The Funeral

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?')

This film is so bitter, it does not surprise me most of the comments are negative. Yet, what I saw was a big, dumbfounding answer to all these so called "reality shows" around us on tv, that we all watch so willingly.

You see, there is a huge difference between being AWARE that you are being watched and not knowing it. No one can be true when he / she is consious of being watched AND THEREFORE JUDGED.. That why this is not likeable: reality bites.

What we see is people as they REALLY are. The fact that they are forced to face their true selves leaves every single one of them devastated - even Sadie. The undeniable revelation of their self pretense crushes everyone. Even the dead -Jude- is revealed to himself and the rest, this game has gone out of his hands.

Yet, there is an objection: the film somehow finally crushes all human relationships by not making clear that not ALL people act this way. Somehow the point seems to be that we should loose faith in any friendship and all relationships in general. This is why there should be a much clearer grading of people and situations.

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)

I knew nothing at all about this film before I went to see it, so I was very surprised by it's content. Basically, a group of friends gather at the wake of one of their friends who has died. At this wake, they are shown a video that he has produced consisting of secret film taken of them all. This video gives away some of their deepest and darkest secrets, as well as giving an insight into what they really think of each other. For about the first fifteen minutes I found myself lost as to what was going on, but then it all starts to become clear and leads up to the sting at the end. Be aware though that the language is very strong and some of the actions in it are quite explicit. Despite this, though, I found it very enjoyable and I was absolutely hooked to it for most of the time. As an aside, if you've ever watched 'Operation Good Guys' on BBC you will recognise a lot of the cast.

There is one word I can use to sum up this film: weird. It's one of those films that, even though you're thinking it's really quite slow and boring, you can't actually get up and walk out of it because it is nevertheless still gripping. Not a film I would particularly recommend for anyone to spend their hard earned cash on, but not as bad as some reviews have made out. It would probably be better watching it in the comfort of your own home.