Yes, pin back your lugholes its Movie time again. Break out the Ben & Jerry's.
After quite a hiatus, I have three very differing films to comment on and all at separate cinemas as it turns out.
First taxi off the rank is I, Daniel Blake. Viewed by my sister and I at a special showing in the Metrocentre's Odeon. It's probably common knowledge that this is the winner of the Palm D'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and Ken Loach is behind it. Being the skinflint I am, the prospect of seeing this for transport costs only, outweighed the all too familiar context of the film and it certainly raised a few personal experiences of my own in the Welfare system. Daniel has been forced to leave his job through ill health but to get any welfare benefit, he has to claim he is fit for work despite his doctor's input. He has to be seen to be looking for work, provide documented evidence and attempt skills alien to him and his trade ie computer skills, just to fill in forms. I'm tempted to give many a spoiler alert here but I would just urge all and sundry to see this film for its social commentary - the sheer frustration and inability to provide a coherent policy of welfare for the disadvantaged and the medically unfit. The loss of dignity and self respect is palpable and one I can readily identify with. I'll say no more other than to recommend it and to thank Ken Loach for a piece of work that will hopefully be extremely uncomfortable viewing for the government of the day (got that off m'chest)
Next up is The Girl on The Train at my favourite viewing site of the Tyneside Cinema. Apparently the book is a best seller and stars Emily Blunt as a commuter who regularly passes an old stamping ground on her way to and from work and witnesses an event that will ultimately change her life. I'm a big fan of Emily Blunt having first enjoyed her with Matt Damon in The Adjustment Bureau. Here I sense that the film doesn't do the book justice though I haven't read it. I didn't empathise with the characters plight or revel in the film's inevitable denouement. Shame, I was really looking forward to that one; better luck next time Emily.
Finally, Jack Reacher - Never Go Back at the Empire Newcastle. I'm told there's 22 Jack Reacher books and this was the 18th which is quite a step from his cinema introduction of recent times. Tom Cruise is the all action hero of this eponymous Lee Child creation. Despite his height and weight disadvantage, he seems to do more than all right in the very watchable fight sequences. Mr Cruise plays the hard bitten hero but loner very well and this is a perfectly enjoyable two hours of action and intrigue if ultimately predictable. I look forward to the next one; I seem to prefer this incarnation to his more extreme Mission Impossible scenarios.
Till the next time, I raise my Ben & Jerry's to you all. Good viewing.
