A Head Full of Dreams: Review of The Mercy

The Mercy

Director: James Marsh

By Alex Watson

While this is perhaps a more restrained effort than expected, James Marsh does an excellent job of showing the plight of sailor Donald Crowhurst. The Mercy show demonstrates that the of dreams is very much the subject matter here and thanks to a wonderful measured turn by Colin Firth, we see first hand how sometimes risks do not pay off. The open oceans are the real villain of this piece and Marsh shows us that when facing nature- man is always powerless.

Donald Crowhurst (Colin Firth) is a struggling businessman and sailing enthusiast. Desperate to keep his failing business afloat, Crowhurst decides an around the world race to win a 5000 cash prize. Hopelessly inexperienced and sailing a boat seemingly doomed for failure, Donald still pushes on. When finally out in the ocean, he soon realizes he either faces ruin by turning back or certain death by continuing. Keen not to face oblivion, Crowhurst decides to make fake entries in his log book to hide his failure. 

The Mercy is a movie that puts both its audience and its main star through the emotional wringer. Early on, we realize that Crowhurst is a man of big dreams, but thinking big doesn't always equal success. His loving and devoted wife Clare (Rachel Weisz) clearly dreads the prospect of her husband sailing away into the unknown. Woefully underprepared, Crowhurst is more or less a weekend sailor taking the biggest risk of his life. Seeing an opportunity, sneaky publicist Rodney Hallworth (David Thewlis) comes forward and begins promoting Crowhurst's race as the ultimate underdog story. In reality, it is little more than a suicide mission and this man is a lot of more than bragging rights at stake. In the early stages, Marsh does an excellent job of mixing a bright optimistic outlook with a sense of swirling gloom overhead.

When this picture finally embarks on its open water voyage, it doesn't take long for the audience to realize that Crowhurst is in way over his head. His boat quickly falls apart and he appears set for certain failure. When he decides to fake his log book positions, he turns from being a plucky underdog to a forward-thinking survivor. His boat will not stay together in the condition it is in, but he also has to be careful. He cannot win the race but he also cannot come higher than last as it will arouse suspicion. While at sea, there is perhaps too much restraint and while Marsh does a fine job of conveying the sense of fear and desperation by Crowhurst, we don't feel the mania and isolation that would eventually result in his downfall. Simon Rumney's upcoming biopic 'Crowhurst' reportedly has this in spades. His pride is shown as the real driving force and having signed over everything to sponsor Stanley Best (Ken Stott), he has little option.

Few will be prepared for the devastating blow that The Mercy delivers in its final act. Throughout this picture we see Crowhurst keen to protect his family from embarrassment. His phone calls to them through Marsh's film have a resounding emotion to them. We can almost feel the shame radiating off our hero as he hears the pride in their voice. In reality, our hero is a man pushed into a dangerous situation simply to prove his worth. The context in which we should view Crowhurst as the victim is debatable and many different adaptations have put their own unique spin on things. This one is a lot more simple and paints the picture of a man just wanting his family to survive.

Colin Firth delivers a performance that is up there with some of his best. During the movie's key points he wonderful underplays the mania which Donald Crowhurst apparently descended into. He still maintains his typical stiff upper lip but he does a fine job of showing the continuous emotions washing across his face. Rachel Weisz is also strong despite limited screen time. Playing a wife who knows her husband may not make the trip, but is determined to support him anyhow, Weisz, as usual, is remarkable.

The Mercy is a movie which shows to devastating effect how even the best intentions can lead us down the wrong roads.

At Your Service: Review of Kingsman

Kingsman: The Golden Circle

Director: Matthew Vaughn

By Alex Watson

Kingsman: The Golden Circle is a certainly a movie that provides fun, its just a shame similar focus wasn't given to its story. While Matthew Vaughn's swift style gives the movie a coat of gloss, underneath it feels like an incomplete portrait. Saddled with numerous plot holes and a pretty laughable villain, this second instalment tries too much into one movie. Although it recaptures some of the spirit of its predecessor, Vaughn pushes things a step too far.

Eggsy (Taron Egerton) is now a fully fledged member of the Kingsman. However, one day his entire organisation is literally blown to pieces by drug baroness Poppy Fields (Julianne Moore) leaving only Eggsy and mentor Merlin (Mark Strong) as survivors. Desperate to stay alive they make contact with US affiliate Statesman led by Champagne (Jeff Bridges).

The first Kingsman movie was a retread of a diamond in the rough coming good. Kingsman: The Golden Circle on paper seems like as fun of an experience, but no amount of finesse can disguise the flaws. The main problem seems to come down to the direction of the story. Having this picture as a straight up fight between Golden Circle and Kingsman would have made a more concise effort. Things start heroically with a thrilling duel inside a taxi speeding through London. Sadly Vaughn seems to lose his picture in numerous and unnecessary subplots. The first concerning Eggsy's unconvincing romance with his hookup from the last movie, Princess Tilde (Hanna Alstrom) which just gives the story deadweight. Then there's the return of Harry Hart (Colin Firth)- now an amnesiac who believes he's his former before Kingsmen self. The explanation for his magical reappearance while test even the biggest Kingsmen fan.  His road to recovery should have been one of the main devices, instead, he's left simmer on the back burner.

Including sister agency Statesman (known for their whiskey) adds little to the movie's story. Head honcho Champagne (or Champ to everyone else) is a good ole southern boy but is only wheeled out for group meet and greets. Likewise, Channing Tatum's Tequila who gets precisely zero to do other than a couple of brief scenes. Ginger Ale (Halle Berry) is the US equivalent of Merlin so spends most of her time looking at computer screens. There are some fine scenes with the underrated Pedro Pascal as Whiskey- a lasso carrying agent whose moral compass seems unclear. Vaughn's command of the action sequence is a hit and miss affair. While he does a manage a joyous finale shootout, there is also an overblown and frankly ludicrous scene set on a cable car. This instalment doesn't seem to know where to set the limits, though you can tell Vaughn is having a blast directing this.

The real weak link in Kingsman: The Golden Circle comes from its poor villain. Poppy is a forever peppy international drug dealer who spends the majority of her time behind a counter at her diner styled hideout. Given little presence onscreen other than looking like a drug-dealing version of Martha Stewart, Vaughn invests little in the villain stakes. Elton John in a hilarious extended has far more impact and is given an impressive array of fancy costumes. Plus the idea of Poppy having a pair of murderous robot dogs will make anyone squirm. It's a real mystery how this sequel could have all the ingredients for success but still end up burning the cakes?

Taron Egerton gives things his best shot and as usual, he has the charisma to pull off this character. Asking him to go deeper is where his performance unravels and Egerton struggles to find the romantic side of the character. Colin Firth is completely wasted on his return. So important first time out, in this instalment it feels like a misstep to resurrect this character. The real hero of Golden Circle is Mark Strong's Merlin. Coming off as the real brain of the organization, this time he is given sufficient screen time. In one particularly potent moment, Strong firmly stamps his important on this sequel. A-listers Bridges, Tatum and Moore are all cast in decidedly underwhelming and thankless roles that require little outside of showing up. With all this supporting talent on display, why were they not given meatier roles?

Kingsman: The Golden Circle will go down as one of the more disappointing sequels we will see in 2017. Although I guarantee you will tear up each time you hear 'Country Roads' by John Denver afterwards.

Secret Agent Man: Review of Kingsman: The Secret Service

Kingsman: The Secret Service

Director: Matthew Vaughn

By Alex Watson

After nearly sealing the deal with his X-Men reboot, Matthew Vaughn makes a welcome return to the screens. Kingsman: The Secret Service is another wonderfully silly and utterly enjoyable piece of work from this man. Sporting his trademark ability to find humor in the most unlikely of places, Vaughn homage to his love of spy movies is one to remember. Making a hero out of an ASBO figure deserves kudos and in Eggsy, Vaughn has a great new foundation in which to build a franchise.

Gavin 'Eggsy' Unwin (Taron Egerton) is a streetwise youth who is always on the wrong side of the law. That is until one day when a helping hand comes in the form of Harry Hart (Colin Firth) who reveals his father was a top secret agent for an secret organization called Kingsman. Eager to put his old life behind him, Eggsy is recruited to help stop billionaire villain Richmond Valentine (Samuel L Jackson) from using his technology to destroy the world.

Although Kingsman: The Secret Service does suffer from being uneven in places, but these are mistake which are forgivable. The movie possess the typical suave and slick quality to a spy movie where impressive gadgets are on display and spies are able to tell expensive whiskey on taste alone. When Eggsy and Harry are forced together by fate, the resulting chemistry is one that sparkles. Watching Harry effortless dispatch a pub for all vengeful hooligans is bound to raise a smile.

But the most impressive element is by far the diamond in the rough, because Eggsy although sharp around the edges, possessive some genuine smarts. In training he is sneered upon, but rather than get mad he gets determined and a bravery and never say die attitude is uncovered. His character development is as interesting and equally as thrilling as Dave Lizewski in Kick Ass. Vaughn makes a real gem out of a risky character and through it all a real charm goes to life with this character. His heroic during the films slightly wayward final act are worth of a medal and he emerges as a figure we cannot wait to get more of!

Though at the centre of this we have a villain who both bolsters and hinders the movie. Richmond Valentine, the often hilarious lisping billionaire is a tricky one to predict. His serving of McDonald,s as a fancy dinner is one of many surprises. But his reasons for wanting to wreak havoc upon the world just are not strong enough to hold the film together. Though it does launch the film into an unexpected overdrive in time for the final act as we see Harry stab, shoot, kick and punch in a church sound-tracked to Lynard Skynard's 'Free Bird' is a jaw dropping display of high octane violence.

Taron Egerton, in typical Vaughn fashion emerges as another major star from one of his works. Sporting a effortless charisma along with a strong presence on screen, the 25 old is looking like he has a bright future before him! Colin Firth also excels as Harry and bringing his trademark impassive wit and skillful delivery, he makes for the perfect mentor figure. You can only wonder what may have happen with him at the helm of 007? Samuel L Jackson as usual phones in his performance and at times he is compelling as Valentine, but it just doesn't feel like he is giving this one his all!

Matthew Vaughn once again has created another great film out of nothing. This could have been something far worse in the wrong hands, but Kingsman: The Secret Service is one of the funniest and most enjoyable movies of 2015 so far!

This New Day: Review of Before I Go To Sleep

Before I Go To Sleep

Director: Rowan Joffe

By Alex Watson

It is unimaginable to consider forgetting your entire life, the loving memories of people that we have known over time are the ones we treasure most. This idea has been explored in cinema before as individual attempt to piece their existence back to together. Rowan Joffe this week gives us his demonstration of a woman attempting to shape her memory once again but forever finding horrific clues in his adaptation of S. J. Watson's novel Before I Go To Sleep.

Since a terrible accident 10 years previously, each morning Christine Lucas (Nicole Kidman) wakes up with no memories of her prior life and has to be reminded by her husband Ben (Colin Firth) of the last decade. But one morning she gets a call from neurosurgeon Dr Nasch (Mark Strong) who has apparently been treating her. Slowly Christine begins to realize that her past maybe more surrounded in secrecy than she realizes.

Before I Go To Sleep is a thriller than despite some neat visual touches by director Rowan Joffe fails to break any new ground. This whole idea of amnesia and someone having to patch the cracks together has been done to death before, Joffe's strives to be better than its finished product- but you can't escape that this is more or less an British attempt at making the new Memento! Initially the mounting suspicions provide some decent early tension, but this soon dissolves into your standard friday night thriller.

From the outset there is a lack of suspense surrounding events and neither Joffe or the talented cast can ignite the spark that is badly needed. Each morning when Christine's memory empties yet again, we do wonder what each new day will bring as the clues become more ominous. As a central character, Christine is a vulnerable and lovable soul, but she is also a rather bland one that fails to raise any kind of significant characterization. Her husband Ben and the seemingly well intentioned Dr Nasch make for interesting male sparring partners and provide some nervous yet loving moments.

Sadly even though the guessing game is at times a moderately entertaining one, Before I Go To Sleep can't recover what is undoubtedly a predictable and rather flat conclusion. After coming on this journey we are given the ending that in our minds we probably guessed from the moment that she woke up! Joffe is a talented director and is showing signs of his father Roland's early promise but he will need to raise his game about average thrillers like this to be effective.

Nicole Kidman's performance is one firing element of the movie and as Christine she brings about a great sense of fragility. With her crystal blue and permanently suspecting eyes, Kidman demonstrates her ability to elevate beige characters to an acceptable level. Colin Firth and Mark Strong are both compelling in their roles but are not given nearly enough decent material to work with. Strong in particular is stranded as the confidante and is required to do little other than sound reassuring throughout.

Sadly despite its yearning to be something outside the box, Before I Go To Sleep is left with a distinctly ordinary feeling to it. Joffe may one day pull something remarkable out of the hat, but it will not be with this piece.