The Field (1990)

The June Film was The Field

The Storyline

a 1990 Irish drama film written and directed by Jim Sheridan and starring Richard Harris, John Hurt, Sean Bean, Brenda Fricker and Tom Berenger. It was adapted from John B. Keane’s 1965 play of the same name. The film is set in the early 1930s in County Kerry, although it was shot almost entirely in the Connemara village of Leenaun.

“Bull” McCabe (Richard Harris) has spent three decades tending a rented field on the bluffs by the sea in Ireland. When the wealthy widow who owns the plot decides to sell it, she holds an open auction to spite McCabe. A rich American (Tom Berenger) with visions of a factory on the site outbids him, and McCabe then schemes with his emotionally crippled son, Tadgh (Sean Bean), to hold on to the land — his only consolation in a life of loss, toil and a marriage gone sour.

The Club reviewed the film on 27th June 2021 at 19:30. It received rather mixed reviews – a ‘marmite’ movie – adored or disliked.

Link to Wikipedia

Link to IMDb Site

Link to Rotten Tomatoes

Running Time – 3hrs 15mins (195 minutes)

UK Classification – 12A

Twelve Angry Men (1957)

May Film – Twelve Angry Men

The Storyline

An American courtroom drama written by Reginald Rose concerning the jury of a homicide trial. It was broadcast initially as a television play in 1954. The following year it was adapted for the stage. It was adapted for a film of the same name, directed by Sidney Lumet and released in 1957. Since then it has been given numerous remakes, adaptations, and tributes.

The play explores the deliberations of a jury of a homicide trial, in which a dozen “men with ties” decide the fate of a teenager accused of murdering his abusive father. At the beginning, they are nearly unanimous in concluding the youth is guilty. One man dissents, declaring him “not guilty”, and he sows a seed of reasonable doubt. Eventually he persuades the other jurors to support a unanimous “not guilty” verdict.

The Club review exposed very mixed reviews of the film. Rated from 4-8.

Link to Wikipedia

Link to IMDb Site

Link to Rotten Tomatoes

Running Time – 1hr 38mins (98 minutes)

UK Classification – U

I, Daniel Blake

The Club reviewed I, Daniel Blake in April 2021

The Storyline

A 59 year old carpenter recovering from a heart attack befriends a single mother and her two kids as they navigate their way through the impersonal, Kafkaesque benefits system. With equal amounts of humor, warmth and despair, the journey is heartfelt and emotional until the end.

Directed by Ken Loach and written by his long-time collaborator Paul Laverty, it stars Dave Johns as Daniel Blake, who is denied Employment and Support Allowance despite his doctor finding him unfit to work. Hayley Squires co-stars as Katie, a struggling single mother whom Daniel befriends.

The film won the Palme d’Or at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, the Prix du public at the 2016 Locarno International Film Festival and the 2017 BAFTA Award for Outstanding British Film.

The Club review session was very animated and praised the film

Link to Wikipedia

Link to IMDb Site

Link to Rotten Tomatoes

Running Time – 1hr 40mins (100 minutes)

UK Classification – 15

Stranger than Fiction (2006)

The March 2021 Film Review was Stranger than Fiction

The Storyline

I.R.S. auditor Harold Crick suddenly finds his mundane Chicago life to be the subject of narration only he can hear: narration that begins to affect his entire existence, from his work to his love life to his death.

A fun, whimsical tale about an office drone trying to save his life from his narrator, Stranger Than Fiction features a subdued performances from Will Ferrell that contributes mightily to its quirky, mind-bending affect.

The main plot follows Harold Crick (Ferrell), an IRS agent who begins hearing a disembodied voice narrating his life as it happens – seemingly the text of a novel in which it is stated that he, the main character, will soon die – and he frantically seeks to somehow prevent that ending. The film was shot on location in Chicago, and has been praised for its innovative, intelligent story and fine performances. Ferrell, who came to prominence playing brash comedic parts, garnered particular attention for offering a restrained performance in his first starring dramatic role.

Link to Wikipedia

Link to IMDb Site

Link to Rotten Tomatoes

Running Time – 1hr 53mins (113 minutes)

UK Classification – 12A