delfranklin1969 Reviews

Carmen's Kiss (2010)

Thoughtful But Disappointing Movie

[1 October 2011]

'Carmen's Kiss' attempts to grasp the bigger picture problem of sex trafficking, it's a decent enough attempt but just falls short of being interesting enough to work as a whole piece.

Joe played by Hugo Spear is an ex cop desperately in love with Carmen. Obsessionally in love, he lost his job because of her, descending down a spiralling staircase into utter despondency. The plot weaves slowly and thoughtfully but all too often the mix becomes uninteresting and you are left waiting for something to happen.

It's not degradingly bad, the actors go through the motions with ease laced with some nice snapshots of a seedier side of London underworld but you are left thinking it could have been so much better. The slow pace becomes off putting at times.

Nice to see such a serious problem tackled on the big screen but was ultimately disappointed with the outcome.

Wake Wood (2009)

Fantastic Slab Of Horror From The Newly Invigorated Hammer Franchise

[9/10 · 1 October 2011]

On briefly reading the reviews here, I was a little disappointed at so many negative words for what for me is one of the best horror films I have seen in quite some time. Each to their own I suppose, that's what opinions are there for after all!

Made on a low budget and set in either the north or south of Ireland (hard to decipher which!), 'Wake Wood' is the tale of a recently bereaved couple who relocate to this remote outpost to overcome their grief. As luck would have it - the locals led by a sinister and menacing Timothy Spall just happen to have pagan powers to resurrect the dead for three days. Some people have all the luck!

This is a great wee story with all the trademarks of what made Hammer films so spellbinding in the first place. A remote location, strange locals, an abundance of gloomy weather and of course blood and guts aplenty. The tale twists and weaves, there's a number of interesting plot twists and fantastic performances all round especially from Spall who puts more proof in the pudding he is one of the most versatile British actors around. Debutant Ella Connolly playing the couple's tragic daughter is superb as well.

The script is original something difficult to muster in the horror genre nowadays. There is every chance 'Wake Wood' will end up becoming a cult classic in the same vein as 'The Wicker Man. Here's hoping it does because on first viewing it certainly deserves such an accolade.

Shadow Run (1998)

Not Good Enough

[2/10 · 30 January 2011]

Oh dear. No wonder most reviewers are agreed this really is a bad film. One can only assume Sir Michael was in need of a fast buck. Although can't imagine he was too well paid for his efforts. For one of the finest actors of his generation he's done an awful lot of turkeys. This sure as hell is one of them.

The plot is messy. The inclusion of a bunch of seemingly untrained kids adds nothing to the story. Well the fat kid who gets bullied inexplicably gets involved in the story of hardened gangster Haskell (Caine) putting together a team of unconvincing criminals (two of whom seem unable to talk) together for a security van hijack job.

Haskell murders for the flimsiest of reasons, two characters are discarded by what must be his favourite method - strangulation. Though it wouldn't be exactly politically correct to murder the fat kid who knows all, it's somewhat surprising Haskell lets him go, chucking in a gift in the bargain.

I rented this out because I like a good British thriller and the cast were, on paper at least, appealing. There is some good interplay between Caine and Leslie Grantham (playing Dirty Den yet again but he does it pretty well) but everyone is just going through the motions.

There's not really a lot to recommend this, it just ploughs on and is mind numbingly boring. The sub plots completely unnecessary and whilst the acting bearable, the script is a complete let down. As for the hijacking itself, well let's just say it isn't convincing.

Some nice shots of middle England but all in all a disappointing mess of epic proportion.

The Age of Stupid (2009)

Thought Provoking Movie

[7/10 · 30 January 2011]

The subject of climate change is often covered but rarely brought to the big screen. This ambitious low budget project is well worth viewing because it will make you think just that little more about how we're draining resources on earth.

It's a neat idea. The late and much missed Pete Postlethwaite is an archivist who spends the entire film touching a computer screen showing us reasons why the planet ended up in such a desolate state in 2055.

Interlaced with six separate documentary stories covering various aspects of climate change are snippets of news recordings, social commentary and animation hybrid. It all works rather well, your interest is kept high and the stories all work the grey matter into overdrive. All held together by Postlethwaite who in reality has very little to do but does it rather well nonetheless.

Most certainly worth a watch and just may well tempt you to try reduce your carbon emission. A good effort all round.