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The Duck looks at PLUNKETT AND MACLEANE
Believe it or not I saw this film about a year ago.... and lost track of it. If memory serves it's quite good. But memory has faded, here's The Duck to refresh us all, and to enlighten those that have never seen it!
Looking at your site I noticed that you haven't got any news about the film
Plunkett and Macleane and wondered why, seeing that it's been out here in
the UK for a few weeks now, and then it dawned on me: the film's not out in
America yet because it's a British film. Therefore, this is the perfect
opportunity for me to review the film for you. So I will.
Plunkett and Macleane is, for want of a phrase with less cliché, a period
drama with a difference. Starring Robert Carlyle (Trainspotting, The Full
Monty, Hamish Macbeth) and Jonny Lee Miller (Trainspotting, Afterglow,
Regeneration), the film contains modern language and music to accompany all
of the 18th century costumes and location. After yet another painfully long
title credit sequence the film opens with Macleane (Miller), a gentleman who
has run out of money, witnessing Plunkett (Carlyle) rob a stage coach. For
various reasons that I won't go into they strike a deal: Macleane goes and
mixes with the aristocracy to find out who it's worth stealing from, and
then Plunkett leads the hold-ups. Yes that's nice, but is it any good?
The short answer is yeah. Not "yes", but "yeah". You see, the first time I
saw this film I didn't really like it. There wasn't (and isn't) anything
very wrong with the film, but I felt that it lacked a certain something.
Maybe I didn't know quite what to expect. The main problem with the film is
the unconvincing love story between Macleane and Lady Rebecca Gibson (Liv
Tyler). The main reason that the love story is unconvincing is that Liv
Tyler doesn't actually do any acting in the film. Harsh, but true. She
spends most of the time looking glum and talking slowly in an attempt to
sound English and posh. However, upon seeing it a second time (to accompany
my girlfriend who had yet to see it) I enjoyed it far more (and my
girlfriend loved it). Maybe that was because I was expecting it to be
rubbish and so was pleasantly surprised, or maybe it was because I knew what
to expect. You see, it's a very strange sight, to see a group of people in
period costume dancing a period dance to modern dance music. Strange, but
cool. The camera angles and upbeat nature of the film are unlike any you'll
see in a period drama, and maybe that phased me the first time. Who knows?
You say yourself, Harry, that the mood you're in greatly determines what you
think of the film, so maybe I was in a bad mood the first time.
There are a few flaws, where the direction means that you don't know exactly
what's going on, but these are few and don't mar the experience the second
time around (or the first my girlfriend insists). There's a suitably nasty
bad guy, Mr. Chance (Ken Stott) who goes around gouging eyes out and beating
up subordinates. There are plenty of amusing moments and Carlyle and Miller
play their parts with flair, making the film a lot better than it could have
been. Overall I'd recommend that you see the film. After all, it's a bit of
a larf, innit?
If you're interested, the film's website, which contains the trailer for the
film, is at http://www.robtherich.com
the Duck
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I saw P&M a month-or-so ago, and
I thought it was pretty goddamn
excellent.
It's just one of those brilliantly
entertaining movies that is
immense fun.
However, it also had certain style
to it. The script was highly
amusing (in a British kinda way -
I don't quite see the point about
it pandering to Americans), and it
was a nice fresh approach to period
stuff.
And, best of all, this has got to
be one of the most immoral and
downright *dirty* depictions of
17th century (or whenever) England
ever put onto film..... -
'They Rob The Rich...And That's It' pefectly sums up a film that doesn't go anywhere and is just a collection of scenes that looks as if it's been mashed in the editing suite.
Callously trying to cash in on the reteaming of TRAINSPOTTING's Begbie and Sickboy, P&M is never as funny or clever as it likes to think it is (putting swearwords like wan*er and f*ck in a period drama is hardly ironic) and is ultimately a huge disappointment. P&M has no soul and represents everything that is bad about the British film industry.
And Liv Tyler is a miserable faced cow. -
P&M is a bit of fun in parts but doesn't really set the world alight.
But even had it tried, the wet blanket of non-acting that is Liv Tyler would have doused those flames.
Think how much better any film she appears in would have been without her...
P & M - no pointless bolt on romantic subplot - more R Carlyle instead.
Armaggedon 45 mins shorter - no buttclenching horror of them all breaking into song.
Stop putting her in movies now - keep her in daddy's rock videos where she belongs. -
...because this is one of the last films Polygram made before the Seagram's takeover. No word as to whether Universal will pick it up (like they did NOTTING HILL), or whether it falls under the package Barry Diller and USA Studios has license to with the October buyout, and if so, will it be a Gramercy, October, or some new company release. Ain't it confusing--god bless the corporate buyouts--not!
By the way, does anyone know if Diller still owns the defunct Savoy library, and if so, will he integrate it with the October assets? -
For as few roles as she has played,Liv Tyler is a pretty good actress. Nothing Ocsar worthy,but she is more then just rock star progeny turned big screen eye candy. Stealing Beauty was definitely graced by her presence,and not just because she shows her breasts. Thus Spaketh Hikaru.
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To enjoy it you have to look at the 18th Century in a warped way. It is obvious that it is not an attempt at a serious period drama from the time that the Earl of Rochester appears with his eyebrow piercing and purple make up and more Double Entendre's than one person should ever be allowed to make. If camp was invented by an individual then it has to be him, in many ways he stole the scenes he was in. Overall it is a great film and I recommend that anyone who likes their 18th Century history to be a bit screwed up should go and see it.
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Saw P&M in the UK. It's a mess of a film. Originally done as a Gary Oldman vehicle - he gets an exec prod credit - and it feels like a hand me down idea.
Problem is that there are three different energies pulling at this narrative - and at just 90 minutes it shouldn't be too complex. The script wants to be one thing, Miller and Carlyse want to be another and Jake Scott obviously feels he needs to make some moody, showy peice to prove his credentials. He's obviously inherited his father and uncles difficulty in putting a story onto the screen. And there's no way the script was strong enough to carry him through. Structurally the story was all over the place with events not clearly explained and motivations from all over the place. The second half is an improvement over the first and the climactic rescue is almost good.
I was writing a script for Working Title films when this script was being developed and then went into production. One of their execs told me of the problems they'd had and the reshoots they needed but couldn't get the cast together again. It easily took a year to edit and it feels like it's been chopped and changed.
Shame because lurking in there is an exhilerating and entertaining film.
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