Review: ‘Monuments Men’

I’m going to put this movie solidly in the ‘good but not great’ category.

Let’s start by saying two things:

Firstly, considering the release was pushed back to avoid awards season I was worried that meant the movie was bound to bomb at the box office.

Secondly, I absolutely adore movies (well-made movies I need to add) that revolve around military or human history.

So attending a pre-screening of ‘Monuments Men’ was definitely of interest.

George Clooney leads a cast that includes Matt Damon, Hugh Bonneville, Bill Murray, Cate Blanchett and John Goodman. The movie itself is billed as a comedy- drama, and it fills both shoes. Though with Goodman and Murray sharing the screen, who wouldn’t expect some of the comedy to hit its mark.

Following a group of men, members of the ‘Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives (MFAA)’ program, who were tasked to try to help preserve art caught in the crossfire during the Second World War. They worked as embedded soldiers, on the front lines doing their best to keep track of and save sculptures, paintings and historic and cultural relics from both the Allies and Axis forces as they moved through art-heavy Europe.

The movie mainly dealt with the team as they moved through France, Belgium and Germany during the last two years of the war, though in actuality the MFAA also worked in Italy and Austria – both German controlled or allied at the time.

It’s an entertaining, and at times touching, look at a group of men who played an important role during the war that is otherwise unknown to most people. They weren’t the kind of men who were lauded for leading an attack on the front lines, or with two dozen dog fights. Instead they were men who fought to help preserve humanity in a less corporeal sense: men who wanted to win the war and at the same time preserve the art that makes humanity so unique.

‘Monuments Men’ was relatively well-made, though be warned that is has a few VERY ra-ra-America moments, though I wasn’t really surprised considering the American penchant for that whenever it comes to a war movie. Some of the humour is hit-and-miss, and some of the drama is predictable, but overall the movie is entertaining and a good way to spend a couple hours.

6.5/10

Movie Review: Third Star

It’s fascinating how movies, books and art have the ability to affect us.

I can still remember the first time a movie made me cry: I was a little girl watching ‘Homeward Bound’ with my mum, her best friend and my little sister. Near the end of the movie we’re led to believe that the Golden Retriever has died on the last leg of their journey. I cried. I sobbed, nearly inconsolably, until we learned he hadn’t died. And then, apparently for good measure, I cried again when he was reunited with his family.

Since then I’ve only been really touched by a movie a couple times.

Then, last night, I decided to finally get around to watching ‘Third Star’ and I wound up in tears once again, this time suffering through death glares from my kitten who didn’t appreciate my hiccuping whilst she slept.

A 2010 limited release film, ‘Third Star’ is a UK film directed by Hattie Dalton, closed out the 2010 Edinburgh Film Festival. Critics have given the film mixed reviews, but audience reception has been much warmer garnering it a sparkling 89 per cent approval rating through 400-odd reviews on RottenTomatoes.com.

The film documents the final few days for cancer-stricken James as he and his three best friends depart on one final trip shortly after his 30th birthday. James, who is taking copious amounts of morphine to tolerate the pain which constantly accompanies him, wants to return to a place where he knew happiness, a sandy cove called Barafundle Bay.

James is accompanied by Davy, an unemployed friend who has been helping James’ family cope with his illness; Bill a loud and funny accomplice stuck in an unhappy relationship; and Miles, who had lost his father to cancer as a child and had up until recently been absent from the group.

Their journey to Barafundle is brimming with both hilarious moments and extremely trying and dark arguments only the best of friends are able to countenance.

But it isn’t until they reach the bay that James reveals the true reason he wanted them to make the trip.

Having lost my grandmother to cancer a couple years ago, and having to endure the emotional anguish of watching someone you love wither away slowly before your eyes, I found the movie poignant and painfully honest.

Starring a group of young up-and-coming British actors including JJ Feild, Benedict Cumberbatch and Tom Burke the film was a true reflection of love and friendship.

9/10