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REVIEWS PREVIEWS: I Spy
Inspired by a popular ‘60s TV series, I Spy is the latest Eddie Murphy flick that deals with espionage and undercover agents. Like his other movies that have hit the screen in recent years, I Spy lacks the witty charm and freshness that made Murphy’s Beverly Hills Cop such a mega success. The old theme of a white guy and a black guy working as a team on a mission doesn’t help either. But to be fair, if viewed without comparing I Spy with movies of similar style, it’s not so dull after all.
Eddie Murphy plays Kelly Robinson, a boxer sent on a mission by the government with Owen Wilson playing Alexander Scott, a special agent out to recover a spy plane. The enemies, in this case referred to as ‘evildoers,’ are led by Malcolm McDowell, a ruthless arms dealer. As in all such movies, Kelly and Alexander are usually picking fights rather then helping each other in tight spots, while sometimes sharing moments of caring. By the end of the movie, they are the best of pals. Famke Janssen plays Rachel — the mandatory female factor.
The acting is decent, but it is the plot that lacks depth. I Spy depends too heavily on recycled scenes to be the spy movie of the year.—Eddie
Bloody Sunday
Most movies about conflict between two nations or factions are always made from the point of view of one of them, and the other side is usually presented in an unfavourable manner. Bloody Sunday is surprisingly different as it gives a balanced account of the events of January 30, 1972, when in Derry, Northern Ireland, British soldiers shot and killed 13 civilians during a peace march. Both the parties involved are given equal footage, without the ‘good guys’ and ‘bad guys’ stamp.
The film focuses on the events of a single day in the life of four people who were involved in that clash. James Nesbitt plays Ivan Cooper, a civil rights leader organizing the march; Mike Edwards is a young British soldier on duty there; Brigadier Patrick MacLellan (Nicholas Farrell) is commander of the British Army and Gerry Donaghy (Declan Duddy) plays a Catholic teenager who has already had a brush with the law.
The jerky effect of the camera work gives it a touch of reality and the mayhem that results when thousands of protesters and policemen clash has been captured in a documentary style. There is a lot of violence shown, however it has been presented in a realistic manner and not as wanton as one sees in many movies. Attention has been paid to both the British and Irish characters involved in the action. Bloody Sunday stays on your mind long after it is over. A movie to be watched.—AS
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