Film reviews (From Gazette Series)

Film reviews

8:00am Thursday 11th October 2007

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THE KINGDOM (15) In the good old days of the action thriller, you knew what to expect: all American heros with their backs against the wall taking on the evil doers, slaughtering countless minions in their quest to reach the final confrontation with the head bad guy. Throw in a couple of character traits: divorce/widow/alcoholism/loner/bad temper to make the hero human, sit back and watch the result. The villain often reflected whoever the US was against at the time: Russians, Germans, South American drug lords, and if all else failed bring out the smooth tongued English bad guy. More recently this whole concept has changed. The fictional threats expounded in films such as these suddenly became a reality. The war against terror is a much more real and terrifying concept that has ever been dreamed up by a Hollywood screenwriter. The drama is in the reality of the situation.

It is this that forms the basis of The Kingdom, an action thriller set in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A horrific and calculated attack on a Western oil compound, leaving hundreds dead and wounded leads to a team of FBI Investigators "unofficially" investigating the crime. Led by a Special Agent Ron Fleury (Jamie Foxx) they comprise an explosives expert Grant Sykes (Chris Cooper), a forensics examiner Janet Mayes (Jennifer Garner), and an intelligence analyst Adam Leavitt (Jason Bateman). The team are not sanctioned to be there and the Saudi Royal Family are only letting them get involved because Fleury threatens to expose damaging allegations in the press. Their initial obstacle is working with the Saudi authorities, who would prefer them to investigate on their own terms. This is overcome as they find an ally in their handler Colonel Al Ghazi (Ashraf Barhom), and they are given more and more freedom to discover the truth. While all this goes on, the terrorist cell that carried out the initial massacre are plotting another attack - their targets the FBI investigators.

Director Peter Berg has produced an intelligent, intense and well crafted film, which keeps your attention. One gets the feeling, instead of enjoying the good guys killing the bad guys, how completely unnecessary and futile all this violence is and has always been. Both sides are fighting a war that may never end because all they can think about is killing the enemy. The script by Matthew Michael Carnahan is very well written, balancing the bigger picture of the war on terror with the simple and very human interactions between characters and cultures. The presence of two Academy award winning actors Foxx and Cooper is a fair indicator of the quality of the performances, all of which are strong but necessarily understated. This film is not about personality but dealing with a terrible and unsolvable situation. A strong film, that is so much more than just an action-thriller.

Clare Shepherd 8/10 WEEKS REVIEWS THE HEARTBREAK KID (15) After much teasing from his dad (Jerry Stiller) about him not being interested in marriage, 40-year-old Eddie (Ben Stiller) marries Lila (Malin Akerman), only to discover the lady of his dreams (Michelle Monaghan) on his honeymoon.

THE BRAVE ONE (18) Radio host Erica Bain (Jodie Foster) believes she lives in "the safest city in the world", until three thugs brutally attack her and kill her fiancé (Naveen Andrews). Battling agoraphobia she buys a gun and unexpectedly becomes a vigilante. Compelling.

WHEN DID YOU LAST SEE YOUR FATHER (12A) Blake Morrison (Colin Firth) learns that his father Arthur (Jim Broadbent) has cancer with only a few weeks to live. As Arthur's condition worsens Blake contemplates their shared experiences and relationship. Dour, but great acting.

MR. WOODCOCK (12A) John Farley (Seann William Scott) is horrified when he hears his mother Beverly (Susan Sarandon) has fallen in love with his old nemesis, Mr. Woodcock (Billy Bob Thornton). He was John's gym teacher at high school and made his life hell. Silly and weak.

HALLOWEEN (18) Having spent 16 years in a mental institution for brutally killing his mother's boyfriend, his sister and her boyfriend, Michael Myers ((Tyler Mane) has escaped, and Dr. Loomis (Malcolm McDowell) warns the residents of Haddonfield to beware.

MICHAEL CLAYTON (15) Michael (George Clooney) is a fixer for a large corporate law firm. He longs to leave his job, but is divorced and has mounting debt. Now he is facing his biggest challenge when attorney Arthur Edens (Tom Wilkinson) sabotages a case he is involved in. Interesting.

I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU CHUCK & LARRY (12A) Larry is having problems with his grief and the insurance rules after his wife's death. So he turns to his best friend local fireman Chuck (Adam Sandler) with a very odd proposition, in order to protect his children with the insurance they need. Humourless.

ATONEMENT (15) When she was a teenager Briony (Romola Garai) accused her older sister Cecilia's (Keira Knightley) lover Robbie (James McAvoy) of a crime he didn't commit, resulting it far-reaching and tragic consequences. Brilliantly acted but boring.

SUPERBAD (15) Best friends Seth (Jonah Hill) and Evan (Michael Cera) are determined get drunk and have their wicked way before they go off to college. Fake ID's, sex, booze and an end of year party are the only things that occupy their one track minds.

RUN, FAT BOY, RUN (12A) Denis (Simon Pegg) left his pregnant bride Libby (Thandie Newton) at the altar. Now 6 years have passed and there has never been a day he hasn't regretted it. Determined to win her back from her new love Whit (Hank Azaria), he enters the marathon. Up beat.

SURF'S UP (PG) As most of us suspected penguins invented surfing. Here a documentary crew follow the Penguin World Surfing Championship and take audiences behind the scenes to see the most amazingly dangerous displays. Great entertainment for all the family.

BRATZ: THE MOVIE (PG) It's the first day at high school for Yasmin (Nathalia Ramos), Jade (Janel Parrish), Sasha (Logan Browning) and Cloe (Skyler Shaye), but they hadn't prepared themselves for the school's cliques and the leader of all of the groups, nasty Meredith (Chelsea Staub).

EVAN ALMIGHTY (PG) Though in "Bruce Almighty" things weren't going so well for Evan (Steve Carell), he is now a newly elected congressman. But his plans have to be put on hold when the Almighty (Morgan Freeman) asks him to build a new ark in preparation for a great flood. Slow.

HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX (12A) A Dementor attack on Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and his ghastly cousin Dudley (Harry Melling) is just the beginning of the dark clouds gathering. Harry knows that Voldemort is back, but the Ministry of Magic doesn't believe him. Strongest and darkest film yet.

THE SIMPSONS MOVIE (PG) Springfield is in big trouble when Homer (voiced by Dan Castellaneta) accidentally causes a radioactive leak from a Nuclear Power Plant into the river. For Simpson fans only.

THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM (12A) Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) is still suffering from amnesia and being hunted by the CIA. He is now in hot pursuit of journalist Simon Ross (Paddy Considine) who seems to know an awful lot about him and hopes will enlighten him about his true identity. Gripping.

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