Who doesn’t love a wandering movie following the vile adventures of a bunch of junkies?

This is a bitter film wallowing in the ugliness of humanity. Yes, it offers a very effective look at the issue of addiction, but it does so through the lens of stylized coolness that cheapens the impact. The film barely summons the strength to condemn the characters save the worst of them, played by Robert Carlyle.

Granted, Danny Boyle (28 Days Later, Slumdog Millionaire) is at the helm so this a well constructed film. Of course, you will have to suffer through amoral portrayals of drug use, death, full frontal nudity, and stark violence.

This film wants to be smart and cool. It’s not that, it’s just a sick yarn that offers little for the audience except clever editing and titillation.


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28 Days Later (2002)
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Labels: Danny Boyle, Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner, film, Johnny Lee Miller, Kelly MacDonald, movie review, Robert Carlyle

Have we gotten to the point yet where there have been more hit men in movies than actual hit men who have ever lived?

The trailer doesn't do much to prompt me to want to see the film. Seems like a very conventional look at the people on the outskirts of society, adrift in personal drama, finally making human connections with one another kind of film. Geez, I wonder if they will learn to love?

That said, I could listen to Kelly MacDonald's accent all day, so it has that going for it.




Screenwriter: Ron Lazzeretti
Director: Michael Keaton
Actors: Michael Keaton (White Noise), Kelly MacDonald (No Country for Old Men) and Tom Bastournes

Labels: film, Kelly MacDonald, Michael Keaton, movie trailer

The first strike against the film is Emma Thompson's appearance. They want to make her look hideous and they succeed. The problem is that the audience is stuck looking at a revolting looking person for the whole film. Second strike, the look of the film itself is obtuse and distracting. Third strike, the piece as a whole is boring. They achieve well beyond the story's limits and end up with a fumbling, predicable misfire. Forget this one.


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Labels: adaptation, Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, film, Kelly MacDonald, movie review, Thomas Sangster