Ramsell Reviews

Today’s review is a TV series that takes shows you the War in the Pacific during World War II through the eyes and thoughts of three very different men against an unrelenting and barbaric enemy.

The Pacific

How excited was I when I first heard that the makers of the fantastic ‘Band of Brothers’ where going to do a series based in the Pacific Theatre of War? Extremely!

I immediately thought it would be pretty much the same as Band of Brothers in that the story would revolve around a certain unit that experienced some the most brutal battles the Pacific Theatre of War threw at them. It is in many ways similar to BOB and in some ways completely different, the story is based around three Marines in different regiments but all under 1st Marine Division and the battles faced by them all so the essence of BOB is there just in a different guise.

I watched them week by week when it was first broadcast on Sky Movies and again just as with BOB was always looking forward to the next episode. The battles featured on this series where not only some of the bloodiest of the Pacific Campaign but World War II period - the story gives a more panoramic view of the war in the Pacific.

The cast of the series are all outstanding in their roles and where chosen mainly due to their resemblances to the real Marines they where portraying. The three main characters are Eugene Sledge played by Joseph Mazzello, Robert Leckie played by James Badge Dale and John Basilone played by Jon Seda with William Sadler, Jon Bernthal et al.

This became the most expensive TV series ever after it’s original $100million budget rose to around $200million! The entire series was filmed in and around Australia and is based on the memoirs of Rob Leckie - Helmet for my Pillow, Eugene Sledge’s - With the Old Breed: At Peleieu and Okinawa and Chuck Tatum’s - Red Blood, Black Sand. Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg are again involved in the series, both being Executive Producers and Hanks also being the narrator at the beginning of episodes.

The level of realism on this series is phenomenal - it was any better you would be able to smell the rotting corpses, the torrential rain would soak you and the baking hot sun would burn you. For those of you with a squemish disposition there are quite a few scenes of graphic violence as you would expect, rotting bodies, limbs being blown off the usual stuff.

“…Ready to sail across God’s vast ocean where we will meet our enemy and kill them all…”

The Pacific lacks a certain something for me - yes it’s violent and heart-wrenching but it lacked real character development and as far the action side of things there where a few dare I say boring episodes where not alot seems to happen. BUT and it’s a big but, this is compared to BOB constantly, I’m guity of that, which is a comparison it was always going to lose. Taken on it’s own merits this series is great - depicting a part of WWII that for the most part gets almost forgotten about and shows the most gruesome battles in all their brutality.

The story;

Part One; The 1st Marine Division, including Robert Leckie, land on Guadalcanal and fight in the Battle of the Tenaru. In the US Eugene Sledge eventually persuades his parents to allow him to join the war.

Part Two; The 7th Marines land on Guadalcanal to bolster the defenses around Henderson Field. John Basilone and his men hold the line in the face of a vicious attack from the Japanese, where his actions earn him the Medal of Honor.

Part Three; The 1st Marine Division on Guadalcanal is relieved and arrives in Melbourne, Australiafor much needed R&R. Leckie falls in love with an Australian girl called Stella, who invites him to stay at her parents’ home. Basilone receives the Medal of Honor and is sent home to promote/sell war bonds to the American people.

Part Four; Leckie and the 1st Marine Division are put into action at Cape Gloucester whilst Eugene Sledge enlists in the Marines Corps and trains for combat.

Part Five; Sledge and Leckie land with the 1st Marine Division at Peleliu where Sledge is reunited with an old friend. Leckie soon integrates himself back into life on the front-line

Part Six; The Marines fight to capture Peleliu’s vital airfield from the Japanese. Leckie is wounded by a blast during the battle and is evacuated and sent to recuperate on a hospital ship as the fierce fighting continues.

Part Seven; Sledge and the 5th Marines move into Peleliu’s Bloody Nose Ridge to face the Japanese.

Part Eight; Basilone, after leaving the War Bond drive is transferred to the 5th Marine Division where he trains new Marines for combat. There he meets and marries Lena Riggi. He then lands at Iwo Jima but gets killed by shrapnel from a Japanese mortar shell.

Part Nine; The 1st Marine Division land at Okinawa. Sledge, now a seasoned veteran, becomes more cynical and no longer shows any compassion for the Japanese during the course of the horrific battle.

Part Ten; After the Japanese surrender Sledge and Leckie return home to the US. Sledge is still haunted by the horrors of war. Leckie starts a relationship with Vera. Lena Basilone pays John Basilone’s parents a visit.

In closing, this is great series and one that you need to see - it’s a Marmite type of thing - you’ll either like or loathe it - I like it!!

PROS: Awesome battle scenes, great cast, shows war at its most brutal.

CONS: Weak character development, few too many quiet periods for me.

MY RATING: 4/5

Today’s review is a film where fine acting is the rule not the exception - a film which changed my opinion and view on films forever.

Glengarry Glen Ross

When I was told to watch this film by a friend a long time ago I intially had no interest at all - a bunch of guys in a room talking was not my idea of an exciting story. I was in a phase where the only films I was interested in revolved around big explosions, fights, guns, blood & guts (the shame!). There where only a handful of films that i loved that differed from that - Rio Bravo, The Searchers etc. basically some of my Dad’s favourites! My friend kept on and on until I gave it a try one night - I was blown away! The story and the acting where amazing and had me stuck in my seat for the entire film - I was hooked - I immediately hunted it down on DVD and haven’t looked back since! This film is truly magnificent and I cannot praise it enough - but I’ll try!

Al Pacino, Kevin Spacey, Jack Lemmon, Alan Arkin, Ed Harris, Alec Baldwin & Jonathan Pryce - some the finest screen and stage actors of all time in one film, the performances from all of these actors are superb and really bring the film to life.

Glengarry.. originally started out life as a hugely successful play written by David Mamet and made its debut at the National Theatre in London in 1983 to rave reviews and eventually moved onto Broadway again to massive success, The play was originally set in Chicago however, the film was set in New York for one main reason - it was easier to assemble the stellar ensemble cast together at the same time in New York than Chicago as most were either appearing in plays on Broadway or had homes/lived in New York City.

“….A,B,C - A-ALWAYS, B-BE, C-CLOSING….”

Alec Baldwin’s part as Blake, the company man who introduces the sales competition, was not in the play and added to the film by David Mamet(who also wrote the screenplay for the film) to convey the pressures the salesman faced and to explain their desperate situation. Baldwin is only on screen for ten minutes tops but it is the finest ten minutes on screen he’s ever had - not hard I know but trust me he’s brilliant!!

Al Pacino is on fire as the smooth talking Ricky Roma, while Jack Lemmon excels as the desperate, down on his luck Shelley ‘The Machine’ Levene - all of the actors absolutely nail their parts and really make the story come alive without the need for special effects, action sequences, booming soundtrack, excessive swearing……oh wait scratch the last one there’s some swearing well a f**king lot of swearing to be honest! - just a bunch of fine actors telling a great story.

The story is simple but told fantastically;

In a New York Real-Estate office the disgruntled salesmen are given an incentive to help them make more sales - a contest - the first prize being a Cadillac El Dorado, second prize is a set of Steak knives and third prize is the sack! In this world losers are not tolerated - and only closers get the good leads - the Glengarry leads- which will in turn lead to more salesfor the top closers and more of the dead leads for the salesmen lower on the board. The pressure to succeed is immense and when the office is robbed and the good leads go missing the finger of suspicion points at everyone.

This is a truly wonderful film that you can watch time and again. A timeless classic that is still as fresh today as when it was released in 1992. A real old-skool film that just relies on the incredible talents of the main actors and a well written, taut and tense script to brilliant effect. I hope after reading this I’ve intrigued enough to give it a try.

PROS: Fantastic actors - Pacino & Lemmon are on top form; Amazing script.

CONS: Blake’s part should of been longer!!

MY RATING:  4.5/5

Today’s review is an iconic film starring one of the most iconic screen actors ever and three iconic cars. A grand adventure taking you from the shores of Britain all the way to Italy and hopefully back again!

The Italian Job

I LOVE THIS FILM! I’ve loved it since I first watched it many, many years ago and also sparked my love for Mini’s. A great film with a great cast, a wickedly cool story, a swinging 60’s soundtrack and [i]those[/i] cars. This is one of the greatest films ever to have come from this country and is still as good today as it was when it was released back in 1969. It’s one of those films that you never forget after watching and it sparked my love for Mini’s.

The first thing that strikes you is the opening sequence of the film. A Lambourghini Miura races around the alpine roads of the Italian Alps, the camera cuts from outside the car, inside the car and looks absolutely amazing and with Matt Monro singing ‘Days Like These’ in the background it makes for a great opening and the way the scene is so abruptly stopped in it’s tracks sets the scene for the rest of the film - a real treat right from the off!

Director Peter Collinson had a fight on his hands right from the off with this film as the studio, Paramount, wanted Robert Redford to be the leading role - even Cilla Black was considered for a role in the film!! Luckily he got his way and Michael Caine was given the role of cheeky, cockney chappie Charlie Croker, I doubt the film would have had that distinctely British feel to it if Mr. Redford was trying to do a hammy accent!!

The cast is great and largely comprises of British actors and actresses - Sir Michael Caine, Noel Coward, Benny Hill, Robert Powell, John Le Mesurier and Tony Beckley as ‘Camp’ Freddie to name a few. It’s Caine though who steals the show with his ice cool charm, cockney wit and some of the best lines in the film. Noel Coward is also excellent as the quietely powerful Mr. Bridger who funds and runs the whole show from the comfort of his prison cell and will stop at nothing to help Her Majesty.

The ending of the film is classic and was filmed as it was to open the possibility to a sequel. The sequel was to be called ‘The Brazillian Job’ and in an interview some time ago Michael Caine revealed what the plot would have been - the Mafia stole the gold Croker and so he had to steal it back - it would have been another classic for sure!

Now those Mini Coopers…apart from Caine the most iconic stars of the film, some of the best driving sequences ever put on the screen and the subject of many homages and cultural references. It could of, however, been very different as British Leyland, the makers of the Mini, wouldn’t give the production any cars to use for the film. Fiat, not missing a trick with product placement, told the director he could use as many of their cars as they needed and supplied Fiats, Ferrraris, Lambourghinis the lot and offered to pay Paramount $50,000 if they used Fiat 500s instead of the Minis, Peter Collinson declined their offer insisting that the main cars needed to be British so they paid for the Minis to use in the film. The film originally featured part of the Mini chase on an ice-rink, for whatever reason this was cut from the film but is available as an extra on DVD/Blu-Ray releases - it’s a fantastic sequence and should have been included in the final cut.

“…You’re only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!…”

The traffic jams the gang cause to allow them to perform the heist where, for the most part, real - the crew blocked off major roads coming in and out of Turin so the reactions of the drivers were completely real and even the Mafia helped out by shutting entire sections of the city down to allow filming!!

Be warned though of the vastly inferior 2003 re-make starring Mark Wahlberg - an absolute travesty and not worthy to bear the name of this brilliant film!!

The story; Charlie Croker, fresh out of prison, has one hell of a big job to do. The job is to steal $4m of gold, from under the noses’ of the police, arriving in Italy from China. Charlie’s job needs financing, so he goes to Mr Bridger who is in prison - Charlie has to break back in. In Italy, a clever plan is used to distract the authorities, while the raiders make their get-away in three Minis. This leads to the mother of all car chase sequences through Italian streets, buildings, rivers, sewers, the lot!

In closing a truly great British movie that will forever stand the test of time, if you haven’t seen it - DO IT NOW!!

PROS: Michael Caine, the Minis, wicked story, cool soundtrack.

CONS: Not so much a con but I sequel would have been nice!

MY RATING: 5/5

Today’s review is truly brilliant film and one of the best of 2011 - an action packed, full throttle crime thriller.

Drive

THIS FILM IS FREAKING AWESOME!

I had said a while ago that Rise of the Planet of the Apes was this year’s must-see movie. After seeing DRIVE I’ve changed my mnd completely THIS is the film to see!

This is one hell of a good movie which wipes the floor with most of the films released this year. It’s currently rated at 8.3 out of 10 at IMDb and i’m sure that it will continue to be well received through it’s cinema run. The budget for the film was around $15million and so far Box Office takings worldwide have so far reached $35million and I don’t doubt for a minute that the figure will keep rising and rising to become a huge success and a cult classic.

I hadn’t heard about this movie at all until I saw a trailer for it on YouTube and I thought it looked cool and found out more about it - the more I read the cooler this film sounded. I finally got round to watching it and when it had finished I wanted to watch it again - I loved it!

This is one of the coolest looking films ever and has a real arty, retro 80’s flair and feel to it. The soundtrack being a key part of that - it really sets scenes up with a tense, moody, atmospheric tone and some cool electro tunes chucked in for good measure. The camera work is amazing with low shots, long shots that make you feel part of the film.

Director Nicolas Winding Refn (Valhalla Rising) has crafted a truly magnificent, powerful film that is an absolute treat to watch and is surely going to be his greatest film - it will have to be a damn good film to beat this!

“…How about this - shut your mouth or i’ll kick your teeth down your throat and i’ll shut it for you!…”

The cast of the film is a key part of the film’s brilliance for me. Ryan Gosling is at a career best with his portrayal as The Driver, the name-less star of the film, he excudes an uber-coolness and has charisma by the bucket load - this is surely the film to make his name. Hugh Jackman was originally cast in the role which I could imagine would have worked but Gosling has made the part his own. The rest of the cast; Christina Hendricks, Ron Perlman, Bryan Cranston, Carey Mulligan and Albert Brooks are all ace and bring their best to the film. The other big character in the film is Los Angeles; simply amazing and beautifully shot it looks great and the shots of L.A at night are really something to behold.

The car chases are out of this world and are easily some of the best there is and all of them are wonderfully cut to make you feel like you are in the passenger seat holding on for dear life! Chuck in the odd scene of extreme violence and you have one beautiful film!

The story; A Hollywood stunt-car driver who moonlights as a wheelman discovers that a contract has been put on him after a heist goes wrong.

In closing a brilliant, brilliant film that is a totally bad-ass thriller - I doubt you will be disappointed!

PROS: Pretty much everything!

CONS: Would have liked it to be longer!

MY RATING:  5/5

Today’s review is a film that takes you to the farthest reaches of the Roman Empire - where loyal Legionnaires surrounded in enemy territory fight to survive.

Centurion

Neil Marshall’s 2010 film intrigued and interested me, having seen and really enjoyed his previous films - Dog Soldiers, The Descent & The Descent II and Doomsday, as well as being interested in the Roman era I was eager to see how this film would pan out, it’s a really, good enjoyable historical action/adventure/drama movie and one i’ve watched numerous times.

The film recieved very mixed reviews upon release and the box office takings were very disappointing - $6.8million worldwide - the budget came in at around $12million. This film deserves more than that it’s a good, solid film with a really good cast and a story that’s very simple, essentially it’s a cat and mouse chase through Scotland, but expertly made into a cracking film. The cast in particular are great; Olga Kurylenko (Quantum of Solace) delivers a powerful performance as the mute Pict tracker Etain, Dominic West (The Wire) is class as the rough and tough leader of the 9th Legion - Colonel Virilius but it’s Michael Fassbender (Inglourious Bastards et al) that really shines as Centurion Quintas Dias, his performance is fantastic and is a very convincing and charismatic leading man.

The location is almost a character itself, the Scottish Highlands are captured beatifully here and really stand out - the whole film is magnificently well shot - from the leafy glens to the snowy peaks of the mountains it looks amazing!

The legend of the 9th Legion is infamous in Roman history - they went into Scotland or Hibernia as it was called in Roman days and never returned - their fate forever unknown but Marshall has crafted a sound, believable scenario depicting their demise in the wilds of Scotland that could easily of been possible and really adds to the effect of the film.

The one thing that is outstanding in this film are the fight/battle sequences -put simply they are sooper dooper!
They’re bloody, gory and very realistic - you almost feel every sword blow and stab - it’s a brilliantly violent film with limbs being hacked off, impalements and head’s rolling - the frantic camerawork used during the battles again help with the realism as it feels you’re right there in the thick of it at times!

“…My name is Quintas Dias, I am a soldier of Rome, and this is neither the beginning nor the end of my story…”

The script and the odd bit of dialogue let the film down for me and a lot of criticism has been aimed at the historical inaccuracies in the film is just unnecessary as it’s never claimed to be 100% historically accurate and is just simply an enteraining action film set in Roman times based on a popular subject - the fall of the 9th - nothing more and the blood & guts action more than makes up for any weak points big time! It’s no epic on the scale of say Braveheart but it’s well worth a watch as it’s a real treat!

The story; Great Britain AD 117. The Roman Empire now stretches over a massive expanse from Egypt to Spain to the Black Sea. But in northern Britain - Hibernia, the relentless thirst for conquest has ground to a halt in face of the guerrilla tactics and attacks of an elusive, formidible enemy: the savage and terrifying Picts. Quintus Dias (Fassbender), sole survivor of a Pictish raid on a Roman frontier fort, heads north with General Virilus’ (West) legendary Ninth Legion, under orders to destroy the Picts and destroy their leader Gorlacon. But when the legion is ambushed and decimated, with Virilus taken captive, Quintus faces a desperate struggle to keep his small band of survivors alive far behind enemy lines. Enduring the harsh terrain and evading their remorseless Pict pursuers led by Pict Warrior Etain (Kurylenko), the band of soldiers race to rescue their General and to reach the safety of the Roman frontier.

In closing, a highly underrated movie that’s enteraining, engaging and exceeded my expectations greatly - a great British film by a great British director.

PROS: Gory, bloody battles, stunning set locations, brilliant cast.

CONS: Odd bit of poor scripting/dialogue.

MY RATING: 4/5

Today’s review is, for me, THE best sports films ever made. A film that after watching will leave you feeling like you’ve just scored the winning touchdown at the Superbowl.

Any Given Sunday

This film is magnificent, whether you like American Football or not, you will appreciate the quality of it by the time the credits roll.
Oliver Stone’s 1999 film has an amazing emsemble cast including Al Pacino, Dennis Quaid, Cameron Diaz, James Woods, LL Cool J, Jamie Foxx, Matthew Modine and many more.
I’ve been a fan of American Football for a number of years now and watched this film just on that basis as i’d never heard of it before. I thought it was outstanding, really well directed with a great, snappy script and ultra-realistic on-field action. Sports films have never really been great but this flipped the genre on it’s head for me - the benchmark in sports films.

It has a great mix of sports action and drama with the odd comic moment thrown in - it has something for everyone!
The action on the field is fantastic, professional NFL players were used to film the games, and you really feel like you’re there. You feel every tackle, you’re right in the heart of the huddle, you feel like you’re running up the pitch - the realism is incredible.
The off-field drama aspects of the film are brill and really gives you an insight into what you imagine would go on behind the scenes both in the lockeroom and the boardroom.

The screenplay was written by Director Oliver Stone and a lot of the information used in the movie is based on the book ‘You’re okay, it’s just a bruise: A Doctor’s sideline secrets about Pro Football’s most outrageous team’ by Rob Huizenga who, like Matthew Modine’s character Dr. Ollie Powers, was an intern under a Doctor who did whatever it took to keep the players on the field at any costs. James Woods’ character is loosely based on this Doctor.

The soundtrack of the film is great. A mix of Hip-Hop, R’n’B and the odd Rock track thrown in there. I’m not a fan of Hip-Hop and R’n’B but I love this soundtrack as it perfectly captures the mood and sets the scenes up magnificently.

“…You’re very, very young….and you’re very, very stupid…”

Al Pacino is exceptional in this film as the coach of the beleaguered Miami Sharks desparately trying to achieve success and past glories, but beginning to doubt his abilities in the modern day game. His stirring speech to the team when it’s do-or-die time is particulary rousing and uplifting…

Tony D’Amato’s Speech

Jamie Foxx is a revelation as the cocky, brash and sometimes arrogant rookie Quarterback ‘Steamin’ Willie Beamen, easily one of his best roles second only to Ray in my opinion. However Foxx wasn’t first choice for the role - Sean ‘P-Diddy’ Combs was set to take the part but had to pull out due to ‘conflicts with his recording schedule’ - it was rumoured the real reason was because he couldn’t throw a football properly! Cuba Gooding Jr. was also in the running but Oliver Stone didn’t think it would work out as he had already portrayed a footballer in ‘Jerry Maguire’.

The story; Tony D’Amato,an old-school football coach finds himself struggling with his personal and professional life while trying to make his team a success and try to keep them together. The team’s aging star quarterback, who shares his coaches old-school views has been injured and knocked out of the game and a young, cocky football player replaces him only to become exposed to the world of football and become a danger to himself and to his team as his ego spirals out of control. Meanwhile, the coach finds himself constantly at battle with the team’s now deceased owner’s money and power hungry daughter intent on doing things her way at all costs.

In closing one hell of a good ride, you won’t be disappointed - give it a go!

PROS: Great cast and script. Amazing football games.

CONS: I’d have liked a slightly happier ending and more football games!

MY RATING: 4/5