Set
in 1973 – the final hours of the Vietnam War - here we have a movie which reimagines the King
Kong legend, and puts the big monster on an uncharted island with
others, just as damaging as himself, writes
David Flynn.
A group of scientists and Vietnam Vets descend through
a deep fog to a Pacific island, and find the killing starts immediately. Multiple helicopters are taken out of the sky
by the great one, and the gigantic King Kong, (as large as a skyscraper) does
what’s expected of him.
It turns out that Kong is not the only evil one on
this inescapable island, and survival becomes the order of the day for the
surviving crew.
Tom Hiddleston is the hero, James
Conrad, hired by the scientists to lead them safely through the island. The actor plays his part well, and shows why he
could be in line to become another James (Bond) in the near future.
It’s great to see Samuel L. Jackson
again, this time as a trigger happy Vet intending to take out Kong.
Brie Larson is the female lead, (one
of a long line of Kong leads, which includes Fay Wray, Jessica Lange and Naomi
Watts) Brie is fresh from her Oscar,
Golden Globe and BAFTA winning role in ‘Room’ last year.
Also John C. Reilly and John Goodman
are watchable both in this movie, and in any others.
‘Kong: Skull Island’ is a real ‘Boys
Own’ type of movie that makes you wish you were about 10 years old to really
appreciate it. However it’d do no harm to
adults to get into the plot.
Cinematography and makeup is good, and overall it’s a well-made feature.
Here
is a new Irish film taking us back to WW2 and also to the early 1990s.
Rose is an elderly woman who has resided for almost
fifty years in a mental hospital. She is
shown in the opening scenes as rejecting moves being made to move her to a new
facility, due to her old home closing down.
Dr. William Grene takes an interest in her case and
finds himself, and a young nurse, played by Susan Lynch, drawn to Rose in a
protective way. When Rose becomes the
last patient left in the old hospital, the doctor finds himself in a race
against time to find out what happened to Rose in her youth, with the help of
her fragile thoughts, and her writings in a bible, ie the Secret Scripture.,
before she is moved to the new facility.
The story takes us back to Rose’s youth in rural Co.
Sligo in 1942, when she is sent to live and work with her Aunt in her village
shop. She is beautiful and becomes a figure
of adulation from the young men of the village, writes David Flynn. Those
who come close to her include Michael McNulty, played by Jack Reynor, and a
young priest, Fr. Stephen, played by Theo James.
Michael joins the RAF, drawing the loneliness of
Rose, and the wrath of the local IRA men, played well-known Irish television actors,
Tom Vaughn-Lawlor (Love/Hate) and Aidan Quinn (Poldark).
There is a great cast in ‘The Secret Scripture’. Rose is played in old age by Vanessa
Redgrave, and younger years by Rooney Mara – both doing an excellent job. Eric Bana, who one time played the Incredible
Hulk, plays the doctor drawn to Rose.
Susan Lynch plays his nursing friend.
Rose’s Aunt is played by stage actress, Aisling O’Sullivan (currently
starring in ‘The Beauty Queen of Leenane’ at the Gaeity).
A bizarre casting puts Pauline McGlynn back into the
job of priest’s housekeeper, but this time not as Mrs. Doyle. (I wonder was it deliberate)
The movie is based on the original novel by Sebastian Barry,
and the director is the legendary Jim Sheridan (The Field).
The set design is marvellous, and the Sligo village
of 1942, is shown in great colour. Rose’s
cottage too is well designed.
Other than that, the director makes use of hospital
buildings and beach scenes, and the movie was shot very well.
