If the first two HARRYs were "dutiful," & only the third "inspired," the fourth shows a serious (make that Sirius) fall off, but with a big saving grace. Steven Kloves ’ script is unable to balance the climactic tournament showdown with all the usual school routines & character bits, so the starry cast have little to do for their fat pay checks. (Alan Rickman & Maggie Smith manage anyway.) Worse, helmer Mike Newell exhibits little aptitude for action or pageant which leaves the dramatically flaccid F/X-CGI team in charge. (We are literally directionless. There’s hardly a memorable image in two & a half hours.) What saves the film are Newell’s gifts for working with actors in close quarters where he ratchets up the emotional range to a degree previously untouched in a POTTER pic. Brendan Gleeson & Miranda Richardson try too hard to make effect, but Ralph Fiennes scores as an extra creepy, facially challenged Voldemort. And if Emma Watson & Rupert Grind stole acting honors from Daniel Radcliff’s Harry in previous outings, he’s transformed under Newell's attentions and now easily runs the show.
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