Thursday, December 31, 2009

Broken Embraces


In 2000 I saw my first Pedro Almodovar film 'All About My Mother'. I loved that film and have not missed any of him films since then. My favourite being 'Talk To Her'.

When you watch an Almodovar movie you know you are in the presence of a great film maker. He knows how to tell a story and tell it well. The story is very much about film making and some of the perils that come with it. But it is also a wonderful love story. The story starts off a little confusingly and you really have to be paying attention to understand as it jumps around between two time periods to set up the story. It isn't until the second half of the film that you come to understand what is really going on. This in someways is the only problem I had with the film. The second half of the film dragged a little for me and was not as exciting as the first half. This however is only a minor quibble. Almodovar movies are also very visually stimulating. His use of camera moves is wonderful and the production design looks very vibrant. Almodovar does a really naughty thing and ends the film showing a scene from the film the writer/director Harry Caine is making in this film. It was so wonderful that you want to see the rest of the film.

Penelope Cruz seems to be Almodovar's favourite muse. I still think that Penelope does her best work when she is not in the USA. She is so sexy and gives a brilliant performance in this film. Lluis Homar is excellent as the writer/director of the film within the film. Blanca Portillo though was the best for me as the agent. She has a wonderful scene at the end of the film which is quite moving.

While it is not completely perfect this film is still a great joy to see. Film fans will love all the great references and enjoy the great story. Almodovar continues to amaze me with each film he makes.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Avatar


I'm sorry that this has taken me a few days to write but I was a bit backed up with other blogs I needed to write first. I write them in order of when I see the film. Plus I need to have a bit of a think about what I wanted to write. I should warn you that I may reveal some plot points and spoilers in the film so you should perhaps read this after you have seen it.

I was quite pleased when James Cameron took a bit of time off after 'Titanic' to work on other things rather than jump right in to making another film. As much as I like 'Titanic' the euphoria that erupted for it got a bit annoying and James got a very big head about it all. I had a few mixed feelings about 'Avatar' before I saw it. I was more excited I think for 'Titanic' because no one expected that to be as successful as it was. Plus with all the cost over runs and behind the scenes rumours I think most expected it to be a flop. I don't respond too well to films that get over hyped, which is what 'Avatar' was fast becoming. Much like 'Star Wars Episodes I - III' people had such high hopes that I was very afraid they were not going to be met.

I will begin with the good points of the film. The film is unbelievably, stunningly beautiful. I think it is a visual marvel and a huge step forward in visual effects. All other nominees for Best Visual Effects as next years Oscars should forget about turning up. I'm so glad James spent his time working on the technology to make the film as good as he has. I think Robert Zemekis could learn a thing or two from the motion-capture work James has done here. The animation is superb and so wonderful. The Na'vi characters look so wonderfully rendered. They are much more believable as characters than what Zemekis has done. The sets and backgrounds are also beautiful and James loves to show them off. The film spends a great deal of time exploring Pandora and is all the better for it. The greatest thing though is that you get to see it in 3D. I still believe all films should be screened in 3D. I hope that this means more action films will be made in this format. Until now it has mostly been animation and horror films. Action films could really benefit from the use of this technology. The film is also full of brilliant action sequences. Many brought a lump to my throat. James is certainly the best action director of our time.

Now for the bad part and it is a huge problem. James Cameron is not known for his script writing abilities. He can write and direct the most brilliant action sequences and he does that in this film. However his story work needs some attention. 'Avatar' is a very predictable film. You can see the events and plot points coming a mile away. You know exactly where the film is going and what it is going to do. I did not mind this as the film was such a great adventure that you don't mind all the cliches. What I could not accept or understand is the incredible stupidity of the characters. The humans are on Pandora mining for this very useful source of fuel. They have found this one spot where there is a huge amount of this fuel which is home to this particular tribe of the natives the Na'vi. Their plan is to get these natives to move from this home so they can mine the fuel. It seems the mining company are using the avatar program to sort of infiltrate the tribe and hopefully get them to move. This would have to be the dumbest thing I've ever heard of. Are these people so incredibly stupid to think that these natives are just going to leave their home so the company can come in and rip it apart? What natives in the history of the universe have ever willingly left their home so others can come in and rip it apart? OK so they are only being all nice and diplomatic so they cannot seem ruthless and evil to their stockholders or people back on earth. But are the stockholders and people on earth then stupid enough to believe that the mining companies diplomatic maneuvers will work? The plot is very similar to 'Star Trek: Insurrection', but that film handled the situation a lot better. For those who have not seen it, some evil aliens plan to remove a planet's population because their planet's rings have this 'fountain of youth' quality. They plan to use a ship with a holodeck to remove the people and then relocate them to another planet. They know that these people are not going to go willingly and so plan to remove them with deception. That was a better way to remove the natives. That was believable. James just needed a scene or two in the film letting us know what people on earth thought of what was going on. It would have added extra depth to the plot and made the plans for Pandora have a greater perspective as far as earth is concerned. I don't understand why the humans did not use military force from the beginning when we all know that this was going to be the only way they would get the Na'vi away from their home.

Sam Worthington is certainly an Aussie actor whose star is rising very quickly in Hollywood. He is appearing in quite a lot of movies at the moment. Most of them are big action which is great but I would like to see him do other types of films. He is excellent here and does a great job of playing the marine. I was however very impressed with Zoe Saldana. I thought she was brilliant in the film and gives a truly wonderful performance. You really believe she is a Na'vi native and more so than any of the other actors. I felt her behaviour was wonderful in the way she moved and acted. It was also nice to Sigourney Weaver in a big action film again. While she is not directly involved in the action as such she is still great.

I am probably being stupid for being so picky about the film but I just can't get over this major problem I have with it. The film is still an amazing achievement and is visually stunning. I just have this problem with the plot that I can't get over. I would love to hear from all you about what you think and if I'm being unreasonable. Yes it is just a movie but for me to like the film I have to believe in the motivation and actions of the characters. I still think you should go see the film for the visual splendor and make sure you see it in 3D and on the biggest screen possible.

Monday, December 21, 2009

Fantastic Mr. Fox


About the time that 'Charlie And The Chocolate Factory' was released I got to thinking about other Roald Dahl books that have not yet been made into films. My favourite book was always 'Fantastic Mr. Fox' and I thought I might have a go at adapting the book myself and write the script. So it was with some disappointment and excitement that I heard Wes Anderson had beaten me to it.

I'm really glad Wes did it. I re-read the book last week before I saw the film and much like 'Where The Wild Things Are' the plot is very slim and would have needed expanding for a feature length film. Wes and Noah Baumbach have done a brilliant job of adapting the book and doing a far better job than I could have. They have taken the basic story from the novel and added a lot more action and adventure, as well as characters. It plays out much like a kids version of the 'Ocean's' trilogy. Wes has done a good job of translating his visual style to animation. As you know my favourite form of animation is stop-motion. This film has a very old fashioned look to it. It does not look as polished as a lot of other stop-motion animated films these days. It suits Wes's very quirky sense of humour. And the humour sure is very quirky. On the surface I think it suits adults but I think kids will love it too. The humour is very dry and the jokes told in a very deadpan way. There are also lots of great visual humour too with some very funny situations. I also loved the music score and a very funny musical number in the middle of the film.

As mentioned above the film plays much like one of the 'Ocean's' films so it is only fitting Mr. Fox is played by George Clooney. The only problem being that George has a very distinctive voice so you kind of see him in Mr. Fox but it was a minor quibble. Meryl Streep on the other hand plays here role very cool and calm, despite her character being put in outrageous situations. You can't really tell it is Meryl which is good. Wes has brought in most of his favourite actors from previous films to fill out the rest of the cast. Jason Schwartzman is excellent and very funny as Mr. Fox's son Ash. Also very funny is Wally Wolodarsky as Mr. Fox's side kick Kylie.

Another excellent adaptation of a Roald Dahl book. His stories seem inspire the best in film makers. Don't let the fact that it is animated or aimed at kids put you off. There is still lots of Wes Anderson's quirky humour that keeps the adults interested.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

The French Kissers


For years now we have been inundated with teen sex comedies from Hollywood. Now finally another country has decided to make one.

That is the very refreshing thing about this film, that it comes from a country other than America. In some ways it proves that the hardships of sex are universal and you could imagine this film taking place in an American high school. What sets it apart from its American counterparts is the characters. The kids in the film look and behave more like normal kids. They do not look as groomed and polished as what you get in American films. One of the most obvious things being these kids have acne. Something you don't normally see in kids in any film. They also behave more like normal kids. You almost feel like this film is a documentary as the kids behave like regular kids you see around. Even the parents are more normal and not as polished either. The plot is quite typical of these films with a group of boys trying to have sex and there is little by way of events. The sex in this film is not really seen either as it is more implied and talked about. I will admit it is not as hilariously funny as I was hoping for. While there are a few funny moments they were more a small giggle rather than laugh-out-loud stuff.

Apparently this is a cast of unknowns with the director deliberately not choosing actors. Vincent Lacoste is very good as Herve. He has the right sort of average kid look as well as behaving like a regular kid. His scenes with his mother are particularly good with Vincent really displaying the embarrassment that all kids feel when their parents tease them about sex. Anthony Sonigo is also very good as Harve's best friend Camel. Another kid who brings a more naturalistic performance to his role.

If you are a fan of the teen sex comedy genre then you should definitely check this one out. Or if you have become sick of the tired old American versions, then see this for something different.

9


Animated films have been having a good year this year. Many of them are not just made for kids with more mature themes and issues. Having Tim Burton as a producer also means a lot to me as I'm proud he is helping out up and coming artists.

After watching this film Shane Ackers is certainly a film maker I hope we see more of in the future. The film is so visually wonderful and a marvel to look at. The world here he has created while bleak and miserable is still a thing of wonder. The action sequences are also excellent and very thrilling. The various characters and creatures look marvelous. Despite the fact they are just sack puppets you still come to care for them. You are probably going to see this 'but' coming. As visually wonderful as the film is the story is slightly lacking. I suppose the plot is not very grand but still lacks a certain something that makes it truly great.

The voice cast is excellent. While there are many familiar names their voices do not overshadow the story or characters they are playing. It's funny that the film has many similarities with 'Lord Of The Rings' and that the hero is voiced by Elijah Wood. John C. Reilly is excellent too as is Jennifer Connolly. Christopher Plummer once again plays a very good bad guy.

An excellent animated film that marks the start of a hopefully great new career and many wonderful new films for us to see.

Away We Go


A few years ago I had the honour of meeting director Sam Mendes after a Q & A screening here for 'American Beauty'. That film is brilliant and I have loved all his films since.

While I liked 'Revolutionary Road' from earlier this year, much like many people I found it to be a very depressing view of marriage. Luckily Sam has decided to make a film that sees the other side of things with a more happier view. The film is also a lot more low key than his other films with no big names and a very low budget. It is kind of a refreshing change. While the plot of the film is very episodic it is still very interesting and wonderfully told. To me it feels like a very modern story as you don't normally get many older films showing a couple searching for places to raise their kids. It leads to many funny situations with some very crazy people.

John Krasinski is not an actor I'm very familiar with. I have not seen 'The Office' USA version and have only seen him in 'License To Wed' which was not a good thing to judge him on. I must say that he was very impressive here and showed his versatility as an actor in being able to do comedy and drama. He was though very funny in the film and a lot of the humour comes from him. There was one particular moment that had me in hysterical fits of laughter. I think this maybe the only thing I've seen Maya Rudolph in as I don't watch 'Saturday Night Live'. She is not terribly funny here but that's OK as she is very good at the dramatic moments. Of the other cast the other highlights are the nicely over the top Allison Janney who is one of my all time favourite actresses. Maggie Gyllenhaal is also very hilarious in her small role. I don't think I've seen her this funny.

While not my favourite Sam Mendes film (that's still 'American Beauty') it is still a very good film and a great comedy/drama.

Monday, December 14, 2009

Genova


Michael Winterbottom is another director like Stephen Soderbergh who makes film at an alarming speed. He is also very diverse in the subjects and themes he tackles.

'Genova' is a very low key kind of drama about a family coping after a loss. Each member of the family copes in their own special way. Some may find the film a bit slow moving and not an awful lot happens in the film. But it is still a very well told story. It is also a great travelogue for the city of Genova. It nicely points out some of the downsides if you get lost with the maze like structure of their streets and lane ways. I would not like to go driving there. The film has a very naturalistic and documentary type style to it. You feels like you are voyeurs in these people lives but in a good way.

This means that the performances have a kind of improvised feel to them. Colin Firth is a brilliant actor who is able to give such a moving performance here. He is having a great year. Catherine Keener is good in the film but not really given much to do. Her role is kind of being a tour guide to Colin's family. As the two daughters Willa Holland and Perla Haney-Jardine are excellent. Both give a different perspective of how they cope with the loss of their mother.

A very good low-key kind of drama that does not have any real excitement or ground breaking moments. But it is a welcome relief from some of the very overblown big budget releases we've had lately.

Friday, December 11, 2009

The Invention Of Lying


English comedian Ricky Gervais is enjoying continued success in the USA and now is writing and directing his own material.

The concept of this film is very intriguing. But has some flaws. The problem being that if you analyse it too much it does not hold up too well. My main concern is that would this world and civilisation have evolved so similar to ours if there was no lying. I tend to think things would not be so much the same. Despite this the film is very funny. I thought it was so funny how people will just say what ever comes into their head. Quite a few of my friends have said that they found the film to be very boring. Normally I can appreciate other people's opinions of films but I cannot understand how they find this film boring. I think the film is not only very funny but the plot gets more interesting as it goes along. The parallels with religion that develop in the story were very satirical and hilarious. There are some many situations where Mark lies himself into funny situations. for his first feature film as a director Ricky has done an excellent job. Although he did have a co-director and the film is not that elaborate.

Part of the problem I think people have with the film is Ricky Gervais. I can appreciate that he is one of those performers that you either like or don't like. I've grown to like him over time as I was not fond of the TV series 'The Office' but I love 'Extras' and just about everything he has done after that. He pretty much plays the same type of character in each thing he does. Although much like he is in 'Ghost Town' he is a much nicer person here. There is also a brilliant scene where he gets to show off his acting ability and prove he is not just a funny guy. Because of his popularity Ricky has been able to surround himself in this film with some very funny people. The gorgeous Jennifer Garner is wonderful as the object of Ricky's affections in the film. She does a great job of playing the comedy very dead-pan. I think she is an excellent actress that can do a wide variety of performances. The rest of the cameos in the film are quite funny. I thought Edward Norton's scene was the best.

It seems I'm one of the few people that found this film hilarious and funny. As long as you don't think too hard about the premise you should get some good laughs out of it. Especially if you are a Ricky Gervais fan.

Zombieland


You will have seen from my Top Ten list that one of my all time favourite film is 'Shaun Of The Dead'. This film has been compared to that and I was kind of worried that this was an unfair comparison. I was concerned the film would not live up to such huge expectations.

I am pleased to say that while 'Zombieland' is not as brilliant as 'Shaun Of The Dead' it is still an excellent film. It seems the makers of zombie films have not been able to come up with a more interesting storyline for the genre other than a group of survivors trying to find a safe place to go to. With that in mind the makers need to come up with an entertaining journey for the heroes. That's very much true of this film. While there is very little by way of plot the film is very funny. In some ways it is poking fun at the conventions of the zombie film especially with the use of Columbus's rules. They are very cleverly used throughout the film. They are also displayed and pointed out in clever ways as well. One thing the film does well is make fun of how zombies are killed. The typical shooting of the head has become the norm so you need to come up with more interesting ways to kill them. This film certainly does that. I also loved the wonderful opening sequence filmed in slow-motion. Another film that opens with a very nice looking slow-motion sequence.

Jesse Eisenberg is an actor I became a fan of from 'Roger Doger' (an excellent film if you get a chance to see it). He is an excellent young actor who can do both comedy and drama. Here he is great as the young nerd with his rules. Much like Shaun, Columbus is called upon to become a hero in an unlikely situation. He works great with his comedy partner in the film Woody Harrelson. It is so great to see Woody appear in so many films lately. He proves here what a great comedic actor he is and how he can be a great action hero too. It is also good to see Abigail Breslin showing her diversity by appearing in a horror film. she is certainly growing up. Emma Stone is very good at the cold hearted bitch role whose heart is melted by the hero. The movie is stolen though by one of the best cameo appearances ever in a film.

A clever and very funny film that thankfully does not stray from showing lots of blood and guts. If you like your horror films funny or your comedies gory then this is the film for you.

New Moon


Hey! The review is over here. stop looking at the hunky shirtless werewolf and read what I thought of the movie.

To fill you in on my background with the 'Twilight' franchise. Last year a Friend lent me the first book to read before the film came out. I only got half way through it. Once Edward went sparkly in the sunlight I could not read any further. Vampires do not go glittery in the sunlight, they burn or burst into flames. I do not understand why Stephenie Meyer is playing with the rules of being a vampire in this way. To me a greater threat to Bella and Edwards relationship would be if he could not go out in the sun. Toning down a threat like this takes some of the thrill out of the fact he is a vampire. It makes me wonder why she made Edward a vampire if she is going to make him so soft and take away the thrills. Other stories where a vampire falls in love with a human, like 'Buffy'; 'Let The Right One In' and 'True Blood' are a lot more exciting because they stick to the rules regarding vampires. Those relationships are more thrilling and feel like they have a lot more at stake when there is a greater threat.

I will say this film is a lot better than the first one and its not by much. I think werewolves make a more interesting love interest, at least in this film. They have not messed with the werewolf rules as yet. Except he does not change only at the full moon. But a change like this makes things more threatening as he can change at any time not just once a month. They are more like fury Incredible Hulks. Get them mad and they turn into wolves. Plus I'm more of a Jacob fan than I am of Edward. So having Edward hardly in it was good. The story was also made more interesting by the arrival of the vampire council. This has helped add a new threat to Bella and Edwards relationship, which as I mentioned before is a good thing.

When she is not in a 'Twilight movie Kristen Stewart is an excellent actress. Here she does not seem to be trying too hard. I'm not sure if it is just the character of Bella but she comes across as very bland. But then again this just matches the blandness of Edward. I know vampires are meant to be dark and brooding but does he have to be so ordinary. He seems to show very little emotion, even compared to other vampires in the film such as members of his family. On the other hand Taylor Lautner is so much more interesting. I could stare at him all day he is so beautiful. Plus we get to see more of him in this film in more ways than one.

I think this series is very much suited to the fans of the book. They do not seem to be trying to make is interesting for non-fans. But as huge as the film has been this does not matter. While better than the first film it is not by much.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

A Serious Man


The Coen Brothers are another pair of directors I admire for their diversity of films that they do. They can do all star comedies such as 'Burn After Reading' and then do no star comedies such as this one.

The comedy in this film is very much of the black variety. There are quite a few laugh out loud moments but the humour mostly comes from seeing Larry continually have bad things happen to him, especially his wife who usually talks down to him and sees him as unreasonable when he doesn't agree with her position on things. Most of the humour comes from laughing at these people at how egotistical they are. The film is also very firmly set in the Jewish culture. In some respects I felt a little bit alienated from the film in that respect. I got the feeling I may not understand as much because I'm not Jewish. I was able to follow it based on what I've learnt from other films with Jewish (not that this is the best place to learn) but I just felt I may have missed some of the more subtle jokes or nuances because I'm not Jewish. Despite that I found the film very funny and the story very interesting. It can be compared to 'American Beauty' in that it is about a man in the suburbs going through a life changing experience. But Lester Burnham is more proactive than Larry Gopnik. The ending to the film is quite strange too as it seems to end rather abruptly and not all things are completely resolved. I think this may have been done to leave you thinking a bit more as you leave the movie.

Michael Stuhlbarg is not an actor you or even I have ever seen before but he is excellent as Larry in this film. He has the right nerdy/loser quality that suits the role. He is excellent at being the put upon guy who has nothing go right for him. Richard Kind is one of the familiar faces in the film and is good as Larry's brother.

This is not a film for everyone. Being a black comedy you won't find many obvious laughs. But it is still another quality film from a pair of the best directors working in Hollywood today.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Batman + Batman Returns


One of the more arthouse cinemas here in Sydney occasionally run old films. I always try to go see these as I love to see movies on the big screen as they were intended to be seen. It also means I can concentrate more on what is going on because your attention is more focused on what is going on on the screen. For those who follow my blog will know that my favourite director is Tim Burton. So when the cinema had a double feature screening of his two Batman films I just had to go.

I'll begin by explaining that I do not read comic books. So I do not have any personal notions about Batman and whether these films are accurate or not to their source material. I just judge them as the films they are. I know Tim Burton got a lot of criticism for these films because they were not as close to the true spirit of the comics. But for me, and I know I'm prejudiced, they are excellent action, comic book films. Considering that 'Batman' was only Tim Burton's 3rd feature film, he does an excellent job of handling some spectacular action sequences and working them into the plot. However Tim's films are also know for their unique look. Here he has certainly created a city in urban decay. Most of it was filmed in studios and on back lots but it still looks good. It is a very Gothic looking Gotham. I prefer the look of 'Batman Returns' which is essentially a black and white film made in colour. It is that sort of thing that I love about Tim's work. I think he got to do things his way more on 'Batman Returns' which is why it looks so good. But it also may have turned some audiences off which is why Joel Schumacher went a bit overboard with the colour in 'Batman Forever'. Another great aspect was that these films were made at a time when CGI was not used as much. Even if you can tell when models are used it still looks very good. I did not realise until now that there is very little by way of 'origin story' in 'Batman'. There is the scene where we see how his parents died but nothing about how and why he became Batman. Perhaps Tim felt Batman is one of those characters that needs very little introduction. He is just a rich guy using his wealth to bring justice to the city.

At the time I remember that Michael Keaton was thought of as an odd choice to play Batman/Bruce Wayne. Until then he had mostly played comedic roles and was not thought of as being suitable. To me the real acting in the role comes from Bruce Wayne not Batman. Batman is essentially a man in a suit with a very deep voice so it could be anyone. Especially in action scenes when it will more than likely be a stunt man. As Bruce Wayne Michael does an excellent job. He plays it more lighter than you'd expect but is still able to get the right tone for the serious moments when Bruce is in conflict about his slit personality and the problems that arise from that.

The real joy with with any superhero movie are the villains and who gets to play them. These films have an excellent trio. The Joker is one of those characters that brings out the best in an actor. It gives them free reign to go nuts. Jack Nicholson is brilliant as The Joker in 'Batman'. We know Jack can do crazy characters so it was not really much of a stretch. But with that wonderful make-up, Jack was able to take it to a whole new level. He is having so much fun with the role and has so many great lines. But as we saw with Heath Ledger recently that brilliance can over shadow the main man. I still think that Danny DeVito is unrecognisable as The Penguin. Not only is his make-up well done but he gives a brilliant performance. I think it is one of his best. He brings a great sleazy quality to the role. Michelle Pfeiffer just exudes sex appeal as Catwoman. It is one of the rare cases where having the two villains works. I love the third villain in that film too Christopher Walken. In some ways he is the main villain as he manipulates Catwoman and The Penguin like they are his henchman in his evil scheme.

Putting aside the fact these movies are based on comic books they are excellent action films with great stories and characters. They are a great addition to the superhero genre.

Where The Wild Things Are


Many people would say that their favourite Spike Jones film is 'Being John Malkovich'. But for me it is 'Adaptation'. It is one of my all time favourite films. So you can expect that I was very pleased to see this film.

There have been many rumours going around about this film and the trouble they had with some test screenings and the film's tone. I often wonder why the studio did not know what they were getting. Would they not realise from the script or early footage what sort of film Spike Jones was making? As Spike himself has pointed out in interviews, this is not a children's films but a film about childhood. While there are many child like scenes that the kids would like, I cannot imagine them being interested or understanding of some of the issues and themes the film presents. I tend to think the film was made for people who had read the book as kids when it first came out and are adults now. This would have surprised the studio who no doubt were hoping for something more light-hearted and fun that they could sell to families and make a fortune off selling a whole heap of wild thing plush toys. One amazing thing about the film is how Jones and his co-writer David Eggers have been able to turn the slim picture book into full length feature film. But they have. As mentioned before it may not be the kids oriented story you may expect but is still an excellent story. Max must deal with many things kids go through. I too have felt lonely and created my own fantasy world where I escape to. And what a world that Max escapes to. It is fairly bleak and devoid of colour but is still wonderful to look at. When I heard that the Wild Things were going to be people in suits as opposed to CGI, I was quite pleased. It is far too common these days to rely on CGI to create make believe creatures. Even from the early trailers I saw I knew the concept would work. You don't think of them as people in suits but living, breathing creatures. Jones has been able to make this unusual concept work.

Max Records who plays Max in the film is an excellent child actor. He does a great job at portraying the complexity of Max and how he is a child but being brave in front of the Wild Things especially when they want to eat him. He is able to retain his child-like innocence. Catherine Keener is good as Max's mum in a brief appearance. As is Mark Ruffalo in his literally 10 second appearance. The biggest delight though is the voice cast for the Wild Things. Even though he has a distinctive voice that makes you think of Tony Soprano, James Gandolfini inhabits the character of Carol. He has some wonderful moments with Max that despite they are not technically together when the film was made you really feel they are in the room together. Also excellent are: Catherine O'Hara, Lauren Ambrose and Chris Cooper. They help bring great depth to their characters so you really come to care for them.

I'd love to hear from parents who have taken their kids to see this movie and how they reacted. Did they howl at the end?

The Informant


I am amazed that this is the fourth film I've seen this year that has been directed by Steven Soderbergh. Some big Hollywood directors can only manage maybe one film every four years.

There are many true stories that lend themselves to be made into movies. This is one such story. Mark Whitacre is an amazing character and his story makes an excellent and very funny film. It seems that people who have delusions of grandeur make excellent leading characters in movies. People who despite all the obstacles and obvious denials of whats really going on think that what they are doing will get them somewhere. That is the fun of films like this, where you watch them come up with one outrageous lie after another. It is these situations that provide the film with a lot of its humour. The joy is in seeing Whitacre backed into a corner and then watch him try and work his way out. This is all despite the fact he is not doing the right thing but thinks he is going to be rewarded for it by his bosses. The film also has a very unusual look. While it is set in the early 90's the cinematography, production design and costumes make it look like it was set in the 70's. This is not doubt Soderbergh's intention as a tribute to these kinds of films released in the 70's. I was also very impressed with the music score by Marvin Hamlisch. He comes up with some very funny musical styles that suits each scene.

Matt Damon is fast emerging as one of the best character actors working today. He has gone to a great deal of trouble to make himself almost unrecognisable in this film. It allows him to give one of his best performances. You forget you're watching Matt Damon and only see Mark Whitacre. Matt is backed up by a great support cast in smaller roles. Scott Bakula is great as the FBI agent looking after Whitacre. Also great is Melanie Lynskey as Whitacres wife who get caught up in her husband's lies. Until they become so outrageous that she stops believing in him.

An excellent, intelligent comedy that plays like a humorous version of 'The Insider'. Marvel at how this man was able to get away with as much as he did for as long as he did.

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs


I am a big fan of the weird and wacky concepts. So this film certainly had my interest with its notion of food falling from the sky.

Right from the start you know this film is going to be special with the credit 'A Film by A lot of people'. I found that quite impressive. Not something you see much of these days with the selfishness in film credits. The thing that separates the good kids films from the bad is the attitude of the makers. Some seem to get it into their heads that you need to tailor jokes and story points to kids, like your talking down to them. When this is done you tend not to make the film appealing to adults who have to take their kids to these films. Gladly this film does not do that and is so much the better for it. I would say this is one of the better written children's film in a long time. A great deal of care has been taken to create a good story with great characters. You really come to care about the characters and their story despite how silly it is. The film is incredibly funny. The basic concept is funny itself but the creators do not let this be the only place where the humour comes from. The character traits and little asides also provide many laughs. The film also looks wonderful with very vibrant colours and designs. The 3D is brilliant as well and the only way you should see the film. Especially with the wonderful climax.

A great voice cast for me is one where you are not overshadowed by thoughts of the actor who is providing the voice. This is true of this film. Bill Hader is not a name you may recognise but you would have seen him in 'Tropic Thunder' and 'Night At The Museum 2'. He is excellent at bringing out the nerdy craziness of Flint. Anna Faris on the other hand is a more familiar name but does an excellent job at not making you think of the actress but her character. I was quite impressed with James Caan. He brings a great deal of depth and warmth to his character of Flint's dad so you get very emotionally involved in his relationship with Flint.

An excellent animated film that you won't be ashamed to see as an adult. But if you do make sure you see it in 3D to get the best affect.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls


Many of you may not know of this film. It is a documentary about one of New Zealand's biggest performing acts. Known as a the yodelling, lesbian twins. But this documentary shows them as much more than that.

I had 'heard of' Jools and Linda, mostly mentioned in passing or from ads I'd seen for when they had performed here in Australia. But I don't think I had seen them perform. This is something I regret. These woman are great performers and obviously give a great show. Their songs are not always to my liking as I'm not really into country music, but the girl do many different characters which I found to be hilarious. The documentary says that their shows are kind of improvised and I find that quite amazing. No two of their shows are ever the same. This is very brave of them. The woman have certainly led an interesting and varied life. It is very noble of them to fight for all the causes they have and not just gay rights. There is also a wonderfully heartbreaking moment at the end of the film that gets quite emotional.

Director Leanne Pooley has certainly made an excellent documentary about two women you may not have heard of. They seem to be huge in New Zealand, so I'm very surprised we have not claimed them as our own considering we do that with most successful New Zealanders.

Antichrist


I had heard that this film had a very controversial screening at the Cannes Film Festival earlier in the year. When I heard this I deliberately tried to not find out why. I wanted to be shocked without any preconceptions. I also think that this is one of the best posters I've ever seen.

I have only seen two Lars Van Trier films before this: 'Dancer In The Dark' and 'Dogville'. I know he has made several other films but I've not tried to seek them out. Not sure why. But I do think he is an excellent director. His film are always a work of art. He makes 'films' not 'movies'. This film is certainly a work of art. The opening sequence is a perfect example. Each shot is so beautifully created and filmed. Simply amazing. I was marvelling at the beauty of each shot that I could not feel the emotion of what was happening. I'm not sure if this is a failing on Lars's behalf but it might work for me emotionally when I see it again. I can be more concerned with what is going on as opposed to how it looks. The rest of the film is just as beautiful. Which I know some of you will find shocking considering what happens. I found the film visually stunning and think each shot is like a work of art. There is so much symbolism and visual metaphors in the film that I had a great deal of fun looking for them. The story is very confronting and quite shocking but it all fits in with the characters and what they are doing. None of it feels gratuitous or unnecessary. And there certainly are shocking moments. But I must say I was expecting more. With all the controversy I was expecting lots more shocks and lots more disgusting things but there are very few of them.

I find it very funny that Willem Dafoe played a director in 'Mr. Bean's Holiday' that makes arty pretentious film shown at Cannes, which is how some have seen this film. He is however brilliant in this film and gives an amazing performance considering some of the things he must do. But that is nothing compared to what Charlotte Gainsbourg does. She is amazing in this film and a very brave actress for doing all the things she does (especially one thing). She spends most of the film naked and exposed, both physically and emotionally.

This film is a perfect example of why films are a work of art and not just a form of entertainment. If you want to see something different then I encourage you to check this out. I'm quite sure it will initiate many discussions and that is what true are does.