FEATURE : 15 GREAT CAMEOS - No. 15

In July we tackled the greatest animated movies ever made. With Tom Cruise currently raising audience eyebrows in Tropic Thunder, Film Apt. looks at 15 of the greatest cameos ever.

15. Bruce Springsteen in HIGH FIDELITY

In a film about music and relationships, what could be better than Bruce Springsteen handing out advice on your 'top 5'?

CINEMA: MAMMA MIA!

2008

Cert: PG

Dir(s): Phyllida Lloyd

Starring: Stellan Skarsgård, Meryl Streep, Julie Walters, Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan

What You Need To Know: Girl wants to find out who her real dad is so invites three of her mothers' past conquests to her wedding. Singing and dancing ensues.

This review is more than a little late. It's months since the film was released and Film Apt. has only just got round to posting a review. This largely due to the fact that we've been more than a little apprehensive over the prospect of sitting through an ABBA musical. 108 minutes of all singing, all dancing ABBA just isn't up our street. But through the persistance of our other half and the sheer media presence of the musical, Film Apt. finally caved in. And was pleasantly suprised.

Mamma Mia (now showing in a special sing-a-long subtitled version in selected cinemas) zips along at a speedy pace, never sagging. The songs are performed with gusto and the film never forgets its' sense of fun. Only the presence of a truly wooden Dominic Cooper dampens the experience. Although it is not everyones' cup of tea, Mamma Mia! is without a doubt a fun film to enjoy in the cinema with friends.

Conclusion

It's so bad, it's good : fun, cheesy and very camp, Mamma Mia is a film that will almost certainly have you leaving the cinema with a spring in your step.

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Bernie Mac

October 5th, 1957 –August 9th, 2008

CINEMA: THE APARTMENT

1960

Cert: PG

Dir(s): Billy Wilder

Starring: Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, Fred MacMurray, Jack Kruschen

What You Need To Know: Ambitious guy lets out his apartment for fellow office workers to get up to no-good with floozies so he can get climb the business ladder.

Billy Wilders classic gets a well deserved limited re-release for a whole new generation to enjoy. 'The Apartment' remains both touching and funny. Shirley MacLaine and Lemmon are both utterly magnetic onscreen while MacMurray does a good job as the cad, Mr Sheldrake. 'The Apartment' does however feel a tad too long by todays standards. The shooting style evokes a sitcom-esque mood which isn't suited to the 2 hours running time. Despite this, the film is definately recommended viewing for anyone interested in getting some vintage gold. A comic and tender glow masks serious and cruel undertones.

Conclusion

Wilders witty script and winning performances from Lemmon and MacLaine save 'The Apartment' from its testing running time. A brilliant afternoon DVD rather than a night at the cinema.

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