kmd2uk2001 Reviews

Australia (2008)

Salvageable

[6/10 · 1 January 2009]

If you gave me 20 minutes and a pair of sufficiently sharp scissors in the cutting room, I'm confident I could make this movie quite a bit better.

The first bits to go would be some of the more cheesy one-liners. I would take out a couple of significantly cringe-worthy pieces of comedy from Nicole Kidman. Finally (perhaps most importantly) choirs of children do not inspire the right kind of emotion in right-thinking persons. Snip.

I actually liked Australia quite a bit. I warmed to the main characters. I found the scenery spectacular. The story was compelling and the plot wasn't too bad. The really bad bits were just temporary lapses in common decency which were confined to discrete parts of the film.

Blue Black Permanent (1992)

Brilliant

[31 August 2004]

I'm only sorry that the director didn't make more feature-length films. I absolutely loved this. The plot is well laid out - it explores the reminiscences of a daughter who is coming to terms with her mother's death. The acting is first rate, particularly from the two female leads. It is thought-provoking in a very British way which is unfortunately lacking in many emerging UK films. The film incorporates lingering shots of scenery in Edinburgh and Orkney. It is careful and measured but in a way that, for me, does not detract from the pace of the film.

It certainly takes a mature outlook and some patience to enjoy the film. Perhaps it is one that you either love or hate.

A Fond Kiss (2004)

Promising opening but disappointing overall

[3/10 · 28 August 2004]

I really didn't like this film. I usually don't feel this strongly about films but I found it very difficult to sit all the way through this one.

I found the acting pretty 'rough around the edges', which was charming at first and gave the film a real-life quality, but became very noted, particularly with regard to the male lead. I found the plot badly structured (how many times did they fall out and then get back together?) I didn't think that there was any chemistry between the two leads at all and the script didn't allow for any development of their relationship. I found it difficult to work out why they were actually together, other than mutual sexual attraction. I could go on....

I thought that the film started extremely well - thoughtful, but with a lighthearted touch. Unfortunately it just didn't even come close to living up to the promising opening.