levybob

What does 'Black Doves' want to be? I ask because I'm truly not sure. There are scenes that step out of a John Wick ' Shoot 'em up' where a couple of heroic souls bring down a small army of bad guys. Other scenes have the dry wit of the best BBC Comedies. In part it's a political drama in which everyone in British Government is suspected of being a spy or counter spy or (though I might be wrong about this) a spying Prime Minister. Add to the list a domestic drama, as well as a Christmas film, family friendly and warm-of-heart.

The series, in truth, does not do a terribly good job of being any of the above genres. I notice that the series featured two directors over the course of its shooting; something that might explain its multiple personalities.

Worse still is the plot. It is incredibly complex, complex to the point of utterly confusing, confusing to the point of 'I don't care any more, let's just get back to the kiilings'. Everyone is looking for a video tape (Hitchcock's McGuffin; an item providing impetus to the action). If we knew why everyone wants it, by the third episode I'd totally forgotten. And by the sixth episode, when the 'Why' is answered, I was disappointed by its 'nothingness'. There are countless blind-alleys. More red-herrings.

Too many characters by far. So, plot-wise, nothing here to recommend.

Which leaves us with the performances which, overall, were good. I'm a big fan of Kira Knightley and she's at the center of things as a spy who is out to revenge the murder of her lover. Sarah Lancashire is coldly efficient, witty and murderous, as the spy chief to whom Knightley reports. But best of all is the always great Ben Whishaw as an assassin hired to assist Knightley in her quest. Here is a gay assassin who has kept his murderous occupation from his lover and is now facing a choice: home and hearth versus continuing his murderous ways.

Finally, the film's final thirty minutes. They're unnecessary. I imagine they were kept in to fill the story out to its six hours. Easily 3 hours too many.

Bottom Line? Too long and winding to be a good use of your time.

...... But I cannot recommend the film. For what it has to say, the film is very long, far too long; and the reason for its length is that virtually every scene plays out ever so slowly. There is slow camera movement. Long silences. Lengthy stares. I wanted to jump out of my seat.

But as I said, the film's heart is in the right place. Three Indian women living with difficulty in Mumbai (formerly Bombay) spend a long weekend outside the city; a small village reached by train. It is instantly a relief for each of the women and, in truth, that's about it, plotwise. We do get into each woman's life and why Mumbai life has been so difficult, but it was as though the director was playing with the audience / viewers; divulging their histories bit by bit. The characters' backgrounds could have been dealt with in far less time than is allocated to them.

For me the film's positives lie in its showing Mumbai; the slums, the train stations, the crowds, the markets. I was transfixed by what I saw (and I have already visited India). The film is shot with a dark dream-like glaze over the scenes; I felt as though I were transported to a surreal version of hell. And now that I think of it, the film actually might be worth your time for this, and this alone.

Even so, I was impatient right from the film's get-go. And remained that way into its final credits.

Otto Preminger's 'Bunny Lake is Missing' is flat-out awful. Its story is free of tension, the acting is wooden, and the inclusion of British Greats Sir Lawrence Olivier and Noel Coward is simply testement to the fact that people will do anything for money. Coward could not be worse in the role of a creepy landlord: a character that in fact has nothing to do with the story. Olivier as a police officer clearly cannot wait to be done with filming; done and gone. He never removes his topcoat. The street clearly beckons.

Carol Lynley and Keir Dullea are an American brother and sister who move to London. Lynley has a daughter born out of wedlock; a daughter who (a) disappears and (b) may not in fact exist. And that's it: Does she exist and, if so, where is she, and who took her?

I never cared. And once I learned the answer(s) I cared even less. This is a film with absolutely nothing going for it. Dullea is his usual creepy / good-looking self (think 'David and Lisa'), Lynley is all beauty but expressionless as the harried mother.

I know this is a film valued / praised by many. They have their opinions. I have mine. And mine is, 'Awful'.