Downtime
By markashley
- 761 reads
DOWNTIME [****-]
Paul McGann and Susan Lynch
A man is called to a rundown tower block to prevent a woman from
committing suicide and killing her son. Finding himself attracted to
the woman he returns the next day to ask her out. Their real troubles
begin when they find themselves trapped in the lift.
This film combines urban decay, disaster, social tension and romance in
what initially seams to be a loose and ragged tapestry with dangling
threads and loose patches. Slowly the tension builds until you realise
that your fists have been clenched for more than half an hour, after
which there is a deceptive calm, VERY deceptive. I remember discussing
PULP FICTION, and the syringe moment, how tense it was seeing the
needle, knowing what was going to happen, and then the sudden shock of
Uma's eyes wide open. That was NOTHING. In DOWNTIME you are shown what
is going to happen, to the point where you cringe at the thought of it,
you are given plenty of time to take it all in, and you think to
yourself "well, at least they won't show it, it will all be over with
fast and I can relax soon". Well, not only do you have to wait for the
pain, you see it and have to live with it for another 5-10 minutes - I
swear I was in a foetal position at the end. Then, just when you think
the film is over, it all turns around again.
Now, good news and bad news. This is a Channel 4 film, the chances of
it ever being seen outside the UK and Ireland are slim (it is set in
the North East and would require subtitles in the US). But, this is a
Channel 4 film, so anyone in this country will be able to see it on TV,
uncut, eventually.
I'm surprised that Susan Lynch is still relatively low profile, she is
a brilliant actress (in everything I've ever seen her in), and
attractive enough to match up to the Hollywood requirements (God forbid
they should ever take in anyone for talent alone). For those who have
not seen her in anything she's a bit like a Andy McDowall, except she
looks human and she can act.
And it's nice to watch a film and not have to worry if your going to be
out of the cinema in time for work the next morning.
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