This time we have completed the F’s and that meant Oscar winners, Wrestling documentaries and one from the pound shop!!
A real mixed bag of film styles but generally high marks across the board, bar the Oscar winner so here we go.
Fiddler On The Roof – 7.5/10
‘Oh lord there are many many men’ – and there’s so many other classic one-liners that can be pulled out from Fiddler. The story of the battle of tradition vs allowing his daughters to follow their heart, set to a back drop of persecution of the Jews in Russia sets up a memorable and fun Musical with plenty of good songs. My issue is the length, it’s close to 3 hours and means that there’s a lot of ‘deadtime’ in the film. It would be excellent as a film that lasts around 2 hours and still allowed Tevye (played by Topol) to show his highs and lows. If you have never seen Fiddler then you must it is a classic with a strong story behind it that will have you humming the songs for days after
Field of Dreams – 8/10
What is not to like about this film – I am a huge fan. A random story that if you said it to someone it sounds quite crap but when you see the film it is quality. A man who builds a Baseball field after hearing voices, sees old classic players and then goes on a journey to find other key people, that in the end brings him closer to his dead father. Yes it does sound stupid, but it is good. Shoeless Joe Jackson, Terrance Mann, Doc Moonlight Graham are all good characters that enhance the film and are a good foil to Kevin Costner in the main role of Ray Kinsella. A feel-good film that shouldn’t work but does
Finding Nemo – 7/10
When this first came out everyone loved it – the story, the animation and the characters. I was one of those people. The story of the clown fish with a bad fin who disobeys his constantly worried father, ends up getting taken which leads to a journey from his Dad to find him, overcoming obstacles as Nemo battles to get free of his fish tank, seems straightforward, and it is but it’s also quite a good watch along the way. The highlight is definitely the sea-turtles whilst riding on the EAC (East Australian Current) but I have to say I have watched the film a few too many times and so it’s just not that exciting or good anymore. It’s now a bit like chewing Gum for the eyes, watchable but that’s about it
Finding Neverland – 8.5/10
The story behind Peter Pan, how J.M.Barrie came up with the premise of it and who the characters were based on. If like me you are always intrigued as to how things came about and where the magic came from then you will like this film. A story that explores Barrie (played by Johnny Depp and not in a Tim Burton film) and his child-like ways by meeting and becoming part of a family with several young children. Who form the basis for the characters in Peter Pan. I normally don’t like Kate Winslet but she excellently plays the role of the children’s mother who falls ill and develops a strong rapport with Depps character. The film is funny, it’s serious and it’s sad. You connect with the characters and go along with their highs and lows. I recommend this one
First Do No Harm – 6.5/10
This is a strange one. Bought from the pound shop it was a made for TV film based on a true story that explores how young children with Epilepsy were being let down by American doctors and not being allowed to be out on the ‘Ketogenic’ diet, which had proven results for controlling seizures. The film itself is quite an odd one – it moves quickly from one area to another and then back again so is a bit all over the place but the messaging and the families resolve to do the best for their son does come through. I wouldn’t recommend it but as films from the pound shop go its ok.
Forever Hardcore – 8/10
Forever Hardcore is the story of ECW through the eyes of the performers discussing the highs and lows of the company and significant milestones. It was put together by Jeremy Borash, now at TNA, and is what I would call the warts and all version where you properly get a feel for the locker room of the ‘little company that could’. Due to licensing it does lack any significant ECW action, which does make it a perfect foil to ‘The Rise and Fall of ECW’ produced by WWE who bought out the company , but is annoying at times as you want the footage to back up the words. It is a must for all wrestling fans though – if anything just for New Jack and his comments alone
Forrest Gump – 6/10
“Life is like a box of Chocolates – you never know what you’re gonna get” unless of course like everyone you read the guide to see what chocolate is what. And I think that sums up my feeling about the whole film, which I know people will disagree with as some people adore this film. The problem is that once you have seen it a couple of times then actually you start to realise just how much they try and cram into the film and how random it is. A poor storyline and too much that isn’t joined up make it quite frustrating. There’s also the fact that I detest the character of Jenny, Forrest’s childhood sweetheart and love of his life. She is generally quite a nasty evil person who uses him and that annoys me and isn’t in keeping with the way the rest of the film is put together. It may have won Best Picture at the Oscars but I’m not quite sure how.
Freedom Writers – 8.5/10
It’s the classic story of a teacher who goes into an inner-city school and turns around a group of no-hopers into smart kids with hope. It covers gangs, family struggles and people dropping out, but this one is based on a True story and uses writing as a way of the kids telling their story. The teacher – well played by Hilary Swank – fights the school to allow for investment and opportunity in the kids rather than just trying to get them through. What makes the film strong is the way that each story is told through the diary that each kid in the class keeps and you get to see their pain and how they cope with it. Add to that the perseverance and way in which the Diary of Anne Frank is utilised to keep the message of standing up for what’s right makes for a strong and emotive film. You feel an affinity to the characters and their individual battles.
Friday Night Lights – 6/10
What’s this? I own another film that’s about American Football and the story of a small town team trying to make good? Yes it’s true except this time and this film isn’t actually very good. It has all the hallmarks of my kind of film – small town team on a charge to the title, star player goes down injured leaving others the chance to shine, but it is a massive let-down. The reason? There’s just not a huge amount of character development and very little to connect with either the coach or the main players. I would have loved to have seen more about ‘Preacherman’ the quiet unassuming line-backer – why is he quiet? What’s his backstory? It lacks that certain something that’s a tried and tested formula. The film is one of the lesser-known ones – only really referred to due to a successful TV series that stemmed from it – and there’s good reason why it should remain lesser-known. It does have some highlights but not a film I would suggest seeing
Full Metal Jacket – 7.5/10
This is an excellent film with great acting, action and the different settings, from start-up training camp to in the middle of Vietnam seeing armed combat, make for an exciting film. From Private Pile being exposed first as a waste of space and then seeing the change in his actions before taking his own life (one of the most famous movie scenes him blowing his own brains out) to the way in which Cowboy takes control of the Platoon before being taken out by a sniper the film does cover a lot of ground. The main focus is Private Joker played excellently by Matthew Modine and his seemingly anti-War sceptical stance that sees him turn into a killer with a conscience. This all said it’s another film that is good, watchable, but no longer holds that extra something for me as I have seen it so many times! If you haven’t seen it then you should do
So that's it - I expect people to disagree on Forrest Gump and as always feel free to leave some comments
Cheers
