EDF Cinema

[bigbadwolf]

Sorry Keef,

I thought Benicio del Toro and Franka Potente did a fantastic job but both installations of Che were an utter mess from start to finish.

I was very disappointed.

[Keef]

It wasn't edge of the seat stuff, and it kept skipping back and forth from jungle warfare, to a state visit to the US some years later, where he made a speech at a conference of leaders. Not sure it flowed that well, but it had plenty of good points, not least the portrayal of the lead.

There are voice overs of Che being interviewed in English, and I think this was to keep you abreast of the story if you got lazy with the subtitles (or didn't speak the language obviously).

It would have been far too long to do as a single film, but I feel like I've stopped half way through, so will be able to give a more full opinion once I've watched part 2, which hopefully will be winging it's way from LOVEFILM shortly...

[Keef]

BBW, fair enough, but I'd still give part 2 a go, and see what I think then. Understand what you mean about "a mess", but think it has it's good points.

[bigbadwolf]

Keef,

I totally agree about the storyline jumping all over the shop concerning Che's routine of Guerrilla warfare and thrusting politics.

I did get a bit frustrated with it being in Spanish with subtitles but I think Steven Soderburgh made the right decision. The story is set in a Spanish speaking country affecting Spanish speaking people. It would be wrong and unconvincing for it to be otherwise.

However,

Lets not spoil the film for Mockney eh.

[Keef]

I'm pretty sure he already knows the story, and they didn't even put in a convincing love story subplot like in Titanic :-S

[mockney piers]

You mean the homoerotic camaraderie wasn't highlighted by Fidel and Ernesto touhing outstretched fingertips in the prow of the Gramma on their way to Cuba? I'm very dissappointed!!

[bigbadwolf]

Ha ha, that was good Mockney.

[SimonM]

>>and they didn't even put in a convincing love story subplot like in Titanic <<

*mops coffee up frantically from keyboard*

[annaj]

Probably way too mainstream for this thread, but has anyone seen The Time Traveller's Wife yet?

I loved the book and I'm torn between really wanting to see it and afraid that they will have ruined it.

[siousxiesue]

annaj Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Probably way too mainstream for this thread, but

> has anyone seen The Time Traveller's Wife yet?

> I loved the book and I'm torn between really

> wanting to see it and afraid that they will have

> ruined it.

They have ruined it- please save your cash! Remembering the last scene in the book, I was waiting for it and it didn't happen! (i mean when Claire is an old lady) Best film recently has been indie called 'Sleep Furiously' saw it twice-nice doc set in tiny Welsh village and daily life, it's got music from Aphex Twin too, just lovely...

[annaj]

Oh, thank you, that's what I was afraid of. The trailers just all look a bit.... glossy.

[bigbadwolf]

I saw the Constant Gardner last night by Brazilian director Fernando Meirelles (of City of God fame) starring Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz.

It dealt with a couple working together to uncover the wrongs being perpetrated against Africa by European and American corporations under the ever paranoid observation of the Foreign office's Africa desk who actively sought to destroy the couple outright, by whatever means possible.

I've never really been a great fan of Fiennes but he was an undeniably good compliment to Weisz's role. They were both very good.

The feature also served as a great big 'up yours' against the shady collaborations of big business and official agencies.

Bill Nighy's portrayal of a backstabbing diplomat was also a crucially breathtaking piece of acting further reinforcing the hope that I'll one day follow his example in how to grow old mischieviously. I also have no shame in admitting that I'll cry when he shuffles off his mortal coil.

[mockney piers]

Constant Gardener was the first Le Carre book I've enjoyed since the cold war ended. Film wasn't a patch on it but did an ok job, I usually like Fiennes anyway but would happily watch paint dry if it was on our Rachel!!!

[LordshipLovely]

Has anyone seen Sin Nombre yet?

I saw it yesterday and I really enjoyed it although it was pretty grim.

Few things bugged me though.

1. The overuse of the word 'homey' amongst the gang members

2. When they are sat on the roof of the train, I thought I saw Willy throw the digital camera onto the tracks. 10 mins later he's looking at it??

3. If it was just as quick to go by road (which it was as the old gang members kept catching up with the train), why didn't they just try and hitch or hide in a lorry or something, rather than sit on that roof for weeks?!

Maybe I've missed something.

Overall a very good film. Glad I had the subtitles though. I speak pretty good Spanish and found the girl easy enough to understand, but he was impossible.

[Keef]

I really like Constant Gardener. Bought the book for my missus, but have yet to read it myself.

[Jah Lush]

Not seen the film but the book was pretty good.

[Windom]

Saw Mesrine last night - highly recommend, proper French gangster nutter

[bigbadwolf]

I saw In The Loop inspired by the political satire, The Thick Of It.

It wasn't as good as what I was expecting.

[Keef]

Really? I really enjoyed it, although it's very full on, and I think it works better as half hour, or maybe an hour, episodes. By the end of the film I couldn't wait to get out of the cinema and breathe!

[mockney piers]

Yeah, I thought it was excellent too. Been ages since I'd been to the cinema and the whole place was laughing out loud.

[bigbadwolf]

Sorry guys,

I just thought that it came out a little bit too late after The Thick Of It. Don't get me wrong, there were some funny scenes (Steve Coogan was a welcome surprise) but I just found the storyline a little bit baffling since it was centred on the lead up to the invasion where as the original series (I genuinely loved that) was set after the whole mess had started.

I'm going to stick my neck out here and by all means savage me guys, but I wondered if perhaps having one or two members from the West Wing would've been fun in respect of the original series being a bit of a pisstake of government politicians and their policies. I just thought it would be fun for the U.S delegation to have included members of a cast that was doing the same thing as The Thick Of It.

[Keef]

As an aside, I rewatched the thick of it recently, and there is a moment when the minister says something along the lines of "it could be worse, I could be a nonce"... Strange how life immitates art.

[bigbadwolf]

However,

The funniest aspect for me was the promotional poster that parodied Barack Obama's iconic self endorsement.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b3/In_the_Loop.jpg

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Strange poster - I'm sure Sir Donald Sinden would never swear.

[bigbadwolf]

"Strange poster"

It's a parody of this.

http://obeygiant.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/barack-hope-poster.jpg