Jezebel

What a classic! My favourite cinema holds screenings from time to time of rare and important films. The showing of 'Jezebel' induced a full house - but it was a rainy Monday afternoon! In many ways this was a spoiler for 'Gone With the Wind' produced a year before the blockbuster - this is also a tale of a scheming brazen woman from the ante-bellum Southern states. Bette Davis is absolutely wonderful in the title role with Henry Fonda also superb as Pres, the man who Julia (nicknamed Jezebel for her behaviour) treats so badly, but loves so deeply. So we have duels, magnificent dresses, Southern etiquette, appalling treatment and humiliating portrayal of African Americans (although to be truthful they often get the best lines) an outbreak of Yellow Fever and the redemption of Jezebel. Marvellous!

Two scenes to savour: The arrival of Julia at her party dismounting from a skittish colt wearing a provocative riding habit to the horror of her relatives and guests, and the final scene of her leaving New Orleans for the isolation of Leper's Island with the dying Henry Fonda. Here Bette Davis has mussed up hair and the odd smudge on her cheek - but still has her ear rings of diamonds. What style!

Rating 9/10

Notes on a Scandal

What a truly wonderful film. Judi Dench, Cate Blanchett, Bill Nighey and Andrew Simpson are all superb.

Sheba (Cate Blanchett) is a woman who has married an older man, had two children (one with Downs' Syndrome) and become a teacher in a difficult North London School. She is extremely lost. Barbara is coming towards the end of her career and is desperate to cure her loneliness by making contact and a real connection with one other person. Sheba begins a sexual affair with Steven Connolly - a 15 year old pupil (Andrew Simpson). Barabara finds out and uses the information to 'capture' Sheba as her own significant other.

This is a truly dark film about manipulation, criminality, loss and relationship - but it is surprisingly funny in so many places. The tension and suspense is so well supported by Philip Glass' thunderous music.

Eventually everyone is destroyed by the unfolding effects of Sheba's irresponsible compulsion (in fact all thre main characters have the sin of compulsion and obsession). Steven has the typical schoolboy (and he is just a boy despite the blindness of both Steven and Sheba) obsession with sex, Sheba is obsessed with having a thrilling escape from the confines of a suffocating family life. Barbara has delusions about her own potential and relationships with others.

All is laid out in her journal for us to see.

Despite the superficial appearance that this a situation so extreme as to be fantastical, this film is so real and believable - it draws you in, and you retain sympathy for all the characters - until you realise how awful they are - Sheba is (to put it mildly) in a grossly inappropriate - if not paedophiliac - relationship, Barbara a blackmailing serial stalker, Steven a liar and totally unable to control his urges.

My rating? 9/10 SUPERB!!

A Prairie Home Companion

This was Robert Altman's last film - and an excellent film it turns out to be.

If you like the Garrison Keeler books and radio programmes you will enjoy this too. (Although I do have to say that I was slightly disillusioned to see Mr Keeler in the flesh, after listening to him on the radio I had created an image in my head - and he didn't turn out to be quite like what I'd imagined). The film is set in a mid western cinema where a live radio programme is coming to an end after a 30 year or more run. Every person is apprehensive about losing their jobs. Kevin Kline plays a failed private eye (he talks like a Raymond Chandler novel), turned 'security guard'. Lily Tomlin and Meryl Streep are fading 'family country singers', Woody Harrelson is an ex-convist turned cowboy singer (his songs are somewhat dubious in content - and probably justified the show being pulled - 'I want you to ride my pony bareback through the night') and Garrison Keeler plays the shows host. Typically for a Robert Altman film not alot happens, and the humour is light, witty and teeters close to pathos, or bathos. There is an angel (really playing the role of death) dressed in a long white trench coat - who roams through the movie theatre seeking customers.

A good film and a pity this will only get an arthouse showing.

My rating: 8/10

Bobby

I really enjoyed this star-studded film - there were so many stars it would be rude to mention one or two and leave out the others! It tells the story of the day of the assassination of Bobby Kennedy through the yes of various people working or guests at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles the venue for the party to mark the Democratic Presidential Primary.

There are the kitchen workers - Mexican and Black - disenfranchised and mainly illegals. There are Kennedy workers - mostly young and white and dewy eyed, politically naive. There are hotel workers - managers, switchboard operators, hairdressers, retired doormen, and there is a drunken singer at the Hotel's Coconut Grove. A woman is getting married to save a drafted friend from the Vietnam War - the cloud hanging over everything in the late 60s.

Interspersed with these stories is footage from the Kennedy Campaign trail, excerpts of speeches and historic footage from the 60s - the decade of assassinations in America.

Director Emilio Estevez handles the period very successfully and captures the hopes bearing down on the youthful Bobby - so many people wanting him to produce a solution to the ills of America - racism, intolerance, class divisions - wealth and poverty, economic woes and above all the tragedy of Vietnam.

Does he hammer home a political message? No - but the message still comes across, and the shooting of Kennedy is dealt with dramatically, realistically, and without being over sentimental.

Impressive film. My rating - 8/10

Venus

I really enjoyed this film, and Peter O'Toole very much deserves the nomination in this years Oscars. On the other hand Leslie Phillips is a true star - a pity he's been overlooked for glory!

This film is the tale of two old actors whose lives are turned upside down by the arrival of Jessie, the great niece of Ian (Leslie Phillips). Jessie is the object of Maurice (Peter O'Toole's)infatuation. Now this could have been handled very sordidly - and perhaps there are times when you are made to feel slightly uncomfortable about this obsession by a man in his 80s for a 20 year old girl. However, they both get quite a bit out of the relationship - Jessie is made to feel special, and important, and Maurice finds love in the last months of his life. I think the film is a light hearted, sensitive, funny, moving, examination of friendships and relationships - between Maurice and Jessie (the Venus of the title), and Maurice and Ian. Even the minor characters are superb - Richard Griffiths, Vanessa Redgrave and Bronson Webb. My rating? 8/10

The Last King of Scotland

An interesting film - nothing like I expected. It tells the tale of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. Forest Whitaker plays the President with James McAvoy as his white Scottish personal doctor and advisor (although these roles are totally accidentally acquired). It is a study in increasing insanity - Idi is triumphant in a coup against a corrupt regime, welcomed by the people - and is probably well intentioned. Rapidly he is overcome by paranoia. The doctor (Nicholas) is arrogant, naive and overwhelmed by charisma. It all goes horribly wrong. Forest is good in this film, and probably deserves the Oscar nomination, but I am concerned that here is another film (like The Constant Gardener) viewed from a white perspective. There is very little attempt to get to understand Africa - its politics or society.
My rating? 7/10

Oscar Nominations

Excellent year for films - and so many British nominees. Very pleased about Judi Dench, Helen Mirren, Little Miss Sunshine and 'Volver'. A pity though that British cinemas receive so many films months after they screen in the United States. I haven't seen quite a few of the nominated films.