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sickboy-22
Reviews
Ordinary People (1980)
Superb Adaptation from the Judith Guest Novel
Words fail to describe the power of this movie! One of those little "sleepers" that just creeps up on you and knocks you between the eyes with an emotional punch. Superbly crafted, produced and directed (with understated prowess) by first time director Redford & played to perfection by the ensemble cast, in particular Mary Tyler-Moore as the aloof Mom & a young Timothy Hutton who went on to win Best Supporting Actor at that years Academy Awards. It's about the struggle of a family who have to come to terms with the premature death of a son and deals with how they cope with the situations and circumstances as they innevitably interact with each other.
Sounds like a TV movie? Don't be fooled. It's a real gem...one of the best, and sadly nowadays truly under-rated. Good support too from Sutherland as the supportive father and Judd Hirsch as Dr. Berger. Intelligent film. See it...it will change your life forever!!
Screen One: Meat (1994)
Superb BBC drama
Meat is one of the best BBC dramas I have seen for many years. Featuring stand-out perfomances from Jonny ( best remembered possibly for his part in Train Spotting and Hackers) and Peter Wright (who..as it happens can also be seen in the classic Naked directed by Mike Leigh). To my knowledge only shown on UK TV only the once, is in desperate need of a repeat. Written by Danny Boyle it follows the life of Charlie Dyce, a young offender who gets on the wrong side of the tracks and wants to make good. Travelling to London he meets Myra played by Sarah-Jane Potts who he falls in love with and who "can't get enough of him". "Say that again" he says. "I can't get enough of you, Charlie". Her boyfriend pimp, however, has other plans and a battle of wills rages supreme.
The film raises the serious debate about "giving in" to society and whether through choice or merely through lack of control of circumstances what happens to "us" is innevitable.