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- DirectorNathan RissmanStarsBill ClintonPaul FarmerMadonnaA look into the lives of Malawi's 1 million plus orphans in the wake of the AIDS pandemic. It offers hope and real solutions to the challenges that people face living in extreme poverty.Interesting and quite powerful doco.
- DirectorJeffrey SchwarzStarsDivineMichael MustoMark PayneHow Divine, aka Harris Glenn Milstead, became John Waters' cinematic muse and an international drag icon.Superb film about a glorious legend.
- DirectorFrancis LawrenceStarsWill SmithAlice BragaCharlie TahanYears after a plague kills most of humanity and transforms the rest into monsters, the sole survivor in New York City struggles valiantly to find a cure.entertaining to a point, but not scary and a little stupid.
- DirectorLuca GuadagninoStarsTilda SwintonFlavio ParentiEdoardo GabbrielliniEmma left Russia to live with her husband in Italy. Now a member of a powerful industrial family, she is the respected mother of three, but feels unfulfilled. One day, Antonio, a talented chef and her son's friend, makes her senses kindle.Watched in August 2010
From it's glorious opening shots of a bleak snow covered Milan, it's buildings looking surreal, it's streets empty and over this, stark overly large titles, this film had my attention. We are introduced to a family, upper class, full of wealth as they celebrate the Grandfather's birthday. They live in an exquisite house, full of art and antiques, the family are presented as smart, clever and intellectual, yet there is a regulated manner to them, a certain behavior. Shots of the coldness outside, compare well with the warmth of the house inside. The film moves forward to summer and the mother, Emma, encounters a young chef through her son and an affair starts.
The affair is the start of the unraveling of both Emma and her family, a family that is almost void of emotion and suddenly they are thrown into chaos. It is a remarkable transition. The later stages of the film are so epic it feels like an opera playing out full of drama, tension and events unexpected.
The film is a masterpiece. Firstly it looks stunning, every scene is beautifully shot, unusual camera angles give a new perspective on an otherwise ordinary shot and production values are superior throughout, the house, the setting, the wardrobes all fit into the world we enter so perfectly. Simple ideas such as Emma sitting on the toilet touching her lips after her first encounter with her lover are wonderful. Little daydream sequences play out before being thrown back into reality. Dialogue is often used sparingly and music often feels the voids, sometimes quietly and with a gentle subtlety, other times with a loud flourish.
Then there is the cast, all fine in the roles, the house keeper is wonderfully gentle and kind, the daughter, herself experiencing love is beautifully played by Alba Rohrwacher, but one person shines throughout and that is Tilda Swinton. Here Swinton not only impresses with her Italian, but captivates throughout as Emma. She is radiant to look at and yet so brilliant at capturing so much, with at times nothing more than her face, using her eyes to communicate, it is both mesmerizing and beguiling to watch her. Her performance is so controlled at first as the perfect matriarch until her life encounters a change and we see her become a different woman. It is an astonishing performance.
The film plays out with some stark contrasts brilliantly: the opening scenes with the cold stark bleakness of winter is comparable to the coldness, the stiffness of the family. The external shots of the house and the city are so bleak, they have the look of black and white film. As summer is introduced and Emma begins her affair we have another vivid contrast, full of light, colour and nature, the idea of sex and nature, that love and beauty can be combined. It is an excellent comparison of the characters lives.
It is rare for me to be moved to tears in a film, well to be really moved, but I was completly absorbed with this, that at times it felt overwhelmingly emotional and beautiful to look at. The twist comes so unexpected and leads to the dramatic and tragic final scenes, that I was transfixed. The very final scene where the family turn to look at the girlfriend before they turn to reveal an empty room, shows the brilliance of the director.
This is a film that really affected me, as a story it is so brilliantly played, full of subtle moments, full of emotion and yet as a film it soars, with it's combination of fine performance and direction. Few films stay with me for hours after viewing, that have a effect on me that lasts, but this is one of them and what a stunning experience it is. - DirectorAlfred HitchcockStarsMontgomery CliftAnne BaxterKarl MaldenA priest, who comes under suspicion for murder, cannot clear his name without breaking the seal of the confessional.Great Hitchcock thriller. Clift is superb.
- DirectorHans Günther PflaumStarsHarry BaerMichael BallhausKarlheinz BraunAn insightful examination on the life and work of New German Cinema master Rainer Werner Fassbinder, "I Don't Just Want You to Love Me" presents friends, actors and collaborators of his many films talking about his work, creativity, behavior, personal life and the magic behind his several films made non-stop in a period of 15 years.Interesting film about Fassbinder. Such a talent.
- DirectorDouglas McGrathStarsSarah Jessica ParkerPierce BrosnanKelsey GrammerA comedy centered on the life of Kate Reddy, a finance executive who is the breadwinner for her husband and two kids.This really is a dreadful film, though it did occupy the flight to Auckland.
- DirectorDavid O. RussellStarsJason SchwartzmanJude LawNaomi WattsA husband-and-wife team play detective, but not in the traditional sense. Instead, the happy duo helps others solve their existential issues, the kind that keep you up at night, wondering what it all means.At times funny, at times, confusing. Great cast
- DirectorDan MazerStarsRose ByrneRafe SpallAlex MacqueenNewlywed couple Nat and Josh are deliriously happy despite their differences, though friends and family aren't convinced that they can last. With their first anniversary approaching and attractive alternatives in the mix, can they last?More funny than I though it was going to be!
- DirectorXavier DolanStarsAnne DorvalXavier DolanFrançois ArnaudA semi-autobiographical story about Hubert as a young homosexual at odds with his mother.MIFF 2010Watched in August 2010
This debut from Canadian director Xavier Dolan had an 8 minute ovation when it screened at Cannes last year. Full credit must be given to Dolan for an ambitious film on a low budget. However I struggled with much of the film, which is a shame, as it has potential, storywise to be a great film.
Hubert and his mother are a terrible pair, both self absorbed, both loathing each other, both loving each other. Hubert is an angst ridden 16yrs and his mother is the scourge of his life. Hubert's attitude, his demeanor and his behavior are often brutally cruel, his treatment of his mother his often despicable and shocking and far from anything that normal teenage angst brings. This was what I struggled with, his behavior, he was vile and it all felt so unnecessary, there is little explanation to his dislike of his mother, his parents are estranged, but that seems irrelevant and whilst his mother his often no better than her child, she is a far more nicer person. Her love for her son, shows that despite his abuse and rantings, the love for a child can be maintained throughout. It is remarkable she can stand it all.
Teenage minds work in strange ways, we have all been there and to this extent I would like to think I can see Hubert's understanding, but I just found his behavior so horrid it made no sense. His being gay, seems to be a very little factor in his behavior, his a caring boyfriend and seems comfortable in his sexuality. Does Hubert long to be loved? Well, he is. Does he long to have a mother like his boyfriends? Well, maybe she isn't the same person, but he never gives her a chance. That he needs her is something he will never acknowledge.
Story aside, there are some nice moments in it, the scene where the mother lets rip at the school principal is worthy of an award. There are some nice camera techniques and the acting is good throughout. The film is very dark, literally speaking, perhaps this is a directorial choice or maybe it's because of the low budget, but interior scenes where often so dark it looked like night.
This is the sort of film that will be lauded by most and I wish I can be one of them, however with a character so unlikeable was difficult to. There are plenty of other more worthy teenage themed films out there that explore the difficulties of that age much better and are worth the praise: anyone seen The Breakfast Club? - DirectorGlenn FicarraJohn RequaStarsJim CarreyEwan McGregorLeslie MannA cop turns con man once he comes out of the closet. Once imprisoned, he meets the second love of his life, whom he'll stop at nothing to be with.MIFF 2010Watched in July 2010
This dark comedy started well, but two thirds in I began to struggle with it. It's not because the main characters are gay, far from it, that is not an issue, they are gay, but not stereotyped. The love is clear and real and different from other portrayals of gay love. I struggled with Jim Carrey's character Steve, he is a conman through and through and never stops being one. He is clever at doing it and this provides some of the funnier moments in the film. But Steve, for me is very unlikable, what he does is wrong and his treatment of his partner Phillip is often cringe worthy. Even though it would appear that much of his actions are for Phillip. Phillip is played brilliantly by Ewan McGregor, he is a gentle person, far from Steve. Yet somehow they find each other and love each other. It is quite touching, the romance, yet I couldn't get passed how dreadful Steve is. The final outcome is very sad and even though he never kills or hurts anyone, he destroys the chances of having what he wants the most; to be with Phillip.
I also struggled with Jim Carrey: he is quite restrained here, but he is still Jim Carrey and at times he just didn't appear right for the role. It's a shame as his opposite McGregor is really wonderful in his role. I wanted Phillip to be happy and yet we see that ultimately he never will be while Steve does what he does and that is tragic. There are somethings to enjoy, but for me it didn't work on certain levels to make this a hit. - DirectorAlex ProyasStarsWill SmithBridget MoynahanBruce GreenwoodIn 2035, a technophobic cop investigates a crime that may have been perpetrated by a robot, which leads to a larger threat to humanity.Effective thriller. Nice special effects and Smith is good in this.
- DirectorJirí MenzelStarsIvan BarnevOldrich KaiserJulia JentschA look at the glamorous life at an old-world Prague hotel.MIFF 2007This beautiful shot film follows the life of one man over four decades in what could be considered the most turbulent part of Czech history-from World War II, up until the Soviet takeover. His main pursuits are money and woman, the latter something we see alot of and mostly naked, so much so that he seemed over the top. Ivan Barnev is a delight as the younger Jan Dite and brings to the film some wonderful comic moments. He is a joy to watch. There are also some wonderfully whimsical moments; for instance when the woman is followed by bees. However the film did drag towards the end.
- DirectorFederico FelliniStarsAlberto SordiFranco FabriziFranco InterlenghiA character study of five young men at crucial turning points in their lives in a small town in Italy.Wonderful film, funny and moving.
- DirectorTravis MathewsStarsJesse MetzgerBrontez PurnellBen JasperJesse and Brenden playfully negotiate their way toward having sex together, for the first time, on Metzger's last night in San Francisco before he returns to the Midwest.pretty graphic, but the Australian censors shouldn't have banned it.
- DirectorKore-eda HirokazuStarsKôki MaedaOshiro MaedaRyôga HayashiTwelve-year-old Koichi, who has been separated from his brother Ryunosuke due to his parents' divorce, hears a rumor that the new bullet trains will precipitate a wish-granting miracle when they pass each other at top speed.Likable, but very flat and really fails to engage fully.
- DirectorMike HodgesStarsClive OwenMalcolm McDowellJonathan Rhys MeyersA former gangster reenters the criminal underworld after his brother suspiciously commits suicide.Nice enough thriller. Owen in his brooding best.
- DirectorJonas ÅkerlundDago GonzalesStarsMadonnaStuart PriceSteve SidelnykChronicles Madonna's 2004 Re-Invention World Tour and "new" MadonnaNice doco - good concert footage.
- DirectorTodd HaynesStarsChristian BaleCate BlanchettHeath LedgerRuminations on the life of Bob Dylan, where six characters embody a different aspect of the musician's life and work.Likable, but better if you're a Dylan fan. Some segments work better than others
- DirectorPedro AlmodóvarStarsJavier CámaraPepa CharroCecilia RothWhen it appears as though the end is in sight, the pilots, flight crew, and passengers of a plane heading to Mexico City look to forget the anguish of the moment and face the greatest danger, which we carry within ourselves.This is both funny and camp and woeful and cringeworthy.
- DirectorCasey AffleckStarsJoaquin PhoenixAntony LangdonCarey PerloffDocuments Joaquin Phoenix's transition from the acting world to a career as an aspiring rapper.Watched in March 2011
When Joaquin Phoenix announced his retirement from acting there was a heavy sigh of disbelief. His subsequent announcement that he was making a hip hop record was met with raised eyebrows. Brother in law Casey Affleck decided to film this transition and the documentary I'm Still Here was born. The film follows Phoenix as he makes his announcement, grows a beard and tries his hand at hip-hop whilst it seems entering a near self destructive course of drugs.
Among this we have Phoenix' entourage, a two man team who seem to both aid Phoenix aswell as frustrate him, as he wonders why he's being driven around in a minibus whilst actors like Leonardo Di Caprio would be in a limo or how he doesn't want to go to President Obama's inauguration ball. Phoenix is seen dancing with prostitutes hired from the internet and getting frustrated that his rapping debut isn't understood by the crowd. And there's media buzz around his departure from acting aswell as his famed and very uncomfortable interview on the David Letterman Show, where he sat sullen and quiet whilst Letterman ripped him to pieces.
Of course, rumours abounded even before the films release whether it was all real or rather a very clever hoax, on viewing his Letterman appearance it seemed quite possible that is was infact real, that he had infact quit acting and perhaps gone a little mad. Soon after the films release however director Casey Affleck announced that the film was indeed a 'mockumentary' and him and Phoenix had worked on the project as a glimpse into the world of celebrity and how it's viewed by both outsiders and those within.
Knowing this before watching the film, makes for an interesting predicament; will this still work as a film? Infact it does and very well it does too. The film is very clever in absorbing the viewer into Phoenix's world and his career change. He makes for compulsive viewing and his performance as 'himself' is remarkable, he seems utterly consumed by the role, so much that the fact that it's a character we are watching and a fully thought out process disappears as we watch his descent into something quite dark. Because the film plays utterly straight works in it's favour, there is no tongue in cheek style here and it is at times impossible to know what parts are staged and what isn't. Some say the Letterman appearance was staged and Letterman was in on it; but there's also a meeting with Ben Stiller and encounters with Sean 'P-Diddy' Combs who it appears seems unimpressed by Phoenix' musical aspirations.
These encounters are as fascinating for their realism as they are frustrating for wanting to know if they were all part of it, none the less it all adds to the brilliance of the illusion. As a statement on celebrity it works very well, a scene where the screen fills with video of news reports, tabloid speculation and youtube user videos all debating Phoenix' choice is an overwhelming declaration of the fascination that is held towards celebrities and every move they make.
Towards the end with it's long scene of Phoenix visiting his father in Panama and walking through the river became a little tedious, but otherwise this is a very clever film that is engaging and compulsive viewing. - DirectorPhilippe ClaudelStarsKristin Scott ThomasElsa ZylbersteinSerge HazanaviciusA woman struggles to interact with her family and find her place in society after spending fifteen years in prison.Failed to engage me even if Scott Thomas does a good job.
- DirectorChris WedgeCarlos SaldanhaStarsDenis LearyJohn LeguizamoRay RomanoThe story revolves around sub-zero heroes: a woolly mammoth, a saber-toothed tiger, a sloth and a prehistoric combination of a squirrel and rat, known as Scrat.Likable and fun. The character with the acorn is the best part.
- DirectorPawel PawlikowskiStarsAgata KuleszaAgata TrzebuchowskaDawid OgrodnikA novice nun about to take her vows uncovers a family secret dating back to the German occupation.slighty too slow, but affecting story with stunning black & white cinematography
- DirectorGeorge ClooneyStarsPaul GiamattiGeorge ClooneyPhilip Seymour HoffmanAn idealistic staffer for a new presidential candidate gets a crash course on dirty politics during his stint on the campaign trail.Effective with a good cast.
- DirectorAkira KurosawaStarsSetsuko HaraMasayuki MoriToshirô MifuneA Japanese veteran, driven partially mad from the war, travels to the snowy island of Hokkaido where he soon enters a love triangle with his best friend and a disgraced woman.Failed to get me involved in what should be a climatic story.
- DirectorLars von TrierStarsBodil JørgensenJens AlbinusAnne Louise HassingThe group of people gather at the house in Copenhagen suburb to break all the limitations and to bring out the "inner idiot" in themselves.While vaguely funny, it is otherwise just pushing the 'boundary' too far.
- DirectorMarshall CurrySam CullmanStarsDaniel McGowanLisa McGowanTim LewisA rare behind-the-curtain look at the Earth Liberation Front, the radical environmental group that the FBI calls America's 'number one domestic terrorist threat.'Interesting enough. Sure they have a message but will it do any good?
- DirectorBurr SteersStarsKieran CulkinSusan SarandonJeff GoldblumA young man's peculiar upbringing renders him unable to competently cope with the struggle of growing up.Likable film with a great performance from Culkin
- DirectorTony LeondisStarsJohn CusackMolly ShannonSteve BuscemiAnimated fable about a cliché hunchbacked evil scientist's assistant who aspires to become a scientist himself, much to the displeasure of the rest of the evil science community.Watched in July 2009
I was really surprised by this animated feature. I had heard very little about it and watched it based on a few good reviews and I really enjoyed it. The characters are great, as is the animation and more to the point it's often very funny, though much of the humour I felt would have gone over most kids heads. Sean Hayes and Steve Buscemi provided many of these laughs through their characters, Brain and Scamper. You can see the outcome a mile away but it is all really well brought together. - DirectorNeil BurgerStarsEdward NortonJessica BielPaul GiamattiIn turn-of-the-century Vienna, a magician uses his abilities to secure the love of a woman far above his social standing.Likable and effective film. Nicely shot.
- DirectorSylvain ChometStarsJean-Claude DondaEilidh RankinDuncan MacNeilA French illusionist finds himself out of work and travels to Scotland, where he meets a young woman. Their ensuing adventure changes both their lives forever.Charming French animation.
- DirectorAnthony ChenStarsYann Yann YeoTian Wen ChenAngeli BayaniIn 90s Singapore, the friendship between Filipino nursemaid Teresa and her young charge Jiale makes waves in a family, while the Asian recession hits the region.Beautiful yet tragic film. Great performances.
- DirectorTerry GilliamStarsChristopher PlummerLily ColeHeath LedgerHaving made a deal with the Devil himself for immortality many millennia ago, the now decrepit mystic Doctor Parnassus fights for the freedom of his only daughter's soul.Very likable film, not a big fan of Gilliam but this is a good film.
- DirectorJames GrayStarsMarion CotillardJoaquin PhoenixJeremy RennerIn 1921, an innocent immigrant woman is tricked into a life of burlesque and vaudeville until a dazzling magician tries to save her and reunite her with her sister who is being held in the confines of Ellis Island.
- DirectorUlrich SeidlStarsEkateryna RakLidiya Oleksandrivna SavkaOksana Ivanivna SklyarenkoA nurse from Ukraine searches for a better life in Central Europe, while an unemployed security guard from Austria heads East for the same reason.This was in MIFF 2008, but I didn't get to see it, but I managed to catch it on DVD and was left dissapointed. Its a pretty grim tale of two people searching for a better life. But along the way its pretty grip. The scenes in the hospital with the old and insane women(who were evidently not actors), who had a variety of conditions was so distressing I had to turn the sound off. On top of this, I couldnt understand why the young guy would think there was a better life in the depths of Eastern Europe.
- DirectorJ.A. BayonaStarsNaomi WattsEwan McGregorTom HollandThe story of a tourist family in Thailand caught in the destruction and chaotic aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.This is a very effective, scary and moving account of the Indian Ocean tsunami. Amazing effects.
- DirectorBart LaytonStarsAdam O'BrianNicholas BarclayCarey GibsonA documentary centered on a young man in Spain who claims to a grieving Texas family that he is their 16-year-old son who has been missing for 3 years.The story is so captivating, so utterly brilliant, it makes for truly compelling stuff.
- DirectorSusanne BierStarsMikael PersbrandtTrine DyrholmMarkus RygaardThe lives of two Danish families cross each other, and an extraordinary but risky friendship comes into bud. But loneliness, frailty and sorrow lie in wait.Watched in April 2011
Anton works as an aid doctor in a war torn African nation, whilst back in Denmark his son lives with his wife whom he is separated from. Their son, Elias, is frequently bullied at school, but when a new kid, Christian, whose mother has just died, tries to defend it sets off the catalyst for a series of events that threaten to tear many lives apart. Christian fights back aganist the bully and the two boys become friends. But when Anton comes home to visit and gets into a near fight with another man, Christian is determined to show the man whose boss and ropes Elias into making a homemade bomb.
This Danish film won the Foreign Language Award at this years Oscars and it's easy to see why. On paper the story is complex one, as the two boys and their families interweave through a series of events that bring to the fore the pain of loss, loneliness and despair. It is a beautifully constructed film, one that becomes utterly absorbing through it's wonderful imagery and superb performances, with standouts from the young boy that plays Christian and Mikael Persbrandt as Anton, and a powerful story that resonates well after you leave the cinema.
The film's main focus is of conflict in it's various guises; Anton sees it in his work in Africa as women are mutilated to see what sex their baby is; in Denmark Christian struggles with the death of his mother and takes it out on his father who is trying himself to deal with the situation. The conflicts themselves are dealt with in many ways, with further confrontation or by just walking away and that itself presents one of the films questions, that being what is the best option? Is revenge sweet or does it make matters worse.
The film is engaging and full of small moments that anyone can relate to, even if there are moments where it takes a a step too far, such as the boys readily making the bombs. But that's a small niggle among a film that is a prime example of fine film making and one that packs a emotional punch. - DirectorLake BellStarsLake BellFred MelamedMichaela WatkinsAn underachieving voice coach finds herself competing in the movie trailer voice-over profession against her arrogant father and his protégé.Fabulous and funny film, totally unexpected. Lake Bell is wonderful.
- DirectorJim SheridanStarsPaddy ConsidineSamantha MortonDjimon HounsouA family of Irish immigrants adjust to life on the mean streets of Hell's Kitchen while also grieving the death of a child.Nice drama, lovely performances.
- DirectorHong Sang-sooStarsIsabelle HuppertYoo Joon-sangJung Yu-miA three-tiered story centered on a trio of French tourists visiting the same seaside resort.Liked the concept and Huppert is great. Very sexy lead actor.
- DirectorAlek KeshishianStarsMadonnaDonna DeLoryNiki HarisDocumentary following singer Madonna on her controversial Blond Ambition tour in 1990.Not the first concert film, but one that sets a standard. Great concert footage.
- DirectorNana EkvtimishviliSimon GroßStarsLika BabluaniMariam BokeriaZurab GogaladzeSet in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi in 1992. Friends Eka and Natia look to leave childhood behind as they ignore societal customs and work to escape their turbulent family lives.
- DirectorLynn-Maree MilburnStarsDenis HartBob MaguireGeorge PellA documentary chronicling an outspoken priest whom is being forced by the Vatican to retire.Brilliant doco. Incredible man, funny and moving. What a legend.
- DirectorMartin McDonaghStarsColin FarrellBrendan GleesonCiarán HindsAfter a job gone wrong, hitman Ray and his partner await orders from their ruthless boss in Bruges, Belgium, the last place in the world Ray wants to be.fun likable film.
- DirectorAgnieszka HollandStarsRobert WieckiewiczBenno FürmannAgnieszka GrochowskaA dramatization of one man's rescue of Jewish refugees in the German-occupied Polish city of Lvov.Interesting film, but plays on the sentimental too much.
- DirectorCurtis HansonStarsToni ColletteCameron DiazShirley MacLaineStrait-laced Rose breaks off relations with her party girl sister, Maggie, over an indiscretion involving Rose's boyfriend. The chilly atmosphere is broken with the arrival of Ella, the grandmother neither sister knew existed.Got pulled into this funny but often moving film. Nice cast
- DirectorBrad McGannStarsMatthew MacfadyenMiranda OttoEmily BarclayA disillusioned war journalist's return home is blighted when he becomes implicated in the mysterious disappearance of a teenage girl he has befriended.Effective, but fails to really make an impact
- DirectorHans Petter MolandStarsStellan SkarsgårdBruno GanzPål Sverre HagenAfter his son is murdered by drug dealers, a snowplow driver starts seeking revenge.MIFF.
brilliant dark film. Great dark humour laced through stunning scenery - DirectorPhil GrabskyStarsEmanuel AxJonathan BissRiccardo ChaillyThe first truly comprehensive feature length cinema documentary ever made about Beethoven. With over 60 live performances.Stunning film about a stunning talent.
- DirectorPhil GrabskyStarsJuliet StevensonDavid DawsonLeif Ove AndsnesIn a quest to discover new insights into Fryderyk Chopin, the man and his musical genius, Grabsky traveled the globe over four years recording performances by world-class musicians and interviewing respected historians and musicologists.nice doco, some great performances. His music is sublime, the skill incredible. Amazing to think he was a success so early on.
- DirectorPhil GrabskyStarsJuliet StevensonHenry GoodmanEmanuel AxIn this eagerly-awaited documentary, Phil Grabsky's biographical account of Haydn's life is a visual and aural extravaganza, including breath-taking performances by some of the world's most celebrated musicians.Interesting enough, but not a composer I'm overly familiar with
- DirectorTodd FieldStarsTom WilkinsonSissy SpacekNick StahlA New England couple's college-aged son dates an older woman who has two small children and an unwelcome ex-husband.Effective drama, great to see Spacek.
- DirectorIan DarlingStarsRobyn NevinCate BlanchettHugo WeavingWithin the world of theatre the rehearsal room is a sacred space -- the private domain where boundaries are pushed, risks taken, mistakes made, vulnerabilities exposed and, at its very best, magic created. It's not a place into which the public is often, if ever, invited. Until now; In The Company of Actors features an ensemble of Australia's finest actors, including Cate Blanchett and Hugo Weaving, as they prepare to perform the Sydney Theatre Company's production of Hedda Gabler, at the prestigious Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York. Opening night is just five weeks away and the pressure is on.MIFF 2007
This was a marvellous documentary following the cast and crew of Hedda Gabler as they get ready to go to New York. Darling really captures the immense task of bringing a play to life and with it shows the strains the joys and the humour of the journey. Watching this great cast of actors is a remarkable thing, the moments of unguarded humour, the moments of realization about a line or a stage movement all provide the audience with an insight of how theatre works. Live theatre often doesn’t translate well onto film, but the scenes we do see, work remarkably well, though nothing like seeing it live. The film also captures alot of the tension and nerves, such as actors stretching necks and backs or pacing up and down or simply sitting, eyes closed. It really showed the thrill of performing on stage and gave me as much of an adrenalin rush as the actors no doubt got. It also made me want to rush out and read the play. Cate Blanchet is also just wonderful. - DirectorJane CampionStarsMeg RyanMark RuffaloJennifer Jason LeighNew York City writing professor, Frannie Avery, has an affair with a police detective who is investigating the murder of a beautiful young woman in her neighborhood.Badly filmed, Ryan out of her depth. Ruffalo is hot though.
- DirectorFrançois OzonStarsFabrice LuchiniVincent SchmittErnst UmhauerA high school French teacher is drawn into a precocious student's increasingly transgressive story about his relationship with a friend's family.Likable film and clever story.
- DirectorJonathan KasdanStarsAdam BrodyKristen StewartMeg RyanA sleazy writer has a chance to redeem himself when he goes to stay with his grandmother and befriends the neighbors.Enjoyable film, both Brody and Ryan do well getting out of typecast roles.
- DirectorArmando IannucciStarsTom HollanderPeter CapaldiJames GandolfiniA political satire about a group of skeptical American and British operatives attempting to prevent a war between two countries.Great fun, well made and very funny at times.
- DirectorKar-Wai WongStarsTony Leung Chiu-waiMaggie CheungSiu Ping-LamTwo neighbors form a strong bond after both suspect extramarital activities of their spouses. However, they agree to keep their bond platonic so as not to commit similar wrongs.Stylish and great visuals, the story fails to engage.
- DirectorNagisa ÔshimaStarsTatsuya FujiEiko MatsudaAoi NakajimaA passionate telling of the story of Sada Abe, a woman whose affair with her master led to an obsessive and ultimately destructive sexual relationship.Provocative, disturbing and moving at times.
- DirectorDavid SingtonStarsBuzz AldrinAlan BeanEugene CernanThe crew members of NASA's Apollo missions tell their story in their own words.Interesting doco following the Apollo missions. Great interviews with all the major players involved and it shows what an incredible era that was. And despite all the eveidence presented, as is stated at the end, "If the moon landings were staged, do you really think it would be possible to silence the thousands of people involved in the missions for this long?"
- DirectorPaul HaggisStarsTommy Lee JonesCharlize TheronJonathan TuckerA retired military investigator works with a police detective to uncover the truth behind his son's disappearance following his return from a tour of duty in Iraq.Effective, slow burning drama.
- DirectorMichael WinterbottomStarsJamal Udin TorabiEnayatullahImran ParachaA refugee family is trying to reach more peaceful lands illegally inside trucks.Another great Michael Winterbottom film. He is such a great and interesting director. The film shows the harsh reality for illegal immigrants searching for a better life. Sad in parts but with wonderful performances.
- DirectorBen PalmerStarsJames BuckleyBlake HarrisonJoe ThomasFour socially troubled 18-year-olds from the south of England go on holiday to Malia.Vaguely funny, but stretches out the joke too far
- DirectorDenis VilleneuveStarsLubna AzabalMélissa Désormeaux-PoulinMaxim GaudetteTwins journey to the Middle East to discover their family history and fulfill their mother's last wishes.Watched in April 2011
After her mother’s death, twins Simon and Jeanne gather to hear her will only to be presented with two letters, one to their father whom they thought was dead and one to their brother who they knew nothing. Jeanne is compelled to trace her mother’s story back to the Middle East where gradually her story unfolds. As it does so, a shocking and devastating series of truths are revealed.
This superb film is a really fine accomplishment. From it’s starling opening sequence of boys being prepared to go and fight it is a beautifully made film, one that tells the story of Jeanne and her mother Narwal using flashback to tell the two very different but equally harrowing journeys they go on. Gradually the pieces fit together, making a more vivid picture of the story of this family, one that is for the most part a truly harrowing one, with the life of Narwal being especially so. There are some utterly devastating moments in this film, with perhaps the one where Narwal manages to escape an attack on a bus, being one of the most distressing.
The two actors playing Jeanne and Narwal are remarkable as they convey the pain of their respective journeys and this makes for a powerful film, one that is very moving that becomes increasingly so as the horrific truth is finally revealed. It is a heartbreaking, raw and powerful film that is affecting way beyond the closing credits. - DirectorChristopher NolanStarsLeonardo DiCaprioJoseph Gordon-LevittElliot PageA thief who steals corporate secrets through the use of dream-sharing technology is given the inverse task of planting an idea into the mind of a C.E.O., but his tragic past may doom the project and his team to disaster.Watched in July 2010
Firstly, let's get the bad stuff out of the way. Luckily it isn't a film related but more to do with the cinema. I saw this on a stupidly small screen that didn't justify a big film like this plus the cinema had terrible audio with the film's dialogue being at times barley audible, whilst much of the other sounds being crystal clear. This really hampered my enjoyment to some extent as I struggled to hear what was being said and it is a film that had alot of explanation happening.
So the film, well it pretty amazing, it is a hyped up film that lives up to its hype. It looks incredible for a start, everything visually works, the settings, the styling and the special effects. The cast are all very good. Ellen Page is far the annoying Ellen Page we've seen before and Leonardo DiCaprio is really great in this, infact I like him more and more as he gets older. The stand out performance for me is from Marion Cotillard who is not only stunning, she proves again that she is a fine actor. I'm yet to see her in anything that she hasn't been good. The films start is perhaps a little confusing-not helped by the lack of audio- but gradually it becomes more coherent. It is a truly original and exciting story, although similarity to other films can be made, this hold it's own absolutely.
The story is an exciting and gripping one and despite the long running time, it flows along brilliantly. The blending of reality and dreamworlds are executed perfectly and whilst the film relies on special effects, they are so dazzling that it barley registrars. There are some spectacular images, the streets of Paris folding over on itself is breathtaking and then there is the use of slow motion, when the street scape starts exploding in Paris or when the van falls towards the water and we see the sleeping occupants follow gravity. One of my favorite moments is during the later scenes where Arthur-played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt- in a seemingly weightless world runs around a rotating room and corridor and then ropes the bodies together placing them in a lift. I was so amazed by this, yet struggled with how it was done, it look like it was filmed in one of those planes that achieve weightlessness.
This is an all round impressive feature that shows that Christopher Nolan is a remarkable film maker. I think it's a film that deserves several viewings to fully appreciate and understand it, but one that is well worth it. - DirectorRoland EmmerichStarsWill SmithBill PullmanJeff GoldblumThe aliens are coming and their goal is to invade and destroy Earth. Fighting superior technology, mankind's best weapon is the will to survive.Good fun, love the special effects and humour.
- DirectorDouglas McGrathStarsToby JonesDaniel CraigSandra BullockWhile researching his novel "In Cold Blood", Truman Capote develops a close relationship with convicted murderers Dick Hickock and Perry Smith.this is a very good film about Capote, perhaps better than Capote.
- DirectorHugh SullivanStarsJosh McConvilleHannah MarshallAlex DimitriadesA man's attempt to construct the ultimate romantic weekend backfires when his quest for perfection traps his lover in an infinite loop.likable Aussie film, but it just got a little too confusing.
- DirectorSteven SoderberghStarsMatt DamonTony HalePatton OswaltThe U.S. government decides to go after an agro-business giant with a price-fixing accusation, based on the evidence submitted by their star witness, vice president-turned-informant Mark Whitacre.Average film, Damon is good tho.
- DirectorQuentin TarantinoStarsBrad PittDiane KrugerEli RothIn Nazi-occupied France during World War II, a plan to assassinate Nazi leaders by a group of Jewish U.S. soldiers coincides with a theatre owner's vengeful plans for the same.Another great Tarantino film - he sure does make them.
- DirectorJoe DanteStarsDennis QuaidMartin ShortMeg RyanA test pilot is miniaturized in a secret experiment, and accidentally injected into a hapless store clerk.MIFF 2010
Watched in August 2010
I haven't seen Innerspace in perhaps 20yrs, not since it was out on VHS. As part of MIFF's Joe Dante tribute, I thought it was time to revisit.
It is a great film, one of the gems of the 80's and one of Dante's best. It combines everything, comedy, drama and a little light romance. Great cast, all of whom are so young, Dennis Quaid looking like a young Harrison Ford and Jack Nicholson. Martin Short is superb in this, brilliant comic timing. It is, as film's go, perfect entertainment, a film that has an easy going plot that everyone can enjoy. It's a typical 80's film, but it's aged really well and the special effects still look great in a world of CGI and bluescreen effects we see now.
It's certainly a film worth a revisit when you're in the mood for a light hearted film for a night in on the sofa. - DirectorTi WestStarsSara PaxtonPat HealyKelly McGillisDuring the final days at the Yankee Pedlar Inn, two employees determined to reveal the hotel's haunted past begin to experience disturbing events as old guests check in for a stay.Stupid, predictable and not scary.
- DirectorAlexandre BustilloJulien MauryStarsAlysson ParadisJean-Baptiste TabourinClaude LuléFour months after the death of her husband, a woman on the brink of motherhood is tormented in her home by a strange woman who wants her unborn baby.MIFF 2008
Dire low budget French horror or should that be horror/comedy??!! I went at the last minute after reading lots of favorable reviews on imdb.com. Silly me. Never believe everything you read. It started well with the car crash and I thought awesome! But it got worse. The quality of the print was questionable. By the time the action started, the images were so dark you could barely make out what was happening. This made most of the horror aspects less effective. yet the scenes in the bathroom were extremely bright. There were even moments when the image on screen looked like one you get when processing a picture in a dark room, and as the lead character was a photographer, I thought maybe it was all part of the effect. i know it was low budget, but it seems pointless to make a horror film with heaps of blood and gore when the audience can't see it properly. Boring, but well worth being there, if only for the increased laughter from the audience as the film neared its end. - DirectorFenton BaileyRandy BarbatoStarsLinda LovelaceHarry ReemsDennis HopperAn examination of the infamous pornographic film Deep Throat (1972), covering aspects from the film's creation to its cultural impact.Well, it's worth seeing, so you can say um, you've seen it.
- DirectorCharles FergusonStarsMatt DamonGylfi ZoegaAndri Snær MagnasonTakes a closer look at what brought about the 2008 financial meltdown.Watched in March 2011
Narrated by Matt Damon this Oscar winning documentary attempts to explain what/who caused the massive financial meltdown that occurred over the last few years. It's a complicated matter with banks and finance/mortgage companies taking control of assets they shouldn't, governments and CEO's blaming one another and nearly all cases the public are the ones that suffer as companies fail, jobs and house are lost and lives ruined.
Whilst for most a greater understanding of the financial world and how it runs is something lacking, the film acknowledges this by trying to present this in a step by step process that highlights many of the causes and factors with easy to understand graphics and charts. Talking heads help explain a more personal aspect to events and come from an array of sources from within the industry, many of whom face a barrage of questions and statements that they clearly has them squirming.
The film presents a shocking inside look into an industry that most have little understanding of but it's done well enough to make anyone angry enough about the denials by the financial institutions, but also the constant recycling of people (mostly men) with the industry and government departments that brings about a never changing cycle of behaviour. More shocking is the fact that some of these CEO's and other bigwigs not only got away with financial murder but they were and many still are paid handsomely with bonus's being handed out that were at times mind boggling - $54 million here, $34 million there, with one man receiving $161 million dollars, which leaves you more gob smacked than you can really be and is enough for you want to rip your hair out in horror.
This is an intelligently present, informative film that strives to make sense of a situation that effected millions and still does to this day, it perhaps would have been better had the human impact been explored more than it was. - DirectorEthan CoenJoel CoenStarsOscar IsaacCarey MulliganJohn GoodmanA week in the life of a young singer as he navigates the Greenwich Village folk scene of 1961.I liked it, but I think I was too tired to really enjoy it.
- DirectorSpike LeeStarsDenzel WashingtonClive OwenJodie FosterA police detective, a bank robber, and a high-power broker enter high-stakes negotiations after the criminal's brilliant heist spirals into a hostage situation.Superb film, clever, tense, stylish and Foster looks stunning.
- DirectorChristophe HonoréStarsRomain DurisLouis GarrelAlice ButaudAfter a love affair ends badly, a young Parisian named Paul (Romain Duris) sinks into the same kind of deep depression that led his sister to kill herself. He moves back home with his father (Guy Marchand) and aimless brother Jonathan (Louis Garrel) but refuses to get out of bed. One night, Paul rises from his torpor and makes a fateful visit to the Seine.Better than expected. Nice performances and engaging.
- DirectorChristopher NolanStarsAl PacinoRobin WilliamsHilary SwankTwo Los Angeles homicide detectives are dispatched to a northern town where the sun doesn't set to investigate the methodical murder of a local teen.Literally gave me the opposite of Insomnia and dulled me into a slumber.
- DirectorJuan Carlos FresnadilloStarsMax von SydowEusebio PoncelaLeonardo SbaragliaIn a world where luck can be taken from a lucky person by a luckier person's touch, a small group of lucky people compete to be the luckiest and for the other contestants' luck.Likable, effective film.
- DirectorJames FrancoTravis MathewsStarsVal LaurenChristian PatrickJames FrancoFilmmakers James Franco and Travis Mathews re-imagine the lost 40 minutes from Cruising (1980) as a starting point to a broader exploration of sexual and creative freedom.50% interesting insight. 50% over indulgence for Franco
- DirectorWoody AllenStarsDiane KeatonGeraldine PageKristin GriffithThree sisters find their lives spinning out of control in the wake of their parents' sudden, unexpected divorce.I really liked this non comedy effort from Woody Allen. There was something about the of visual look of the film, muted colours in particular, which really got my interest. But the characters are so interesting and so well played, the mother especially that you cannot help be drawn into the world they live in.
- DirectorSydney PollackStarsNicole KidmanSean PennCatherine KeenerPolitical intrigue and deception unfold inside the United Nations, where a U.S. Secret Service agent is assigned to investigate an interpreter who overhears an assassination plot.Slightly effective film but pretty stupid and I hate the use of 'fake' countries.
- DirectorSteve BuscemiStarsSienna MillerSteve BuscemiMichael BuscemiAfter falling out with his editor, a fading political journalist is forced to interview America's most popular soap actress.Really great film, was apprehensive, but effective.
- DirectorNeil JordanStarsBrad PittTom CruiseAntonio BanderasA vampire tells his epic life story: love, betrayal, loneliness, and hunger.Good film, manages to convey some of the book, though that would be impossible.
- DirectorCraig MonahanStarsHugo WeavingTony MartinAaron JefferyA duel between a suspected murderer and a detective pressed by people who want results. But whose skin is really wanted.So, so, film, good performances though
- DirectorFederico FelliniStarsSergio RubiniAntonella PonzianiMaurizio MeinFederico Fellini accepts the request of a television crew to be interviewed about his career, narrating memories, dreams, realities and fantasies.Just failed to engage and made no sense.
- DirectorPatrice ChéreauStarsMark RylanceKerry FoxSusannah HarkerA failed London musician meets once a week with a woman for a series of intense sexual encounters to get away from the realities of life. But when he begins inquiring about her, it puts their relationship at risk.Feels like an exercise in the unnecessary.
- DirectorMichael MadsenStarsCarl Reinhold BråkenhjelmMikael JensenBerit LundqvistA documentary on the safety of nuclear storage.Fascinating film. The effort undertaken.
- DirectorWerner HerzogStarsWerner HerzogRichard LopezMichael PerryConversations with death row inmate Michael Perry and those affected by his crime serve as an examination of why people - and the state - kill.Another Werzog triumph. Stunning and moving.
- DirectorMark Jonathan HarrisStarsJudi DenchLory CahnKurt FuchelThe secret smuggling of 9,300 Jewish children out of Nazi Germany in the late 1930s.Devastating stuff.
- DirectorSean PennStarsEmile HirschVince VaughnCatherine KeenerAfter graduating from Emory University, top student and athlete Christopher McCandless abandons his possessions, gives his entire $24,000 savings account to charity and hitchhikes to Alaska to live in the wilderness. Along the way, Christopher encounters a series of characters that shape his life.Wonderful visuals, but I reacted badly against him and his ideas.
- DirectorJoel CoenEthan CoenStarsGeorge ClooneyCatherine Zeta-JonesBilly Bob ThorntonMiles, a high-profile divorce lawyer, wins a case for his rich but adulterous client Rex Rexroth. But Rex's ex-wife, Marylin, who is no saint and is a gold-digger, plots to take revenge on Miles.One Coen Bros film that just didn't work for me.
- DirectorOlivier NakacheÉric ToledanoStarsFrançois CluzetOmar SyAnne Le NyAfter he becomes a quadriplegic from a paragliding accident, an aristocrat hires a young man from the projects to be his caregiver.Difficult not to get caught up in it - moving at times. And the black guy! My my!
- DirectorClint EastwoodStarsMorgan FreemanMatt DamonTony KgorogeNelson Mandela, in his first term as President of South Africa, initiates a unique venture to unite the Apartheid-torn land: enlist the national rugby team on a mission to win the 1995 Rugby World Cup.Likable film, nice performances.
- DirectorKirby DickStarsAmy ZieringKirby DickKori CiocaAn investigative documentary about the epidemic of rape of soldiers within the US military.Fascinating and yet unbelievable shocking film.
- DirectorRalph FiennesStarsRalph FiennesFelicity JonesKristin Scott ThomasAt the height of his career, Charles Dickens meets a younger woman who becomes his secret lover until his death.Good ol' costume drama. Great performances.
- DirectorSam GarbarskiStarsMarianne FaithfullPredrag 'Miki' ManojlovicKevin BishopMiddle-aged Maggie must find a way to get enough money for her grandson's lifesaving medical treatment and lift the dwindling hopes of her only son Tom and his wife Sarah. Desperation leads the respectable widow to work in a sex club.Not bad, bit weird and surreal.