The Moon of Liberty

Death Race

Starring - Jason Statham, Joan Allen, Ian McShane, Tyrese Gibson, Natalie Martinez

Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson

A bizarre yet wonderfully put together creation, Death Race is all about a far fetched vision of the future. The US economy has collapsed, and private companies have taken over prisons. One such leading businesswoman, Hennessey (Joan Allen) has created the 'Death Race.' A car race to the death which has become and online phenomonon. A prisoner must win 5 races to gain his freedom, and people can pay online to watch from whatever vantage point they wish.

Jenen Ames (Jason Statham) is a family man trying to do the best he can in the difficult circumstances. However, when his wife dies and he is framed for murder, he finds himself sentenced to Hennessey's prison. Frankenstein, one of the key player sin the Death race died in the previous race. He wears a mask however, so anyone can play his role. The public are told Frankenstien did not die but was just seriously injured. Ames is given the chance to become Frankenstien for the big return. Ames had preivous racing experience, he realises he has been set up, but agrees to play the role of Franknstein, whose big return is a huge money spinner for Hennessey.

With the help of coach (Ian McShane) he must go head to head with Machine Gun Joe (Tyrese Gibson), Pachenko (Max Ryan) and a number of others. He realises Pachenko is his wife's killer. Through three stages Ames must survive and win the race to gain his freedom, with the odds stacked against him and Hennessey doing everything to try and stop him, he finds an unlikely ally to make a bid for freedom, someone he has more in coomon with than they both realise at the beginning.

This film has a wealth of action, car chases, violence, twists and turns. Greta one liners along the way too. Allen does a great job as the cold, sexy yet ruthless prison owner, McShane does a fine turn as the wise head being Ames bid for freedom. The story is simple, the idea not immersed in detail. If you can handle the obvious violence, it's fun and does not take itself too seriously. It delivers all the action it promises. A well put together effort in a totally unrealsitic environment.

MOON OF LIBERTY VERDICT - RATING 'B+' - A very enjoyable couple of hours of escapism. Helped along by Allen's deliciously horrid portrayal of an irresistable woman you still want to see get what's coming to her.

The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas

Starring - Asa Butterfield, David Thewlis, Vera Farmiga, Jack Scanlon, Amber Beattie

Directed by Mark Herman

Through primarily the eyes of Bruno, (Asa Butterfield) an 8 year old boy who is the son of a Nazi soldier who has just been promoted, we are taken on a spine chilling journey into the life of a family seeing things through the Nazi point of view. The family move away from Berlin to the countryside on the back of the promotion which hugely upsets Bruno.

On arrival Bruno, interesting in exploring and adventure just like many an 8 year old, is keen to explore the new place. He finds what he thinks is a farm but cannot understand why they are wearing pyjamas. His father Ralf (David Thewlis) and mother Elsa (Vera Farmiga) try and and keep him away from what is going on. As his interest grows however, his father decides to hire a school tutor for him and his siater Gretel (Amber Beattie)

The tutor gives them history books full of hatred towards the Jewish people. Gretel buys the properganda, beginiing to put tributes to Hitler and the Nazi ideas up on her wall, she becomes a true believer in the Nazi ideals, much to her mother's concern. Bruno finds the history initially boring, until he realises that the Jews he is supposed to hate, are the nice people wearing pyjamas he comes across each day.

Evetually he explores the back garden despite him being told this is out of bounds. He finds a fence which he believes is the farm and meets a young boy named Schmall (Jack Scanlon) They are the same age and become friends. In a session with the tutor, he is told hwoever there are no 'nice Jews.' His sister later then explains it is not a farm, but a work camp to keep the Jews away from us, work in their words 'much needed to make the Fatherland a better place.'

Bruno however maintains his friendship with Schmall. A series of meetings between the across the fence has Bruno in confusion, on one hand being told all Jews are evil, on the other experiencing something completely different for himself. The meetings end in a dramtic finale when Bruno considers digging under the fence to go to the other side of it and see it for himself.

There is no attempt to put on German accents in this film. It is a Nazi family, but English actors are used with English accents of the sort that could be the portryal of a typical English middle class family, It gives the whole thing a normal feel to the English viewer and a very real insight into what life would have been like for English families if the Nazi philosphy had been adopted here. The ending is a shocker, and yet exceptionally well presented as the reality of the affects of everything that everyone involved had been trying to do had had on this one little boy who just wanted to play, explore, and would have been better off naive to the reality of what was going on around him.

The acting is first rate, Amber Beattie as Gretel does a particularly fine job in what must have been one difficult role, playing the young girl who had bought the Nazi line to the point of fantacisim, just like a football fan or fan of a rock group or something like it. Bringing a reality and normality to the family that can engender sympathy coupled with the true horror of what they had been forced to stand for in the heart of the Nazi battle to eliminate all Jews. For anyone interested in the reality of the Nazi mindset, or the diverse effect propergander can have on children, this is a must see film. Not for the feint of heart, or if you want an easy uplifting experience for your night out however.

MOON OF LIBERTY VERDICT - Rating 'A' - Real, gritty, and a family from the Nazi point of view, through the eyes of a normal, innocent eight year old boy with a ruthless yet brilliant conculsion. Go see it.