pgilchrist1 Reviews

Secondhand Lions (2003)

Most fun I've ever had sat down.

[10/10 · 6 April 2004]

This film made me laugh and made me cry. The story is a simple one that's been told many times before - mismatched people who end up changing each other. Sure the story is predictable, but it's told in a pleasing way, with a flash-back story unfolding as the main story progresses.

Duval and Caine are magnificent - why they weren't nominated for an Oscar beats me. Caine is a much more plausible Texan, than any American that ever tried a cockney accent. Osment is superb, though he struggles a bit to when the part calls for a more adult dialogue.

I read that the DVD has the original ending - I hope it's even better than the original - I'm off to buy it in the morning. I so enjoyed this ending, and this was this and the lion attack scene that made me cry - a very, very rare thing in a film.

I gave it a 10, and well deserved too.

G.B.H. (1991)

The very best of British

[10/10 · 17 February 2004]

This is British drama at it's ultimate. There has been little to touch it since it's release. Bleasedale's script is full of twists and turns taking you from outright hatred and revulsion of the main characters through pity, sympathy and finally on to adoration.

The story is truly mesmerising, on the face of it a plain story of extreme left-wing politics in local government. So very typical of the late 70's and early 80's Britain and led to the phrase "Loony Left".

As the story progresses we learn that not all is quite what it seems. Michael Murray (Robert Linsay) is shown to be just as much of a pawn of the system, as the wretched Jim Nelson (Michael Palin) who he tries to take down in the first few episodes.

The acting is powerful, and way beyond what is expected of a TV drama. Look out for many of Bleasedale's favourite actors throughout the story.

Sadly this was one of the last real dramas produced and funded by UK Channel 4 before they were forced by the UK government to produce more 'popular' programming. A move that eventually forced C4 from becoming the major source of funding for British film, into nothing more than a proud sponsor.