Review of Obsession (2023)

Obsession (2023), directed by Glenn Leyburn and Lisa Barros D’Sa, is a psychological thriller that delves into the complexities of desire, infidelity, and obsession. The film explores how a seemingly innocent relationship spirals into dark territory, blurring the lines between love, lust, and control.

The plot follows the pᴀssionate but dangerous affair between William (Richard Armitage), a successful surgeon, and his son’s fiancée, Anna (Charlie Murphy). As their forbidden relationship intensifies, it leads them both down a path filled with jealousy, manipulation, and dangerous secrets. The film’s central theme is the exploration of obsession and the destructive consequences it can have on both individuals and those around them.

Richard Armitage’s performance as William is a standout. He brings a level of sophistication and charm to the role, which makes his character both captivating and chilling. His portrayal of a man trying to control his desires while navigating the moral decay of his actions is compelling. Armitage expertly captures the internal conflict of a man who is both driven by pᴀssion and consumed by guilt.

Charlie Murphy’s portrayal of Anna is equally strong, though her character is a bit more enigmatic. At first, Anna appears to be a victim of circumstance, but as the story unfolds, she becomes more active in her pursuit of the relationship with William. The film effectively showcases Anna’s vulnerability and emotional complexity, though some viewers may feel that her character’s motivations could have been developed further.

The chemistry between Armitage and Murphy is palpable, which is essential for a film built around the central forbidden romance. Their connection is electric, and the film does a great job of making the audience feel the intensity and danger of their affair. The tension is ever-present, and you can’t help but feel the suffocating nature of their relationship as it grows more obsessive and toxic.

The film’s pacing is deliberate, with moments of slow-building tension that steadily unravel into a dramatic conclusion. The visual style of Obsession matches its tone, using darker lighting and a muted color palette to create an atmosphere of unease. The cinematography works well in establishing the contrast between the idyllic, seemingly perfect life William and Anna are trying to build and the chaos that lurks beneath the surface of their relationship.

However, Obsession suffers from a few pacing issues. While the slow burn of the story adds to the suspense, there are moments where the narrative feels dragged out, especially in the middle of the film. Some may find the build-up frustrating, particularly if they are looking for a faster-paced thriller. The final third of the film, however, delivers the necessary emotional payoff, though the ending might feel a bit predictable for those familiar with this genre of psychological thrillers.

The film also occasionally relies on familiar tropes and clichés, particularly in its exploration of obsession, which may make it feel less original than some viewers would expect. While it handles themes of power and manipulation well, there’s a sense that Obsession doesn’t fully explore its characters’ motivations in a way that feels new or groundbreaking.

In conclusion, Obsession (2023) is a solid psychological thriller that benefits from strong performances, especially from Richard Armitage and Charlie Murphy. It effectively captures the intensity and danger of an illicit affair and explores the psychological cost of unchecked desire. While the pacing can feel slow at times, the film’s tense atmosphere and compelling central relationship make it a worthwhile watch for fans of dark, emotional thrillers. It’s not without its flaws, but it delivers on its promise of suspense and intrigue, offering a gripping, if somewhat familiar, exploration of obsession and its consequences.

review bằng tiếng anh phim:The Ice Road

Review of The Ice Road (2021)

The Ice Road (2021), directed by Jonathan Hensleigh, is a high-stakes action thriller that combines the tension of survival with the thrill of a nail-biting rescue mission. Set in the unforgiving terrain of northern Canada, the film follows a group of truckers as they drive across perilous, frozen lakes to deliver crucial equipment to a diamond mine after a catastrophic accident traps miners underground. What unfolds is a race against time, battling both the elements and human adversaries in a journey that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats.

Liam Neeson stars as Mike McCann, a seasoned trucker who is recruited for the mission despite personal baggage and his past struggles with PTSD. Neeson’s portrayal of McCann fits comfortably into his usual action-hero persona, offering a no-nonsense, grizzled hero who’s not afraid to take risks to save lives. His performance is solid, capturing both the toughness and vulnerability of a man determined to right wrongs in the face of overwhelming danger. Alongside him is his brother, Gurty (Marcus Thomas), who has a speech impediment, adding a layer of depth to the family dynamic and making the stakes even higher.

The film’s concept of driving heavy trucks across ice roads – often no thicker than a few feet – offers plenty of opportunities for tension and spectacle, and The Ice Road delivers on this front. The ice roads themselves are a constant threat, and the film does a great job of building suspense with every shift in weather and every crack in the ice. The cinematography captures the vast, cold landscape, highlighting both the beauty and danger of the frozen wilderness. It’s a stark, isolated environment that amplifies the danger, and the visuals certainly enhance the sense of peril that the characters face.

The supporting cast, including Laurence Fishburne, as the team’s commander and rugged leader, adds weight to the story, though his role is somewhat underdeveloped. While Fishburne delivers his lines with intensity, his character doesn’t receive much screen time to fully explore his motivations, and his arc feels more like a backdrop to the action rather than a significant driving force in the plot. Additionally, the villainous forces in the film—greedy corporate interests—are a bit cliché and lack the nuance to make them truly compelling.

As an action film, The Ice Road thrives in its intense set pieces, which are thrilling to watch. The truck chases, narrow escapes, and near-death encounters on the cracking ice are the core of the film, and they are staged well. However, the film occasionally falters when it tries to layer in emotional beats or moments of dramatic tension that feel a bit forced. Some of the character development feels rushed, with certain relationships, particularly between Mike and Gurty, not being fully explored. While their bond provides some heart to the film, it doesn’t have the depth it needs to resonate as strongly as it could.

The pacing of The Ice Road is generally brisk, but there are moments where the film slows down to introduce backstory or interpersonal conflict, which can feel like a bit of a distraction from the high-octane action. The script at times veers into predictable territory, with some of the obstacles the characters face feeling more like standard action movie tropes. The plot, while engaging, doesn’t offer many surprises, and the resolution of the main conflict is somewhat formulaic.

Despite these flaws, The Ice Road is an entertaining and suspenseful ride. It’s not a groundbreaking film, but it delivers a solid action experience with great visuals, a sturdy performance from Liam Neeson, and a thrilling concept that keeps the audience engaged. If you enjoy action films that involve high-risk missions and intense survival stakes, this one delivers without too much pretense.

In conclusion, The Ice Road offers a predictable but enjoyable action-packed experience. While the film doesn’t offer much new in terms of plot or character depth, it succeeds in its gripping tension and relentless pacing, making it a worthwhile watch for fans of Neeson’s action work and adrenaline-fueled thrillers. The perilous ice roads and the journey’s high stakes are enough to make The Ice Road a solid, if somewhat conventional, action film.

A Farmer’s Misplaced Hammer Led to the Largest Roman Treasure in Britain

Hoxne Hoard treasures. Photo by Helen Simonsson CC by SA-2.0

November 16, 1992 was the day which changed Suffolk-resident Eric Lawes’ life in a huge way. What he thought would have been an innocent search for a hammer he had misplaced on his farm in Hoxne Village, Suffolk, England ended up bringing him much more than he had bargained for — namely, uncovering the hiding spot of a long-hidden treasure. Based on the Guardian’s coverage of the story, Eric Lawes had been previously gifted a metal detector upon his retirement as a parting token. He decided to put his retirement gift to good use in order to locate the hammer which he had had some trouble finding. According to a 2018 Smithsonian Magazine article, when the device started recording that there was a strong signal coming from the earth, he knew that he was about to discover something big. As he started digging, it soon became clear to him that he had unearthed a treasure trove.

Hoxne Village. Photo by Duncan Grey CC BY-SA 2.0

The Guardian reports that, when Lawes saw that his preliminary digging had yielded a few gold coins and silver spoons, he immediately contacted both the local archaeological society and the police department. Archaeologists came to the property the following day and had the area of earth holding the treasure carefully sectioned-off and removed. Their hope was that at a later stage, in their laboratory, they could examined the items in order to identify both their age and how they were stored.

Hoxne Hoard: Display case at the British Museum showing a reconstruction of the arrangement of the hoard treasure when excavated in 1992. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

When all was said and done, close to 60 pounds of items made from silver and gold were found on the site. These included more than 15,000 Roman coins, 200 gold objects, and several silver spoons. For archaeologists, this find — which later became labeled as the Hoxne Hoard — was an incredible discovery. AP News reported that archaeologist Judith Plouviez was over-the-moon about the discovery, saying that it was “an incredibly exciting and amazing find.” What’s more, another archaeologist, Rachel Wilkinson, told Smithsonian Magazine that this discovery was “the largest and latest ever found in Britain.”

Hoxne Hoard: Coins. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

Ordinarily, archaeologists would use radiocarbon dating as a means of identifying the age of ancient relics. However, they couldn’t locate any suitable material from the haul. Consequently, they determined the age by examining writing on the coins, as well as the ruler carved into them, estimating that the treasure was probably buried in either 408 or 409 AD.

The silver “Hoxne Tigress” – the broken-off handle from an unknown object – is the best known single piece out of some 15,000 in the hoard. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

Roman-era archaeologist Peter Guest told Smithsonian Magazine that “if you look at them a little more carefully, then they should be dated to the period after the separation of Britain from the Roman Empire.” He offers as part of his evidence the fact that almost all of the coins found in the Hoxne Hoard were clipped – in other words, small chunks of their edges had been taken off. These clippings would have been used to create coins which were similar to the Roman coins of that era.

A silver-gilt spoon with a marine beast from the Hoxne Hoard. Currently in the British Museum. Photo by JMiall CC BY-SA 3.0

Guest has a logical reason for this, arguing that “The Roman Empire wasn’t supplying Britain with new gold and silver coins, and in light of that, the population tried to get over this sudden cutoff in the supply of their precious metals by making the existing supplies go further.”

Reconstruction of the Hoxne treasure chest. Photo by Mike Peel CC-BY-SA-4.0

Archaeologists also believe that the treasure belonged to a Romano-British family. During that time, considering that there was so much societal discord and upheaval, it was common for Romans who had settled in Britain to bury their most prized possessions.

Two gold bracelets from the Hoxne Hoard, in the British Museum. Photo by Fæ CC BY-SA 3.0

That said, one archaeologist is of the belief that the hoard had a lot of sentimental value for the Romano-British family to whom it is believed to have belonged. In her book The Hoxne Late Roman Treasure: Gold Jewellery and Silver Plate, Catherine Johns claims that the manner in which the treasure was kept supported this claim. Some of the items which were recovered had been packaged in small, wooden boxes which were lined with leather. What’s more, pieces of wood, locks, and nails, among other things, surrounded the gold and silver pieces. This leads Catherine to assert that the package was carefully buried and not simply chucked away in a rush.

Three silver-gilt Roman piperatoria or pepper pots from the Hoxne Hoard on display at the British Museum

Interestingly enough, the items unearthed might shed some light on the identity of the family who owned them. They cite a gold bracelet bearing the inscription “UTERE FELIX DOMINA IULIANE,” which roughly translates to “use this happily Lady Juliane”. A second name “Aurelius Ursicinus” has also been discovered. This has consequently led some to believe that Juliane and Aurelius were the couple and the original owners of the treasure. That said, that has yet to be confirmed.

Two toiletry items, one in the shape of a crane-like bird; the other with an empty socket, probably for bristles for a makeup brush. Photo by Fæ CC BY-SA 3.0

All in all, the discovery was a real treasure for archaeologists, and by extension, for Lawes. According to Smithsonian Magazine, in recognition of his discovery and willingness to contact authorities, the British government rewarded him with over £1.7 million, an amount which he shared with the farmer whose land was dug out in order to get the treasure. Funnily enough, apart from the treasure, Lawes also found his lost hammer — which now resides in the British Museum.