Made in Dagenham (2010)

England, 1968 - the women of automotive giant Ford's upholstery section go on strike for better pay. Sally Hawkins, as Rita O'Grady, becomes their spokeswoman and leads the charge for a much bigger scalp; equal pay for women. It feels like quite a light production at times but Made in Dagenham still relives a piece of history in a moving and enjoyable fashion.
I can't think of a more appropriate word than 'delightful' to describe Hawkins in all her film roles. I mean really, have you seen Happy-Go-Lucky (2008)? She really is a delight, you must believe me. Note it down if you think you'll forget. Bob Hopkins is great as the union rep who revs her up for the stand-off and Miranda Richardson is ball busting as an impertinent politician.

It's a battlers versus big company movie. We all know how these arm wrestles finish in the world of films but given the confounding issue it's a more than welcome, familiar fight.  

3.5/5

Get Carter (1971)

Here we find Michael Caine in classic form as a thug investigating the suspicious death of his bro. There is much to love about this; mob violence, 70's era English pubs, cockneys, chase scenes on wharves, busty old hoteliers and a merciless end scene. I ask for little more. Add Caine as Carter, the arrogant, resourceful and vengeful 'hero' and you have a gold medal action film. I've sworn on my neighbour's life to never forget the scene where Carter talks filth on the phone to his lady while in the presence of the hotel owner. She loves every moment of it and he knows it. Carter in the buff and brandishing a shotgun at intruders after a roll about with previously mentioned wench is also ace.    
It's no surprise Sylvester Stallone wants to be Carter, we all do, but did he have to remake the damn film? I actually saw it when it was released in 2000. To be honest, it's not terrible but not terribly good either. Caine does have a small role which means he either approved of the remake or they dumped a tonne of dough on him. Money, he admits, has been a factor primary to many of his project choices over the years. Anyway, as usual screw the new one and get ye olde Get Carter instead. You geezer.  

4/5

Other Films I'm Watchin' Round Up #3

Here's some more films I've ingested voluntarily over the last few months and not got around to gassing on about. Generally pretty good bunch this lot. 

I Love You Phillip Morris (2009) Ewan McGregor doesn't mind smearing his talents liberally over the challenging roles does he? Eh? Here he is the somewhat innocent and naive object of Jim Carey's homosexual love. An entertaining and true story! 3.5/5 

Religulous (2008) Bill Maher seems like an intelligent man so it's a shame he could not put this together with more finesse. His quest to understand and question people's faith comes up short but he's an amusing guy which sees this pass as decent light entertainment.  2.5/5

The King's Speech (2010) - Do you need inspiration? Do you feel too pathetic and insignificant to roll out of bed in the morning? Geoffrey Rush is outstanding as a speech therapist and motivator to Colin Firth's stuttering King. High quality in all departments. 4/5 

Catfish (2010) A fly-on-the-wall documentary about a catfish's slow learning curve to set up a Facebook profile. 
No, sorry. 
What seemed like a potentially painful, narcissistic Facebook era film is actually well made and genuinely surprising. 
That other catfish documentary should be made though. 3.5/5

The Cove (2009) Dolphin slaughtering; an unpopular business to be in. Very uncool when you see the inhumane killing practices involved. Ex Flipper trainer Ric O'Barry sets out on a mission to reveal Japan's controversial industry and runs into feisty opposition. It gets pretty silly when his crack team of knucklehead allies go all covert. As I laughed at the conservationists I did feel the serious nature of the film was undermined. Tut tut Ric. 3/5

Another Year (2010) Well isn't it nice watching a couple of old married people, in love and doing the gardening together? I'm serious! Director Mike Leigh owns these slice of life films. He also perfectly captures the couples sad, alcoholic friends. It may bore some stupid but I love it. 4/5

The Adventures of Barry McKenzie (1972)

Bazza McKenzie is the stereotypical young, boozy, horny Aussie male flying the flag in the Old Dart. As I know some about this creature I relished the mocking/celebratory attention that is well deserved. Australia's culture as a whole is hung out for a good poke in fact. Sufferers of cultural cringe will no doubt be either violently agreeing with the portrayal or feeling sick. The total lack of political correctness is relentless and has no doubt been dividing audiences for decades. It's great! 

It's a shame it runs out of steam by the second half. Increasingly the adventures are more random and ridiculous until it's just a stream of poor sketches with Baz's catch phrases  the punch line. It's an epic, chasm proportioned flaw that sinks the film sadly. 
It was still pretty sweet seeing a young Barry Crocker in full flight as Bazza. He has  some  classic quotes and the Trouser Snake song haunts long after the final line. His aunty is played by Barry Humphries as Edna Everage at an early stage in that character's development. 
Unfortunately the film as a whole is a bit of a Barry Crocker but it's worth seeing an Aussie film doing what we apparently do so well, taking the piss. 

2/5

 

Submarine (2010)

Teen love; a subject never tackled in film before.

A sweet, witty and attractive tale of an obsessive teen learning the ropes of love with his acidic little lady interest. Noah Taylor stands out as the depressed marine biologist dad. Really, he is tops in these roles and should be chopping up more of this type of material. Remember him in The Life Aquatic (2004)? Case closed! I also think Sally Hawkins is pretty great in everything I see her in and she doesn't screw with that record here. Add the Welsh seaside and a quality soundtrack and the casting choices appear ideal. Director Richard Ayoade, of much good English comedy fame, has obviously enjoyed the works of Wes Anderson but Submarine doesn't come off as a pale imitation at all. I'm sure you're reading this Ayoade old boy, so keep up the fine work!
4/5

Freaks (1932)

I had been foaming with anticipation to see Freaks for a long time. It's regarded by some as a piece of must-see historical cinema. Plus who doesn't want to see a mob of vengeful, real life abnormalities dish out come-uppance to a snotty trapeze artist? The film opens with a spiel about the value of all humans and so on and what not. Some will argue it's a cover for an exploitative film but I think not. Director Tod Browning's ticker appears to generally be in the right place. Centred around a love triangle in a travelling freak show it stars an amazing cast of individuals; half boy Johnny Eck, Siamese twins Daisy and Violet Hilton, pin head Schlitze and miniature siblings Harry and Daisy Earles. That's only a few of the fascinating carnival folk that appear and make this film one hell of a thing.

 

What would traditionally be categorised as good acting and original plot hardly appear but that matters little. The simple tale still fires some curly moral questions all while you sit like a gawking, popcorn stuffing, putrid smelling, circus audience member. The spectacle of the "Gooble gobble, gooble gobble, one of us!" wedding scene has rightly been canonised into pop culture. Unforgettable stuff.  

4/5 

Kill the Irishman (2011)

Danny Greene was a force in Cleveland's crime world of the 1960's and 70's. Proud of his Irish heritage, strong and charismatic, he brazenly went into business with the mafia. The sweet love between them didn't last though and quite literally an explosive war kicked off. Dozens of bombs ripped through the underworld, Greene however proved a tough dude to bury.

                                                      
Based on real events, it's an interesting chapter in American mob history but hasn't been given a healthy chance to glow on screen. A half arsed script that's been directed equally has some life injected into it by lead Ray Stevenson, who's hammy yet enthusiastic. Counts for something right? Christopher Walken is great as Christopher Walken while Vincent D'Onofrio and Val Kilmer slog through the paces. The cast is filled out by faces from every mob film or tv show you can think of, rehashing scenes from them all. 

Cliched, predictable, underdone and yet oddly...watchable.
2.5/5