The Lives of Others

This film piped 'Pan's labyrinth" to the best foreign film at the Oscars - and we wanted to know why! The trailers for it in the cinema made it look really quite suspenseful, but truly that wasn't the case.

The plot revolves around the surveillance of Dreyman, a playwright suspected of western leanings by the Stasi official, Wiesler. The real reason for the surveillance is that one of the ministers in the Party Central Committee is attracted to Dreyman's girlfriend, so if Dreyman is arrested, he can have free reign.

Dreyman supports the regime, but not the way dissidents are treated, and having a hidden typewriter in his apartment, supplies an article on GDR suicide rates to an FDR magazine. To test if the apartment is bugged, Dreyman and his friends discuss a 'covert' operation to smuggle someone to the west. The car isn't searched, so they assume they are not bugged, but in truth Weisman has taken pity on him, so he decides to lie for them.

Meanwhile Dreyman's girlfriend is arrested for being supplied with banned narcotics, and in her anguish turns Dreyman in. The Stasi search of the apartment finds nothing. Suspecting his pity, Weisman in brought in to interrogate her, and she confesses its location. During a second search the hiding place is searched, but no typewriter is found, although Dreyman's girlfriend commits suicide by walking in front of a truck. The surveillance now being pointless is called off.

After unification, Dreyman is told that he was under surveillance, unbeknown to him, and researches his records. He notes that all his surveillance was completed by one operative, who didn't report what he was actually doing, and a red smudge on the last page reveals that it was he who moved the typewriter. Dreyman decides to seek this man out, but he decides not to meet with him, instead dedicating his new book to him.

Personally I thought it was too long, and didn't move at a suitable pace, I got bored to be honest. That's not to say it wasn't a good film, and a good study of East Germany during the cold war, I just couldn't fathom how they thought it was better than Pan's labyrinth. 2 Stars.

Days of Glory

I was sceptical about this film. I quite like foreign films (this one is French,) but I am not a big fan of war films per se (this being set in the Second World War,) and I can’t help but feel that if I had a little more historical perspective when watching this, it would have made it a whole lot better.

The film follows the "Indigènes" (Algerians, Tunisians and Moroccan "Goumiers") that were enrolled in the French First Army of the Free French Forces during World War Two. These regiments were formed to liberate France after the Nazi occupation and the film follows the soldiers from recruitment through the campaigns in Italy and southern France.

The army was formed in the French African colonies and of the 200,000 men, 130,000 were “Indigènes,” 50,000 were “pieds- noirs” (French colonials) and the rest were Frenchmen who had escaped the Nazi occupation.

The plot revolves around our “Indigènes” who are sent to the front line as they fight their way through the Italian Campaign and on to Operation Dragoon to liberate France. Each has a different personal reason for having signed up, one seeks the spoils of war, one has joined the army to escape poverty in hope that it will become his family, one wishes to marry and settle in France while the other is fighting for equality and recognition of the rights of the colonised Algerians.

They didn’t get equality – and the French are still refusing to pay war pensions.

The film was really good, although a little too long. It was obvious from the start that the four we follow would be whittled down to one soldier and that their desire from signing up would not become a reality. (I also admit I had a small nap during the middle – but I don’t feel I missed a great deal.) Only 1.5 stars I’m afraid.

Amazing Grace

Amazing Grace, directed by Michael Apted, is about the campaign against the slave trade in 18th century Britain, led by famous abolitionist William Wilberforce, who was responsible for steering anti-slave trade legislation through the British parliament. The title is a reference to the hymn “Amazing Grace” and the film recounts John Newton’s writing of the hymn.

The film stars Ioan Gruffudd as Wilberforce, Albert Finney as John Newton, Rufus Sewell as Thomas Clarkson, Youssou N’Dour as Olaudah Equiano, Benedict Cumberbatch as Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger, Romola Garai as Barbara Spooner, Wilberforce’s love interest, Michael Gambon (best known to be as Dumbledore in the lastest HP films!) as Lord Charles Fox and Ciaran Hinds as Sir Banastre Tarleton, one of Wilberforce's chief opponents in the House of Commons.

The film begins with Wilberforce sererely ill and taking a holiday in Bath with his cousin, Henry Thornton. It is here that he is introduced to his future wife, Barbara Spooner. Although he at first resists she convinces

The film begins with Wilberforce severely ill and taking a holiday in Bath with his cousin, Henry Thornton. It is here that he is introduced to his future wife, Barbara Spooner. Although he at first resists, she convinces him to tell her about his life. The story flashes back 15 years to 1782, and William recounts the events that led him to where he is now. Beginning as an ambitious and popular MP, William was persuaded by his friend William Pitt, the youngest Prime Minister at just 24 years old and others to take on the dangerous issue of the British slave trade which led him to become highly unpopular in the House of Commons amongst the Members of Parliament representing vested interests of the trade in the cities of London, Bristol and Liverpool.

Exhausted and frustrated that he was unable to change anything in the government, William becomes physically ill, which brings the story back to the present day. Having virtually given up hope, William considers leaving politics forever. Barbara convinces him to keep fighting because if he does not, no one else is capable of doing so. A few days afterward, William and Barbara marry; and William, with a renewed hope for success, picks up the fight where he had previously left off, aided by Thornton, Clarkson and James Stephen. In time, after many attempts to bring legislation forward over twenty years, he is eventually responsible for a bill being passed through Parliament in 1807, which abolishes the slave trade in the British empire forever.

The tag line is "Behind the song you love is a story you will never forget." And I think that really sums up this film. I really enjoyed this film, I found it beautifully acted out and really moving. I would highly recommend!

The Illusionist

I was very much up for seeing this film, it's one Adam had told me about way back in October, and had been released the other side of the Atlantic way before it was over here. Having loved the prestige, TA and I wanted to see if this would compare favourably!

The film begins with chief inspector Uhl (Giamatti) recounting the history of Eisenheim for Crown Prince Leopold, following Eisenheim's supposed spirit raising magic trick. Eisenheim (Aaron Johnson) was the son of a cabinetmaker, and one day he met a magician who performs several tricks for him and then, according to differing accounts, the magician and the tree he was sitting under disappear. Following this encounter, Eisenheim obsessed about magic tricks, but also falls for Sophie von Teschen (Biel), a duchess for whose family his father is a cabinetmaker. The two are forbidden from seeing each other but meet in secret in the woods, where Eisenheim tells of his plans to go to China to learn more magic and Sophie promises to go with him.

Eisenheim meets Sophie once again many years later at a performance when she is volunteered by the crown prince, as a participant in his trick. Eisenheim and Sophie plan to elope but first something must be done to stop Leopold, who is planning a coup d'etat to take control of Austria from his aging father, Emperor Franz Joseph, while using his engagement to win the support of Hungary. Uhl follows the couple and informs Leopold who kills Sophie in a drunken rage.

Leopold attends a show in disguise and Eisenheim summons the spirit of Sophie, who claims that someone present in the theater murdered her. Leopold orders Eisenheim's arrest, but when Uhl comes to arrest him during a show, Eisenheim's body fades and disappears, like a spirit.

Back to the first scene and Uhl has evidence of and informed the emperor's general staff of the murder and Leopold's plans to usurp the Austrian throne. When his father’s general staff arrive at the palace, Leopold shoots himself in despair. Upon leaving the palace, Uhl is given a folio by a child, explaining how Eisenheim created one of his tricks. Uhl is then able to put the facts together logically to reveal through a series of flashbacks, that in fact the entire series of events had been an elaborate illusion by Eisenheim to bring down Leopold and make off with Sophie as his love.

This was a well executed film and although in hindsight the ending should have been obvious, it eluded me throughout. 4 stars!

Letters from Iwo Jima

This is Clint Eastwoods second jaunt in to the WWII film direction, this time based on the brutal fight between the US and Japanese troops.

The island of Iwo Jima stands between the American military force and the home islands of Japan. Therefore the Imperial Japanese Army is desperate to prevent it from falling into American hands and providing a launching point for an invasion of Japan. General Tadamichi Kuribayashi is given command of the forces on the island and sets out to prepare for the imminent attack. General Kuribayashi, however, does not favor the rigid traditional approach recommended by his subordinates, and resentment and resistance fester among his staff. In the lower echelons, a young soldier, Saigo, a poor baker in civilian life, strives with his friends to survive the harsh regime of the Japanese army itself, all the while knowing that a fierce battle looms. When the American invasion begins, both Kuribayashi and Saigo find strength, honor, courage, and horrors beyond imagination.

This was a totally emotionally draining film showing just how pointless and painfull war is and it certainly gave me a different perspective into the war as it was in Japan.

Becoming Jane

Becoming Jane is a film adaptation of a book about the early life and times of Jane Austen, or what indeed the author Jon Spence speculated about actual events. I wasn't especially excited about this film, but TA consistanly pointed out all of the cast who had been in any Harry Potter films whenever the trailer came on - so naturally - she was very excited!

Jane Austen (Anne Hathaway) is the daughter of Rev. Austen (James Cromwell), a minister in a small rural community in Southern England with his wife (Julie Walters). Her older sister Cassandra (Anna Maxwell Martin) is engaged to be married, but Jane resists all efforts to partner her up with Mr. Wisley (Laurence Fox), a rich but boring nephew of Lady Gresham (Maggie Smith). Jane has aspirations to become a writer, although her family aren't so sure.

Jane then meets Tom Lefroy (James McAvoy), and she's intrigued; although he's critical of her writing style, he knows that she talent and he encourages her to experience more of the world, from more risqué literature to Tom's turn at boxing. Tom begins to court Jane, and she can't help but be ever more attracted to Tom, a poor but intelligent man. Jane realizes her own ideas about love and marriage is sometimes in conflict with the conventions of the society in which she lives.

A good performance and Hathaway did well for an American playing a Brit. Not one for DVD though - 3 Stars.

Dreamgirls

This was a film that I was really up for seeing but John was not really keen truth be told. John isn't a big Beyonce fan and this is her star turn (although the real star turned out to be Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson in the role of Effie White) It is based on the Broadway musical of the same name and the film includes many of the original songs along with some new ones just for the film.

The story follows Effie White (Hudson), Deena Jones (Knowles), and Lorrell Robinson - three friends from Chicago - who are a promising singing trio called The Dreamettes. Accompanied by their songwriter C.C. White (Effie's brother), they travel to New York to compete in a talent show at the Apollo Theatre. Although they lose out in the competition, they have the chance to sing back up for superstar James "Thunder" Early (Murphy) where their talent attracts an ambitious manager by the name of Curtis Taylor, Jr. (Foxx) who uses unscrupulous tactics to move the girls from backup singers to superstars of their own. Curtis reshapes the group to "crossover" from R & B to the lucrative pop music scene. Lead singer Effie gets replaced by the more attractive Deena, both in the band lineup and as Curtis' love interest and is eventually dropped from the trio. As the group evolves into a bestselling, slick group, The Dreams, with a lighter sound and chic look Effie is forgotten. They successfully attract a "whiter" audience and The Dreams rise to international stardom. The money, fame, and adulation, however, doesn't bring them happiness. A big show number at the end of the film see's the original Dreamettes lineup reunited in a suprisingly non sickening 'Happy Ending' way.

All in all I really enjoyed it, you can hum along and it was a film filled with music I enjoyed and a good cast with Jamie Foxx (who originally turned the part of Curtis down) Beyonce Knowles, Eddie Murphy and Jennifer Hudson and Danny Glover. I even think John enjoyed it!