Rufus Sewell – Cut To The Chase

Directed By: Suri Krishnamma

Written By: Barry Devlin

Cinematography: Ashley Rowe

Editor: David Freeman

Cast: Albert Finney, Brenda Fricker, Tara Fitzgerald, Michael Gambon, Rufus Sewell, David Kelly, Patrick Malahide, Mick Lally

Alfred Byrne is a middle-aged bus conductor in Dublin, Ireland in 1963. He would appear to live a life of quiet desperation: he’s gay, but firmly closeted, and his sister is always trying to find him “the right girl”. His passion is Oscar Wilde, his hobby is putting on amateur theatre productions in the local church hall. We follow him as he struggles with temptation, friendship, disapproval, and the conservative yet oddly lyrical world of Ireland in the early 1960s.

Honestly if not for some course language and a particular scene of sexual nature. This could have been a television movie. Thankfully it is a feature film for the big screen which explains the high quality cast.

I will admit I came for actress Tara Fitzgerald who I had a teenage crush on in the 1990’s and whitening e always wanted to watch this film. It took me so long. Because it reminded me of the film BRASSED OFF with her in it.

Watching this film after it being out 30 years truly shows how times have changed. As this might have been a bit stirring at the time, but watching it now seems almost quaint.

As we watch Albert Finney as an effeminate older man who is obsessed with theater. Plays in particular and puts together the locals I. Whichever place is obsessed with that time of year. His friends think he should find a nice girl to settle down with, others think he is eccentric and passionate only about his interests.

Though we can tell that he is gay or has feelings for men. Even as he coddles and curates a local female who he has star in his play and it looks like it could be a cute little love story of acceptance and being about more than physical love.

Then he third act happens and everything goes toosy turbulence and what he and we thought of certain people is exposed. By the light of day and their true ide tires come out in the open.

Honestly that is when the film seems to come alive or at least gets a lot more interesting whereas it feels like there was a ton of buildup just to get to this and it works effectively as a kind of shock but also of everyone showing their cards good and bad

What does work for this film is how deeply rooted the film and characters are in the community who offer a kind of chorus for all the moods and feelings and most of them might not get their time in the sunlight, but they certainly get to shine and help influence and entertain the audience. They are at the heart of the film that has its obvious stars, though luckily it’s quite ensemble.

It’s shocking again that they got the cast that they did Albert Finney, Michael Gambon, Brenda Fricker, David Kelly and a young Rufus Sewell and of course the enchanting Tara Fitzgerald. All for a coming out story.

Then again we all have our stories and coming out can be a defining moment in one’s life, so why not tell it with the best cast that you can get of acting superstars even at the time even if they are way above the quality of the material as Michael Gambin is more supporting and feels almost like an extended cameo throughout.

Give the film a chance but don’t expect too many fireworks. It’s like Levi’s blue jeans in fact, dependable durable something you can count on, but not necessarily a brand you go on and on about, but you’re glad exist and is there

Grade: C+

Written for the screen & Directed By: M. Night Shyamalan
Based on the graphic Novel “SANDCASTLE” By Pierre-Oscar Levy & Fredrik Peters
Cinematography: Michael Gioulakis
Editor: Brett M. Reed

Cast: Gael Garcia Bernal, Vicky Krepis, Rufus Sewell, Abbey Lee, Ken Leung, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Alex Wolff, Thomasin McKenzie, Eliza Scanlen, Embeth Daviditz, Aaron Pierre

A vacationing family discovers that the secluded beach where they’re relaxing for a few hours is somehow causing them to age rapidly, reducing their entire lives into a single day.

I can admit lately M Night Shyamalan is a filmmaker who has gotten more interesting with age. I loved UNBREAKABLE but was never really hooked by any of his other films until THE VISIT came around and truly left me transfixed.

This is a movie that is good entertainment even though its story night feels far-fetched for some. Keep in mind this is a movie meant to enjoy and keep your interest. As the film goes along it manages to do that with some shocks, twists, and turns.

The exotic locale is one of His first films set outside of Philadelphia, his hometown even if the main character’s family is from there. Even if filmed during the pandemic this is the perfect film for watching as it seems inspired by it. Even if this film is based on a graphic novel written years before.

The film is an ensemble even though we mainly follow one family: the parents and kids. How they are changing and reacting and we see others change also. Even though the title and trailers give away the major plot. This is a good film to go in and discover.

As yes there are some over-the-top elements and some do unintentional camp which seems to be something of a regular occurrence in his films.

This film seems inspired as an either overlong TWILIGHT ZONE episode, a less technical BLACK MIRROR or inspired by LOST. The later of which really hits home with a similar cast member Ken Leung

Abby Lee’s character seems to always have the worst fate in movies she is in. As she has the most memorable scene in this film that is done with special effects and similarly in NEON DEMON. She has scenes of grotesque violence. She is a sight to see here and comes back hard later in the film. In one of the most truly terrifying scenes.

As an ensemble, you can already pick who is most likely to be the off-centered crazy one eventually. Just as you can usually predict who will be the victims. The only mystery is when and how. Which might be why most of the cast seems to be foreign actors as too many recognizable names and faces would only leave us to guess more. Whereas here the actors mostly come with no baggage.

The math of aging doesn’t always seem to match up, but the actors’ performances are always believable and heartfelt.

There are certain aspects that are easy to predict but the film does offer what seem to be what some might expect exclusively from writer/Director Shamalayan: a twist and a certain darkness. Though I must say that as dark as his material can get there is usually an uplifting ending or an element of one for the characters in the long run.

The ending offers a good explanation that could easily have been something that most could see happening.

This movie is best viewed without any expectations. Shyamalan’s style is very smooth when it comes to framing, Camerawork, and presentation. Over the years he has maintained twists but they seem less forced and expected. They now feel more natural with the rest of the film. Not necessarily hinging on it as in the past. As his films feel more than that these days. They feel more well-rounded.

By the end this feels like a fun guilty pleasure filled with chills.

Grade: C+

Tag: Rufus Sewell

A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE (1994)

OLD (2021)