Daniel Craig seems reasonably suitable for the role, good also the chemistry with his on screen girlfriend Kelly MacDonald, absolutely adorable as the wee Scottish lass romantic interest! The movie has a rather poetic quality, the poetry of everyday life, and a fairly good insight into the little important things which constitute our existence, more than into that mythical and mysterious condition: schizophrenia. When the movie approaches this ground the stereotypes start to pile up mercilessly, but then again the movie is still a cut above a lot of other films which have in the past tried to deal with this subject. Cue the almost Nouvelle Vague romantic feel of the Hastings day out scenes, on the beach and in the hotel, Kelly MacDonald swimming in the huge sea-of-white bed to the tunes of a French song. Intriguing and fascinating the London backdrop: a moody sky, a crowded street, evening falling outside, inside a room, in front of a window.
Plot summary
Schizophrenic Ray tries to adjust to the outside world after being released from an institution.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
September 12, 2024 at 02:04 AM
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'James Bond' Daniel Craig as a young recovering schizophrenic? Yes, why not!
Taxi Driver meets the Naked Chef
I only saw the last hour of this film but it is an excellent insight into mental illness, as well as the urban jungle of London (west London and Acton/Shepherds Bush, in particular).
Daniel Craig is brilliant (never heard of him before) as the mixed up man who visits and stays with his brother and frequents his quaint little bistro in the high street.
Lots of Godard-style jump cuts and freeze-frames, presumably to mimic the mind of a schizophrenic, accompanied by a fine soundtrack. Another great little motif is having all the characters live or work next to very busy thoroughfares - Ray's brother (Peter Macdonald) of course lives on the third floor at the same level as the flyover about 50 feet away, with constant motion and noise.
The film even features cooking lessons at the end, as Ray is quietly rehabilitated, ironically set and filmed in the hinterland of Jamie Oliver, the original 'naked chef' on BBC tv who is always shown at some point traversing these same streets on his Italian moped (always wearing a crash helmet, of course!). Daniel Craig is more authentic as he's seen naked in the street during a crisis.
The film's quite emotional, too, especially the kitchen arson scene where Dave is visibly concerned.
Wow!
What a great little find! Minimal actors, low budget, authentic portrayals of a relatable situation. A brilliant performance by Daniel Craig, my favourite kind before taking on the role that would forever define him.