Ok, seen a few movies since the last time I posted on this thread so here goes:
Ronin- A very solid, highly entertaining watch, full of action and slick characters and stunts, equally. I thought the allegorical 'ronin' concept was extremely forced though and a bit ridiculously connected to the mercenearies of the film's events we witness as an audience. To me, this film was too shallow and surfarencial to be considered great. It played out very much like a bond film. Interesting, high calibre cast though.
7/10
Silent Hill- Friends of mine warned me that this film, as one might very much anticipate given it's nature (both in horror genre and, of course, videogame-film adaptation), that the dialogue and acting in this film was very weak and stilted. Have to say, be it because of my expectations of the film on this merit going into the watch or not, that, as much as the acting and dialogue was not fantastic by any means, it wasn't awful like I had visualised. It was satisfactory and did not detract from the watch. The story, however, was gash, in my opinion. Up until the film began to explain its mythology, I was highly entertained and impressed, and, admittedly, a little creeped out by the imagery and physical portrayal of Silent Hill and it's demonly inhabitants. Watching the movie play out, often felt like watching a videogame also; the progression pathway I could very much parallel to a game of it's ilk. Then, came the inevitable explanation of the film's universe. Weak. Too weak, IMO, for the power of what you've been witnessing up to this point. And what was with Sean Bean's odd american accent? Even more creepy than the pyramid man, or whatever he's called!
6.5/10
In Bruges- This film really resonated with me. High plaudits from me, seriously. Really excellent film! I've slowly become a fan of Gleeson over the years, in marriage with his slow evolution to greater notiority and bigger acting parts. He's a solid, solid actor whom I've yet to see a bad or jarring performance from (though his attempted london accent in '28 days later' was a little rough around the edges!). Colin Farell, I don't have much experience of- likely due to the mainstram roles he's taken up and/or his bad boy hollywood reputation-, but he delivers a terrific performance as partner/collegue to Gleeson; they really counterpoint one another excellently. The dialogue between the two, paticulary in the first 1/3-1/2 of the film when the movie, basically, follows these two characters in isolation, is awesome stuff. Hilarious, emotional, real. I thoroughly enjoyed following these two characters and how they interact with one another as this film sets itself up and gets itself established. Once the dark aspects starts to kick in, approx half way through, the film only grows more real and even better. By the time Ralph Fienne's character is physically introduced, the film has you fully gripped, and tops itself off with an exciting, uncertain and poignant finale. Throughly enjoyed tis film!
8.5/10
I'll add more in a bit- really got into serious typing mode there!
