noble

bio-pic - film studios must love 'em - serious bums on seats
i'm a sucker for them too - a great way to get some education
particularly as in this case about a previously unknown subject
christina noble - an irish lady drawn to helping vietnamese children
the film opens in 1955 with her as a young girl singing in a hall
some kind of competition and a drunken crowd singing along
she's from a large and poor family - her 'da' a violent drunk
her mother falls ill and dies leaving christina as the main carer
they live in squalor and social services soon catches up with them
at a hearing the judge orders the kids are sent to separate institutions
christina ends up in a convent with the expected harsh treatment
she routinely sneaks out and on one occasion is brutally raped
falls pregnant, has the child (thomas) and loses it to adoption
phew - not a happy life - and all the while she talks to god
then fast forward to 1989 and christina arriving in vietnam
not clear why she is there but she is soon befriending streetkids
seems a bit invasive to me but she stays good with the authorities
an attempt at some humour - what's your name - desk receptionist
a very serious chap too - she - i'll make you smile before i leave here
and streetfood - is that dog - no we run out - you want some dog lady?
kind of patronising really and the acting in general is pretty average
my fellow patrons are enjoying it though and talking it up - grrrrr
me - slumping in the seat as the predictability also then cranks up
back in time to ireland and christina meets mario and hits it off
he buys a fish 'n' chip shop for her to run and unveils it as 'marios'
but then his crooked, womanising, abusive ways ends the marriage
crikey - she does it tough - and still she is seen talking to her god
back to vietnam - a fellow ex-pat now a pedophile is hunted down
christina befriends gerry the british head of a large oil company
and before long there's an interval of real documentary footage
carpet bombing, agent orange, napalm all shown - poor people
it's sledgehammer stuff - a reminder of the nightly news then
and it does segue with christina watching it on tv in the shop
with a promise to god to go and help in vietnam when she can
she has 3 children to raise first explaining the large time gap
back in the modern day in vietnam she gets money from gerry
and happy days - we then see christina running a new orphanage
this with coldplay's 'in my place' booming out - more slumping
then the mandatory facts and figures running to wrap it all up
quite impressive stuff really about how much she did achieve
hundreds of projects assisting hundreds of  thousands of kids
photos and actual footage showing the real christina noble
the main thing in common with the actor - blonde hair
she appears to be well-loved, very kind and happy
attractive actor deirdre o'kane not doing her justice
to me coming across as a bit aloof and disconnected
thus more aligned to the audience than the vietnamese
a documentary could have been better to dispel that
and provide a real sense of understanding of the lady
though that would appeal to quite a different audience
and with that less bums on seats - not what they want
still - lesson learnt - just not in a very engaging way...

slow west

westerns are not usually high on the see-list for me
too much red-neck, racist, sexist, self-righteous elitism
but this one does read well and has one big appealing factor
filmed largely in the mackenzie country of nz - a faux colorado
see it on a big screen advised several times in some pre-see reviews
beauty - on this night it's on one of the bigger screens at the multiplex
and as usual - a handful of patrons so centre seat, centre row - all set
young jay cavendish seen lying on his back admiring stars at night
naming them out loud - so he is intelligent, scottish - and alone
next seen on horseback plodding through rural colorado (nz)
a voiceover and flashback advising he came from scotland
in pursuit of rose - the love of his life - here with her father
gunshots and a native american being pursued by 3 soldiers
the senior one stops to question jay - and then is shot dead
silas (michael fassbender) has crept up and taken him out
admonishes jay for his naivety and agrees to chaperone him
money changes hands and they ride off to continue the quest
first stop - provisions - but interrupted by an armed holdup
a desperate (swedish) immigrant couple enter the store
the owner shoots the husband, the wife shoots the owner
jay shoots the wife (in the back) they grab goods and leave
outside - 2 now-orphaned young blonde swedish kids - sad
jay now well introduced to the brutal reality of this country
they continue - west - silas has taken a poster from the store
announcing a large reward for the capture of rose and her dad
so he now more than happy to have jay lead him right to them
having set up the story we now go with the duo across country
some strange encounters - a trio of gospel singing west africans
and some stunning scenery - rivers, mountains, forests, plains
yep - definitely nz - captured in bright sunlight with blue skies
the cinematography right up front - thankful for the big screen
i'm now feeling quite warm and fuzzy about this strange film
there's another gang of bounty-hunters on the prowl also
mean looking dudes - lead by payne (ben mendelsohn)
he tries to look menacing but comes across as misplaced
intentionally so no doubt - encounters with his gang farcical
so humour in the mix also - this film is not to be taken seriously
the big climax - rose and her father in a small house on a plain
surrounded by a wheat field - silas ties up jay for protection
he knows this is going to be ugly - a convergence of greed
a precision sniper shoots the father as silas runs to the house
he then shot twice by the sniper and then the gang arrives
rose starts shooting - it's on - jay escapes and runs to her
she shoots him as he enters the house - no recognition
as he lays dying she embraces him and gives him a gun
shoot me - instead he shoots past her and takes out payne
phew - the baddies all dead - silas survives as does rose
the final scene - he and rose playing parents to the orphans
i'm sitting there with a smile on my dial - a happy ending
simple stuff really with no need or point in deep analysis
writer/director john maclean presumably now indulged
looks like he made the western he always wanted to
kind of fun really with the scenery being the star
and the brutality of the west hit home also...ok

yves saint laurent

very hard to resist this bio-pic from last year despite critics
french for one and also a follow-up in a sense to another film
'dior and i' seen recently providing a memorable fashion lesson
this film opens this century with artworks being packed into boxes
the boxes labelled 'christies' and a voiceover is explaining the scene
the narrator is pierre berge - the lifelong partner of yves saint-laurant
he can no longer abide looking at the things they collected together
cut right back to 1955 (announced) and a young yves seen drawing
in his late teens living in his native algeria and designing clothing
affluent parents then able to facilitate his relocation to study in paris
and a connection then to employment and tutelage by christian dior
memories of the earlier film about christian dior segueing well here
initial success for yves with the dior label fading with his radicalism
and a suggested drafting into the armed forces a convenient excuse
his sexuality leads to harassment in the military and then depression
he is also then sacked by christian dior - pierre berge to the rescue
yves' lover then successfully sues the label for wrongful dismissal
with the large payout and another investor they start the ysl label
all very engrossing actually - and to my eyes all very nicely done
enough footage in paris to aid authenticity and also self-interest
the depiction of showings of their collections very well presented
not only the designs being modeled but the names being dropped
don't let helena rubenstein and elizabeth arden be seated together
they hate each other - seems genuine enough - this is 1960s paris
as the money rolls in it is clear that pierre has the business head
leaving yves to indulge himself in design and serious partying
he grows a beard and his hair but the trademark glasses remain
it all seems quite naturally done - the ageing and the lifestyle
drugs of course are on tap with the nouveau riche of this time
and to my eyes shown in the mix without favour or judgement
karl lagerfield is part of the scene and his lover switches camp
yves informs pierre he loves him - but you are the love of my life
pierre then spitefully having his way with yves' closest girlfriend
so all the money, sex, drugs, fashion, music, etc a heady mixture
a relocation then to marrakech by yves and pierre for time out
friends follow and are made with partying in an exotic location
all the while pierre fully indulging yves - even with his family
yves not aware that money and cars, etc are provided for them
historically the film seems to be wanting to be fully accurate
showing the move by ysl from haute couture to ready-to-wear
hugely successful particularly in america hence the wealth
and the large art collection accumulated by pierre and yves
in the final scenes an elderly pierre addresses a seated yves
that is a beautiful dress - a drawing - doing what he loved
but then ghost-like he is gone - this representing his death
nicely done - matching the rest of the film in my opinion
unlike the bulk of the reviewers who generally panned it
not enough depth - no insight - too indulgent, etc, etc
and so again - damn the experts - high points from me...

jour de fete and les vacances de mosieur hulot

a jacques tati double-feature on a bleak sunday afternoon
ok - let's see what i've been missing with this french icon
first-up - jour de fete (the big day) set on bastille day 1949
opening scene - merry-go-round equipment on a rural lane
and the first giggle - horses seen scampering at the sight of it
with their plastic counterparts on clear display in the carriage
the film is black and white - or more accurately - grey and white
it's vintage on clear display - no discernable modernisation in sight
the carriage enters town to the delight of a small boy following
an elderly hunched woman in black providing some narration
sub-titled of course as she tells her goat (nanny) of the event
seems the town has been planning all year for this one day
the chairs at the main cafe still wet from a fresh paint job
people come and either sit or are admonished by the owner
yep - slapstick - a more modernised version of mr chaplin
our man (tati) playing the part of the local bicycle postman
first seen also on country roads being hounded by a pesky fly
we hear but don't see it - and clearly an annoyance for francois
he dismounts, flaps arms, contorts his body, mounts and rides
arrives in the town and spends an eternity helping erect a pole
all the time continually stepping on a rake which hits his head
the town square eventually set up and people are in party mode
the visiting entertainers seen leering at and fleecing the locals
francois sees a film in a tent about the american postal service
this before tv in this time and place and so film very influential
their use of machinery inspires him to provide a better service
the later part of the film sees him doing crazy bike manoevres
mounting, dismounting, dodging cars, crashing into fences, etc
stepping back it's easy to see how tati would have been popular
it's all reckless stuff and a laugh a minute - an earlier mr bean
at the end of the day (yep) the visitors pack up and move out
and the little boy seen following them - in a postman's cap
ah - clever - a generational shift and an ongoing lifestyle
it's all quite good fun really - glad i got to see the man

mr hulot's holiday - tati's second film released in 1953
the introduction telling us this cut has had the treatment
i'm expecting colourisation - nope - grey and white again
a memorable opening scene of a large rock on a seashore
and a train station - people clamouring between platforms
as an announcer constantly announces the wrong platform
paris presumably - a rush to get on trains - roads also busy
cars loaded up with people and suitcases on country roads
and a jalopy of a car - seems to be running on one cylinder
it cruises into the seaside town and mr hulot (tati) checks in
a wild wind blowing as he steps into the now full lounge
metaphorical presumably - the other guests ignore him
next day at the beach across the road  we meet the guests
there's the businessman seen dashing to take a phonecall
an older couple ambling with the husband always behind
a mischievous boy with a magnifying glass burning holes
and a retired army colonel regaling war stories to anyone
there's an intellectual insisting on dispensing his knowledge
and a blond beauty by herself being mysteriously ignored
in amongst all this hulot causes havoc quite innocently
strutting around with his ever-present pipe and hat
he releases the cable holding a boat being painted
in the boat he hires, he stands up and snaps the floor
causing the boat to enclose him and appear shark-like
a bit of a stretch but enough to have the tourists running
mealtimes are just as chaotic and the waiters inhospitable
and the squeak of the kitchen door an annoying constant
it all gets a bit tedious really - i'm doing the watch-check
the big finale sees hulot let loose on a cache of fireworks
probably quite dangerous and in 1953 trail-blazing (ahem)
it's definitely a film of it's time - hugely popular it seems
acknowledged as very influential for others e.g. mr bean
again - glad i saw it to get a perspective of jacques tati
but probably won't be rushing to see his other films
in the end a long 3 hours of a tati double-feature
a full house too - the kids loved it - a good sign
me - merci - was very cosy in the small theatre...

sunday

this film is set in christchurch one year after the earthquake
that's enough - that as a backdrop for a drama is of interest
add to that it's an independent kiwi film - and a city i lived in
a couple - eve and charlie - are the focus of attention for a day
the film opening with eve driving to the airport to pick him up
familiar scenes of damaged streets and buildings as she drives
at the airport there is a tentative embrace after he clears customs
she is 6 months pregnant - he presents her with a soft-toy koala
in her car she allows him to caress her belly - he is the father
but clearly there is estrangement - he then checks into a hotel
what also becomes clear is that eve has asked charlie to come
he mentions melbourne and visiting his father - he an aussie
a walk in hagley park and an awkward encounter with a jogger
introduced as her gym instructor - body language suggests more
charlie misses the point though - he's gay - he was eyeing me up
and with that - all kiwi men are gay - too many dominant women
despite that charlie is quite likable and does seem to care for eve
the use of flashback shows their happy and carefree relationship
seen at a beach, swimming, embracing, hanging out - good times
pre-earthquake - ah - a parallel - the city and their relationship
clever - but not overt - scenes of a damaged city floating by
he convinces her to join him in a guided punt on the river
she a bit reluctant but then some great framing techniques
the camera on the boat's prow with them seated side by side
do you know the sex of the baby - yes - do you want to know?
yea - it's a girl - have you thought of a name - yes - sunday
nice - and then - she announces to him she is seeing someone
we know it's the jogger but charlie seems to have missed that
he goes into typical male shutdown - nothing - silence ensues
she begs him to say something - do you love him - no answer
they get over that and then decide to take a trip to the beach
eve reminiscing about family time as a child at the same place
charlie's earliest memories - honey and peanut butter sandwiches
it's all really quaint but so confidently done - and the soundtrack
unrecognised singer/songwriter/electronica - blending in so well
they decide to visit an old haunt - her grandparents holiday house
inside they poke around - for both of them it is quite ephemeral
back at her modest home she lays down and clearly exhausted
physically and emotionally too - he lets her sleep - tv for him
he spots a photo of the new man - and also a blue toothbrush
this as he is urinating - the toothbrush takes a bath - charming
back at his hotel they are lying on his bed and cosily chatting
she announces it's not really a girl - she is having a baby boy
she wanted to see how he would react to a girl - and surprised
didn't the name sunday seem odd - that's nicole kidman's girl
i'm with charlie - no suspicion at all - things now get serious
eve says she is not sleeping with her new man - he relieved
but confused - the toothbrush - that's mine she says - uh-oh
a confession from charlie and laughing acceptance from eve
it's clear and they confirm they still love each other very much
but his wandering spirit seems to be the problem - then and now
he again in typical male mode shouting his job is very important
in the army - a convoy truck driver - hmmm - someone smack him
he is booked to fly out in the morning - eve suggests maybe not
next day and full circle - back at the airport and another embrace
he walks away - not turning - she watches - he stops - he turns
the end - perfect - we so want him to do that and he delivers
what a great film that demands close attention to the credits
eve and charlie - camille keenan and dustin clare - writers
and producers - real life partners and parents too (wiki)
the list of original music also given full and just credit
what a surprisingly cool little film - such a good setting
and the drama of the relationship so beautifully handled
question though - why is this film not in the mainstream?
maybe i saw it pre-push - hope so - it has very wide appeal

the atticus institute

i was wanting to take on something with a bit of edge
this one reading like some sort of true life x-file episode
the atticus institute being a small clinic in pennsylvania
employing various psychology graduates back in the 1970s
an air of mystery around it as various talking heads are shown
the son, daughter and wife of the main man doctor henry west
each talking fondly of their father and husband in the past tense
amateur film and grainy photos are shown to back up their stories
seems he was a devoted family man but also absorbed by his work
being the unique study of paranormal activity induced by humans
more footage of various people mysteriously moving small objects
and similar very grainy footage of the russians also investigating
the modern day talking heads looking a bit tense as they talk
suggesting some freaky happenings at the institute back then
i'm trying to work out if it's for real or a clever piece of fiction
first impression of the interviewees is that they are actors - maybe
but let's just go with it - it's very well done and quite engrossing
things go up a notch when a lady named judith is brought in
taken there by her sister and described by her in the present
something 'different' about her - some unusual powers too
footage shown of her opening drawers and moving chairs
but no communication skills though and very detached
as the testing ramps up so too does the paranormal activity
at will she seems to cause equipment and power failures
armed guards are then brought in to provide more security
one guard interviewed in the present talking very ominously
i was young, at the peak of my strength and totally intimidated
it ruined me and anyone involved or watching this film too
whaaaaaaaaaaaat - i'm going to be affected - yep - fiction
judith manages to make a frog explode and a guard-dog die
word gets out about her 'possession' and the military move in
seems they have an interest in harnassing her paranormal power
she is hooked up to an electric-shock machine and off they go
trying to induce her to make a soldier speak involuntarily
but she is beyond that and other strange things happen
members of clinic employees families meet with accidents
one picks up a paperclip that ends up electrocuting a nephew
all the while judith seen in contorted positions and howling
a priest is brought in a-la the exorcist and dons a gas mask
the backup plan being to release poisonous gas if required
weird scenes - he enters her glass cage and raises his cross
she overpowers him though in shackles - the gas released
knocked unconscious - doctor west approaches the cage
she leaps to life, howls and is seen then as though shot
and the doctor zombie like leaves the room - forever
never seen again - oh - got it - he is now possessed
the end - hmmm - kind of creepy alright - well done
got the edge i wanted - and still wondering - fiction?
hoping so at least - and confirmation with the credits
all characters are fictionalised - any resemblance, etc, etc
phew - writer/director/producer chris sparling has had fun
me - locked the doors and expecting a restless sleep tonight...

all that heaven allows

german/usa director douglas sirk again - film society again
was looking forward to this one after pre-screening reading
filmed in 1955 - lots of off-screen stuff adding to the intrigue
jane wyman - recently divorced from ronald reagan for one
rock hudson - at this time a closet homosexual and a big star
neither of any consequence of course to the film but in my head
the camera panning from above rooftops and trees of a small town
beautiful autumn colours with an edge of technicolor enhancement
back on earth cary scott (wyman) is setting up for an outdoor lunch
her friend sara (agnes moorhead) arrives, apologises and departs
but with enough words exchanged to tell us cary is now a widow
an offer then to visiting aborist ron kirby (hudson) for some food
my - he is the epitomy of tall, dark and handsome - and polite
smooth as too - pulls out her chair and chats her up in a flash
snips a branch - this tree only grows when there is love around
bordering on schmaltzy but the on-screen chemistry is palpable
cary in particular - the eyes say it all - she is clearly smitten
he is heading upstate for a few weeks - some trees to buy
which then leaves cary to continue with her life as usual
a date with a much older suitor at the local country club
coinciding with a weekend visit of her 2 college based kids
priggish son ned admonishing his mother for a low cut dress
bespectacled daughter kay spouting learned psychology quotes
and at the club - her friends all obnoxious whitey wannabees
one chap drunkingly throwing himself at her on the dancefloor
then a marriage proposal from her date as he drops her home
she politely declining - and inside her eyes linger on the branch
now in a vase in her bedroom - mr cool has made an impression
the weeks go by and then he's back to finish pruning the trees
as he prepares to leave he suggests a visit to see his property
she agrees else she may never see him again - too much to risk
his property - a simple home, a nursery and a disused millhouse
they enter it - she dashes around loving the ambience of it all
a clear and stark contrast to her own precisely organised home
great acting going on - especially jane wyman - love is in the air
he tries to push it but she politely resists - practicalities at work
well aware that her friends and children will not be approving
for one he is 10 years younger - another - he is a tradesman
he suggests a date for dinner at his friends place - she accepts
then we see another stark contrast between her life and ron's
fun-loving, honest, multi-cultural, accepting, grounded friends
a discreet talk with his best friend's wife reveals ron's integrity
she is falling hard - he already apparantly - he then proposes
announces they will set up home in the millhouse - all good
her children are not impressed - ned a real right (wing) prat
ditto the friends - a cocktail party they attend is a disaster
and she buckles to the pressure - calls it off - love you but...
then cary really discovers what a shallow life she is leading
highlighted by the gift of an unwanted tv set for christmas
her kids pretty well abandon her - one marries, one travels
and eventually a dash back to ron - but he is out hunting
he sees her car as she drives off - he runs, he falls, he.....
is badly concussed - she is called, she returns to his side
he eventually comes around - cary - you came home...
and as a deer comes up to the window - yes - i have
sniff - and they all live happily every after (we think)
another douglas sirk classic film - totally enjoyable
light in a sense but some real barbed issues at play
class society for one, conservatism for another
but most appreciated was the superb direction
camera angles, use of light, framing, costumes
nice one film society - enjoying these classics...

kill the messenger

richard nixon, gerald ford, jimmy carter, ronald reagan
snatches of speeches from all of them open this film
each talking about their determination to fight drugs
western civilisation as we know it at threat it seems
nixon in particular announcing the start of the war
a bold start to this true story of reporter gary webb
played by jeremy renner last seen in the hurt locker
first seen interviewing a drug czar at his lavish home
then caught up in a brutal police raid - the war is on
webb files a report on the illegal confiscation of assets
so telling us he is a stickler for the truth no matter what
this then draws the attention of a reader with a story to tell
she the voluptuous girlfriend of an importer of nicaraguan drugs
he witnesses a sham of a court case where charges are dropped
she hands over some documents and delivers more to his home
in his absence - wife sue is not impressed and confronts gary
questioning is it happening again - a past affair suggested
with it a forced relocation of the family from ohio to san jose
a fresh start - gary promising he is not going to screw up again
scenes then of time with his kids including now 16 year old son
dad's birthday present - a derelict 1971 triumph tiger motorbike
and a promise and want to spend time with his son restoring it
gary also proudly drives a classic green triumph tr6 sports car
the delivered documents are transcripts of aborted court cases
a pattern and further facts emerge about government activity
they are clearly funding the importation of tonnes of cocaine
dumping them into poor communities and fueling addiction
a covert operation to continue funding of the contra rebels
nicaraguan freedom fighters out to depose their government
a communist regime that the u s government naturally oppose
heavy stuff - and our man webb knows it but pushes for the truth
initially he has the support of his editor and manager at his work
this the local paper - the san jose mercury - they want a big story
gary with much celebration then publishes 'the dark alliance'
in a clever directional move we see actual 1996 tv footage
showing the real gary webb in prime time tv interviews
very effectively adding a reality check to this dramatisation
official feathers have been ruffled and recriminations begin
the maligned cia then start a process of discrediting gary
prior witnesses suddenly claim they never spoke to him
his work colleagues go soft and withdraw overt support
even his family are under surveillance - the pressure builds
he moves out of the family home and is assigned menial work
a big awards dinner for him as journalist of the year falls flat
only his accompanying wife and son show pride and support
as he walks out he drops a letter of resignation to his boss
that the start of a seven year decline leading to his death
found dead at home - shot twice - officially it is suicide
as the film winds up there is more actual footage shown
particularly various community leaders decrying drugs
and the effect of the cocaine arriving in large volumes
the war on drugs ineffective with dirty politics involved
suggestions the government in part was at war on itself
all in the name of democracy - or at least capitalism
anything but communism - and absolutely anything
an interesting fact shown in the end of film credits
it seems gary webb was exonerated in a cia report
but upon release the media was busy with a big issue
clinton had been busted not having sexual relations
terrific film - and not just a dry full-on fact check
there's a man - and his family - at the heart of it
add this to the list of everyone-should-see...

prisoners

jake gyllenhaal again - his status - 'if he's in it then see it'
hugh jackman - take or leave - still not forgiven for chappie
missed this one on main release even though it hit the see-list
so in catch-up mode it now gets the prior intended attention
opening scene - a wood - tall trees - a deer - a rifle - a shot
good shot son - keller drover (jackman) to his son ralph
instantly reminding me of the banality of american sniper
on the way home in the truck keller dishes out life lessons
be prepared son - always be prepared - for anything, anytime
back home and the nuclear family of 4 is off to a neighbours
a (black) family across the street - mom, dad and 2 daughters
it's wet, bleak and the houses are run-down - suburban america
the parents cosily buddy up as do the teenagers ralph and eliza
anna and kyla are the 2 youngest daughters also now teaming up
being watched outside by their siblings climbing on a parked van
a view from inside the campervan - an empty bottle - uh-oh - bad
the young girls then ask to head back to the drover house - sure
and of course they disappear and the van is gone - panic sets in
the police swarm with detective loki (gyllenhaal) put in charge
looking a bit psychotic - wide eyes blinking, hair greased back
seen approaching the van which speeds off and crashes into a tree
the driver aggressively arrested and then in a police interview room
alex has the iq of a ten year old - released - no capability or evidence
keller now raging and hoons up in his truck and crash-tackles alex
this after alex tells only keller - they were happy when i left them
keller the desperate father screaming disbelief at the hapless loki
no choice but to allow alex to return to his custodian aunt holly
and so the scene is set - gone girls, mad dad, lax laws, free crim
keller now plays lawmaker - kidnaps alex and locks him away
this in his own childhood home now delapidated and abandoned
he applies his own interview techniques - repeat face-punching
which i think is about where i gave up wanting to like this film
the cynic in me now enjoying multiple reasons to pull it apart
for one - hugh jackman - look at me - i can be a serious actor
i can use the stutter effect to demonstrate my sheer disbelief
i can punch holes in (false) walls and (air) punch faces easily
i can use my big voice to shout and threaten at the same time
me - all i can see is hugh jackman playing the role of peter allen
as for jake gyllenhaal - points for trying but he looks kind of bored
his best acting here being to show some interest in this average flick
he also resorting to lowest-common-denominator smash it up stuff
i look for a character, any character that has some flicker of appeal
but there is no-one - they are all miserable, angry, weak or troubled
and man it drags on and on and on - 153 minutes of it - too much
filled out with a side plot of a loner who lays false abduction clues
he steals the kids clothes, smears over pigs blood and stashes them
in boxes also filled with live snakes - oh how creepy - lol actually
he eventually written out with him shooting himself under arrest
and then there's a priest with a mummified pedophile in his cellar
huh? what? - watch out kids - if the law doesn't get you god will?
the finale - one of the girls magically shows up - no explanation
alex's aunt is the guilty one - keller accuses her - she pulls a gun
she forces him into a underground bunker and then drives off
his daughter also shows up - as does loki at the aunt's house
the end - at long last - what a shocker - maybe a mood thing
generally raved about though i agree with this damning review
this film should really have been a one hour e.g. csi episode
lost in all the other stupid, insipid, mediocre american tv
maybe this is/was a pilot for a tv series - it fits the bill
no imagination, no originality, no satisfaction, no soul
so yes well - no - i didn't like it at all - next please...

enemy

it's science fiction - but nobody describes it as such
with life on earth warped in some other-worldly way
seen a few lately like that and this one fits the bill also
interesting concept - a man dealing with his exact double
jake gyllenhaal playing both parts - and he the main drawcard
seen initially in what appears to be some kind of dream sequence
a darkened room, men observing, a beautiful model with a platter
the lid lifted and a huge bug crawls out - yep has to be a dream
in the light of day adam bell (gyllenhaal) is taking a lecture
history - going through the motions - he looks very jaded
in his small apartment and his love-life looks the same
early on and the director has set the tone of the film
very dimly lit night scenes and sepia tones in the day
a university acquaintance randomly suggests a film
he hires it on the way home and that night watches it
in one scene he spots a janitor that resembles himself
repeat play and then google searching to identify the actor
then hiring of other films he has been in and a name linked
anthony - also resides in toronto - adam then visits his agent
saturday - closed - the security guard gives 'anthony' a letter
which has his home address on it - he then places a phone call
a woman answers and believes it is her husband - the same voice
helen then gets suspicious and tracks adam down at the university
they meet and chat - he has no idea who she is and she in shock
her heavy pregnancy a talking point in their brief rendezvous
we then meet anthony (gyllenhaal) - a sharper version of adam
phone calls from adam arouse his interest and they agree to meet
this in a random hotel room - they compare scars - adam freaks out
he bolts - this was a bad idea - seen in his volvo back on the freeway
a motorcycle draws level - suggested that anthony is under the helmet
it's getting kind of interesting - looks like adam is in unknown territory
the sepia shots continue - and one odd one - a war of the worlds shot
what looks like a huge spider-like alien straddling the bleak cityscape
anthony now stalks adam's attractive girlfriend and harrasses adam
let me have one night with your girlfriend and i'll be gone forever
adam agrees - hmmm - then works his way into anthony's house
on the way it becomes clear the dream sequence was not at all
and in the envelope - a key - to the room we see at the start?
the following scenes then cleverly cutting back and forward
anthony succeeds in seducing jane but she also freaks out
recognising some difference she demands he take her home
an aggressive argument in the car leads to him crashing it
it rolls over - a close-up of a web-like shattered window
adam also succeeds in seducing the very pregnant helen
she walks into a room - he follows - aaaaaaarggghhhh!
filled with a huge black hairy spider - her or the baby?
the end - yikes - short and sharp - me a-quivering
quite like it actually - really good science-fiction
this review explaining the film more profoundly
it's a creeper alright - will be watching again...

a time to love and a time to die

film society - a weekly meeting of junkies to view a film
absolutely nothing known about this film based during ww2
director douglas sirk - ditto - my trust is entirely in the society
the opening credits run with a tree gently quivering in the wind
pink blossom gradually giving way as snow then begins to fall
big dramatic orchestral music and lettering font of a prior age
the letters mcmlviii spotted - 1958 - a reference point at least
a column of soldiers seen walking wearily through the snow
the blue-grey uniforms and the helmets tell us they are nazis
then settling in at a devastated village and the dialogue begins
american actors therefore american accents make it disconcerting
especially for this foreign film lover that seeks authenticity in film
but we'll get past that - and of course the point is that war levels all
this could be any retreating army dealing with exhaustion and hunger
a roll-call revealing the devastating loss of men in the recent conflict
but no reprieve - the commander asks for volunteers for a firing squad
4 rebels (peasants) have been captured and orders are to shoot them
only one volunteer - he a suspected gestapo informant - others picked
including private ernst graeber - not happy but goes through with it
he then seen in more scenes particularly discussing his coming leave
arriving in his hometown and his home bombed and parents missing
such realistic and expansive sets - piles of rubble the main feature
ernst heads to his family doctor to seek information of his parents
he now in a concentration camp for speaking out about the war
the doctor's attractive daughter elizabeth catches ernst's eye
she is feisty, he handsome and determined - romance blooms
the middle part of the film very effectively showing love in war
they drink fine wine and have a free pass to the finest restaurant
ruined by an urgent dash to the cellar as allied bombing intensifies
ernst has a schooltime friend now a buffoonish senior nazi officer
the excesses of indulgence shown on a visit to his luxury home
his plan is to learn of elizabeth's father but he leaves disgusted
daytime bombing destroys the factory where elizabeth works
in a sense (and the film title) we are expecting some bad news
ernst searches for her amongst bombs and collapsed buildings
the filming of that so very impressive and long before cgi, etc
to our relief she has survived and finds a very despondent ernst
their love intensifies and they decide to marry before he returns
getting permission a challenge with her father's outspoken views
but the officer in charge is a prior grateful patient of the doctor
permission granted and so - they do - a temporary happiness
the intensity builds as she is then summonsed by the gestapo
but only sadly to collect her father's ashes sent from the camp

a last night together before he heads back to the russian front

she framed in a stunning shot at the railway station - too sad

back at the front and conditions have deteriorated even more

full circle also - a trio of russian peasants captured as rebels

ernst put in charge of them - and then refuses to execute them

he shoots the gestapo informer instead and releases the peasants

one of them grabs a rifle, stalks and then point blank shoots ernst

he dies with a letter from pregnant elizabeth falling from his hand

the end - wow - two hours plus of an epic and classic war film
love and war - 2 huge themes investigated so convincingly

take a bow douglas sirk - and the film society - more...

in order of disappearance

the original norwegian title - kraftidioten - power idiot
so another case of the anglicised title completely different
maybe the word idiot implies unwanted comedic overtones
though according to reviewers the film contains black humour
the main appeal for me here is swedish actor stellan skarsgard
his character is nils who is a snowplough driver in rural norway
seen at work then dressing and leaving for an important dinner
he has been awarded 'citizen of the year' in his small community
impressively the snow-covered environment is given high profile
clear and sharp multi-coloured images of bright lights and snow
at an airport a young worker is abducted and tossed in a 4wd
his bloodied friend also on-board who then leaps out at speed
young ingvar not so lucky - injected with heroin and dumped
he dies on a railway platform - and news reaches his parents
nils and his wife marit are devastated that their son has died
he refuses to believe the cause of death being self-inflicted
she shuts down and rejects nils and attempts at consoling her
too much to take  - he has a gun in his mouth but interrupted
finn the car escapee confesses to nils why ingvar was killed
caught up innocently with finn involved in a cocaine racket
a name is extracted - jappe - and nils then tracks him down
i was not quite prepared for the brutal murder that ensued
a bloodied face from repeated punching then strangulation
this is not gratuitous violence - it's ugly but i can take that
jappe's full name and a cross then on-screen - rest in peace
his body wrapped in chicken wire and tossed over some falls
nils works up the line as that and each death brings up a name
each one realistically brutal and finalised in the same manner
we meet the king-pin drug baron oly greven - aka the count
young, good-looking, rich, protected - ah - the 'power-idiot'
adores his son and despises his ex-wife in equal measure
is chauffeured around in a stunning silver 4 door coupe
he mistakenly thinks serbian rivals are taking out his men
orders the kidnapping of one of them and an interrogation
nothing - so he shoots him in cold blood - oops - mistake
for he is the son of 'papa' - the leader of the serbian cartel
nils has hired a hitman to take out the count - but he squeals
realising his mistake oly shoots one of his own men to save face
orders his be-heading and delivery to the serbs as an apology
no good - papa wants a son for a son - the messenger shot
seems nils has the same idea and kidnaps the count's son
takes him from the nearby city (oslo?) to his own village
and in a rare bit of tenderness nils bonds with the boy
symbolic i guess - time spent (or not) with his son ingvar
but finale time with the count and the serbs arriving in town
the big shootout - expensive cars circling, powerful guns firing
they drop like flies - and same again - names announced on screen
9 killed in the shootout - but the count survives by hiding in a car
not for long - nils cranks up a logging machine and sets to work
in a matter of seconds (really) pulls a tree, strips it and drops it
right through the roof of the car - ah - revenge - like a plunger
doesn't kill him though - a final shot from papa finishes him
so both fathers get their revenge and depart in a snowplough
no words exchanged though - a language barrier - respect
papa is a baddie so kind of has to die - and the final scene
a paraglider comes into view, swings by and yep - bang
that seems odd but papa dead - name and cross on screen
phew - the end - nils has cleaned up and can now relax
me too - the violence makes for quite a heavy time
but balanced with some beautiful norwegian vistas
and yes the black humour e.g. the hapless police
some have said - a scandinavian version of fargo
didn't occur to me but just as memorable - i like it...

cobain - montage of heck

opening night for this film that sits high on the must-see list
have not seen the trailer but the critics are all in agreement
the promise of a well-balanced story of kurt cobain's short life
pre-film a banner saying stick around for a brett morgen interview
ok - kurt then first seen wheelchair-bound then collapsed on stage
some comments from those closest to him completing the intro
nirvana's most famous tune then pumped out with the credits
and then we go way back to dating days for kurt's parents
post vietnam war and happy days in aberdeen washington
'wake up little suzy' the theme song used to date the footage
a revealing modern day interview with wendy about her marriage
she quite liked her husband - don cobain - thought that was enough
all she really wanted was babies - kurt first and then sister kimberly
kurt seen as a toddler in home movies - happy, playful, much loved
birthday celebrations come and go and also seen with a toy guitar
kurt's very accomplished drawings also seen and brought to life
the director providing animated extensions to the art - very clever
his father not able to handle his vivacious son and divorce comes
devastating young kurt - divorce very rare so he feels alienated
especially as he gets cast around families as rebellion sets in
cobain senior seen in current times and looking a broken man
a sense that his failure as a dad weighs very heavily on his mind
then more clever artistic licence shown with kurt's teenage years
very rich and detailed animation used as his voice talks of those days
hanging out with mates, stealing alcohol, his first sexual experience
and most significantly - delving deeper into music and also marijuana
really, really interesting - but now the fun begins - nirvana are formed
no detail of how that happens but the trio seen rehearsing in a garage
sounding incredibly good and full-on even in  these formative days
krist novoselic's low slung bass and dave grohl's drumming so good
the man himself comfortably expressing all his angst through music
their rise to the top of the heap seen with exhilarating live footage
the crowds growing exponentially as nevermind tops the charts
kurt actually seems quite content stating his love of playing live
and then - she is on the scene - courtney love - seen then and now
then - offering the solace kurt desired - now - talking defensively
for she was a junkie when she met kurt and he one not long after
the most personal of home movie footage then shown on screen
just as nirvana peaked kurt decided to have six months at home
some talking about the 'shit load of money he could have made'
but he well now in love and eschewing riches for contentment
we see he and courtney constantly wasted in their small flat
kind of tiresome really - and too many shots of her breasts
i'm feeling a real wowser - especially when the baby arrives
frances bean born a junkie and raised by a couple of junkies
the media making this a huge story and piling the pressure on
nirvana survive to record and release highly rated 'in utero'
and impressively the band is still united and delivering live
mtv unplugged scenes shown best described as - essential
close-ups of kurt showing a man lost in his incendiary music
but his life is troubled - his life-long stomach cramps for one
an attempt at suicide when he suspects courtney is unfaithful
her in the present denying it - she thought of it - he responded
my impression is the director sowing the seed of doubt here
aided by seeing kurt singing 'where did you sleep last night'
for not long after kurt blew his brains out alone and in despair
krist novoselic stating rejection the one thing kurt feared most
tragic really - his abandonment surely felt by so many others
this amazing film interweaving well so many components
musically it is stimulating but the tragedy is at the core
the promised after-film interview reveals more details
brett morgen talking about the freedom he was given
an adult frances bean fully supportive of his project
he also talks about the animation techniques used
with kurt's stored belongings he explains the title
but talking himself up a little too much methinks
his name loud and proud on film merchandising
no issue - really that is where it is at these days
with directors muscling in on the star's profile
still - great job done - a consummate bio-pic...

it follows

horror - not my favourite genre - but let's push the envelope
this one coming highly rated and reviewed - and in nziff 2014
missed it then - scheduling issues - or more likely - wimped out
me alone in a small-ish theatre - good - no-one to see me cringing
opening scene - a shot down a suburban street and then pan right
a teenage girl emerges and runs down the street screaming hysterically
great - straight into it - not even a slow buildup - could be a long haul
that seems to be some sort of prologue as then it's suburban bliss
another teenage girl in a backyard pool - and the director has fun
creepy music plays, kids pop up over fences, but nothing sinister
then inside the house she is seen hanging out with her friends
nothing weird about this except a dated tv - so set in the 70s?
jay has a date that evening at a movie with a new boyfriend
they seen inside the theatre and then he suddenly freaks out
seems there is a person/thing in the theatre that only he can see
he calms jay over dinner and eventually seduces her in his car
then knocks her out with a chemical-soaked rag to her mouth
charming - she wakes up tied to a chair in a derelict building
and he explains - you will be followed - i have passed it to you
it will find you - it is slow - always have a clear exit - have sex
for that is the only way to get rid of it - pass it to someone else
oh - if it touches you it will kill you and then come back for me
right - got it - loose sex is way bad - and right on cue it shows up
half naked, zombie-like woman gets as close as we can cope with
our man hugh drags jay away and deposits her back at her home
seen in a state of shock giving the unlikely details to the police
her friends however are sympathetic particularly nerdish paul
they gather around and provide constant company for jay
but there's no stopping 'it' - seen in various ghoulish forms
heeding hugh's advice there's always an escape - briefly
it shows up at school and at a beach retreat - in daylight
which i am thankful for - we and jay can see it coming
in a mad escape from the beach jay badly crashes a car
and in hospital recovering is seduced by an ex-boyfriend
relief - he now has to cope with it but 'it' finds and kills him
uh-oh - lookout jay - the gang sets up in an abandoned hotel
they lay a trap - a pool and electrical equipment on standby
jay in the pool - looks like they are going to try to fry it
it shows up and the big finale at poolside quite well done
though 'it' seems to be in the form of jay's father - go figure
they win out and with relief jay agrees to sleep with paul
he then seen in turn picking up a prostitute - for insurance
jay and paul then seen hand-in-hand walking down a street
the end - but - uh-oh - a strange person in the distance
yep - sequel material - it follows 2 - perfect marketing
thankfully not slasher horror - more like psycho horror
looking past the obvious - one mistake could ruin you
also a premonition of the demise of western society?
abandoned and delapidated urban detroit often seen
that as a backdrop making this film quite engrossing
worth the effort really - quite a gutsy little indie film

testament of youth

i'm not sure i would normally have bothered with this love/war film
but having experienced apocalypse ww1 recently interest is piqued
those 2 films getting me as close to the 'great' war as i needed to be
so let's see a drama based on that war and even better - a true story
vera brittain wrote the book of the same name after her experiences
pre-screening i have a slight trepidation it could be just so - english
but that aside - i settle in for this two-plus hour wartime adventure
the film opens on armistice day - joviality abounds - but not vera
seen glumly pushing her way through the large exultant crowds
takes refuge in a cathedral and is drawn to a large oil painting
some biblical scene set in cascading water - i sense a flashback
sure enough 'four years earlier' announced and 3 friends at play
vera, her brother edward and his friend victor in a small lake
very picture-skewy, very english and it seems so upper-class
this confirmed with the return to their parents country manor
vera throws a wobbly with the secret arrival of a grand piano
her father buying that instead of 'a whole year of oxford fees'
he wants her married off - not wasting money on education
another of edward's friends - roland - arrives mid-tantrum
just as she announces - i will never marry - he disappointed
as expected the friendship grows and the romance kicks in
poetry is swapped and chaperoned theatre outings take place
music used to enhance the emotions  - harps, strings, orchestra
with edward's help vera convinces daddy to let her try for oxford
some great scenes there as she gets accepted but roland enlists
ww1 is underway and the lads want to be part of the adventure
scenes of troop trains heading off as seen in apocalypse ww1
with her closest male companions all at war vera is anxious
she joins the nurses at home tending to returning injured
it's all done very well though i'm not totally engaged yet
some watch-checking (not a good sign) - a long way to go
roland comes home on leave a changed man - very distant
an attempt no doubt to portray the effects of an unseen war
not totally convincing and pretty quickly he's back to normal
he proposes and promises her they will marry on his next visit
christmas time - wedding day - all gathered - and a phonecall
roland has been killed which of course devastates our vera
but back to work and soon after victor shows up injured
blind - she proposes to him - he refuses and dies soon after
vera then decides to head to france to look out for edward
no war scenes as such but plenty of blokes seen on stretchers
she is assigned to look after injured germans - seems unlikely
but - as i keep reminding myself - this is a true story so ok
one memorable scene sees her comforting a dying german
and then edward shows up badly injured but vera sorts him
then sees him off to italy - and clearly we won't see him again
sure enough on her next home visit word comes via telegram
so that's the 3 men in her life gone - and the war is finished
explaining a sombre vera caught up in the happy crowds
and pushing on further - she returns to the country lake
oxford also calls so then a return to her studies there
a final scene sees her heading into a rowdy meeting
discussions of war reparations - the crowd is angry
but vera shouts them down with her german story
and a plea to forgive and move on - no more war
very impressive oratory - and the start of her work
she then becoming a successful author and pacifist
phew - over 2 hours - and dragging badly at times
it is mostly really good - sometimes overly earnest
a stunning performance from star alicia vikander
she from sweden but sounding so very english
the target audience should be well pleased...

violette

time for a good bio-pic - this one is about violette leduc
she a prolific and provocative author from post ww2 france
the first sighting of her is being pursued in the countryside
captured and then being locked up and released 3 days later
part 1 - maurice - then begins as she returns to him at home
he more concerned with his need for quiet than her plight
for he is an obsessive author - and impervious to violette
she wants intimacy but he refuses in their false marriage
we see him attempting to seduce a man so that is a clue
it seems she is assisting him lay low for some other reason
but he tires of her advances and suggests she take up writing
pour out your feelings he implores - and to that she takes it up
he then leaves her with a torrid of verbal self-pity from violette
part 2 - simone - back in paris and violette delivering small items
she works the black market at the war's end to make some cash
on one delivery she spots a large book and stuffs it into her bag
le sang des autres - the blood of others - by simone de beauvoir
she devours the book and clearly impressed then tracks her down
a bunch of flowers in hand she follows simone through paris streets
which gives us time to admire the very impressive cinematography
kind of surreal - no other people or vehicles seen - and quite dark
she shyly leaves the flowers outside simone's room and dashes off
returning some days later with her own completed draft in her hand
simone promises to read it and curtly dismisses her - 'i'm very busy'
the black market dissolves leaving violette broke and in despair
saved by a note from simone - meet me at my place at 9am
she loves the book and wants to help get a publishing deal
and with that - an introduction to simone's circle of friends
part 3 - jean - he being jean genet - author and good guy
violette is star-struck initially but he becomes her friend
he knows violette is in love with simone and explains to her
sartre has me as his foil and simone has you - so it is perfect
violette flings herself at simone who only has an interest in writing
exploring all manner of femininity and violette is part of the team
for violette's writing is ground-breaking in it's honesty of her life
including a female lover at school, a bad marriage and an abortion
simone is already established and is off to america on a lecture tour
as she leaves violette hands simone a draft of her latest book - ravages
part 4 - jacques - he a gay friend of jean and also a wealthy perfumer
introduced as a fan of violette's first book - in the prison of her skin
the three of them then seen at jacque's country estate making a film
clever editting in of their black and white film and wide naturescapes
transitions accompanied by some stunning solo violin music (arvo part)
poor violette though - desperate for true love attempts to woo jacques
rejection and a dash back to paris in jean's classic citreon sports car
part 5 - berthe - violette's overbearing mother - shamed by violette
some absorbing scenes that help explain violette's sad loneliness
simone returns from abroad and with glowing approval of ravages
the book laying bare her love of simone and her ultimate rejection
despite that their friendship is strong enough to keep violette going
a suggestion from simone next sees violette on an exploration
part 6 - foucon - a small village where she is provided a house
the freedom of the country air inspiring her to write prolifically
and at last a relationship with a loving man - though married
returning to paris yet again with a renewed self-confidence
simone has lost her mother and she now needs violette
and the fruits of the country experience produce a book
part 7 - le batard - the bastard - goes on to be a best seller
launching violette's continuing career and a contented life
as seen in the final scene of her once again countryside
the unique violin music providing a splendid ending
a superbly crafted film - faultless really in every way
after-show reading indicating the accuracy of the tale
and the personality and appearance of the stars nailed
loved it - repeat play - definitely - recommend - totally...