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ruthwashbrook
Reviews
Mulholland Dr. (2001)
Enchanting, Hypnotic and Utterly Mesmerising
Mulholland Drive is one the truly amazing films made by artist and poet David Lynch and which not only blows you away on first viewing, but insists further viewings. The films genius works on a number of levels, not least allowing the viewer to make up their own mind as to what the events, metaphors and dreams they see actually mean.
Go and see it/rent it and don't worry if you don't understand what's going on at the first viewing, it will have you intrigued and you'll go back for another look, at which stage you'll begin to put the pieces together and the clues Lynch leaves as the key to working it out.
Its worth it.
Fantastic 10/10
The Four Feathers (2002)
A would be epic without the backbone!
***SPOILERS*** ***SPOILERS*** Having not seen any of the preceding versions of this film, I went to see it with an open mind to judge it on its own merits. Whilst the film feels and wants to be an epic it lacks the backbone, passion and character development of such classics like Ben Hur or Spartacus. Whilst the cinematography is fantastic with beautifully filmed and framed shots and exciting battle sequences, the script fails in its inability to provide a credible motivation for Harry's (Heath Ledger) actions and the events that enfold. The film begins with Harry's sudden (albeit he mentions in passing that he never wanted to join the army) departure from the army after receiving instructions that they are to go to war. Recently engaged, Harry terrified at the prospect of going to war resigns his commission. His ashamed fiancée, Ethne, shows her superficial love for him by giving him a feather representing cowardice, which he adds to the 3 already given to him by his friends.
Harry's desire to bow out of the army could have provided some emotional in-depth scenes of his misery and provide a background as to why he is driven to extreme lengths to prove he is really a "man". Unfortunately, this is not the case and the film skips over his inner turmoil in favour of action sequences. Having been derided by his love and friends, Harry sets out to join his battalion to regain his masculinity and make amends to his friends and now, ex-fiancée.
Of course going undercover in a foreign land is never going to be easy and Harry's get up is as transparent as a cling film covered plate of sandwiches - it is extremely hard to believe that the natives do not see through him. What ensues is a muddle of scenes strung together by one fight/battle/escape sequence after another.
The most interesting and significant part of the film I found to be the friendship between Harry and Abou. Abou is a mysterious African ex-British soldier and Christian, who helps Harry on numerous occasions merely stating his motivation to help as God's work. Abou is Harry's surrogate father, enduring pain, torture and humiliation for him and fulfilling every expectation that his own father cannot and will not entertain. Abou's help enables Harry to regain his masculinity and once this is achieved, Abou fades back into the desert. His job done, Abou leaves Harry redeemed and able once more to receive the love and respect of his own father upon his return to England.
Once every fighting and rescue scenario has been exhausted, we are left with the final sequence, which places Harry firmly back within the status quo of Victorian society. Having rescued his friends, faced and conquered his fears and regained his masculinity, Harry is now free to receive the love and respect of not only his friends, but more importantly his ex-fiancée and father.
Whilst a potentially passionate story, the film fails to deliver, due to its inability to develop its characters adequately enough for any sympathy and compassion to be felt towards either Harry or any of his friends. Ethne his fiancée/ex-fiancée/fiancée is an unnecessary distraction and she is neither the motivation for his resignation from the army, nor the reason for his `rejoining' it. With Harry's disappearance, Ethne writes to his friend Jack and they become engaged. However, upon Harry's glorious return, Jack is forgotten and Ethne reassures Harry that she has always loved him (although this love appears as superficial as Harry's disguise in the Sudan) and they walk together hand in hand in the final scene, their relationship re-established and secure.
In short, this film is a classic masculinity-in-crises narrative in which a man is metaphorically castrated by his failure to conform to his place in society. A society in which a man who shows his emotions and questions authority, is punished for his beliefs. His only possible path back to redeem himself and regain his masculinity is by the retrieval of his `masculine' characteristics through his excessive machismo and loyalty to his friends. I can't but wonder, what was the point.
Rating: 6/10
Overall Comments: Overlong, meandering and lacking passion.
Cattle Queen of Montana (1954)
Feisty Barbara Stanwyck wins her land, befriends the Indians (and gains a husband)
Barbara Stanwyck is the Cattle Queen of the title, Sierra Nevada Jones who fights for her land against a rival land owner who has the local Indians on the payroll. Stanwyck befriends Chief Colorados who helps in her fight, together with a very weak Ronald Reagan who is so cardboard he could blow over in a breeze. Stanwyck is tough, determined and tenacious. She knows what she wants and she gets it. The only pity is that because of Hollywood's conventional Western formula, the narrative won't allow Stanwyck to be active without having her feminised place reasserted at the end of the film.
Tall in the Saddle (1944)
Conventional Western that negotiates gender stereotypes
Tall in the Saddle is an interesting Western which negotiates the gender stereotypes of the conventional Western formula. John Wayne is the misogynst torn between two women, the passive Eastern refined lady and the active rancher's daughter. Wayne's character is wooden as you may expect, but Ella Raines as Arly Haroldy is fantastic as the tenacious rancher. One of the better roles for women in the Western.