carolyn-31

From the beginning (more groovy than Austin Powers could hope to be!) through the wonderful planning-the-crime montage to the climactic hold-your-breath chase scene, which demonstrates why a tiny car is so much more fun than a great whale of a vehicle, this is great fun. And that ending... I hear this is being remade; I hope (probably in vain) that the new version leaves the ending intact. That final shot is unforgettable and perfect.

Okay, so young Danny actually takes samba lessons (maybe they just couldn't find as good an alliteration) but apart from that, this isn't so bad. There's a John Hughes-y atmosphere about the proceedings (and Hughes gets a thanks in the credits) and while the characters are for the most part cartoony (the bullying snob of a boyfriend and his unbearable mother; the nouveau-riche dad who remembers his roots; the necessary line-up of goofy sidekicks - why do lead characters never have completely ordinary friends?), they are played with honesty and charm. The soundtrack is a nice mix of styles, from Cuban to Irish pop. But the climactic dance scene is poorly done; after seeing numerous "Dirty Dancing"-style montages of the characters practicing, and stumbling, and trying again, it would have been nice to see them in full glory as they present the results of their hard work. Instead, there's a jumble of quick editing and close-ups that make it hard to tell what they're doing. Still, a harmless and enjoyable chick flick.

Yes, it has Minnie Driver and Jonathan Pryce and was directed by Danny Boyle; but those aren't the only reasons to watch this amazing film. Shot beautifully in northern England, it examines life in a closed religious cult in the 1830s. The cult is led by prophet John Wroe, an intense, powerful man, who asks his congregation to give him seven virgins to look after his needs. This story -- of life within Wroe's house, of the women who live there and the life-changing events that occur -- is told from the viewpoint of four of the women, each with a different perspective. The principal actors all give incredible performances, and the stories are resonant and unforgettable. Jane Rogers's screenplay, based on her novel of the same name, is practically flawless.