PRIME FILM REVIEWS (4 - 6)

OF MICE AND MEN ...

Can you believe that up until now I'd never seen a movie (any movie) adaptation of this 1937 novel by John Steinbeck? After all I'd read the book and adaptions are very rarely (if ever) as good, right?

 Largely faithful to the book; the uplifting story of the bond, of the friendship between two men. Beautiful cinematography with some stellar performances - John Malkovich is commendable as the 'dim-witted' Lennie, the world weariness of George (here played by Gary Sinise who incidentally also directed) palpable and as for Ray Walston as Candy. What can I say? His face as he surrenders his aged canine companion to be 'put to sleep' by means of a gunshot to the head (thankfully not shown) heartbreaking - and yet for some inexplicable reason on the whole it just didn't elicit the same emotional responses as the book. FGT

A faithful retelling of the classic novel of depression era America. Gary Sinese as George, doing his best to earn a crust of bread trailing from farm to farm in the hope of some work. Beleaguered as he is with Lennie, incapable of looking after himself portrayed by John Malkovich. Lennie's peculiar incapacity doubles down the struggle and difficulties they face and yet there is a peculiar bonding between these two men that is forged by tragic and difficult circumstances. It is in essence beautiful story telling of a sad tale. Curley's wife played by Sherilyn Fenn portrays a softer characterisation than Steinbeck writes and carries in that a victim-hood as counterpoint to that of Lennie.  A great story told very well in this adaptation. NJT

WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS ...

Having watched and really enjoyed the series (at least all but the last two episodes which at the time had yet to be aired on terrestrial telly here in the UK) Mr T and I eagerly
sat down to watch the film version which by the way predates the series by some five years.

Hmm! One of those instances in which I find myself unable to avoid comparing the two. Essentially lacking the laugh out loud moments; the inherent silliness, the characters not as likeable and difficult to invest in ... to say nothing of the fact that this is missing my favourite the “Energy Vampire” Colin Robinson (Mark Proksch) who drains the life force from his victims by drawing them into inane conversations ... I think it highly likely that if we had seen this first we may not have gone on to watch the series. That said, less than ninety minutes long, I can think of worse ways to spend the time. FGT

Hmmm.... kind of wish i had seen the film before I'd seen the TV adaptation. The film was a bit odd although the satirisation of the vampire genre was obvious from the outset, there were too many moments where the cognitive dissonance was not a clean cut as satire truly requires. There's some wit in there and set piece 'oh how difficult it is being a vampire' but it didn't really hang together for me as a movie and felt more like several sketches from a series that just happened to be edited end to end.  What I'm hoping were some life down under (New Zealand) cultural references that I didn't get may just be my ignorance but I did not develop any real affection for any of the main characters or even approach caring about them.  Watch it... it may be me, but the TV adaptation is much much sillier. NJT


THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS ...

Its star (Jack Black) an actor whose films I either like or don't like - for me there is no in between  as far as this is concerned - alas this film falls firmly in the latter category with neither Cate Blanchett nor its child star Owen Vaccaro able to save it.

Not the Harry Potter type film I had been expecting - parents Beware, this isn't a film I would suggest for younger or sensitive children  - there are some genuinely frightening moments involving scary toys/dolls (including the obligatory clown) etc and, given its PG rating (explained here), some what some would consider dark themes including rather disturbingly I thought spoiler starts ...  a witch who disguises herself as the 10-year old Lewis's dead mother ... spoiler ends. FGT

Yes, an ok movie, with an interesting premise of departed wizard who has essentially invested his life and work in his house, now occupied by a lacklustre second rate wizard in Jack Black. Not his best moment to be honest but he holds the narrative through the film although this makes his dialogue somewhat dull on long winded. Much sharper is Cate Blanchett as his muse and nominal love interest, a woman of mystery who helps him cope with the arrival of his young nephew into the midst of the unfolding story. It felt like a bit of a mannerly and reasonable way to spend almost two hours, but rather like a long mystery that suddenly and disappointingly unfolds very quickly leaving a bit of fizzle instead of a bang in its denouement. NJT

Based on Kelly's One Sentence Movie Reviews of which you can see her latest by clicking here.