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FingerSmith : The Complete BBC Series [2005]

starring: Sally Hawkins, Elaine Cassidy, Rupert Evans, Charles Dance, Imelda Staunton
directed by: Aisling Walsh

April 18, 2005
This is a brilliantly acted, gripping, fantastic adaptation of the Sarah Waters novel. The story has unguessable twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat; and an onscreen chemistry between the two leads that is beautiful and incredibly sexy. It's because of the casting that this film works so well- they are both perfect in their respective roles; and the supporting actors, music, costumes and locations are all very well chosen which brings just the right atmosphere and tone to life.

This is much more than a love story, but the love protrayed is what makes it such a gripping tale. It's believable and compelling, and I can't say any more as I don't want to give the plot away.

Please watch this - it's a brilliantly ... Read More:

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The Others (2 Disc Collectors Edition) [2001]

starring: Nicole Kidman, Fionnula Flanagan, Christopher Eccleston, Alakina Mann, James Bentley
directed by: Alejandro Amenábar

September 23, 2002
Zelda from terrorhawks does her best to try and scare the viewer in this terrible film. Same trick as 'Sickth Sense' and 'Dead Mans Shoes', whereby someone you were watching that you thought was real turns out to be a ghost all along. Cheap tricks like this don't make for an enjoyable film, especially as there is no such thing as ghosts. Why do people keep making ghost films when there is absolutely positively no proof for their existence except the anecdotal sort from half wits, drunks and the elderly? The house is nice where it was filmed though, and good on Nicole for shunting Cruisey baby.

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A Room With A View [2007]

starring: Laurence Fox, Timothy Spall, Rafe Spall, Elaine Cassidy

November 05, 2007
I really liked the idea of this, to do something non-Merchant Ivory with a Forster novel adaptation. It's not that I don't like the MI version, I love it, but I could have put it to one side had this been a great adapataion. Unfortunately it was thoroughly disappointing, especially adding an ending which, if my copy of the book is to be believed, Forster would not have approved of.

The acting is OK on the whole, but it's hard going for the most part because it appears to be trying so hard not to be Merchant Ivory. Timothy Spall and Sophie Thompson are both good, but the leads are too insipid.

On the ending: Forster (in some editions) adds a postscript to the story. In this he quite clearly states that George Emerson refused to ... Read More:

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Watermelon

starring: Jamie Draven, Des Cave, Brenda Fricker, Ciaran McMenamin, Sara James
directed by: Kieron J. Walsh

January 15, 2007
i thought Watermelon is a great heartwarming story about a young irish girl trying to find her way and feet in life and all the hassle of love and romance that comes with it ...its funny without being cheesy, light hearted and it still gets to the point. it shows how things are for all the charecters and you get to know and understand how they are all feeling, and connect with the charecters.
Jamie Draven looks very hot in this romantic comedy and as usaul he gives an 100% to this role and give a class A performance! Anna friel gives an excerlent performace too and her accent dosent slip once from start to finish. Brilliant film!!!!!

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The Lost World [2001]

starring: Bob Hoskins, James Fox, Tom Ward (II), Matthew Rhys, Elaine Cassidy
directed by: Stuart Orme

June 03, 2002
The BBC's 2002 version of Arthur Conan Doyle's oft-imitated The Lost World is better than most (not saying much considering the low budgets and abysmal special effects of most versions over the past half century) but it still takes plenty of liberties with the source material. Bob Hoskins' irritable Professor Challenger and James Fox's Professor Summerlee are faithful enough, but once again a new female character has been written into the story for purely demographic reasons in the form of Elaine Cassidy's daughter of Peter Falk's missionary, though this does at least allow the script some contentious discussion of Creationism vs. Darwinism to help stake its claim to a higher intellectual plateau than its cheap-and-cheerful rivals. But of course, it's the dinosaurs that ... Read More:

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BBC Quality Films: (1) FINGERSMITH & (2) PORTRAIT OF A MARRIAGE

starring: Janet McTeer, David Haig, Cathryn Harrison, Sally Hawkins, Elaine Cassidy


The BBC's 2002 version of Arthur Conan Doyle's oft-imitated The Lost World is better than most (not saying much considering the low budgets and abysmal special effects of most versions over the past half century) but it still takes plenty of liberties with the source material. Bob Hoskins' irritable Professor Challenger and James Fox's Professor Summerlee are faithful enough, but once again a new female character has been written into the story for purely demographic reasons in the form of Elaine Cassidy's daughter of Peter Falk's missionary, though this does at least allow the script some contentious discussion of Creationism vs. Darwinism to help stake its claim to a higher intellectual plateau than its cheap-and-cheerful rivals. But of course, it's the dinosaurs that ... Read More:

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Disco Pigs [2001]

starring: Elaine Cassidy, Cillian Murphy, Brian F. O'Byrne, Eleanor Methven, Geraldine O'Rawe
directed by: Kirsten Sheridan

February 25, 2002
If you are like "a viewer", the anonymous reviewer above who watches films without an ounce of interest in trying to find the bigger picture, then this film is not for you.

One of Cillian Murphy's earlier films, you can see why Hollywood beckoned for him - he portrays "Pig" perfectly, an angst-ridden, violent, obsessed, confused teenager, while his love "Runt" ultimately holds the key to Pig's happiness, and more importantly, his life path.

I did find Cillian's accent harder to understand than Elaine's but I could basically work out what he was saying much of the time.

This film is sad, moving and intense, yet you want to keep on watching.

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Uncle Adolf

starring: Ken Stott, Christine Tremarco, Elaine Cassidy, Danny Webb, Peter Wright

January 10, 2005
This is a superb drama based on the relationship between Adolph Hitler (Stott) and his half niece Geli Raubal (Cassidy) between 1929 and her suicide in 1933.

Having read Ronald Hayman’s excellent book “Hitler+ Geli” this film brings out the essence of the relationship between Hitler and his niece but there are several sacrifices made for dramatic effect.

First Cassidy looks nothing like the real Geli who had a very full face and figure, and the only descriptions of her were written decades later in memoirs and interviews and describe her variously as “Her big eyes were a poem”, “an enchantress” and quite differently by the highly cultured and educated Hanfstaengl as “having the coarse bloom of a servant girl” a view Frau Hanfstaengl ... Read More:

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Felicia's Journey [1999]

starring: Bob Hoskins, Arsinée Khanjian, Elaine Cassidy, Sheila Reid, Nizwar Karanj
directed by: Atom Egoyan

July 24, 2000
I watched this film for the third time yesterday. Certainly worth buying a copy, for it's very subtle and quite comical in a black humour kind of way. In fact, I've only just realised what made the character, Mr Hilditch, played by Bob Hoskins, so full of hatred and a desire for revenge against women. It was the liver.

In one shot, when the boy Hilditch was being used as a prop by his cookery-show mother during a presentation to camera, he messed up while trying to squirt some stuffing into a prepared turkey, and to punish him, she feeds him a little slice of the raw liver from the stuffing, forcing it into his mouth. Another scene shows the boy in the garden outside as his mother just finishes off a take. The mother rushes up to the lad and makes as if to kiss him on the mouth - but then moves her ... Read More:

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Felicia's Journey [1999]

starring: Bob Hoskins, Arsinee Khanjian, Elaine Cassidy, Gerard McSorley, Peter McDonald
directed by: Atom Egoyan

January 28, 2008
The Sweet Hereafter is such a first-rate movie that I wanted to take another look at this one, which Egoyan made two years later. It's not in the same league as Hereafter, but it is an excellent, disturbing movie.

Bob Hoskins plays Joseph Hilditch, who runs a big kitchen operation to feed the employees of a factory. At night he cooks elaborate dinners in his own gadget-filled kitchen while watching old video tapes of a cooking show. The star of the show had been his mother, an enveloping presence who completely dominated young Joey. Then he eats his meals alone, listening to Mantovani and other standbys of the Fifties. He also occasionally helps out young women when they are in distress.

Felicia (Elaine Cassidy) has come to his city from Ireland to look for her lover, who left to find a better ... Read More: