aegoss
Joined Apr 2005
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Reviews31
aegoss's rating
I did enjoy the Ustinov version, though I would never call it a great film. So many reviewers here rated it as better than Branagh's, so I was not expecting much.
However, what I saw was rather good, more to my taste than Ustinov's semi-comedy interpretation. Branagh has taken the story seriously, and assembled an ideal cast. Each speaking character is fully realised, coherently written, and well played.
For me, the highlight was the use of the singing of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, someone I had never heard of, for the character of Salome Otterbourne. Not just the singing, but the character of Tharpe seems to have been adopted in full.
I could have done without the over-close motion-sickness inducing close-ups, and I kept wondering how much was real and how much CGI, which is a distraction, and too much smelt of CGI.
A better effort, to my mind, than the Ustinov version, and worth the price of the ticket to be introduced to Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
However, what I saw was rather good, more to my taste than Ustinov's semi-comedy interpretation. Branagh has taken the story seriously, and assembled an ideal cast. Each speaking character is fully realised, coherently written, and well played.
For me, the highlight was the use of the singing of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, someone I had never heard of, for the character of Salome Otterbourne. Not just the singing, but the character of Tharpe seems to have been adopted in full.
I could have done without the over-close motion-sickness inducing close-ups, and I kept wondering how much was real and how much CGI, which is a distraction, and too much smelt of CGI.
A better effort, to my mind, than the Ustinov version, and worth the price of the ticket to be introduced to Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
Some films I enjoy, even reckon as good films, but they are forgotten by morning. Dancing at Lughnasa, like Song of Granite, is one that I will remember.
The setting is Ireland a lifetime before I went there, which itself was a lifetime ago. But I have seen these places, met these people, just before the European Union era which hauled Ireland out of the Eighteenth Century and into the Twentieth.
Just one story of the fading away of the old Ireland. One of many. One to treasure.
The setting is Ireland a lifetime before I went there, which itself was a lifetime ago. But I have seen these places, met these people, just before the European Union era which hauled Ireland out of the Eighteenth Century and into the Twentieth.
Just one story of the fading away of the old Ireland. One of many. One to treasure.
This is not a serious examination of the human condition, or an "interrogation" of contemporary (2014) American society. But it is fun, and maybe could just happen.
Watching this film there were many situations that by modern cinematic convention always precede something bad happening. In "Chef" they don't. I can imagine the director laughing in the editing suite, saying "gotcha again!".
This is a film made with tenderness and humour. The only unpleasant character is the one who is needed at the start to set the ball rolling, and his is a short role.
The food is good, the music is good, the vibe is good. Enjoy!
Watching this film there were many situations that by modern cinematic convention always precede something bad happening. In "Chef" they don't. I can imagine the director laughing in the editing suite, saying "gotcha again!".
This is a film made with tenderness and humour. The only unpleasant character is the one who is needed at the start to set the ball rolling, and his is a short role.
The food is good, the music is good, the vibe is good. Enjoy!