Thank you all for your birthday wishes. One wish of mine was answered pretty early on when my home tutoring student wouldn't get up for his lesson (well he'd only been in bed 2 1/2 hours - don't ask what the parents were doing) so I got to go to the School House and chat with a couple of other tutors, then went home early and watched/capped My Good Name. Sadly that's on this new computer, so I don't have a way to get it on to Photobucket at present.
Then off to meet my friend for a spot of lunch and a visit to the cinema to see The Good German. I read the book when it first came out, and seem to recall it was pretty densely written. I couldn't imagine how they would fit it all into a film of less than 2 hours.
Like Good Night And Good Luck, the film was made in black-and-white, enabling them to use archive footage of the ruins of Berlin, the scene of the Potsdam Conference (and film of Churchill, Truman and Stalin), not to mention mass troop movements. It had the feel of a real old movie. Steven Soderberg should be commended for the atmosphere he produced, right down to the way the film was spliced to look a bit amateurish and poor in the continuity department. Though there were chunks of the original storyline missing, the essence of Joseph Kanon's novel was caught.
George Clooney was his usual solid self. There is a lot of sex in the novel, but no bed scenes in the movie. He manages to give the impression he is partaking of the smoking that was so commonplace in wartime Europe, but you never actually saw a cigarette in his mouth - obviously that's one thing he won't do. Good for him. He doesn't mind swearing, though, and I felt there was a bit too much of that in the movie. Cate Blanchett's German accent is surprisingly good. She has a convincing period appearance.
If period drama is your cup of tea, with murder mystery thrown in, give this one a whirl.
Then off to meet my friend for a spot of lunch and a visit to the cinema to see The Good German. I read the book when it first came out, and seem to recall it was pretty densely written. I couldn't imagine how they would fit it all into a film of less than 2 hours.
Like Good Night And Good Luck, the film was made in black-and-white, enabling them to use archive footage of the ruins of Berlin, the scene of the Potsdam Conference (and film of Churchill, Truman and Stalin), not to mention mass troop movements. It had the feel of a real old movie. Steven Soderberg should be commended for the atmosphere he produced, right down to the way the film was spliced to look a bit amateurish and poor in the continuity department. Though there were chunks of the original storyline missing, the essence of Joseph Kanon's novel was caught.
George Clooney was his usual solid self. There is a lot of sex in the novel, but no bed scenes in the movie. He manages to give the impression he is partaking of the smoking that was so commonplace in wartime Europe, but you never actually saw a cigarette in his mouth - obviously that's one thing he won't do. Good for him. He doesn't mind swearing, though, and I felt there was a bit too much of that in the movie. Cate Blanchett's German accent is surprisingly good. She has a convincing period appearance.
If period drama is your cup of tea, with murder mystery thrown in, give this one a whirl.
Well, sounds like you had an interesting day. I haven't been to the cinema since 'Casino Royale' when I rather unfortunately 'did a Sammy' and burst out laughing when Daniel Craig came out of the sea in those blue trunks....
ReplyDeleteGlad you had a good day! I love it when movies are shot in b&w to give it a more historical feel. My fave movie, Paper Moon, was shot in b&w b/c it takes place during the Depression. I am not sure I'd have loved the movie as much if it were in colour.
ReplyDeletejulie...
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Val. By the time you read this, it will be a day later than it is while I am writing this. Great review of the Clooney movie. He really is a great actor.
Happy Birthday from your long lost cousin in Canada, didn't know about it until I saw the posts. Val, I was wondering about that show, do you think I should wait for it on DVD or go to see the movie ? Is this based on a true incident ? cheers Don
ReplyDeleteGood film review. I do like Cate Blanchett but I will wait for it to come on the TV. Good way to spend your birthday.
ReplyDeleteHappy Belated Birthday,Val!!!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had an interesting day ;-)
Not sure about the movie,guess I'll wait until it comes out on dvd,or more likely the tv..I don't think I've been to the cinema for 3 years or more..I fidget too much.
Eliza xxxxx