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Here's the latest omnibus of reviews from JayDee's Movie Musings for those who haven't already seen them
Play Misty for Me
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The Amazing Spider-Man
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This is a great Peter Parker movie. Unfortunately it's merely a good/very good Spider-Man movie
Just as I did with my Avengers review I think I should start with a disclaimer. As I said back then I am a massive comic book geek, and nothing gets my inner fanboy more excited than Spider-Man. He is far and away my favourite superhero so any chance to see him swinging on the big screen is always going to be a treat for me. As a result I'm probably not the most impartial reviewer you're going to find. I'm likely to love a good Spider-Man movie more than a stunning Superman movie for example.
Read the full review here
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The Candidate
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Back when the Ides of March was released I remember a number of reviews mentioning this film as a kindred spirit of sorts, and I'm sure I even remember Clooney confirming it as one of the inspirations for Ides. And it's very clear to see the similarities and parallels between the two. The major difference I suppose being the reversal of roles. In Ides it was Ryan Gosling's Stephen Meyers; working on the campaign, who was the individual who has his eyes opened to the truth of politics while Clooney's potential President knows exactly how the game is played. Here it is Peter Boyle's campaign manager who knows every in and out of this world with Redford's Senatorial candidate who is the clueless idealist who beings to see the truth. Though here it is a much more subtle, long term realisation. In Ides .......................
Read the full review here
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Play Misty for Me
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The element that really stands out in this film, and what I will vividly remember, is the performance of Jessica Walter. As Clint's conquest who turns into a stalker she is incredibly creepy. Actually scratch that, she's downright terrifying! I wouldn't be at all surprised to find her invading my dreams for the next few nights! And it's not just when she's wildly waving a knife that she brings the fear; it's the way she can switch in the blink of an eye from being charming and sensual, to just exploding into a foul mouthed tirade. She reminded me of a boa constrictor in a way; the more Clint struggles and tries to get free the more vice like her grip on him seems to get.
As for Clint, I couldn't help feeling that given the profession of his character .....................
Read the full review here
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Magic
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This isn't quite the film I was expecting, but it was all the better for it. I was bracing myself for a trashier, schlockier affair and was surprised to find a more understated and intriguing effort which eventually reaches a place of sadness and poignancy. Perhaps going by the DVD cover art I was expecting a supernatural killer doll movie where the dummy comes alive. Instead it's the story of a man losing his sanity and his identity as his release, the ventriloquist dummy, begins to take over and dominate the relationship. The film is different from many films of its type in that it's not scary because of its dummy, it's scary because of the ventriloquist. The fact that the film (and the original novel) refuse to take the obvious route of making Fats ...................
Read the full review here
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Tightrope
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Oh this is a very dark and grimy little film. One of the bleaker and grubbier thrillers I've seen for a while. It's really atmospheric and gloomy, both in appearance and tone. Much of the film takes place at night and in darkness, very much fitting with the story and its characters. And like the killer Eastwood is often obscured by shadows. It really does delve into darker psycho-sexual territory than you would usually see from your typical mainstream detective film starring such a major star. As the setting for this dark tale cinematographer Bruce Surtees delivers a terrifically atmospheric vision of New Orleans; a truly sleazy and seedy depiction. And this is topped off with an appropriately dirty, bluesy soundtrack.
Read the full review here
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Escape from Alcatraz
This is an exceptionally finely crafted effort from Don Siegel, even if I personally found it a tad lacking in actual thrills. It certainly doesn't proceed at a lightning pace, and has a noticeable lack of significant or exciting set-pieces, spending much more time on the little details both of prison life and the planned escape. So we don't have the action of fights and prison riots, or the inspirational take of a Shawshank Redemption. Instead it's more a study of how these characters try to stay sane in this hell. It takes a much more measured and meticulous approach, obsessing over all of the little details as opposed to descending into a more melodramatic affair. And does so while still remaining relatively tense. And Eastwood's restrained style just adds to the film's low key nature.
Read the full review here
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The Silent Flute (aka Circle of Iron)
A warrior named Cord wanders the Earth seeking Zetan, the protector of a mystical book of enlightenment. He finds a man (Eli Wallach) in the middle of the desert, sitting in a cauldron of oil. He has been doing this for 10 straight years. Why is he doing this? To dissolve his penis in the ultimate vow of chastity! He wants to insure his celibacy. Seriously! Oh and David Carradine's blind man plays a flute in the background. And you know what is perhaps the weirdest thing about that? It doesn't seem all that weird here. If anything it feels rather run of the mill and normal.
As you will probably be able to gather from the scene I've described ...............
Read the full review here
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JayDee's Movie Musings (Reviews - Frailty / Total Recall / Lone Ranger / Nightcrawler / Whiplash / Imitation Game / Birdman / Avengers: Age of Ultron / Mad Max: Fury Road)
Last edited by JayDee; 08-08-12 at 07:36 AM.
