November 25th
Palazzo Di Cozzo
Blue Bayou
The Beatles: Get Back (streaming on Disney +)
Bad Luck Banging Loony Porn
Titane
Best Sellers
After last week's plethora of festivals (some still running), many mainstream releases are flooding the cinemas. As I always love to say, there's definitely something for everyone this week, but two of the films come with warnings of graphic sex and violence. Laugh, cry, ogle, ponder, tap your feet - it's all here.
Palazzo Di Cozzo
Dir: Madeleine Martiniello
Length: 86 mins
 |
© Sharmill - Franco spruiks his wares
on the Don Lane show |
Who (of a certain vintage) could ever forget a stocky, thickly accented Italian hollering on TV "Grand Sale - comprade de Franco Cozzo!"? The man himself is lovingly presented in this delightful doco, covering his early days as an immigrant from Sicily to Melbourne, and tracing the establishment of his stores, featuring over-the-top baroque gilded Italianate furniture. The film is chock-full of nostalgic archival footage, interspersed with the man himself, reminiscing and telling us about his life. There are also some wonderful visits to the homes of his customers, folks who had saved really hard to buy themselves grand furniture that reminded them of their homeland. The doco is made with huge affection for Franco, and it's something that should totally charm viewers, especially Melburnians. 4 - highly recommended
Blue Bayou
Dir: Justin Chon
Length: 117 mins
 |
© Universal - a moving story of
family and injustice |
Nominated for Un Certain Regard at Cannes this year, Blue Bayou is the emotionally gut-wrenching story of Antonio LeBlanc, a man who was adopted from Korea at the age of three, then given up to a variety of foster homes. Now married to Kathy (Alicia Vikander), he is a loving stepfather to little Jessie (Sydney Kowalske), and he and Kathy are expecting their own child. But when Antonio gets himself on the wrong side of a pair of policemen (one of them Kathy's ex-husband and biological father of Jesse), authorities dredge up his past and threaten to deport him. Although at times the film consciously tugs on the heartstrings, it is finely acted, with excellent chemistry between the three central cast members. It also examines a little known but highly fraught issue - that of a loophole in US law that allows adoptees without full citizenship to be under threat of deportation.4 - highly recommended
The Beatles: Get Back
Dir: Peter Jackson
Length: 3 episodes x 2.5 hours each (approx)
Streaming on Disney+
 |
© Disney - Beatles fans had
better not miss this one! |
After not performing for two years, The Beatles ended up giving a live performance in 1969. It was to be their last ever. But first they had to write 14 new songs for the album and proposed film "Let It Be". Over the 21 days of this process, 60 hours of footage and 150 hours of audio were recorded. Now, in a tour-de-force of directorial genius, Peter Jackson has crafted a record of it all, with the old film remastered, and the whole 3-part mini-series culminating in the live concert, performed on the London rooftop of Saville Row. The technical quality is stunning - crisp, clear, with magnificent close-ups and witty, albeit occasionally tedious conversations. None of this has been seen before and the insight into the creative rapport, especially between John and Paul, is a wonder to behold. Seeing the fab four as real people, not just mega-stars, is eye-opening. And being privy to their creative genius highlights the depth of their musicianship and overwhelming talent. I probably need to say you may want to be a fan to watch for so long, and many of the songs are heard umpteen times over, but this is an unmissable treat for Beatles fans, and an invaluable contribution to the history of modern music. 4.5 - wholeheartedly recommended
Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn
Dir: Radu Jude
Length: 106 mins
 |
© Potential - confronting, and enough food
for thought to last for weeks |
Winner of the Golden Bear at Berlin Film Festival, plus many other awards and nominations, this film is something very different - confronting, shocking, funny, insightful, pornographic and, well, loony. Teacher Emi has her reputation impugned and faces potential dismissal when a private video of her and her husband having sex is uploaded to the internet. The film takes place in three parts - that is, after the opening scene which, be warned, is graphic unadulterated sex. Part one is where Emi walks though the streets of Bucharest, slow, and deliberate, the camera trailing her and the city. Part two is the where the director gives us a long dictionary of terms, some obscene, some political, others mundane, with visuals and satirical explanations, and the denouement is where Emi faces a kangaroo court of parents from the school. There is so much content in this film, it almost threatens to overwhelm the viewer, but as a commentary on the basic hypocrisy of human beings, it is creative and innovative. It's also a brave movie, having a large go at its country of origin, Romania, its politics and many of its people. In fact our unwitting porn star Emi is possibly the only decent person in the entire movie!4 - highly recommended
Titane
Dir: Julie Ducourneau
Length: 108 mins
 |
© Kismet - sex, violence
and sadness
|
Winner of the prestigious Palme D'Or at Cannes this year, here's another film from a provocative director whose last film, Raw, featured a family of cannibals. Aged 7, Alexia (Agathe Rousselle) is badly injured in a car crash, and has a titanium plate inserted in her head. As an adult she works as a sexy dancer, gyrating on the bonnets of cars at auto shows, teasing men. Meantime a series of unsolved murders and missing children are all over the news. Alexia decides to have a change of identity, taking the persona of one of the missing kids, a boy named Adrien. The lad's father Vincent (Vincent Lindon) opens his arms to his "returned son". To say more would spoil the surprises of this extraordinary film, which - WARNING - is not for the faint-hearted. With graphic violence and body horror, it will disturb some people, but for those willing to stay the course there are rich rewards, and challenging questions about identity, gender and what constitutes family. Cinematography is vivid and in your face, the soundtrack rocks, while the lead performances capture a dramatic, and at times moving, chemistry between a parent desperate to have his child back, and a psychologically damaged woman. A film you won't forget - if you're brave enough!4 - highly recommended
Best Sellers
Dir: Lina Roessler
Length: 102 mins
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOGOhGgmHRI  |
© Rialto - Caine is at his most
curmudgeonly best |
Harris Shaw (Michael Caine) is a reclusive author, who once had a best-selling book, put out by a now failing publishing house. Lucy Skinner (Aubrey Plaza) has inherited the business from her father, and is desperate to get another top title to put the publishing house back on track. She tracks down Harris, only to find he is a hard-drinking, cantankerous old man. But he has a manuscript, needs money, and reluctantly agrees to touring to promote the new book. There is plenty of predictability in this lightweight amusing tale, but of course the big drawcard is Caine, who is perfect for the role. The more interesting aspect of the plot is the commentary on the role of social media, as the cranky author goes viral with his unorthodox ways of dealing with the crowds of young folk who flock to hear him. It's not earth-shattering, but makes for a light entertaining diversion.2.5 - maybe
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