I had low expectations when I went to see The Duchess. One review said it was even less exciting than Marie Antoinette which was one of the most boring films I have ever seen. So I was pleasantly surprised by the charm of the photography, sets, costumes and particularly Keira Knightly. It is not a happy story, so to make it as watchable as it was says much for the director, writer and cast.
It is hard to describe Tropic Thunder. It's like a one trick pony as a pastiche on Hollywood. So it does become a little tiresome after a while. If it had been cut by half an hour, that may have helped. It was watchable in a mesmeric sort of way. Maybe without Robert Downey Jr it would have been less so. This is why I go to the cinema. On a small screen it would not have had the same impact.
Death Race is in the same category. English director Paul W.S. Anderson specialises in action pics ever since the success of Event Horizon and his latest film is all about action. Fortunately, the races themselves are only just not too long. A lot of the money went on the set of the island prison, and it paid off. The photography was splendid. I guess the film was panned by a lot of the critics because it had little story and pretty basic dialogue. But what you get is what you see.
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