Rev Stan's film blog

Reviews round up: Subtle flaws of Albert Nobbs & disappointing Dark Shadows

Albert Nobbs

This film seemed to be getting everyone excited a while back but now it's out in the UK it feels like it's been forgotten about. Almost like the reverse of the eponymous character played by Glenn Close. Posing as a man in order to get a job at a hotel in late 19th century Dublin Albert gets adept at blending in, almost melting into the background then when shown the possibilities of the life he could lead becomes a little bolder. Just a little.

It is a brilliantly subtle performance from Close. Albert doesn't say a great deal verbally but there is so much going on in the eyes. Janet McTeer, fellow cross dresser, too puts in a wonderful performance. The re-frocking scene is particularly superb and shows just how much of a male demeanor these two woman have taken on.

There is a superb supporting cast too with the likes of Brendan Gleeson, Pauline Collins, Mia Wasikowska and Aaron Johnson but there is something stopping this from being a five star movie, it's ironic flaw. The problem, you see, is that because Albert is so much in the background and so secretive and quiet that you never really get the measure of him. Central to the plot are Albert's plans to open his own shop and get married however there is a big question mark over his motives. Does Albert want to marry a woman as a man or as a woman?

Albert Nobbs is still a very well made, engrossing and deeply moving film but this question hanging over the central narrative thread left an unsatisfying taste in my mouth.

It's getting 79% from me. On IMDb it has 66% from critics and a Metacritic rating of 57% while on Rotten Tomatoes it has 55% from critics and 49% of visitors gave it three and half stars or more.

Dark Shadows

I'm getting a bit worried about Johnny Depp. I can't remember the last time I saw him in a really great film, probably the first Pirates of the Caribbean. He used to be an actor I'd run out and see whatever he was in but the pull is starting to wain even if he does remain drop dead gorgeous.

It's not that Dark Shadow is a bad film it just isn't great. First there isn't much in his performance that you haven't already seen - heavy doses of Edward Scissorhands for example. The biggest problem is that it isn't really much of anything. It's not funny enough to be a comedy despite a potentially amusing premise (18th century vampire is unwittingly released from his coffin prison in 1971). There is not quite enough horror to make it satisfying as a film of that genre and not quite enough family drama to be, well, a family drama. 

Of course with Tim Burton at the helm it is beautifully gothic and has his style stamped all over it and there is much to admire there. It also has some brilliant effects (love the china doll effect of baddie Angelique) but his pairing with Mr Depp and small role for long time beau/mother of his children Helen Bonham Carter is just starting to feel a bit cliquey and like it is running out of steam.

And I confess that I did get a bit bored at times. It's just not enough of anything and it's a shame because there is much promise within it.

I'm giving it 59%. On IMDb it's got 67% and a Metacritic score of 56% while on Rotten Tomatoes it has 42% from critics and 55% of visitors gave it three and a half stars or more.

Reviews round up: This Must Be the Place & Avengers Assemble

This Must Be The Place

Sean Penn doesn't half like to mix up his roles and admire him greatly for that because so few that have reach his level of success do. Here channelling Robert Smith he plays a bored, retired rock star who, on the death of his estranged father, decides to go in search of a man who was a guard at his concentration camp during the second world war.

On the one hand it's deliciously quirky but on the other hand there is there the holocaust/revenge plot and I'm not sure the two sat comfortably together. 

Penn is superb as you can imagine and so is Frances McDormand who plays his wife, although I'd have liked a bit more of her. But Penn's odd and quirky character and how bored he's become with his life just felt trivial against the concentration camp storyline although I was curious as to whether he had got it in him to mete out his revenge.

I'm giving it 65%. On IMDB it has 67% and no Metacritic score while on Rotten Tomatoes it has 69% from critics and 60% of visitors gave it three and a half stars or higher.

Avengers Assemble

In my mind this film is called Avengers Ensemble for reason known only to my small brain but anyway, I loved it. And what made me love it was the humour, it didn't take itself too seriously - it is about comic book heroes after all. I laughed out loud several times. There is one particularly funny moment between The Hulk and baddy Loki which had me giggling for quite a while, but I won't spoilt it.

And I think the fact that the characters had a bit of depth helped tremendously. Much of the humour is derived from a clash of personalities of our assembled super heroes working together for the first time. 

Robert Downey Jr does steal it a little as Iron Man but then I love the Iron Man films and wasn't overly fond of Captain America. (And I haven't seen the rest).

There is going to be a sequel which is predictable and I wonder if they can recreate the humour when there isn't that element of 'meeting fellow super hero for the first time'. I'll still go and see though.

Funny and good fun and I managed to see it in 2D - hurrah. I'm giving it 82%.

On IMDB it's got 88% with a Metacritic score of 69% while on Rotten Tomatoes it 93% from critics and 96% of site visitors have given it three and a half stars or higher.

Reviews round up: Street Dance 2 and The Kid With A Bike

Slightly contrasting films but a) I have an eclectic taste and b) I just realised I'm five reviews behind so these will be short and sweet:

Street Dance 2

I like the dancing and there is no other reason to see this. The plot is not only thinner than Dr Evil's pate but also pretty much identical to Street Dance 1, this time there is a latin influence to the dancing (and 'plot'). But I like the dancing (and the male dancers are generally easy on the eye) so it was a fun 90 minutes or so.

It's getting one star for plot and five for dancing which I'm equating to 50%. On IMDb it's got 58% and on Rotten Tomatoes it has 46%

The Kid With A Bike

This is lovely, moving little film about a boy who is abandoned by his father and living in state run home. He strikes up a friendship with a woman who agrees to look after him at weekends but he can't let go of the fact that his father doesn't want to bring him up. 

A bag of confused emotions he becomes obsessed with tracking down his father convinced that their separation is only temporary.

Very well observed and brilliantly acted by the young lead it is a touching story.

I'm giving it 80% on IMDB it's got 74% with a Metacritic score of 78% while on Rotten Tomatoes it has a critics rating of 96% and 77% of site visitors gave it three and half stars or higher.