Saturday, 19 October 2024

 October 20th 2024

Memoir of a Snail
He Ain't Heavy
From Hilde, With Love
Greek Film Festival - until October 27
Japanese Film Festival - opening Melbourne October 21 
Irish Film Festival  - online now - in Melbourne cinemas from October 24


This week it's festival-central! The three featured festivals give us a glimpse into Greek, Irish and Japanese lives. The seasons do not have very long cinema runs, so I suggest moving fast to secure tickets for your preferred films. PLUS . . . yet again three really excellent films are on mainstream release, every one a most worthy watch.  

Memoir of a Snail
Dir:  Adam Elliot
Length: 94 mins
© Madman - sad, funny, beautiful, even uplifting: 
 - a story of the challenges in life
Grace Pudel has suffered a traumatic childhood. Her mother died giving birth to her and twin Gilbert, her father became a drunk and paraplegic, and when he dies she is separated from her beloved brother and put into foster care. Grace becomes a hoarder, collecting every manner of thing to do with snails. Her loneliness and anxiety threaten to destroy her until she meets an old lady, Pinky, whose optimism keeps Grace afloat. Fifteen years ago I saw a sublime  claymation film, Mary and Max, which won the top award at the world's biggest festival for animation (Annecy). Now Elliot has won this award again. Technically it's a labor of love - absolutely no digital effects, everything made of paper, paint, clay and water by 20 artisans working for almost a year. Using stop motion, every single movement (310,000 of them!) is shot, and the film boasts almost 7000 individual items. The story itself is a heart wrencher, sourced from so many inspirations in the director's life. He incorporates pathos, tragedy, humour, love, issues around hoarding, along with day-to-day uniquely Aussie things, to make us feel deeply for the sad little character with the hare lip, who narrates her life story to a snail called Sylvia. Elliot acquired a memorable cast for voicing the characters, chief among them Sarah Snook as Grace, Kodi Smit-McPhee as Gilbert, Jackie Weaver as Pinky, along with Eric Bana, Magda Szubanski and Tony Armstrong in other roles. The film has so much truth, warmth and boundless creativity; it really is a total delight. 
4.5 - wholeheartedly recommended (PS it's NOT a kid's film!)

From Hilde, With Love
Dir:  Andreas Dresen
Length: 94 mins
© Palace - a true story of courage and dignity
Berlin 1942: Hilde Coppi (Liv Lisa Fries) is heavily pregnant when she is arrested by the Gestapo. She has been assisting her husband Hans (Johannes Hegemann) who is a member of the Red Orchestra, an anti-Nazi resistance group who post flyers protesting the war and who also attempt to send messages to German soldiers imprisoned in Russia. This true story follows Hilde, as she gives birth in prison to Hansy Jnr, her beloved baby who is 80 years old today and who has the final words in the film! At the same time we follow, in reverse chronology, how she and Hans met, fell in love, and ultimately came unstuck at the hands of the Gestapo. Beautifully scripted, acted and shot, this true story is heart-wrenchingly told, but without melodrama or heavy reference to the Nazi side of history; its focus is more on love, friendship and youthful idealism. Fries' performance is unforgettable, as a decent, almost unassuming woman who displays dignified courage in the face of horror and who is transformed by love for her baby son. Hilde even manages to soften dour prison guard Frau Kuhn (Lisa Wagner), and is somehow a calming influence on all those round her. Some scenes pack such an emotional wallop, and are extraordinarily harrowing. Others scenes focus on  basic kindness (the prison pastor and the prison midwife) while moments of youthful frolicking and sensual lovemaking manage to balance the ghastliness of what is really happening. This is a stunning film that reminds us of both the good and the evil in the world, and was a nominee for the Berlin Golden Bear.
4.5 - wholeheartedly recommended 

He Ain't Heavy
Dir:  David Vincent Smith
Length: 102 mins
© Bonsai - gruelling but authentic picture
of addiction and family love
Jade (Leila George) is 30, and feels her life is ruined, as so much of it has been dedicated to rescuing her younger brother Max (Sam Corlett) who is a heavy-duty meth addict. Mother Bev (Greta Scacchi) is beyond coping, and locks herself away from her son. Jade decides upon a desperate course of action and kidnaps Max to lock him up for a week in their deceased grandpa's empty house, in the hope of getting him clean. The director has based this story upon events in his own life, and wow! - does it feel authentic. Essentially a three-hander in the acting department, all three leads give their all to their roles, in this tragic story of what happens to families when drugs take over, and when there are insufficient medical and governmental supports to assist people. But it's also more than a drug addiction story - it is a tribute to sibling devotion (or is it sibling enablement?), and the lengths to which a woman will go to try to save her beloved brother. The film is beautifully made in every regard (performance, scripting), though people who have experienced this scenario may find it somewhat traumatic.
4 - highly recommended

Greek Film Festival 
Melbourne: Until October 27th
Venues: Palace Pentridge, Como, Balwyn, Astor
For film details, ticketing and dates for other states: www.greekfilmfestival.com.au
Last week I reviewed Brando with the Glass Eye, which still has two more screenings. This week I bring you a fine film that has won six awards at the Thessaloniki Film Festival, and further awards from the Greek Film Academy. There are still several screenings to available this week for you to catch it. 

Murderess: This gripping film, directed by Eva Nathena, is set on a barren Greek island around 1900. Hadoula (Karyofyllia Karabeti) is a midwife and general healer, who witnesses the endless disappointment of mothers when they give birth to female children. In this patriarchal society, where men beat their wives and kids mercilessly, boys are valued, as girls are not considered fit to work the land and can only be married off if they come with an attractive dowry. The movie jumps around in time from Hadoula's memories of her youth with a mother who rejected her, to the present, where the tormented woman sees a way, in her world view, to relieve female children of the burden of future mistreatment in their lives. The film is relentlessly grim, with a grey color pallette and severe landscape that reflects the brutality of life. The fine cast all inhabit their roles, the women stoicially suffering, and the men oppressing. The director is unflinching in her depiction of the harshness of daily life, and the trauma of childbirth. In today's world where, in many lands, the patriarchy still devastates women's lives, the film retains a relevance and resonance, and though at times had to watch, it is an example of some of the best of Greek film-making.
      
Japanese Film Festival
Melbourne: October 21st - November 3rd
Venues: Kino, ACMI
For film details, ticketing and dates for other states: www.japanesefilmfestival.net

For lovers of all things Japanese, this is always a festival to please. Whether it's a zany comedy, a human relationship drama, a thriller or a classic from the past (several are featuring this festival), you should find something of interest here. I've caught a couple:

Mom Is That You? The Festival's opening night film is a real winner. The Japanese have a gentle touch with films about interpersonal relationships, and this is no exception. Salaryman Akio is malcontented, with his job, his daughter Mai and his divorce. But he's unable to talk about any of it, and to annoy him further, his normally conservative widowed mother Fukue is lively, looking great, doing charitable work and apparently in love. There is so much warmth and gentle humour in this delightful story of intergenerational family ties. And of course our protagonist Akio may discover some truths about what is really important in life.   

Matched: If you've ever worried about dating apps, this film will give you even more cause for concern! Rinka is a wedding planner, and when she joins a dating app and meets Tom, her life rapidly becomes a nightmare. Several couples who've met through the app are being mysteriously murdered, and Tom sends countless odd messages which makes Rinka think he may be involved. The twists and turns of this plot are numerous - a new development constantly emerging, making for an entertaining thriller. 

Irish Film Festival
Online Australia-wide until November 3rd
At Cinema Nova Melbourne October 24th-27th
For other states and details of films go to www.irishfilmfestival.com.au
The Irish Film Festival in Australia celebrates its 10th anniversary. The films all look highly appealing, with interesting docos, narrative features, and, what caught my eye, several films featuring Irish music. The in-cinema Melbourne season is short, so get yourselves organised! 

Farewell to Hughes's: Much-loved actor Brendan Gleeson visits a pub that has been a Dublin institution for decades, and a haven for traditional Irish music. The pub is now closing down and Brendan interviews musicians, dancers and patrons who have made the venue such a warm and inviting space. There's great archival footage of grand times in the pub over the years, along with some wonderful performances. Also we learn a bit about the local history, with vintage film clips of the Dublin surrounds, especially the produce markets. The film is like a warm embrace, and Gleeson is so natural and unassuming. A bonus is we get to see his skills on the banjo and fiddle. Lovers of traditional Irish music should definitely get along to this one. 

Lie of the Land: Matthew and Kath Ward are struggling Irish farmers, deep in debt. They meet smooth-talking Gabriel who offers a solution that will help them walk away from their troubles with a new identity, but for a fee. When the Wards decide to pull out of the deal, their very lives are at risk from Gabriel, who it turns out is a conman of the worst sort. Normally accepting of their fate and submissive, the Wards must lift their game, as a horrific and very frightening game of kill or be killed develops on their property. The film is nail-bitingly tense, with terrific suspense created by the gloomy night-time setting, and smart editing in which each scene builds upon the previous to a climactic resolution. 

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Friday, 11 October 2024

October 11th 2024

The Apprentice
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story
Greek Film Festival - advance notice  - begins 15th October
Beasts of No Nation (streaming on Netflix)
The Man in the Basement (streaming on Apple)

What a week for films I wholeheartedly recommend! Even the streaming films are well worth a watch, and for Hellenophiles, get ready for a feast of Greek films coming your way in a few days!

The Apprentice
Dir:  Ali Abassi
Length: 120 mins
© Madman - ruthlessness under the
microscope - the genesis of a man we 
love to hate!
Full disclosure: I'm a Donald Trump loather, but I loved this film! The story begins with a young Trump (Sebastian Stan) in New York in the 1970s. He's an aspiring real estate mogul, with big dreams of transforming the city with his ambitious buildings, but first he has to get out of the shadow of his overbearing father, Fred (Martin Donovan). It all starts happening when Donald meets notorious lawyer Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong), who takes the young Trump as his protegee, training him in the three cardinal rules of how to be a winner (or killer, as Cohn terms it): 1. Attack. Attack. Attack. 2. Admit nothing. Deny everything. 3. Claim victory and never admit defeat. This mesmerising film never even borders on parody; rather it is an incredible portrayal of two ruthless men, driven by greed and dreams of power, willing to embrace corruption if it furthers their goals. The arc of transformation of both characters is ironic - Donald starts out as almost a half-decent human being, while Cohn is reprehensibly corrupt. Cohn coaches Donald but when he eventually falls ill, we see his vulnerability emerge. But as Donald's star rises, he loses any softness and becomes more and more the personality we recognise today. Performances are all memorable: Maria Bakalova is impressive as Ivana, Trump's first wife, Stan captures superbly the idiosyncrasies of Trump's gestures and speech, but Strong steals the show as Cohn. The production gloriously creates the ostentatious, wealthy and connected world Trump and Cohn moved in; a world where who you know and who you can blackmail is always  front and centre. Such an entertainment of a film!
4.5 - wholeheartedly recommended

Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story
Dir:  Ian Bonhote & Peter Ehedgui
Length: 104 mins
© Universal - how to live your best life
regardless of what happens
Ever wondered how would handle life if you ended up paralysed from the neck down? Especially if you were relatively young, incredibly fit, had a growing family, and were adored the world around for playing an iconic superhero on the big screen? Christopher Reeve, aka Superman, shows us a way to make lemonade out of lemons, in this unexpectedly moving and inspirational documentary. The film seamlessly interweaves old family videos from Reeve's childhood and his marriages with footage from the Superman films, along with interviews with his three children, two wives and the many friends who knew and loved him. Robin Williams, Oprah Winfrey, Jeff Daniels, Glen Close and more, speak of the amazing courage of this man, who showed what the word hero really means after the fateful horse-riding accident that changed Reeve's life. The film is not only about a Hollywood star; rather it portrays a real-life human being, who uses his tragedy to develop inner strength and to help others. Through his support, encouragement, and finally setting up the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation for stem cell research to hopefully develop a cure for paralysis he has made an amazing difference. The insights from his beautiful children and two empathetic, caring wives just adds to what is ultimately a powerfully emotional and uplifting film. I did not expect to be so moved!
4.5 - wholeheartedly recommended

Greek Film Festival - coming up - choose your films!
Melbourne: October 15th - 27th
Venues: Palace Pentridge, Como, Balwyn, Astor
For film details, ticketing and dates for other states: www.greekfilmfestival.com.au
Melbourne celebrates its 29th Greek Film Festival with 29 outstanding films. Head to the site to start planning your watching now. There are dramas, comedies, documentaries, plus the debut feature for Greek-born, Melbourne-based director Antonis Tsonis. A highlight is the award-winning film Murderess, which I'll review for you soon after I catch it on the big screen. 

Brando With a Glass Eye: A decidely different heist film, centring on two Athenian brothers who stage a heist which goes wrong. Luca, a mechanic who dreams of going to acting school but hasn't the money, accidentally shoots someone during the botched heist, then tries to make amends by befriending the guy. Luca is fixated on the idea of method acting, and is constantly "performing" various scenes randomly and in inappropriate places, so no-one gets a true sense of who he is. The standout  lead performance is at once weirdly compelling, and also strangely alienating, in a highly original film that has us reflecting upon the art of acting, what is real and what's pretence. 

Beasts of No Nation
Dir:  Cary Joji Fukunaga
Length: 137 mins
Streaming on Netflix - 2015 release
© Netflix - the realities and cruelties of war
Set in an unnamed West African nation, this is a disturbing, important and very strong film that has umpteen wins and nominations to its name. Agu (Abraham Attah) lives in a tiny village, a relatively happy child, until government and rebel forces fall to fighting. Agu is co-opted into yet another fighting force, led by the ruthless Commandant (Idris Elba), where he is trained to be a child soldier, killing and being drawn into drug-taking to ease the psychological pain. This is confronting stuff to watch, but somehow one's involvement with Agu, a decent kid at heart, and our hopes for a turnaround in his life, keep the viewer engaged. Yet again the human cost of war is viscerally underscored in this remarkable film. 
4 - highly recommended

The Man in the Basement
Dir:  Philippe le Guay
Length: 114 mins
Streaming on Prime - 2021 release
© Prime - anti-Semitism rears its ugly head
Helene Sandberg (Berenice Bejo) and her husband Simon (Jeremie Renier) decide to sell off their basement in the apartment block where they live. Jacques Fonzic (Francoise Cluzet) buys it, claiming he needs it for storage. But when he decides to live in it, the Sandbergs can't legally turn him out. To make matters worse they discover he is a hjistorical revisionist and anti-Semitic extremist, known for his abhorrent views. A tense and thrilling story, it is also timely, with its theme of anti-Semitism, which is getting stronger in the world today. The character of Fonzic is especially alarming as he has a way of couching his views as a "differing of opinion", and his initial mild-mannered friendly approach allows him to wheedle his way into people's lives. Well acted and thought-provoking. 
4 - highly recommended





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Wednesday, 2 October 2024

October 3rd 2024

Joker: Folie a Deux
The Critic
It Ends With Us
Federer: Twelve Final Days (streaming on Amazon Prime)
More from St. Ali Italian Film Festival

My first two films this week feature exceptional performances from their lead men. The Italian festival continues, Federer fans can revel in a streamed doco, and domestic abuse is tackled. 

Joker: Folie a Deux
Dir:  Todd Phillips
Length: 138 mins
© Universal - inventive, unexpected, with
a top perf from Joaquin Phoenix
Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) is in an institution awaiting trial for six murders. When he meets fellow inmate Lee Quinzel (Lady Gaga), they fall for each other and embark upon a musical romance. I've never been some huge fan of the Batman franchise, nor have I seen the 2019 film Joker. So I come to this sequel cold-turkey, and have viewed it almost as a stand-alone film. Up front: its considerable runtime held me enthralled throughout - largely thanks to Phoenix's mesmerising performance as a man stricken with any number of psychological disorders - multiple personality? schizophrenia? sociopathic disorder? Does it matter? For me this is a story of identity, love and betrayal, creatively presented with a big musical component, in which Phoenix and Gaga sing and dance their way through what is actually quite a sad tale. Phillips takes a swipe at society's obsession with fame and megastar villainy, and yet at heart we really feel the tragic humanity of the man inside the mask - Arthur Fleck - once an abused kid, now on trial for his life. And the gal he loves only seems to love the side of him under the clown mask, not the real man within. There's good support from Catherine Keener as Arthur's lawyer, Brendan Gleeson as a prison guard and Steve Coogan as a TV host. Although long and at times a little self-indulgent, there's much to be commended in this unusual film. Notweworthy is that it was a nominee for Golden Lion at this year's Venice Film Festival.
3.5 - well recommended

The Critic
Dir:  Anand Tucker
Length: 101 mins
© Transmission - McKellen
reigns supreme - again!
The setting is London, 1934. Jimmy Erskine (Ian McKellen) has been the head theatre critic for The Daily Chronicle for about 40 years. He is ruthless if he dislikes a play, and currently he has it in for lead actress Nina Land (Gemma Arterton), condemning her every performance. When Jimmy and his secretary/lover Stephen (Ben Barnes) are arrested for homosexuality, Jimmy loses his job. He then decides upon a devious scheme involving a Faustian bargain with Nina, and his old boss Viscount Brooke (Mark Strong), who he knows is in love with Nina. I say no more! The plot becomes a cleverly convoluted one of blackmail and deception, which perhaps oversteps its credibility towards the end. Regardless, this is a most handsome production, which beautifully captures the era and the ethos of theatre life of the day. If you ever need a masterclass in acting, look no further than McKellen's striking performance as the ascerbic, conniving curmudgeon who we love to hate. For lovers of fine acting, all things theatre, and a lovely old-fashioned sensibility, this is a film for you. 
3.5 - well recommended 

It Ends With Us
Dir:  Justin Baldoni
Length: 130 mins
© Sony - women beware of handsome,
controlling men!
Lily Bloom (Blake Lively) comes from a dysfunctional family in which her father was emotionally and physically abusive to her mother. When she moves to Boston to set up her own flower shop, she meets a handsome neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid (Justin Baldoni) and falls head over heels in love with him. But as the relationship progresses, she starts to see a side of him that has disturbing echoes of her parents' relationship. Where my previous two reviews are of films made in a decidedly non-mainstream way, this is an almost pedestrian approach to an important topic. While I commend it for addressing the hot-button issue of domestic abuse and coercive control, it presents in a way that allows the romantic/sexual elements to overwhelm the seriousness of the subject matter, and at times the dialogue seems clunky. Nevertheless there is enough in it, in particular a lovely Lively, that makes it worth watching (just!)
3 - recommended

Federer: Twelve Final Days
Dir:  Asif Kapadia & Joe Sabia
Length: 88 mins
Streaming on Prime
© Prime - Federer is so watchable!
Kapadia is known for some excellent biopics of the likes of racing driver Ayrton Senna, soccer star Diego Maradonna and singer Amy Winehouse. Now he takes on the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time), tennis champ Roger Federer, in a doco focused around the final twelve days of the man's tennis career, as he prepares for his last ever match, the Laver Cup. Keeping Roger company in this tournament are some of the best-loved and greatest names in modern tennis - Nadal, Murray, Djokovic, Borg and more. Roger is of course the star and is presented in an engagingly casual and intimate manner, as he chats, laughs, cries (of course), and generally reflects upon his life and career. We sense the classiness and the reserve of Federer, his devotion to his family and to the sport, but never get any new and deep insights into the depths of his psyche. Excellent use of archival footage is made, from Roger's boyhood, right through, every shot showcasing his grace and skill. It's certainly fun to see the camaraderie between the tennis friends/rivals, lovely to briefly meet Roger's wife Mirka, and overall this doco is an enjoyable farewell tribute to an extraordinary person. It should have great appeal to fans of the sport and of the Fed (which I am, so I really enjoyed it!) 
3.5 - well recommended 

More from . . .
St. Ali Italian Film Festival
Melbourne until 17th October 
Palace Cinemas
For other states, all session times, synopses of films visit www.italianfilmfestival.com.au
 
I hope those of you who are getting along to this fine festival are enjoying it. I've caught one more, and with another couple of weeks to go, you've still got time to indulge in some great Italian films. 
The Beautiful Summer: Ginia is a young woman who has moved from a rural area to Turin, in the pre-war years. She works as a dressmaker, showing a lot of talent, but is searching for a more adventurous life. When she meets artist's model Amelia, she steps into a Bohemian world unlike anything she's experienced before. Although some familiar themes are revisited - finding one's identity, first affairs, same sex attraction - there is something very appealing about this sensuous and delicately-tackled film. Notably Amelia is played by the stunning Deva Cassell, daughter of Vincent Cassell and Monica Belluci. The chemistry between the two women is perfect, and the sense of the era is powerfully portrayed in the production values.    

The Italian film festival is, as always, highly recommended! 


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Friday, 20 September 2024

 September 20th 2024

Bonnard: Pierre and Marthe
National Theatre Live: Prima Facie
St. Ali Italian Film Festival

The Italian film festival, with its excellent offerings, has just opened in Melbourne, the most watched of the National Theatre plays on screen gets an encore season, and I catch up with the turbulent tale of a French painter and his muse.  

Bonnard: Pierre and Marthe
Dir:  Martin Provost
Length: 122 mins
© Palace - an artist and his lifelong muse
Pierre Bonnard (Vincent Macaigne) was an artist born in the 1860s, and a protegee of renowned Impressionist painter Claude Monet (Andre Marcon). But Bonnard's style gradually moved away from tradition, and he became a founding member of the post-Impressionist art movement. While this narrative certainly delivers much about his art, it is more about his personal life, especially his lifelong love affair with his muse, Marthe de Meligny (Cecile de France). The film visually captures the era so well, the sense of an artistic Bohemian life, and the mood of French high society, with its accompanying scandals and snobbery. Much focus is upon Bonnard's brushstrokes and bold colors, but the film's emotional depth comes from the tempestuous love life with Marthe, who often had to play second fiddle to other women in Bonnard's life, most notably much younger Renee (Stacy Martin), who ultimately committed suicide because of Bonnard. De France gives a marvellous performance, and the make-up department must be commended for the excellent ageing of the main characters. This is a film art lovers should relish.
3.5 - well recommended 

National Theatre Live: Prima Facie
Dir:  Justin Martin
Length: 120 mins
© Sharmill - confronting topic - 
astonishing performance
If you want to see a tour de force of acting, you have a short window to catch this one-woman award-winning production, coming to cinemas as an encore release. Jodie Comer plays Tessa, an up-and-coming young barrister who feels she knows all the rules of the legal game when it comes to being a defense lawyer. But then she finds herself on the other side of the fence, as the prosecution try to convict another barrister she has taken to court for raping her, within a date setting. In an era where informed consent to sex is in the spotlight, this is such a timely piece of theatre. The stage setting is stark and minimalistic, with towering bookshelves and a few bits of heavy furniture which Tessa constantly rearranges. But it is Comer's mind-boggling performance that one remembers as she progresses  from arrogant self-assuredness through to a tortured wreck. This is emblematic of many women - oppressed by a system of so-called justice devised by men and mostly guaranteed to betray women. Disturbing and unforgettable. 
4.5 - wholeheartedly recommended 

St. Ali Italian Film Festival
Melbourne 20th September to 17th October 
Palace Cinemas
For other states, all session times, synopses of films visit www.italianfilmfestival.com.au
 
Along with the usual impressive collection of latest release dramas, comedies and documentaries, there will be a couple of old favorites - Bread and Tulips as well as The Godfather Part 2, which celebrates its 50th anniversary.  I've previewed four excellent films so far. 

There's Still Tomorrow: This multi-award winning film (including best film at the Sydney Film Festival) is set in Rome in the late 1940s, a time when women in Italy are still subservient to their often physically violent husbands. Director Paola Cortellesi plays the lead role of Delia, a woman who,  on one level, accepts her lot, while on another hopes for change, especially for her daughter. Shot in evocative black and white, the film is replete with poignancy and moments of almost bizarre levity, as the brutality of the men is portrayed as a strange relationship dance. Each character is so distinctively drawn that the whole story is quite spellbinding throughout. 

Commandante: Another film with a swag of awards is this gripping wartime story, based upon true events. At the centre is a submarine commander caught up in a battle, and played by the imposing and impressive Pierfrancesco Favino. The story is one of remarkable humanity and compassion, which defies typical wartime protocols and shows the measure of a truly selfless man. The recreation of submarine life feels so authentic, and we really get a sense of the claustrophobia along with the strange bonding that is essential for men to survive in such conditions. Very different from one's "usual" wartime story, this one is tense, gripping and emotionally moving. 

Maria Montessori: I know of Montessori schools, but I certainly knew nothing of the woman who gave her name to the teaching method. This film is based upon a true story of a female (and strongly feminist) doctor in early 20th century Italy, who was also an educator with revolutionary methods. Intertwined is the fictional tale of a Parisian courtesan with a disabled daughter of whom she is ashamed. When the little girl, Tina, joins Maria's school, catering to neurodivergent and disabled kids, remarkable things happen. An extremely engaging story that stars children who genuinely have cognitive issues, the film helps shed a light upon alternate teaching, and encourages greater understanding of neurodivergence. 

Trust: Here's one for those who love a relationship story that is also part psychological thriller. Teacher Pietro has an affair with a much younger student and they agree to tell each other one deep secret. As an audience we never discover that secret but the fear of it coming out will haunt Pietro for the rest of his life, while also tying him to his former lover long after they have parted and are leading different lives.  

The Italian film festival is, as always, highly recommended! 



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Thursday, 12 September 2024

September 13th 2024

Speak No Evil
Elizabeth Taylor: the lost tapes (streaming on Foxtel)
Follow the Rain (streaming on Netflix)
Operation Finale (streaming on Netflix)
Unfrosted (streaming on Netflix)

The big release for fans of psychological thrillers is Speak No Evil, with plenty of gasp-put-loud moments. I've also gone on a bit of a stay-at-home streaming binge, with a motley assortment of films viewed.   

Speak No Evil
Dir:  James Watkins
Length: 110 mins
© Universal - scary with an unnerving
lead performance from McAvoy
Louise (Mackenzie Davis) is holidaying in Italy with her husband Ben (Scoot McNairy) and their 11-year-old daughter Agnes (Alix West Lefler). They end up sharing a few meals and fun times with a rather pushy couple, Paddy (James McAvoy), his partner Ciara (Aisling Franciosa), and their son Ant (Dan Hough), who can't speak, supposedly due to a congenital tongue defect. Paddy subsequently invites the family to stay with them at their idyllic English country house. Very quickly Louise feels uncomfortable and wants to go home, but Paddy and Ciara have a way of smoothing over awkward situations and forcing the issue, while Ben seems quite unable to speak up for himself. This remake of an award-winning Danish film is, apparently, less horrific than the original, but it sure had me scared and emitting a few involuntary gasps. The less said the better so as not to spoil the plot, but McAvoy is quite brilliant as the sort of person who seems likeable enough, yet gradually one realises he is not what he seems. Coercive control and psychological mind-games are big in this film, but there's way more, in the way of old-fashioned thrills, especially as the audience starts to realise the real depths of trouble Ben's famly has got themselves into. The two kids cook up a great chemistry, the slow build up to the nightmarish second half of the film is effective, and thankfully the director chooses not to use music to create suspense - there's enough of that in the narrative and action.
4 - highly recommended 

Follow the Rain
Dir:  Catherine Marciniak
Length: 87 mins
Streaming on Netflix
© Netflix/ Planet Fungi - yes they are real.
A spell-binding doco on fungi
Years ago I fell in love with a film called Fantastic Fungi. And now along comes this doco to rival it, exploring the world of extraordinary fungi, many of them in Australia. Now you may think the topic boring, but I assure you, when you see this mind-blowing time-lapse photography you may think again! It's not just about the film's passionate narrator and mushroom hunter, Stephen Axford, whose life has been devoted to tracking down the life form, but also about how critical mycelium and its fruiting bodies (mushrooms) are to the very existence of life on earth. Treat the viewing as both educational and as a form of meditation upon the exquisite beauty of this wondrous life form. 
4 - highly recommended

Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes 
Dir:  Nannette Burstein
Length: 100 mins
Streaming on Foxtel
© Netflix - beautiful and talented -
her life in her own words
Compiled from 40 hours of taped interviews, this is a documentary to please any Liz fan, or even most cinephiles. It's a comprehensive look at her career from child star in National Velvet and Lassie, through the golden era of movies in which people declared she was too pretty to be a serious actress. It traces her fight for recognition through to eventually winning Oscars and being taken seriously. She speaks a lot of the demarcation between her celluloid self and her "real" self, and this of course includes the countless marriages and life/health struggles, along with her later years campaigning strongly for AIDS justice. Great footage and interesting information make for a worthy watch. 
3.5 - well recommended

Operation Finale
Dir:  Chris Weitz
Length: 122 mins
Streaming on Netflix (2018)
© Netflix - Ben Kingsley, as always,
nails his role
This is based upon the true story of how the Israeli secret service tracked down the so-called "author of the final solution", war criminal Adolf Eichmann (Ben Kingsley), to Argentina, then sent a crack team to abduct him and get him out of the country to stand trial in Israel. Although at times uneven, this is an interesting production. I strongly feel it should have been in the languages of the countries concerned (Hebrew and Spanish), as the many accents speaking English detract from the story. But its cast is strong. Kingsley at times looks uncannily like Eichmann and captures the snake-like coldness of the man. Oscar Isaac impressively plays Peter Malkin, one of the agents critically instrumental in getting Eichmann to sign a paper that allowed for his extradition. Lior Raz (well-known from Fauda) is Isser Harel, Director of  the Mossad, while Melanie Laurent plays a doctor whose help is vital in keeping Eichmann sedated as the group make a final run for the El Al plane, with Argentinian authorities in hot pursuit. There is enough tension, and intriguing psychological discourse between Eichmann and Malkin, around the usual topics of who was following orders, and who was intrinsically evil.
3 - recommended

Unfrosted
Dir:  Jerry Seinfeld
Length: 93 mins
Streaming on Netflix (new release) 
© Netflix - silly, sillier and silliest! 
Sometimes a movie is so bad it's good! I can't be sure if this fits the category, or is just plain bad, but I must confess to moments of cackling with laughter as some scenes tapped into my sicko, childish sense of humour! Inspired by the true race between Kellogg and Post to create a new breakfast food (the Pop Tart), this really is a mix of insipid, childish, funny, goofy and just plain silly. Mind you, there's some strong comedic talent like Melissa McCarthy and Amy Schumer, with other unexpected appearances by the likes of Christian Slater and an excellent Hugh Grant. He's fun to watch as an aspiring Shakesperian thespian who dons a tiger suit to advertise Frosted Flakes. Die-hard Seinfeld fans, and those wanting a dumb diversion may well enjoy it. 
2.5 - maybe

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Friday, 6 September 2024

 September 7th 2024

A Horse Named Winx
In Restless Dreams (streaming on DocPlay)
Origin (streaming on Foxtel)

An excellent new Aussie documentary is in cinemas, while my other two films reviewed are to be found on streaming channels. Remember, documentary lovers, DocPlay costs less than the price of two cups of coffee per month, and has all the docos you'd ever be able to watch in a lifetime! 

A Horse Named Winx
Dir: Janine Hosking
Length: 117 mins
© Transmission - surprisingly excellent doco
on the best racehorse ever
I've never had an iota of interest in horse-racing, but this beautifully produced documentary drew me in and held me spellbound throughout. The doco traces the life of the record-breaking mare Winx, considered the greatest racehorse ever, through the eyes of the humans who were closest to her. We meet the hopeful buyers of the young foal, then her dedicated trainer Chris Waller, and of course her jockey Hugh Bowman. Surprisingly there is also much drama throughout, not just in watching each race, where the mare often hit the front after being stuck behind the pack. No-one imagined a horse could win the Cox Plate four times, but, to everyone's astonishment Winx just kept delivering. After her retirement, the mare showed she had as much determination off the racecourse, as she battled severe illness and pulled though. The doco certainly gave me a deep insight into how much time, effort (and money!) goes into making a horse a winner, and of course it showcases the absolute beauty of these magnificent animals. All of this makes for both inspiring and moving viewing, in a story that actually transcends sport, and speaks to the power of perseverance, faith and commitment.
4 - highly recommended

In Restless Dreams
Dir:  Alex Gibney
Length: 216 mins
Streaming on DocPlay www.docplay.com
© DocPlay -Paul Simon's genius showcased - 
a must for lovers of music 
Now there's a photo to bring back memories! This documentary is predominantly about the music and creative genius of Paul Simon. However any telling of his story cannot exclude the fabulous duo that were Simon and Garfunkel, the folksy-turned-mainstream phenomenon of the late 1960s. You can see the runtime is ultra-long, yet for a diehard Simon fan like me, the entire film had me spellbound. The timeline moves between recent times when Simon was composing his latest album Seven Psalms (released last year), and the 1960s, beginning with his friendship with Art when they were 10-year-old boys, and inspired by the Everly Brothers to sing harmony. With so much footage of Simon's creative process, especially as he collaborates with other musos in his latest venture, this doco is an incredible insight into a songwriter's mind and methodology. The film is also a far-reaching tribute to an extraordinary collection of songs that not only feature great melodies, but have lyrics that resonate with one for a lifetime. Gibney, veteran director of countless insightful documentaries, has assembled a stunning array of footage, and uses it creatively with the music, as Simon's six-decade career is honoured. Fans of Simon solo, and of the wonderful duo, should not miss this one. 
4.5 - wholeheartedly recommended

Origin
Dir:  Ava Duvernay
Length: 141 mins
Streaming on Foxtel
© - wonderfully engaging handing of
some pretty heavy subject matter
In 2023 author Isabel Wilkerson wrote Caste: The Origin of our Discontent, in which she challenged traditional ideas of racism and bigotry, proposing that oppression may be more about a caste system than something based upon race. After all, Indians are all the same race yet the caste system rules. And caste is all about slotting people into certain immutable stations in life and on this basis treating them accordingly. Hence Jews in Nazi Germany were treated as a lower caste, as are coloreds in America, so she posits. It's hard to imagine making a film about such conceptual ideas, but this story of Masterson's life and ideas is beautifully executed with Aunjanue Elllis-Taylor magnificent in the lead role. Wilkerson used stories and examples from American history, from Nazi Germany and from India, with the film episodically recreating these stories and  interspersing them into the narrative of Wilkerson's life, which had many tragedies. Jon Berthal shines in the role of her husband Brett, a white man who exemplified lack of bigotry. This award-winning film is unafraid to tackle really large questions, but not in an overtly academic way. It is deep intellectually, and yet manages to remain constantly engaging and so emotionally powerful. Truly a worthwhile film to get your hands and eyes on.
4 - highly recommended
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