The Film Reporter

One of the best scenes in ‘The Sum of All Fears’ (2002) 

“My own fear is that in the post-apocalyptic future, ‘The Sum of all Fears’ will be seen as touchingly optimistic” - Roger Ebert 

From the director of the sentimental piece ‘The Bucket List’, Rob Reiner, comes ‘Magic of Belle Isle’. There has been many mixed reviews about this film, many arguing over the choice of the protagonists characteristics, which the critics find hard to believe during  plot.

Monte Wildhorn (Freeman) is an alcoholic who has lost his wife a time ago, and has decided to take care of a dog for the summer in the most beautiful of rural towns in the US. Monte was a writer of Western novels in his past, novels which many people to his old age still find fantastic stories. As well as his neighbour Charlotte O’Neil (Madsen) we too hope that he finds his writing hand once again.

As previously stated, many reviewers found themselves incapable of accepting Monte as the films protagonist for his arrogance and attitude. This I can understand, but can I also bring up Clint Eastwood’s character in ‘Gran Torino’, a character who was disgusting and miserable, but over the course of the plot he opens his mind and starts to live his life and connect with people, similarly to Monte. 

I found the film delightful, as a huge fan of stories and imagination, Monte’s expression of this is subtle and beautiful to Finnegan (Fuhrmann) as she tries to find out just where stories come from. 

It’s the presence of the O’Neils that slow takes a toll on Monte as he starts to see the beauty in life once again. As he gets closer to the O’Neil family, he also get’s closer to Charlotte as they share a kiss together under the moonlight (despite their 21 year old difference). 

The Magic of Belle Isle is a very warm loving film that follows one mans determination to change in the face of love.

Jack Harper: The Last Superbowl was here

‘Oblivion’, April 12th 2013

Unforgiven (1992)

Unforgiven (1992) A film which Eastwood saluted to one of the early pioneers of the Western in the closing credits, Sergio Leone.

One of the best scenes in ‘The Sum of All Fears’ (2002) 

Alfred: [to Bruce] Remember when you left Gotham? Before all this, before Batman? You were gone seven years. Seven years I waited, hoping that you wouldn’t come back. Every year, I took a holiday. I went to Florence, there’s this cafe, on the banks of the Arno. Every fine evening, I’d sit there and order a Fernet Branca. I had this fantasy, that I would look across the tables and I’d see you there, with a wife and maybe a couple of kids. You wouldn’t say anything to me, nor me to you. But we’d both know that you’d made it, that you were happy. I never wanted you to come back to Gotham. I always knew there was nothing here for you, except pain and tragedy. And I wanted something more for you than that. I still do. 

Jim Gordon: I see a beautiful city and a brilliant people rising from this abyss. I see the lives for which I lay down my life, peaceful, useful, prosperous and happy. I see that I hold a sanctuary in their hearts, and in the hearts of their descendants, generations hence. It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.