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Reviews
Poor Things (2023)
A Gem
Frankenstein meets the Addams family, with a touch of Lars von Tiers and a hat tip to Fassbinder, by incorporating a role for the incomparable Hanna Schygulla. The story follows the extraordinary evolution of a neophyte adult into an independent woman. The masks we use to hide the cruel and unpleasant aspects of humanity are dissolved. It's a philosophical musing on our exploitative relationships and the intricate facade of civilised manners we invent to hide our innermost desires and thoughts, to distinguish ourselves from other animals. The cinematography is mesmerising and the humour superbly dark. It is a film that must be viewed more than once to fully appreciate its genius.
The Lobster (2015)
Existential Angst
The Lobster is a wonderful, deep-dive into the existential angst our societies often cultivate around the perceived abnormality of people who aren't in a relationship. It deftly explores the various concepts of love in the Greek language, which tend to be compressed into romantic love in the English language.
The nightmarish world in the film, of people trying to do anything, including lie to each other, in order to be part of a couple, isn't so far removed from the imperative our society places on people hooking up to reach 'fulfilment' in life. Disaster arises when we rush into couplings for the wrong reason, with a partner who is often also swimming in an ocean of the unexplored self. Its absurdist quality makes it an all the more intriguing puzzle.
The Pumpkin Eater (1964)
A lesson in Sadi-masochistic relations
Disappointingly there was very little character development. It's a tedious and drawn-out study in misery and in how not to lead life. The couple, and some of the friends, are needy and obnoxious people who grasp onto others like drowning people clinging onto drifting bits of debris, who then make a grab for the next bit of drift wood coming their way. The entire movie was a veeery slow moving train wreck. Jake coming back into the house with the extremely noisy children at the end left one feeling, here we go again, starting the emotional roller-coaster that will just lead to more heartache. Waste of good actors, but Bancroft and Mason did their best. I guess the subject matter was considered controversial at the time.
Inventing Anna (2022)
Not one redeeming quality
After all this sociopath did, it beggars belief how people in her orbit could feel any sympathy for her, and how willing they are to put up with Anna's abusive and manipulative behaviour, going back for more. Anna is not a person to be pitied, and to elevate her to celebrity status just indicates the appalling state of moral decay that exists in certain sections of society. I found myself wanting to shake many of the characters portrayed in this story, particularly the journalist, due to their stupidity in idolising, celebrating and even assisting this narcissistic, pathological liar, who I am sure would have received the maximum sentence on all charges, if Anna had been a young male of colour committing these crimes.
It's still an engaging miniseries, but leaves one feeling as if one has waded through a pile of manure by the end of it.
Come to the Stable (1949)
Ridiculous Nun Story
Annoying, "cutesy " joke of a story that leaves one wanting to slap these nuns, who impose themselves on everyone. The story is so preposterous it needed to be done in a comedic style, and the comic attempt fails miserably. The nuns start swarming a small beautiful country area like locusts, not caring about anyone else's way of life determined to get their way. Pathetic saccharine view of religion, nuns and the fools they dupe along the way, guilting them into giving and keep giving, to the point where they all become empty-headed vessels, replete with idiotic grins on their faces as an amorphous mass at the end. One of the most mind-numbing movies I've ever watched. The only reason I gave it a score above 1 was due to the dog's performance.
Elvis (2022)
Priscilla's Elvis
A very whitewashed version of Elvis, totally controlled by Priscilla's long arm preserving the memory of her sanitised man, where she remains the constellation Elvis revolves around. Worth seeing, none the less. The more sordid parts of Elvis's life are gently touched upon with a feather duster. A candy apple Elvis with a spurt of lemon juice, being Parker. Appreciated the snippets of the real man being shown at the end of the film. What better than Baz the showman to dazzle us with two showmen - Elvis and Parker, the duo who created a larger than life persona so many of us still love to listen to and watch decades after his death.