Drama > Capra, Frank Drama

Honest Jeff

Advantages: Shows One Man Can Make A Difference
Disadvantages: But Only In The Movies

Jefferson Smith (Jimmy Stewart; It's A Wonderful Life, Vertigo) is a regular guy from rural Montana who believes in democracy, liberty and the ideals encapsulated by American politics. After the death of the senator representing his state, he is chosen by the powers that be to go to Washington to replace him. Seen as an innocent, naive and completely under the thumb yet extremely patriotic yokel; the fat cats that have decided his fate feel comfortable ...
...heads to the capital to take his place in the U.S senate, he encounters a world far removed from Abraham Lincoln's vision of government of the people, by the people, for the people. Indeed the cynicism and corruptness of the system and the betrayl by Senator Paine (Claude Rains; Casablanca, Lawrence of Arabia), a close friend of Smith's father, regarding the building of an unneccesary dam, leads him to a jaded state in which he questions the true ...

JustJoe4Life 05.06.2005 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Mr Smith Goes To Washington (DVD)

It' a Wonderful Film

Advantages: Fantastic family film
Disadvantages: None

This is, without doubt, one of the best films ever made. James Stewart is superb as George Bailey, a depressed man who end his life thinking he is worthless. Enter Clarence, an angel desperately trying to earn his wings from God, who begins to show George differently. When George says he wishes he'd never been born, Clarence grants his wish and George is shown just how different the town he lives in would be if he'd never existed. The story of how ...
...heartwarming and really does make you think just what might have happened if you haddn't been in a certain place at a certain time. The story is brillinatly told and the ending is wonderful. It definitely deserved to win every oscar going but, sadly, it didn't and wasn't actually recognised until much later on. This is a fantastic film for the whole family, a true classic. ...

vwelsby 15.01.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of It's A Wonderful Life (DVD)

Boring war film?? Never

Advantages: Shows the trouble Jews went through, and how they got through it.
Disadvantages: Daniel craig and his stupid accent!!!

Another boring war film? Not a chance! The basic storyline follows the family of the Belowilski’s, a family of Belo-Russian Jews during the holocaust, who create a 1200 strong community in the forest and fight multiple battles with the German army, of which the won. At the start, the only weapon they have is a .357 magnum with 4 rounds, however at the end, all of the residents have been trained in the use of a firearm, and use one. Tuvia Belowilski, ...
...begin on their journey, sabotaging German vehicles and relieving them of their weapons and anything else that is of use to the want-to-be partisans (A group of rebellious Russian Fighters). However, when a disagreement turns into a full on fist fight between Tuvia and his brother Zus, Zus and many others leave the camp to go and join the Partisans. With many people left and Tuvia seriously ill, other people take over control of the camp and disregard ...

lukeblackburn 06.11.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Defiance (DVD)

How did this slip under the big film radar?

Advantages: Cast, aim of the film, not a second wasted
Disadvantages: Nothing

What I figured was going to be an extremely run of the mill ended up being a riveting prison drama, as a man protecting his family ends up convicted of involuntary manslaughter and finding himself sent to a corrupt prison where he must watch his back and fight his own corner f he wants to survive and see his family again. Stephen Dorff stars as Wade Porter, who chases a man from his home and strikes him with a baseball bat when he reaches for his ...
...who has killed violently, and becomes a source of entertainment for other inmates and the guards. He realises he has to man up around the yard if he is to survive his time inside and get out with enough of his life left to live. Val Kilmer gives an excellent performance as John Smith, Wade's cellmate, a seemingly violent man with a lot more to him than just a mass murderer. Kilmer develops the character very well throughout the film. Harold Perrineau, ...

pmcds 06.11.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Felon (DVD)

An Epic of a film!

Advantages: Great scenery, characters
Disadvantages: A bit long

...budget film about life in Australia in the 1930’s. It is in reality a love story set against a time of war in Northern Australia. I love this time in history and seeing the events unfold in a wonderous country, I think, was really special. I always think of Australia at that time as still being quite rural and unsettled in parts and life must have been very interesting and dangerous for inhabitants there. I think this makes for a really good setting ...
...sees Lady Sarah travelling to Australia to attend to a cattle station, Faraway Downs that her husband (deceased) had purchased. She is transported to the land by an independent cattle drover who is known by the name of Drover. Drover is played by the lovely Hugh Jackman, Nicole’s love interest in the film. I liked the chemistry between the two although at times you would think they would never end up together as they are two completely different ...

Spottydog11 06.11.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Australia (DVD)