Month: April 2014

ENOUGH SAID (2013)

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Sad, very sad. James Gandolfini is dead and we shall see no more of his wonderful acting talents. (I think it’s time to rewatch The Sopranos). This doesn’t distract too much from the fact that it’s a very beautiful film. To finish your career with a film like this says so much about the humanity he brought to his roles and is a testament to the big man’s sensibilities.

If you ever read any of the eulogies or comments made by people who knew and worked with him you’ll have heard the constant references to the gentleness/kindness/loyalty attributed to this man.

Here he gives a performance of charm, humour and warmth that is difficult to fake, no matter how good an actor you are. It seeps through the screen into your heart every time he’s on screen.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus was also wonderful, quite ticky but nevertheless believable. I have been loving her in Veep and I probably wouldn’t have seen this but for the mighty Gandolfini but I am glad I did. Her emotional journey was believable and sincere. If you’re a fan of either of the 2 leads definitely have a look.
A small, intimate film about trying to find love in later years.

3.8/5

BUY THE BLU-RAY DVD HERE

DOWNLOAD THE FILM ON iTUNES HERE

JAMESY BOY (2014)

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Based on a True Story can go either way.

Too schmaltzy and hollywoody and it can suck balls at the highest level but it can also tell an intimate story that make have the power to move.

This falls into the latter…just.

There are 3 montage/song sequences that got less annoying as they were revealed.

The first one comes in at around 50 minutes and having had 50 minutes of a pretty decent story looked like it may descend into the usual formulaic nonsense.

By the third one I was in a forgiving mood, I had been told the story now and was invested enough in the characters to ‘low any vehemental judgements.

Spencer Lofranco plays the titular boy was suitably low key and histrionic-less in his portrayal of the wayward teenager James Burns, a troubled, acting out teenager who can’t seem to keep himself on the right side of the law. His performance was believable and suitably convincing.

Prison films can also suck it real good (pun intended) but this, again, was low key enough to feel real, mired in politics from the C.E.O.s and inmates alike, it is easy to see why and how the system fails.

I didn’t really tell you much about the film and to be fair, it may or may not be your cup of tea. It has a gritty realism to it that allows the viewer to feel the discomfort of the situation and at the same time empathise with the characters on screen.

I enjoyed it. Mary-Louise Parker, James Woods, Ving Rhames, that’s good enough right?
If you fancy an evening in the company of the lesser fortunate then this one’s for you.

3.5/5

BUY THE BLU-RAY DVD HERE

DOWNLOAD THE FILM ON iTUNES HERE