Well, movie maniacs, we're down to our last few flicks, where has the time gone? Today, I saw a total of 3 films, one pretty-good, one fan-damtastic and one sucked sewer water. Now, on with the films...
Okey fine, our first film is called THE DAMNED UNITED, and was directed by, TOM HOOPER, who had a film at the 2004 TIFF, called RED DUST, starring, HILARY SWANK.
This film, starred 2 of my favourite actors: MICHAEL SHEEN, (who my wife and I were lucky enough to see on Broadway, as, AMADEUS), and should have been Oscar-nominated, along with FRANK LANGELLA, in FROST/NIXON, and TIMOTHY SPALL, who is always fab and who could forget him as the slimey Beadle in SWEENEY TODD.
This is the 4th or 5th film that SHEEN, has done with writer, PETER MORGAN, who could forget his unforgettable turn as TONY BLAIR in STEPHEN FREAR'S THE QUEEN. In this film, which is based on a true story, SHEEN plays the role of, BRIAN CLOUGH, the coach who led the British, football/soccer team Leeds United on to victory. SPALL, plays his eager assistant. CLOUGH, is a cocky-bugger, and SHEEN, marvelously captures him in all his vainglory.
Now, maybe, its because it was early in the morning, or because I'm not a huge sports fan - though, I did love EIGHT MEN OUT, SEMI-TOUGH, BULL DURHAM and TIN CUP - but, I was not completely engaged by this film, that's politesse for, I fell asleep. Now, to be fair to the film, my cinematic cohort loved it and he said to make sure I mentioned that in my review. Dully-noted cohort.
On to the next flick my film friendos, this was truly something special, some nutty, wacky, (homage to CARSON), wonderful stuff. It was WERNER HERZOG'S BAD LIEUTENANT: PORT OF CALL NEW ORLEANS (can that be a longer title)?
Now, I'm sure you're like me and you we're rather upset when you heard that they we're doing a remake of ABEL FERRARA'S BAD LIEUTENANT. Why you were probably asking yourselves, would they do that, it was perfectly fine and twisted the first time. It's the same reaction I had, when I heard that Hollywood was currently doing a remake of SAM PECKINPAH'S masterpiece, STRAW DOGS with KATE BECKINSALE, of all people. I have to say that I share the opinion of SISKEL and EBERT, who argued that they should remake the bad films, not the good ones. That said, this is not so much a remake as a new adventure and it is fabulous. HERZOG, himself explained the film's unwieldy title: Producer EDWARD PRESSMAN, owned the rights to the original film's name and wanted to use it and NICHOLAS CAGE, had wanted to work with HERZOG, for sometime, but would only do a film set in New Orleans, from whence, he hails.
Now, on to the film. CAGE plays a cop who... Trust me, the plot does not matter. Let me just say that CAGE, gives one of his most OTT, performances, I have ever seen. He doesn't just chew the scenery, he devours it whole and spits it out. He is out there man, and it is a wonder to behold.
Now, on to the dialogue, according to HERZOG, CAGE, improvised alot of his lines. There is one line, that those privileged few who saw the film will never forget. It is during a drug bust and amidst much gun play. CAGE is heard to say as a drug gangsta is shot: shoot him again, I can still see his soul dancing, how's that for a movie line, film fans? The film hurtles along at a breakneck speed and it is a wonky delight.
Can it possibly, be that the same WERNER HERZOG, who, directed my next film, MY SON, MY SON, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE and that it was produced, by the DAVID LYNCH. Personally, I would rename the film: WERNER AND PETER, WERNER AND PETER, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?
This film, which has a really fine cast like WILEM DAFOE, MICHAEL SHANNON, GRACE ZABRISKE et al... really sucked. It was an incoherent, boring, annoying mess (Don't sugar-coat it for us cineman, how did you really feel)? The less said about this film the better...
This would turn out to be my last TIFF flick, tomorrow wrap-up and reflection.
until then..
T.T.F.N.
Okey fine, our first film is called THE DAMNED UNITED, and was directed by, TOM HOOPER, who had a film at the 2004 TIFF, called RED DUST, starring, HILARY SWANK.
This film, starred 2 of my favourite actors: MICHAEL SHEEN, (who my wife and I were lucky enough to see on Broadway, as, AMADEUS), and should have been Oscar-nominated, along with FRANK LANGELLA, in FROST/NIXON, and TIMOTHY SPALL, who is always fab and who could forget him as the slimey Beadle in SWEENEY TODD.
This is the 4th or 5th film that SHEEN, has done with writer, PETER MORGAN, who could forget his unforgettable turn as TONY BLAIR in STEPHEN FREAR'S THE QUEEN. In this film, which is based on a true story, SHEEN plays the role of, BRIAN CLOUGH, the coach who led the British, football/soccer team Leeds United on to victory. SPALL, plays his eager assistant. CLOUGH, is a cocky-bugger, and SHEEN, marvelously captures him in all his vainglory.
Now, maybe, its because it was early in the morning, or because I'm not a huge sports fan - though, I did love EIGHT MEN OUT, SEMI-TOUGH, BULL DURHAM and TIN CUP - but, I was not completely engaged by this film, that's politesse for, I fell asleep. Now, to be fair to the film, my cinematic cohort loved it and he said to make sure I mentioned that in my review. Dully-noted cohort.
On to the next flick my film friendos, this was truly something special, some nutty, wacky, (homage to CARSON), wonderful stuff. It was WERNER HERZOG'S BAD LIEUTENANT: PORT OF CALL NEW ORLEANS (can that be a longer title)?
Now, I'm sure you're like me and you we're rather upset when you heard that they we're doing a remake of ABEL FERRARA'S BAD LIEUTENANT. Why you were probably asking yourselves, would they do that, it was perfectly fine and twisted the first time. It's the same reaction I had, when I heard that Hollywood was currently doing a remake of SAM PECKINPAH'S masterpiece, STRAW DOGS with KATE BECKINSALE, of all people. I have to say that I share the opinion of SISKEL and EBERT, who argued that they should remake the bad films, not the good ones. That said, this is not so much a remake as a new adventure and it is fabulous. HERZOG, himself explained the film's unwieldy title: Producer EDWARD PRESSMAN, owned the rights to the original film's name and wanted to use it and NICHOLAS CAGE, had wanted to work with HERZOG, for sometime, but would only do a film set in New Orleans, from whence, he hails.
Now, on to the film. CAGE plays a cop who... Trust me, the plot does not matter. Let me just say that CAGE, gives one of his most OTT, performances, I have ever seen. He doesn't just chew the scenery, he devours it whole and spits it out. He is out there man, and it is a wonder to behold.
Now, on to the dialogue, according to HERZOG, CAGE, improvised alot of his lines. There is one line, that those privileged few who saw the film will never forget. It is during a drug bust and amidst much gun play. CAGE is heard to say as a drug gangsta is shot: shoot him again, I can still see his soul dancing, how's that for a movie line, film fans? The film hurtles along at a breakneck speed and it is a wonky delight.
Can it possibly, be that the same WERNER HERZOG, who, directed my next film, MY SON, MY SON, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE and that it was produced, by the DAVID LYNCH. Personally, I would rename the film: WERNER AND PETER, WERNER AND PETER, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?
This film, which has a really fine cast like WILEM DAFOE, MICHAEL SHANNON, GRACE ZABRISKE et al... really sucked. It was an incoherent, boring, annoying mess (Don't sugar-coat it for us cineman, how did you really feel)? The less said about this film the better...
This would turn out to be my last TIFF flick, tomorrow wrap-up and reflection.
until then..
T.T.F.N.
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