Cemetery Junction (Directed by Gervais/Merchant)

IMDB page

Starring: Christian Cooke, Tom Hughes, Jack Doolan, Felicity Jones, Ralph Fiennes, Emily Watson, Matthew Goode, Ricky Gervais

He said:
I am always pleasantly surprised when I like a truly British film, I don't know if it is the arrogant American attitude, or that my prior experience to British film was limited to bigger hits, HOT FUZZ, Shaun of The Dead, and Saving Grace, to name a few.

I hope that this film does well on the other side of the pond as it has a lot of themes that I think would translate well to the American Collegiate demographic. Helen will give you the majority of the themes below, but really I think this film handles a handful of cliches really well, with out ever feeling heavy handed or morally superior.

I really enjoyed this film and would definitely recommend you watch it at your first opportunity. I give it [[[4 out of 5]]]


She said:

The trailer shows that this is a British film written and directed by Ricky Gervias and Stephen Merchant, set in the seventies, about disillusioned youths and has All the Young Dudes by David Bowie in the background. It was aimed at people such as myself and I was drawn in hook, line and sinker. This film did not disappoint.

It was refreshing to see something new and different from the amazing Gervias/Merchant duo: something cool rather than awkward and heartwarming rather than cringeworthy. The film is essentially a 'coming of age' film or a 'journey of self discovery' or another similarly cliched phrase. But the film itself isn't cliched. It is funny, charming and my old favourite, thought provoking.

The three main characters made a good spectrum of youth - one trying to be the 'cool guy', one being the 'obligatory loser' and the other trying to be something different! Without giving anything away this film is about realising that what you thought you want out of life, and what you are doing with it isn't necessarily what your heart is truly telling you. Hence the journey of enlightenment crap I mentioned earlier. I give this film {{{4 out of 5}}}

They said:
This isn't your typical laugh riot Gervias/Merchant film, but it has a great heart and will leave you with a solid smile and good feeling as the credits roll. We strongly recommend this film to everyone and proudly give it {{{8 out of 10}}}

Gosford Park (Directed by Robert Altman)

Watched: March 1st

Starring: Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon , Kristin Scott Thomas, Kelly McDonald, Emily Watson, Clive Own, Charles Dance, Tom Hollander, Jeremy Northam, Laurence Fox, Ryan Phillippe, Stephen Fry, Eileen Atkins, Helen Mirren, Richard E. Grant

IMDB link

She said:

Gosford Park is one of those rare gems - a film I can watch over and over and never tire of. With a list of characters as long as your arm it takes about ten viewings to work out who is married to whose sister and whose valet corresponds to whose lady's maid and who comes under the kitchen staff and who the butler is.

Repeat viewings also allow you to fully appreciate the politics of the upstairs/downstairs dynamic and of the upper class economic situations. This might sound dry and boring but I can assure you this is a film full of wit and humour.

This clever wit is the charm of the film - all the characters are full of familiar dysfunction. The upstairs guests are all trying to be top dog with the most money and don't care which of their family members need manipulating to get it. Below stairs the staff are dutifully bound to people that they destest and despise. The outsiders such as the murder detective and Mr Wisemann (a Hollywood producer) are trying to be 'insiders'.

This film is essentially a murder mystery drama but the comedy is what stands out. I have seen it maybe 15 times and haven't stopped chuckling along yet. Watch it and fall in love equally with characters who are harmless and characters who are quite vile. I give this film <<<5 out of 5>>>

He said:
This film reminds me a lot of the Eighties film Clue (after the board-game with the same name, known as Cluedo in the UK) The mystery of who the murder or murderers actually are, is half of the fun. The Mr Wisemann character spends the majority of the film talking to Studio big wigs back in the states trying to green light a film dealing with the idea of British upper-class in the country for his Detective Charlie Chan films.

This is a fun film with so much going on in any single scene I can definitely see the appeal of multiple viewings. There are too many top notch British actors to list here but even the casual American viewer will know the majority of names listed during the opening credits. (I myself was only unfamiliar with one of the names listed)

I enjoyed this film and would recommend it to anyone looking for an unexpected laugh or a murder mystery. I give {{{4 out of 5}}}



They said:
A fun film worth watching more than once. you will not be disappointed.... we give it {{{{{9 out of a possible 10}}}}