JulioMedallion Reviews

Ondine (2009)

Liked this a lot more than I expected

[8/10 · 25 March 2010]

I am a fan of Neil Jordan but I was extremely disappointed with Breakfast on Pluto, so I went to this movie with low expectations. Colin Farrell (once you get used to him with the sing songy Cork accent!)was super as was Alicia Bachleda. Along with the Butcher Boy and The Miracle the real star of the movie is a young actor (Alison Barry).

This is a fairytale interspersed with reality, it is a movie. I'm tired of reading reviewers criticising the fantasy elements conflicting with 'real life'. Suspend disbelief for God's sake , you are watching a piece of fiction, not a documentary.

This was a perfect movie for a lazy afternoon, it would even be suitable for kids from ages 8 upwards.Did not find it in the slightest bit boring or slow. To compare it with Moondance is completely unfair as that movie had both poor directing and a brutal script(in conjunction with some very dodgy acting).

Give Ondine a chance, you might find that you will be pleasantly surprised.

32A (2007)

Accurate and thoughtful

[7/10 · 19 January 2010]

I really liked this film. It brought back a lot of memories, especially going out with some eejit who you thought was cool and then to have your illusions sorely shattered.

My family thought it was boring when screened on TV but I loved the little observational gems like the posh drunk in the chip shop and the two little punks trying to score acid in the park.

I recognised a lot of the locations as places I used to hang out in my teens.All of the four girls were brilliant especially as the film progressed, they really grew into their roles, particularly the girl whose father is the taxi driver.

It is a slow moving film and nothing much really happens but the beauty of the film is in the development of the characters, their relationships and emotions and of course the detail in the costumes, hair, houses etc. Was disappointed when it finished, would have gladly spent more time in the four girls company.