Comments | ashlyme: "at the age of eighteen the grass grew over him"

ashlyme

"at the age of eighteen the grass grew over him"

Jan 29, 2012 17:17

Last night we watched The Hanging Garden (1997). It's an excellent film. Williiam, once a troubled obese teenager, now a thin, apparently settled man with a steady job and boyfriend, comes home for his sister's wedding. His father is still the same abusive drunkard; there's a foul-mouthed little sister he didn't know he had; his Catholic ( Read more... )

films, stuff i should be doing

Comments 3

sovay January 29 2012, 21:52:34 UTC

I won't spoil it for you if you haven't seen it, but there is a fantastical element to it: there are ghosts and visions. At points, it's twisted enough for The League of Gentlemen.

I'm not even sure I've heard of this film, but you make it sound like something I would like very much. I will see if it's around in this country.

Chris Leavins, who plays the adult William, is beautiful: he has, to me, the bone structure and eye shape of Paul McGann.

Definitely not a bad thing.

ashlyme January 29 2012, 22:28:04 UTC

Yes, I think you'd like it a lot. We have an American import, so hopefully it shouldn't be too difficult to pick up.

Well, I've watched SH now. Hmm... I liked it a lot, in a comic-book way. Law makes a great Watson. I love the banter between him and Downey Jr, like the violin bow incident:

"Get that out of my face."
"It's not in your face. It's in my hand."
"Get what's in your hand out of my face."

Downey Jr is not bad. Once I'd got over the fact he was a bit more... buff (ironically, Blackwood looks more like the Strand Holmes) than I thought, I quite liked him; the fact he was tousled and unshaven, and never seemed to wear a tie. And playing pizzicato violin. It's got odd nods to the canon. I should really have expected an action-adventure. As it was, we were quite surprised by the level of fisticuffs. What plot there is seems to come from a crap Dennis Wheatley novel. But it's fun, even if he is no Brett.

sovay January 29 2012, 23:23:45 UTC

I should really have expected an action-adventure. As it was, we were quite surprised by the level of fisticuffs.

Those would be the stupid fights I warned you about. I think it could have gotten away with being a Holmesian action film if it had just deleted one or two.

But it's fun, even if he is no Brett.

I'm glad you didn't hate it!