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The Father (2020)
The Father (2020)
2020 | Drama
1st half is GREAT! The 2nd half? Not so much...
THE FATHER is one of those types of films that, generally, I would not seek out - except at Oscar time. A small, “drawing room” type of drama, based on a stage play and starring a couple of Oscar winning performers at it’s core.

And that is enough to make this film very entertaining and interesting…but, unfortunately…this piece of entertainment falls flat at the end, so one will have to be contented to watching a decent drawing room drama (based on a Stage play) starring 2 strong Oscar winning actors at it’s core.

Written and Directed by Florian Zeller, THE FATHER tells the tale of a…well…FATHER, who is aging and mentally deteriorating. His daughter is trying to aide him and bring him comfort, but his befuddled mind begins to see things (conspiracies) that are not there…or are they?

Zeller wrote the lead role, specifically for Anthony Hopkins and it is a very good thing that Hopkins agree to this role for he is in EVERY scene and commands this picture as only a performer of Hopkins stature and abilities can. Hopkins is, rightfully, nominated for this performance and could pull the upset (but I highly doubt it).

Strongly supporting him - in an Oscar nominated turn herself - as Olivia Colman as his daughter. She has the much less flashy - but no less important - role in this drama and Hopkins would not be as good as he is without her to play against.

Zeller (who was nominated for an Oscar for his Screenplay adaptation of his Stage Play) was smart to cast a strong ensemble of British Stage Actors for this film - Mark Gattis, Olivia Williams, Rufus Sewell and Imogen Poots are all strong, interesting people to watch on screen and they help bring an air of seriousness and gravitas to the proceedings.

The first half of this film is extremely fascinating to watch and I was intrigued by the premise, the direction, the script and the direction it seemed to be headed. But…unfortunately (at least for me) the 2nd half of the film (and I would imagine, the Stage Play) never, really capitalizes on the promise of the first half and THE FATHER just sorts of peters out in the end.

Which, I guess, you could say for the poor souls who suffer from dementia, but I don’t think that was the point that Zeller was trying to make.

Letter Grade: A- (did I mention that I really, really liked the first half)

8 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)
  
Escape Room (2019)
Escape Room (2019)
2019 | Action, Horror, Thriller
Better than expected
Having seen a previous film effort about an escape room, I went into this with very low expectations but I actually came out pleasantly surprised.

Yes it's a little bit predictable, and the flashforward of the ending right at the start of the film really doesn't help matters. However I found most of this film ridiculously tense and I was completely enthralled and entertained. This may just be because I've played quite a few escape rooms and recognised a lot of familiar things, but I don't really care as it was very enjoyable to watch. I was also glad that it didn't rely on jump scares or over the top gore like other films, which was quite refreshing. Some of the rooms are great, others not so but the film passes by so quickly it's difficult to find time to dwell. Other than some of the rooms not being as well thought out, my only other issue is the ending itself. Whilst i can tell it was trying to be interesting, it came across as a little bit much and too farfetched. Didn't ruin the film completely, but did take something away from it. But aside from that this is a surprisingly good and tense film.
  
12 Angry Men (1957)
12 Angry Men (1957)
1957 | Classics, Drama

"My first one is 12 Angry Men. I remember I watched it at school, I think I saw it at fourteen for the first time. And when you’re that age, you kind of want to watch big blockbuster movies and all that kind of stuff. And I just couldn’t get over the fact — basically it doesn’t leave the room for the whole movie. And it’s just these guys sitting around discussing this crime, and whether or not they’re going to find the guy guilty or not. I just found it so engaging and stuff. You know the cast and stuff was just incredible with Henry Fonda and Lee J. Cobb, and all these incredible actors. I just thought it was mind blowing, you know? I think it was based on a radio play — I don’t know. And then I figured it was a theatrical play, and then they made a movie. That’s the other thing, I was also just beginning to start to want to be an actor. Or join the theatre group in my hometown. It all sort of happened at the same time, and I was beginning to understand it a little bit more about how they’re engaging, and how you can hold people’s attention for that long just by the performance itself."

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