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Film
Lynda
Del Sasso previews this month's new films
Dirty
Pretty Things
US/UK 2002, Cert. 18
Director: Stephen Frears
Star Rating * * * 1/2
| In
present day London, illegal Nigerian immigrant Okwe
(Chiwetel Ejiofor) works as a minicab driver by day
and a hotel porter by night. He shares accommodation
with Turkish asylum seeker Senay (Audrey Tautou). |
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One
night, after a prostitute (Sophie Okonedo) vacates a hotel
room, Okwe discovers a macabre blockage in the toilet
bowl. It transpires that the hotel is at the centre of
a dangerous and illegal activity.
Interesting
because of its setting in London's underclass of illegal
immigrants, this solid and well-executed drama by Stephen
Frears (My Beautiful Laundrette, The Grifters) nevertheless
stretches our credibility too far at times. Character-wise
we have a hodgepodge of nationalities - African, Chinese,
Greek, Arab, Indian - most of whom are mere stereotypes,
and a pair of British immigration officials who seem to
model their behaviour on Alan Rickman's most over-the-top
villains. Somehow it doesn't quite hang together as a
serious thriller, possibly because scriptwriter Steven
Knight's background is in game show formats, TV sitcoms
and comedies. Indeed this BBC co-production is more suited
to the small screen as a one-off Sunday night drama. Despite
its flaws, worth seeing for the excellent performance
by British actor Chiwetel Ejiofor in the lead role. Audrey
Tautou (Amelie) is not altogether believable as a Turkish
muslim, struggling with the accent while bringing what
depth she can to the character.
Duke
of York's from December 13.
Avalon
JAP 2000, Cert. 12
Director: Mamoru Oshii
Star Rating * * * 1/2
In
the future, society has crumbled and virtual-reality games
have taken on new importance. Avalon is an illegal war
game set in a computer-generated wasteland. Too much dependence
on games leaves players in a vegetative state, but star
player Ash (Malgorzata Foremniak) determines to reach
level Class A, where she believes she will find salvation
and be re-united with her friend Murphy (Jerzy Gudejko).
Animé
director Oshii (Patlabor 2, Ghost in the Shell) reportedly
spent ten years making this film, and it certainly is
ground-breaking in terms of visual style and effects.
Using live action, East European actors and Polish dialogue,
he successfully conjures a bleak and ravaged world of
surreal action in which our maiden-warrior struggles to
achieve her goal. Complex in its references to Arthurian
legend, it's a visual treat, but alas the whole lacks
emotional depth and engagement. Still, this courageous
and original attempt at pushing the boundaries of cinema
deserves to be viewed.
Duke
of York's from November 29.
8
Women
France 2002, Cert. 15
Director: Francois Ozon
Star Rating *
A
country mansion in 1950s France. Eight women (including
Catherine Deneuve, Isabelle Huppert, Emmanuelle Beart
and Fanny Ledoyen) find themselves suspects in a dramatic
murder mystery. Each woman has the motive and the opportunity,
but who is guilty?
8
Women is one of those films that tends to polarise audience
opinion. Wildly theatrical, its high-kitsch costume design
and technicolored presentation may rankle with some, while
others - perhaps those who enjoy French farces - will
adore its lighthearted tone. The artifice is deliberate,
but does the device truly reflect female reality, as the
director obviously believes? Whether this is an enjoyable
star-spangled pastiche on the Agatha Christie genre or
a cringeworthy spoof lacking in substance, boils down
to personal taste. Enjoy it if you can.
Duke
of York's from November 29.
copyright The Insight 2002
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