Thursday, July 26, 2007
Once (85 min)
2006 Dir: John Carney
Stars: Glen Hansard (Guy), Markéta Irglová (Girl)
A love story, a musical, neither, both. The unnamed leads (guy and girl) are would be musicians, well trying to get a musical career people. The story starts when girl talks to guy while he is busking. From there it is a story of music and possible love. Filmed, at times, in a style similar to documentary, the variable quality of the image is distracting in the early part of the film. The shaky hand held shots and graininess of the image gives the film a home made feel, like a movie that had a budget for only part of the filming. Does this add to the charm of the film, yes, but with the downside of the distraction. The music is a folksy pop (like John Butler or Ben Lee). Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová both perform the music wonderfully, with some lovely songs of longing. The music and the performances of these two are truly delightful
Why See It? You enjoy folksy pop music and endearing characters.
2006 Dir: John Carney
Stars: Glen Hansard (Guy), Markéta Irglová (Girl)
A love story, a musical, neither, both. The unnamed leads (guy and girl) are would be musicians, well trying to get a musical career people. The story starts when girl talks to guy while he is busking. From there it is a story of music and possible love. Filmed, at times, in a style similar to documentary, the variable quality of the image is distracting in the early part of the film. The shaky hand held shots and graininess of the image gives the film a home made feel, like a movie that had a budget for only part of the filming. Does this add to the charm of the film, yes, but with the downside of the distraction. The music is a folksy pop (like John Butler or Ben Lee). Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová both perform the music wonderfully, with some lovely songs of longing. The music and the performances of these two are truly delightful
Why See It? You enjoy folksy pop music and endearing characters.
Back For MIFF 2007
Well I am back for the Melbourne international film festival, after a 2 year break. Today I saw Ulzhan and Once (see reviews in other posts). Tomorrow it is off to see Teeth, Exterminating Angels and a couple of short films. Hope you enjoy my reviews.
Ulzhan (105 min)
2007 Dir: Volker Schlöndorff
Stars: Philippe Torreton (Charles), Ayanat Ksenbai (Ulzhan), David Bennent (Shakuni)
A road movie, a character paly, a mysterious stranger in an unfamiliar land. Charles is a man on a mission he arrives in Kazarhstan by car, but is soon heading east by foot. Despite, or is it because of, his mission he shows little care for anything, his passport, possessions, life or those he meets. As with all road movies it is the journey that is important and a key part of the journey is the people encountered. Ulzhan and Shakuni areCharles’s 2 main encounters. Charles’s journey is not an action packed one (eg Thelma and Louise), nor is it serene (a la Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring). The fascination with this movie is what draws the characters together and scenes of Kazarhstan. Unfortunately what draws Ulzhan to Charles does not seem to have a discernable reason and this is a failing of the movie. There was also a short period near the end of the movie were it dragged. This occurred not long after some questions are answered, maybe it is the unanswered questions that hold you interest.
Why See It? You are interested in seeing the journey of a careless man.
2007 Dir: Volker Schlöndorff
Stars: Philippe Torreton (Charles), Ayanat Ksenbai (Ulzhan), David Bennent (Shakuni)
A road movie, a character paly, a mysterious stranger in an unfamiliar land. Charles is a man on a mission he arrives in Kazarhstan by car, but is soon heading east by foot. Despite, or is it because of, his mission he shows little care for anything, his passport, possessions, life or those he meets. As with all road movies it is the journey that is important and a key part of the journey is the people encountered. Ulzhan and Shakuni areCharles’s 2 main encounters. Charles’s journey is not an action packed one (eg Thelma and Louise), nor is it serene (a la Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring). The fascination with this movie is what draws the characters together and scenes of Kazarhstan. Unfortunately what draws Ulzhan to Charles does not seem to have a discernable reason and this is a failing of the movie. There was also a short period near the end of the movie were it dragged. This occurred not long after some questions are answered, maybe it is the unanswered questions that hold you interest.
Why See It? You are interested in seeing the journey of a careless man.
