Crank

Like Speed but with Jason Statham as Keanu Reeves and the bus all rolled into one. Whilst the premise promises to at least be action packed for the majority of the running time the film spectacularly fails to deliver. It starts out monolithically stupid, gets boring about 20 minutes in an never recovers. Very poor.

Interestingly whenever satellite or aerial photography are used we see copyright notices at the bottom of the screen which kind of typifies the general shoddiness of the whole production.

IMDB

300

Within the first ten minutes it's established that the Spartans are child abusing thugs but are really tough so that's cool. Soon it turns out that the Persians (in spite of the slavery and stuff) have a much more inclusive attitude towards sexuality (Spartans, pot, kettles, black) and disability. But hey it's based on Frank Miller, you're gonna get some amount of right wing bull shit.

My main problem with the film is that it wasn't crazed enough, Apocalypto had a vaguely right wing subtext but the film is such an extreme trip that it was really worthwhile seeing it in the cinema, a film with a singular (insane) vision. 300 is just an empty headed blockbuster, the blood and gore seem to be reigned in to get a 15 certificate, the sex scene is pure perfunctory channel 5, to invest any greater meaning in the whole thing is to give it too much credit, it's just kind of vacant. How much you like the film is largely down to how much you like oiled up muscle men fighting each other and saying portentous lines, it's alright.

[Seeing it at the I-Max: We had front left seats and everyone on screen was kind of distorted and the film was really obviously projected onto a plane, not sure if it was this or if it was the way the film was shot but the whole thing seemed to have no depth, everything was happening in a kind of 2d vacuum or something]


IMDB

Shampoo

Interesting mainly as a kind of historical document, a survey of late 60s values (within very particular sections of society) seen from the mid 70s. It's interesting how little music was used on the sound track, if this were made today Warren Beatty wouldn't be able to move without some pounding 60's rock'n'roll anthem offering some kind of commentary on the action (and beefing up the sales of the accompanying sound track CD). Also, did everybody really just leave their houses unlocked the whole time in 60's Los Angeles?

IMDB

Tape

Based on a play and it shows. Thankfully it's an interesting play, exploring subtleties of memory and friendships. The directors (occasionally over active) editing and natural performances from the three cast members elevate the whole thing significantly above the level of one of those televised BBC2 plays they used to show in the 80s. I was quite pleased it never really got as dark as it could have done.

IMDB