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

Movie Review - Dead Over Heels: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery

Dead Over Heels

An Aurora Teagarden Mystery

2017

The Cast

Aurora (Bure) is having plumbing problems and with the help of her friend, Sally (Doig) they set about fixing it.  While checking out the well's pump in the garden, the body of Chief Of Police, Captain Burns (March), falls from an aeroplane... at their feet.  Being the compulsively curious amateur sleuth she is, Aurora sets out to track down the cop killer...

Storywise, this isn't as solid as previous instalments of the enthusiast crime solver.  In a few scenes, it feels especially contrived.  Specifically where the two sisters are concerned.  The reaction of Bess Burns' (Cairns) reaction to her husband's death is kind of unbelievable.  She doesn't appear to mourn him and at times even sees a bright side to his death.  Then there's her sister, Lillian Tibbit (Harvie), who has an episode where she's the complete opposite of her normal personality,  This would have been okay had Bess been more realistic.  But to have two strange personalities in one story is one too much.  This does pull the audiences attention away and out of the story and film.

This though is pretty much the only downside to the movie.  The rest of the story is strong and sound.  Filled with red herrings and false suspects.  Though it shouldn't be too hard for you figure out whodunnit... though you may find yourself changing your mind a couple of times.

There's nothing too interesting in the direction, it's pretty standard stuff.  Also, the special effect of the falling body looks cheap and nasty.  Luckily it's at the start of the film and over in a couple of seconds.

It's the acting along with the story that will keep the attention of the audience.  Just like the previous episodes, the acting is above average and nobody stands out more than anyone else.  Everybody has the limelight, allowing the story to take precedence and helps to extend the mystery (there's nothing worse than having some actor or actress walk on screen and you know they're the bad guy or gal).

If you're a fan of the Aurora Teagarden Mysteries you will like this chapter of her life.  You needn't have watched the previous episodes to enjoy this film, though you would probably get more enjoyment if you had.

I give this a Free Falling Murder of 6.5 out of 10.

The Trailer

Movie Review - Juggernaut

Juggernaut

1974

The Cast

On paper, this film should not be as monotonously sleep-inducing as it actually is.  That isn't the roar of the engines or the crashing of the waves against the ships hull you hear... it's the audiences snoring...

The story tells the tale of two courageous men... bomb disposal technicians.  Who have to cope with, not just one, but several cleverly constructed devices onboard a cruise liner.  This should, in itself, bring in a multitude of ways to create an interesting film.  Tension, suspense, panic, and fear at the very least.  Well, no!  The very least appears to be a total disappearance of these elements.  The way most of the movie is filmed is in such a fashion to hinder these feelings untenable.  For example, the scene where the heroes board the ship.  This should have been one exciting moment as the ship is in rough seas and the men are parachuting in from a plane... wasn't a helicopter available(?)  Of course one of them ends up in the sea and has to clamber onto a rope to survive.  However, this is rendered boring by bad editing and worse filming as the scene is shot from a distance and the sea spray renders the shot near impossible to view.  There are a lot of distance shots throughout.  This, at times - though not always, adds interesting camera viewpoints...  however, there's usually very little happening in these instances; a man walking through an office, a group of passengers dancing, a man walking through a bank, etc...  I believe the director was going for a realistic approach but on the whole, realism is boring.  I want my films to invigorate me, at least a little.  Take the ballroom scene when all the passengers are informed of the explosive predicament they are in.  Do they panic?  Do they get anxious and upset?  Do tempers and attitudes start to flair?  No, they just mope about; evidently, the pay for extra's was non-existent after paying for the good cast.  I've never seen a group look so bored.  So much for striking terror into the hearts of people!

Even the actors appear to suffer from the same malignity of dullness as their characters often appear two dimensional and flat.  The worst is Omar Sharif who's rendition of Captain Alex Brunel is so laid back and paper-thin he's almost not there.  Poor Old Roy Kinnear is just annoying as the Social Director of the cruise.  His jokes are worse than bad and his delivery is terrible.  The only thing funny is his name, Curtain - a good name for a person who arranges the entertainment; though I do wish they'd dropped the curtain at the start of this disastrous movie.

Not even the likes of Richard Harris, David Hemmings, Anthony Hopkins, and Ian Holm can lift this out off the doldrums... at times, Ian Holm looks as if he could join the audience for a snooze.  The best actor in the whole film, who actually adds an engaging spark, is Freddie Jones as Sidney Buckland.  If only the rest of the cast and characters were as appealing.  However, one character in a busload is too little... and he's not even a major character.

There are much better films of this ilk out there so I'd recommend you check out one of them rather than this film.

I give this a Juggernaut Of A Disastrous 3.75 out of 10.

The Trailer

Movie Review - Killer Obsession

Killer Obsession

AKA:  Crossfire

2016

The Cast

When National Guard soldier Samantha Harrison (McKee) returns to her hometown after a tour in Iraq, which has left her with a pending "Friendly Fire" charge, she finds "Normal" life is harder than serving in a war-zone.  Graydon (Rozon) is the sole survivor of the team Samantha supposedly gunned down and he's looking for both justice and revenge.  Unable to remember the night in question, Samantha has to rely on the testimonies of her squad; Billy (Koensgen), Bobby (Thebaud), and Jimmy (Lund)...  However, after both Billy and Bobby take their own lives it becomes evident to Samantha there's something darker going on and she sets out to solve the mystery.

This is a very well thought out mystery with strong believable characters that are portrayed respectfully by the actors and actresses.  McKee makes a good lead role and is so subtle in her portrayal, never going overboard on the emotional side, to make Samantha very believable.  I could relate to her outburst of anxiety when she tries to seek law advice.  She just cannot fill in the forms.  You can see all the raw emotion on her face.  Then after she takes flight, back in her car, you can see the relief flood over her along with the sadness and anger at not having been able to complete a simple task.  This is pretty much spot on, as a sufferer of depression and anxiety, I can relate.  Lund too is great in his portrayal.  His character also has as many different flaws that he brings across to the audience in a believable way.  The only thing I would have liked would have been a little more structure and drive to Rozon's character, Graydon.  This could have been used to create a little more unease and suspense, especially revolving around the inevitable twist.  This, however, could have been down to writing or direction, rather than acting.  I must also pay respect too to Thebaud's character, Bobby, who injects the idea of a conspiracy theory into the storyline.  He does this so well, you can see that he's worried about his and his families life.  There are no small parts in this film.

The story, on the whole, is good and flows well.  It does have a few slight flaws.  If you're a fan of mysteries then you'll have solved this one pretty quickly as it's not a great twist.  As I said before, it could have been made better.  The other is the constant bombardment of "getting councilling".  Don't get me wrong, I believe therapy can be a good thing but it's pushed too much within the run of the movie.

The direction is well above standard for a TV Movie and helps to keep the audience's attention, as well as creating atmosphere.  Though I do believe there was a chance missed to make Graydon appear more ominous and driven.  I particularly liked the use of colourisation.  Muddy browns for a melancholy moment and greys for sad and depressing scenes.  Even the flashbacks to the combat looked realistic, even though they weren't on a large scale, which I think actually helped their power.

If you like a war drama with an interweaving mystery to solve this is the film to watch.  I really enjoyed the film and would be happy to watch it again at some time...

I give this a cold and calculated 6.75 out of 10.

The Trailer

Movie Review - The Girl In The Picture

The Girl In The Picture

1957

The Cast

Four years ago, a robbery went wrong resulting in a policeman being murdered and the killers escaped.  However, a photograph turns up on news reporter Jon Deering's (Houston) desk.  It shows the getaway car and a woman looking into it.  Believing this woman holds the key to the case, Deering sets off to find her... unfortunately, in his investigations, he tips off the robbers, who then start a search, though be it more deadly, for the girl in the picture... Pat Dryden (Crawford)

I do like this as a premise for a story, however, I don't think all the possibilities were utilised well.  This could have been a cat and mouse stalking game, what with the police, the reporter, and the bad guys tracking her down.  However, the police don't get involved too much and the murderers are hanging on the reporter's coattails.  This has the effect of making it less suspense-filled than it could have been?

The story and the acting are enough to make this an enjoyable one watch flick, though I would warn about the soundtrack.  It's your basic standard full orchestration, but when you get to the climax the director decides to use the music to jar your nerves... and turns the volume up.  This mixed with the old-fashioned police bells and sirens is enough to drive you mad.  As for the direction, it's okay, there's nothing innovative in the camera work and the pace stays pretty steady throughout.  Changing these would have helped to create a better atmosphere and tenseness to draw the viewer in.

The acting is pretty good and both Houston and Crawford do well in their roles.  That said, there are moments when it gets a little melodramatic and the acting begins to feel a little hammy.  Though these are few and have little effect on the film or story.

The one thing I did like about the story was the lack of a love interest.  In most films, this is a must, even when it's not required and sometimes it even feels awkward.  But there's nothing between Dryden and Deering, they are merely an eyewitness and a reporter. It was a refreshing change not to have the fawning doting of screen romance.

Though it's not the best thriller of its time it's still worth a checkout.

I give this a Reluctant Eyewitness a Suspicious 5.5 out of 10.

The Trailer