Brilliance!

Rating: 10/10 (6 December 2005)

Have movie audiences been spoilt this year? We sure have! Continuing a long line of immensely enjoyable films at the big screen, the fourth instalment of the series is far and away the best, and considering the class of the last one, that is some achievement. This time around the director is for the first time a Brit, Mike Newell. Newell's appointment raised questions about whether the film would have the visual impact to impress movie fans, in the wake of the previous movie and of course recent fantasy epics like Star Wars and LOTR. All worries though were not needed because Newell knocks this one out of the park.
This year marks the tri-wizard tournament, hosted by Hogwarts. The tournament sees three schools competing against each other by sending out a single champion from each school. The selections are made using the Goblet Of Fire. Names are put into it and drawn out. The three champions are drawn but in a bizarre twist the Goblet fires out a fourth name, Harry Potter, despite the fact he's too young to enter. The whole school, including Harry's best mate Ron, think Harry has cheated somehow. However despite being too young the Goblet is a magically binding contract and so Harry has to compete in the three deadly tasks. All the while we have the re-emergence of Voldemort casting an eerie presence over the film. Also the Hogwarts prom night is on the horizon leading to the first awkward adolescent crushes of the series thus far. Yes Harry and his mates are indeed growing up and Newell doesn't want to pull any punches. When the film has to be nasty it is nasty, and when it has to have hormonally charged teenagers acting smitten it does so realistically. These guys are 14 years old in the film and like me and others when that age, are horny little buggas. Suddenly the guys are becoming gawky and awkward around the girls and Hermoine is sprouting into a young woman, and catching the eye of Ron and rival school competitor and quidditch God Victor Krum. The film actually has sexual tension and a fair old dose of innuendo in it so is quite daring. Not to mention Harry himself gets sexually assaulted by a ghost!
The film really captures the essence of being that age, whilst also keeping the adventure side suitably dark. This film really is dark and some people may find it too dark for a kids movie. However I now think along the lines that the Harry Potter movies are turning into more adult movies. Certainly the last one was dark and didn't appeal to kids of 12 and under as much as the candy coated first two films, but Potter 4 will probably alienate the kiddies. This film was pretty scary I have to tell you. I nearly crapped my pants several times and I urge you never to watch this film in a theatre or room with too many young children in because the smell would be unbearable. Newell is clearly making a film he'd like to see and being an adult he needs to be challenged viscerally and this makes for a great movie. This really is a top class fantasy film and Peter Jackson would be proud.
Visually as I mentioned this looks stunning, the cinematography is superb, the film looks Gothic at times, while we are given more focus on the actors. The camera gets right into them and stays for longer than previous instalments. This now means there is immense pressure on the kids to deliver acceptable performances and they duly delivered. Emma Watson, although a more peripheral figure this time is excellent, really coming along as an actress and will certainly have a bright future, while Rupert Grint as Ron is the same and really delivers a great turn. However up until now the one actually always considered the weakest of the three, Daniel Radcliffe, really steps forward and delivers a superb performance of maturity, that really goes hand in hand with the character of Potter, who has to learn to grow up fast. Newell clearly has spent time with these kids, and it shows, especially with Radcliffe who is given a testing role and doesn't put a foot wrong. Of course as with previous Potter movies we are blessed with an outstanding ensemble cast. Returnees Michael Gambon, Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman and Robbie Coltrane are all top class. Then we have the always reliable and entertaining Miranda Richardson as Rita Skeeter. Current Dr Who David Tennant makes a creepy appearance to but the two standouts are firstly Ralph Fiennes who appears towards the end of the film as Lord Voldemort. He is cack your underpants scary. Fiennes is taking this really seriously, he wants Voldemort scary, he wants him nasty, he doesn't want any hint of the pantomime villain. When Harry comes face to face with him we know the boy will have to do something special to avoid dying. Fiennes though is eclipsed by Brendon Gleeson as Mad Eye Moody. Gleeson is superb as the dark arts teacher, who is clearly one sandwich short of a picnic. It's a great role and certainly a performance of both menace and quirk that could see him recognised by the Oscars.
Someone who'll definitely be getting a nomination is John Williams who continues this years fine form from Star Wars 3 and War Of The Worlds, to deliver his best score yet with this film. It's atmospheric, creepy, majestic and very rarely falls back to the memorable Potter themes. This is not a movie for repeating theme tunes the music has to creep in and out to match each scene, bringing in the recognisable Potter jingle with choice and subtlety. It goes without saying Williams could have three nominations this year! Outstanding film and the most exciting of the year. *****