Hill, Wimbledon and Love Actually to name but a few. Added to that the film isn't to bad considering the recent track record of UK films. Its a bit like Larry Clarke's Kids meets Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing with added Grange Hill (a BBC Children's drama programme)all set in & around Ladbroke Grove & Harrow Road, London.

The film tells the stories of a number of kids given the day off school after a girl kills herself after being bullied. What ensues over the next 24 hours includes a relentless tide of booze, drug taking, underage sex, stealing as well as Gun-crime. And not once is there any preaching or moralising that is left to the viewer to make there own mind up on.

The performances in the main are some what workman like however two performances stand out, that of Aml Ameen (Trife) and Jamie Winstone (Becky). Of the two, Winstone is some to look out for because on the evidence of this film she has a bright future. Director Menhaj Huda handles things well from Noel Clarke's first time script, again both are to be looked out for in the future. The film also has a firin' Soundtrack by some of the UK's Hip Hop & Grime artists, giving the film the feel of a US production.

As I said in the beginning this film is an antidote to all those fay Richard Curtis film's we've had to endure over the last few years. One hopes that the filmmakers get the opportunity to make more like it, if not in the UK in the US.

The film is definitely one to check out if you can.

On the Outs (2004)

Interesting take on Inner City Youth

[7/10 · 4 March 2006]

I just saw this movie as part of the Images of Black Women Film Festival in London. I got to say I was pleasantly surprised by the film, which I guess wouldn't be shown in the UK without this type of festival.

Set in New Jersey it follows three different young women. It's a fairly familiar tale if you've seen the likes of Boys in the Hood, Menace to Society, as it's a tale of growing up in inner city America today and the trails and tribulations that entails. That said it was an interesting take on the Genre in that it is to my mind the first film to tell this type of story from a female perspective.

Judy Marte's performance in the film is first rate as a drug dealer and reminded me of Michelle Rodriguez's in Girl Fight, one only hopes she goes on to have as good a career. Her two other co-leads give adequate performances from somewhat under written parts.

All in all a really good little movie, well worth watching.