4 The Weekend

1. Some Think Old

True Identity (1991) 

The comedic verve of Lenny Henry has flourished on both stage and television over 35 years for one of Britain’s most loved entertainment personalities. However Dudley’s finest son has never managed to translate his talent on to the big screen with much success.  One of Lenworth’s few attempts to break into Hollywood came in the 1991 release True Identity.

True Identity is a Comedy/Crime effort that owes much of it’s scope and design to Beverly Hills Cop (1984), which will generate comparisons for those who have seen White Chicks (2004). Henry plays a struggling actor who involuntarily ends up on the Hit List of a want away Mafia crime boss played expertly by Frank Langella. To avoid assassination Henry utilises the make-up prowess of a neighbour to turn himself into a white man, whilst teaming up with burned out FBI agent Houston (JT Walsh).

Lets get something straight True Identity isn't the greatest work you'll ever see, but somehow the film kind of pulls off something worth watching,  Henry's talent is obvious and with help from the supporting cast manages to get mileage out of the gags that do work, and the film delivers it’s message while hovering  around some potentially sensitive themes without ever taking itself too seriously.

6/10

2. Some Think New

RED (2010)

I really wanted to like RED, I couldn’t help but be excited by the legendary cast and the promise of laughs a plenty. Yet somehow for me it ended with a pretty devastating sense of disappointment and emptiness.

I’ll attempt to break down where it all went wrong by stating that the problems are in the main fundamental. Firstly the script is as unoriginal as it gets churning out tired old clichés and drab gags that tell themselves. Secondly the direction is confused and inconsistent,  director Robert Schwentke seems to try too hard to be the star of the show using distracting and overblown visuals meshed in with an unforgiving collection of load expensive gun fights. Further the film lacks the ability to find it’s audience, jumping  fidgetily between generic action comedy and stumbling occasionally into attempts of deeper and more contrite self-reflection.

The least irritating element of the film is the cast, who with all mentioned previously are left with the unenviable task of trying to make something of out of very little. Bruce Willis leads from the front as the former Black-ops agent  Frank Moses who endeavours to reunite his former crew (Mirren,Freeman and Malkovich) to help him solve an intricate plot he has unwittingly become part of, whilst dragging over-matched love interest Mary-Louise Parker along for the ride.

I can’t help but feel  that with such an illustrious cast and big budget that this was a wasted opportunity. RED isn’t half as terrible as it is disappointing yet it's just hard to shake the feeling that the cast had a much better time making it than I and many others will have watching it.

5/10

3. Some Think to Borrow 

 

My Sister's Keeper (2009)

Based on the 2004 novel by the same name, My Sister's Keeper is a superb drama Starring Cameron Diaz, Jason Patric and Alec Baldwin.  The film takes us through the turmoil of an American Family dealing with the pain of their Leukaemia stricken daughter Kate. Parents Sara and Brian (Diaz and Patric) through in vitro fertilization conceive a second daughter Anna to provide a genetic match for Kate to survive through bone marrow donation. Things take a turn however when Anna decides she no longer wants to be Kate’s walking Donor bank and sues her parents to gain medical emancipation and protection.

There is so much to like about this film, mostly the surprising performances from the cast and director. Starting with the latter Nick Cassavetes who previously tackled similar themes in John Q (2002) delivers a touching piece of work blending tear-jerking moments with run of the mill family orientated ups and downs. The Cast are near perfect Diaz and Patric are most convincing, whilst the maturity in which teenagers Abigail Breslin (Anna) and Sofia Vassilieva (Kate) afford their roles is nothing short of immersing.

9/10

4. Some Think Due

 The American (2010)

Director: Anton Corbijn
Release Date: 26 November 2010

Starring: George Clooney

Keep an eye out for trailers of George Clooney's new film the The American (2010), Directed by Dutchman Anton Corbijn with a predominantly European cast filmed mainly in Italy.

I've become a fan of Clooney's recent drama/thriller roles in particular the brilliant Michael Clayton (2007) and before that Syriana (2005). The American looks to be an interesting fusion of European cinematography and pace with Clooney working his Hollywood magic in front of the cameras.