00s Movie Review - I Capture the Castle

Director: Tim Fywell
Genre: Drama/ Romance
Runtime: 108 minutes
Year: 2003
Starring: Romola Garai, Rose Byrne, Marc Blucas, Henry Thomas, Henry Cavill, Bill Nighy, Tara Fitzgerald

Description: A love story set in 1930s England that follows 17-year-old Cassandra Mortmain (Romola Garai), and the fortunes of her eccentric family, struggling to survive in a decaying English castle.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2020 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 46: A COSTUME DRAMA

Review: “Better all that hurt than to have known no pain”. That’s the lesson we earn from the film “I Capture the Castle”. The film is based on the 1948 book of the same name by Dodie Smith, who would later become known mainly for her book “The Hundred and One Dalmatians”.
The story of the film is told with the help of a voice-over by Cassandra Mortmain who records all the events surrounding her family in her journal. The film is set in 1930s England. Seventeen-year-old Cassandra lives with her eccentric family in a remote dilapidated castle. Depressed father James once wrote a successful book, but hasn’t had a word on paper for twelve years. Stepmother Topaz is an artist and nudist. Sister Rose is a beautiful girl with a penchant of luxury; her life goal is to marry a rich man. And then there is little brother Thomas, a very smart kid. In addition, the handsome handyman Stephan often visits the Mortmains; he is secretly in love with Cassandra, but she is not in love with him. One day the family meets two wealthy young American men: Simon and Neil Cotton. Rose sees her chance and does everything he can to make Simon fall in love with her. She succeeds and soon the two get engaged. Ut then Cassandra falls in love with Simon herself. And is Rose actually happy with Simon.
Although “I Capture the Castle” is a beautiful film, the story doesn’t seem to work all the time. I think it’s mostly the motivations of some characters that bother me. I simply never understand what Cassandra sees in Simon. Simon is clearly in love with Rose and at first Cassandra even helps Rose to get Simon. But still she falls in love with him. When there is Stephen, a caring, sweet, kind and handsome man (come on, it’s Henry Cavill) who would do everything for Cassandra. But she doesn’t love him back and treats him rather unfairly. He is the winning lottery ticket girl!
I really did love Romolo Garai in her role, even though I didn’t always understand her choices. And despite some negatives, I really did enjoy “I Capture the Castle”.

Rating: 3/ 5

10s Movie Review - Brawl in Cell Block 99

Director: S. Craig Zahler
Genre: Crime/ Thriller/ Drama
Runtime: 132 minutes
Year: 2017
Starring: Vince Vaughn, Jennifer Carpenter, Don Johnson, Udo Kier, Marc Blucas

Description: A former boxer-turned-drug runner (Vince Vaughn) lands in a prison battleground after a deal gets deadly.

Review: Bradley Thomas gets fired from his job and finds out his wife is cheating on him. He still wants to give his wife a good life, so he starts working as a drug runner. They buy a beautiful house and his wife gets pregnant. When he ends up in jail, he thinks it’s going to be an easy 7 years. Until his wife gets kidnapped and some dangerous men in the business want something in return.
Over the years, Vince Vaughn has been in a lot of different roles. In the past years he has been in several silly comedies, where he is usually very loud. But I think I prefer Vaughn in more serious roles. And the role of Bradley Thomas is perfect for him. A loving husband, choosing the wrong path, but staying within the lines of his moral compass. He knows how to play it rough, but has a good heart. One of Vaughn’s best work to date.
The film has a pretty long runtime, over two hours. But despite this and the fact it builds up slow, the film never bores you. And there is also a good balance between drama and action.
To watch this film, you do have to be able to endure some graphic fight scenes. “Brawl in Cell Block 99” is very violent. Although that final shot is clearly a dummy.
“Brawl in Cell Block 99” is a surprisingly strong and entertaining prison/ revenge movie.

Rating: 4/ 5