Drama > L Drama > Roberts, Julia > N

Advantages: Intellectual, Compelling
Disadvantages: Hardly cheery

It was early 2005 and I was bored so decided to go to the cinema and had no idea what to watch. 'Closer' was a film that I did not feel entirely enthused about going to see but I was sure that the star power would see me through it. The film is essentially a tale of four people intertwined by their own confusion as to who it is that they love or lust after. Dan (Jude Law) is a smart journalist (well, obituary writer) who is in a relationship with ...
...desire for enigmatic photographer Anna (Julia Roberts). Anna is torn between aforementioned Dan and the very much rough and ready doctor Larry (Clive Owen). The pitch sounds cheesy and terrible. Sounds like a typical 'we've got no clue what we are filing but lets stick a load of HUGE stars in it and we've got a guaranteed box office hit' and this is how I feared it would turn out. What seems to keep interweaving the characters and their own respective ... Read review

Advantages: strong actors
Disadvantages: bleak, depressing and meandering storyline

I didn't see Closer at the cinema, but being quite a big fan of both Julia Roberts and Jude Law I was quite keen to get it and watch it on DVD. Having done so, I have to say that it seemed quite a strange film and not overly enjoyable although it does have it's fascinating moments. There are only four characters in the film which in itself seems quite a strange thing. There is no supporting cast of interesting characters to bring lighter moments ...
...Although I watched it on DVD there are not really any additional features to speak of - just the usual screen selections and choice of languages. If I haven't put you off entirely, youmight be interested to know that Closer is currently selling on mazon for only £4.98. ... Read review

Advantages: There is only one Lukas Moodysson,
Disadvantages: which is one too many for some.

...idea what to expect from A Hole In My Heart. And having seen it I still don't really know what to make of it to be honest. Part of the reason for me writing this review is to try and make sense of it for myself so here goes... By the time Moodysson made this movie in 2004 he had already achieved a huge degree of commercial success with "Together" (5*) and "Lilya 4-Ever" (5*). One of the privileges of "making it" is that it allowed him the freedom ...
...funding it needed but also a wide audience of people who had enjoyed any of his earlier masterpieces. Many of the fans of his earlier films, including even the brutally hard-hitting Lilya 4-Ever were in for a real shock! The entire cast consists of four characters and the story (if you can call it that) takes place almost entirely within the confines of a small flat that they share in a Stockholm suburb. Richard and his son Eric do not get on, and ... Read review

Advantages: A sweet little film, great cast and plot
Disadvantages: None

...Jenna is working as a waitress in Joe's Pie Shop in the deep south of America, but is truly miserable with life. She's married to Earl, as real pig who treats her terribly and makes her hand over her tiny wage to him everyday. Jenna is shocked to find herself pregnant with Earl's baby and although she isn't happy, she decides to keep the baby and save up enough money to run away. Jenna makes amazing pies and wants to win a local Pie contest, and ...
...of her stifling marriage. Waitress is a sweet little romantic comedy with a darker side within which keeps you watching all the way through, just to see if Jenna is ever going to get that happy ending she wants and deserves. The theme of a dark and horrid marriage is well explored in the film, and this is contrasted well with the scenes in the Pie Shop between Jenna and her friends, showing us how Jenna can be when not scared and miserable at the ... Read review

Advantages: Superb acting, writing, direction and cinematography, lush scenery
Disadvantages: None, except maybe for those who don't like subtitled films

Starring: Gul Kirat Panag as Zeenat Ayesha Takia as Meera Shreyas Talpade as Behroopiya Rushad Rana as Amir Anirudh Jaykar as Shankar Singh This review is a departure from my usual reviews on ancient films! This 2006 movie was on very late-night television a few months back and, having a liking for Indian films and also being intrigued by the fact that the title of the film is my own name (nickname), I videotaped it to watch at a more convenient ...
...was and found it interesting, so settled down to get stuck in once I had time to watch the tape, and was completely blown away by the beauty of this wonderful film. I knew it was meant to be good, but it way surpassed my expectations. Suffice to say that the tape is now a permanent member of my film collection! The film's title roughly translates to 'the thread' or 'the link', and the plot revolves around the unusual and unexpected links that can ... Read review