Dean Spanley (Toa Fraser, 2008) aka My Talks with Dean Spanley, wr. Alan Sharp from novel by Lord Dunsany; Jeremy Northam, Sam Neill, Peter O'Toole, Bryan Brown; comedy; NZ
A Kiwi film with Peter O'Toole in it? Shown fourth in the cast list?! Cripes. Despite that, and Sam Neill's reliably good work, it's underwhelming.
Dennis Harvey:
It’s a dog’s past life in Dean Spanley, an immaculately cast, nicely handled and wafer-thin slice of Brit period-dress whimsy. Pic reps an odd sophomore feature choice for New Zealander Toa Fraser, whose big-hearted Maori family drama “No. 2” should have made more waves internationally. This effort will likely travel further due to thesp names, and it does have its peculiar charms. But it’s a talky, narrowly focused piece that feels like an after-dinner anecdote presented with the full ceremony of a formal meal. Pic will flit through theaters before finding more comfortable smallscreen berths. Variety.
Garry Gillard | New: 9 December, 2022 | Now: 9 December, 2022