FREE AND EASY

US, 1930, 92 minutes, Black and white.
Buster Keaton, Anita Page, Robert Montgomery, Trixie Friganza, Fred Niblo, Lionel Barrymore, David Burton, William Haines.
Directed by Edward Sedgwick.

After successful films in the 1920s, silent films, like The General, Buster Keaton moved into the sound era. This was his first sound film. He was to continue, with ups and downs, until the mid 1960s with A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Donald O’ Connor starred in 1957 in The Buster Keaton Story.

This is a Hollywood film, although it starts in the midwest, a young woman, Anita Page, travelling with her dominating mother, Trixie Friganza, goes to Hollywood for an audition. She is chaperoned by a town official played by Buster Keaton who is one of those sad little men that he portrayed so often, subject to a great deal of slapstick early in the film trying to get on and off the train. On the train is a heartthrob played by Robert Montgomery, sure of himself, ingratiating himself with the young woman.

The film is a great deal about Hollywood, including a film premiere with Buster Keaton finding himself on stage with actor William Haines in some farcical situations. He is excluded from the studios but tries to get in, with all kinds of ruses and disguises, wanders the sets, encounters actual directors Fred Niblo and Lionel Barrymore at work with their films. The young girl has some auditions, gets some roles – and there are some quite lavish presentations of film styles of the time, especially elaborate musicals with choruses.

Keaton is also offered an opportunity to appear in a film, in costume, but he makes a continual hash of his lines, all kinds of slapstick comedy as he ruins the filmmaking.

The mother also gets a film contract and throws her weight around.

Finally, Keaton who is in love with the young girl tries to explain his love for her but she interprets this as his giving good advice as to her response to Larry and his overtures.

THE JUNGLE BOOK 2

US, 2003, 72 minutes, Colour.
Voices of: John Goodman, Haley Joel Osment, Mae Whitman, Connor Funk, Bob Joles, Tony Jay, John Rhys- Davies, Jim Cummings, Phil Collins.
Directed by Steve Trenbirth.

The Jungle Book 2 is a brief sequel to the original Disney animated film of 1967, following a trend of this period at the Disney studios to provide brief sequels to their main successful films like Lady and the Tramp, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, The Lion King.

The main feature of this sequel is that Mowgli is now living in the village, having left the jungle behind but still pining for it, under the care of benign father and mother, the father voiced by John Rhys- Davies. Mowgli is voiced by Haley Joel Osmond just after his success in The Six Sense and at the time of Pay It Forward. One of the main attractions is to have John Goodman as the hefty bear, Baloo, Phil Harris in the original – and capitalising on the popular song of the original film, The Bare Necessities.

Tony Jay does a good imitation of George Sanders’ voice as the sinister tiger, Shere Khan. Mae Whitman is the voice of Shanti, an attractive young girl in the village who Mowgli says he is not interested in, but… In the jungle there are the familiar animals, the black panther, the sibilant snake who becomes the butt of a lot of physical comedy, the monkeys and featured particularly, the elephants.

The opening is rather sugary with Mowgli in the town, his adoptive parents and their mischievous little baby boy who gets into the action when everybody starts searching for Mowlgi in the jungle.

Mowgli tries to get everyone to go into the jungle but is confined to the house. But, he comes across Baloo and off they go, singing and dancing, meeting all the animals, enjoying their friendship and the spirit of the jungle. But, Shere Khan has a long memory and tries to track down Mowgli, even going into the village, terrorising Shanti, but eventually overreaching himself and falling into a pit.

There are mild adventures which should entertain the young audience, especially those who want more after seeing the original Jungle Book. But, it is brief, derivative, something of a repetition, not a substitute for the original – but a light entertainment.

The Jungle Book was filmed in 1942 with the actor Sabu. There was a lavish re-make in making 2016, live-action for Mowgli and the animals, but the voices of a top cast, including Bill Murray as Baloo.
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2002

Everybody enjoyed The Jungle Book. In theatres, on video, it is a very popular film.

It is something of a shock to realise that it was first released in 1968. Children who were ten at the time and enjoyed it are now on the verge of being grandparents. It has taken thirty five years to make a sequel. There have been two live-action versions of The Jungle Book, but Disney's cartoon has remained the favourite.

The Makers of Jungle Book 2 have been careful to stay close to the original. The drawings are the same. All the familiar characters are there: Mowgli, of course, and Baloo; Bagheera returns as does Kaa, who is still trying tro hypnotise a potential lunch; the Elephant Colonel is still leading the parade. And there is no more sleek and cunning a villain than Shere Kahn. In case anybody has forgotten, Baloo and Mowgli burst into song several times with The Bare Necessities.

Sadly some of the voices from the 1960s are no longer with us. While Phil Harris made a boisterous Baloo, now John Goodman is equally boisterous. The producers have gone for quality for the voice of Mowgli. It is Haley Joel Osment from The Sixth Sense and AI: Artificial Intelligence. While George Sander's voice made for a smootlhly sinister Shere Khan, Tony Jay now does an excellent impression. Most audiences will not notice the new cast and will be content with how well done the sequel is.

At 75 minutes, it is full of action, humour and colour to entertain young children. The story is simple. Mowgli has settled down with a family in a village but he remains restless. His foster mother says that you can take the boy out of the jungle but you can't take the jungle out of the boy. When he returns to see his friends, he has a wonderful time. Shanti, the daughter of the family goes searching for him (at night, of course, with plenty of owls and bats to frighten her) and there are so scary bits, but not too scary. At the end, Mowgli has to make a decision: is his life to be in the jungle or in the village.

Parents and young children who know The Jungle Book will very much enjoy Jungle Book 2.

CASTLES IN THE SKY

UK, 2014, 90 minutes, Colour.
Eddie Izzard, Alex Jennings, David Hayman, Julian Rhind- Tutt, Laura Fraser, Karl Davies, Celyn Jones.
Directed by Gillies Mac Kinnon.

Castles in Sky is an interesting film for television, directed by the veteran Gillies Mac Kinnon who made quite a number of small budget films and worked extensively in television series.

The film is the story of Robert Watts Watson, a weather scientist who came up with what eventually became radar detection. Eddie Izzard gives an interesting and very serious performance as Watson. The film takes place between 1935 and 1940, includes a great deal of the contemporary footage of Hitler, the development of the Luftwaffe, the plans for invasion – as well as the British government response.

Watson gives a basic idea to the government officials, played by Alex Jennings and Julian Rhind- Tutt, with constant opposition from Professor Lindemann, David Hayman, who supported equipment development for attack has the best way of defence.

Watson chose workers, not from the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, but rather ordinary workers – with a symbol of not wearing ties. There is a background of Watson’s relationship with his wife, Margaret, Laura Fraser, and the pressure of his continually being away from home and the breakdown of the marriage because of his dedication to his work.

The film develops the work, the details of the experiments, continually getting ideas, testing, lack of financial support, reports to government, gradual improvements, tests which failed, tests which succeeded – and the final sequence where the radar is used during the Battle of Britain in 1940. Watson was knighted in 1942 – and the influence of his insights and developments have had enormous scientific and strategic repercussions and consequences.

1. A tribute to Robert Watts Watson? Inventor? Radar? Contribution to the defence of Britain in World War II?

2. The re-creation of the 1930s, Britain, the countryside, Whitehall, weather scientists, government recruitment, experiments and inventions, developments and difficult financial conditions, support and criticism? The venues for working, old sheds, the coast, the mansion? The tests? The musical score?

3. The title, the reference to the radar centres and their work, linking them along the British coast?

4. The extensive inclusion of footage of Hitler, spirit in Germany in the 1930s, the development of the Luftwaffe?

5. The portrait of Robert, Eddie Izzard’s performance, age, experience, marriage to Margaret, his work with the weather, home life, his nephew and his help? His assistant?

6. The government, the discussions about Hitler’s building plans, the Luftwaffe, the interviews, the eccentric schemes, Robert and his awkwardness dropping the papers, the explanations, the attention Tizzard and Rowe? The choice of him to work?

7. Robert, local, not wanting Oxford dons, the call to Oxford and the phone in the fish tank? Interviews, Taffy and his Welsh background? The symbolism of not wearing ties?

8. Assembling the team, his friend, the official secrets act and death by hanging? Their gathering, the old estate, limited resources, the blackboard, using their ingenuity? Issues of power and speculating on them? Issues of range?

9. The basic principle of radar, the ionosphere, bouncing signals back to earth? The hard work, the difficult tests? Gradual understandings? Robert and his frustration, his apology to the men? The cricket match? Taffy and his ideas? The continued development?

10. Tizzard, his support, the meetings, security? Rowe as the go-between, his wariness, support? The visits of the air chiefs? The continued hostility of Professor Lindemann and, his contact in the staff and being up-to-date with information?

11. Churchill, his coming to power, his convening the meeting, the discussions about the signal, Robert and his explanation of the five castles, Churchill giving the go ahead? The opposition of Lindemann? His contact man exposed, got rid of?

12. The tests, stealing the material from the Navy? Success, detecting the planes, Lindemann wanting low-level detection? Wanting to take over? Robert about to give up? The television set, the smaller valves?

13. Robert and his dedication, love of his wife, their scenes together, the phone calls, the visit to the hotel, his dinner and forgetting it and sleeping, forgetting his wife’s anniversary, going home, her leaving the note? No further information about the relationship?

14. The test, the actual use of radar for defending in the Battle of Britain, sending up the planes, guiding their attacks? Lindemann and his ousting of Robert during the Battle of Britain? Rowe urging him out?

15. The tribute to Watson, his knighthood in 1942, the extraordinary influence on developments in his basic ideas and experiments?

A BEGINNERS GUIDE TO ENDINGS

Canada, 2010, 93 minutes, Colour.
Harvey Keitel, Scott Caan, J.K.Simmons, Paulo Costanzo, Jason Jones, Jared Keeso, Tricia Helfer, Wendy Crewson, Stephen Mc Hattie, James Preston Rogers, Siam Yu.
Directed by Jonathan Sobol.

The invitation is to pay attention to the title of this film, the emphasis on endings – and death – and beginner’s luck and lack of luck concerning death.

Harvey Keitel’s initial voice-over tells us of his impending death – and then the revelation that his four sons, from various mothers, have little time to live. In their childhood, he contracted to get some money by making them participate in a medical experiment, taking tablets, which means that they have a limited lifetime.

The film is mainly about the brothers, each eccentric in their own way, life at home, interactions, careers, especially in boxing, relationships…

With all these ups and downs, they finally discover, as, perhaps, they always should have known, that their mother did not agree with the medical experiment and substituted harmless tablets instead of those prescribed.

A lot of the comedy is tongue-in-cheek, sometimes broad, some moments of subtlety, a Canadian entertainment.

1. The title, comic, expectations?

2. Knowing a greater, homes, jobs, church, pipes and experiments? The musical score?

3. Duke, his voice-over, his story, his bad life, the explanation of each son, the different mothers, his comments on each? Going to die? His narration, the pork, the Roebuck and the log, the different attempts, his reminiscing, his requests? Arriving in Viagra, the two weeks, the irony is, saving Jacob, going over the falls? Dying happy?

4. His will, the gathering in the church, uncle Pal? Cal arriving late, banking up the woman, the fight, Nuts explaining how to punch? The gathering afterwards, the drinking, the letter, the news about the pills and the experiment, their impending deaths?

5. The flashbacks, Duke and his arrangement with the company, the pills, putting them in the fridge? His taking the money, the flashbacks showing him gambling it all away? The small amount left in the bequests?

6. The irony of their mother, telling that they were not dying, the fact that she substituted the pills for peppermints?

7. The Brothers, interactions amongst themselves, in the house?

8. Nuts, boxer, his failures, the clashes with the brothers, using Juice box, with the manager, the deals, his brother having to fight, seeing the champion, his fears, his conscience and his taking his place, going into the ring, the electricity blackout, knocking at the champion, winning? And his throwing syllabi at the window and hitting big Mitch?

9. Jacob, about to die, his holding a job, making a bucket list, sharing it with his brother? During the opposite in his life, the car, the tenant to and it paying, diving, the collage of all his activities, the humorous sequence and his talking to the girl about his smile and her smile? 19 on the preparation, in the container, his mother trying to stop him, stuck in the container, snagged on the branch and his being rescued?

10. Cal, the womaniser, the troubles, his deciding to reform because he was dying, the plan to see Miranda, not having seen her since school, the three husbands, travelling, finding her, her happiness in seeing him, going to the bar, Big Mitch, the challenge, the wood and nails, Mitch and the silver bar hitting him, the train tracks, trying to break the handcuff, cutting off his hand? His being a good sport? Cal and his coming to his senses?

11. Juice box, slow witted, with the brothers, going to fight, preparations, seeing the champion, the years ?

12. Little boy, sensible, all the activities, his funny remarks, sharing with Jacob?

13. The mother, coming to their rescue, the happy household at the end?

14. Importance of all coincidences, all coming together, the humour, saving the brothers, and a happy ending?

CITY STATE/ BORGRIKI

Iceland, 2011, 87 minutes, Colour.
Zlatko Krickic, Agusta Eva Erlendsdottir, Ingvar Eggert Sigurasson, Siguraur Sigurjonsson, Bjorn Thors.
Directed by Olaf de Fleur.

City State is quite a grim thriller, set in contemporary Reykjavik, with quality number of strands interconnecting.

A Serb man is distraught when his unborn child is killed. A policewoman is caught up investigations. The drug scene in Iceland is experiencing a takeover from foreign criminals. And there are local corrupt police.

The film is edited like an American thriller, different time periods, each making comment on the other, an unpleasant picture of what international drug crime can do to individuals, groups and a culture.

Representatives of the foreign drug dealers are played by Jonathan Pryce and Philip Jackson.

1. Europeans story, the Iceland setting? Production?

2. The settings, the city, homes, garages, restaurants, offices? Authentic feel? The score?

3. The title?

4. The world of crime, police, corruption?

5. Sergei, his Serbian background, in Iceland, the deals, the garage, the various thugs, hiding the drugs, the threat to his wife, the life,
her miscarriage, in hospital, his motivations for action, the fellow Serbs, the confrontation with gun, with the police? Threats and violence?

6. The police, the leader and Andrea, the effect, the wife, being thrown from the balcony, surviving, in hospital, the two women? His continued pursuit?

7. Ingolfur and his role, with Sergei, the garage, the further confrontations, the thugs, getting out, the confrontation?

8. Gunnar in himself, his business, the English partner and his giving up, the outsider, the temptation of his bids? Gunnar, his health, collapse? Ingolfur and Sergei, revenge?

9. The police chief, deals, data the clubs, the prostitutes, his corruption, arranging evidence, the challenge from Gunnar?

10. The range of characters, situations – and an ugly environment picture of the city state?

OLIVER TWIST

US/Ireland, 1997, 91 minutes, Colour.
Richard Dreyfuss, Elijah Wood, David O' Hara, Alex Trench, Antoine Byrne, Olivia Caffrey, Anthony Finnigan, Maria Charles.
Directed by Tony Bill.

This Disney version of Oliver Twist was made for television, filming in Ireland and directed by actor-director, Tony Bill.

It recreates the familiar story, classically filled in 1948 by David Lean with Alec Guinness as Fagin. Soon after this film, he was to be played by Ben Kingsley, directed by Roman Polanski. Oliver is played by Alex Trench, whose only film this is. The part of Bill Sykes is played by David O’ Hara and, surprisingly, The Artful Dodger is played by Elijah Wood.

The film re-creates the North of England as well as London, with some lavish sets, costumes and decor. A number of commentators considered that the film was too bright-looking, a touch sugary, owing much to the musical will film version, Oliver.

1. The popularity of Dickens’ tale? The many film versions? Classics, the musical, Oliver? A variety of versions for television and cinema?

2. This production from Disney? The abbreviation of the story? Inclusions and omissions? An adaptation of details, differing from the novel?

3. The film made in Ireland, the re-creation of the North of England, the workhouse, London, the markets, the squalid areas, Grosvenor Square and its affluence, genteel? The musical score?

4. The bright colours of the film, the tone, reminiscences of Oliver – and audiences, perhaps, anticipating the characters to move into song?

5. The opening, the pregnant mother, giving birth, the hard attitudes of the authorities? Her locket and portrait? The widow taking care of it?

6. Oliver at six, the workhouse, hard work, the hard grind, the laundry? The widow and her attitudes? Oliver wanting to see the locket?

7. Oliver at 12, the continued hard work, the other orphans, the scene with Oliver asking for more? Punishments? Oliver as a strong character, demanding, wanting the locket, the refusal? His being ousted, the decision to return, taking the locket?

8. Oliver in London, wandering, the encounter with Dodger, his friendship, support, Oliver hungry, taking him to Fagin, Fagin liking him? The other boys? Bill and his being threatening? Nancy and her friendship?

9. The character of Fagin, the Jewish emphasis, Richard Dreyfuss’ interpretation? Friendly, sinister, his control of the boys, sending them out, their picking pockets, bringing money back, watches and jewels, Bill Sykes and his wanting his cut? Fagin and his secret box, Oliver seeing it, Fagin swearing him to silence, the threats? The lesson where Oliver had to pick the pocket and the handkerchief?

10. Dodger, his age, with the other boys, self-confidence, Fagin previously being betrayed by the boy, the boy going to jail, Dodger’s explanation of the jail and the opportunity to learn all the techniques of stealing?

11. In the street, the illustration of pickpocketing, kind people in the park, giving money even while being robbed? Oliver, the situation, his being caught, taken to the judge? Dodger reassuring Fagin that Oliver would not peach?

12. Mr Brownlow, Rose, compassion for Oliver, the appeal to the harsh judge, his going to the Brownlow house, Grosvenor square, clothes, food, the week?

13. Mr Brownlow entrusting Oliver with the books, the money, Oliver not returning, Mr Brownlow losing trust? Nancy’s visit, the reassurance, hoping to get Oliver back? Realising that Oliver was his daughter’s son?

14. Bill and Fagin, wanting Oliver back, Nancy snaring him, Fagin and his fears, Oliver and his reassurance, but wanting his locket back from Fagin?

15. Bill Sykes, the menace, the midnight rendezvous, his killing Nancy? Mr Brownlow and Rose at the Bridge? Bill with Oliver on the roof? The menace, the police, the crowds? Bill and his fall and death? The rescue of Oliver?

16. Oliver’s happy future? Dodger and his helping Oliver – and willing to go to jail?

17. Fagin and his confrontation with Bill, the jewels, Bill hitting him – but his surviving?

HARD DRIVE

Canada, 2014, 90 minutes, Colour.
Douglas Smith, Laura Wiggins, Megan Follows, Jerry Granelli.
Directed by William D. Mac Gillivray.

Hard Drive is a small film from director William D.Mac Gillivray who made the interesting small-budget films Life Classes and Understanding Bliss in the late 1980s. After that he made a number of documentaries, with a return to features with this film.

Set in a Canadian city, it focuses on young 23-year-old man and his mother, she very possessive of her son, he rather inexperienced but with a love of music and influenced by his mother’s border, a famous musician. The film also focuses on a young woman, some mysterious background, who travels to the city, locates herself in an apartment across the street, encounters a young man who welcomes her. His mother becomes suspicious of the girl and the relationship. The young woman encourages him to a great freedom, initiating him sexually.

She has a secret, especially with a laptop computer which has significant information, images of the father and she and the young man go to confront him, with dramatic results, death and the court case.

It is well acted – but the film had a limited release, arthouse cinemas and specialist television screenings.


1. A brief character study? Relationships? Family? Mentor?

2. The Nova Scotia setting, the town, homes, the open road, the winter season?

3. The musical score, the background of past songs, the drumming?

4. The title? Ditch and driving? The hard drive in Debs’ computer, Ditch taking it out? Debs posting it to the police?

5. The character of Ditch? His age, personality, relationship with his mother, the tensions, his absent father, his father a musician and
his inheriting rhythms, his mother being irritated with him, his drumming at the table, his clothes, the coat? His job, collecting the papers, taking them to the tip, collecting his money? The girl at the desk, taking her out with friends, the club, his drinking, the drumming, the fight? Debs and her intervening?

6. Debs, on the bus, no background, going into the room, observing Ditch, saving him at the club? Discussions, support, driving, friendship, Ditch as her first friend? Moving in, the relationship? The photos, the computer, at home with Ditch? The sexual experiences? The reaction of Ditch’s mother, her wanting Debs out?

7. The character of Knudsen? An old man, boarding, his love of the drums, playing, encouraging Ditch? His collapse and death?

8. Barbara, abandoned by her husband, saying she had thrown the postcard away, finally giving it to Ditch? Her work, the computer, possessive of her son while scolding him? Wanting Debs out? Ditch and his decision to leave? Her regrets?

9. Ditch, with Debs, looking at the computer? Debs revealing the sexual abuse by her father? On the computer, the visuals? The revelation of his abuse from the time she was 13, then filming, sending out the videos?

10. Ditch and Debs travelling, the confrontation with her father, the gun, giving him the computer?

11. The irony of Ditch taking out the hard to drive? Posting it to the police? The headlines on the newspaper, his being charged? Debs and her decision to return to see the case out? Saying Ditch was her only friend?

12. The effect of this experience on Ditch, a future, returning home or not, his mother, after the solution of the case and meeting Debs again?

THE BANGER SISTERS

US, 2002, 98 minutes, Colour.
Goldie Hawn, Susan Sarandon, Geoffrey Rush, Erika Christensen, Robin Thomas, Eva Amurri.
Directed by Bob Dolman.

As a matter of historical interest, this was Goldie Hawn’s last film. She had been a star for more than 40 years, winning an Oscar for Cactus Flower in 1969. She had a strong career as a flighty blonde in such interesting films as Death Becomes Her and The First Wives’ Club.

Susan Sarandon had been acting for 40 years, a strong reputation for serious performances, but also with the light touch, especially with such films as Thelma and Louise, winning an Oscar in 1995 for Dead Man Walking as Sister Helen Prejean.

The story is slight, Goldie Hawn’s Suzette losing her job at a disco, deciding on a whim to visit her friend, Vinnie, in Phoenix, Arizona, teaming up with an author, played by Geoffrey Rush, on the way. While there is Goldie Hawn old-style tumour, there is the humour that Vinnie has become a very respectable citizen, Lavinia, married to a lawyer, with two children. Instead of the perhaps predictable clash between the two, what actually happens is that Vinnie goes down to the basement, discovers photos from the past, cuts her hair, puts on old clothes, goes out on the town with Suzette and transforms, much to the surprise of her husband and daughters.

An easy-going comedy relying on the talents of the stars.

1. A popular comedy, for older audiences, women’s audiences?

2. The strong cast, their careers, talent for drama, for comedy?

3. Los Angeles, the Whiskey a Go Go, on the road through California to Arizona? The city of Phoenix? Homes, city scenes, clubs? The musical score?

4. The presence of Goldie Hawn as Suzette, working at the Whiskey a Go Go club, being fired, stranded, her age, experience, her whim, to go to Phoenix, to be reunited with Vinnie, the groupies, the bands, the memories, the possibility for re-living the past? Driving, the encounter with Harry, the author, his story? In Phoenix, the encounter with Hannah, Harry’s hotel room, the drugs, Hannah being sick?

5. Going to see Vinnie, finding that she was Lavinia, the perfect mother and wife, her children saying she could never do and had never done anything wrong? Her husband, Raymond, the lawyer? Well-off, the spacious home, lifestyle? Husband and daughters?

6. The effect of Suzette’s presence? Vinnie going to the basement, the memories, as groupies, the photos, the stars’ penises? Her decision to let off steam, transform herself, cutting her hair, the clothes from the past, going out on the town, dancing, the effect of the night out? Her transformation?

7. The effect on Raymond, on the daughters – and herself? Her future?

8. Harry, the story about his father, his work, the hotel? The attraction to Suzette? Her becoming his muse and returning to Los Angeles with her?

HOT TUB TIME MACHINE 2

US, 2015, 93 minutes, Colour.
Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson, Clark Duke, Adam Scott, Gillian Jacobs, Chevy Chase, Collette Wolfe.
Directed by Steve Pink.

Depends on how audiences responded to Hot Tub Time Machine, 2010. Many fans did not take well to this sequel.

With John Cusack absent, the focus of attention is on Lou, played by Rob Corrdry, no holds fields barred on sex jokes and innuendo. Craig Robinson is present again as his musical friend, exploited by Lou, Nick. And then there is Lou’s son, Jacob, young and ungainly and put upon by the others, played by Clark Duke, but moving, in the future, to be as much like his father as possible.

With ego flying, Lou makes himself the centre of attention but there is an attempt on his life, his being shot in his genitals – more jokes… The group decide to go into the future, getting the help of Chevy Chase. The future they find themselves in is vaguely familiar, television shows only more futuristic… And they encounter Adam’s son, played by Adam Scott. He seems agreeable enough, is about to get married, but has his own problems – including a psychedelic drug experience. However, there are difficulties with Lou.

And back they all go to thwart the attempt on Lou, only to find that it is Adam’s son who is the would-be assassin.

Men playing adult boys, with jokes mainly geared towards men responding as boys.

THE LEISURE CLASS

US, 2015, 86 minutes, Colour.
Ed Weeks, Tom Bell, Bridget Regan, Scottie Thompson, Bruce Davison, Brenda Strong.
Directed by Jason Mann.


The Leisure Class has interesting credentials, producers including Matt Damon and the Farrelly Bros, a Project Greenlight film.

The setting is Connecticut, a wealthy family estate of the Senator, Bruce Davison, celebrating the engagement of his daughter, Bridget Reagan, to William, a British financier, Ed Weeks. All seems to be going well on the surface, an elaborate affair with many high society and political visitors present.

Into the celebrations comes William’s brother, played very eccentrically by Tom Bell, who interrupts the occasion with his outlandish behaviour, the unmasking of William as a British conman, after the family’s money. The younger daughter of the family decides to play along with the intruder.

This is one of those films where a lot of truths are revealed by angry characters, the Senator, especially, revealed as a harsh man, down on his inherited finances, eager for a successful marriage. William gets involved in his fiancee’s reckless behaviour and drinking and tries to rescue her. This leads to many scenes of confrontation, bitterness, and, instead of a happy resolution, the daughter herself, influenced by her sister had been long alienated from the father, making a business arrangement marriage to thwart her father.

While some have billrd it as a comedy, it is not such a funny film but rather sardonic and satirical in its perspective on the business world, the world of the wealthy, the political world.

1. A small film, Project Greenlight experiment’s, HBO? The producers: an applicant for the Greenlight Project, Matt Damon, Farrelly Brothers?

2. The Connecticut settings, the mansion and grounds, the wealthy class? The political background and atmosphere? The opening party, the preparations for the wedding? Lavish costumes, decor? The musical score?

3. The credibility of the story on characters, the Langstons and their heritage, the pressure of the heritage, the railroads and wealth, positions in politics, the Senate? Langston having no son, the effect, his attitude towards his daughters, politically for his daughter? His anger, driving Allison away, on the surface, cultivating links, beneath the surface?

4. Fiona, nice, her decision about politics, daddy’s girl, meeting with Charles, engaged, the plans to marry, so quickly? At the party, socialising, the campaign issues?

5. Charles, from the UK, his alleged background, Eton and education? Pleasant, a trophy husband for the Langstons, his becoming involved, in love with Fiona, attitude towards her parents, his behaviour at the party?

6. The arrival of Leonard, the secret brother, his behaviour, reckless, childish, an alleged free spirit? Confronting Charles, the revelation that he was William? William wanting him to be Dean, school friend, the discussions, Leonard always taking over, with the family, the talk about the Charities? His clothes, manner, Caroline and her immediate infatuation? The discussions with William, the cash offer to go, accepting, changing his mind, staying? In the room, locked, the key, Caroline helping to him to get out, the drinks and the Langston safe, the raid, driving off to the party, his rousing up the guests, all in the pool?

7. Caroline, young, inexperienced, wanting to be sexy, infatuated with Dean? Dean and the later arrival of a prostitute, her place, remarks, Caroline’s response?

8. Allison, lawyer, being away, returning home for the wedding, her cold manner, the importance of documents, her wanting to investigate Charles? Going to the party? Observing? Fiona, the reaction, going to the party, trying to save her father’s reputation, not going into the pool, the challenge, her going you?

9. Charles, waking, the reaction of the butler, his acting like Fiona’s father, taking away from the party, his being shocked? The reckless driving, the crash, the ambulance, Langston coming, the cover-up, not wanting any scandals because of the politics?

10. The revelation of the truth, Ted and his drinking, making Leonard strip, whipping him? His long speech, about the heritage, despair? The negative reaction of his wife, his daughters?

11. Leonard deciding to go – and William wanting him to stay?

12. Fiona, discovering her hold over her father, William packing, his decision to go through with the wedding?

13. The wedding going on, all the surfaces and seeming respectability? What future?

14. American society, the role of the British, wealth, fraud, politics, cover-ups? And the touches of satire?