Moon Film Reviews: 12 Years a Slave, Dallas Buyers Club and The Invisible Woman
Some films are made for TV ('Behind the Candelabra', for instance). And some films are made for Hollywood. Into this latter category falls '12 Years a Slave'. It was, sadly, something of a disappointment to your Cultural Correspondent (Film and Theatre). And they say that as a great fan of Mr Steven McQueen. Who could not be when he is the director who brought Mr Michael Fassbender's penis to the big screen? But
this film is not a patch on the utterly superb 'Hunger' and it left your Cultural Correspondent (Film and Theatre) wishing it had been made more with Hunger in mind. We found it strangely unaffecting and even the affecting part, the last five minutes, was utterly ruined by that group hug. Still, there were standout moments: the scenery and Mr Fassbender's wife.
What a fantastic film this is! Save for the somewhat damp squib ending, it was wonderful throughout. Mr Matthew McConaughey was a revelation as was Mr Jared Leto and the relationship between the two of them was joyously portrayed. The script was sparky, witty, the officials entertainingly portrayed and you couldn't help thinking what a shame it was you never got to meet Mr Ron Woodroof. What an incredible man. What an incredible story. What an incredible film.
If you were ever curious why it is that Mr Charles Dickens' initials also stand for 'Complete D*ck' all you need to do is endure 'The Invisible Woman'. Then you won't wonder any more. Because, readers, Mr Charles Dickens was a Complete D*ck. And this film, if not a Complete Dud, came close to it. Indeed, it was as heavy-going as one of the author's books. Then at the end when you learn that the screenplay is by Abi Morgan you're not surprised that what you've just seen is as it was. For it was Ms Morgan, you may recall, who ruined 'The Iron Lady'. It wasn't just me who wasn't that impressed. The transvestite who had had to take my proffered hand to get to their seat in the dark, two places down from me, was soon snoring. And a man in the row in front yawned for most of the film. Three things prevented it being a Complete Dud. First, the grass. Second, Joanna Scanlan superb as Mrs Dickens (and brava on the nudity scene!). Third, John Kavanagh superb as Revd William Benham. Those two, apart from the grass, were the most moving things in it. Indeed, the only moving things. Everything and everyone else seemed rather wooden to your Cultural Correspondent (Film and Theatre). Oh well, never mind.
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