Sunday, December 9, 2007
"I'll Be There"
Watched a terrific little movie thanks to Netflix's suggestions. I'll Be There is an offbeat Scottish comedy (is that an oxymoron or a tautology, I wonder?) starting, written and directed by Craig Ferguson of the Late Late Show. He turns out to be a powerhouse combination of actor-writer-director-producer-creator-comedian-musician-author. Who knew?! He was the lead vocalist in a rock 'n' roll band and does a nice job in this film, I must say. By far the more surprising, though, is Joss Ackland who was in his mid-seventies when he made this movie - wait til you see him in black shirt and leather pants fronting his own rock band. He's such a revered and terrific part of the stage and dramatic world (his Shadowlands was phenomenal). The rest of the superb ensemble comprises Jemma Redgrave, Ismelda Staunton, Anthony Head, Ralph Brown and Phillipa Law, among others. Charlotte Church's dramatic debut isn't all one might have hoped for but her voice is crystal clear and absolutely gorgeous - even if the character and her appearance are a bit too much of a teenager. Of course, since that's part of the point of her character, maybe ot just proves she's doing a great job! Anyway, this film is hardly great art but it does have absolute truckloads of irony, sarcasm, wit, sweetness and charm all rolled up in a nice turn on an oft-told theme.
Labels: entertainment, movies, writing
exactly.
i think you will also love craig's films "the big tease" and "saving grace."
his novel "between the bridge and the river" is amazing as well. i'd like to think that the current writers strike is leaving him time to work on his next book.
cathy
< home >