September 27th

McKellen: playing the Part
Custody
Jirga
Don't Worry, He won't Get Far on Foot

Four strong and interesting films are reviewed this week. Prepare to be inspired by Ian McKellen and John Callahan, and disturbed by the confronting situations in the other two. 

McKellen: Playing the Part

Director: Joe Stephenson 

Length: 92 min

© Icon - a delight to spend time with one of 

the world's greatest actors

Ian McKellen is possibly one of the world's most talented and best-known living actors. In this fabulously insightful doco he sits casually in a chair and talks of his life, from early childhood love of theatre and his many Shakespearean roles, to how his career segued unexpectedly into film. Now he is almost a household name as Gandalf in Lord of the Rings, and Magneto in the X-Men series. In an era when sexuality was a no-go topic, he grappled with being gay, and talks here of the difficulties in coming out late in his life. Many impressive archival clips are shown from his early stage performances, along with photos from family albums, material from childhood diaries - a treasure trove of material to give an intimate portrait of a fascinating life. McKellen is such a raconteur, and so self-effacingly honest, that every anecdote becomes a treat to listen to. Re-enactment of the past employs other actors as the child, and the young Ian. McKellen is so engaging and mesmerising, one can't help but feel privileged to get to know better the man behind the public face.
4 - highly recommended!

Custody
Director: Xavier Legrand
Length: 93 min

© Palace - kids are so often the victim of
bitter divorces. Gripping and heart-breaking

Miriam (Lea Drucker) and Antoine (Denis Menochet) are separated and fighting over custody arrangements for their 11-year-old son Julien (Thomas Gloria.) The boy petitions the court, asking not to be forced to see his father who he claims is threatening to his mother. Antoine presents as a decent upstanding man who cares for his son and the judge rules against Julien. This is visceral and realistic drama at its most powerful and harrowing. While initially there is uncertainly as to where the truth lies, all is gradually revealed. What starts relatively peacefully, with even a modicum of optimism, gradually builds up to a tense and absolutely fraught situation. The director never flinches from depicting the anxiety and trauma that the child and his mother must go through, while the stress for grandparents in such situations is also examined. Performances from the three leads, especially young Gloria, are remarkable, but for anyone who has been through this, watching may be almost unbearable.
4 - highly recommended!

Jirga
Director: Benjamin Gilmour
Length: 78 min

© Felix Media - most unusual tale of a 
man seeking redemption for a war crime

Filmmaker, author and paramedic Benjamin Gilmour has made a film inspired by his working and travelling through the northern Pashtun area of Afghanistan. Mike (Sam Smith), former Aussie soldier returns to Afghanistan to say sorry to the family of a civilian he killed during the war. (Apparently some soldiers have returned to that country to try to assuage their guilt by helping locals to rebuild.) After persuading a reluctant taxi-driver to take him to Kandahar, Mike is kidnapped by Taliban who cannot understand what this man is doing in their country. Gilmour claims he made the film to try to dispel stereotypes of Islamic terrorists, but I'm not sure this will do the trick!  The film does however shed light on the lives of ordinary Afghanis, and also shows the Taliban to have some shreds of humanity. Shooting under trying conditions in Afghanistan, with minimal budget, Gilmour has made a film that is starkly beautiful, and should certainly open western eyes to a side of that land other than war. Also notable is the lovely soundtrack, along with a wonderful episode in which the taxi driver and Mike use music and simply food to communicate with no formal language. It's an unusual film, which captures the imagination and adds to the body of film that furthers the cause of peace in the world.
3 - recommended!

Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot
Director: Gus van Sant
Length: 113 min

© Transmission - one of the greatest 
performances of Phoenix's career

John Callahan (Joaquin Phoenix) is a hard-partying slacker and alcoholic. After a day of binge-drinking with just-met Dexter (Jack Black), he is involved in a car crash which renders him virtually quadriplegic. After intensive rehab, where he meets his girlfriend Annu (Rooney Mara), he joins an AA meeting, run by rich, charismatic Danny (Jonah Hill). Amazingly he discovers an ability to draw, creating edgy, biting and often politically incorrect cartoons (think politics, disability, religion) which bring him a new lease on life and fame in his home town of Portland Oregon. This biopic, based on the true story of Callahan, is a showcase for the best performances I've seen from both Phoenix and Hill, both even looking nothing like their usual selves. They totally inhabit their characters in a way that makes me forget they are acting. Despite being a tough tale, there is plenty of humour, along with a spot of soul-searching and pathos. The story is remarkably engaging from go to whoa, and to witness a person transform from drop-kick to inspirational makes for great movie going. PS: If you're contemplating drinking and driving, this could be a big deterrent!
4 - highly recommended!