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Reviews
Bang-ja jeon (2010)
Delightful festival of Korean-ness.
Last year I was incredibly fortunate to see this adorable movie when it premiered at The Korean Film Festival in Auckland. It was showing at The Academy, which is an informal art-house cinema in the basement of The Public Library. I was the only non-Asian person there too. For a "Frock Movie" fan like myself this was the most wonderful experience. The lush locations, hyper-color cinematography, the superb costumes and beautiful set dressing alone, make it a must-see. The surprising thing about the story, is that it is a comedy. I might not have realised this watching it with just English sub titles. The audience at the festival were laughing a lot. It appears it is a spoof of a traditional story which everyone knows. The script is very tongue in cheek and a bit anarchic. Think 'Blackadder" view of historical events as a comparison. I wish this genre of films were more easily viewed. I am back in Cornwall now and there is no way I would have seen it here.
Se, jie (2007)
Is Ang Lee having a mid-life crisis or what?
I have seen some comments that say this is a very Asian film and wonder what exactly that means? It could equally be very French, particularly the older man with younger lover aspect and the absolute perve-fest of soft-lit slo-mo romps through the sexual positions, seemingly to my mind stuck into the movie like an intermission (ha ha). These scenes are a right turn-off for me and just don't sit with the rest of the movie. Ang Lee auditioned thousands of girls and spent eleven days on a closed set for his 'love' scenes. This is sounding a bit mid-life crisis territory to me. Why didn't he (the director) just stick these on as extras on the CD and let the rest of the movie take it's course? Th remainder is quite watchable and some nice work has gone into the costume and cinematography. Not up to his usual standard though.
Never Let Me Go (2010)
Steamrollered flat as a husk on the road.
This amazing film has somehow crept under the radar and it simply not getting the credit it deserves. I have read some ridiculous criticisms about it, such as 'looks like a fashion shoot' and 'too British'. Alex Garland wrote the screenplay based on the original book. Well I haven't read that book, so just took the film at face value. I loved the way it looked. Just loved it. I have watched it twice now. Once for visceral emotional impact which left me feeling like I had been run over by a steamroller. OK it is a dehydrating sob-fest. The second time I watched it was in a more self-questioning mode teasing out the reasons for my own unexpected reactions. Perhaps you should know I am a golden-ager and this movie dredged up and revived stuff I haven't felt since I was a teenager. Tommy personified for me 'the boyfriend I never had' but really wanted. I didn't know I still harboured such bitter regrets . . but there they were. Like other people, I have severe reservations about an over exposed Keira Knightley but she was the perfect bitch in this. The film simply has great casting. The kids in it are all brilliant. Loved all the very 'mauve' worthy lady teachers. The art direction creates a slightly underpopulated feel and really posed as many questions as it answered. With all the cello music, there was no way, you can get to the end without blubbering your heart out though. So be warned.
The Last Station (2009)
Train ride to an authentic back then.
Firstly you have to know I am a sucker for a good frock movie. Even if the plot is rubbish I just adore stories set in the past. Whether it was ever really like that at all, matters not a jot. This movie though felt as authentic as it gets. Yes, I noticed all the beautiful hats (yum) and fantastic interiors, the bucolic flower strewn meadows and forest landscape and the lovely lovely trains and stations. The detail of mis en scene was exquisite. I was just transported to the early 20th century in an instant. All the actors looked comfortable telling a story back then. However for me The Countess played by a stellar Helen Mirren was so modern I felt a total empathy with her. I was just entranced and gripped by her anger and sense of injustice. These guys were behaving like real old married people. Talk about coming alive on the screen. How refreshing was that. Love it.
Four Lions (2010)
Downunder loves this too
In the totally packed State Theatre, Four Lions was shown as part of The Sydney Film Festival. Someone walked out after a couple of minutes, but the rest of the audience stayed and laughed heartily. I suspect they were all Brits in Australia (for whatever reason), who wished to pay homage to their comedy hero. Chris Morris is a funny man and came on stage to introduce the film, to thundering applause. Even given the dodginess of the material, it is a beautifully paced film with no excess filler. This is his first film and is masterly. All those years on TV have taught him what his audience want and he provided it. Serious stuff is made digestible by treating it humorously. Can't wait for the RomCom he promised as his next project.
Ahasin Wetei (2009)
Transporting visuals and eclectic soundtrack works for me.
This film premiered in Australia at The Sydney Film Festival. It played at midday, a bit of an odd time, and there was about fifty people in the audience. I was on my own, which is the best way to see some stuff. I was able to sit right at the front as well which I love because it is like being in the screen. The combination of the slow panning shots and an eclectic sound track was very hypnotic like a powerful drug and really quite transporting. The film festival theme this year 2010 is Going on a Journey. This was a repeated journey over the same ground, events were reiterated in the future and the past. Not much dialogue, well just enough to keep it mysterious. There were some surprising elements that seemed there to shock but maybe that is just my western-worldness showing itself. It was remarkable how sparse the cast and props were although a lot of action was illustrated by the extraordinary soundtrack. Rebirth is a popular theme in films at the moment. Lovely to see the Sri Lankan version from an idiosyncratic writer/director. Coming back out of the cinema onto the hopelessly touristic Circular Quay was very disorienting after the journey through the grass and lakes.
In Search of America (1971)
Ha Ha Grannie Takes a Trip on The Magic Bus
I bought this title at Sam's Warehouse in Lithgow New South Wales for 2 dollars. I got 2 movies with Jeff Bridges in them. I really love Jeff Bridges in The Big Lebowski and Ruthless and other things for which he has become legend. I was interested to see stuff from his early career. This was a TV Movie in a boxy format (cool) and previously in Black and White. The film was washed with a bit of colour, which was a bit strange but gave it an interesting blast from 'the worn out' past appearance. Visual Quality aside this was a total knockout. I took the evocative rocket back to the late sixties practically instantaneously. It wasn't just the "Right On's" and "Far Out's", it was that the costume and hair was so right, even though it was the early seventies mediated by film. The aimless pack-wandering of the stoned and the initial parenty reactions seemed so right. It was interspersed with some genuine rock festival footage, which enhanced the authenticity. This film has the right look. The plot line was utterly ridiculous however.