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Luca (2021)
Simply Stunning
Animation is superb and the beautiful colours just jump out at you.
Lovely story with just enough sentiment. Voice cast are spot on and I loved loved loved the soundtrack.
One of the best Disney/Pixar films I've seen in a while and now one of my favourites and now I really want to visit Cinque Terre in Italy that was the inspiration for the film.
Soft Lad (2015)
Love triangle with a twist!
Soft Lad is the latest piece of work from Director Leon Lopez.You may remember Leon from his days on shows such as Brookside and Hollyoaks and after directing a couple of shorts, he makes his feature film directorial debut with Soft Lad, a film that not only did he direct but also wrote, edited, produced and was the sole camera operator on. Quite a feat in itself and one where you could forgive the occasional mistake that may occur throughout the feature. With the exception of a couple of moments in the sound department, there were no such mistakes and in my view Leon deserves the highest level of praise for the excellent editing of the film. So what is the film about? It's basically a love story but not your normal run of the mill love story. Jules and Jane are a happily married couple with one daughter living in a nice house in a nice area and in decent jobs. All appears good but Jules is hiding a terrible secret from his wife. He is having an affair with Jane's brother David. No longer able to handle lying to his family and in particular his sister, David decides to end the affair and instead turns to new love Sam. David's feelings for Sam soon turn to love and life appears to be pretty good for him. Jules however must wrestle with his conscience and his feelings for David. Putting his marriage at risk he must decide whether or not to come clean about the affair or accept that it is over and move on. A simple check up at the hospital changes everything. Who is affected? Well you will have to watch the movie to find but believe me it results in one of the best scenes in the movie and one that though quite intense, also has one of the funniest lines. For a first time feature film director and with a modest budget of approx £17,000, Leon Lopez has done an exceptional job and after seeing what he can do with such a small budget, one wonders what he could do with a budget of millions. No one performance can be singled out as all the cast members give outstanding performances. Daniel Brocklebank (Coronation Street, Doctors, Emmerdale) as Jules makes you really believe he is struggling to accept his homosexuality yet also manages to pull off a dangerous side of Jules's personality. There is one scene where Daniel is delivering his lines to Stacey (Laura Ainsworth) and with such a look on his face that I actually believed his character was going to attack her. Suzanne Collins (Brookside) as Jane is superb as the totally oblivious wife who believes she is the cause of Jules's increasing moods and stands out in the life changing scene. Jonny Labey (Eastenders) as David is a pure revelation in this film and definitely an actor destined for more. You really feel for his character even though what he has done is wrong. Having watched him in Eastenders, I believe that it is in this film that he shines and acts his socks off.
The Truth About Romance (2013)
The truth about this film..
The Truth About Romance is indeed a romantic film but one that is a little bit different to others in this genre. It is one of those rare romcoms that will appeal to male and female viewers?
It tells the tale of unlucky in love Josh, his chance encounter with Emily and the adventure that follows. Also in the mix is the breakdown of the relationship his best friend Chris goes through with Zoe.
The comedy content is nicely balanced with the dramatic scenes and each actor holds their own.
The casting is spot on and you truly believe in these characters.
Jordan Greenhough gives an outstanding performance as Josh. There is a line towards the end of the film he delivers with such perfection, he sent shivers up my spine. An actor intended for greater heights.
Craig Asquith as Chris is a revelation and seems to have come from the Christopher Eccleston school of acting. With little experience in the acting profession, he certainly gives the more established actors a run for their money.
Danielle Jackson plays Emily. To look at her, you get the feeling that she would feel more at home in a period piece but that soon disappears when she starts to act. She manages to convince the viewer that she is indeed a free spirit and you believe that she is actually interested in Josh.
The final main part is Zoe, played by Donna Parry. A convincing performance as the girlfriend who loves Chris but knows deep down that the relationship is in decline.
The rest of the cast are very good but the main star of this film is the Writer and Director James G Wall. I find it hard to believe that the films budget was a mere £250. James has managed to write a beautiful script, find an outstanding cast and good locations and made a 90 minute film that is far superior to many films that have been released recently with bigger budgets. Yes it's not perfect but it is very close to it and if this is what he can do with £250 then I cannot wait to see what he makes with £250,000. A Director most definitely destined for great things.
Two Thousand Women (1944)
British Cinema at it's best
I recently stumbled upon this film on Channel 4. Thankfully I only missed the first ten minutes as it turned out to be a most enjoyable film.
If you're reading this review then you have most probably seen the movie so a synopsis is not needed.
All I really have to say is that the mainly female cast is absolutely superb. I defy anyone to pick out a single performance that stands out from the rest. Phyllis Calvert, Patricia Roc, Thora Hird..the excellent cast just oozes British actresses who went on to even greater performances.
The only thing that let's this film down are the actors who play the British soldiers. Whilst they are good, I found them maybe a little too old for the parts.
All in all though, it is a splendid film. If a remake were made today, it could boast an amazing cast of todays British talent.
I checked IMDb after watching this film and sadly, most of the cast are with us no more. It is as a tribute to them that I write this little review.