mcollins-78667
Having never heard of these film I was surprised how good it was. Casting was wonderful and the tone, dialogue and costumes very authentic.Enjoyable. Have recommended it to friends and would easily watch it again.Perhaps it would appeal mostly to people who were the same age at that time, which I am. It was quite nostalgic.Gabriel Byrnes and Nicholas Hoult were perfectly cast.
jlthornb51
Director Richard E. Grant brings his autobiographical story of growing up in Swaziland, Africa to the screen with vision and creativity. Sensitively observed and beautifully realized, this a very unique coming of age story. A fine cast does terrific work as the British colonialists who populate the landscape of Grant's imagination. Outstanding is Emily Watson as Ruby, a lovely American who marries Grant's characters father and seems to understand the little boy better than anyone. She is, to say the least, absolutely electric in the role and lights up every scene in which she appears. What a gifted and charismatic actor she is and this is one of her finest performances in a career where she has never done work that's less than superb. It is a delight to watch her cast her magic spell over this film and help Grant create one of the most superlative and uniquely inspired cinema coming of age stories every made.
secondtake
Wah-Wah (2005)It may seem like this story of a dysfunctional family is familiar, and just setting it in a new location (Swaziland, 1969) will perk it up. And that's partly true, both halves. It really is a television soap opera, and it really is interesting for its setting and subtle political backdrop.But it's so decently made, with sterling performances across the line, you can't help but give it a chance. Even when you think, oh no, not this, you will also think, ah, nicely done. Very moving. And funny. And beautiful.And that, oddly, is everything, which says something. The cast is easily read elsewhere (Gabriel Byrne and Emily Watson stand out for me). The director is a completely new name to me, Richard E. Grant, and it turns out he only has 84 movies to his credit--as an actor (including Henry and June and Dracula). This is his only role as director, and it should have encouraged him. With a more original script (which it must be confessed he also wrote), this would have made the sterling performances and great overall production rise to another level.As it is, a completely absorbing movie, being what it is, and for those who appreciate this kind of sometimes funny, sometimes moving melodrama.
Gerard Witts
Richard E. Grant, if I may say so, owes a huge apology to the population of the United States. For I can see them now, those millions of Americans, earnest devotees of popular culture, trotting along to their local movie theatre in the erroneous belief that Grant's "Wah Wah" is a Barbara Walters biopic... (Anyone who needs this explained to them should consult their nearest popular culture guru...), That however, is where the apologies stop. For, not only does Grant give usthe real talent in the extended Walters family, the wonderful Julie of that ilk, but we get Gabriel Byrne, Miranda Richardson cornering the English Bitch market and the incredibly talented Celia Imrie (There will be those who think Imrie's performance somewhat OTT. It isn't. The English Gorgon she portrays is alive and well and infesting the Home Counties). I was also very impressed with Nicholas Hoult's sensitive performance.Just one gripe. The material covered in the film, plus the array of talent used, would have justified a miniseries in which a good deal of desirable fleshing-out of the characters could have been done. That aside, this is a filmthat makes me look forward to Grant's future efforts as director. His first outing has resulted in a real gem.
AD
