List of Films Comprehesive videography IMDB
Just added 'Being John Malkovich', 'The Matrix'.
Orphans 2000
The story is very simple, four siblings have to come to terms with grief at the loss of their mother in their own way. There is an overwhelming sense of pathos which grows in the audience as the plot develops.
Red Dragon
Starring Anthony Hopkins, Ralf Fiennes, Edward Norton
Director Brett Ratner
Genre Thriller
Two minutes into the film I realised this story has already been told, sometime around 1970. So I focused on whether they had enhanced the original, which they have. They have also linked it to 'Silence of the Lambs' with a nice little segue at the end. There is an attempt to maintain the integrity of lighting and set to 'Silence of the Lambs' but whoever did the lighting then was not used in 'Red Dragon' nor the same writers I suspect. However, it is a competent adaptation of the original story, with an admirable attempt to recreate the suspense of 'Silence of the Lambs'. I think I need to invent a new term for this film though, it's a prequil, but not in the sense that 'Star Wars' is. The events occur before 'Silence of The Lambs' but it was an after thought on the part of the film makers. It is also a remake. So it's a postprojection prequil remake. Because they are attempting so much in this film ,it comes across as a little rushed, this rushing to tell story has diminised the suspense.
Red Planet 
At first I thought I'd made a boo boo, but stick with it, it does improve over time. What interested me was the film turned out to be about something entirely different to what I had first anticipated. I think one of the weaknesses is the casting, I don't think the message comes across well at all
Secret Window
Directed David Kopp
Genre: Suspense
I think it would be safe for me to say that this is the first film adaptation of a Stephen King story that actually captures the essence of King. The humour, the quiet suspense, the confusion of events. I didn't realise I had infact read this story until Mort Rainey kept napping and not getting much work done on his story. Ah, i've read this. Of course, that spoils the rest of the film as far as the surprise is concerned. I still enjoyed watching the techniques. In particular though, i just LOVED seeing Johnny Depp in every scene. So much so that when other characters were in the same shot, i could not tear my eyes away from him. The audience becomes intimate with this characters daily activities. I have spotted a limitation in Johnny's acting range during this film. I can't tell you, because it would give away the plot. He is good at playing fear, vulnerability and now lethargy. Only Johnny Depp could have his hair sticking out in all directions and still look gorgeous.
Seven
It takes a lot for a film to disturb me, I've seen the darkest most horrific films going and this one really made my skin crawl. In 'Reservoir Dogs', Quentin Tarrantino had a decision to make in the scene where the ear is cut off, show it happen or pan away. He chose to pan away. Basically it's what you imagine that horrifies you, each victim undergoes the most sadistic torture, but all the audience sees is the result, left to fill in the gaps the imagination builds. You have to concentrate on the dialogue. There is a raw realism to the two detectives in the story, they are not glorified and this somehow adds to the horror effect of what they are investigating.
writing Stephen King 'Secret Window, Secret Garden', film script David Kopp
Starring Johnny Depp, John Turturro, Maria Bello, Timothy Hutton
Director David Fincher
Genre Thriller/Horror
As suspense and thriller films have been so disappointing lately, when one like this one are good, I start to think what is it that makes a good ghost story. It is very similar in theme to 'The Shining' there are some definate similarities between the two male characters in 'The Shining' and '7 Days to Live', but it's altered so that it's not a total copy, almost enhancing the original idea. One element that is missing from other suspense films is character development. Also, I believe the characters need to be likeable, who cares what happens to a character you don't like. So these characters are really likeable, they have gone through something that audience empathise with. The element that most filmmakers remember is mise-en-scene. The surroundings need to be eerie, dark. The main element missing though is time taken between scenes. It was most starley represented in the scene where the main female protagonist attempts to discover the history of the house. There is a character who could have told her right there, but instead we have to wait for her to see someone else. Even then much time is spent taking long slow pan shots of the building this character resides in. We are then introduced to more supspense enhancing scenes to delay the final release. Directors are in too much of a hurry to let us know what happens next. The reveal too much information after that, explaining every little detail like the final scene in a Hercule Poirot, Agatha Christie story.
The Shipping News
You would get a similar experience if you were to watch paint dry, or the grass grow. It's always a bad sign when I start getting up and doing things around the flat when I'm watching a film. It had all the elements of a deeply touching and moving story, but it just meandered into mediocraty. No doubt this film will go into the annals of the classic dramas of our times like 'A Passage to India' and 'Amadeus'. Won lots of awards and respect from the critics, but boaring as dishwater.
Signs
HG Wells meets Thomas Hardy. You thought this film was about aliens right? Right! Except that old faithful 'Good vs Evil' rears it's familiar head. I am coming to the conclusion that there is a conspiracy at Hollywood to entertain the intellectually challenged. Basically, well that sums it all up really. The plot develops at snails place with a crumb trail of "signs" to lead you to the solution to our heroes problem. It's entertaining, easy to follow and uncluttered by multiple meaning and deep characterisation.
The Silence of The Lambs
Starring Jodi Foster, Anthony Hopkins I think this is Anthony Hopkins best role. I was particulary impressed with Jodie's performance, I imagine she has captured the face of danger perfectly. You can cut the atmosphere with a knife, the Mise-en-scene, nondiagetic music and framing plus perfect casting all round makes this one of the best thrillers since Alfred Hitchcock put story to celluloid.
Sleepy Hollow
Starring Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci, Miranda Richardson, Christopher WalkenBased on the novel by Washington Irving, Ichabod Crane changes occupation for the screen adaptation. There is a distinct atmosphere to the film, dark sets, victorian costumes and eerie backdrops creates a grims fairytale feel. Johnny Depp plays a forensics detective who hasn't quite accquired the emotional distance to carry out his duties, this adds a comical dimension to his character. Depp is well suited to these types of roles, how on earth he got into '21 Jump Street' I can't imagine.
The Stick Up
Starring James Spader, David Keith, Leslie StephanansonVery cleverly constructed, it explores the fine line between right and wrong. This film alludes to certain moral dilemas police officer's are faced with and where exploiting their position could lead. We are presented with evidence in a way that can catch you out if you're not watching carefully. James Spader is well cast in this kind of role.
The Tallented Mr Ripley
Starring Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law This film is very similar in theme to 'A Simple Plan', the difference is I don't empathise with Mr Ripley. It was interesting the way the plot develops, you follow Mr Ripley's changes in character as it goes along and you begin to wonder what he will do next, or how it will all end up. There is no mystery involved just an exploration of a moral concept. "What would you do if..."
Terminator III
Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Nick Stahl, Kristanna Loken, Clare Danes
Director Jonathan Mostow
Genre Action/Sci-Fi
I'm really glad I watched the re-run of 'T2' on TV because it made me aware it picked up where the other film left off. The humour takes a back seat and the film becomes somewhat philosophical not unlike 'Matrix'. It is not an inferior sequal. The action gets going right from the get go and doesn't let up. This does mean the new characters are barely introduced and the actions of our new terminator the TX seem perplexing. The Terminator is a different character to 'T2' which left me a little cold. I was greatly impressed with the way they made an apparently small framed female robot appear heavy. This film will leave you begging for more at the end. Be warned. There will deffinately be a follow up. One highly amusing part is when Arnold's character aquires his clothes and you have to ask yourself, why does a robot wear dark glasses?
Waking Life 
This film is sheer genius! The animation at times looks real, I can't decide whether they shot it then stencilled over it or if it's pure animation. I think the variety in quality of the animation is deliberate and adds to the underlying theme. There are increasingly deeper dialogs with the main protagonist. He passively receives information about life, philosophy and theories about dreams. I get the impression that the people portrayed are accademics in real life, scientists and theorists. It's a keeper for sure.
What Lies Beneath
Starring Harrison Ford, Michelle Pfiffer Until I saw this film, I thought that the art of suspense was dead. This film recreates the traditional suspense feel of the 1960s. I think the problems with current Suspense films is they don't put enough time into building empathy with the main characters. If you don't connect personally with the protagonist, you don't feel the suspense with them in each scene.
X Men
Starring Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart Crickey! This film is the worst. Barely entertaining. I should have brought the comic with me, I could have read it when it got really boring.
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