Final Cut

I recently watched Final Cut on video. I thought that some of the camera work was very clever and, to me, original. I was very intrigued by the premise of somebody making a film by manipulating friends as well as recording them on a candid camera. However I was hugely disappointed. The idea of letting the actor's improvise is very good, if the director/writer are able to distill that into a sharp image for the audience. I felt that that was where Final Cut falls down heavily. Ray Winstone was forced? /allowed? to dominate the film in a way which ended up as being very unbalanced.On the other hand it appeared that others were left to flounder and turn in some very hackneyed work. Some scenes worked while a large number were, for me completely irrelevant. In a number of areas my impression was that a very good and interesting premise was ruined by a lack of discipline on the part of those behind the fim.

I watched the DVD last evening and found myself for the first time on hundreds of films fast-forwarding through most of it.

How in heavens' name can it be said that these were secretly taped scenes when half the time the subject is making google-eyes at the camera like some 12 year old?

I really think I may have seen better home videos of kids' birthday parties (surely more genuine). (Or was the 'tinkling' in the bathroom supposed to be some kind of 'high spot?')

I hadn't heard of this film and hired it with low expectations. It was with delight, therefore, that I found myself totally absorbed by this unusual and gripping story. The male actors, especially Jude Law were superb. The character of Ray (Ray Winstone) with his barely suppressed violent nature was one of the best seen on film for some time. I found the female actors to be below average, but good direction made them almost plausible. My idea of a good film is one which sits in my subconscious for some time after viewing. I woke up this morning still processing it in my mind and I think it will be there for some time yet.

The premise of Final Cut is interesting. A man (Jude Law) dies

and leaves behind a film for his friends to watch at his wake. His

wife (Law's real life spouse Sadie Frost) is the Mistress of

Ceremonies at this screening but we find out later that she is

much more than that. The performances are riveting and the slow

build of tension is tittilating but the pay off is a little disappointing.

some of the violence and shock is laced with a sense of humor at

first but soon it gets very serious then downright careless and

callouse. It is hard to root for any of these characters to succeed.

They seem to have no redeeming value so when something bad

happens to them you are relieved but the punishment is so easily

shaken off. Lots of mischief, revelation and loss but no hope or

redemption.

It's a simple idea, get some actors together and improvise a film. Get them to use their real names, give them basic outlines of what to do and involve a camera crew in the story line and you've got yourself covered.

Does it work? Hell yes. This is something else. The acting is simply stunning all round, but Ray Winstone does stand out - when doesn't he?

A very simple story, Jude has been secretly videotaping his friends and at his funeral they get to see themselves on TV. Their reactions complete Jude's final film.

The interaction of the characters is very well played. It's believable, sad, funny, intense and fascinating.

I can't recommend this film any higher, except that there's a lot of swearing - it's supposed to have the highest amount of swearwords submitted to the BBFC - mainly courtesy of Mr Winstone in one very memorable scene (some of the couplings I've never heard before, yet they seem so natural streaming from Ray Winstone's mouth)