Reviews

What a disappointment for John Carpenter's comeback film. Is this really the same director who gave us arguably the best all-time horror film with THE THING ? No originality, no passion, there was just nothing that made this film worth remembering for at all. I watched it in two halves, literally falling asleep with boredom on the first effort and the next day I valiantly soldiered on to the end still hoping to see a glimpse of former glories but alas to no avail. This had no stamp of Carpenter's authority about it and looked as though it had been made by a first time director. Shame.....on this showing I won't be watching any more of his films, if indeed he decides to make any new one's.

GHOSTED is one of the best films i've seen this year (2011.) It must be because i've just seen it for the second time in 3 days. It's a low budget, (British) gritty and very realistic depiction of life behind bars with some first class acting by John Lynch (giving probably the best performance of his career as a tragic victim of circumstances prisoner) and Craig Parkinson also excellent as his sleazy and quite chilling at times adversary. The direction is understated and perfect for the performances and the story. For me this rates as one of the best prison drama's for years and i'm already looking forward to watching it a third time. 7 out of 10.

I first saw this film on its release in 1973, just after I became a Pacino fan following his riveting performance in "The Godfather." Went to see "Scarecrow" twice in a matter of days and was hooked for evermore on it. It proved he couldn't be typecast (a bit like Dustin Hoffman following "The Graduate" with "Midnight Cowboy"). Over the years I saw "Scarecrow" several more times, bought a copy on video and only last week finally got a DVD copy on ebay. Got to say it's still one of my favourite films ever and I see around 175 films (on video or DVD or at the cinema) a year. The acting all round is exceptional and Gene Hackman has hardly ever been better (he has cited "Scarecrow" as his favourite work). It is as much his film as Pacino's. "Scarecrow" is a fast moving, totally engaging piece of work superbly directed by Jerry Schatzberg ("Panic in Needle Park"). It is a film I can watch at any time and never get bored with. Excellent photography too. I just hope that one day Pacino and Hackman will make another film together - for me they are the 2 best actors in modern cinema.

Similar in style to director Malick's The Thin Red Line, this is a poetic and lyrical film with stunning photography and an exceptionally emotive score by master composer James Horner ("Titanic") and this is probably his best work which is saying something. Well worth seeing for these 2 facets alone. Superb captivating opening sequence. Definitely deserved a nationwide release at the cinemas but wouldn't be considered these days as mainstream cinema. This is a classic love story and is a labour of love from start to finish. Flawless acting all round by a very strong cast. This film touches the emotions and lingers in the mind long after the end credits. Well worth seeing purely as a piece of superbly made modern cinema.