Film No. 48 (2014) July 20th. 5.00 PM LUNA SX Fremantle.
Still Life
Eddie Marsan is the quintessential character actor who rarely takes top billing. Marsan breaks off those shackles in this interesting small film from the U.K.where he not only stars but is a hero of the most interesting kind. The film is neat, compact, has a message and while its earnest intent is overplayed, Marsan is brilliant.
John May (Marsan) is a council worker assigned the task of finding the family of those who die lonely deaths in his borough. He is a quiet, meticulous man who is obsessed with "doing the right thing" by the deceased. He's a good man who battles against the odds, on many levels, to complete each assignment to the best of his ability. On most occasions he becomes the sole attendant at the funeral he has arranged.
The Still Life story is an original one, unfortunately for this version the heavy handed method Italian film maker Uberto Pasolini (The Full Monty) uses to make his point left me partially disappointed. Perhaps it was the melding of a passionate Italian film maker working with a very conservative british narrative. Either way, the film was, in the main, very enjoyable.
One aspect of the film which was well handled was the very gradual transition of Marsan's May from metronomic loner to extremely conservative risk taker. Joanne Froggatt (Kelly Stoke) is slowing gaining a reputation as a talented performer and her work in Still Life allowed for a good chemistry between herself and Marsan. This is a thoughtful, well made film. 8GUMS
John May (Marsan) is a council worker assigned the task of finding the family of those who die lonely deaths in his borough. He is a quiet, meticulous man who is obsessed with "doing the right thing" by the deceased. He's a good man who battles against the odds, on many levels, to complete each assignment to the best of his ability. On most occasions he becomes the sole attendant at the funeral he has arranged.
The Still Life story is an original one, unfortunately for this version the heavy handed method Italian film maker Uberto Pasolini (The Full Monty) uses to make his point left me partially disappointed. Perhaps it was the melding of a passionate Italian film maker working with a very conservative british narrative. Either way, the film was, in the main, very enjoyable.
One aspect of the film which was well handled was the very gradual transition of Marsan's May from metronomic loner to extremely conservative risk taker. Joanne Froggatt (Kelly Stoke) is slowing gaining a reputation as a talented performer and her work in Still Life allowed for a good chemistry between herself and Marsan. This is a thoughtful, well made film. 8GUMS
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