July 2017 movie review Part 1

FILMS

LIFE ON THE LINE (2015) D- David Hackl.
John Travolta plays a lineman (maintaining the power cables) somewhere in Texas who with his team has to keep the power flowing despite storms and internal wrangling within his workforce. In particular he objects to one of his men dating his gorgeous adopted daughter (Kate Bosworth). Yawn.
            This review tries to be fair, and because I select the films I watch with considerable care, I find myself more often or not recommending them. Not this time. This movie sucks. Not for its production values which are excellent; there's plenty of money up on the screen for sure. But the acting is self conscious and the plot and script are execrable. Don't bother, people...

POP STAR: DON'T STOP NEVER STOPPING (2016) D- Akiva Schaffer.
Conner Friel (Andy Samberg, who also co-scripted) is one of those manufactured, talentless pop stars based on any number of real people currently clipping millions from a public who are told by people like Simon Cowell what to like and do so with astonishing obedience. But slowly, our man suffers an "Emperor's New Clothes" phenomenon and it all falls apart spectacularly.
             Peppered with megastar cameos like a pizza with too many toppings, this film does have a certain charm. It laughs at itself in the way parodies are supposed to, but you find yourself reflecting that there is really only one "rockstar mocumantary" by which all others should be judged: This is Spinal Tap. And I'm afraid in this regard this movie comes up wanting.
            Not bad if you have a couple of spare hours to hand...

THE BEGUILED (2017) D- Sofia Coppola.
In the dying days of the American Civil War, an injured confederate soldier stumbles into a girls' school and is protected by the teachers and pupils, who, as the title suggests, start to become somewhat beguiled by their unexpected guest. They are frightened, repelled, and attracted by him, almost simulataneously. But when his wounds begin to heal, he becomes less docile and more assertive. Temptation surrounds him on all sides, luscious, barely legal girls, sultry teachers (Kirsten Dunst) and gorgeous but surely unobtainable headmistress Nicole Kidman. One man, all that oestrogen, something's gotta give...
            Here, Sofia Coppola, one of the most talented directors in Hollywood (The Virgin Suicides, Lost in Translation) has taken the risky move of doing a remake of a perfectly serviceable, if flawed, original. Don Siegel put his favourite actor Clint Eastwood into his 1971 movie, a film which has since achieved cult status. But despite the risks implicit in remaking famous movies, Coppola has made a fine update. The acting and directing is excellent, and the film has its own curious, dreamy atmosphere which is very powerful. Give it a go.

Please see next blog for more movies...