William Norton's Week at the Movies (4)

FROM RUSHCLIFFE WITH LOVE
Classic spy adventure.  Sinister enemy espionage organisation the KG-EPP have planted a mole inside our non-communications centre, CCHQ.  The only clues to his identity are a pair of Hushpuppies, a pile of jazz records and an unread copy of the Maastricht Treaty.  Can Bond find and eliminate the traitor before he causes chaos, civil war, and possibly fatal U-Turns?  Shouldn't Bond have started looking in about 1988?

Starring: Sean Connery as David Cameron; Pierce Brosnan as William Hague; Dame Judi Dench as Francis "M".

CH verdict: The highlight of this must-see film is the fight to the death on the Leyton Orient Express between Bond and pyschotic killer "Red" Heseltine.  The ending looks to be a bit of a fudge.

GONE IN SIXTY SECONDS
Crime caper.  Tony outlines his latest idea: he'll stay on as Prime Minister but hand over the party leadership to "someone else".  Then he asks the Cabinet how long they think such an arrangement will last.  Some bad language.

Starring: Nicholas Cage as the smooth-talking con-artist forced to pull off one last heist to stay alive.

CH verdict: Dull. Repetitive.  Formulaic.  It's time this production company tried something new with a different star actor.

MARATHON MAN
Jonathan Sheppard (of ToryRadio fame) is running the London Marathon to raise funds for an asthma charity.  He will be passing through five target wards for the local Conservatives in the May 4th elections and refuses to deliver a single leaflet to help his colleagues in their hour of need.  Talk about narrow focus and missing the bigger picture!  Well, if he thinks he'll get a penny out of me he can take another 26 mile running jump.  I certainly shan't be clicking here to sponsor him.

ORANGES ARE NOT THE ONLY FRUITCAKES OR LOONIES
Controversial product of TV moving to the big screen.  A youngster has grown up in a fanatical cult with limited links with the rest of society and tries to escape from the past, causing outrage.  The kid makes a few mistakes on the way, such as an attack on an even more sinister, fanatical and detached cult which sounds to some people like a questioning of the whole basis of their beliefs.

Starring: a talented newcomer who might go far - but perhaps needs to choose scripts with greater care?

CH verdict: [NOT AVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF GOING TO PRESS].

UNE AUTRE JOUR DU GROUNDHOG
Sequel to a French remake of a Hollywood classic.  50 million Frenchmen wake up and discover their streets full of protesters, their Government in chaos, and their President making desperate concessions.  They begin to think they're re-living last week.

Starring: Peter Sellers once again as hapless Jacques Chirac.

CH verdict: it's not clear how long this franchise can stagger on, trying to revive old and exhausted ideas - but you can have a good laugh at them, any way.

OUR FRIENDS IN THE NORTH
Tim is in Manchester trying to recruit staff for his new leaflet-delivery company.  Will his message of hope inspire the demoralised to get a new life?  No.

DID YOU MISS LAST WEEK'S MOVIE REVIEWS?

Comments

[Jonathan Sheppard]

On second thoughts I could always tape a leaflet or two to my body. I suspect I will be moving so slowly that the electorate will have chance to read both sides! I've heard the "running time" for the Marathon Man Movie is in double figures mind you!

[Annabel Herriott]

Oh come on William! We gave out all the flyers for CH, and they were well received. CH was not well known, and I look forward to some none anorak posters joining the debate. Now find a film to review about a bunch of frozen UKIP worthies with nice pink? balloons trying to catch their deaths of cold. One of our young lads took a fruit cake over to them, but I didnt hear how it was received!

[PassingThru]

I made the mistake of seeing V for Vendetta yesterday (in the absence of any good horror films) and wish i hadnt, and rather paid more attention to the reviews on this site a couple of weeks ago.

So the bad guys, as per usual, are right wing conservatives, and the film, of course vilifies christianity, down to suggesting bishops are paedophiles.

From there, its standard issue;
Conservative party hates homosexuality...check
Conservative party hates islam...check
Conservative party becomes staunchy nationalist...check
Conservative party hates immigrants...check

and the black and white view of politics continues...

all of which i could tolerate if the film was any good and knew its own limits. I was hoping for a satirical over the top film with a serious message, something like Robocop, or any other comic book film that can compartmentalise things into black and white this way. Instead this film masqueraded as providing a running commentry of reality. It was Michael Mooresque brain food for the simple minded. (except with a mutant superhero of course) What really appalled me is how the filmakers didnt stop at using real locations or using the conservative party as the villain, but how it used news footage of the London underground and Bus bombings, using this to explicitly promote a view of when a government abuses its its own citizens, attempting to mix reality with fiction. So soon after the actual events, and vindicating real murderers, this is cold and unforgivable.

[Rob Largan]

I think your being a bit harsh. There were some seriously irritating moments in V for Vendetta, but there are a few interesting points, and most of all, it was a good watch.

[Chris Palmer]

I haven't watched Vendetta or seen any reviews etc, but do they really use the Conservative party as the villans?!

[Patsy Sergeant]

I don't know 'V for Vendetta', but reading 'Passing Thru's' commentary, it sounds to me like the sort of thing a well-known spinner might have a hand in, as a prelude to more tactics before the May local elections!

[Richard]

I haven't watched Vendetta or seen any reviews etc, but do they really use the Conservative party as the villans?!

Not exactly. The High Chancellor (dictator) of Britain is the head of a political party called Norsefire. However, he is said to be a former Conservative Defence Minister.

[Jonathan Sheppard]

Thanks to the £20 sponsorship - hopefully this marathon man won't be a let down!