Drama > P Drama > Harris, Ed

Advantages: Great cast and dialogue
Disadvantages: Some may find the story too basic

Glengarry Glen Ross (1992) Set within a twenty-four hour period, the focus of the film is four real estate salesmen. They work out of a dwindling company’s office, making phone calls and house visits to try and earn their commission. The office manager, Williamson (Kevin Spacey), gives each of them two ‘leads’ a day (paid for customer contact details, from when you either do or don’t tick that box in the small print) from which they must try and ...
...some of the recently purchased Glengarry leads. What follows is a snapshot of the American dream gone wrong as these men struggle for a wage and their self respect. We follow them through the evening and into the following day when it’s found the office has been burgled at some point during the night. The story is basic, but perfectly placed, allowing for lots of sparkling dialogue and character development. Adapted by David Mamet from his own award ... Read review

Advantages: A beautiful film of a true story.
Disadvantages: Some may find the subject distressing.

A BEAUTIFUL MIND Released in 2001 and starring Russell Crowe. This film falls into the genre Biography/Drama, and is loosely based on the biography of mathematician John Forbes Nash, written by Sylvia Nasar. Directed by Ron Howard, and for which he received an Academy award for Best film of 2001. The film chronicles the life of highly regarded mathematician John Forbes Nash Jr, who throughout his life suffered from paranoid schizophrenia. ...
...between sanity and madness, lies a very fine line, and the main protagonist shows us with great clarity just how fine a line this can be. Genius in one form or another can tip the scale between the two. The mind is a mysterious, and delicate object, as I myself found when studying for my degree. You can only push yourself so far before something gives, and intense commitment to one subject can all too easily result in complete mental breakdown, and ... Read review

Advantages: Distinctly Different, Solid Acting, Entertaining
Disadvantages: Not a traditional army movie

Buffalo soldiers is a distinctly different military film as it occurs in the peace-time period shortly before the end of the cold war in 1988. It's lead role is filled by Joaquin Phoenix (Emperor Commodus in Gladiator) as Batallion Clerk Ray Ellwood. He and his unit are based within Berlin, but Ellwood fills his time by selling procurred army supplies to the locals and drugs to his various base acquintances. His main sideline includes the cooking ...
...well-scripted, well-cast piece of cinema, Buffalo Soldiers will appeal to more than just people who like a good old war film. The film is drizzled with plenty of darkly comic moments to break from the seriousness of the general story. When I first watched this movie, I personally really enjoyed it and found it to be quite original. There are very few criticisms I can find without being pedantic and would recommend this film to most people reading ... Read review

Advantages: Absolutely everything
Disadvantages: Quite sad, can make you question your reality

A Beautiful Mind is film that can be described, simply, as beautiful. A beautiful Mind is based on the novel by Sylvia Nasar of the same title. Both mediums tell us about the life (mainly college onwards) of the great mathematician, John Nash. We are firs introduced to Nash on his first day of Princeton University. From this moment on, the audience sees the majority of the film through John’s eyes. He isn’t the most social character but gosh, he ...
...human initially manage to form a rapport with is his roommate Charles, who is the opposite of John; loud, humorous, outgoing. Following the outline of a plan to impress some ladies, John established a concept that would later be known as his Equilibrium theory. As a result of this outline, John is given the opportunity to work for Wheeler labs as a code breaker. Due to John’s talent, he is approached by a more secretive individual to find codes hidden ... Read review

Advantages: True insight into the life of a genius
Disadvantages: None I know of...

...this is that this is a true story - so well known in many circles anyway - & also it is impossible to really discuss the depth of this film without knowing what happens in it. I have to admit I had not heard anything about this film when I first saw it & so had no idea what to expect. I was amazed with what I saw & would certainly agree that part of my experience of this film was so good because I did not know the story. The trouble is, no matter ...
...find a way to talk about this film without giving away what happens. I hope all readers will understand… I also hope you won't think me going 'off-topic' too much as I want to talk about personal experiences in this review - but I do feel it relates well to the film & may be something others can relate to. To me, to be able to relate to a film on this level & be so keen on talking about it, it must mean this film is something very special. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ... Read review