CENTER STAGE

US, 2000, 115 minutes, Colour.
Amanda Schull, Ethan Stiefl, Susan May Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Peter Gallagher, Donna Murphy, Debra Monk, Eion Bailey.
Directed by Nicholas Hytner.

Center Stage is a film about the American Ballet Theatre, a year in its life, the students arriving, the details of their training, the build-up to the performance and the graduation and judgments whether the students be in the company or not. In a way, it is a ballet parallel to Fame.

A similar kind of film was directed by while Robert Altman, with Neve Campbell, The Company.

The cast of young dancers have the opportunity to show their skills in both ballet and modern dance. Ethan Stiefl, as Cooper, is quite outstanding in his abilities. He worked with the American Ballet Theatre and, the parallel with what he doesn’t the end of the film, in 2005 he established his own company.
Veterans Peter Gallagher and Donna Murphy portray the key members of the teaching group and the management of the ballet.
The film was directed by Nicholas Hytner, who directed The Madness of King George, The Crucible, The Object of my Affection and, later, The History Boys. He also spent many years as the director of Britain’s National Film Theatre.
The film will be of great interest to those who love ballet, wanting to know stories about training, rehearsals, the performers themselves - and with a great number of ballet sequences.

1. The popularity of films about ballet? Training? Performance?
2. The status of the American Ballet Theatre, Lincoln Center, performances, school and classes, instructors, management? What insight did the film give about the life of the American Ballet Theatre?
3. The choreography of the training sessions? The popular ballets like Swan Lake and Romeo and Juliet? The innovative ballets, the rehearsals, the performance on the evening, Jonathan’s ballet and its classic style, Cooper’s ballet and its modern dance style?
4. One year at the ballet school? The eager applicants from all over the country, their auditions at home, being selected to go to New York?
5. The arrivals, the rooms and roommates, issues of smoking…? Personality clashes? The group getting to know each other over the months? Greater sympathies? Ambitions? Hopes?
6. The initial talk from Jonathan, realistic about possibilities of success? His reputation? The gossip about his taking Cooper’s girl? The rivalry with Cooper, allowing him to choreograph the students’ ballet? The nature of their interactions, envy and jealousy, spite?
7. Juliette, her role in the ballet, instructor, stern, especially with Eva? Eva standing up to her, her warming to her, helping her? With the other girls? With Jonathan? Her judgments about who should be accepted?
8. Jody’s arrival, with her parents, their hesitations? Her eagerness? With the group? Her trying hard, her technique not good enough, the wrong body shape, Jonathan’s comments? Her response? At the social, Cooper remembering her name, going out with her, dancing, going home with her, the affair, her earnestness and devotion to Cooper, his choosing her for the ballet, training her, the hard work, dropping her personally, Charlie and his support, her walking out in front of Joan Wilson, Charlie and his persuasiveness, her return, the night itself, her nervousness, the performance and the applause? Her parents and their joy? Cooper and his offer, going in to confront Jonathan and Juliet, being the star dancer in Cooper’s company?
9. The contrast with Maureen, the dominance of her mother and her past, not getting into the company because of her feet, working with the ballet, in the office, familiar with Jonathan and Juliet, urging her daughter, the meals together, her insistence on talking about what Maureen wanted? Maureen, having no friends, arrogant? Her skill as a dancer, the star amongst the students? Her being persuaded to go out, enjoying herself, the pizza? Her anorexia and vomiting? Meeting Jim, the relationship, her enjoying herself? Her not concentrating on her dancing? Juliette concerned and talking to her mother? Her confrontation with her mother? Walking out on Jim, his talking plainly about her anorexia? The evening of the ballet, her wish that she could injure herself and not perform? Her happiness with Eva’s success? Her mother walking out, the confrontation, talking about unhappiness, knowing what she wanted and whom she would be happy with, her mother’s response?
10. Eva, Hispanic, arrogant in manner, surly in dealing with people? Her love of dancing? Her friendship with Erik? With the group, at rehearsals and her attitude towards Juliette, talking to Jonathan? Being late? Joining going out? Her self-esteem, Eric comforting her? Rehearsing privately, Juliette finding her, encouraging her? Wanting to be accepted, to dance? The surprise of her taking Maureen’s place, her success and the ballet, the applause? Jonathan and his shock? The interview and her being accepted?
11. Emily, within the group, her lack of success, going out, enjoying eating, criticised by Jonathan, her leaving, with her mother?
12. Cooper, his being the star dancer, in England, his return to America? Rivalry with Jonathan? His girlfriend and leaving him for Jonathan? Yet his dancing professionally with her? The power of the ballet sequence? Man about town, charming Joan Wilson so that she would invest? Her coming to the rehearsal? His picking on Jody for a relationship? The sexual relationship? Her puppy love? His letting her down? But getting her for the dance, training her, her reaction against him, her return and success on the night? His inviting her to be the lead dancer for his new company, financed by Joan Wilson?
13. Charlie, from Seattle, a good dancer, his skills seen in the rehearsals? Attraction to Jody, supporting her, encouraging her? His performance on the night? His being accepted? A future with Jody?
14. Sergei, from Russia, his going out with the group, the tender dancing? Rehearsals for the main ballet, his success on the night? His girlfriend arriving from Russia?
15. Audience interest and the characters, their skills and dancing, their emotions, their clashes, the enjoyment of the outings together, building up a group?

CELL 211

Spain, 2009, 113 minutes, Colour.
Luis Tosar, Alberto Ammann, Carlos Bardem, Antonio Resines.
Directed by Daniel Monzon.

Cell 211 is a vivid film about prisons. It focuses on a range of prisoners, especially top leader, Malamadre, played by Luis Tosar, a veteran of many fine Spanish films.
The film has a strong Hispanic tone about it, riots against conditions in prisons, the taking of hostages, especially ETA hostages and using them for negotiations with the government.
The film shows a young guard entering the prison, hit and mistaken for a prisoner, confined to Cell 211. However, Malamadre takes a liking to him and involves him in the riots and in the negotiations. The young guard continues to pretend to be a prisoner, sharing the experiences and coming to understand something of the conditions and the treatment by the guards. There is pathos as the young man has farewelled his wife, sees her being beaten on a television screen and then and receives the news that she has died. In his anger, he kills the guard who has brutalised his wife.
Ultimately, a SWAT team is called in to resolve the riots and a negotiator shoots both the young guard as well as Malamadre. It is Malamadre who survives.

1. Prison film? Visual experience? Men in prison? Violence and brutality? Guards? Conditions?
2. The title, the focus, the visuals of the cell, Juan confined?
3. The visuals of the prison, the locations, the corridors, the cells, the yards? The audience immersed with the prisoners?
4. The role of the media, cameras, television interviews, giving information? The brutality towards Elena?
5. Social concerns, Spanish, prison rights, criminals and punishment, guards? Riots, hostages, eta? The political implications?
6. The focus on Juan, young, new, entering the prison at the difficult time, his relationship with Elena, his prospects? His being hit, the masonry? His pretence? Put in the cell, the effect on him? The encounter with Malamadre? Surviving? Involved in the riots, the dangers, taking its toll? See Elana on the television? The truth?
7. Malamadre as a central character, his appearance, crime background, control of the men, harsh and tender? The riots, the taking of the hostages? His relationship with Juan, taking care of him? His associates, Apache? Legacy actions? Taking the ETA hostages? Using them?
8. Elena, relationship to her husband, the deals with the negotiator, on the television, her being beaten, the news of her death?
9. The guards, Utrillo, his beating Elena, into the prison, Juan slitting his throat? Juan attempting to hang himself? The use of Utrillo’s body?
10. Juan and his demands, Apache and the negotiations? The SWAT attack?
11. Apache, his shooting Malamadre and Juan? Juan dead? Malamadre surviving?

BLUE JASMINE

US, 2013, 98 minutes, Colour.
Cate Blanchett, Alec Baldwin, Sally Hawkins, Peter Sarsgaard, Andrew Dice Clay, Bobby Cannavale, Louis C.K.
Directed by Woody Allen.

This is certainly a film for Woody Allen’s many admirers. Those who are not his fans might be very well impressed by this film. He wrote and directed it when he was in his mid-seventies, with a long career in humour and film behind him, and serious issues in his private life, traces of which seem to surface in this film.

Part of the film is set in his familiar New York City, the world of the affluent, the social snobs. But there is also a connection to Wall Street, financial fraud and the problems of the first decade of the 21st century, the global financial meltdown. Some commentators have linked some of the themes to Bernie Madoff and his exploitation of people and gambling with their money, as well as to his wife Helen.

Alec Baldwin plays Hal, her charming member of the rich set, but shady in his financial dealings and extravagant in his lifestyle, pampering his wife, but also a womanizer.

Most of the film, however, is not set in New York City but in San Francisco. This is something new for Woody Allen and he photographs the city very attractively as well as showing ordinary life amongst ordinary people. But, there are also affluent people in San Francisco, similar parties to those of New York City. And there are beautiful homes on San Francisco Bay.

However, this is a story about Jeanette, adopted as a child along with another adoptee sister, Ginger. Ginger has run away from home at the earliest opportunity. Jeanette has bigger ambitions and has changed her name to Jasmine. At college, studying anthropology, she was swept off her feet by Hal and married him.

As the film opens, she is travelling from New York to San Francisco by plane, talking incessantly about herself to her fellow-passenger. Jasmine does a lot of talking to herself, her external self-esteem seems very strong, but below the surface she is often bewildered.

Jasmine is played by Cate Blanchett, who offers great performances in her many films, this being certainly one of her best. She commands the screen, audiences involved with her even if they don’t like her and would disapprove of her. She has a great fascination. As the film moves fluidly from present to past and back again, quite often, we see Cate Blanchett’s performance as the seemingly self-assured, pampered wife of the millionaire. But in San Francisco, we see her neurotic, drinking and pill-taking, presumptuously demanding, sponging on her sister, irritated by her nephews, putting her sister’s boyfriend down, extravagant in her outlook despite having to come to terms with her having no money. She tries to learn computer. She works, not very effectively, as a dentist’s secretary and is upset at his advances.

But, after urging her sister to seek other men and Ginger’s finding an agreeable dancing partner at the party, played by Louis C.K., she encounters a charming, reserved diplomat with political ambitions, played by Peter Sarsgaard, who is attracted to her. But, putting on a fantasy front, she prepares her own fate by her lies.

This is Woody Allen drawing on his talent for seriousness seen in such films as Interiors, Hannah and her Sisters or Crimes and Misdemeanours. He does have some comic touches but this is not a film that is meant to be funny in the expected Woody Allen sense. He has written an intense screenplay, a portrait of a disturbed woman, supported by a portrait of a happy-go-lucky woman in Sally Hawkins’ fine performance as Ginger.

In the past, screenplay and performances would have readily received Oscar nominations. It is hoped that they do with Blue Jasmine.

1. A Woody Allen film? His long career? Acclaim for this film? Written and directed in his mid-seventies? Serious and comic?

2. The quality of the cast, Cate Blanchett and her powerful performance? Sally Hawkins and her convincing performance? The supporting roles, comic actors cast against type?

3. The New York setting, familiar from other Woody Allen films, the affluent world, houses on Long Island, mansions, the wealthy set? The world of big business?

4. The comparison with San Francisco, more ordinary, the streets, workers’ apartments, the dentist’s reception room, shops? Parties at the homes of the wealthy? The affluent home on the bay? A feel for San Francisco? The landmarks and the vistas?

5. The relationship of the film to Tennessee Williams and A Streetcar Named Desire? Jasmine’s Blanche, Ginger as Stella, Chili as Stanley? The suggestions that the basic plot was based on the experience of Bernie Madoff and his wife?

6. The musical score, jazz, the recurring theme of Blue Moon, its importance for Jasmine and her first seeing Hal? The final song and its lyrics?

7. The structure of the film, moving between New York and San Francisco, between the present and the past? Illuminating each character, giving information about them, the progress in the relationship between Jasmine and Hal, between Ginger and Augie? Resolution or no resolution?

8. The tone of the film from the introduction, Jasmine talking nonstop, the passenger listening, walking through the airport, at the carousel, the old lady saying Jasmine was talking to herself? The taxi, at the door of the house, phoning Ginger, going for the key, the cab driver helping her, the big tip? Her reaction to the house?

9. The contrast between Ginger and Jasmine, adopted sisters, their relationship with their family, Ginger running away at the earliest opportunity? Jeanette being favoured, changing her name to Jasmine? Their lack of contact? Ginger and Augie winning the lottery? Their visit to New York, Jasmine and her disdain, not wanting to be hospitable but saying the right words, Jasmine genuine in giving advice about the money, her later saying she had no blame? Hal, the investment, the advice, stealing the money? The consequences for Ginger and Augie?

10. The introduction to Ginger, her appearance, manner of speaking, her clothes? Arguing with Augie? The kids, the role of her kids, disturbing Jasmine
with noise, listening to her as she talked about herself?

11. Cate Blanchett as Jasmine, her age, experience, in the forties, adopted, relationship with her parents, going to college, anthropology, Hal sweeping her off her feet? Danny as her stepson? Her life, having everything, wealth, the mansion, gifts of bracelets? Not noticing Hal’s behaviour, having no business interest, gossiping with her friends, charities? Believing Hal, comfortable life, snobbery, self-focused? Ginger and Augie and their visit, her reaction? The party, Ginger noticing Raylene? Having seen her in the street and Hal kissing her? At the party? Discussing this issue with Augie? Deciding not to tell Jasmine? Hal and his continued cheating, his deals? Her challenging Hal about the women, her being upset? Her ringing the FBI? Losing everything, the courts, selling her jewellery, still travelling first class and having first class sensibilities? Her snobbery about Ginger, her drinking, talking, controlling her, condemning Chili? The arguments and taunts with Chili? Deciding to get a job, wanting to talk about it, taking her pills, the computers, help during the classes, the dentist’s job, her work, clients, appointments? Dr. Flipper and his sexual harassment? Her being upset? Leaving? Issues of self-esteem, good self-esteem on the surface, lacking in depth?

12. Ginger adopted, running away, her marriage, Augie as a character, the kids, winning the lottery, Augie’s ambitions, going to New York, Hal and the best Hal and the investment? The separation? Chili in her life, his visits, his friend, the meals, Jasmine’s instant dislike, criticising Chili, the arguments about his being with Ginger, Ginger and her succumbing to Jasmine’s influence? The put-downs of Chili? The invitation to the party, Ginger dancing with Al, talk, the sexual encounters, the lunch hour and the invitation? As a character, installing sound systems? The possibilities of a future? Chili and his anger, weeping, tearing up the phone? Al and the phone call, the discovery that he was married? Ginger and Chili getting back together again? Happy together? And with the boys?

13. Hal, Alec Baldwin’s performance, screen presence, a convincing fraud? Marrying Jasmine, money, the frauds, the documents, the discussions with the lawyers, the partner wanting to opt out, the threat of the police? Augie’s and Ginger’s loss? His affairs, on the streets, his secretary? Buying the bracelet and giving it to Jasmine in the bath? The chatter amongst friends? The friend revealing the truth to Jasmine after many years? Her confronting Hal, his reaction, selfishness, his lies, going to France, the au pair girl loving him, the difference in age? Jasmine ringing the FBI? Hal being arrested on the street? Going to prison, hanging himself?

14. The party with Jasmine not meeting everyone, finding Dwight, his charm, his story of his life, his dead wife, a diplomat, interest in politics? Their bonding, her lies about herself and her life? Going out, meeting his parents, about to buy the ring, her designing homes and talk about decoration, her hopes? Chance encounter with Augie, his asking her questions, revealing the truth, Dwight ending the relationship?

15. Her desperate visit to Danny, his marriage and overcoming drugs, wanting nothing to do with her?

16. The end and everybody being fine except Jasmine?

17. Being a turning point for her, or her having the moral strength for a new life or going back into her past?

DECONSTRUCTING HARRY

US, 1997, 97 minutes,Colour.
Woody Allen, Judy Davis, Julia Louis Drefuss, Richard Benjamin, Caroline Aaron, Eric Bogosian, Kirstie Alley, Elizabeth Shue, Demi Moore, Stanley Tucci, Tobey Maguire, Robin Williams, Julie Kavner, Billy Crystal, Eric Lloyd, Mariel Hemingway, Bob Balaban, Hazelle Goodman, Amy Irving, Jennifer Garner, Philip Bosco, Paul Giamatti, Gene Saks.
Directed by Woody Allen.


An often hilarious piece of artistic and real life self-examination on Allen's part. Those who wonder about him will find a great deal of self-comment here. He portrays a writer with marital and relationship problems, often self-centred and using his experiences in his writing. There are small films within films as his stories are dramatised (again, often very funny, especially with Robin Williams as a literally out-of-focus actor).

Issues of being male, of being an artist, of being Jewish are all part of the screenplay - and it is the twelfth for which Allen has been nominated for Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. He has a big star cast, mostly in cameo roles, but very effective. There are some funny lines, some raunchy – and there seems to be more swearing in this film than in Allen’s other films together. Woody Allen self-examines.


1. A Woody Allen film? His screen persona, real life? His critique of his screen persona? His career, the 1990s? Writer, director, acting?

2. New York, his home, the psychologists’ rooms, Connecticut, the University? The musical score and range of songs?

3. The title, the language and jargon, literature and stories?

4. The strong cast?

5. The structure, reality and fiction, reality and the imagination? Literature? Film versions of stories?

6. The opening, the repetition, Lucy arriving, her anger, the tone, the insertion of the real story dramatised within the argument? Lucy and her anger, her crass language, the revelation of reality through the novel and publication, people identifying the real characters? The scenes of the real characters, the barbecue, sexual activity and betrayal, the blind grandmother?

7. Harry telling Lucy the story of Harvey, young, Woody Allen type, the story in reality, his sitting at the typewriter, his visits to his psychiatrist, the preoccupation with sex? His work in the shoe store, his lust after all women, the advice of the fellow-worker, the philosophy of sexuality with prostitutes? Harvey and the setting up of the hotel room, the Chinese prostitute, the sexual encounter, Death arriving at the door, the discussions, the irony, Harvey being taken?

8. Harry talking to the psychologist, the quick edit cuts of his explanation of himself and his attitudes? The psychologist remembering this story, Mill, the actor in a blur, a distorted character, the filmmakers examining the cameras and the lenses, the actor going home, his wife and children, their are all going to the optometrist and needing glasses?

9. The University honour, Harry having been kicked out, now an award? Checking with his wife, Joan, about taking his son, the fact that he had three wives? His wife and her reaction?

10. Harry’s son, the penis in the name, Dillinger? Harry praising women, Beth Kramer and her severity, reporting Harry to the authorities??

11. The character of Epstein, real, the shrink, Harry in the discussions, stopping, the passing of time, the later date? The woman who understood him? His perversions? The two years, the fear of people, Helen and the baby? Jewish with a vengeance, circumcision? Epstein, the valuing tradition, the scientist, prayer and God? On the street, Richard and the doctor, the pains, accompanying him on the trip?

12. Fay, the attractive young girl, the student, starry-eyed, attraction for Harry? Living with him? Studies, his supervision, the dependence? Larry, the devil, smell of burning? The Pygmalion analogy, love, control, channelling the change?

13. The devil, abducting to hell, the repeat of the burning smell?

14. Cookie, hooker, Harry and his businesslike attitude toured six, the experience with Cookie? Tied up? The hit, the blow? Cookie and her comment about spiritually bankrupt? The quoting of Sophocles? The proposal to marry Fay?

15. Ken and Leslie, fictitious characters, the walk their talk?

16. The encounters with Fay, at the elevator, stuck, Fay’s response?

17. Harry, Cookie, Richard, abducting the son, in the car, the singing? The ferris wheel?

18. The red apple, Jane, Lucy and Ken, meeting Harry? Harry and chronic satisfaction? Jane and Lucy, the kitchen scene?

19. Writing, Fay, the affirmation, the baseball gift?

20. Harry sister, Burt and Doris, the street Helen, Jewish? Doris as observant? Burt as fanatic? The image of the self-hating due? The Jewish function, Dolly, the women chatting, Max, marriage?

21. Helen and Joan, Doris reaction? Burt and Doris talking about Harry afterwards?

22. Larry, the shop, Kafka? The Hamptons and the sulphur returning?

23. Arriving at the University, Richard dead, the arrangements for Richard? The pills, going out of focus?

24. The university authorities, the group welcoming Harry? The meetings, their discussions, posting Harry, the function itself, is disappearance, then chasing him?

25. The insertion of the devil’s story, the elevator and going down the floors of the damned, the media floor being full? Harry’s kind of hell, jazz, his father, forgiving his father? Larry as the devil, suave, drinking, the atheist and science? Sins, cheating, pouring, drinking, pills, lying, violence? The library with the books? Talk about sex and comparing stories? Disabled? The issue of the ozone layer? Two years in Hollywood, the producer, the Las Vegas story?

26. Joan, arrival, arrests, jail?

27. The talk about Richard? Larry and Fay, the bail and payment?

28. The honorary award?

29. The characters who were real, the fictionalised versions of the characters, their being part of Harry’s life, in his imagination, in reality? The interconnection of the stories?

WORLD FOR RANSOM

US, 1954, 75 minutes, Black and white.
Dan Dureya, Gene Lockhart, Patric Knowles, Nigel Bruce, Arthur Shields, Reginald Denny, Douglas Dumbrille, Marian Carr, Key Luke.
Directed by Robert Aldrich.

The World for Ransom was the second feature film directed by Robert Aldrich who was to go on to a very successful career with Kiss me Deadly, The Dirty Dozen and other action films. He is not credited on this film, or though he had directed some episodes of the television series China Smith/ Captain China with star Dan Dureya.
The film uses the same characters and cast as the television series as well as using the same sets. However, they created a new story, set in Singapore, involving international criminals, a local rubber gangster, the British military, the governor. Interestingly, most of the supporting cast are veterans of films of the 1930s and forties.
The point of interest is the scientist with the knowledge of hydrogen bombs and his abduction.

1. A small-budget thriller? Deriving from a TV series? Characters, locations, studio sets?

2. Thrillers of the 1950s, Dan Dureya and his starring role, soldier of fortune in Singapore? The hydrogen bomb context? Rubber plantation gangsters? International plots? The British military and governor? The meaning of the title?

3. The cast, from the thirties and forties? Studio sets, same locations, musical score?

4. The focus on Mike, his presence in Singapore, war service, friendship with Julian, love for Frennessey? Acting as a private eye for her? The clashes with Julian, suspicions? His encounter with Pederas? With the Singaporean gangster? Wanting information?

5. Julian, his past, marriage to Frennessey? Involved with Pederas? His impersonating the British military? Picking up O’Connor? at the airport, transporting him, knocking him out, keeping him in the countryside? The associate, his brutality, and the photo taken by Wong? Going to the studio and killing him?

6. Mike, at the club, the dancing, the barman, tracking down Julian? The help of the rubber gangster? Promises to Frennessey?

7. The pursuit, the English officer, letting him go through, then making contact, going to the safe house, the attack?

8. Mike, the grenades, getting into the house, the threats, detonating them? Saving O’Conner? The British military and his being wounded?

9. The returned to Frennessey, her confessing the truth about herself, her love for Julian, rejection of Mike?

10. Popular ingredients for action adventure as well as television series?

THE WORLD’S END

UK, 2013, 109 minutes, Colour.
Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Paddy Considine, Martin Freeman, Eddie Marsan, Rosamund Pike, Pierce Brosnan, David Bradley.
Directed by Edgar Wright.

The World’s End was co-written by star, Simon Pegg, and director, Edgar Wright. They had previously collaborated to great critical and popular success with the parodies, Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz. This is the final film in their so-called Cornetto trilogy. Many have thought this is their best. Others have favoured the previous two films. It probably depends on your interest in the genre that the film is using and the use of conventions for humour, parody, with some serious insights.

Shaun of the Dead was original with its focus on the living dead. Hot Fuzz was very funny because of its presentation of life in a country village as well as the zombie takeover. The World’s End starts off in a realistic vain and only later in the film as the parody enters with the presentation of a variation of The Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

The film opens with five leads in 1990, finishing at school, wanting to achieve an ambition: travelling the golden mile of their town and drinking at each of its twelve pubs. In fact, some drop out and they don’t achieve their goal. Their leader, telling the story, is Gary King, played by Simon Pegg with quite a manic look on his face, weird grin, looking disturbingly like actor, Michael Sheen. And then we discover him in an institution, in a group recounting his story. When he is challenged by an inmate, he decides to relive his past and go to collect all his friends again, assuming that this was what they would want to do.

As he goes to meet each of the friends, we realise (but he doesn’t), that 20 years have passed, that they have responded to being adults, with marriages and relationships, having responsible jobs. The four friends are played by a generation of prominent British actors and comedians: Eddie Marsan as a car dealer working with his father, and married; Paddy Considine with a job but divorced; Martin Freeman as a real estate agent, rather proper; and Nick Frost (Pegg’s partner in the previous films as well as the science fiction American story, Paul), as a teetotaller, injured in a car accident from which Gary walked away in the past, now married and working in a legal firm.

Despite the memories and Gary’s hype, Gary persuades them to join him. They somewhat reluctantly assemble and go on the pub crawl. This all seems normal and audiences may be wondering when something different is going to emerge. It does. Most of the inhabitants of the town have been taken over by an alien power The Network (voiced by Bill Nighy), which sees itself as improving the way human beings live and interact - except when they get their way and begin to fight and brawl, lots of brawls in this film.

The aliens look normal, but can be decapitated and still fight, and ooze the equivalent of blue blood. So, the group is pursued until the last pub, some taken over, some still fighting. Into the mix comes Rosamund Pike as a girlfriend from the past. And there is Pierce Brosnan as their schoolteacher, presiding with great dignity as an alien in the pub.

Those on the wavelength will find the film highly entertaining. Those who preferred the other films, will enjoy the film in its way, but long for an even more outrageous parody of some horror films.

1. The third in Edgar Wright trilogy? The comic touch, parody, use of the genres? Realism and surrealism? Aliens on earth? An invasion of the body snatchers?

2. The work of Edgar Wright, his perspectives on humour, and England? The comic writing of Simon Pegg?

3. The cast, a generation of the top English actors? Plus Pierce Brosnan? Plus Rosamund Pike?

4. The comment on young Englishman, the drinking culture, its consequences? The comment on growing up, becoming adults, taking on responsibilities?

5. The 1990s, the introduction to the young men, their names and backgrounds, Gary and his leadership, the king? At school, ambition and lack of ambition? Mr. Shepard and his interest in the students? Preparing for his reappearance?

6. The quest for the golden mile, the boys gathering, the narrative about their going to drink a pint at each of the twelve pubs, Oliver and his getting out, their experiences in the pub, Basil, the pub keepers, the drinking, their behaviour? Not finishing the quest?

7. The transition to the institution, Gary and his narrative, the awareness group, the challenge to him? His decision to relive the past?

8. His going to visit his old mates, their reactions, 20 years older, adults with responsibilities, the bad memories of the past, Andrew and his accident and Gary’s leaving the scene?

9. The friends: Peter, marriage, dealership, with his father, tempted to go? Stephen, his work, separation from his wife, wary about going? Oliver, his nickname ‘Omen’ because of his mark? His being a salesman, the couple looking at the property, Gary and his intervention, swearing, alienating the couple? Oliver and his name, his concern about his sister? The visit to Andrew, in the legal firm, Andrew not listening to him, the bad memories of the past?

10. Gary, always cheerful, thinking that the Golden Mile and the pubs would be his life achievement? his paying back the money to Andrew, after borrowing it from the others? His memories of Sam, the sexual encounter? Wanting to relive his past?

11. The group assembling, on the railway station, Gary late? The hesitation about the project, varying degrees of participation?

12. Going to the pubs, the drinking, the men at the bar not recognising Gary? His enjoyment? Andrew and his not drinking, wanting water? The others drinking their pints? The effect?

13. Sam, her arrival, wanting to see the friends, the twins? Stephen and his infatuation with her but his not having the courage to express it? Gary misunderstanding her, going to the toilet, her strong words to him, urging him to grow up?

14. The further drinking, the other pubs, seeing Basil and his sense of earnestness? The ups and downs?

15. Gary and the toilet, the young men, the challenge, the fight, the blue blood, the head separating, the continuing to fight? Indication that there was something wrong?

16. The further pubs, Gerry insisting, finding every opportunity to drink, even the left-overs glasses?

17. The men at the bar, the drug dealer, his warnings, his being summoned by the authorities’? The discovery of the body snatching, the discussion about the appropriate word to describe them? Blanks?

18. The many fights, the brawls? The Blanks and their having the advantage of being able to fight after being destroyed? Twins and the marmalade sandwich? Their being taken over?

19. Mr. Shepard, at the pub, friendly, the explanations, the invitation for them to join? Destroying him? His reappearing? The Blanks and the light emanating from their mouths?

20. Taking over of Oliver? His making a plea? Peter and his experience of the bully, not recognising him, the pain of the past? The bully and attacking him again, Peter being taken over?

21. Stephen, his love for Sam, his driving away, then his return, to rescue? Sam, getting lost, her return, discussions with Gary, helping them escape, wariness at the roundabout and crashing through, the pursuit out of the town?

22. Andrew, the change, his drinking, yet his serious sense? Involved in the fights? The escape?

23. The role of the network, Bill Nighy as the voice of the network? The explanation of The Network, the betterment of the human race? Gary and his response, just wanting to be human? Andy discovering that Gary was in the institution?

24. Order restored, Oliver and his being like the invisible man but doing his work? The same couple looking at property? Peter and his being restored, his home life? Stephen and Sam together? Andy resuming his life?

25. Gerry, his cloak and mask, leading the group of musketeers, and his liking the image of the musketeers for his friends, attacking the Blanks and saving the world?

WOLVERINE

US, 2013, 126 minutes, Colour.
Hugh Jackman, Tao Okamoto, Rila Fukushima, Famke Janssen, Svetlana Khodchenkova.
Directed by James Mangold.

This is the sixth time that Hugh Jackman has let his hair grow and put on his claws to be Logan, better known as Wolverine.

The film opens arrestingly in Japan, enemy prisoners of war, the Japanese guards afraid and committing hara-kiri. However, one of the prisoners is Logan, in a deep pit. He persuades one guard not to kill himself and, together, they witness the atomic bomb dropping on Nagasaki.

Then, later, there is Logan living in a remote part of North America, quite anti brutal hunters who barbarously kill bears. Where is the film going? What is Wolverine going to do? Well, a brightly active young Japanese woman arrives to persuade him to come to Japan. The old Japanese soldier is dying and wants to see Logan to thank him again. And off he goes.

So, most of the film is set in Japan. The old man is dying and leaving his biggest-company-in-Japan to his daughter and not to his son. Obviously, problems all round, with Yakuza, a most deadly Russian femme fatale who seems straight out of a Bond movie (villain, of course), and a gigantic Robocop like creature.

On the other hand, while it is an action show, comic book style, it is also a quieter film than many, concentrating on Logan and his character and his dealing with his Wolverine powers which the femme fatale has been able to lessen, bringing him and the two Japanese woman into danger. But…

Hugh Jackman is always a genial screen presence and is so here. The plot is interesting while not being memorable, so an entertaining holiday show.

1. The popularity of the character? As an individual, as part of the X-men? Logan? The mutant? Wolverine? Six films?

2. Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, a strong presence, genial, yet a character who suffered? A loner, morose, seeker of justice, his violence? His experience of relationships and love? His marriage to Jean?

3. The action, the stunt work, computer graphics? The Japanese story? Its ethos? The musical score?

4. Jean’s returning to the films, the background of her death? Her re-appearing in Logan’s dreams and imagination? Her love, her understanding him, he challenges?

5. Nagasaki, the end of the war, letting the British soldiers out, the Japanese officers, committing Hara-Kiri?, the young officer, seeing Logan in the hole, Logan saving him, his not killing himself, the explosion, Logan covering him with protective material? Later in the flashback, Logan’s memories, the gift of the sword? To fight with two hands?

6. Logan, in the north, alone, in the woods, the encounter with the bear, the hunters in the shop, their life and in boasting, Logan finding the bear with the arrow? His putting it out of its misery, going to the bar, the confrontation with the hunters, the hunter talking, the arrow in his hand, justice and vengeance, the brawl?

7. The young girl watching him, driving the car, inviting him in, the fact that she had been searching for him, inviting him to Japan, the motive, the farewell to the soldier? In the plane, his being nervous? Driving through Tokyo?

8. Arriving, the house, Japanese propriety, bowing and politeness, and the bath and his being scrubbed, his haircut, going to see the old man, seeing his daughter, her father whispering to her? The Russian doctor, the initial impression, Logan talking to the officer, his gratitude, but offering him a peaceful death in exchange for his powers?

9. The daughter, her rush to the balcony, Luke and saving her, her story, the Japanese girl and the adoption, their being companions? Her being a loner, inheriting the whole company? Her father’s anger?

10. The doctor, her background, her being a mutant, putting the creature into Logan, it’s sapping his strength? His not being able to recover instantly?

11. The funeral, the rituals and pomp, the ninja attack?

12. Logan and rescuing the daughter, in the train, the warriors, the fights on the roof of the train, the accelerating action? With the daughter, the destination, the house, Nagasaki, the walk, Logan and his memories, the rain, the return? The relationship, the sexual experience?

13. The next morning, the daughter abducted? Her fiancé, as a minister, paid for abducting her by her father, the money, the sexual situation with the women, his underwear, Logan and his observations? Giving the information? Logan throwing him out, not knowing there was a pool there?

14. The Japanese girl, her capacity for premonitions, imagining deaths, especially of the hunters in the north? Anxious about Logan’s death? Visiting the father, seeing him as a warrior, his being just OK? The discussion with him, the truth, his talk with his daughter, the genes skipping a generation? The attack, his being wounded, his death?

15. The daughter’s boyhood companion, his protecting her, his skill with arrows, telling the story, pursuing Logan, arriving at the town, the ninjas and their pursuit, the arrow with the poison? His dying for the daughter?

16. In the town, the company building, on the cliff? The pursuit of Logan through the town, the arrows?

17. His being taken, the daughter in captivity, the role of the doctor, the Robo-ninja? The fight, the revelation that it was the soldier, his fighting Logan, sinking the drills into Logan, to drain him of his power? Logan’s final talk with him, beheading him? With the sword and two hands?

18. The Japanese girl, confrontation with the doctor? Wounded, shedding her skin? The further fight, the lift and her death?

19. The thematic connection between Nagasaki and his not killing himself, keeping his life, the decades of success and building his power, his bankrupting the company to find ways of his being able to stay alive, the machines, the pity of his death?

20. The finale, the daughter as the chief, the farewell to Logan, wanting him to stay, his need to move on, with the young Japanese girl, the plane and destinies unknown?

SMASHED

US, 2012, 93 minutes, Colour.
Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Aaron Paul, Nick Offerman, Octavia Spencer, Mary Kay Place.
Directed by James Ponsoldt.

Smashed, as its title suggests, is a story about drinking and alcoholism. They have been many films about alcoholism in the past, especially the film about a husband and wife, Days of Wine and Roses.
Mary Elizabeth Winstead is very good as the young woman, married without children, teaching primary classes, but drinking steadily and showing the aftereffects of binge drinking and hangovers and being sick in front of her children at school. She pretends that she is pregnant and avoids a question her about her size, she lies that she has had a miscarriage. When admitting all this to the principal, she is fired. The deputy principal, previously an alcoholic, persuades her to attend meetings where she meets Jennie and asks her to be her sponsor.
Her husband keeps drinking, she goes to visit her mother who is surprised but ultimately proud of what Kate has done; but she lapses when she discovers her husband has told his friends about her crack experience. She is rescued by the deputy and by Jennie. The film ends with her having some success, reassess her situation while her husband asks for them to be reunited. The film ends with hesitation…
Aaron Paul, from Breaking Bad, is Charlie, the husband. Need is the deputy. Surprisingly, Megan Mullaly is the principal while Oscar-winner Octavia Spencer is Jennie. Mary K. Place portrays Kate’s mother. James Ponsoldt directed another film about alcoholism, Off the Black, with Nick Nolte, and directed the very successful The Spectacular Now.

1. A contemporary film about alcoholism? Characters in their twenties? The moral message? Alcoholics anonymous? 12 steps?
2. The American City, homes, bars, school, streets, AA meetings?
3. The title, the blunt naming of the problem?
4. The focus on Kate, the performance, age, the regular drinking, her marriage to Charlie, his friends, playing pool, at school, teaching, her exuberance with the students, her being sick, the lying about pregnancy, deceiving the children, the discussions with the principal, sympathy? Kate feeling ashamed?
5. The depiction of addiction, the need for the alcohol, the bars, the drive, her behaviour at work, night out, in the gutter, the crack cocaine, telling her husband, and his telling his friends? The effects on her?
6. Mr Davies, taking her class, stern, his talk with her, the truth about himself, drinking, drugs, AA, his persuading her to go to a meeting, his friendship with her, the effect? His attraction to her, his use of inappropriate language, her response and warning him?
7. The principal, her sympathy, giving her time off, the baby shower and the gifts, Kate telling her the truth, about the lies, the principal’s dismay, firing her?
8. The kids, spelling, the questions, pregnancy, the appearance of pregnancy, the story of a miscarriage, asking about an abortion and the child talking about hell?
9. Jennie, that the AA meeting, her story, addiction, talking, Kate asking her to be a sponsor, the phone calls, the catering business, Kate helping her? Charlie’s reaction to her phoning Jennie?
10. Kate being sober, the effect, the change, with Charlie, her previous sexual behaviour, her coldness, Charlie’s demands and disappointments? His drinking? The differences and difficulties?
11. The visit to her mother, her mother expecting her to drink, not believing her? The story about her mother, the father and his drinking, abandoning his family, his wife’s resentment? Finally proud of her daughter?
12. The bar, Charlie and telling his friends about her, her binge drinking, collapse, Jenny and Mr. Davis taking her home?
13. The cut to the AA meeting, one year later, the cake and candle, celebration? The effect on Kate, her personality, her work? Her seeing Charlie, playing croquet, his pleading with her, his hopes, her hesitation in making a decision? The end of the film?
14. The effect on the target audience, an awareness of the addiction, the behaviour, consequences? A successful moral/morale story?

RED 2

US, 2013, 116 minutes, Colour.
Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Mary- Louise Parker, Helen Mirren, Anthony Hopkins, Byung- Hun Lee, Catherine Zeta- Jones, Neal Mc Donough, Brian Cox, Tim Piggott- Smith.
Directed by Dean Parisot.

Red was an entertaining surprise of 2010. It was an action adventure with a number of retired secret agents emerging to collaborate and defend themselves from an enemy. The plot was in some way standard, except for the veterans not only going into action but prevailing. Bruce Willis was the leader, Morgan Freeman an associate as was John Malkovich. Helen Mirren surprised her fans by appearing as a very calm and cultured but deadly assassin. Mary-Louise? Parker was drawn into the action despite herself. And Brian Cox was an enemy from the past who was still infatuated with Helen Mirren. There were lots of good lines and ironic situations.

Most of them are gathered together again. While the entertaining novelty is not there, most fans of the original film will be pleased to see the group reassemble for action. Bruce Willis is once again the leader. The film opens with him, quite domesticated, buying equipment in a supermarket accompanied by Mary- Louise Parker with whom he is living and whom he is continually trying to protect. Up pops John Malkovich with a warning that information about a crisis from the late seventies, a bomb entitled Nightshade, has appeared online with their names mentioned. Again they become targets.
Willis is picked up and interrogated but the interview is interrupted by a military attack led by a relentless Neal Mc Donough. Needless to say there is a battle, much of it in a library, and an escape.

In the meantime there is concern at MI 6 and the head phones Victoria, Helen Mirren, who has just completed some assassinations and is dissolving the bodies in an acid bath. She warns Willis are and the team go into action, discovering a scientist who has been secluded for 32 years. He is the inventor of Nightshade.

And then the location shifts to Moscow, the search for Nightshade in the tunnels under the city. The one Harry Moscow,Victoria makes contact with Ivan, Brian Cox, who is to infatuated and there is an amusing scene of his lying back romantically commenting on her as she lets fly with a machine gun.
Needless to say, there are lots of complications, some twists, some betrayals, and plenty of explosions. There is a helicopter crash with the quotable line from Victoria, ‘don’t tell me that your’e about to crash with a weapon of mass destruction on board!’.

Perhaps the last place we would be expecting for the next location would be the Iranian embassy in London. But there are various shenanigans leading to a car chase through Central London, climaxes at an airport, and a, literally explosive, satisfactory ending.

Bruce Willis is rather the straight man in this film with John Malkovich having most of the one liners and ironic remarks. Which is not to downplay the dialogue and quips from Helen Mirren. Mary Louise Parker is much stronger this time, instructed by Malkovich in techniques and military jargon, and playing a substantial role in the climax.

There are some othersubstantial benefits, especially with Anthony Hopkins as the scientist, a mixture of your bubbly British grandfather and Hannibal Lecter. Catherine Zeta-Jones? is a Russian operative. And there is also an assassin from Hong Kong, past associate of the group but now commissioned to assassinate Willlis. He is the striking Korean actor, Byung-hun Lee, who appeared in the GI Joe films and The Good, the Bad and the Weird..
Probably a quite satisfying sequel for the fans of the original.

1. Enjoyable entertainment? Novelty, characters, situations, twists and ironies, comic touches?


2. The continuation from the original? Bruce Wallace, John Malkovich, Mary- Louise Parker, Helen Mirren, Brian Cox? The new characters?

3. The American settings, ordinary, the supermarket, the CIA offices, government offices? The UK and in my six? Moscow, the Kremlin, the tunnels? The Iranian embassy in London? Interiors? The airport? The jaunty musical score?

4. A connection with the original? The supermarket, Marvin meeting Frank and Sarah, the domestic life, Marvin explaining the threats? His death, going to the funeral, the pin in his hand, his seemingly being dead, Frank’s eulogy and praising him as a killer and on assembler? The next encounter, Marvin alive, the explosion? The revelation of the Russian plot online and Marvin and Frank’s names? The bomb? Nightshade?

5. Bruce Willis and his style as Frank, nonchalant, experienced, tough, yet retired, becoming domestic, his care for Sarah, Marvin continually instructing Sarah in tactics and terminology? His being taken by Jack Horton, handcuffs, the interrogation, the attacks, Frank and the library, his manoeuvres, the guns, the grenades, the body count? Marvin and Sarah outside? The jokes, a tough guy?

6. Horton, his men, pursuing Frank? Utter ruthlessness? The rogue general and his death? The cover-up with the Government? Deal with Bailey? His death?

7. The shift to Hong Kong, Han, his past with Frank, the hired killer, the dapper man, the commission from the Americans, the playing of the payments? Going to the master, the dialogue, his surreptitiously slitting the throat, his being hired by the Americans to kill Frank? The cash, his own plane, his plan?

8. The United Kingdom, Victoria and the phone call, the information about Bailey and Nightshade, yet the head’s visit to her apartment, the dead bodies, her dissolving them with acid in the bath, the polite phone call to warn Frank that she was hired to kill him? The interrogation? Her escape, bringing Frank, meeting him to help, discovering Bailey imprisoned, her performance as the mad queen and quoting Shakespeare? Bailey and her reaction, the information about his mania?

9. Again to Moscow, the group in Moscow, the soldiers, going to the old safe house, searching for Nightshade, the Kremlin, Bailey and his help, the location, the pizza house, Sarah standing security, the flirting soldier?

10. The character of Bailey, the 32 years, enclosed, his past, his skill in producing bombs, gases? His being found, the room, the blackboard, the formulas, his loss of memory, the shoes with the bomb, his boasts, Cuba and Castro? His helping them to find the tunnels, the location of the bomb? His turning, taking the bomb, his escape? His deal with the Americans? The money, going on the plane, the gases and killing the soldiers, his killing Jack Horton, saying that he did not see that coming?

11. Katya, Catherine Zeta Jones, her past, Russian official, arrival in the US, her fondness for Frank, the kiss, Sarah’s reaction, the contact? In Moscow, at the meeting, helping Frank, the rivalry with Sarah, her death?

12. Moscow, Victoria, meeting up with Ivan, the shooting, his romantic talk, her toes?

13. Han, his plane, his arrival, the confrontation with Frank, the fight, the martial arts, his being persuaded to change and help?

14. France, the spy with the taste in wines?

15. To London, the Iranian embassy, Marvin as an asylum seeker, Frank and Sarah getting inside? Sarah and the restaurant, charming the minister after being slapped, the gun, her gift? Victoria as the chauffeur, Han pretending to be a plumber, Marvin exploding the toilets?

16. The escape, the chase through Central London, Marvin and Sarah and the erratic driving, Victoria and Han, the pursuit, trucks and the crashes?

17. Frank, Marvin, the helicopter, being shot at, love and trying to disarm the bomb, not being able to? The time limit?

18. Frank and Sarah up on the plane, the confrontation with Bailey, his taking the bomb, but planting it in the plane? The timing, the explosion, Bailey saying that he did not see this coming?

19. The humour, Marvin and his amusing lines? Victoria and her ironies? The tough attitudes? Yet the sisterly conversations between the two about romance?

20. The ending in Caracas, happy ever after?

21. An entertaining concoction, showing that elderly characters can still work in the James Bond field?

PAIN & GAIN

US, 2013, 129 minutes, Colour.
Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson, Anthony Mackie, Tony Shalhoub, Ed Harris, Rob Corddry, Rebel Wilson, Michael Rispoli.
Directed by Michael Bay.

‘Finesse’ is used by one of the main characters in Pain & Gain. However, it is not a word that immediately springs to mind while watching the film.
Many audiences will be alerted by the name of the director, Michael Bay. With such films as Bad Boys, Pearl Harbor, The Island and The Transformer series, fans of these films will have no hesitation in rushing to the box office and will probably not be disappointed. Others who fear that Michael Bay films are too bombastic in style, and the volume to noisy to sit through, will probably be well advised to give this one a miss.

However, though it does go on and on a bit, it has its moments. But it also has its down moments.

It is probably best described as a black comedy, a parody of robberies and crimes. The characters are not at all likeable, though very well played, and there are quite a lot of nasty moments. And Bay has thrown in some gross-out moments which will have even well-spoken audiences exclaiming ‘yuck’, and some bits of violence that are more than in your face.

The idea behind the black comedy is in many ways amusing. We see Mark Wahlberg as a gym fitness trainer running away from a squad of police and then the film goes into flashback. A screenplay has the very good device of having each of the central characters explain themselves and their background to the audience, intercutting with the action and continuing throughout the film. Lots of explanations which are comic and ironic (not to the characters themselves). Danny goes on and on about the American dream and his wanting to achieve it, even going to a seminar conducted by a manic Ken Jeong urging people to be doers rather than donters. Trouble for Danny is that a number of his heroes fulfilling the American dream are the main characters from The Godfather trilogy. He resents many of his clients, especially a food restaurant king played with heroic patience point Tony Shaloub. If awards for film endurance under torture and attempted killings were to be given, it would surely be to Tony Shaloub for Pain & Gain.

Danny also has a hold over the manager of the gym, played with more than usual quiet comedy by Rob Corddry.

The first ally in his schemes to abduct Shaloub, get documents signed by a notary, Corddry, which will give him complete possession home and money from Shaloub is an ex-prisoner who has gotten religion and been born again, though not always practising, played by Dwayne Johnson. In a sense, OK so far, but halfway through Johnon’s character, Paul, starts to snort cocaine which seems in contradiction to his character up till then and the credibility of his character and part in the plot goes downhill. The third partner in crime is played by Anthony Mackie, a would-be musclebound character who suffers from impotence. Not the most likely group for high crime.

But the screenplay parodies their attempts at crime showing them for the really, really dumb characters that they are, despite their high estimation of themselves. Wahlberg is good at taking himself seriously while communicating his below-par intelligence. And his discovery of his mistakes. Dwayne Johnson has shown in several films that he is able to play characters who don’t understand themselves and his timing for comedy is very good. Mackie, usually a serious actor, participates in the parody.

In the latter part of the film, Ed Harris turns up as a private detective, bringing at least some sense of seriousness to the proceedings.
One of the scene-stealers is Australian, Rebel Wilson, with much the same performance as she gives in every film, A Few Best Men, What to expect when you’re expecting, Pitch Perfect, Bachelorette. And she doesn’t change her accent. She can get away with all kind of outlandish remarks because of her comic and seemingly ingenuous presence.
So, a mixed experience, a macho show and not designed for a female audience. It’s one of those shows that appeals to the blokes.

1. A Michael Bay film? Big, bombastic, action, macho?

2. The Florida settings, sun, weather, the Sunshine State? The gym, the interiors, the restaurants, the pornography warehouse, lavish homes, ordinary homes? Contrasts between wealthy and ordinary? The lively score?

3. The cast, acting in type, against type, being dumb, yet the irony? Comic, timing, jokes, gross-out, gore? The effect of this humour?

4. The setup, Daniel and his exercise, the police in pursuit, his escape, interest in him, the reasons for his flights?

5. The screenplay and the stories, each character with the voiceover, explaining themselves and their lives, revealing themselves, taking the audience into
their confidence? Ed Dubois and his overall direction narration?

6. The setup, Daniel and his character, working in the gym, his self-image, the American dream, capitalist, having cash, success and reputation? Slow-witted? His seeing the commercial, going to the seminar, the conductor of the seminar and his over-the-top estimation of himself? His testing of Daniel? ‘Doers and donters’?

7. Vic Kershaw, Tony Shalhoub and his performance? His success, restaurants, money, and the Bahamas? Background in Columbia, Jewish? Lavish house, family? The gym and workouts? Daniel and his envy, Vic becoming a target?

8. Daniel, his envy, his plan, not too bright, overlooking details and information? Ignorant? His having to make do? His work and John, getting the job, the flashbacks to his past fraud schemes, prison? His being accepted, promising to make a profit at the gym?

9. The encounter with Paul, at the gym, Dwayne Johnson and his screen presence, in prison, free and born-again, references to the scriptures? Going to the church, the priest, working, the priest’s sexual approach? His needs, agreement to work with Daniel, his caution, giving his consent to the scheme? Participation in the abduction, and the plans and there not working out, the comic touches? The effect, wealth, the girlfriend, taking cocaine, going berserk, spending all the money? How credible the changing of his character?

10. Adrian, black, at the gym, wanting to be a muscleman, sexual impotence, idolising Daniel, but dumb? The discussions with the therapist, the talk, the date, marriage, wealth and the house?

11. The plan and the abduction, the variety of situations, the locations, the vehicles, the weapons, Vic and the interrogations, the imprisonment, the torture? His strong character, refusing to give the information? Their running over him? His survival? The injuries, hospital, the doctors, disbelief, phoning Ed, at the motel, the clerk and his treatment, wanting vengeance?

12. John, the gym, Daniel going to the bank, needing the signature from the notary? The pressure from Daniel, John signing?

13. Daniel and his taking over the house, telling lies to the family, their going, his suspicions?

14. Vic and his collapse, the hospital? Daniel and the house, the high life, neighbourhood watch, friendly with the neighbours, Adrian and the house, the
new plan?

15. Meeting the porn king, at the gym, using his warehouse, the focus on the explicit gay material, the reaction of the men? Planning that he be the next target? Inviting him to Adrian’s house, the discussion about distribution, contracts, his seeing through Daniel, the confrontation, insulting him, Daniel and his temper, his killing him? The girlfriend, her being suspicious, her death? Disposing of the bodies?

16. The police, their coming to the gym, arresting John?

17. Ed, at home with his wife, retirement, wanting some action, the interest in the case, not believing Vic, tracking him down, getting him out of the hospital, taking him to the motel, pain? His going to the gym, Daniel working with him?

18. Daniel and the pursuit, discovery of the truth, going to the house, the confrontation, Ed and the arrests? The despising of the bodies, the discovery?

19. The courts, the sentences, the lenience for Paul?

20. The film allegedly based on a true story? An ironic story, parody? Dumb characters? It the focus on a very American patriotism?