Film: The Orphanage (El Orfanato)
Year: 2007
Director: Juan Antonio Bayona
Venue: Prince Charles Cinema, London
Further Info: http://www.princecharlescinema.com/
Cast: Belén Rueda Fernando Cayo Roger Príncep Geraldine ChaplinRunning Time: 105 minutes
Tuesday 17th May
[Following “Julia’s Eyes”… http://bit.ly/l8Iau5… ] I focused on exiting the cinema, like a man possessed [and intent on getting food], did my best to verify the ETA of the next film to appear on the screen & headed to the culinary un-delight vendor around the corner. I purchased a bite, headed back to the venue, grabbed a coffee and took position again in the cinema. If that reads a tad speedy that’s because it was!
One quick and discreet phone-call later and the film was almost underway.
The Orphanage was On:
Amongst children seen playing, we see a scarecrow, which I must admit has the dress-sense and hair of one of Johnny Depp’s famous characters. But which film am i thinking of? Benny & Joon perhaps. Anyway, it’s not important.
[Food for Thought: I take it crows are anti-christians and therefore fly away from such “Jesus-on-a-cross” stanced scarecrows…As I say, that’s just Thought Food]
We’re also introduced to some lovely titles…but lovely designed titles do not make a great film, of course. Yes, I was in a tad negative mood. Only a tad, due to my non-impressedness from the previously shown film, Julia’s Eyes.
I liked the fact that this (along with Julia’s Eyes) was a double-bill and therefore thought of the following:
Analogy Part I: Julia’s Eyes involved…yes, you’ve guessed it, a women (named Julia!;) and problems with her eyesight.
Analogy Part II: The Orphanage and an early – and I guess you could say first real – scene featuring a woman waking up and therefore her eyes being opened.
Now… On the assumption that you’ll know a tad about this movie already – even from posters I guess you can tell it’s subject matter – I’ll reveal vague suggestions of story.
Essentially, we are talking either about ghosts, invisible friends or poltergeists here. And on that ‘revelation’ there is a part where a trail is left for such beings…(or ‘non-beings’, would perhaps be more apt) …and this path trailing reminded me either of Hansel & Gretal or E.T., or both.
Now, this is not the first film to use the idea of a fancy dress party and I’m sure there is many a fright film out there which does so, but this particular one did make me think that perhaps it would have been a different story without this party. Not that there wouldn’t be a movie anyway but, well you’ll perhaps see what I mean when you see this movie – if, indeed you haven’t already seen this picture before…It was released back in 2007.
[And even if you have seen, I hope you’re just interested in MiniMini’s opinion and perhaps just want to be entertained by reading the review – after all, that’s partly why I write these – see my Mini-Mission Statement ;)]
Now, shall we have a seance? Or what I like to call a House Market Evaluation..!? *laugh* (OR) *sigh* Anyway, perhaps it is just me, but I was thinking that the old woman employed to undertake such a task looked remarkably like an older version of the lead female. Also, I’m trying to recall where I’ve seen this (much) older woman in movies before… Hmm…
We then have a bit of a grown-up-Home-Alone scene as our main lady prepares to summon those whom perhaps she would be better leaving to their own devices. It’s similarity is only slight, but a ‘Home Alone’ aspect I saw in more than one way.
I can’t help my humour or word-playing – it just comes out – but there are some things I should apologise for and this could be one. Basically, one character is looking or reading a mirrored plaque on a grave… and I thought of him saying “I can see myself in that!” One day, yes. *sigh*
And with that bit of shallow philosophising I’ll end this review on a higher note, just like a Hollywood happy ending.
A suspenseful thriller-come-horror, having taken us on an only vaguely cliched rollercoaster, rounds events off with an ending that big softie [and owner of a child’s heart & mind, and perhaps an orphanage of Hollywood kid actors at his home] Steven Spielberg would be proud of.
[Trailer… Complete with cheesy American voiceover…: ]
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