squareeyes

This was slagged off in the Radio Times but I'd checked the viewer comments here and decided to watch it . My one main problem with this is Minnie Driver . She can't do restrained and repressed . It's not her . She's not Helena Bonham-Carter or Kristin Scott Thomas . The fragile English rose , she's not . Stillness doesn't suit her . When she lets rip at Tom Wilkinson she comes alive . Let's see some more of that kind of temperament in her performances . Apart from that it is a very well put together film although the wonderfulness of this Jewish woman alone in the Gentile world of the nineteenth century gets laid on with a trowel , somewhat . Nevertheless an interesting and unusual film .

Nice lightweight late night BBC film with a lot of familiar UK television faces such as the ever reliable Robert Daws . Could have done with more of Brian Conley as Pauline Quirke's unfaithful husband . His insensitive oafs are always a laugh . Check him out as Doug Digby , the bullying PE teacher in The Grimleys , an overlooked UK comedy of a few years back .

The scenery is , of course marvelous . Could be a tourist ad for Wales. Arthur's (or Offa's ) Dyke is spectacular . Two highpoints , for the " lads " are the almost Carry On scenes with Ellie Beaven and Rebecca Lacey . Gratuitous but fun . Worth seeing .

I'm constantly amazed by Michael Kitchen's ability to be intense and agonised but still seem laid back to the point of being almost comatose at times . Very well written and directed apart from the odd driving through the countryside scene with Foyle's and Sam's dialogue being obviously overdubbed . Speaking of Sam , I'm not sure if the fragrant Miss Weeks (Honeysuckle , flowers , oh forget it!) is being slightly tongue in cheek with her Dame Anna Neagle/Celia Johnson " frightfully super " accent but hey , a woman in a uniform is a woman in a uniform ! She can talk anyway she likes . Always very excellent guest actors like Bill Paterson and John Wood so all in all , a quality show .

I caught the last half hour of this on the BBC a few years and was intrigued.Last week I got the chance to see the entire thing.This is a classic film.I love all the wee,subtle touches lifted from Hitchcock especially the cheapo back projection when Jake Scully is in his car.Craig Wasson who plays the central character is note perfect as the weak-willed everyman character.Wouldn't we all be as dumb as him in this situation. Gregg Henry has got laid back villainy down to a tee with his I'm your best friend routine.Bastard!The scene with the "Indian" trying to kill the beautiful leading lady with an electric drill is stupendous. Film making of a very high order.An unrecognised gem.

Comedy Italian accents.Not funny!Calling the main character Pistachio.Really not funny.Who decided this monstrosity was worth making?

He/She should go into the garbage business! What genius studio head decided to allow this total waste of talent,energy and resources to be released. Likewise,the garbage business! AAAARGHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!! An insult to even a particularly dim-witted worm's intelligence.

Are we as guilty as the killer if we tune in to watch him kill and are thrilled by it.Who could possibly want to do that on this 8th day of April 2003? Heavily influenced by David Cronenberg' work but that's no bad thing.We should be repulsed by murder and cruelty not enchanted with it.We should be sickened and I definitely was with the flesh crawling creepiness of this film.Shades of Hannibal Lecter meets the mad scientist from Fritz Lang's Metropolis in the final scene where Jeannine comes back from the grave via the internet to destroy her sadistic murderer.A wee bit of black humour there I feel along with the Doctor's real name Alistair Pratt ie. a prat.

On a more prosaic level Natasha McElhone steals every scene from Mr Dorff.The new Sigourney perchance? Worth watching but have a think while so doing.

The 1960 version of this story propelled the audience along a roller coaster ride without a single frame being wasted.This is very very slow to start with.We're not stupid so we don't need everything hammered home with a sledgehammer to establish the basic premise.Stodgy direction and editing although it contains some very nice set pieces eg. when the Morloks attack the village and Vox the hologram encyclopaedia(played by the excellent Orlando Jones)are well conceived and executed.Worth watching for these and,of course,Samantha Mumba who makes the most of a grossly underwritten and underdeveloped part.

The other Glasgow guy who commented negatively about this film has absolutely zero sense of humour.This is an excellent,inspired,hilarious low budget film set in Glasgow,Los Angeles and Las Vegas.The guy who starred in/wrote and directed this fun fest should have a big future in film although his co-star( a very funny comedy actor) steals the film with his love of American Mafia films and impersonations of Al Pacino.Cora Bissett and Chloe Annett are funny,dangerous and sexy.Three of the things I love in my female stars.Looking forward to the next one by this team.11 out of 10!

Watched this on BBC2 last night.Still chuckling on Sunday morning.Completely square,choir-singing young school teacher meets dishy,wacky ,feisty blonde.Highlight of the film is when Brendan sings Iggy Pop's "The Passenger" to his classroom full of bemused kids.Well he does sing it in an over the top operatic style somewhat like a drunk singing "I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen".Superb.References to famous films abound from steals from "The Producers" to scenes appropriated from art house French films with sub-titles in Gaelic!Do yourself a favour and find a copy of this film.

Why all the negativity boys and girls?Were you all expecting War and Peace?This film is exactly what it sets out to be ie. a well-made, entertaining,amusing film with fantastic Oz scenery.On that level it hits the spot.The ever-excellent Christopher Walken cruises effortlessly through the story as the Mafia Don intent on improving his vocabulary.Hey! Pretentious moi? Anthony Anderson is a comic discovery( to me anyway,I'm unfamiliar with his previous work)in this buddy flick. Another great comic actor in the film is Bill Hunter as Blue.He seems to crop up in every Oz film I've ever seen and,as in this one,is always spot on.For glamour we've got Estella Warren.Grrr!!!!It reminds me of an updated Road To picture and,above all was as funny as any of them.I mean,any film with a breakdancing kangaroo has got to worth seeing.Lighten up,it's entertainment.