Silver Screen in a Red Envelope: A Diary of Time Wasted

 A good, solid, action flick full of fun. It's everything I've always wanted in a movie; big explosions (lots of them) and a little romance. With movies about "old" people, I'm always afraid it'll end on one of those wistful notes, where they all go un-gently into that good night (sorry Dylan). This director kept it light, for which I was extremely grateful. I loved seeing this side of Helen Mirren. It won't win awards, but for a jolly good time, totally check this one out. It won't disappoint.

 I have been so afraid of this film. It's been sitting at the top of my instant queue for perhaps six months. I adored A Room With A View  by the same author, and also starring Helena Bonham Carter, but I didn't like Howard's End . E. M. Forster has a peculiar view of humanity. He looked at people with such loving and forgiving eyes, and yet his cruel characters met with the same kind of unforgiving cruelty, although usually self-inflicted. The acting here surpassed most of what we see on a regular basis. The actors don't force themselves into full expression all the time, but vary their responses by the situation. If the scene calls for calmness, they are calm. If it calls for emotion, they pull out the stops. I found the whole thing fully believable, if a little eccentric (I LOVE the eccentric!). If you have the stomach for British period pieces, TRULY catch this one.