Movie Review - The Lesson

The Lesson

2015

The Cast

I was really looking forward to this tale of revenge and learning as the premise sounded entertaining.  A teacher, Mr Gale (Hands), who is ridiculed daily by his students, decides to take matters into his own hands and to elevate their learning curves by some extreme teaching methods.

You do get what you expect; there are some nasty scenes of violence and abuse.  The scene where Mr Gale nails the hand of his student, Fin (Bendall), to the desk looks realistic.  It's the realism which could have made this movie something special.

I've known families like Fin's and his brother's, Jake (Cox), where the brothers don't get on... to the point of arguing, fighting, and forsaking.  I've also known the senseless bullies of Fin and Joel's (Coltart) order.  Though I do hope that the scene in the schoolroom isn't that realistic - if it is, I pity the teachers and can understand the twenty-six-grand to study to teach the government are offering.

The trouble starts when you get to the tortuous indoctrination.  Through all of the bleakness, we are then subjected to a gayfull and lunatic lesson.  This departs from reality and enters the demented.  Which, in itself wouldn't be a bad thing had Mr Gale been suffering from a mental break.  However, this doesn't appear to be the case.  Then when you throw in Fin's delusion it was enough to wrench me away from the film, thinking, what the hell(?).  From here the story and character of Mr Gale become preposterous and unbelievable.  I felt that both the writer and the director, Ruth Platt, were trying too hard to get their point across, making the story appear pompous and pretentious.

It's from here on in that the film falls apart.

The really ludicrous thing is the scene where Jake's Girlfriend, Tanja (Gavanski), is accosted and forced to join in the lesson.  She's worried that Fin's not come home, though his brother doesn't give a damn, so she sets out to find him.  She wanders the town aimlessly and just by coincidence comes across Mr Gale.  This is absurd because the abduction takes place outside.  How did Mr Gale know she was there, let alone that she had an interest in one of his captives.

Then there's the timeline which is totally cockeyed by the end of the film.  So what started out as an okay film drops into a quagmire of below average revenge torture fodder.

If you like your revenge stories and can empathise with teachers then this may be worth a watch, though it could have been much better and even could have made a statement.  Though I would say you'd be better off with the Hostel or Saw franchises.

I give this Over-Inflated Study Session A Haughty 5 out of 10. 

The Trailer

Movie Review - The Greed of William Hart

The Greed Of William Hart

AKA:  Horror Maniacs

1948

The Cast

This dark thriller was a nice surprise.  I'd not seen this before so when it appeared on telly, thanks to the Talking Pictures channel,  I took the chance on it as the premise interested me.  Based on the nefarious Burke and Hare this tells the story of William Hart (Slaughter) and Mr Moore (Oscar) and their dealings with Dr Cox (Bell), for whom they procure cadavers for.  However, the doctor has a need for younger and fresher bodies so, greedy for money, Hart and Moore comply with the doctor's wishes... by turning murderous...

There's a lot which is good about this film.  I liked the way the director, Mitchell, opted for a more realistic feel.  The streets of Edinburgh are close and tight.  People pretty much lived in each other's pockets in that era.  Mitchell, then adds eeriness by adding fog and shadows.  It's also nice to see the size of the living quarters that the common folk were subjected to.  Hart runs a rooming house, in which there are just two rooms downstairs, a living room and a kitchen.  The living room is sparse, containing a table and chairs and a bed, where he and his wife sleep.  Upstairs is for their guests.  Life is hard so it's no wonder you do what you have to just to survive.  A hard life can make for hard men and both Hart and Moore have no compunctions about beating their wives into sublimation.  Moore's wife is so under the fist she's only too happy to squeal on Hart's wife, so she can take what's coming to her.

This builds up a bleak overlook to the film.  So enter Aubrey Woods portraying the simpleton Jamie Wilson.  This character is there not only to lift the film with a comedic element but is also the crux and pivotal role of the movie.  This was a good idea by the writer, Gilling, and the director.  Woods excels as Jamie and has some of the best lines in the film.  It's also nice because he is a breath of fresh air amongst the plethora of melodramatic actors, which can become a little too heavy at times when they deliver their lines - and this is probably the only drawback to the film.  Though, for the times, the acting is good to fair.

If you like your dark thrillers then I would recommend you check this out, should you get the chance.

I give this a Chiller Thriller Slash For Cash of 7.25 out of 10.

The Trailer

Movie Review - Payroll

Payroll

1961

The Cast

This is a many-layered story and it's this which keeps it riveting for the audience.  Johnny Mellors (Craig) is a career criminal.  He likes to have all the facts before hitting his mark.  The biggest mark of his career is the payroll of a large factory, over one-hundred-thousand pounds.  Unfortunately, on the day of the hit a couple of motorcycle police ride up just as they are about to put their plan into action.  Then to make matters worse, their inside man, Dennis Pearson (Lucas), informs them of the companies decision to employ an armoured car for the wage run.  Unable to turn down such a big score Mellors and his men start to stake out the armoured car...

This is only the beginning, some writers and directors would make a movie just about the heist.  Though, what Baxt and Hayers give the viewers is the aftermath of the heist itself.  So we have the police, chasing after the criminals, though evidence and clues are running thin.  A wife, hellbent on revenge.  Another wife, cunningly trying to get the better of every man in her life, who she pities, hates, and doesn't trust,.. just to get the money.  A man who cannot handle guilt and mentally breaks down.  All of these characters are well rounded and written.

The good thing is that the actors are brilliant in their roles and bring them to life.  Craig is believable as the leader of the gang.  This guy is methodical and cool.  Though if you get on the wrong side of him he will break you in two... without blinking.  Whitelaw is one of the strongest in the cast.  When she sets out on her mission of revenge the look on her face says it all.  This woman is a juggernaut with a one-track mind and will not stop until she has her revenge.  Francoise Prevost has an air of a clever and cunning woman.  Always thinking, always planning, who will do anything to better her life... but can she be more wily or slick as Mellors?  And, William Lucas does scared, anxious, and frightened magnificently.

But there's still more.  Director, Hayers, is great in his field.  There are plenty of interesting camera shots, angles, and iconic photography.  All of which add power to the film.  To be honest, this is a masterpiece in modern film noir, though it's old now as it was filmed in 1961 - it is still a great watch.

Now, I'm not a great jazz fan but the soundtrack to the movie is outstanding and used to it's fullest potential.  It has the power to pull the viewer in and make them feel the excitement and tension of a scene.  I was surprised by how much I liked this element of the movie.

I would recommend this to everyone.

I give this a Rip-Roaring Action-Packed Heist of 8.5 out of 10.

The Film Clip