The Sex Lives of the Potato Men Very funny Brit flick. The plot kind of meanders along but that seems to be completely intentional as the 4 eponymous potato distributers struggle to achieve their goals in life - namely getting laid Jonny "Monkey" Vegas and Mackenzie Crook from the Office are the main stars with a good supporting cast. Dave (Vegas) is booted out by his long suffering wife and plans to make hay while the sun shines. If only it were that easy. Crook, as Ferris, although in leather jacket and lacking the pudding bowl, still comes out with several Gareth-esque obscure comments as he fights off the advances of his mother-in-law. Their co-workers Jeremy and Tolly both have strange obsessions - Tolly's has to be seen to be believed. A decent soundtrack helps to keep the bizarre but almost believable storyline flowing. Some will love it, others will hate it. Put me in the 1st category. 8/10

25.2.04 17:49 Permalink / 2 Comments / comment

Buffalo Soldiers Superb film. The film is set around a US Army Base in Stuttgart, Germany in the dying days of the Cold War. Battalion clerk Ray Elwood (Joaquin Phoenix), in the army to avoid a jail sentence, has managed to work out a nice little sideline in black market goods and supplying heroin to the base dealer. This cushy little number is interrupted by the arrival of Top Sergeant Lee and his daughter Robyn. Elwood tries to take on Lee, using Robyn as a way of getting at him although it quickly appears he's out of his depth. The early light-hearted tone of the film quickly darkens and an arms and drugs deal brings things to a head with an explosive climax. There's a brilliant scene involving narcotics, a tank,a German market, a beetle and a petrol station early on in the film. There are some very poignant moments in this film with Commander Berman (Ed Harris) realising no amount of ambition will cover for his inadequacies. Excellent soundtrack which captures the mood of the film and period in history brilliantly. Interestingly in Germany the film is called "Army Go Home".

13.8.03 12:20 Permalink / 1 Comment / comment

Piglet's Big Movie Not as good as the Tigger movie. Simple as that really. Plus the irritating songs get repeated too often. And Carly Simon gets far too carried away with her guitar playing during the credits.

30.7.03 17:37 Permalink / 3 Comments / comment

Bringing Down The House When this film started I was worried it was going to be a very predictable comedy. The opening scenes were similar to You've Got Mail with two people forming a relationship over the internet. One of them a hot-shot lawyer who constantly disappoints his ex-wife and kids due to work commitments - like Jim Carrey in Liar, Liar. Once the female lead Charlene (Queen Latifah) was actually introduced it picked up remarkably and turned out to be a very enjoyable comedy as she tries to persuade tax lawyer Steve Martin to help her clear her name for an armed robbery she claims she was framed for. Highlights included a fight scene which would have put the Matrix to shame (well, almost) and Martin's valiant attempts at getting 'street'. Eugene Levy (the Dad from American Pie puts in another superb cringe-worthy performance in his attempts to woo Charlene. More than enough funny moments to make it worth seeing. 7/10

6.6.03 09:41 Permalink / 2 Comments / comment