Puritan (2005) Reviews

• Glorious Film noir!

  JitterinJake2006-09-02

  This film has a lot going for it. A script that is smart and tight, actors that are performing at high and complex level and visual style that attains the heights of classic film noirs. The use of shadows and contrast in its visual framing and also in the script is superb, the visual system is classical and reminded me of the Robert Townes classic Chinatown, wherein water was used as symbol of corruption in Chinatown, in Puritan, truth as a concept and also truth of character symbolised by Anne Grey, is a symbol that is regarded as lies, something not to be trusted. Many visual clues are used that work on you in many ways, the script is truly performing on multi layered levels, like all film noirs should. The characters never say too much, just enough that is needed, an economy of dialogue that remembers the hard boiled film noir heroes of yesteryear, all framed in in deep reds and encased n blackest blacks. This film succeeds because it created a world for itself, where you believe the events that unfold, because the world that is created is convincing.

• Deveilishly Clever Film! Alan Moore would love this movie!

  festerinfrank2006-08-30

  I am yet another one of the fans from the Frightfest Film Festival, saw Puritan on Monday, and it blew me away. It looks like a Victorian film, dark and shadowy, and has all the elements of DC's Vertigo comics. All those Alan Moore adaptations we have had that have hit the big screen have been truly dire, but this film, obviously not written by Moore but newcomer Hadi Hajaig, is the kind of film that has the feel of those graphic novels. Its intricate in its design, gorgeous in its mise en scene, and devilishly clever in its final act delivery. The cast are cool, Moran who acted in lock stock, a film i did not enjoy at all, was excellent, David Soul was sooo good as the menacing self help guru, but it is the new talent that is Georgina Rylance that steals their thunder, she is like a more beautiful Kristin Scott Thomas. If I had any criticism it is that it didn't explain itself enough at the end, but I guess that is a good thing as we can try to mull over all the various plot details. A great shot in the arm for the Independent British Film industry, who only seem to make moronic gangster films. It really inspired me.

• Stunning film!

  JillianMoo2006-08-29

  Stunning film! I viewed this film with my boyfriend yesterday at the Frightfest Film festival and without doubt it was my favourite film of the entire festival. The director introduced it along with the whole cast Nick Moran, Georgina Rylance and the iconic David Soul. The film is calm, cool and collected, and I cannot believe it has been made in the UK, it feels like it came from the states as it really has a cinematic look and the plot is working on many levels than just moving from a to b. It twists and turns and never reveals itself and long after you have left the cinema you are thinking about it and discussing all the possibilities of its plot line. The director said they shot it in 21 days which staggers me, because it is so beautiful to look at and so professionally done, my hats off to him and his amazing cinematographer. This is the kind of movie the British film industry should be making, and its so good to hear an independent film maker has gone out there and done it completely of his own accord. Go and see it, i think its going to be one of those films that will become a favourite.

• Superbly crafted film.

  lagunasmith662005-11-13

  Superbly crafted film. A real surprise for me, I saw it at the LUFF screenings at the NFT. It is quite gorgeously photographed, the main colour being red, which is used throughout in very heavy shades, but this really works as it is counterpointed by deap heavy blacks. The film moves along in a very considered way, it reminded me of the steven soderbergh film 'sex, lies & videotape' in that regard. The plot is quite multi layered in that it takes you along but you never know where you stand with it, at many points I thought I had figured its conclusion out but was double bluffed, and was wrong, so i enjoyed that aspect of it. The ending does come out of left field and I have to say i didn't really expect it, and was annoyed that I hadnt figured it out but was also pleased that it tricked me. It is the kind of film that you leave and think about for the rest of the evening. All in all an enjoyable film. If anyone else has seen it, can you tell me the significance of the 'hand' Simon Puritan keeps drawing? This is something that I still have not figured out.

• Very smart, deceptively subtle film

  eddiediaz332005-10-05

  Very smart, deceptively subtle film. I saw this at an advance screening and one of the first things that struck me was how beautiful it looked. Like a film noir from the 40's set in the present day, but it also had this lovely haunting atmosphere of a London long since past. It mixes the genres well, but I would say its not really a supernatural film, although the film has a supernatural overtones, but its a smart film in line with films like Donnie Darko and Memento, a mystery. The acting is really solid, Nick Moran who has made questionable films in the past (I didn't like Lock Stock) is pretty mesmeric as the lead and holds it all together, Ralph Brown is always good, but David Soul's right wing politician is a real treat, I'm amazed he doesn't do more. Georgina Rylance who plays the femme fatale is a star waiting to be discovered, all I can find out about her is that she did Dinotopia and straight to video Wesley Snipes movie!!!! I liked the slow pacing as I'm getting sick of fast cutting and non stop movement in a lot of films today, it felt very classical and measured. And the ending was a real surprise but I won't spoil it for anyone. All in all I really recommend it when it comes out, check it out