| Film and DVD Reviews FILM REVIEW
Breakfast on Pluto
By Neil Davey
Even the most ardent of Neil Jordan fans must admit his career has fluctuated
wildly — from highs like The Crying Game to lows like In Dreams. Breakfast
On Pluto is, happily, somewhere towards the better end of the Jordan spectrum.
Based on Pat McCabe’s novel, the story focuses on Patrick Braden (Cillian
Murphy) as he begins a journey of self-discovery, sewing his way to a new
androgynous identity — Kitten — while life weaves its strange ways around
him.
On a broader scale it’s about the search for acceptance; Patrick’s driving
force is the desire to find the mother who abandoned him and it’s that mission
that bounces him into new experiences. Not that he needs encouragement.
From an early age Patrick has been very aware that he is different and,
as a result, has developed the wit and charm he needs to survive the world
and a sense of fantasy where he can retreat when it all becomes too much
for the wit and charm to cope with.
It’s perhaps this theme of the outsider where Jordan feels most at home.
It’s one that links many highpoints on his CV and it’s what colours the
best parts of Breakfast On Pluto. One could be churlish and question why
he makes his better films with cross-dressing central men but that’s missing
the point. Jordan’s success is down to the emotional heart he brings and
while Breakfast on Pluto is flawed — the narration provided by the “comedy”
robins for example — there’s a deep, deep sense of feeling here.
Murphy is suitably androgynous and convincingly feminine but his one
note, sing-song delivery can grate. As a result his performance suffers
slightly when competing with the sterling support provided by Liam Neeson
(slowly becoming every bit as good as we hoped), Stephen Rea, Ian Hart and
Brendan Gleeson.
Even with its flaws though, Breakfast On Pluto’s mix of fantasy and (sometimes
brutal) reality provides a mentally stimulating experience. And in an arena
so often dominated by CGI effects that’s a rare quality indeed.
Starring Cillian Murphy, Liam Neeson, Brendan Gleeson, Stephen Rea.
Directed by Neil Jordan.
In Her Shoes
DVD REVIEW
By Patrick Ryan
In Her Shoes is one of those films that can’t help but be a hit.
It’s specifically targeted at a female demographic and when the competition
is a number of moronic action films and dumb teenage comedies then it has
something of a clear run.
But is it any good?
Well, yes and no.
The performances are all okay without ever threatening to challenge for
Oscars, but Hanson’s direction is so linear that this could easily pass
for the pilot of a generic TV show a la Judging Amy or Desperate Housewives.
Cameron Diaz and Toni Collette play sisters who are polar opposites.
Collette plays the older of the two, a career-driven lawyer who is highly-strung
and is sick of having to pick up the pieces for her younger sister, Diaz.
Justin Timberlake’s squeeze plays an irresponsible, care-free airhead
who expects everything to be handed to her.
They have a major falling out when Collette catches Diaz in bed with
her boyfriend.
Not unreasonable.
Diaz heads down to Florida to track down a mystery grandmother while
Collette rethinks her life.
Before you can say I didn’t see that coming, they are busy being better
people and finding themselves.
There’s about half an hour too much here, which only serves to bore the
audience into submission.
It’s by no means a dreadful film; it’s just that it’s afraid to think
outside the box.
Starring Cameron Diaz, Toni Collette and Shirley Maclaine.
Directed by Curtis Hanson.
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