Mubi Monday: The Blazing Sun (1954)

I was tempted this week to watch some movie featuring cool weather, maybe even something set in a winter full of snow and ice, because sometimes watching that kind of entertainment can trick your mind into feeling that you're actually benefiting from the lower temperature yourself. And that would have been quite a relief during this ongoing spell of stifling heat here in the UK. Then I noticed The Blazing Sun, and I figured that I could sit and swelter some more, turning this particular movie viewing into a more immersive experience.

What you have here is a look at lovers denied their chance of happiness, but there's also a more prominent storyline about those with wealth and power stooping to dastardly deeds in order to retain those things. Omar Sharif is Ahmed, a young man who has helped his father (Abdel Waress Assar) to improve the production of sugar cane on his farm. This displeases Taher Pasha (Zaki Rostom), the wealthy owner of a competing sugar cane facility, which leads to sabotage, murder, and an innocent man being framed. Ahmed keeps fighting back, but things don't look good for him. They might also affect the woman, Amal (Faten Hamama), he has been in a secret relationship with, having to hide it from others due to their differences in social class.

Written by Hilmi Halim and Ali El Zorkani, this is another in a long line of films I have seen in recent years that feels more depressing when you consider how little has changed in the main territory being explored. It's all about keeping the status quo, which keeps the money with those who already have more than enough of it, and nothing here feels surprising now that we're more used to seeing how great fortunes seem to turn most mega-rich individuals into caricatures of Bond villains (which would be hilarious if it wasn't so frustrating and worrying).

I've seen a few other films from director Youssef Chahine, but this is one of his best. Mind you, it should be noted that I am comparing it to the other 4 or 5 I have seen from a filmography that has him credited as a director on over 40 features. Others may have better examples of his work, but I am happy to put this on a par with the excellent Cairo Station. 

The film is helped by Omar Sharif in his first onscreen role (billed here as Omar El Cherif). Quite obviously a captivating star from his very first appearance, Sharif is a believably good and strong young man struggling to make a better life for his loved ones, as well as himself. Hamama is a good pairing for him, and shows real strength of character when things become more dangerous and difficult in the second half of the film. Rostom plays his part with an enjoyable sense of self-belief, initially, and it's good to see him being shaken and worn down as others start to fight back and show him what can happen when people don't accept a fate dictated to them by self-serving individuals crafted by society to be deemed their "superiors".

You might not want to watch this while the titular star is causing you some discomfort during this time of year, but you should definitely check it out at some point. It's excellent stuff, and the 105-minute runtime practically whizzes by. 

8/10

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April Fools: The Parole Officer (2001)

While it wasn't his first movie role, The Parole Officer was certainly the first movie with Steve Coogan in it that tried to sell him as the main draw. It tends to be forgotten now, thanks to the large body of work that Coogan has built up, both on the big screen and back in TV land, but I think it remains a fantastic British comedy, very much an updated "little man against the odds" romp that brings to mind some of the Ealing Studios classics.

Coogan is the main character, a probation officer named Simon Garden who ends up witnessing a man murdered at the hands of the corrupt Inspector Burton (Stephen Dillane). The only proof that could take the heat off Simon, who is being set up with some incriminating evidence, and show that the Inspector actually did it, is a videotape. Unfortunately, that tape has been locked away in a secure bank vault. Simon rounds up a few people that he has helped in the past and tries to convince them that if they help him commit this robbery then they are, in fact, doing a very good deed.

It may never hit the comedy heights that some might want to see from Coogan, but The Parole Officer is a solid provider of chuckles from start to finish. The script, written by Coogan and Henry Normal, is based more around the characters than one-liners, but that's perfectly fine when the characters are so much fun.

Coogan's character isn't just another Alan Partridge, but there is a shade of him in there, as Simon Garden also lacks self-awareness, at times, and can be similarly awkward. The character does provide laughs, but he's often more of a straight man to the motley crew he assembles to help him in his crime, four people played by Om Puri, Steven Waddington, Ben Miller and Emma Williams - all on fine form as the rehabilitated criminals with the skills to help Simon in his task. Dillane is a very good baddie, and the lovely Lena Headey is as lovely as ever, playing a police officer and potential love interest. There are also a couple of nice cameos from Jenny Agutter and Omar Sharif to add to the fun.

Director John Duigan keeps things moving along nicely, moving between moments of banter between the would-be robbers, some tension, and then some more of the grand robbery scheme, with plenty of comedy puncturing everything. It's all done in a very genteel style, at times, but there are still one or two moments of crudity (and, they may be crude but they ARE funny), with the end result being a very satisfying mix of verbal wit, sight gags and, well, a bit of vomit.

It might not become a firm favourite, and you might never revisit it, but I think The Parole Officer is a very good film, so I'll keep championing it after everyone else seems to have forgotten all about it.

8/10

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Parole-Officer-DVD-Steve-Coogan/dp/B00005Y415/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1397247332&sr=1-1&keywords=the+parole+officer