Happy Christmas to all, and may you see many more fab films in 2016!!
Youth
Director: Paolo Sorrentino
Length: 124 mins
Youth is the type of film that seems to divide viewers. It tells of two lifelong friends on holiday in a Swiss alpine resort. Michael Caine plays 80-year-old Fred Ballinger, composer and conductor who grieves for his beloved wife who has dementia. Harvey Keitel is Mick, a veteran film maker who is scripting his forthcoming film with young colleagues. With Fred is his daughter Lena (Rachel Weisz) whose husband has just left her for pop star Paloma Faith. Another notable at the resort is type-cast actor Jimmy Tree (Paul Dano) who is trying to expand his career choices.
The old men walk and talk and reflect a lot upon their
youth and their 60-year friendship. Lena gives her father a huge serve about
his shortcomings in the parenting department during her youth. Old wrinkled
folk go into the saunas, and the stunning Miss Universe turns up in her
glorious nakedness to highlight age versus youth. A star turn comes from Jane
Fonda playing an aging hysterical actress - yet another reminder of the ravages of age. Jimmy, dressed
up to play Hitler, also adds a small and very funny scene to the film, as does a
brilliantly spoofy video starring Paloma Faith.
While many will not find the film easily accessible,
those who enjoy this style of filmmaking can revel in a visual symphonic poem which
blends surrealism, simply glorious scenery, sublime cinematography, smart dialogue and stunning performances all round. The dialogue is at times poignant, and at all times witty and engaging. The music is a special treat, especially the famous piece written by Fred called Simple Song. This
creative reflection upon the passing of time is a film to savour. Peggy Guggenheim: Art Addict
Director: Lisa Immordino Vreeland
Length: 96 mins
This doco traces the life of one of the art world's iconic patrons and collectors, wealthy socialite Peggy Guggenheim. We learn of her family history in the early 1900s, and how her love of the Bohemian life led to many affairs with artists, and the collecting of works from Modernist and Surrealist painters. She opened innovative galleries in London and New York, but finally housed her collection in Venice, where it remains today. There is plenty of archival footage, but I felt I never really got to know much of her personality. Still, for art lovers this is probably something to definitely go and see.
Maybe worth a look!
For a full review from Bernard Hemingway:
http://www.cinephilia.net.au/show_review.php?movieid=5935Maybe worth a look!
For a full review from Bernard Hemingway:
Joy
Director: David O Russell
Length: 124 mins
Joy is based upon real life inventor Joy Mangano, famous for inventing the Miracle Mop, which was then marketed on the specialised cable channel HSN, Home Shopping Network. Joy is given her opportunity by HSN network boss Neil Walker, played by Bradley Cooper.
This is an upbeat film featuring a strong central
performance from Jennifer Lawrence. The film has four generations of
women. Joy is encouraged by her Grandma
Mimi (Dianne Ladd) , hassled by her scatterbrained mother (Virginia Madsen) who
endlessly watches soap operas on TV and grounded by her role as a single
mother. Her estranged husband Tony (Edgar Ramirez) remains a strong
support and lives in the basement of Joy’s home, as does her father
Rudy (Robert de Niro), who has also moved back into the family home.
The family interactions are all marked by amusing
dialogue and well-drawn characters. The biting portrayal of the
tackiness of cable shopping channels is one of the film’s strong points.
Overall Joy is very entertaining, although
the voice-over by Grandma Mimi can get confusing, and
towards the end somehow the film tries
too hard to tie up the ends, and make glib aphorisms about opportunity, success and American entrepreneurship.
Well worth seeing!
For a full review from Bernard Hemingway:
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