"Holmes & Watson"

There has been much in the press about tbis film. From having had a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes to people walking out en masse.
But the question remains, is it really that bad?  The answer is yes.
The poster says it all "They don't have a clue", and that just about sums it up perfectly.

It isn't even funny accidentally, it just falls flat through out the film. 2 out of 10

"Stan & Ollie" (Preview Screening)

Not matter what age you are, just about everyone has heard of Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy. The genius of their work is perfectly illustrated by the fact that we are still watching and loving their films more than  80 years after they were made. They are up there with the absolute greats, like Keaton, Lloyd and Chaplin.

To make a documentary about them would be one thing, but to actually portray them, and thus bring them to life, well that is a whole different ball game. Their quirks and mannerisms are so well known, it is not a performance that you can do half heartedly. You have to give it 100%, and then some.
And boy do John C. Reilly and Steve Coogan deliver.
I would have thought that the prospect of recreating these two comedy Icons for the big screen would be a daunting task but these two great Actors seem to have a great ease in their work. It is far from an impersonation, far more than that. They inhabit these two men, and it is just like seeing Laurel & Hardy on screen one more time.

The film mainly centres on their later years as they embark on a tour of the Theatres of Britain, whilst at the same time working on a forthcoming return to the Big Screen with a Comedy version of Robin Hood. Their relationship has been a little frosty since they went their seperate ways due to the Studio Contract system. Theatre Impresario Bernard Delfonte lures them to the UK. Times have changed, especially since the Second World War. Will the masses still come out to see a double act who best worked together almost 20 years earlier?

Naturally the tour takes its toll on Oliver's health, and on their friendship. It is a compelling look at these two giants of mirth, and it is beautifully written by Jeff Pope, and Directed by Jon S. Baird.
The team lovingly recreate some of those legendary sketches but it is thanks to the truly outstanding performances of the two lead actors. They do far more than impersonate Laurel & Hardy, they do far more than characterize Laurel & Hardy. For me they ARE Laurel & Hardy.

If you thought that "Bohemian Rhapsody" would get the title of Best biopic of the year, then think again, as it might just have been beaten.....10 out of 10

"Philomena"

Unwed mothers in Ireland, their parents disown them, they turn to a local order of Nuns for help and support. They know that the time will come when they have to give up their child. But when the child is born, they stay at the convent for a couple of years and naturally, quite an attachment is formed. One cannot imagine the heartbreak that they go through.

One such mother is Philomena, a woman who was parted from her boy some 50 years previous, and now after all that time is keen to see him, and explain her actions. She has remained in constant contact with the convent, but alas they have been unable to provide any information that will reunite her with her son. Through fortune she meets up  Martin Sixsmith, a former BBC news reporter, who had a falling out with the Government, and is now at a bit of loss work wise. Though doing human interest piece is not normally his thing, he decides to help Philomena in her quest to be reunited with her son.

Sixsmith is at a loss as to why the Convent is not being more forthcoming in wanting to help, and how a lot of the records were conveniently destroyed in a fire, then he finds out the reason why. He also finds out that the boy, and another girl, were given to a wealthy couple from the United States. From here Sixsmith is able to use some of his US contacts to see if they can help shed any light.

There are a few surprises along the way, for anyone who is not familiar with the story, and has not done any reading up on it in advance. For that reason it is difficult to go into any more detail about the story without ruining it for potential future viewers of the film.

But rest assured that it is a truly remarkable story, brilliantly written by Jeff Pope and Steve Coogan. And Mr. Coogan is on equally good form as Martin Sixmith, not the usual kind of role that one has come to expect, and though there may be moments of humour within the performance, it is certainly a more serious role for him, and one that he does very well.
But of course, it is Dame Judi who excels as the mother desperate to see her son. Just such a beautiful performance, as one would expect from one of our finest actresses. I would think that an Oscar nomination will come her way next January.

The main thing that struck me was the power of Philomena's religion, in that she was still able to forgive the nuns who deprived her of 50 years with her son. A quite remarkable woman indeed.

Another great example of top quality film making ......8 out of 10