Fans will goblet up
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Dir. Mike Newell; starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Michael Gambon, Brendan Gleeson, Ralph Fiennes
4/5
My heart bleeds for screenwriter Steve Kloves, for he surely has the toughest job in Hollywood. Mess with the books and face the wrath of every child on earth. His task is the screenwriting equivalent of bomb defusing, instead of cutting wires he is cutting scenes, trying to turn Rowling’s 734 page behemoth into something usable without it blowing up in his face. Does he succeed? Yes and no. He has streamlined the novel by removing any recounting of the back stories.
There is no ‘previously on Potter’ style prologue and the audience is expected to know the terminology of the novels. Mike Newell (Four Weddings and a Funeral) is the first British director to tackle the series and the result is admirable. He brings some subtle British humour to the film but doesn’t skimp on the glossy action that the franchise demands. This is less Four Weddings and a Funeral, more three wizards and a seriously pissed off dragon.
In essence the film is a series of belting set pieces set around the legendary Triwizard Tournament, a series of challenges not unlike Get Your Own Back only with an evil man eating hedge and CGI dragons instead of Dave Benson Phillips and his gunge tank. Much has been said about the film’s darker direction, anchored mainly on the performances of the two newcomers to the cast, Brendan Gleeson and Ralph Fiennes.
Gleeson’s Mad Eye Moody is a bitter, aggressive character, a good counter balance to the warmth David Thewlis brought to the last film as Lupin. One scene in which he demonstrates torture spells on a spider is highly effective, with the laughter of the children gradually turning to tears. Fiennes’ highly anticipated turn as Lord Voldemort is less effective. After a deliciously melodramatic build up the face of true evil is revealed to be not unlike that of Richard O’Brien.
Now, whilst you may find O’Brien scary, this critic was half expecting Voldemort to launch into a Potter goading rendition of the Time-Warp at any moment. Talk about a mood killer. Daniel Radcliffe has come far since his wooden turn in Potter 1, finally striking a convincing heroic pose and developing a sense of humour. Take some smashing action, a great score and some very polished effects. Abracadabra! A piece of fine entertainment.
17th Nov 2005