Mullholland Drive- Film Review

Mulholland Drive- Film Review

Cast: Naomi Watts, Laure Harring, Justin Theroux, Ann Miller, Dan Hedaya
Director: David Lynch
Screenplay: David Lynch
Rating: 5/5



Betty Elms: I'm sorry. I'm just so excited to be here. I mean I just came here from Deep River, Ontario, and now I'm in this dream place. Well, you can imagine how I feel.

The film follows aspiring actress Betty (Naomi Watts) as she helps unravel the mystery surrounding a beautiful woman who suffers from amnesia after a car accident, the two women form a bond and fall in love or do they?. David Lynch’s surreal masterpiece shows the dark side of Hollywood in an unsettling, erotic fashion.

The film feels like a dream, its imagery is mesmerising and bizarre and suits this neo-noir thriller. The movie is sinful pleasure and deserves rapturous applause for visionary daring.
The lead actress’s performances are brilliant, they are played with convincing emotion and emptiness. They seduce the audience with their urgency and passion.

Lynch ditches the conventional Hollywood narrative in favour of a string of incoherent scenes that are as unconnected as the characters themselves. The scenes are shocking, compelling but feel like a hallucination.


By Muhammad Patel

Miller's Crossing Film Review- By Muhammad Patel

Miller’s Crossing (1990) - Film Review

Cast: Gabriel Byrne, Marcia Gay Harden, John Turturro, Jon Polito and Albert Finney
Director: Joel and Ethan Coen
Screenplay: Joel and Ethan Coen
Rating: 2/5

The Coen brothers latest project is set in an unnamed prohibition-era town, the story follows Tom Reagan (Gabriel Byrne) an advisor to the local crime boss Leo (Albert Finney). When Leo and rival boss Casper (Jon Polito) fight over a bookie that has been cheating Casper, Tom tries to keep the peace but due to shifting circumstances Tom is caught in the middle of a dangerous power game.

Whilst watching the film I felt the movie contained lots of witty dark dialogue which rolled of the characters tongue and was full of style and violence however I felt it never fully convinced in terms of plot and lacked substance. I felt the film was too self conscience in how it was made and offered nothing new to the genre.

A recurring theme in most Coen brother’s films is that the film always starts with an image, in this film it’s the image of Tom’s dream in which his hat is flying through the forest. This image sets the tone of the whole film for me as like the hat I was searching and searching for some meaning but like Tom I found nothing special at the end just the “hat.”

Overall, the performances were passable but unconvincing, the dialogue was dark and witty but the film was a disappointment. Fortunately for fans the Coen brothers released the excellent Fargo a few years later.




By Muhammad Patel

Shawshank Redemption

The Shawshank Redemption is a classic tale of friendship and tragedy starring Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins. ‘Andy’ played by Robbins has been sent to jail for the murder of his wife and her lover. Whilst in there he befriends a fellow inmate named ‘Red’, played by Freeman. The story centers around the friendships of the men in jail and how they have to stick together to survive inside. It really captures the audiences emotion and both Freeman and Robbins play their roles with such a passion it impossible not to fall in love with this film. With its captivating story-line and impeccable direction this film is bound to have you laughing and crying within the same five minutes. It is a masterpiece and worthy of its regular appearance in the top 10 movies of all time lists. It is genuinely unforgettable. - Rosie Robinson

Little Shop of Horrors (1986) - Film Review

Little Shop of Horrors (1986) - Film Review
Cast: Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene, Vincent Gardenia, Steve Martin
Director: Frank Oz
Screenplay: Charles B. Griffith (1960 screenplay), Howard Ashman (musical)
Rating: 4/5

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Seymour: “Wait for me, Audrey. This is between me and the vegetable!”

I know most of you will be wondering WOW! Could this film get any weirder? The answer is YES it can!

The sci-fi musical follows lonely recluse Seymour Krelborn (Moranis) who works in a flower shop on skid row. Seymour secretly pines for Audrey, a shrill-voiced, peroxide blonde flower arranger who works at the shop as well. After the eclipse befalls the town Seymour discovers an intriguing plant (a small flytrap) which unusually causes a lot of attention towards the shop however Seymour soon discovers it isn’t a normal plant it’s a “green mean mother from outer space.”

The film is a witty, and in parts scary musical with wild performances from the main cast especially Steve Martin who plays a sadistic dentist which has put me of going for life! The movie is understated at first but sneaks up on you about as subtly as the man-eating plant Audrey II. The musical comedy is exuberant and in every possible way as crazy as the people who will watch it.

Overall, the film is a quirky sci-fi musical which crosses the line between surreal and mainstream using its freaky comedy and strange musical numbers.



By Muhammad Patel

Being John Malkovich- film review by Muhammad Patel

Cast: John Cusack, Cameron Diaz, Catherine Keener and John Malkovich
Director: Spike Jonze
Screenplay: Charlie Kaufman
Rating: 3/5

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The story follows a struggling puppeteer who decides to take a job as a filing clerk in order to make some money. While working he stumbles on a hidden door which acts as a portal leading into the mind of the actor John Malkovich (played by John Malkovich)! For 15 minutes he enjoys a mind bending experience which ultimately gives John Malkovich a big head ache.

The main character is played by John Cusack who portrays Craig Schwartz as a straggly haired, puppeteer who has to watch his wife slowly fall in love with the woman he is lusting after. Craig uses his puppeteering as a way to escape the harsh realities of his life, he desperately wants to feel like he is inside someone else’s body and even if it is just for 15 minutes he wants to be that person.


The three main co-stars are played wonderfully, all offering their talents making their characters mesmerising and obscure. However I felt the characters and the plot become too surreal. The film starts out as a novelty but rapidly descends into insanity which at parts lost my attention.

Overall, the film is unique and in a way makes me wish I could escape into the mind of a great actor however I felt the film dragged on and ultimately left me with a sense of confusion and disorientation.

By Muhammad Patel

The Manchurian Candidate (1962)- Film Review By Muhammad Patel

The Manchurian Candidate (1962) - Film Review

Cast: Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, Janet Leigh, Angela Lansbury, Henry Silva, James Gregory
Director: John Frankenheimer
Screenplay: George Axelrod
Rating: 4/5

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The Manchurian candidate is one of the best political thrillers ever made; it is a bizarre conspiracy movie which keeps the audience nailed to their seats.

The movie follows a troop of soldiers who are taken hostage for three days during the Korean War, as they return home they start to suffer from recurring nightmares. One of the troops Raymond Shaw (Laurence Harvey) is the step-son of a candidate for vice-presidency Senator Iselin (James Gregory) however it is Raymond’s overbearing mother played by Angela Lansbury who is in control of the situation. The question is what actually happened during the three days? And what secrets are the characters harbouring?

The film is like an emotional bulldozer it ratchets up the suspense in every scene, slowly taking the audience on a rollercoaster ride before revealing the true nature of the plot which surprises and exhilarates.

The lead characters are played magnificently and portray a believable and enigmatic performance which keeps you entertained and begging for more when the film finishes.

The last scene is breathtaking and is an excellent climax to a film that has more twists and turns than I can count.

Dancer in the Dark- Film Review by Muhammad Patel

Dancer in the Dark- Film Review

Cast: Bjork, Catherine Deneuve, David Morse, Peter Stormare, Vladica Kostic, Siobhan Fallon
Director: Lars Von Trier
Screenplay: Lars Von Trier
Rating: 5/5


Visionary director Lars Von Trier brings us another controversial yet breathtaking film, his latest work of art “Dancer in the Dark” is an emotional musical drama which inspires and exhilarates.

Dancer in the Dark is a simple story of a Selma (Bjork) a Czech immigrant in rural 1960’s America who is suffering from an unnamed genetic illness causing her to slowly go blind. She is a single mother working in a factory trying to save enough money for an operation that will save her son from inheriting her fate. Due to unforeseen events Selma is involved in a murder and left to face a tragic end.

Dancer in the Dark is a charming film because to escape her desperation Selma envisages herself as part of the musicals she adores so much. It is these interludes of colour and exuberance that add colour to Selma’s bleak, dull existence.

The main lead (Selma) is played superbly by Bjork, she plays her in a child-like manner. She makes the audience feel we can see her situation from her perspective, a blurry vision of depression, fantasy and an unrequited love for her son. The relationship between Selma and her son Gene (Vladica Kostic) is awkward and in parts funny but the chemistry between the two characters is mesmerising

What makes the film so spectacular is that it is a gritty drama that uses songs to drive along the narrative. Only a director with such creative vision as Lars Von Trier could create such a poignant love story between a character burdened with blindness and the musical rhythms around her.

The moment that culminates the whole film for me is the conversation between Selma and the prison guard Brenda (Siobhan Fallon) when Selma says:

Selma: In a musical nothing dreadful ever happens.

I think everyone in the world wishes that they could escape the harsh realities of life however no matter how bright the light we always fade into darkness at the end.