August 20, 2015

A couple of uplifting films

The Road

Perhaps the most depressing film I have ever seen. Moving, sad, and personal, it invaded my mind for days after viewing. The tragic father-son relationship played by Viggo Mortensen and Kodi Smit-McPhee (who would later reprise a similar vulnerable innocence in the excellent Slow West) is wonderfully realised. We never know their names, they are simply Man and Boy, and their anonymity is brutally portrayed as they make their way through a world lost. The Road is a parable of our post apocalyptic fears and it strikes a chord because the premise is a genuine possibility for humanity.


Rating: 5 stars

The Act of Killing

A remarkably unique documentary that accounts the Indonesian genocide of 1965. Having somehow located the genocide’s death-squad leaders (who are now living normal lives in Indonesia, and yet to be brought to justice), director Joshua Oppenheimer, convinces them to re-enact their mass killings under the guise of shooting a Hollywood styled feature film. Oppenheimer presents his subjects with an uncomfortable lightness and humour which is at odds with the subject matter at hand. This juxtaposition only serves to ratchet up the unease as the film progresses. Interesting things begin to happen when the main subject enacts the part of the victim … the result is surprising and disturbing. A chilling reminder of what atrocities every human is capable of.

Whereas The Road suggests a future world where humanity’s deficiencies have prevailed, The Act of Killing underscores similar frailties that have already happened in our past. Both films illustrate the very real and brutal side of human nature. This dark side of humanity is unfortunately all too common when certain conditions are present, and I believe we need to be reminded of this every so often. Hence, I consider these films as essential viewing.


Rating: 4 stars

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August 15, 2015

J.J. Abrams’ Super 8

Imagine if modern film equipment was transported back to the golden age of eighties adventure films (think ET, The Goonies, and Close Encounters of the Third Kind), and fell onto the lap of … say, Steven Spielberg. The result wouldn’t be too different from what director J.J. Abrams has delivered here.

Super 8 is a film that doesn’t scream “look at me I’m reprising the eighties”, but instead is a master class in nostalgic adventure. It successfully delivers what the recent misfires from the Indiana Jones and Star Wars franchises didn’t. By no means perfect, Super 8 threatens to become just another misunderstood monster flick … although, weren’t many films in the eighties just that? With nostalgia kicks this good, I am confident that Abrams can deliver the new Star Wars film that every 40+ year old has been yearning for. Roll on December!

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August 3, 2015

John Carter

After the hullabaloo a few years back, I thought it time to finally visit the massive box office bomb that was John Carter. Was it simply a victim of poor marketing? Nope. It’s a bad film. Don’t waste your time. 

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July 18, 2015

Seeing the stars: Interstellar and Now You See Me

Interstellar 

Every so often you see a film that leaves you pondering its haunting premise for days after viewing, and Christopher Nolan’s (Memento, The Prestige, Inception) latest blockbuster is just that kind of film. Nolan appears to be confidently ensconced in this genre and commands a stellar (no pun intended) cast (McConaughey, Hathaway, Chastain, Damon, Caine … I could go on) who deliver predictably solid performances. The necessary technical expositions render it bereft of some soul, however, Interstellar is ultimately a satisfying and thought provoking film.    IMG_0157


Now You See Me

Continuity issues, plot holes, and a laughably unimaginative musical score mar this potentially entertaining heist flick. Director Louis Leterrier (who is perhaps the antithesis of Nolan) appears to have no idea what he is doing. Or perhaps he just doesn’t care, content to throw a few tired formulaic tropes at the screen and see what sticks. Shame, because had this film been handled with more thought and care we might’ve received something special.   20120104-065723.jpg

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July 15, 2015

Inside Out

A fascinating look at the inner workings of a young girl’s mind that had me spellbound from start to finish. I applaud the courageous decision by director and writer Pete Docter (director of the excellent Up) to go with a female protagonist in the form of eleven year old Riley (Kaitlyn Dias). Interestingly, the almost entirely female cast has, as its only male characters, a personalisation of Fear (Bill Hader), Anger (Lewis Black), and a childhood imaginary friend called Bing Bong (Richard Kind) … would play well in a Gender Politics class, let alone a Psychology class. 
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July 14, 2015

Some also rans

Shaun the Sheep

I enjoy Aardman films, but I found this average at best. Boring and not particularly funny.   
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Exodus: Gods and Kings

Terrible, really. It looks wonderful and has a great cast (ignoring for one moment the film’s “whitewashing “), but all this talent is wasted by a shoddy script.  The film, as a whole, felt rushed and I think it’s time to accept that Ridley Scott has lost his mojo. Shame. 

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July 11, 2015

While We’re Young

On the surface While We’re Young feels like a bit of lighthearted whimsy … and leaving it there would be entertaining enough. However, digging a little deeper has its rewards. Writer and Director Noah Baumbach has a lot to say about authenticity and how it correlates with our every day lives. Baumbach is often referred to as the new generation’s Woody Allen. So if you agree with that accolade (I’m sure some of you cringe at the thought) and add a hint of Jean Paul Sartre, then you’re close to where this film sits. I quite enjoyed it.

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June 4, 2015

Ex Machina

First time director Alex Garland explores the sinister side of aritificial intelligence. Yes, it is a path that has been well trodden over the years, so it is good to see some fresh ideas breathed into the genre. Specifically, Garland asks why it is that we feel the need to imbue artificial intellengence with sexuality. His answer proceeds to gouge out the male gaze with a white hot poker of female vengeance … it is an oddly liberating experience. As a thriller Ex Machina stands tall as a well produced and absorbing product of entertainment. But more importantly it is a well considered feminist parable of our times.

Rating: 5 stars.

 

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June 3, 2015

Into the Woods

Into the Woods is a mish-mash of uninspiring fairytale characters that meander their way through a seemingly endless list of quests. Biting off way too much, this film sinks under its own weight and rapidly becomes a disjointed mess – even Meryl Streep can’t save it. The musical medley between the two princes (Chris Pine and Billy Magnussen), aptly titled “agony”, is ironically the film’s only redeeming scene, however, it’s title sums up my experience of this film.

  

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June 1, 2015

Slow West

Slow West is a simple love story; Boy meets girl, girl leaves for America, boy follows girl. Despite its very simple plot I found Slow West to be well paced and thoroughly engrossing. The production is a boiling pot of nationalities; directed by a Scotsman (John Maclean), starring a couple of Australians (Kodi Smit-McPhee and Ben Mendelsohn), a South African New Zealander (Caren Pistorius), and an Irish German (Michael Fassbender), shot in New Zealand, but set in America … the result is met with a slew of wonderful ambiguities that place the film rather precariously within the western genre. Special mention goes to the Central Otago landscape which is shot with an almost magical quality by Scottish cinematographer Robbie Ryan (Philomena, The Angel’s Share).  Well worth watching.

  

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