July 4th 2024
The Bikeriders
Midnight Oil: The Hardest Line
Sidonie in Japan
Radical
A Silence
It's another great week for excellent movie offerings. All these films have infiltrated my brain - Austin Butler astride a Harley, Beds are Burning thumping out from the Oils, the delicateness of love in Japan, a teacher's profound influence on his students, and a very nasty case of domestic secrets. There has to be something here for you to enjoy.
The Bikeriders
Dir: Jeff Nichols
Length: 116 mins
 |
© Universal - start your engines! Love
amid a bikie gang culture. |
Midwest gal Kathy (Jodie Comer) heads to a bar for a drink with a girlfriend, only to find the place full of rough'n' tough bikers. But as she is about to leave, she claps eyes on Danny (Austin Butler), and five weeks later they are married. Danny lives to ride, and with his best pal Johnny (Tom Hardy) belongs to a riders group known as The Vandals. As the group evolves, more chapters are formed, and more men who live outside the law become involved, changing the nature of the culture forever. This high-octane love story (love of motocycles rather than women?) is one hell of a ride, and, though fictional, is inspired by a photo/interview book about the actual Chicago Outlaws bikie gang, published in the late 1960s and structured around interviews with the real Kathy. The film runs with the interview framework, giving a very personal, insider's perspective as seen by Kathy, in interviews that span several years, and move around in time. Whether you love of hate this grungy, violent culture, seething with sweaty, toxic masculinity, you can't help but be impressed by the powerful evoking of a time and place, all augmented by a stunning sixties soundtrack. Everything is fast and furious, and there are breathtaking moments that scream "freedom", as epitomised by a roaring Harley Davidson. Characters are memorable, from the taciturn but charismatic Danny, through to Hardy's mumbling Johnny, and the chemistry of the mens' relationship is palpable. (Who'd have thought tough bikies could be almost in love with each other?) All the lesser roles are inhabited with fierce bikie bravado, with Michael Shannon a stand out as wild man Zipco. British actor Comer is brilliant as Kathy, with a carefully studied idiosyncratic accent and a style somewhere between redneck and a touch more refined. Some of the scenes of violent mindless brawling are challenging but again, typical of the milieu while in a few scenes we sense the vulnerability some of the men harbor under all the bluster, though some are just downright scumbuckets! Overall, the film is one great adrenalin-boosting ride.4 - highly recommended
Midnight Oil
Dir: Paul Clarke
Length: 105 mins
 |
© Roadshow - what a band epitomsing
uncompromising commitment to their music
and ideals |
Midnight Oil were so much more than a rock band. They were political activists, eco-warriors, supporters of Indigenous rights, and a group of musos who were determined never to compromise or bow to the pressures of pop commercialism. This excellent doco traces the band's four decade history, from the struggling years through to their final farewell concert in 2022. Of course much of the focus is on lead singer Peter Garrett, his unforgettable stage presence, and his commitment to making a difference, which ultimately led him into politics and put the Oils on pause for about a decade. The archival footage in the film is all-encompassing (albeit very grainy; old video is often a problem), covering the history comprehensively. As well as having a stuning playlist of the band's hits, the doco is a fine snapshot of political and social changes in Australia over those decades. The film also includes much revealing footage of the Oils' forays into the outback to work with Indigenous artists and learn more of that culture, a move which greatly influenced their music. It really doesn't matter if you are a fan of their music or not - this is such an uplifting story of how music and passion can make huge changes, that you cannot help but be inspired.4 - highly recommended
Sidonie in Japan
Dir: Elise Girard
Length: 95 mins
 |
© Sharmill - whimsical, sweet story
starring the timeless Isabelle Huppert |
The always wonderful Isabelle Huppert plays author Sidonie Perceval, a widowed author who heads to Japan where her last novel is being re-released. She meets with her publisher Kenzo (Tsuyoshi Ihara) who will be her companion for her six-day tour. To her amazement, Sidonie finds that the ghost of her husband (August Diehl) turns up in each hotel where she stays. If she is to ever move on with her life she will need to dispel this apparition. This is such a sweet, poignant and romantic film, not without its humour, mostly derived from the differences between the formality of Japanese culture and the French style of doing things. There's a lovely chemistry between the two leads, and somehow the supernatural element blends seamlessly and almost believably into the overall plot. For me, loving all things French and Japanese, this film is a sweet and uplifting treat.4 - highly recommended
Radical
Dir: Christopher Zalla
Length: 125 mins
 |
© Madman - a teacher who brings ut the
best in his students |
Teacher Sergio (Eugenio Derbez) is appointed to teach at a rundown school on the Mexican border. He comes with a radical approach - to throw away the rule book and try to ignite the students' curiosity for learning, through practical experiments, open discussion, and emotional closeness. He soon discovers that even the troubled kids like Nico, who is moving with gangs, can be inspired to learn and love school. But even better, he finds that some of the students like Paloma (whose father works scavenging the local tip) and Lupe (who is forced to babysit her siblings) could definitely be geniuses in the making. But he must battle corruption and disapproval of other staff members, along with an ingrained parental attitude that education is a waste of time. Yes, we've seen plenty of these inspirational teacher stories (it is almost a sub-genre), but there is something fresh about this lovely film, that has won umpteen awards, including Audience Favorite at Sundance. Derbez gives such a fine performance, as do all the kids, and here's the thing: it is in fact a true story, with Sergio getting outstanding results out of his students.4 - highly recommended
A Silence
Dir: Joachim Lafosse
Length: 99 mins
 |
© Palace - a family of high standing
harbors dark secrets |
In a long opening take Astrid Schaar (Emanuelle Davos) drives to a police station to be told her son Raphael (Mathieu Galoux) has been arrested for trying to murder his father, Francois Schaar (Daniel Auteuil). The film then flashes back to reveal what has led up to this shocking turn of events. I'm ambivalent abut this film - the acting from Davos and Auteuil is top shelf, especially Davos, for whom silence and minimal facial gestures speak volumes. Auteuil's character is a high-powered lawyer, involved in prosecuting a pedophile (inspired by a true case.) As the case progresses the spotlight turns to the lawyer himself. We also are gradually made aware of a situation he was involved in years prior, about which his wife had knowledge (but again remained silent). This slow reveal is effective but also at times too slow and confusing, and the final denouement of the film left me disappointed. The cinematographic style is deliberately dark with the countless dimly-lit scenes effectively representing the secret corners of peoples lives. The film deals with important and weighty themes, including a teenager's dramatic meltdown, along with the ability of a man of power (Francois) to snow those around him, yet somehow the script never quite nails the issues head on. However Davos's nuanced performance really holds it all together, even leading me to question if Astrid's conjugal loyalty is inspired by deeper dark emotions within herself.3 - recommended
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