Alternative Christmas Movie - On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)

Directed by: Peter R. Hunt

Written by: Richard Maibaum (screenplay), Simon Raven & Ian Fleming (novel)

Starring: George Lazenby, Diana Rigg & Telly Savalas

Tis the season to stock the snack drawer, curl up on the sofa and watch some festive films, and that’s exactly what I’ve done. There has been much thought and consideration from movie connoisseurs as to what are the top alternative Christmas flicks, and Die Hard is a film that has fully established its position at the top of the alternative Christmas tree. I thought I may throw another film into the ring and fight the corner for On Her Majesty’s Secret Service this Christmas.

OHMSS is the sixth in the Bond franchise, and sees James Bond (George Lazenby) meeting Teresa ‘Tracy’ Di Vicenzo (Diana Rigg) and assumes a cover to investigate Blowfeld’s Piz Gloria base in the Swiss Alps. This is Lazenby’s first and only appearance as the vodka martini drinking, trilby sporting, lady killing, baddy beating double-o; and my god doesn’t he do it with humility with a slight peppering of brutality. For the seven years prior to OHMSS with 5 films in between (completely overlooking 1967’s Casino Royale) Sean Connery was undeniably Bond, and so should that be the case. That said, I feel poor old George was set up to fail right from the outset, after all how dare this commercial actor step into Connery’s shoes. I can’t really put my finger on exactly why OHMSS is widely considered one of the weaker Bond films, it’s almost as if critics haven’t seen Moonraker. Lazenby’s Bond may have lacked the overall menace that Connery’s portrayal oozed, however his compassion, vulnerability and awkward brutality makes for a far more complex and realistic character, Lazenby brought fans an exposed human Bond which had later completely been lost during the Roger Moore reign and then was later revisited by Timothy Dalton.  Diana Rigg is an essential and compelling component to this film, her troubled character is perfectly matched with Lazenby’s Bond, and you get a complete sense of them being each other’s salvation.

The cinematography is also a huge credit to OHMSS, especially during fight scenes, chases, and other action sequences. So many elements make me consider the recent Jason Bourne franchise, the action is well paced, and makes you feel like you’re on a pair of skis being pursued through the alps by gunmen yourself.  

Everything about this Bond entry screams ‘way ahead of its time’, this may attribute to why it has been reconsidered in recent years.

Pros include: George Lazenby’s James Bond, Diana Rigg, Louis Armstrong, unforgettable storytelling and immersive action sequences.

Cons: Telly Savalas’ Blofeld – just not for me.

Die Hard can wait until next year, with much of the action taking place in the Swiss Alps and plenty of references to the festive season, OHMSS is a must see alternative Christmas film.

Film review: I, Daniel Blake (2016)

Directed by: Ken Loach

Written by: Paul Laverty

Starring: Dave Johns & Hayley Squires

You shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, similarly you shouldn’t judge a film by its trailer, and that’s exactly what I did. I saw a trailer for I, Daniel Blake the last time I was at the pictures and I thought ‘yes, that’s going to be a goodun’.’ I, Daniel Blake seemed to have an allure, maybe not in the same way that Star Wars: The Force Awakens made its convincing argument but in an understated hidden gem sort of way. Sometimes I can overlook the latest British films, the giant that is Hollywood delights the masses with some absolute greats which dominate cinema listings, some movies get lost on the crowded radar, the last brit-flick I caught on its release was the nostalgic reboot of Dad’s Army, so I thought I would give I, Daniel Blake a look.

Set in the backdrop of Newcastle, Ken Loach’s film tells the story of Daniel Blake (Dave Johns), a skilled carpenter who is put out of work due to ill health and finds himself experiencing the frustrations and tribulations of state welfare.

Unpolished and flawed characters, living on the breadline with an underlying feeling of abandonment from the government, it all sounds very British doesn’t it? Just like a brisk slap around the face or a particularly potent cup of coffee, I, Daniel Blake carries a very sobering and solemn message. The film is careful not to be stayed, ensuring that the narrative is well paced and develops in a way that keeps you entertained. Katie (Hayley Squires) is a single mother who, much like Daniel Blake, faces a daily struggle to pay rent and even provide food on the table. It’s absolutely clear to me that when writing the screenplay, Paul Laverty really considered the characters individually and how their relationships with one another should develop. It could be said that this movie does have an air of predictability, however it’s not necessary about the destination, more the journey the characters go on.

This film’s thought-provoking premise and wonderful script is combined with a very talented cast, making I, Daniel Blake a film which resonates with many people, especially in this time of global austerity, and I am sure will go down in British cinema history as a truly remarkable film.  

I can certainly recommend seeing this one. 

Seen it? Let me know your thoughts below. 

Film review: Candyman (1992)

Directed by: Bernard Rose

Written by: Clive Barker & Bernard Rose

Starring: Virginia Madsen, Tony Todd, Kasi Lemmons & Vanessa Williams

    

A few friends and I thought a horror film night was on the cards given that Halloween is just around the corner, we pooled together a few films and started picking our favourites. I hadn’t heard of Candyman before, it was borrowed from a friend of a friend and came recommended, and quickly inspired interest from the group. Not being a horror connoisseur I knew I would enjoy the film watching experience, as for the film itself, I imagined a typical early 90’s slasher with some minor plotholes sprinkled with some shaky casting, none of this mattered however because it was a film fright night and I’m a coward. 

So, in the words of Alfie, 'what's it all about?' Well, the Candyman (Tony Todd) is a seemingly tragic mythological legend which is brought to reality when his name is uttered five times in a mirror. He has a bloody hook for a hand and reaps murderous revenge whenever he appears.  Sceptical grad students Helen (Virginia Madsen) and Bernadette (Kasi Lemmons) accidently beckon Candyman as they research the theory behind the legend.

Candyman is almost everything you would want in a horror film, you have the spooky yet intriguing backstory, the unprepared college students and enough nasty death scenes you can shake a hook at. If you are looking for a jump this Halloween then this is definitely the film to do it, at least for the first half hour or so. I was toying with the idea not to include the name of the actor who portrayed the Candyman in the above paragraph in order to maintain a level of anonymity, I will explain why Tony Todd has been named in my review of Candyman. What makes an effective horror flick to me is not all the blood and gore (although it helps), it’s often what you don’t see as opposed to what you do see which is most scary, so it’s disappointing that Candyman’s face (Tony Todd) is revealed earlier than I would expect from a horror film. Once revealed, the Candyman’s strange and spooky mystique is somewhat diluted, I guess that’s what makes Halloween’s character Michael Myers so terrifying, the mask, the unknown, the unknown forces the audience to fill in the gaps with their imagination. The same applies to Heath Ledger’s brilliant portrayal of The Joker in The Dark Knight, we think ‘what’s underneath it all?’ – ‘I bet it’s scary’. Unfortunately, Candyman loses that important element, which if included would have made this a truly excellent horror film.

You’ll be forgiven for thinking that a film called Candyman will have some sort of relevance to candy, unless I missed something fundamental, I didn’t see much significance in the name, perhaps it was eluded to when I left the room to grab some more popcorn for everyone. It is fortunate therefore that there are plenty of reasons to watch this film, the setting for instance, much of the film is set in Chicago’s Cabrini-Green housing project, the urban location adds a unique component to the movie, horror films tend to heavily rely on that secluded rundown house in the woods, so it’s refreshing to see a film take all the essential pieces of an effective location and place it in a more populated urban environment, making a neglected city estate that new shack in the woods. It’s also worth noting that Virginia Madsen turns my anticipation of questionable acting over on its head by giving an immersive performance, while Tony Todd commands the screen with his strong physique and booming voice. Candyman isn’t afraid to consider important issues such as racism and poverty that certainly highlight real-life subjects of the early 1990’s which also remains relevant and poignant today. 

This movie comprises of just about the right stuff to make you afraid of your bathroom mirror for a few weeks, who cares that it breaks the ‘be afraid of the unknown’ code sooner than expected, with enough blood to make Freddy Krueger wince Candyman should top your Halloween fright night list.

Fractured Batman Mask

It's about time I watched The Dark Knight Rises again.