Jayne Mansfield's Car

One of those films that flew totally under the radar. And this is a little gem.

Years ago, Naomi Caldwell divorced her husband and left her family in Alabama to go to England. There she remarried and stayed. Now that she died the two families meet up for the first time in Naomi's native Alabama, where she is to be buried.

Both, the Caldwells and the English Bedfords have unresolved family issues that break open over the few days they spend under the same roof. But there is also some healing involved for some of the family members. The two husbands of Naomi first bond over a visit to the (alleged) car that Jayne Mansfield died in, the two Bedford siblings, Phillip and Camilla, take up with Donna and Skip Caldwell, respectively, Carroll Caldwell reconnects with his estranged father over a letter he wrote him many years ago that the old man has never acknowledged but has been carrying around in his pocket for the longest time.

There is one particularly touching scene, when Skip tells Camilla about the injuries he suffered while flying a military plane in WWII.

Billy Bob Thornton directed this one. I have previously seen and liked his Sling Blade and this is the second of his that I have watched.

6/10

10 Rillington Place

This is the true story of serial killer John Christie (portrayed by Richard Attenborough) and a case of miscarriage of justice involving Timothy Evans (played by John Hurt).

Between 1943 and 1953, Mr. Christie strangled 8 (known) victims, including baby Geraldine Evans. The film details the time of Geraldine's parents short stay in a rental apartment at the title giving address.

After Christie murdered Beryl Evans he tells her husband Timothy, who by modern standards would be considered mentally challenged, that she accidentally died while he helped her terminate an unwanted pregnancy. He urged Evans to leave town until the investigation about his wife's death had died down. The unfortunate Geraldine gets left in the 'care' of Christie.

Evans was apprehended and as a result of a false confession was then tried for the murder of his daughter and sentenced to death by hanging. He was executed in 1950. This enabled Christie to murder a few more women, including his wife Ethel. He was later detected and finally hanged in 1953.

The argument that Evans was in fact innocent of the crime he was accused of was brought forward in a book by Ludovic Kennedy, which lead to a revision of the case. Evans was officially pardoned in 1966.

Very well acted by both leads.

6/10

Nineteen Eighty-Four

I have recently read - and loved - the book Nineteen Eighty-Four. With the book fresh in my mind it is always risky to watch the translation onto the screen. In the past, I have been bitterly disappointed many times, especially when not allowing some time to go by between book and film.

Thankfully, here the adaption of George Orwell's dark vision of the future is very close to the source material and wonderfully acted. The biggest burden of the film is on John Hurt's shoulders and he is nothing short of brilliant. Young Julia is played by one Suzanna Hamilton, who has remained obscure as an actress (before and after). The deceitful and turtoring O'Brien is portrayed by the great Richard Burton in his last film role. The film is dedicated to him.

I have already detailed the story in my book review and therefore will not do it again here, since I already mentioned the film's respect of the original text.

A bleak vision of a future, that has not quite arrived yet.

Brilliant.

10/10