Cinematic Spotlight

The Driver written and directed by Walter Hill is an Neo-western action-thriller set in Los Angeles. The film follows the titular Driver portrayed by the Late Ryan O’Neal. The Driver acts as a getaway man-for hire to bank robbers and thieves. He is the best at what he does and comes well respected amongst crooks. He and his accomplices never get caught. 

Enter the Detective (Bruce Dern), a tenacious and driven cop who always get his man. He and the Driver engage in their very own cat and mouse game throughout LA with The Player (Isabelle Adjani) in the middle, playing both of them against each other. Soon a job is set up and the real game begins. A game where only one man can win. The Driver or The Detective. 

The film maintains an effective balance of action packed stunts and story driven drama. O’Neal does a good job at playing a quiet driver who is highly competent and effective at what he is hired to do. However the real star of the show is Dern’s The Detective.  Dern plays the detective with a natural and charismatic energy that puts him at odds with the Driver. His performance pushes the boundaries of being over the top yet captivating nonetheless. Isabelle Adjani’s performance as the Player adds a latent tension to the film. Interacting with both The Driver and The Detective to twist an audience’s notion on which side she is on. 

The Driver although not well received upon its release, picked up a strong following in the decades that followed.  Influencing directors such as Quentin Tarantino, Edgar Wright, and Nicholas Winding Refn. With both Wright and Refn paying homage to the film in their films; Baby Driver (2017) and Drive (2011). Both featuring a getaway driver forced into a confrontational situation in which he must drive and persist to win. The Driver has lived up to films of the era such as Bullitt, The Getaway, and A Vanishing Point. Achieving a legacy of its own with fans remembering its new – wave style. 

If you like films that are similar to Drive and Baby Driver, if you like films that have fast and exciting car chases with a thrilling story behind them. The Driver is perfect for you. It is a simplistic yet exhilarating piece that is memorable and will keep your eyes on the screen.

The Driver (1978) is owned by 20th Century Studios and StudioCanal.
All rights belong to them.

Photo Reference: StudioCanal UK.

What is it about biopics that can grab the attention of people more than some other films? Is it the authenticity, is it the view of reality or is it the sense of inspiration it gives us after the viewing?

All films tell stories. Stories of fiction, from a creator’s mind with tales of impossible and impractical scenarios and stories of non-fiction from a creator’s heart and soul that tell the tale of individuals and both the failures and glories shared in their lives set in the real world.

The biopic Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story is a film that captures an individual’s failures and glories in a way that is inspiring and feel-good.

Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story is a 2009 biographical TV movie based on the novel of the same name. The film centres on renowned neurosurgeon Dr Ben Carson. It tells the tale of Carson from his adolescence obtaining poor grades in a poverty-stricken, broken environment to his time as an accomplished doctor in the field of Pediatric Neurosurgery.

The film begins in 1987, when Ben as head of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Medical School, is tasked to perform an experimental surgery on conjoined twin boys joined at the brain. He accepts this challenge with no idea of how to complete it and with an issue that has been haunting him relevant to the task. Ben begins to reminisce over his life, starting with his youth as a poor-tempered, academically flawed boy with his mother to support him in his endeavours to improve his academics whilst hiding her own intellectual and mental difficulties from Ben and his brother.

Picture Above: Dr Ben Carson.

Ben goes through multiple changes in his life, positively impacting his academics, relationships, and overall life. He changes for his own good with encouragement from loved ones and disregard for those who look down on him. Despite all the negativity Ben goes through, he slowly overcomes and succeeds with his own life.

Gifted Hands is a tale of faith, a tale of finding your way and never giving up. Gifted Hands is a tale that can apply to all of us in some ways. It shows us that both the good and bad chapters define who we are and that it is never too late to change once you believe in yourself.

If you like a story about the human condition and need a lift when you are feeling down, then Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story is the movie for you. It serves as a poignant reminder, that greatness is within us all and will only be unleashed with a great force.

Post #1 Pirates of the Carribean Series

“Frankly,  my dear, I don’t give a damn.”  

These words from the iconic 1938 film Gone with the Wind echo in the vast corridor of film history.  The world of film has come such a long way since Clark Gable spoke those words to Vivien Leigh.   It has both prospered and declined from the perspective of many.  But no matter what, it has stayed special to those who cherish it.  It acts as a voice to the world speaking about issues such as identity, war, sexuality and many others.  Films gained their initial channel through cinemas but increased their reach through means such as television and streaming as the years have gone by.  There is no doubt that Film and Television have not reached us or impacted us in some shape or manner.

Without further ado, the first topic of discussion for this blog is a film series of great acclaim and popularity which started in the year 2003. 

The series is of course Disney’s Pirates of the Carribean. 

Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean has been one of the most iconic and successful movie series of all time, grossing over $4.5 Billion worldwide.   The success of the franchise can be attributed to excellent storytelling, a great score by Han Zimmer as well as brilliant portrayals by the cast.   But to many it is Johnny Depp’s portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow that solidifies the series’ position in popular culture.

The series follows Sparrow (Depp), a pirate more eccentric than he is infamous.   The movies usually revolve around his character searching for something of value that is surrounded by supernatural and magical elements.   He is joined for the first three films by Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), the son of an infamous pirate and Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) A lady of prosperity who wishes to be a pirate.  Together, they come across menacing villains, and numerous betrayals, and build a relationship that shows through their chemistry. 

The series consists of 5 films: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Dead Man’s Chest, At World’s End, On Stranger Tides, and Dead Men Tell No Tales. The original trilogy introduce us to the main characters of Sparrow, Swann, Turner, Gibbs (Sparrow’s first mate and close friend) Hector Barbossa ( Rival to Jack Sparrow) and the villainous tentacle face Davy Jones.

On Stranger Tides and Dead Men Tell No Tales act as spinoffs in Jack’s adventure to seek treasure.

Pirates of The Caribbean is a swashbuckling, captivating adventure from the start of Curse of the Black Pearl to the end of Dead Men Tell No Tales.   The stories are enjoyable, fun and filled with intrigue and conflict.  By the end of these films, we can’t help but relate and root for the main characters Will and Elizabeth as they share their journey together in the world of pirates.   And we certainly can’t help but be drawn to Depp’s portrayal of Jack Sparrow, as he faces treacherous villains, find treasures of great power and of course, deal with a lack of rum!  An adventure to be shared with the family, however, discretion is advised with some of the eerie scenes that showcase the supernatural element of the films.  If you enjoy Johnny Depp and supernatural adventures , the pirate life is for you.