Reviews by chavaleh

Mr Weston's (not so) Good Wine

Posted : 7 months ago on 6 May 2009 04:40 (A review of Mr Weston's Good Wine)

The idea is excellent and I was expecting more from this novel.
I found it hard to stick with Powys's style of writing, which is quick-paced, uncoherent and fragmented. This lead to me boredly skipping some passages. I couldn't find anything to relish on. However, the points that are raised about religion and specifically the ending are worth thinking about. It is impossible to identify with one of the characters and to care what happens to them. Like in wine tasting, all one gets is a little sip of each. I think this would have worked better as a short story.

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The Boy In The Striped Pajamas review

Posted : 1 year, 2 months ago on 4 October 2008 01:37 (A review of The Boy In The Striped Pajamas)

The fantastically shocking final scene of the film left me sobbing and thinking about the horrors of the Shoah. Yet, the debates about the authenicity of it are justified. Especially the beginning seems very British - although set in Germany. Furthermore, Auschwitz seems strangely small in the film. There are now towers from which German soldiers supervise every inch of it. It is questionable whether or not it would have been possible for the two boys to make friends through the fence.
The film is carried by the incredible performances of two little boys. And between all the films that deal with the Holocaust, this one stands out.

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Marie Antoinette review

Posted : 1 year, 2 months ago on 12 September 2008 04:58 (A review of Marie Antoinette)

Incredibly similar to 'The Duchess' with Keira Knightley. Yet without someone who is as good an actor as Joseph Fiennes. Kirsten Dunst is not very convincing as Austrian-French royalty. The film does not have much to say and tries to compensate for it with lavish, colourful scenes of palace life. I kept waiting for something meaningful to happen - but, sadly, it didn't.
Unsatisfying.

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More for the eye than for the mind

Posted : 1 year, 2 months ago on 11 September 2008 05:43 (A review of The Duchess)

Knightley's performance lacked in depth as, frankly, the whole film did.
It did not have something to say at all. In this, it was reminiscent of
Kirsten Dunst's 'Marie Antoinette'. Both women, however, do their reputation as 'empresses of Fashion' full justice. The costumes were actually the most interesting thing about the film. Waiting for Knightley's next appearance to see what she might be wearing was quite enjoyable. The emotions (arising from the horrible things that happened to the duchess) were not believable and it was hard to find them touching. A woman who has her child taken away from her would have normally made me sob, if the actress was only able to carry off tragedy. Nevertheless, I had a good night out in cinema.

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Shadowlands review

Posted : 1 year, 2 months ago on 7 September 2008 12:17 (A review of Shadowlands)

This is a beautiful, emotional film. Exceptional performances from both Hopkins and Winger. Although the relationship between Lewis and Joy is romanticised in various aspects, it remains believable.
Their conversations are witty and memorable. As good as a film can get!

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