My previous choice for a horror film from SFF was not the best. However, I had high hopes for this one just based on the picture they had in the program.
The concept for this film was excellent. A group of Russian soldiers are sent to look for a scientist who is supposed to be a descendent of Victor Von Frankenstein who has been bringing dead soldiers back to life for the Nazi's. It sounded like a really cool spin on the zombie genre and with the Nazi vide that made it even more interesting. Sadly however director Richard Raaphorst and his writers have not done the concept justice. The major issue is that they have chosen to film the movie in the 'found footage' format that has become very popular with horror films lately. There are two problems with this. The film is set in towards the end of World War II but Richard has filmed the movie in a modern way. Although the movie is seen through the eyes of a soldier with a camera from that time the way the footage comes out, makes it look like it was filmed just recently. They should have either filmed the movie in black and white or at least made the footage look more grainy and old in keeping with the era from which it was set. The other problem I had was that being the 'found footage' format the camera moves are very jerky and shaky. This was annoying because you do not get to see very well the brilliant creatures that the soldiers come across at Frankenstein's lab. From what I could see they were awesome pieces of grotesqueness but you do not get to admire them for very long as the camera keeps moving away from them as the operator is running for his life. I'm sure that they would have spent a lot of money developing these creatures as well and so surely they would want them to be seen more clearly on screen. But do not let these problems deter you from seeing what is otherwise a really great horror film. There are a few clichéd moments but there is also a great deal of blood and gore to keep the hardcore horror fans interested.
The cast are playing roles that fit pretty much all the stereotypes for a group of soldiers on a mission. None of them stand out particularly well. Karel Roden is probably the only familiar face to you from small parts in films. He is excellent as Frankenstein even if he does not have a terribly large part. He does though bring the right level of mad genius to the role.
Despite being made in the wrong the way this is still a very good horror film. Well worth seeing for just the concept alone.
Another great thing about the Sydney Film Festival is the documentaries you get to see. Like this one about Napster.
Illegally downloading material, whether it be music or movies has become the newest crime which people feel no guilt about when they are committing it. Like most of the internet you can download items without much chance of being caught. As someone who loves films I do not download films. Part of the reason is my internet service, but also too I do feel a sense of guilt at depriving film makers I like of royalties. You may say that is contradictory from someone who gets free movie tickets but getting free tickets is not stealing. But also when I see a film at the cinema it is like testing the film out to see if I love it enough to buy later on DVD or Blu-ray. I have no problem with downloading TV series as they are virtually free anyway on other platforms.
The sharing of music is something that has been going on for decades. Ever since music was put onto devises to be played back, people have shared music. You might borrow a record off someone to listen to and even make a copy for yourself. I think the music industry and artists knew that it was going on but was such a small 'crime' that they did not care Then with the dawn of the internet came Napster who created a program that let you share your music digitally and in a very open forum like the internet. From what I can see in this documentary record companies and artists were scared. The interest had just become popular and so it was a very scary thing. People did not know its potential and so was fearful of what it might do.
Alex Winter has created an excellent documentary that explored the early stages of the digital download revolution and specifically the company Napster. Napster become the victim of the fear people had over the internet in it's early days. The way they were treated by the music industry was terrible but understandable. Rather than harness this new idea for good they chose to destroy it. Alex presents many different views on the subject and it seems people have come to accept what they once feared.
The world is going through a major change at the moment with the internet and what it can do to human society. Specifically the way information is shared. Like all major changes, humans become scared. This film explores one such example.
The Sydney Film Festival is not all about arty films. They also have some great horror films on their program.
I need to explain the circumstances of how I came to see this film. I had bought a ticket to see a Dutch film called 'It's All So Quiet'. But when I got to the cinema we were told that there was a technical problem and they could no longer screen the film. I had a look through the program and found 'You're Next' screening that day and thought I would swap my ticket over for it. It looked like it might be a decent horror film.
At the Sydney Film Festival you get a certain type of audience who are mostly film buffs. So they know how to behave when going to the cinema. Someone did not tell that to the audience of this film. The film stars Aussie actress Sharni Vinson who starred in the TV series 'Home & Away'. In front of me in the cinema it looked to be a group of her friends who were very excited to see their friend in a film. However they did not see all that much of the film because they spent the whole movie texting on their phone and posting on Facebook. From what I could see it looked like they were chatting to Sharni, giving her a running commentary of their reaction to the film. Luckily the film was terrible, otherwise I would have said something. There have been many films about people in an isolated area who are being attacked by masked villains. I'm not really much of a fan of the genre as I do not find them very scary. That is very much the case with this film, and not because of the audience. Aside from Erin (Sharni's character) this would have to be one of the dumbest group of people in a film. They behave and react to the situation in the dumbest ways. You just don't care about these people and the fact that they are being attacked. I suppose there is a certain thrill in seeing stupid people being killed but I did not care about that here. Then there is the twist where the intruders are revealed when it just gets even dumber. Even the reason for using the slogan You're Next has no reason for being used.
Considering that she is the only character with a good profile, Sharni Vinson is quite good in the film. She also gets to keep her Aussie accent which was refreshing. The rest of the cast are pretty ordinary as they are saddled with boring clichéd characters.
I'm not sure of the rowdy audience helped or hindered my enjoyment of the film. I don't think they had too much of an effect as the film was terrible anyway.
Great films do not always need a huge cast to be great. You can just have two actors doing an everyday job.
Director David Gordon Green is probably known to you as the director of crude comedies like 'Pineapple Express' and 'Your Highness'. David has taken time out from his crude side to make this little film about two guys on the road. Alvin and Lance are two road workers who are just fixing up a road after a bush fire has swept through the area. Basically putting in posts and painting new lines. This might sound rather boring but it is the characters that are doing this job which make it interesting. These are average guys but they have some interesting character traits which make them fun to be with. The fact they have a family connection, they are brothers-in-law, also helps to make what they do very entertaining. Most of the film is the two guys but there is a small appearance by another worker. The guy they meet is a little strange and I was not sure what to make of him. The film is set in 1988 after a major fire has swept through an area of Texas. I'm not sure why David chose this as the place ot the time to set the film. Perhaps he knew people like this growing up and wanted to honour them in a film.
I think Paul Rudd is one of my favourite actors. What ever film he is in, he is excellent. The film might not be all that great but he always gives an excellent performance. That is very true with this film. His character has many different problems which Paul brings his everyman quality to. His side-kick Emile Hirsch is also very good. Paul's character is very straight laced so Emile's is more chaotic. Emile plays that laziness really well. You definitely get the impression that he does not want to be there.
Despite being very low-key this is still an excellent film. I love films with a small cast and this one is no exception.
Not all the films I see at the festival are English language. After making a big Hollywood blockbuster, French director Michel Gondry returns to his home country to make this romantic comedy/drama.
One of Michel Gondry's biggest strengths as a film maker is his visual style. It has a very surreal look that usually compliments the dream like story of the films he makes. 'Mood Indigo' seems to be set in our world but is full of many surreal qualities.in weird ways like where on one half of the screen it is a bright sunny day and the other it is raining and the characters move from side to side getting both wet and dry. Characters also behave in very cartoon like ways. Michel uses almost all the visual effects available to tell this story and depict the world in which it exists. The story might be pretty standard but it is the way it is told that makes it unique. Some may find the surreal quality very silly but I absolutely loved it. It was this surreal element that made me love it so much. The characters do things that are surreal but feel normal to them. Michel uses old fashion techniques like stop-motion and modern ones like CGI. He blends them so seamlessly that they are a delight to behold. The only problem I have with the film is that it is too long. It gets very slow towards the end and dragged a bit.
The acting is also excellent as well. The whole cast does a great job with all the special effects that they have to react to. Romain Duris has not always been my favourite French actor but he is excellent here. He pitches his performance at just the right level of delightful to make his character really charming while not getting overshadowed by the special effects. On the other hand Audrey Tautou is one of my favourite French actors and she is her usual delightful self here. It is a role similar to 'Amelie' so it is very familiar to her. I was not a big fan of 'The Intouchables' but I still liked Omar Sy. He is even better in this film and just about steals the show.
If you like your films a bit unconventional in the way they are told then you will love this film. It is too long, but there is enough visual delights to keep you glued to the screen.
Director Steven Soderbergh has mentioned that he is giving up directing. But it seems he is just giving up cinema movies. While this film was intended for TV in the USA it is thankfully getting a cinema release in other parts of the world.
I remember even as a child thinking that Liberace was very gay. It amazes me that anyone would think of him otherwise. But somehow his fans did not think he was and even more amazingly he was able to convince a court when he sued a British newspaper. If Liberace was still around today I am positive that with the high level of media scrutiny on celebrities that he would never be able to convince people he was not gay. While he did have an excellent support team that managed to protect him, I'm sure that it would not have been enough today.
Steven Soderbergh is one of my all time favourite directors. His films cover a very wide range of topics and issues. He also makes different genres and styles. Which makes him the perfect choice to direct this film. Steven does not shy away from showing Liberace in all his glory. Including his gay glory. Older people will no doubt be very shocked by the film in its depiction of his gay life. Especially those who fell for the fact he was straight. We must understand that this film is about one of Liberace's lovers Scott Thornson and his view of their relationship. So we only see one side of this man. As expressed here in this film, Liberace is a very complex man who can on one side be very sweet and loving but also be shrewd and cunning. Like many men (gay and straight) he loves to surround himself with young lovers and the way he treats them can be seen as less than loving. But he's not the first man to do that. The film's production design and costume design is one of its major features. Liberace is well known for his flamboyant costumes and they are very much on display in the film. We also get to see the way he lived and some of the extravagant things he bought.
There have been many actors who have played real life characters to such an extent that you forget you are watching an actor play a role but that you are watching that real person. Michael Douglas does that with Liberace. At no time did I see Michael Douglas on the screen. I was convinced I was watching Liberace come to life. This is by far and away his best performance in a long time and proves he is still a brilliant actor. Equally as good is Matt Damon. Both men do things that you would not expect them to do and I really admire them for it. Matt does show himself off a bit more and he is more than up to the challenge. I was a little bit disappointed with Dan Aykroyd. Not so much his performance, which is excellent but just that he does not have very much to do. Rob Lowe puts in one of the funniest performances you will likely see this year. It may not be intentionally funny but he is hilarious and he does not even need to do much to have an effect. As Liberace's mother Debbie Reynolds is excellent in her small role.
This is not only the best film I saw at the Sydney Film festival but one of the best films I've seen so far this year. It's a shame the film was screened on TV as I'm sure there would have been many Oscars handed to it at next year's ceremony.
At the 2005 Sydney Film Festival I saw a documentary about the making of the film 'Deep Throat'. At this year's festival I got to see a film about its main star Linda Lovelace.
I have been fascinated by porn stars and the way that they can have sex on camera as their job. Sex is a very intimate act and to do that as a job I find interesting. Cinema loves to portray the world of porn as being very sleazy and dirty. Most people who enter the industry, as portrayed in cinema, end up regretting it. The film 'Boogie Nights' might be an exception. Despite these warnings people still make it and as a result they make huge amounts of money. And I don't think there has been a porn film that has made more money than 'Deep Throat'. Back in 1972 you had to watch porn in cinemas instead of the privacy of your home like you do today. Which explains why the film was so financially successful. There is also a certain fascination with Linda's oral sex abilities. The directors Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman have told Linda's story in an unconventional way as far as structure goes. That story is not a very pleasant one so the structure does help make it bearable. There is the cliché of a poorly done by porn star but Linda was treated quite badly. I would have also liked a bit more depth to the events as well. I know the story focuses on Linda but I would have liked to see more of the gangster angle explored.
Up to now Amanda Seyfried has play pretty lightweight roles, now she gets to do something with a bit more substance. Amanda plays Linda in a very sympathetic way. You really feel for her and her plight. Peter Sargaard usually plays this type of sleazy, mean guy so it was not much of a stretch for him, but he is good. You would hardly recognize Sharon Stone as Linda's mother and is excellent in the role. Equally as good is Robert Patrick as Linda's father. There was one scene with Robert that totally blew me away. Chris Noth, Hank Azaria and Adam Brody are all good as Linda's porn co-workers.
It might be a fairly conventional look at a porn star's life. But worth seeing for a different look at how sex is not always a good job.
Actress Mia Wasikowska has become a favourite of the Sydney Festival. A couple of years ago she attended with 'Jane Eyre' and now returns with 'Stoker'.
The only other film I've seen by Korean director Chan-woo Park is his highly regarded 'Oldboy'. A very creepy film with a wonderful twist. For his first English language film he chose this script by actor Wentworth Miller. Wentworth has taken a very Shakespearian story and made it into a thriller. I would love to know how much of Wentworth's script became part of the final film. Chan-woo is a very distinctive director with a certain style and he definitely makes this film his own. On the surface it is a typical story of an uncle who moves in with his brothers family after his brother dies. But of coarse things are not as they seem. Chan-woo has created an incredibly tense atmosphere where you are never too sure what a characters true motives or character is. It is like everyone is hiding some big secret. His use of imagery is amazing and makes the film all that much more creepy. You are constantly on edge. This is largely due to Charlie, the uncle. We know that he is hiding a secret but not sure what it is.
Mia Wasikowska is fast becoming one of the best actresses working today. She is simply stunning in this film as she plays India with a nicely stoic yet slightly menacing. Her character goes through a big transformation in the film and Mia makes that transformation convincingly. Matthew Goode, though just exudes menace in his performance. Just a simple stare can make you feel on edge as you watch his character manipulate his sister-in-law and niece. Nicole Kidman takes a smaller role here but is still excellent as the grieving, lonely widow. Jackie Weaver and Dermot Mulroney also have effective cameo roles.
The story is pretty much as old as time but it feels new when told by Chan-woo Park. For those who like their films on the creepy side.
At the festival this year I am seeing two films starring Steve Coogan and the second starring Alexander Skarsgard.
Divorce is one of those subjects that provides great drama for films. Some divorces can be quite amicable while others can be very brutal. This one is certainly the later. Most films usually take the perspective of the protagonists in a divorce but this film lets you see what happens from the child's perspective. I'm sure that not all divorces are like this but it makes you wonder whether couples actually think about anyone other than themselves in these situations. The emotional struggle that poor little Maisie goes through is very tragic. This 6 year-old girl is used as a bargaining chip in this selfish couples relationship. The way they treat her is I think should be considered child abuse. They both claim to love her and on some level they probably do but you cannot tell that from the way they behave. Her parents do not hurt her physically but I'm sure they are leaving some very strong emotional scars. Further proof that there are some people out there who should be parents. But themost tragic thing is that the two people in the film that should be Maisie's parents will now doubt never get to have that honour because her real parents would fight it.
At the centre of this film is an amazing performance by the young Onata Aprile as Maisie. She is simply stunning in this role and manages to carry the film despite being so young. Something that many adult actors cannot pull off. Her performance feels so incredibly real that you forget she is an actress and you just feel you are watching a real child. Her adult co-stars are quite good as well. Steve Coogan is excellent in a more dramatic role. Showing he can be more than just a crazy character. Julianne Moore is her usual brilliant self. The way she can act selfish but also try and be loving at the same time is amazing. Alexander Skarsgard is also excellent in a role that shows his more softer side. Joanna Vanderham plays another character who becomes almost like a pawn in this couples game. Joanna is very good in the role.
An emotional drama that looks at the harshness of a couple's divorce. Well worth seeing for one of the best performances by a child you will probably see this year.
For this next film at the festival I'm traveling back to the 1960's to explore the lives of two girls at a crisis in their lives.
It is interesting to look at events in retrospect. There have been a few films that explore the tension many people felt in the 1960's as the threat of nuclear war was in the atmosphere. This film explores that tension from the view point of two girls. Both going through problems in their lives and then being continually worried that the world could end. I related more to the problems that the girls had in their personal lives as opposed to the more worldly problem of possible nuclear war. The film is very more conventional than past films by director Sally Potter. The story has a sweet quality to it even with some of the salacious elements. Although the film is supposed to be about the friendship between Ginger and Rosa, Ginger gets more attention towards the end of the film. There is also a certain amount of predictability and cliché with the relationship as Rosa becomes more sexually developed than Ginger does.
Elle Fanning is developing into quite a wonderful actress. I like how she is choosing such a diverse range of roles. Elle is excellent here and brings a very sweet but tough quality to her role. As her best friend Alice Englert is very good but gets somewhat overshadowed by Elle. Alessandro Nivola plays Elle's father with just that right hint of sleeziness that is required. Christina Hendricks is excellent in the motherly role. I was disappointed that we did not get to see more of Timothy Spall, Oliver Platt and Annette Bening but they are very good in their small roles.
A sweet if somewhat conventional coming-of-age tale. The setting of the 1960's does bring an interesting element but not as much as I'd hoped.
