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Reviews
The Windsors (2016)
Fun spoof on tabloids
The charming comedic performances of so many of the cast makes The Windsors great fun, particularly Hugh Skinner as Wills. He is ably supported by Louise Ford's Kate, Harry Enfield's Charles, Haydn Gwynn's manipulative and dangerous Camilla, Katy Wix as Fergie and Matthew Cottle as Edward.
The writers take the tabloid profile of the royals and twist it further. (Camilla is obsessed by continuing her own bloodline, Wills thinks republics are fairer than monarchies; Harry is a sex-obsessed illiterate fool; and Kate and Pippa are gypsies, with scheming Pippa willing to seduce anyone in order to get what she wants - often Harry.)
Not deep, not probing, but funny and different. Worth a try at least.
Room (2015)
Go and see it
An amazing adaptation of a book I loved. Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay give amazingly true central performances as a deeply devoted mother and son, with superb support from Joan Allen, who is also wonderful in her role as a loving, deeply hurt mother and grandma and William H Macy is also striking in his brief appearance as a far too damaged dad.
All credit to the crew, particularly the director, Lenny Abrahamson and Jacob's family and support team, for getting such an amazing performance out of such a young boy. We couldn't think of one to match it.
I'd read the book, so knew the story and had particularly loved the fantastic idea of using a 5-year old narrator (which the film honours). My husband hadn't. Half-way through the film he was so upset that he had to beg me to reassure him that it was going to be all right. The man beside him, also with his wife, was so moved that at one point he absent-mindedly reached for my husband's hand. It's THAT moving.
If you've ever been, or had, a loving mum, go and see it. If you've ever been a child, go and see it. Just GO AND SEE IT, please.
The Lady in the Van (2015)
Insightfully written and amazingly acted
Dame Maggie Smith and Alec Jennings are perfectly cast and directed in this amusing, moving portrayal of an irascible old lady's relationship with the timid writer who kindly offered her temporary refuge in his drive - but where she stayed for 15 years.
It is a breathtakingly stunning performance from Smith and a brilliant performance by Jennings. The script is warm, insightful and witty, with the clever device of having two Alans - the writer who observes and the man who lives and interacts with the world outside.
All the supporting cast are wonderful too. It's a must see movie, particularly for anyone who has cared for an elderly parent, or watched a parent care for their grandparent. Funny, moving and brilliant, it is a joy.
Spooks: The Greater Good (2015)
A Treat for Spooks Fans
Was expecting a treat - but got even more than I'd hoped for.
Harry Pearce is disgraced after a call he made goes wrong and even worse, annoys the Americans. As a consequence, MI5 is being sidelined. Harry suspects someone inside MI5 is working to undermine the service and is determined to unmask them. As a lone wolf he is more dangerous than he was at the head of MI5, so it's even more exciting than TV Spooks was. His young protégé Will Holloway is tasked with bringing Harry in by MI5 but also asked by Harry Pearce to help him stop the traitor. Who can he trust? What should he do? With lots of twists and turns, it's the most satisfying thriller I've seen this year. Spooks fans (and anyone enjoying thrillers) will love it - can we have a sequel please?
What We Did on Our Holiday (2014)
Moving, Funny and Family Friendly
We all loved this - me, my friend and my 2 daughters, 13 and 11. It's about a warring couple on the brink of divorce who take their three young children on holiday to Scotland to visit the husband's father, who has terminal cancer, on the occasion of his 75th birthday. It turns into an even more surprising birthday than anyone has imagined. David Tennant, Rosamund Pike, Billie Connolly, Ben Miller and Amelia Bullmore are all wonderful actors playing their parts to perfection and the children were as stunningly natural and funny as the children in the TV series Outnumbered. Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin had a great idea and have turned it into a funny and moving film. An extremely poignant scene was beautifully acted and directed and there were a fair few belly laughs as well as tears shed. There was some swearing but nothing worse than they hear routinely at secondary school, so though it was rated 12A I was never uncomfortable I'd taken my 11 year old daughter. Go and see it!