The Post (12A) - Movie Review

The order of the day in ‘The Post’ is a step back to a place and time when the White House in the Vietnam War era, and the national media were all wrestling with their own consciences.
Most know the gist of the Watergate story, ie burglars with links to the Nixon (Republican) White House were caught robbing the Watergate building, which was the Democratic Party headquarters.  However this motion picture, directed by Steven Spielberg tells a story that predates the 1972 burglary.
An employee of the American military, Daniel Ellsberg, played by Matthew Rhys discovers a major government cover-up concerning Vietnam, which dated back to the 1950s.  Ellsberg copies the documents, and passes some of them to the New York Times, who publishes them as a major scoop.  
Welsh actor, Rhys is currently starring in the Cold War US tv drama, ‘The Americans’.
The Washington Post editor and management are livid with missing the story, but after a period of cat and mouse, the Post eventually manages to get a full copy of the report, which gives a damning to previous US governments.  Court and judges comes into the equation, and huge battles begin between, government, court, editor and journalists, and the Washington Post’s owner.
In the movie, ‘The Post’, the set of the major US newspaper is almost a direct copy of the one in the brilliant 1976 Watergate movie, ‘All the President’s Men’, and the two movies could be looked at as companions. 
‘The Post’ gives a terrific insight into how things used to be done before mobile phones, and digital this and that.  Here it’s all telephones and typewriters, and pure sweat, blood and tears in smoke-filled rooms.  It’s also interesting to watch the true depiction of the 1971 US lifestyle, ie many people smoking everywhere.
Meryl Streep is nominated for an Oscar as Katherine Graham, and while she delivers a good performance, it is no better than any she has done before.   The role wasn’t her most challenging, like when she played Margaret Thatcher in ‘The Iron Lady’ in 2012, and deservedly won the Oscar.
Tom Hank’s role was challenging as editor Ben Bradlee – a strong character, who was played by Jason Robards in the 1976 Watergate movie   
There are great supporting performances from the likes of Sarah Paulson as Bradlee’s wife, Bradley Whitford, Allison Brie and Bruce Greenwood.
The movie is palatable, and is one to savour.  They don’t tell many strongly told stories like this anymore, writes David Flynn.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi (12A) - Movie Review

Here we return to long long ago, and the space world of Star Wars where the Empire and the Jedis are still fighting.  It’s more than forty years since we first encountered the young jedi twins, Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia (now General Leia).
This is the eighth Star Wars film since 1977 and while it is faithful to the original storyline, sadly much of the Jedi and Empire world seems to have got lost in Hollywood over the years.  The original director, George Lucas sold on his interest in the Star Wars saga to Disney films in the past few years.  However Star Wars: The Last Jedi does have the required special effects that a Space Opera requires.   Also there is important conflict among the characters Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and young jedi Rey (Daisy Ridley) on Skellig Michael in Ireland, which doubles for an outpost in the farther regions of the galaxy.   Also Rey’s powerful encounter with new Darth Vader Kylo (Adam Driver), who has gone to the Dark Side, is an important part of the film.
The story sadly allows the action to tell too much of this episode of the saga, and not enough character conflict, and that has been a problem with the Star Wars movies (1999-2005).  However the final showdown featuring most of the main characters in The Last Jedi is worth sticking around for, writes David Flynn.
Also it’s sad to see Carrie Fisher in her final performance as Leia, poignant though that be, since the role she first played in 1977 set her on the road to her Hollywood journey.  Carrie died at Christmas 2016, just after wrapping The Last Jedi.   She gave good value for money as the Princess (now a General) fighting a major war across the galaxy.
Skellig Michael is worth seeing for its magnificence and rugged beauty, and it won’t do Irish tourism the least bit of harm.  Also speaking of Ireland, Domhnall Gleason as the wimpy, General Hux showed that the actor has talent that crosses many fields.

There is also an interesting appearance by 2018 Golden Globe winner Laura Dern as a rebel Admiral.  She won the Globe a few weeks back for the tv series, Little Big Lies.  There are also sightings of old favourites such as robots C3PO and R2D2, and the beloved Chewbacca, although it seems strange not to see his old familiar sidekick with him.
The movie is too long, but as said earlier, it’s worth sticking around.

Paddington 2 (Gen) - Movie Review

The little red-hatted bear returns to the big screen after an unbelievable three years. Time flies, and in 2014, ‘Paddington’ (the movie) was big box-office and a critical hit.
The very English setting of ‘Paddington 2’, which is mostly modern, but yet which could be set any time in the past 50 years is the world that Paddington the bear has moved to after leaving South America in the last movie.  At this stage, and after a lot of adventures, he is living happily with the Brown family in the middle of London, and the friendly bear has become a respected citizen.
One day he visits an old shop to find a present for his Aunt Lucy’s 100^th birthday.  His Aunt is still living in South America, and Paddington agrees with the shopkeeper to save and buy a pop up picture book of London.  However Paddington finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time when the book is stolen, and he unwittingly becomes a convicted criminal.
Most of the cast has returned for this second feature film, which is based on the books of Michael Bond.    Hugh Bonneville as Mr. Brown is probably the standout performance of the lot, alongside the brilliant Julie Walters as the housekeeper, Mrs. Bird, writes David Flynn.

Hugh Grant makes a welcome return to movies as a funfair performer, Phoenix Buchanan.  

Through the cast list there are also people like Jim Broadbent, Tom Conti and Peter Capaldi (one time Dr. Who), Eileen Atkins, and a special appearance by Ireland’s Brendan Gleeson.
Most of the movie is about Paddington’s search for justice, and his battle to clear his name.  There is a lot of action throughout the movie, and comedy is to the forefront and like in the first movie, it’s not just for the kids either.

‘Paddington 2’ is hilarious, but it’s not as good as the first movie.  However it’s a must for the kids, and for anyone who likes the tales of the friendly bear who lives in London.

Murder on the Orient Express (12A) - Movie Review

A claustrophobic trip in the dark and snowy Alps, on the world’s most famous train after the occurrence of a murder, is the offering on board big screens these days.
Set in 1934, this feature film based on the classic book by mystery writer, Agatha Christie is at least the third attempt for celluloid.   Hercule Poirot, the little Belgian detective with the handlebar moustache is first seen here close to the magnificent wall of Jerusalem, (probably Malta doing the doubling) solving a near impossible case.  He then realises that he needs a vacation, and he heads off to the world’s most famous train, the Orient Express.  It is the depths of winter as he goes onboard the train, and he meets a most interesting cast of characters, all of whom have seen some wealth come or go in their lives.
The cast is made up of a dream team, which is rare to see in movies today, writes David Flynn.  Poirot is played by Kenneth Branagh, who is also the director of the film, and who has publicly said he hopes this will be the first of a new movie series.  Johnny Depp plays Mr. Ratchett, who tries to hire Poirot as soon as the Orient Express takes off.  Ratchett believes his life is in danger, and it’s no secret that he isn’t proven wrong.  The train get caught in an avalanche which causes the claustrophic feeling on the train, following the expected gruesome murder.  Judi Dench, Michele Pfeiffer, Penelope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Derek Jacobi, Daisy Ridley and Olivia Colman are among the all-star cast who joins Branagh and Depp in this version of ‘Murder on the Orient Express’.
The cinematography in the movie is second to none, and the walls and seas around ‘Jerusalem’ are simply beautiful.  Also there are superb views of the mountainous Alps.
There are one or two very good performances among the actors, but some of them are just going through the motions.  However ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ is wonderful escapism on the cinema screen.

 

 

 

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 .