Sunday, 28 March 2010
Triangle
I watched this like a week and bit ago but I've just got round to posting about it. (I've just not been in the mood recently for some reason)
Anyway, Triangle is the next film from writer/director Christopher Smith following Creep (some effective parts but doesn't quite hold together) and Severance (the same but suffering from added Danny Dyer).
It is fair to say that the trailers for the film do appear to give away the major twist of the film, however the tale still holds some surprises. Following Jess (Melissa George) as she reluctantly goes on a sailing trip leaving behind her young autistic son, the film opens with a group of guys and girls nervously flirting as they sail. However things soon take a turn for the sinister as the boat is overturned and refuse is sought on board a mysteriously abandoned ocean liner.
The film is structured in three overlapping parts each one replaying the same events but from a differing point of view. Each one filling in some of the details of what is happening as we go along. The first part is full of questions as to what is happening, the second contains the not so secret big secret and you think to yourself "oh, is that it?" but it's the third time through that truly takes the tale somewhere a little unexpected and adds a nice dark edge to proceedings.
Now, undoubtedly if you look too hard there are various holes in the narrative and things that don't quite make sense. This is most evident in a couple of moments that make for a really nice visual but don't quite follow the rules of the set-up. (And to say more is to spoil them sadly)
So overall I do quite like the film, it's nothing that special overall but it is a clever little supernatural thriller with some nice ideas in it (goes to show you can make a strong effort with a cast of about eight and essentially a series of corridors as a set). The sort of thing that will really mess with your head if you see it by chance late at night but in the harsh light of the middle of afternoon doesn't quite hold together.
Tho' Cube style one of it's big advantages is it never commits to making clear why all this is happening leaving it open for the imagination to run wild.
Anyway, Triangle is the next film from writer/director Christopher Smith following Creep (some effective parts but doesn't quite hold together) and Severance (the same but suffering from added Danny Dyer).
It is fair to say that the trailers for the film do appear to give away the major twist of the film, however the tale still holds some surprises. Following Jess (Melissa George) as she reluctantly goes on a sailing trip leaving behind her young autistic son, the film opens with a group of guys and girls nervously flirting as they sail. However things soon take a turn for the sinister as the boat is overturned and refuse is sought on board a mysteriously abandoned ocean liner.
The film is structured in three overlapping parts each one replaying the same events but from a differing point of view. Each one filling in some of the details of what is happening as we go along. The first part is full of questions as to what is happening, the second contains the not so secret big secret and you think to yourself "oh, is that it?" but it's the third time through that truly takes the tale somewhere a little unexpected and adds a nice dark edge to proceedings.
Now, undoubtedly if you look too hard there are various holes in the narrative and things that don't quite make sense. This is most evident in a couple of moments that make for a really nice visual but don't quite follow the rules of the set-up. (And to say more is to spoil them sadly)
So overall I do quite like the film, it's nothing that special overall but it is a clever little supernatural thriller with some nice ideas in it (goes to show you can make a strong effort with a cast of about eight and essentially a series of corridors as a set). The sort of thing that will really mess with your head if you see it by chance late at night but in the harsh light of the middle of afternoon doesn't quite hold together.
Tho' Cube style one of it's big advantages is it never commits to making clear why all this is happening leaving it open for the imagination to run wild.
Tuesday, 16 March 2010
Sort of Trailer Of The Day : Predators
A peek at the forthcoming Predators. It's got a decent case and some decent ideas so could be good, or really rather rubbish and despite appearances here 'RR' is not the director, more the creative producer.
Just goes to prove Dylan should give his songs away more often;
Ol' Bob wrote this and gave it to Sheryl who does a fine take on the song, later Bob sang his own version which sounds beyond awful. Bob was right the first time.
E.R. : 2nd Year.
Well after a bit of a blitz recently progress through the entirety of ER has accelerated and I’m now nearing the end of the second season and it’s probably time for a quick look at some of the notable events.
In terms of the plotlines; Mark is getting divorced, Doug is having father issues after nearly losing his job, Susan is struggling to look after Susie alone, Peter has experienced the higher end of surgical medicine and isn’t sure he likes it, John continues to struggle to impress Peter and Carol has bought a house and is happily coupled up with Shep the paramedic.
Elsewhere we have the introduction of Laura Innes as the abrasive Kerry Weaver coming in as Mark’s second in command and Gloria Reuben joining the main cast full time as Jeannie begins a placement in the ER.
Stand out episode of the year and one of ER’s touchstones is ‘Hell and High Water’. Doug on the verge of losing his job after increasingly butting heads with all around him is sat in his car contemplating smoking a joint after a very bad day when a kid frantically knocks at his window in the pouring rain.
The kid’s brother has become trapped in a storm drain and the water levels are rising with his leg trapped. We follow Doug as he struggles to free the boy and then as he frantically fights to keep the boy alive after exposure as he is freed. Meanwhile a news chopper as got word of the events and begins to follow events culminating in Doug commandeering the chopper to take the boy to County, and it all gets reported live.
At the end of the day Doug’s gamble pays off and he is the hero of the moment but it’s the return of his own self belief that is critical. Dramatically paced from the opening minutes as we cut between Doug’s struggle and day to day life in the ER, ‘Hell and High Water’ is one of ER’s event episodes and as such is a breathless forty minutes of television.
We’re starting to see the softening of Peter Benton throughout the year in odd flashes as he sits with a patient, gently encourages John (albeit in his own style!) and shows concern over the conduct of those around him in fiddling results in a surgical study, eventually disappointed in himself that he wasn’t brave enough to pursue the issue.
But the emotional gut punch of the year is the death of Raul, Shep’s paramedic partner. Having grown to know and like the pair throughout the year it’s a real shaker to see Raul lying covered in 3rd degree burns after a brave rescue attempt instigated by Shep. More crushing is the exchange between Mark and Carol about breaking the news to Raul of the unlikelihood of his survival.
Mark :“Who’s going to tell Raul”
Carol : “He’s a fireman. He already knows”
As so often is the case in the series it’s the simple unshowy delivery of the exchange that really drives it home. If there is one thing the series does well it’s when established characters end up in the firing line and fighting for life.
In terms of the plotlines; Mark is getting divorced, Doug is having father issues after nearly losing his job, Susan is struggling to look after Susie alone, Peter has experienced the higher end of surgical medicine and isn’t sure he likes it, John continues to struggle to impress Peter and Carol has bought a house and is happily coupled up with Shep the paramedic.
Elsewhere we have the introduction of Laura Innes as the abrasive Kerry Weaver coming in as Mark’s second in command and Gloria Reuben joining the main cast full time as Jeannie begins a placement in the ER.
Stand out episode of the year and one of ER’s touchstones is ‘Hell and High Water’. Doug on the verge of losing his job after increasingly butting heads with all around him is sat in his car contemplating smoking a joint after a very bad day when a kid frantically knocks at his window in the pouring rain.
The kid’s brother has become trapped in a storm drain and the water levels are rising with his leg trapped. We follow Doug as he struggles to free the boy and then as he frantically fights to keep the boy alive after exposure as he is freed. Meanwhile a news chopper as got word of the events and begins to follow events culminating in Doug commandeering the chopper to take the boy to County, and it all gets reported live.
At the end of the day Doug’s gamble pays off and he is the hero of the moment but it’s the return of his own self belief that is critical. Dramatically paced from the opening minutes as we cut between Doug’s struggle and day to day life in the ER, ‘Hell and High Water’ is one of ER’s event episodes and as such is a breathless forty minutes of television.
We’re starting to see the softening of Peter Benton throughout the year in odd flashes as he sits with a patient, gently encourages John (albeit in his own style!) and shows concern over the conduct of those around him in fiddling results in a surgical study, eventually disappointed in himself that he wasn’t brave enough to pursue the issue.
But the emotional gut punch of the year is the death of Raul, Shep’s paramedic partner. Having grown to know and like the pair throughout the year it’s a real shaker to see Raul lying covered in 3rd degree burns after a brave rescue attempt instigated by Shep. More crushing is the exchange between Mark and Carol about breaking the news to Raul of the unlikelihood of his survival.
Mark :“Who’s going to tell Raul”
Carol : “He’s a fireman. He already knows”
As so often is the case in the series it’s the simple unshowy delivery of the exchange that really drives it home. If there is one thing the series does well it’s when established characters end up in the firing line and fighting for life.
Thursday, 11 March 2010
Trailer Of The Day : Lost In Translation
A quick return to the american indies with the trailer for Sofia Coppola's tale of lost souls in Japan.
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