Maze (15A) - Movie Review

A depiction of the 1983 North of Ireland Maze prison escape gets the big screen treatment this Autumn, and the lead actor/character is a familiar face from the small screen.

Tom Vaughn-Lawlor will always be remembered as Nidge from ‘Love/Hate’, and he fits seamlessly into tough guy roles.  Here he plays an IRA prisoner, Larry Marley in the Maze prison, and his home life and frustration at having his family outside his reach is shown here.  His wife is brilliantly, but shortly played by Eileen Walsh, and that view shows the other side of the IRA prisoner.

Barry Ward is a revelation as a Maze prison officer, Gordon Close whose life mirrors that of Larry, in that he too is separated from his family, albeit, because they left him over his dangerous career choice.  In a dramatic scene, Gordon is shown avoiding an assassination attempt in front of his wife and young daughter.

The movie, which is quite atmospheric and where it succeeds is that it has a ‘prison’ feel to it, and it would make an interesting stage play.  The escape plan is riveting in its showing, but overall the film is a disappointment.

It’s interesting to watch from a history perspective, but you would want to know some of the history before sitting down to watch the film, writes David Flynn.

The best thing about the film is the acting of Tom Vaughn Lawlor and Barry Ward, and the interaction and relationship between the two men from different sides of the wall.   

Victoria and Abdul (PG) - Movie Review

First of all, it’s a great title – ‘Victoria and Abdul’, which is a nod to ‘Victoria and Albert’, signifying the UK’s second longest serving monarch and her husband.
‘Victoria and Abdul’ is a (mostly, as it says in the opening) true story about an incident that happened in the final years of the Queen’s life.   
Victoria of England had a friendship with an Indian clerk, Abdul, which happened after the young man was sent from India to deliver a commemorative coin of Victoria’s Diamond jubilee.  India was under British rule at the time, and remained that way until 1947. 
As time went by the Queen developed a trust in Abdul, and she became tutored by him in the Indian language, and the Koran and the unlikely pair enjoyed each other’s company.  The friendship which followed was frowned upon by upper crust society, most especially by her son, Bertie, the Prince of Wales. 
The movie of ‘Victoria and Abdul’ is a tale of the last days of Victorianism, with the lady herself at the centre.  However there is much in the tale which would look familiar today.
Judi Dench returns to the role of Victoria, having last played the part in the movie, ‘Mrs. Brown’ in 1997, and a BAFTA award and probably some other awards  for this new movie beckons next year, including for the veteran actress.  Ali Fazal as Abdul, is a newcomer, but one to the watch for in the future.  Bertie, the Prince of Wales was played effectively in a surprising appearance by comic actor, Eddie Izzard.
There are many other good actors in the period piece, including Tim Pigott-Smith, who unfortunately died last April, as Sir Henry, and this is one of his final completed films.  Pigott-Smith appeared more than thirty years ago in TV’s ‘The Jewel in the Crown’. 
Other noteworthy performances were done by Michael Gambon, Olivia Williams, Simon Callow, and Irish actress, Ruth McCabe as the Queen’s dresser, writes David Flynn.
The director is Stephen Frears, who also directed Judi Dench in the multi—award winner, ‘Philomena’ in 2013.
It’s also worth mentioning that the set design; both interiors and exteriors of the royal world of the late 19^th century in ‘Victoria and Abdul’ were excellent.  On the big screen a few errors or items from out of place can be spotted, but no such thing can be seen because obviously a lot of work went into this production.

Dunkirk (12A) - Movie Review

The evacuation of allied soldiers from the city of Dunkirk, France while the German army surrounded them during the Battle of France in World War 11 is put on film here by the man who kick-started the acclaimed ‘Batman’ movie series, Christopher Nolan.

Nolan produced, directed and wrote this cinematic depiction of the ‘Dunkirk’ battle.  It is told at times in documentary style, but there is non-stop drama, and some of the best cinematography ever shown on screen.  After one viewing of ‘Dunkirk’ it seems that there is little against the feature film.

Three actors stand out, one of them surprisingly so.  Kenneth Branagh and Cillian Murphy playing a Commander and a shell-shocked solder respectively, are excellent as always.  Branagh has few scenes, but his camera close-ups show an actor who lives the part he plays. Murphy also shows the fear and anger of his character very vividly.  A surprisingly good performance from One Direction singer, Harry Styles takes place well into the film, where he portrays an angry young soldier in a basement scene.  Tom Hardy also acts himself well, but ‘Dunkirk’ is not an actors film, and it’s unlikely there will be such awards next year at the different award ceremonies. 

However the great cinematography of the beaches of Dunkirk is the real star.  Also the direction of Christopher Nolan deserves a mention, writes David Flynn because he expertly directs/controls scores of men through the rescue scenes for the one hour and forty five minute movie.

There is tension throughout, and death and destruction as would be the norm in all wars, but there is no needless Hollywood type violence in this movie. 

‘Dunkirk’ should not be missed, and a second or third viewing wouldn’t go astray.

Prediction for Awards: Christopher Nolan for Best Director, and the movie will also get nods for Best Picture and Best Cinematography .

Kong: Skull Island (12A) – Movie Review

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.

The Secret Scripture (12A) – Movie Review

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.

Hidden Figures (PG) - Movie Review

Here is the largely unknown 1961 true story of how three African American women played a major part in the NASA space programme which led to John Glenn safely taking the first American trip to orbit.
The three women were mathematicians working in a segregated area of the NASA complex, and they lived a life of using ‘coloured’ bathrooms, and sitting on the ‘coloured’ side of buses and having ‘coloured’ coffee and tea pots, writes David Flynn.
These women Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson and Dorothy Vaughn were called “computers,” by other NASA personnel, and they were segregated to work on figures for the space programme.
The life of these women is touching to watch, and the movie is told in a sentimental style, but it also shows the impossible and frustrations of these NASA employees.
‘Hidden Figures’ is told with humour and as the movie went on, it showed the ambition of these women, and also the awareness in them of being pioneers for their race. 
Octavia Spencer is deservedly nominated for an Oscar for the role of Dorothy, yet it’s a huge surprise that Taraji P. Henson was not nominated for the substantial role of Katherine. 
Kevin Costner plays a supporting role as NASA boss, Al Harrison, and brings personality and humanity to the part of the chief who helped to break down the borders of race.  Kirsten Dunst plays the part of the women’s boss, Vivian Mitchell, and it’s pity she wasn’t given more to do in her role.
None of the supporting characters were overtly racist, but the movie portrayed many of them as being racist in a way in which they weren’t aware.
Also it’s fascinating to watch, on a different level, the early days of the space programme.  The dramatic elements of John Glenn’s trip to orbit is shown in an action-packed way that can only be enjoyed.
It’s a very important movie to be seen, and it probably gives a message for today, fifty-six years later.

 

 

 

 

Hacksaw Ridge (16) - Movie Review

Here we have truly one of the most violent and realistic war movies that has ever come out of Hollywood.  However despite the severe war scenery in WW2 in the Japanese islands, the movie is beyond gripping.
The movie starts off as an All-American story of a boy with a difficult father and sympathetic mother and close younger brother.  The boy, Desmond Doss, played in adulthood by Andrew Garfield, falls in love with a local girl Dorothy, played by Teresa Palmer.
Violence was anathema to Desmond due to all he had seen at home, so after the US enters WW2 he enlists as a conscientious objector in the army.  A conscientious objector is an individual who wishes not to take up arms in a war conflict.
The story begins with parents, Tom and Bertha Doss played by Hugo Weaving and Rachel Griffiths, bringing up two boys in Depression America.  The father had demons from his own WW1 days, but unfortunately he takes out those feelings on his wife and children, and his influence breeds violence among the boys.  However Desmond rebels and vows to relinquish violence at a young age. 
In the army, Desmond has to battle to keep his ‘objector’ status, and he is tested constantly by his commanding officer, Sgt. Howell, who was played well by Vince Vaughn, taking a break from comic roles.
The sheer violence in ‘Hacksaw Ridge’ takes away any image of glamour or romanticism about war, which is unusual even in modern film, writes David Flynn. 
It deserves its six Oscar nominations.   It should do better at the Oscars than it did at the Golden Globes or the British Film Awards where it only picked up an award for Best Editing, which of course it deserves.
Desmond’s true worth, through Andrew Garfield comes through at the Battle of Okinawa scenes.