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martinledwick
Reviews
Söderkåkar (1932)
Absolutely charming naturalistic comedy musical
I watched this out of curiosity and found it charming and it's use of integrating song into the action way ahead of its time as it seems so natural and unforced. Often the players are accompanied by themselves of a folk band seen on screen. It paints a glowing, warm, happy life amongst working class neighbors in 1930s Stockholm. The cinematography is beautiful and the performances natural and engaging. It is a gentle low key piece so don't expect belly laughs, just let it's gentle charm wash over you if you need a pleasant viewing one afternoon and a bit of a cheer up. If this is the case and you don't mind subtitles you'll love it.
Fool Me Once (2024)
A bit far-fetched but entertaining with lots of twists
Like many murder mysteries if you stand back from the story logically it is a bit far fetched, but it is non the less engaging and entertaining with great performances. Lots of red herrings and twists and turns to keep you guessing. Nice to .see it set in an affluent northern setting rather than London or some mythical English village. Makes a change for a northern set drama not to focus on it being grim up north. Being originally from the north west it's actually quite nice up there. Good to see Richard Armitage on our screens again and Joana Lumley enjoying herself playing against her usual type. So in summary, an entertainment even if it is a bit far fetched.
The Assassination Bureau (1969)
Sophisticated and elegant black comedy
Very much drawing on the late 60s fashion for quirky Edwardian comedy films (Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines, The Great Race etc) this lavishly designed black, yet frothy comedy is a very entertaining way of spending a couple of hours. Diana Rigg and Oliver Read amply show off their acting chops with charm and wit and are ably supported by a great cast of stars and English character actors. And the production values are lovely. It is beautifully designed. Under the comedy there is a point about the value of life and attitudes towards war as you would expect from a film based on a Jack London story, but it can also be enjoyed in a completely superficial way.