Maigret in Montmartre (2017) UK

Twin murder mystery!

Genre:

TV Movie, Crime, Drama, Mystery.

Length:

Approximately 4-minute read.


Review:
     It's already fourth from a film franchise made for television. A couple of months ago I reviewed the previous film, and since then I have been looking forward for this one. It was a Christmas season release, and like usual, I'm a little late to watch it. Sadly, this instalment was underwhelmingly received. But I won't agree on that. In fact, it was much better than some of the previous films, especially in maintaining the suspense. Except the basic plot, it was okayish! I mean very casual, like any murder mystery, it opened its account. In the modern detective films, there should be a opening twist and the end twist. That's what lacked in this!

     It's a detective film, so what do you expect other than a murder mystery. So another murder that picks Maigret instead of the other way around. He could have stopped it in the beginning itself, but without it there won't be a story to tell us. This time it's a twin murder with signs of one murderer. Like usual Maigret goes after the clues that all points for a nightclub.

     It's a puzzle to solve, everyone around the victims have some kind of secrets to hide, including the victims. Now Maigret has to convince them all to come clean and sets for a trap to catch the bad guy. It was not a surprise twist, but a decent one to end the mystery once for all. There always a suspectable atmosphere about all the prime character tied to the murders. That's how the entire momentum was created to narrate the tale. Then I don't think anybody would guess perfectly who is the killer before it unfolds itself. But the angle is convincing, that makes the overall film a decent.

 At the heart of this case is a man who feels aggrieved. 

     There's a regular cast and one-time cast. The regular ones were good, led by Atkinson in the title role. As always he dominated, then his colleague vanished with a lesser screenspace. The one-timers contributed well too. The night club people, the young boy Phillippe, the Grasshopper and finally all the suspense is around the name Oscar. Montmartre street is the crime scene, but regarding the victims, they are from two different social classes. One a nightclub dancer and the other a high profile name. That is the big riddle the Miagret has to solve by connecting.

     The fourth film and a fourth director to helm this iconic novel adapted detective story. As well the first time the writer has been replaced. It maintained its average viewership, but like I've said, not everybody happy with it. I don't know what led them to that conclusion, but I enjoyed it. Nothing special, just a simple suspense drama. On the average it is an acceptable. Especially as it was made for television, that's the perfect platform to have it to maximise the outcome.

     Now the final question is can we expect the fifth film! They have recreated the brand that I've only heard of. This is my first version of this iconic detective. This modern version is to reach all the new generation and it did its part decently. So they should continue with it. This and the Jesse Stones can't be compared for several reasons, but this could be the British's own Jesse Stones. I meant purely as a television product, and about a detective. If you had enjoyed the previous three, you would do the same for it as well. Could be lesser, but that does not mean it is a bad flick. So those who wants a cop film, it will be a decent pick.



Suitable for:
Tween, Teen, Adult, All


Final verdict:
Ignore, Bad, Average, Good, Excellent


Similar movies:
Maigret Sets a Trap, Maigret's Dead Man, Maigret's Night at the Crossroads.


External link(s):

WCA geolocation:
Right now we're in

Maigret: Night at the Crossroads (2017) UK

The secrets of Three Windows Crossroad!

Genre:

Crime, Drama, Mystery.

Length:

Approximately 4-minute read.


Review:
     The third film in the ITV's latest television franchise, starring Rowan Atkinson in the title role. It was aired earlier this year, but I've decided to watch it later, which is now, because the fourth will be coming out around the same time. This is another good addition to the series, but not the best one. The first one was good. The second was a little lesser than that. And now this one comes between them two.

     Obviously I anticipated it to be good, since Atkinson in it, doing out of his usual, and a character like Jules Maigret, it's always a high hope. According to many, this is the best one so far, and I can see their reason. But I'm on the different side. Of course I enjoyed it. It was one of the decent detective films. Especially for the television standards, it is better than most of the others. And giving a new meaning for a popular detective from the fictional world was a well done. Though one of my issues with Maigret's screenspace in this particular tale.

     It was based on the book of the same name. Yet again, they are set to solve another murder mystery in the Paris. Maigret is the prime decoder of such puzzle, though I was not happy with how his parts were handled. That means the other character around him had got better scope. That includes the other side of the character, like the baddies. Until the finale you won't know who is the villain, but the film covered enough everyone involving in this narration.

 And there was a moment when I thought you might be a ticket worth buying, as well. 

     Started off with the death of a Jewish diamond merchant and framed someone else for it. There's no clear data available whose behind it and the reason. Maigret got involved in the case, but another inspector argues its his. They get along and try to solve it. The mystery is not the murder, but as the title hints, a place little outside Paris called Three Windows Crossroad. Ultimately, after all the attempts, Maigret ends up there at one night, which brings a light to the probe.

     The end was not surprising enough, hence the reason I did not like it as the other viewers. It was not about prediction. For that, one must keep close eye on Miagret and his expressions, which is a clue to guess what could come next. Well, the cast was amazing. The settings and the direction too. Being a detective film, it had all those ingredients. So anybody would enjoy watching it, but that's not same as it will become your favourite crime solving film. If that happens, well, then that's good.

     Most of the story taking place outside the Paris, makes it look like a tale that could be from any timeline. Unlike the books that sets in the 30s, these films were in the 50s. Little slow paced narrative, but it's nothing to do with the story and the characters which were so well established. I have never seen films, series or read stories about Jules Maigret before, so I liked this film series thus far. The next one due in less than a month. As always hoping that would beat all the expectations and becomes the best one.



Suitable for:
Tween, Teen, Adult, All


Final verdict:
Ignore, Bad, Average, Good, Excellent


Similar movies:
Maigret Sets a Trap, Maigret's Dead Man, An Inspector Calls, Jesse Stone, Mystery Road.


External link(s):

WCA geolocation:
Right now we're in

This Beautiful Fantastic (2016) UK

There comes a time for everyone that changes the life forever.

Genre:

Comedy, Drama, Romance.

Length:

Approximately 4-minute read.


Review:
     This is a very charming title if you are a fantasy film fan. Good looking film posters too from different languages for different regions. In a way, that was my reason to watch this, but anyway I would have seen it sooner or later being a cinephile. It was not a popular production, though the cast and storyline interested me more. They have categorised it as a modern day fairy-tale. But it was missing something. Something cinematically convince to its viewers. My best guess is 'stylish presentation'. Yep, it was a similar kind to 'Amélie', ' Citizen Dog' et cetera. It was not based on any book, but would have been a better format for such tale.

     It was like those titles I mentioned in the previous paragraph which meets 'The Secret Garden'. Sadly, not well explored in its topics. For instance, the romance part was half-boiled. Funnily, I never knew the film trying to achieve that part. Of course it had a boy and a girl. In fact, three boys against one girl. But which path the narration is taking was well preserved till certain length of the film. Surely somewhat it was a fairy-tale, but most probably not like the one you would be anticipating. Especially in the initial stage, it bettered. Only later on it had started to fall back as a casual film.

     The tale of a children's novelist. She is an orphan. Now being an adult, living independently in London, while working in a library. The story of her prior to land in the orphanage was a mystery. So basically she aspires to be a children's writer. Yet to write her first book. It was her normal lonely mechanical life, but one stormy day a trouble comes her way. The next door grumpy old man picking her for a verbal fight for several reasons and one of it were the neglected backyard. Now she has got a countdown to fix the issue. So the remaining the narrative focused on her undertaking, while the other side of her life, she's trying to get a close to an inventor.

 Life and nature, it's just waiting to burst out anywhere it can, seeking light, getting on with it. 

     Definitely it should have been better. Not for just the cinephiles, but even normal people would feel that way. I don't know this filmmaker, but his direction was good, definitely not the writing skill. I think that's where it had failed mostly. It is still an above average, though if the screenplay, including dialogues was done better, then it would have been another level. Particularly, I did not like the transition between the scenes, events and the characters. One of the lines said at the final stage, after the story had taken a twist was poorly penned. That was the godfather of all the cliches, should have avoided at any cost.

     By the way the actors were good. From Jessica Brown to Tom Wilkinson and other two did their respective roles finely. The synopsis says it is about an author, but the film explored different way. The entire film given preference to gardening. It took phases and were decent too. But at final stage it takes a twist by giving a convincing reason. But if that's what the whole story was relied on to surprise its viewer, then that's did not do its job as expected. Overall, the writing should have been improved to give the film a better chance to do well with the film goers.

     Nonetheless, it is a watchable film. Especially I think women, family audience could enjoy it better. I would say the character Bella carried it all the way, despite Alfie jumped into the main storyline strongly in a mid way. The basic story was good enough. Bella is being a loner all her life, how suddenly everything has changed around her was the purpose of the film. Jessica Brown was a perfect choice for the role. She looked more beautiful than ever. Watch it for her, for the cast. Only a few people would feel they had seen a great film. It's just a good British film.



Suitable for:
Tween, Teen, Adult, All


Final verdict:
Ignore, Bad, Average, Good, Excellent


Similar movies:
An Invisible Sign, St. Vincent, Amélie, Citizen Dog, The Lady in the Van.


External link(s):

WCA geolocation:
Right now we're in

Hidden India (2016) UK, India

Indeed the other side of the India.

Season 01:

3 Episodes

Genre:

TV Mini-series, Documentary.

Length:

Approximately 5-minute read.


Review:
     After 'Wild Brasil', now BBC Earth came up with this. A three part mini-series and each one an hour long. It was focused on the wildlife of the Indian Sub-continent. From the Great Himalayas that spread out from north to northeast India to the Western Ghats in the west and southern India, all the hidden natural world revealed. As the opening of each episode say, India is the land of one billion people, if you had ever visited India, you would have seen people everywhere, spread out the entire land mass. But there are still some places where human penetrations absolutely limited, and that's where the wildlife flourishing. You are going to enter there with this documentary film.

     The first part was called 'Land of Changing'. A perfect intro for those who don't know the India's dynamic lands and the species that living there for the millions of years. From the snow mountains to wetlands, arid desert, grasslands, deep jungles, full of surprises. All the type of land mass and the animals that perfectly adopted those conditions and some of the species you might have never thought that you would find in India can be witnessed. Like the Indians who are one of the first people to migrate out of Africa, it seems these animals as well. Because being the same species, there are big difference in size and pattern compared to their counterpart from Africa.

     There are some off topic discussions like Hindu religion associated with the animal kingdom. Its done only for a slight moment to explain things.  If you understand that, it'll tell you why the majority of Hindus are vegetarians. Almost entire species found in India are linked to Hindu gods and goddesses. The rest of the world does not have to turn Hindus, but respect the animals in a similar fashion with passion, why not we the sons and daughters of Earth can live together harmoniously. Some of the documents in this episode will amaze you, how the people and animals co-existing peacefully. But animal instincts can't be predicted, so occasionally things could go wrong as well.

 You do not want to run from what you cannot see. As you may run straight into it. 

     The Second part was called 'Land of Mountains'. Of course, this kick starts with the Great Himalayas and moves to the UNESCO recognised world heritage site, the ancient mountain chain, Western Ghats. Many rare species like the snow leopard, Indian Sub-continent's only ape variety, hoolocks, frogs et cetera can be witnessed. Frankly, the Western Ghats are one of the less explored place on the earth. It is called the Amazon jungle of India, but the local name is Sahyadri. The 1,600 kilometers long mountain chain, a paradise for botanists, photographers and wildlife lovers. So I thought they should have got into deeper for more details about the place, it'll take you to the ancient time with your finds.

     Then the third and final part called 'Land of Rivers'. The third longest river in the world, Ganga, the sacred river of Hindus. The exploration begins from where it starts and where it is heading. The rich in minerals, that benefited by both wildlives and humans are detailed. On the opposite side, Brahmaputra, coming from the other side of the Himalayas and meets the Ganges before fall into the Bay of Bengal. I liked this episode as well, but I don't know how they have missed the Jog falls from different river, the Niagara of India, one of India's natural wonders.

     Narrated by Geraldine James, it's truly an amazing nature series. The India you would have never seen or thought of. But it is just a ten per cent, there are lots more to see the real wild side of India. The only disappointments was there were a few clips that are already seen in other BBC Earth shows. Other than that, it is a must see, particularly if you love India, visited India or going to. There are not many nature documentaries about India, so I hope it returns for the second season. But this time expecting to cover the Andaman Islands to the east and Lakshadweep to the west. Definitely worth making, if not for commercial purpose, just to investigate and keep the documents.



Suitable for:
Tween, Teen, Adult, All


Final verdict:
Ignore, Bad, Average, Good, Excellent


Similar movies:
The Story of India, Wild Brazil, Planet Earth, Frozen Planet, BBC Life.


External link(s):

WCA geolocation:
Right now we're in