Movie Reviewing and nattering

Canada 2003
Dir: Guy Maddin

In a word: Unusual

Filmed mainly in Black & White with a 1920’s look to the film, combined with lots of Vaseline on the lens and a huge nod to The Cabinet of Dr Caligari. I can think of no other film that has fewer right angles. This is a film about a competition to find the saddest song in the world run by a woman with glass legs filled with beer. I quite enjoyed the first half of the film; party because the strangeness kept me wondering what will happen next. Unfortunately towards the end the film dragged badly. 15 minutes shorter the film needed to be.

Why see it? You are interested in strange films, or you wish to see a film with expressionist outdoor scenes.

Old Boy
Warriors of Heaven and Earth
The Five Venoms
Peterson
Hotel
20:30:40
Young Adam
One Missed Call
Red Lights
Zatoichi
The Lost Skeleton of Cadarva
Hero
A Page of Madness
Azumi
Breaking News
The Heroic Ones
G-Sale
Waking Dreams
The Chonicles of Riddick

South Korea 2003

In a word: Injustice

Between this and Silmido, 2 based on fact stories from South Korea, I have little confidence in justice in that country. Similar to US films like 'The Thin Blue Line', and UK films like 'In the Name of the Father'. Memories of Murder is based on the still unsolved rape and murder of several women. Several of the officers investigating seem more focused on beating out a confession of anyone who has a link to the case, than with finding out the truth. This is a look at officers under stress who vent with violence. Overall the film is engaging and worth a viewing.

Why see it? You want to test your rock solid faith in police justice

Palestine 2004

In one word: Disgust

Due to a late running prior session I unfortunately missed the first 20 minutes of this one, so I may have missed some important points. This film shows things from the Palestinian side, a side that seemed only to be on the news when a suicide bomber went off. There are so many strong emotions in this conflict. The Palestinians have been dispossed of their lands and are constantly under threat from Israeli incursions on their land. The Israeli’s on the other hand are under constant threat of random acts of terror. Neither side has the moral high ground in this one. Then again does any side in a conflict really stand on the moral high ground. It is usually a case of one may be less worse. There are some chilling moments in this film, most notably when a Palestinian insurgent, asked about using a young boy in the conflict, basically replies that if the boy dies there are plenty more where he came from. It was hard to walk away from this film not thinking with disgust of the actions of the Israeli government, but also disgust at the depths people will go to have things their way.

Why see it? For an insight into one side of the conflict.

Australia 2004
Dir: Paul Cox

In one word: Muse

Paul Cox introduced his film at the session I saw and one scene got me thinking about what the director sees while watching their film, as opposed to what an audience member sees. The scene concerned was a languid shot of cave formations. So was I to interpret that as showing the insignificance of the human experience, what was Paul Cox intending? This is a film about artists and hence has several deep and meaning conversations about life. There are no real answers forth coming from this film, but the musings are interesting.

Why ssee it? A good film about love and what it means.

Japan 2003
Dir: Yamashita Nobuhiro

In a word: Meandering (or maybe calm)

The wandering of 2 film makers through a rural town and the odd characters they meet. This film meanders in the same style as films I can not think of. Part of the problem with this type of film is that they are hard to remember. There is no particularly memorable scenes. So while I know I have seen similar films, butnames elude me. Even though thse films are hard to remember they can still be interesting and it iis the characters that make or break them. Similar in someway to Jim Jarmusch's Coffee & Cigarettes, in this case better, but still my attention driftered indicating weak points in the film.

Why see it? You enjoy the minimalist films of Hal Hartley ('Amateur', 'Simple Men'), or like odd character pieces, you feel the need for a calm film.

I wrote this a couple of weeks ago and will just put it down as written.

As I sit here waiting for 'Coffee & Cigarettes' I am thinking about Jim Schembri's piece in last weeks EG. Like Adrian Martin last year he dis's the presence of films that already have a cinema release organised. Given that represents about 5% of the program, it reeks of pretension. Are they suggesting a return to the days when the festival was shown in 2 small cinemas (instead of the 5 large ones of recent years)? Given the presence of so many films and the impossibility of seeing them all I would suggest they both go and see the other films which will not get a release and get over it. Yes it is possibly not the place of a film festival to give screen time to films already scheduled for release, but if the presence of these films helps bring more people to the festival and makes it more viable I see that a a good thing. Also it may give those who would not otherwise see harder to find movies a reason to expand their horizons, an excellent result. On the balance as long as those already scheduled or even likely to get scheduling do not take over the festival can survive their presence.

Australia 2004
Stars: Marcus Graham

In a word: Integrity

A very good film, not great, but very good. Marcus Graham ('Good Guys, Bad Guys') plays a very different role as a nervy play writer trying to keep the integrity of his play in the face of his dream of success. Kym Gyngell plays a successful producer who agrees to put Josh's play on with a few conditions. Kym Gyngell seeems to becoming the new Charles Tingwell, appearring in so many recent Australian films and the films are the better for it. This was a very well made film with none of the appalling acting that has blighted too many Australian films. It has clearly had a reasonable budget, yet retains a low budget feel. The low budget feel comes most from the lack of explosive action sequences. So why did I like it? Performances very good, script good, no obvious gaps but no great strengths, otherwise solid and well polished piece.

Why see it? You enjoy a good film.

Sweden 2004

In a word: Travelled

A land in plague, a land in grips of madness, a land of suffering and loss. Setting out to met her husband returning from 4 years of fighting for god, Hanna crosses through a land with plague rapidly spreading. Set some time in the middle ages I recognised the place it was filmed, a fortified town from around 700ad that has been reconstructed in Eketorp. Any many ways this is a road movie. Hanna meets many people, good and bad, on her journey to meet her husband. She deals with them as best she can. There are no great insights to be found in this movie, but interesting characters and how they deal with hardship.

Why see it? Musing on sacrifices for love

7 out of 10
Australia 2003

The emotions this doco swirls in me. While overall it was only an average doco, the subject matter stirs me greatly. Peter Dombrovskis, the man who took arguably Australia’s most famous photo, his early mentor Olegas Truchanas and the wilderness they both photographed and loved so well are the subjects of this film. My thoughts now wander to what I am doing in my life and with my life. Conflict in all its various guises has always scared me so much. My life while taking some risks has always followed the easy path. Should I, like the photographers in the film, be doing more for a cause. Their passion for the wilderness and photography lead them to greatness, should I too follow and put more zest into my life. They gambled regularly and eventually lost, but the world is a better place for their passion and gambling. Given what I have written how can I say this is an average doco, well while the subject has brought to the surface some strong thoughts, I found much of the film dull. Films though are not just about how they are made, they are also about what they contain. For that reason alone I recommend this film.

Hong Kong 1967
Dir: Chang Cheh (aka Chang Cheuh)

In a word: Better

This has been the best of the Chang Cheh films so far (the others have been 'The Heroic Ones', 'The Magnificant Trio' and 'The 5 Vemons'). The dialogue is still pretty average, but the fights are better.

Why see it? For aficionados of Kung Fu films.

South Korea 2004
Dir:Hong Sang-soo

In a word: Boring

This has been the worst of the festival so far. This is a slice of life film about people I can not care about. It jumps around in time (at least it seems to), but it is difficult to tell when things are taking place. While mercifully it did not drag, the ending was a welcome relief. Nothing much else worth saying about this one.

Why see it? You have 2 hours it kill and you have seen every other film at the video shop.

7 out of 10
Sweden 2003

Finally a comedy, I needed some light humour after all those not so light films. This was a screwball comedy, hope it is the correct term, a quiet town in Sweden is just too quiet for the police. Headquarters has decided the town no longer needs a police station. Trouble is the police like their jobs so decide the best way to keep them is boast the statistics. You can probably guess the rest, goof ups, love interests and oddball characters. Despite the predictable story it was still a good laugh and that is the main aim of a comedy.

8.5 out of 10
Germany 2003

Desperate people doing desperate things. This is the 4th movie today about those much worse off than me and it has hardly lifted my spirits, and this was a heavy hammer to bring me down. This movie with 6 separate, but linked stories about people trying to improve their lot has left me feeling low about our world. While the developed world is happy enough mouthing platitudes about helping others, it seems to be doing little but exploiting the many poor to overpay a few. This movie was not about wealthy exploitation, more about the mercenary self interest of desperate and not so desperate people. An excellent film about people sinking or swimming, helping or backstabbing.

7.5 out of 10
south Korea 2000

A story of love and love not returned. Jinha is the hero, a swordsman of the much sort after Bichunmoo (pronounced Bi-chun-moo) art, a swordsman few match in 1-on-1 combat. Sullie is the woman he loves and loves him in return. Fate is not of thier side. A story full of texture with music that mixes both Eastern and Western styles. While the film breaks no new ground in term of story, style or action sequences, it does have a plot that does not jump around too much and can be followed. For someone interested in checking out Asian Kungfu films they would find this an excellent place to start. For those already into them it is a worth while (well worth while) visit to the cinemas or video store.

7.5 out of 10
Australia 2003

Moving in both senses, a road movie through remote WA and a film with moving moments. The performances by toni Collette and Gotaro Tsunashima were excellent and the scenery was so evocative of outback Australia. A sense of place was strongly convade. Despite being such an excellent film I can find little to write about it, except see it.

7.5 out of 10
Russia and Chechnya

The opening shots of train lines was some of the best cinematography I have ever seen. Based on a true story this film is so timely with the masses baying over blood in Iraq, Afghanistan, USA, Bali, and so many other places in the world. It gives the film so much more meaning. Those who get caught up in conflict are people little different from you and me. Janna is a patient at an asylum caught up in part of the conflict between Russia and Chechnya. As first the Chechen rebels and later the Russians hold sway over the asylum, you meet people who are soldiers and inmates.

4 out of 10
Stars: Tilda Swinton

Soft cyberpunk with an amateurish production. With a definite Gibsonesque story set in what appeared to be current day San Francisco. The design aspects varied from the impressive to B- grade. Tilda Swinton (Boys Don’t Cry) plays 4 roles, one very much in the timid geek mould. This role she did not play well, it seemed more bad acting than timid geek. Many of the other performances had a stiltedness to them. While I accept in ‘real’ life many conversations are stilted it is hard to portray that well given the media so often portrays only the well spoken. Despite that it was still a bad performance. Her other roles in the film were of various quality, none even very good.

8 out of 10
Spain 2001
Dir: Jaun Carlos Fresnadillo
Stars: Fernando Boviara

Luck, is it a tangible thing, can you have it, hold it, touch it? Can luck be combined, given away, stored or taken away. Quite right this film is about luck and those with it and without it. Now 15 minutes after the film has finished this film is still a strong presence inside me, it still is as I copy this the next morning. The scenes in the forest and the final game of chance are excellent. Throw the dice and take a chance, see the film or not let your luck decide.

Australia 1975
Dir: Bert Deiling

In one word: Rough

Lots of needles and the run aruond to find something to fill them. 'Pure Shit' starts with several minutes of black screen and music. Is it a reference to the blackness of the hit? As it is filmed in Melbourne for much of the film I was trying to spot familiar locations, only one I can be sure of. By and large the acting was stilted, made more noticable with the appearance of Max Gillies as Dr Wolff. Not a great film, but interesting in the very different view of drug usage/addiction.

Why see it? You have an interest in drug culture films, Australian films or you want to see a gritty (such a cliched word) slice of life trying to score.

USA 2003
Dir: Jim Jarmusch
Stars: Many

In one word: Awkward

Coffee and Cigarettes is a film of vignettes where the main links are Coffee and Cigarettes and awkward conversations. Starting with the over caffinated Roberto Benigni and Steven Wright the film dived into an awkward boringness that did not pick up until an ironic talk between Alfred Molina and Steve Coogan ('24 Hour Party People'). Where Alfred is the less successful actor seeking the attention of the 'in' Steve. Watching this after seeing 'Sipderman 2' added to the amusement. Jim Jarmusch has a knack for getting famous people to play 'themselves'. The trouble with this film is the dialogye is barely interesting and sitting for 1 1/2 hours watching unrelated awkward conversations does not make for a great film. When compared with the excellent work Jarmusch did in 'Dead Man' and 'Ghost Dog', this film is very lacking.

Why see it? Your a fan of Jim Jarmusch or you like dialogue based short character pieces.

As it is nearing the end of the Melbourne International film Festival I thought I would publish my opinion on some of the films I have seen. So enjoy as I hope to add film reviews on a regular basis.