July 22 2017 
Dunkirk
Paris Can Wait
Descent into the Maelstrom

What a mixed bag it is this week! An ultra-powerful war film, a fluffy Gallic gastronomical delight, and a punk-rock tale.  

Dunkirk
Director: Christopher Nolan
Length: 115 min

© Warner Bros/Roadshow - as near to the action as
you could possibly get

World War 2 fact: In 1940, British and French troops became hemmed in between the beach and the advancing German army. Extraordinarily, deploying a combination of military vessels, passenger ferries and private boats, more than 300,000 troops were evacuated to safety. Film version: From the viewpoint of fighter pilots, protecting the trapped troops from air attack, the frightened soldiers on the beach, and one particular private boat, we get a picture of the bravery, fear and chaos that turned this military debacle into some sort of rescue miracle. Nolan's visionary direction, with its sweeping takes of air, land and sea, takes us (as much as a film can) into the very heart of the action. The tension, as one drama after another unfolds, is almost unbearable, the fear palpable. Surprisingly, we don't get a chance to bond much with any particular characters, and yet, I found myself progressively engaged with those youthful soldiers, whose overriding drive became survival, and those brave souls who managed to rise above fear. This is one of the most powerful war films in many years. 
4.5 - wholeheartedly recommended!

Paris Can Wait 
Director: Eleanor Coppola
Length: 90 min

© Transmission - feel good foodie road trip

Anne (Dianne Lane) is the wife of Michael (Alec Baldwin), a womanising, workaholic Hollywood producer who can never ignore his phone long enough to notice his wife. When ear problems prevent her from flying with him to Paris, she accepts an offer from Michael's business associate Jacques (Arnaud Viard) to drive there with him. En route he takes her to the most tantalising gourmet restaurants in Provence and Lyon and they share vulnerabilities, along with visits to various picturesque sites and museums. The appeal of the film (aside from its mouth-watering food!) is the slow and unassuming way in which it putters along, taking in the scenery, and gradually watching what may or may not be develop between the (happily?) married American woman and the roguish, alluring Frenchman. I know the film is not groundbreaking, and I suspect that cynical jaded reviewers are going to sink the boots in, but I find much to like in this simple road trip, with the best France has to offer, and a soupcon of potential romance. Lane is, as always, gorgeous and Viard is a great match, oozing charm, solicitude and sincerity.
3 - recommended !

Descent into the Maelstrom
Director: Jonathan Sequiera
Length: 110 min
Exclusive to Cinema Nova in Melbourne

© Umbrella films - a snapshot of the legendary
punk band

Here's something for the die-hard fans of 70s head-banging rock n roll (which I'm not!). Sydney high-voltage band Radio Birdman pioneered an independent music scene that appealed to a new wave of Aussie music fans. Their punk gigs at the Funhouse in Sydney were ground-breaking, and eventually inspired bands like Midnight Oil, The Angels and Cold Chisel. Seeing these now-aging musicians talk about the highs and lows of their musical career is fun, though I would have liked a little more background. It's a well-made music movie, a bit too long for me, and the filmmakers assume a lot of prior knowledge. 
2.5 - maybe (if this is your music bag, then definitely)!