July 22nd
Monet (streaming DocPlay)
Envoy: Shark Cull - in cinemas briefly but also ONLINE
Old
Laundromat (streaming Netflix)
Virunga (streaming Netflix)
Here we are with half the country in lockdown again. So we need lots of films available online, and the good news is that 4/5 of this week's films reviewed are just that! So, happy streaming.
DocPlay - get into it!
www.docplay.com
Let me again urge you to take up a subscription to DocPlay, possibly the best documentary streaming service you'll ever find. There are countless magnificent docos to be had, the best from all over the world, with topics of interest to everyone. For a measly $7.99 a month, you will never be bored again, and you can even have a free trial! I've wanted to watch this doco on the painter Monet for several years now, and it absolutely lived up to, if not exceeded, my expectations. And having been lucky enough to stroll through Monet's garden back in 2016, it was even more special.
Water Lilies of Monet
Dir: Giovani Troilo
Length: 80 mins
Streaming at www.docplay.com
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6bD9BOZhB0
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| © DOCPlay/Sharmill - exquisite |
It's not always easy to make a film about artworks that spring to life, but this one literally leaps off the screen. Mixing footage of the painter's exquisite garden in Giverney, with shots of his prolific artwork, and an outline of key aspects of his life, this doco absolutely immerses you in the world of a genius. The historical backdrop of France in the era also adds interest. And of course simply gazing at the screen is enough to have you gasping in sheer awe at the wonder of it all, both Monet's artwork and the real-life natural world that inspired it.4 - highly recommended
Envoy: Shark Cull
Dir: Andre Borell
Length: 90 min
In cinemas where no lockdown - until 25th
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© Heritage Films - they've got more reason
to be scared than we do. |
One of the world's most ancient creatures is in grave danger of extinction, and that would have dire consequences for our marine ecological balance. That's the message of this excellent doco, which examines shark control measures in New South Wales and Queensland. As Eric Bana narrates, he explains how the use of nets and drum lines since 1962 has been proven to be basically ineffective, and results in the deaths of much more than just sharks, including whales, dolphins and turtles. And with increasing technological innovations there are many other ways of protecting both sharks and swimmers at the same time. There are more and more people speaking up as advocates for the great animals, including surfer Laine Beachley, and even a fellow who lost an arm and a leg to a shark attack. The doco attempts to dispel people's irrational fears of sharks, and educate us as to their critical importance in the balance of marine life, and in protecting things as iconic as the Great Barrier Reef. This important doco is a worthy addition to the body of ecological films, pleading with us to wake up before we destroy the things that make our planet both beautiful and liveable. 4 - highly recommended
Old
Dir: M Night Shyamalan
Length: 108 min
In cinemas where no lockdown
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4U2pMRV9_k  |
| © Universal - freaky! |
Prisca (Vicky Krieps) and husband Guy (Gael Garcia Bernal), are taking a last family holiday before they separate. To add to the stress, Prisca has a tumor, and both these facts have not been revealed to the kids, Trent aged 6 and Maddox aged 11. The idyllic holiday resort (found online) seems all one could dream of. When the hotel manager arranges for a special day's outing to a secluded beach, the trouble sets in. A motley crew of guests on the excursion includes Charles (Rufus Sewell), a doctor suffering from a weird hallucinatory derangement, his wife Chrystal (Abbey Lee, a blonde bimbo obsessed with her body), their daughter Kara (Eliza Scanlen), Charles' ageing mother, plus an epileptic psychologist and her husband, and a mysterious reclusive writer suffering mysterious nosebleeds. From the get-go, the seemingly pristine beach is not what it seems, and soon takes a life-threatening twist, as the youngsters seem to visibly get older by the hour, and tensions flare among the gathered assembly, as the true nature of the horror surrounding them becomes evident. The film is based upon a graphic novel, and comes from the director lauded for 1999's marvellous thriller, The Sixth Sense. The premise for this film is very promising - much to be gleaned from the idea of making each moment of life a precious one, but there is too much clunkiness in the way it has been handled, not to mention some pretty wooden acting and scripting. Even the always wonderful Bernal seems to struggle with what he's given to work with. One can almost predict many of the plot points, as they come like clockwork. The film doesn't seem to quite know if it wants to be a thriller or a horror. That said, the effects in ageing the characters are well done, and there is a pretty nifty twist at the very end, but it's disappointing that such a strong premise hasn't been more creatively and subtlely handled.2.5 - maybe
Laundromat
Dir: Steven Soderbergh
Length: 95 mins
Streaming on Netflix
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuBRcfe4bSo
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| © Netflix - Streep is amazing - yet again! |
Ellen Martin (Meryl Streep) tries to claim from insurance after the death of her husband in a freak holiday accident. What she discovers takes her down a rabbit hole of shelf companies, corporate fraud and more, leading all the way to Panama. This bizarre but entertaining movie is based upon the real-life exploits of corporate law firm Mossack Fonseca, who were the world's fourth-largest offshore law firm, until the Panama Papers scandal shut them down in 2018. Gary Oldman plays Jurgen Mossack with an over-the-top German accent, while Antonio Banderas is Ramon Fonseca; both decked out in glitzy sequined tuxes, as they speak to camera, taking the audience through a funny, if near-incomprehensible, crash course on the world of dodgy finance, and why wealth will always win out. The film has an erratic tonality, using comedy to examine what is actually a very serious issue, along with many episodic segments to illustrate its points. Interesting that it was nominated for one of cinema's most prestigious awards, the Venice Golden Lion, and also for a Worst Film award. So, you be the judge - I got plenty of enjoyment, despite its shortcomings, and anything with Streep is well worth a look, not to mention the big Streep-Surprise at the end.3.5 - well recommended
Virunga
Dir: Orlando von Einsiedel
Length: 100 mins
Streaming on Netflix
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxXf2Vxj_EU
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| © Netflix - a job to die for |
A nominee for Best Documentary Oscar in 2015, this is still timely watching, as yet another important doco with continuing resonance for the parlous state of the world, in exploiting poor nations and natural resources, and all with blatant disregard for the environment. Working on a number of levels the doco examines the Virunga National Park in Congo, home to the last outpost of the endangered mountain gorillas. When oil company SOCO decided to move in on the park, tensions rose between the Congolese army and rebel groups, a band of valiant rangers risking their lives to protect the park. Even though I find the intricacies of the politics sometimes hard to follow, the messages are clear and still relevant, with some excellent footage from inside the conflict zones. There is also plenty of great footage of other African animals. Using the backdrop of the gorilla orphanage makes for an intensely poignant and personal side to the story, with gorilla "mother" Andre declaring he will give his life up for the creatures.4 - highly recommended
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