Charlie Bubbles [DVD]

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Customer reviews

review by: Garry date: 2009-05-11 rating:
Finney Fan is pleased ..
A totally self indulgent purchase ... br / br /Slow going plot but a fantastic view of 60's life. br /Finneys my favourite actor so I just had to have Charlie Bubbles br /

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review by: date: 2008-11-29 rating:
An original British movie that has finally made it onto DVD! Well done studios and thankyou!
Delighted to see this unique movie has now made it to DVD. It's one of those I didn't think they'd ever do, but gradually studios are seeing the sense to produce DVDs of some pretty niche and uncommercial movies because at last they recognise their artistic and sometimes just mainly nostalgic value. This film has both, and remains the only movie Finney has, to date, directed, and as he's known to be a man who says what he means, looks like staying the only one. This original slice of life, semi autobiographical, semi road movie has some pretty distinctive direction and a notable, quite personal feeling screenplay by fellow Salfordian, Shelagh Delaney, not short of wit. Although the thread is a very simple one, the way it is unravelled is inventive, full of character, and had a lot of film industry folk talking about an interesting new movie director to look out for. Alas we will probably never know how this briefly promising career would have panned out, but judged on the basis of this movie, it may have been a celebrated one. The career he chose to continue devoting himself to is indeed a celebrated one. br / br /CB is one of those 'day in the life' semi realist type of films so its lack of plot or action won't really please the thrill seekers, I shouldn't think. Got generally favourable press at the time despite its rather predictable flop at the box office. But these days studios are realising the age old truth that artistic successes can be as valuable as purely commercial successes. Has a great cast too - Finney himself never fails to please, and there is Blakely in typically solid supporting role form, and Whitelaw at her best, proving to have real chemistry with Albert, which led to at least one other movie playing his estranged wife again. br / br /Just watched it, so just a few words about what I thought. First of all the picture quality, this has not been restored or touched up so what you get is that lovely faded colour that you got in films and magazines of the 60s. Personally I prefer it this way, unless a movie print is particularly scruffy or hard to watch, and this one isn't at all. It adds to the nostalgia, and there is more of that in both the London and visiting the north scenes. It does look dated, just like most films of the period do now, it's incredible to think how much things have changed in just 40 years. br / br /The narrative IS slow and ambling, more than I remembered it to be, but it doesn't matter as this has no real plot or action in it, it is just a look at a weekend in the life of someone from humble beginnings who has found fame and embraced that fame and all the luxuries his success has bought him, but is evidently far from happy in his life. He visits his son and divorced wife in his old home, and is instantly reminded of why he left, and how difficult he found the responsibilities of family life. br / br /Not much really happens in the film, but this isn't the point, it is a little slice of life type movie with some good features - most notable is the distintive direction of first and only time director Finney - he shows a good visual sense troughout the movie with unusual viewpoints, often focusing the camera on what he as Charlie Bubbles is looking at, when the dialogue is coming from others out of shot. Even more notable are the seamless cutaways from one focus point to another, as he takes the camera on the same sort of soulful journey Charlie's on, and it works. The odd ending is both a bit of a surprise and a good summing up of his mind's intentions, and is the perfect metaphor for what Charlie really wants to do. It also stops this non-eventful movie becoming tedious, knocking it off at about 85 mins, and shows a good filmic touch by the now experienced film actor, Finney. Unusual and interesting British movie with plenty for anoraks to talk about, while being a warm and homely viewing experience.


review by: date: 2008-11-21 rating:
Finney Directs
When an actor gets to direct for the first time, he just might experiment - because he's self-conscious about the process and because he doesn't altogether know the formulaic way of doing things. That's always good for creativity. br / br /So it isn't long before we are watching seven different rooms on seven monitors all at once on one screen as Albert Finbey's wealthy character arrives home after a night on the razz. We see young Liza Minnelli on one of them, talking to camera. What we're seeing, it turns out, are cctv links to every room in the house, as Finney and his drunken friend wander from one rooom to another and house staff start to respond...all interacting, live. And then Finney suddenly enters the monitor room where we've been all along. br / br /We see '60s London and actors interacting with reality in candid location shots...and then we move north, to Finney's home town, to Salford in Manchester for some downbeat nostalgia, as his character visits an ex-wife and he takes an estranged son (and us too) to see Manchester United play football, circa 1967. br / br /And we see it on a fine, clear, colourful digital transfer. br / br /The film takes its time. It's contemplative - because Charlie Bubbles, despite being an ostentatiously successful writer (back when writers could be successful, and back when films could take the time to be contemplative), is looking for something more from life...only he doesn't know what, and he doesn't even know he's looking. br / br /It's a fine film, and Finney isn't compromised for a minute by being on both sides of the camera. The Salford lad made good did good.

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