The big mystery is how director and writer, Michael McDonagh, responsible for such a fine, must-see production as 'Calvary' (one of my top films of 2014), could have come up with this unimpressive, predictable mush of violent tedium, where the 'humour' (if that's what it's intended to be) is almost entirely based on using ripe, swear-laden, un-p.c. language masquerading as 'wit'. (Ho ho!) I was left virtually unmoved by the whole sorry feature, as was also the rest of the audience, as far as I could determine from their impassive non-reactions.
Two New Mexico bent cops (Alexander Skarsgard and Michael Pena) form a 'double act' (yawn!) in intimidating just about everybody to whom they take a dislike, criminal or not, and squeezing out a tidy profit for themselves - a little of the old blackmail is jolly good fun, after all! Then they find they've bitten off more than they can chew in the form of a young, influential Englishman (Theo James) who doesn't take kindly to having the pair interfere in his own corrupt domain, which includes horse racing, night clubs, porn - while he himself is surrounded by a phalanx of loyal, toughie bodyguards.
Can't be bothered to say much else about it. I've been searching my mind for something positive to mention. Well, I suppose the film does have energy, but even that's only apparent sporadically. There are no moments of suspense sustained over a number of minutes, not helped by the fact that personal interest in or sympathy with any of the characters is remarkably low. But I did like their visit to Iceland, though far too short, in which I could wonder at the fabulous, snowbound scenery. There was also a short pursuit down an Icelandic street (can only be in Reykjavik, can't it?). I think it must be the first time I've seen a view of any street in that country on screen. Additional to these rare delights, there's also a pleasing soundtrack including two or three of Glen Campbell's well-known hits.
As to the storyline, just about everything is what we've already seen before, and done better - though one particular method of a certain person's demise has only been rarely depicted (usually confined to 'oriental' films) though it's only a minor detail.
I'll be generous with my rating, but only because if I scored it any lower it might come into the category of looking so bad that it might be thought to be just worth seeing. It's not!................4
3 hours ago
Sounds like a miss to me. Although Alexander is quite nice to look at
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, Sol, he does zero to me, though I didn't change any aspect of my opinion because of his starring role.
DeleteI agree about Skarsgard being "watch" worthy, but, for me, the very best part of the review was this:
ReplyDelete"I'll be generous with my rating, but only because if I scored it any lower it might come into the category of looking so bad that it might be thought to be just worth seeing. It's not!"
So true, because sometimes you wanna see the car wreck. but you really shouldn't.
Ratings on IMDb site so far are higher than average, Bob, but not markedly so. I've yet to see any especially enthusiastic review of this.
DeleteAs to watching it, it might be improved by the ingestion of some alcoholic beverage before and during.
I agree with you about "Calvary", but this sounds ghastly. I will definitely give it a miss. Regarding Iceland, have you seen a quirky and utterly beguiling film called "Rams", set in Iceland? Spectacular snowbound scenery, minimal dialogue.
ReplyDeleteI didn't see 'Rams' on purpose, Judith, even though there was every opportunity to catch it. Reason being that I suspected, given its title, it featured said animals a number of times, perhaps in situations of suffering or distress, a feature I always seek to avoid. I dare say you or someone will tell me that, in fact, it didn't show these, in which case I made a bad decision. But otherwise I would certainly have seen it as it sounded like my 'type' of film - and Iceland is such a fascinating country anyway, somewhere I've never visited, one of the reasons being that I reckon it must be quite difficult eating as a veggie in that fish-heavy country.
DeletePS: I meant to add: How are you? I hope you're doing ok.
ReplyDeleteI'm feeling fine, thanks - though maybe not looking it when I speak, smile - or worse, laugh. But I can live with that. In fact I'm seriously thinking of telling the dentist not to bother with the repair works at all. Why undergo the pain involved when it's not absolutely necessary? If I was going on a date, blind or otherwise, it might have mattered, but at my age I'm not bothered. Anyway, current situation is that nearly three months now since it happened I'm STILL awaiting a hospital appointment to have X-rays taken. I hope I'm not called now. That'll suit me best. But thanks for asking.
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