| Film and DVD Reviews FILM REVIEW
A History of Violence
By Patrick Ryan
Perhaps best known for his visceral horror (The Fly, Videodrome), David
Cronenberg seems to be mellowing somewhat in his old age — but mellowing
is by no means the same as losing his touch.
Telling the story of a seemingly simple man in small-town north America,
A History Of Violence starts off simply enough with Tom Stall (Vigo Mortensen)
going through his daily routine of running his small diner while he and
his wife Edie (Maria Bello) try to spark up a dwindling sex-life away from
their two children.
However, when a couple of hoods attempt to rob the diner and kill the
staff Tom, like a man possessed, kills the two thugs — saving the lives
of his workers and becoming quite the town celebrity.
When Carl Fogerty (a chilling performance from Ed Harris) turns up claiming
that Tom isn’t who he claims to be but is in fact an ex-mob hitman ripples
are sent out among the family that will ensure life is never the same.
Quickly establishing the truth of Tom’s past the movie (interestingly
based on a comic book by John Wagner and Vincent Locke but a million miles
from Fantastic 4 or even Batman Begins) seems at first to simply be a violent
story of hidden identities and allegations.
But the violence — while nasty and shocking when it comes — is not glamorised
and happens without exciting fight techniques or slow motion. It is brutal
and bloody, like being beaten by a bully at school.
If you care to dig a little deeper, A History Of Violence is a study
of dual identities and nature versus nurture — would Tom really have survived
and saved those people if he were a simple-living man? Evil itself is explored
and the concept of redemption hangs heavy in the air.
Despite a disappointing final act, A History of Violence is a rewarding
movie — whatever way you look at it.
Starring: Vigo Mortensen, Maria Bello and Ed Harris.
Dir: David Cronenberg.
Out nationwide now.
Batman Begins
DVD REVIEW
By Patrick Ryan
Batman Begins was that rare beast. A summer blockbuster that didn’t insult
your intelligence.
It also defied expectations by garnering lavish praise from the critics.
It’s not hard to see why.
Christian Bale plays Bruce Wayne in this tale of how Batman earned his
stripes.
Some found the opening hour a little on the lengthy side; we don’t get
to see the Caped Crusader do his thing until a good hour or so into the
film.
But that only serves to heighten the moment when it finally arrives.
Gone is the fetish-like campness of the previous films. Director Nolan
has pressed the reset button and this is an entirely different beast than
the garish and soulless predecessors.
Bale is without doubt the definitive Batman all brooding menace as The
Dark Knight and smiles and insincerity as Bruce Wayne.
In many ways this is the film that comic book fans have been crying out
for.
The plot sees Batman plunged into a race against time to stop The Scarecrow
from poisoning Gotham and paving the way for an old enemy to take control.
If the film does have a flaw it’s that the large cast means some characters
get short thrift and are painted only in broad strokes.
That said Batman Begins is the film that has raised the bar for all comers.
Over to you Bryan Singer.
Starring Christian Bale, Liam Neeson, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Katie
Holmes and Cillian Murphy.
Directed by Christopher Nolan.
On sale now.
|
