There are some actors whose work I really enjoy and respect .I look forward to the next movies with Johnny Depp,Sean Penn or Edward Norton in them.They are some of the best actors of their generation.This year I got to watch two movies starring another of my favorites-Michael Caine.
Like some wines and scotches,he just seems to get better with age.He was born into a working class family in England 77 years ago and has enjoyed a stellar career;six Oscar nominations and two Academy awards;appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1992 and knighted in the year 2000.He continues to act in movies and will play Alfred in the new Batman movie "The Dark Knight Rises"due out in 2012.
"Harry Brown" starred Michael Caine as an elderly pensioner forced to live in a highrise council flat in a depressed neighbourhood.On his daily walks to the hospital to visit his terminally ill wife he goes the long way round in order to avoid the underpass below the motorway,as it is the hangout for a local gang of unruly youths.After his wife dies he passes the hours in the pub playing chess with his only friend Len,another lonely senior.Len is fed up with the harassment from the local hooligans and decides to take a bayonet with him for protection on his walk through the underground passage.Len is found beaten to death and the police tell Harry that they are powerless to make a case against the punks who would just claim self-defence.This is when the quiet retired marine decides to dole out his own form of justice.
I have enjoyed many vigilante movies over the years with Charles Bronson and Clint Eastwood.This ranks right up there with them.The movie paints a bleak gritty portrait of modern Britain.It is one of Michael Caine's finest performances.
My favorite revenge movie is also set in England-"Dead Man's Shoes" starring Paddy Considine.I'll write more about it another time;but I recommend it highly.
"Is Anybody There?" is a movie that you've probably never heard about.This is unfortunate as it also has an outstanding performance from Michael Caine.Released in 2008 ,it is set in seaside England in the 1980's.Ten year old Edward's parents run a small old folks home in their house.Edward is a lonely child obsessed with ghosts and the afterlife.In order to discover what happens after death,he places a tape recorder under the bed of seniors near death.Michael Caine plays Clarence,a retired magician who is forced to move into the house.He is grouchy and wants to be left alone, but something magical happens when he befriends Edward.The movie is mainly a drama but his some darkly comic moments.It is poignant and moving and sure to touch you if you can find a copy of it to watch.
I'll leave you with one of Clarence's lines from the movie-"You live all your life on your own and then someone thinks it's a good idea to put you with complete strangers".
Like some wines and scotches,he just seems to get better with age.He was born into a working class family in England 77 years ago and has enjoyed a stellar career;six Oscar nominations and two Academy awards;appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1992 and knighted in the year 2000.He continues to act in movies and will play Alfred in the new Batman movie "The Dark Knight Rises"due out in 2012.
"Harry Brown" starred Michael Caine as an elderly pensioner forced to live in a highrise council flat in a depressed neighbourhood.On his daily walks to the hospital to visit his terminally ill wife he goes the long way round in order to avoid the underpass below the motorway,as it is the hangout for a local gang of unruly youths.After his wife dies he passes the hours in the pub playing chess with his only friend Len,another lonely senior.Len is fed up with the harassment from the local hooligans and decides to take a bayonet with him for protection on his walk through the underground passage.Len is found beaten to death and the police tell Harry that they are powerless to make a case against the punks who would just claim self-defence.This is when the quiet retired marine decides to dole out his own form of justice.
I have enjoyed many vigilante movies over the years with Charles Bronson and Clint Eastwood.This ranks right up there with them.The movie paints a bleak gritty portrait of modern Britain.It is one of Michael Caine's finest performances.
My favorite revenge movie is also set in England-"Dead Man's Shoes" starring Paddy Considine.I'll write more about it another time;but I recommend it highly.
"Is Anybody There?" is a movie that you've probably never heard about.This is unfortunate as it also has an outstanding performance from Michael Caine.Released in 2008 ,it is set in seaside England in the 1980's.Ten year old Edward's parents run a small old folks home in their house.Edward is a lonely child obsessed with ghosts and the afterlife.In order to discover what happens after death,he places a tape recorder under the bed of seniors near death.Michael Caine plays Clarence,a retired magician who is forced to move into the house.He is grouchy and wants to be left alone, but something magical happens when he befriends Edward.The movie is mainly a drama but his some darkly comic moments.It is poignant and moving and sure to touch you if you can find a copy of it to watch.
I'll leave you with one of Clarence's lines from the movie-"You live all your life on your own and then someone thinks it's a good idea to put you with complete strangers".
Harry Brown is a gritty, bleak depressing movie with tour de force performances. I've been a big Michael Carine fan since seeing him in Alfie. Never saw the first Dark Knight do you recommend it?
ReplyDeleteThis is a comment from jsawe at the poker forum and the following is my response to him.
Yes very definitely;good flick;I'm sure you'll enjoy it."Batman",1989,with Jack Nicholson as the joker."Batman Begins",2005,with Gary Oldham and "The Dark Knight"with the late Heath Ledger.You should see them all.Some of the best ever movies based on comic book characters.