November 11th
No Time to Die
Sydney Film Festival - until 21st November
Respect
Dolly Parton (streaming on Netflix)
The long-awaited latest James Bond film hits cinemas today. It's been worth the wait. A terrific biopic on Aretha Franklin is in your local cinema. Meantime, while Sydneysiders hit their festival in-cinema, many films from the Sydney Film Festival can be accessed Australia-wide online. And for those still staying home, a great doco on Dolly Parton is on Netflix.
No Time To Die
Dir: Cary Joji Fukunaga
Length: 163 mins
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© Universal - he's back! Daniel Craig's
final outing as Bond is a winner.
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How to review this one without giving away any vital plot points? Here goes: James Bond (Daniel Craig) has retired from active service and is enjoying a romantic time with his beloved Madeleine (Lea Seydoux), about whom a lot more is revealed in the opening sequence. But he cannot escape the past, and after an attempt on his life he believes Madeleine has betrayed him. Five years later he is leading a modest, reclusive life in Jamaica, but before long he is lured back into active service, only to confront an enemy who poses a threat to the entire human race. Enough said of plot! For Bond aficionados, there is plenty of consolidating of important plot threads from previous 007 films. Many of your favorites are back: Ralph Fiennes as M, Ben Wishaw as the techno-gadget king Q, and Naomie Harris as Bond's staunch friend Moneypenny. New faces are Lashana Lynch as kick-ass new agent Nomi, and Ana de Armas as Paloma, a ruthless killer in glamor gowns.The women are all strong and independent, and fortunately the old Bond exploiting of females has all but disappeared. Jeffrey Wright is back as Leiter, crazy Christoph Waltz reprises Blofeld, while Rami Malek makes an entry as Safin, a new arch-villain. Sets are splendid, as is the impressive wardrobe (apparently the Bond styling is sending the clothing market insane!) Stunning settings such as Matera in Italy, along with locations in Jamaica and Norway make for gorgeous viewing, and it goes without saying there is plenty of the usual heart-stopping action. What I especially love is the vulnerable aspect Craig brings to Bond; even if he does the usual trouncing of ten enemies in one go, he somehow feels more real on an emotional level than ever. And there are some super surprises to knock your socks off. I hope that's enough said to get you in to see it! It's a great ride.4 - highly recommended
Sydney Film Festival
Until November 21st: sff.org.au
Newsflash: streaming online Australia-wide: https://ondemand.sff.org.au/
You don't have to jump on a plane to Sydney to enjoy a great selection of this year's festival films which are streaming online. I've already reviewed three excellent docos which are in the festival some weeks ago, and here's another chance to catch them:
A Fire Inside: The NSW firefighters battle horrific blazes
Under the Volcano: doco on George Martin's music studio in the Carribean
The Bowraville Murders: an unsolved murder devastates the Australian Indigenous community
Since then I've caught a couple more excellent films that are part of the streaming program:
The Rhumba Kings
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An uplifting and joyous film, with
important historical content |
When people think of the Congo they may think of war, disease, gorillas, coltan, poverty - seldom would the word music pop into one's head. But, as this fabulous doco shows, Congo is home to an uplifting, vibrant and brilliant music genre, the Congolese Rhumba. This uplifting doco shines a light on the music that is part of Congo's national identity, and featured large in the people's battle to free the country from colonial oppression. Wonderful archival footage shows the early bands developing their own unique sound, and the unbridled joy of the people as they cut loose to dance, a rare escape from the white man's yoke. Interviews with musicians, music historians, and of course the infectious music itself, all combine to make an entertainment that will have you dancing in your seat. Director Alan Brain lived 7 years in the Congo and spent 9 years making a film that is unmissable for music lovers, and also for those interested in African history.4 - highly recommended
ShoPaaPaa
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The actor invites us into his challenging
life during Covid lockdown |
Veyd (Shekhar Bassi) lives with a hugely challenging degenerative spinal condition. When Covid strikes in London, he is especially vulnerable and therefore spends his time permanently in isolation, seeing only his little niece and nephew from the window. Here's the thing - Bassi actually does suffer from this condition, and he collaborated on this remarkable film with Aussie director Molly Reynolds, to make something that is an intersection between documentary and fiction. For 90 minutes his character shuffles around his home on crutches, delivers his philosophy of life to the camera, suffers a couple of nasty falls, but generally presents himself with optimism, grace and dignity despite his life being constantly on a knife-edge. I've never seen anything quite like this, and was amazed to find this one-person film didn't flag for a moment for me. My interest in Veyd remained constant, and his life's circumstances and attitude are something we can only learn from. All this is such a credit to an impressive creative (and long-distance) collaboration between a director and her main man, who gives us the privilege of entering his world.4 - highly recommended
Respect
Dir: Liesl Tommy
Length: 145 mins
In cinemas
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© Universal - Jennifer Hudson gives it her all
as the Queen of Soul |
Aretha Franklin, known as the Queen of Soul, dominated the R'n'B scene for several decades. This biopic begins with her as a talented small child (Skye Dakota Turner), making her name as a singer in the choir of the church where her father (Forest Whittaker) preaches. We then follow the trajectory of her rise to stardom. Jennifer Hudson plays Aretha, with a voice as big and beautiful as the Queen herself. Hudson is perfect in the role. The film itself follows a fairly standard narrative arc, and seems to gloss over many of the deeper aspects of the singer's life, making it blander than it could otherwise have been. But as a chronicle of the stunning artistry and great songs, and to hear Hudson channel the great woman, it's well worth seeing.3.5 - well recommended
Dolly Parton: Here I Am
Dir: Francis Whately
Length: 90 mins
Streaming on Netflix
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© Netflix - Parton is an icon
of country music |
Some people make fun of Dolly Parton, branding her a "dumb blonde" hillbilly singer. This doco shows her to be quite the contrary - a talented songwriter, savvy businesswoman and self-aware of her consciously created larger-than-life image. The huge hits "Nine to Five" and "I Will Always Love You" are just two of thousands she has written. The film shines light on what drives Dolly, and is confirmation that no-one has ever seen her without her make-up and wigs! We find out the story behind the hit "Jolene", and discover her talents as an actress starting in 1980 with the film 9 to 5. With plenty of great archival footage, interviews with friends and other musicians, and of course with the gal herself, this is totally entertaining stuff, and, for lovers of country music, a must-see.4 - highly recommended
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