SpuffyWeb Sadly Over-hyped

Console best movie i've ever seen.

Limerculer A waste of 90 minutes of my life

Tyreece Hulme One of the best movies of the year! Incredible from the beginning to the end.

secondtake Wah-Wah (2005)It may seem like this story of a dysfunctional family is familiar, and just setting it in a new location (Swaziland, 1969) will perk it up. And that's partly true, both halves. It really is a television soap opera, and it really is interesting for its setting and subtle political backdrop.But it's so decently made, with sterling performances across the line, you can't help but give it a chance. Even when you think, oh no, not this, you will also think, ah, nicely done. Very moving. And funny. And beautiful.And that, oddly, is everything, which says something. The cast is easily read elsewhere (Gabriel Byrne and Emily Watson stand out for me). The director is a completely new name to me, Richard E. Grant, and it turns out he only has 84 movies to his credit--as an actor (including Henry and June and Dracula). This is his only role as director, and it should have encouraged him. With a more original script (which it must be confessed he also wrote), this would have made the sterling performances and great overall production rise to another level.As it is, a completely absorbing movie, being what it is, and for those who appreciate this kind of sometimes funny, sometimes moving melodrama.

james676 I've been a big fan of Richard E. Grant's work for years. I enjoy his manic on-screen energy. I especially enjoyed his 1995 published diary WITH NAILS, where he told of his life in pre/post independent Swaziland: his parents divorce, his father's position as minister of education, seeing Clockwork Orange illegally, etc... Therefore, I was excited to see Wah-Wah. I was wrong. If I get bored very early in a movie, that's a bad sign. I found it very slow and I didn't sympathize with the characters. I thought Gabriel Byrne gave, as always, a very powerful performance. Miranda Richardson is always a strong presence. I like Emily Watson, but I didn't like her in this film. I think she was trying too hard to act "American." Maybe Grant should have just cast an American. Once again, I was excited to see this film, but after seeing it, I felt as if it didn't need to be made.

adrian-260 Like all films, if there is a good script and storyline, then the film will work. This film certainly had it all and the cast is outstanding. Just when it seems to be settling down in a particular direction, it changes tack but doesn't loose it's grip on the audience attention. Gabriel Byrne, being the lead role, gave an outstanding performance and did not pull any punches in the many demanding sequences in the film. Nicholas Hoult certainly showed that he can do serious acting and delivered everything that was asked of him. In fact, he excelled himself and, given the chance, he can become a really polished performer, not that he needs much more polish. Julie Walters is another of my personal favourites and, once again, she came up with the goods. This film is in my "Highly recommended" category and will, I think, please nearly everyone. There is fun, sadness and is thought provoking, touching on every single emotion anyone can react to.

Gordon-11 This is an autobiographical film about a child's turbulent childhood in a small African country.The good thing about this film is that the characters are amazing. Acting by the various lead characters are superb. There are drunk fathers, charming seductress, unhappy children and pretentious upper class figures. They all do an excellent job at portraying their respective character. The scene that struck me the most deeply is that the young child prays for his mother to come back. It is the most touching! However, the main weakness of the movie is that it is at some point rather confusing, and can be boring to watch due to the very nature of the film.I can imagine the process of making this movie must be very painful to the director. Thank you for bringing your story to the screen!