The Woman Next Door - 1989 * * * *

Their love tore them apart.

What a wonderful movie. I chanced upon this movie at my local DVD store and wasn't expecting much from it. However by the end I was wishing it wasn't over and feeling amazed that I had never heard of it before. The story reminded me a little of Romeo and Juliet because of the two lovers being in such close quarters yet not being able to be fully together. A shock ending really upset me. All in all a great movie.

That Hamilton Woman - 1941 * * * *

Romance brought them together and class pulled them apart.

I really liked this movie, Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier acting together was pure magic, their on-screen chemistry soulders almost as much as their off-screen romance did. Based around Emily Hamilton's relationship with Nelson, this movie charters their first meeting to their scandalous romance that shocked the community, made worse by the fact that both of them were married at the time. Strong and powerful acting on both parts.

Gia - 1998 * * *

Too beautiful to die, too wild to live.

Watching this movie has proved to me that actually Angelina Jolie really can act. This film is based around the life and death of America's first real supermodel Gia. It follows her rise to stardom and her tragic life riddled with loneliness and drug addiction. Jolie was perfect for this movie and it was very captivating although it did drag on at times. An interesting look at Gia's life with docu-drama style interviews.

Shortbus - 2006 * *

You've got to get on to get off.

This was a totally absurd movie. I had an idea that it would be an arty film that I would really appreciate but to be honest it was just an excuse for lots of sex and a lot of touching. To be truthful it would have been better to just purchase a porn movie, you probably would have learned more. The film seems to boast the message that you will be better off sexually after watching this, almost like a 'making love dvd manual' but the results leave the viewer hanging on the edge wondering what they have gained. Nothing is the answer. All in all, overrated tosh.

Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Silk Stocking - 2004 * * * * *

'When all other contingencies fail, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.'

I remember seeing this for the first time at Christmas 2005 and have since watched it a few times a year. Unlike other crime detectives there are many different actors who have portrayed Sherlock Holmes in the last century. Rupert Everett has only been Holmes in this one-off TV drama but I thought he did the job perfectly. He is just the right blend of intelligence mixed with a dab of humour and a slightly handsome exterior to make his character believable. I am a huge fan of Sherlock Holmes because Victorian London is one of my favourite times and places. I find it totally fascinating and am in total awe of men and women who went out dining in horse and carriage attired in black tie and tails. Add a grisly murder or two and Holmes' violin playing and you have this perfect excuse to relax in front of the TV and journey back in time.

Superb.

A Matter of Life of Death - 1946 * * * * *

This is the universe, big isn't it!

What a totally spell-binding film. I was aware of how brilliant it supposedly was but wanted to wait for a while before finding out for myself. Now I've seen it I am desperate to watch it again and again. The cinematography was sumptuous, the acting by David Niven was fantastic and the storyline was so absurd yet strangely haunting. A pilot cheats death after jumping out of his flame-engulfed plane and manages to survive after being washed up on a beach. Soon after he falls in love with June, and has to argue his case of why he feels he should be allowed to stay on earth at the heavenly celestial court. 'A peculiar idea for a story' I hear you cry and maybe also a little dated, but in my opinion Powell and Pressburger have really outdone themselves with this timeless classic of love and how it overcomes both life and death.

Ballet Shoes - 2007 * * *

'You must be a dancer, all you were left with were the ballet shoes'

This is a neat little movie, or rather a TV adaptation which centres around three sisters who are orphaned and sent to live with an eccentric explorer. Each has a dream - acting, dancing and aviation, but with money tight, not all dreams come true...

Not bad but worth a viewing,

Chariots of Fire - 1981 * * * 1/2

They would give anything to win, except their honour.

Although long this movie held a very painful lump in my throat for almost the entire movie. I found the story to be very touching and a real testament to gentlemen long ago who won for victory and longing rather than to make money or celebrity. The story itself was based around the true story of two British men who compete for the Summer Olympics of '24 and their struggle for completing it. My only complaint was that it went on a bit too long, but the second the closing credits appeared and the music began the tears were streaming down my face as I thought over and over about the truth behind the film, and the bravery of the two men.

Nanny Mcphee - 2005 * * * * *

You'll learn to love her, warts and all.

I absolutely adored this movie. Emma Thompson and Colin Firth are perfect together and I'm so happy that this was a successful British movie, and that it really effected me. It draws on 'Mary Poppins' quite a lot and thats ok, because every so often it's nice to see a movie that you know for a fact will have a happy ending plus that it is acted by two really stellar performers. I loved it and I emplore you not to agree.

Belle de Jour - 1967 * * 1/2

The only way to become a good wife was to stray away.

Daring for it's time, Belle De Jour was considered one of the greats from Luis Brunel, exploring sexuality, fantasy and lust. The story is uncomplicated enough -a bored and frigid housewife who dreams of of being dominated and abused by her husband seeks pleasure outside her marriage by becoming a prostitute during the day. I am aware this movie was a big deal on it's release but except for the mysterious dream sequences that appeared throughout I wasn't really impressed. Catherine Deneuve however is a typical Parisian chic who embodies all that was 1960's in France and her performance was certainly new to me.

Brief Encounter - 1945 * * * * *

'You've been a long way away, thank you for coming back to me'

I've seen this hundreds of times and no every second of it, but have never really felt worthy of reviewing it. Whatever I say I will not be able to express how much I love this movie, only that it rates somewhere up with my very favourite movies of all time. You can never get sick of this film, it contains timeless feelings, emotions and beliefs that are still relevant today. Although made almost seventy years ago (how amazing is that!) the idea of getting stuck in a routine when you are married was present even then and the need for excitement and change was something only a few dared to dream of. Celia Johnson's performance is heartbreaking and raw and the empathy you have for her is painful. For once we feel compassion for someone who strays from their marriage and want her desperately to be happy whatever happens even after considering her relationship with gentle Fred who would never harm or hurt anyone. Trevor Johnson is also perfectly cast in his role as the outwardly confident yet quietly complacent Alec who, underneath his calm exterior is crumbling because of his feelings for Laura. Not only beautifully acted but perfectly shot as well with a stunning and hauntingly memorable soundtrack including Rachmaninov, this movie is in my opinion one of the core films that will continue to surprise and delight generations to come. Regardless of the lack of colour, this film is still as heart-wrenching and real as it ever was - one I can watch over and over again.

Once - 2008 *

How often do you find the one?

Critics have compared this movie to 'Brief Encounter' which in my opinion is a total insult, as 'Brief Encounter' is a brilliant and perfectly constructed piece of film, and this is quite frankly, a boring blur of bad singing and unbelievable characters. I felt no compassion for either of the to leads and found the story to be dire and slow-moving. I was surprised at this because I generally lap up alternative film by the bucketload and enjoy watching movies that have won awards other than Blockbuster/Hollywood sourced but this will be going right in the bin.

Slaughter - 2009 * *

Find a good hiding place.

I constantly surprise myself by knowingly putting myself through movies that really are nothing more than piles of garbage. 'Slaughter' comes fresh from the boxset of 'After Dark Horrorfest' where a young girl meets another girl and then there's murder and lesbianism and swearing and blood etc. So not exactly the treat I was thinking it would be, moreover the predictable junk many horror movies seem to be nowadays. NOT recommended!

On Moonlight Bay - 1959 * * *

Everything's gay on Moonlight Bay!

I watched this on recommendation of a good friend who claimed it was her favourite movie. I was surprised at how young Doris Day looked, she really was just beginning her life in the world of movies and this film proved she could be funny, charming and sweet. You can all see glimpses of the Doris Day that we grow to know and love in her later movies from the 1960s and I found it very enjoyable. Next on my list is 'Silvery Moon' which I am told is the sequel to this!

Dead Snow - 2009 * *

Second time around they will succeed.

To me, this movie is so like a film I recently watched called 'Cold Prey' that I started to wonder if it was the same movie. Both movies are based around a group of friends who travel up to a cabin in the mountains to spend time together, but they are not alone, something is out to get them yadda yadda. Predictable really, except that Cold Prey was atmospheric and pretty darn scary, and this was pretty boring and almost Americanized dispite being a horror from Norway.
In fact, pretty funny.

Adulthood - 2008 * * * *

After Kidulthood comes Adulthood.

I was blown away by the first movie, it was raw and real and represented everything that is wrong with today's society. The acting in this sequel was brilliant, amateur yet well scripted. Noel Clarke is an amazing human being to write, direct and star in both movies which are both equally good and at such a young age.

Worth a watch