A couple of reviews have gone up over at Cinetalk.
Chernobyl Diaries, a horror in which a group of young holidaymakers find more than they bargained for in the ruins around Chernobyl.
Kosmos, in which a strange figure turns up at a small town, possibly with the power to heal.
Dinosaurs, Herzog and magic mushrooms…
We played Dinotasia for only a week at the Gate Cinema, and I didn’t get a chance to see it until Thursday, the last day of screening. (Cinemas work on a Fri-Thu week). Hence, I didn’t bother reviewing it at the time. However, it’s such a niche film that I realised I was doing it a disservice by ignoring it!
Dinotasia is a weird film. It was billed as a dino-documentary narrated by Werner Herzog, but it isn’t really. It’s a series of shorts, all starring different dinosaurs going about their daily lives, but vaguely anthropomorphised so that stories can be told. Battling T-Rex’s, who are out for revenge, a sauropod getting high on magic mushrooms, giant deadly frogs… Between each short, Herzog narrates. He doesn’t get a lot of time, so he has managed to squeeze ‘extra Herzog’ into each line he has. It is brilliant.
Although the science behind the film is relatively sound (not just in my opinion, but that of a palaeontologist friend also) this is not a documentary and it isn’t out to teach us anything new. If you’re after depth and learning, then you’re better off visiting the Natural History Museum. It is also not a film for young children, as it’s fairly violent in places, and includes some dino-sex.
Dinotasia is, essentially, a late-night beer film for people like me. I am the niche audience, and I loved it. (The film should have been sold with a great B-Movie poster: SEE Dinosaurs fight, love and Get High! SEE giant deadly frogs! HEAR Werner Herzog!)
The film is unlikely to be seen a great deal in cinemas, but if a screening does come up I recommend the film. Go in ready to laugh, and you’ll have a great time.
Some reviews…
I spent three days enjoying some great science-fiction and fantasy films at the festival. It was great fun, and I met some lovely people.
The first of my reviews have been published at Cinetalk.
CYCLE
SOL
ZERO ONE
I also saw the fantastic doc BEING ELMO, which I reviewed too. It’s being distributed by Dogwoof, who are working with the Gate Cinema on a great season of docs this May.
Here are some updated links to a few reviews I’ve written for Cinetalk.tv:
AVENGERS ASSEMBLE
BATTLESHIP
BREATHING
And a review of A THOUSAND KISSES DEEP for Starburst Magazine.
Stuck between a rock and a hard place…
I visited the very shiny and new Hackney Picturehouse in order to catch this interesting feature. I’m not sure what I expected from the film, but certainly it impressed me a great deal!
The film is a study of Martha, played by Elizabeth Olson, who has spent the last two years of her life as part of an almost self-sufficient cult. She escaped and is now living with her sister, recovering. She refuses to speak about what she’s been through, however, and is working through it all in her head. The film jumps between this new existence, and life with the cult.
Where this could have become a simple ‘cults are bad’ message, the strength of this film is that the Martha provides an opportunity for different values to be explored, and for our own society to be examined from the outside. It is also an interesting study into how our personalities are infused not just with societies values, but with those we consider friends and family.
Patrick, the ‘leader’ of the cult is a charismatic man that has built this community around him. Whether he believes in the ideals or not isn’t really explored.
The performances fantastic with Olsen and Joh Hawkes standing out in particular.
Very engaging, very moving. I felt like I wanted to ‘know’ more of the facts, and I wanted to see Martha before life in the cult to understand why she would be so attracted to this way of life. (We are told several facts, but telling ain’t showing, people!).
Overall, one of the best of 2012 so far, and well-worth checking out!
The end of one life, the beginning of another
A Useful Life is a small film – only 67 mins long – but has such a big heart.
Set in Uruguay, the first half of the film is centred around an arts cinema, called cinematica, which is struggling. Amongst the assorted managers, projectionists and directors we meet Jorge. He has worked at the cinema for 25 years. The cinema runs on routine. We see Jorge go through an auditorium, checking all the seats. This is a lovely insight into the running of a cinema. There is one regular customer that he has a crush on, but finds himself to shy to do much about. He is happier sorting through old film reels.
The cinema loses its funding and is forced to close.
Jorge is, for a short while, stunned. There is a touching scene where he is sitting on the bus, crying.
The second half of the film follows Jorge in the new period of his life. No longer having his safe routine to hide behind, he is forced into action and embraces change.
At its core, A Simple Life has a simple message about embracing change, and how by living by routines we are lying to ourselves about our nature.
There are some beautiful shots in the film, but nothing flashy. There is fantastic use of music, too. Like I say, it’s a small film with a big heart. A Simple Life is one of the gems of 2012, and I highly recommend hunting it down.
London’s Comedy Film Festival
This was the first year of the Loco festival, but there was a really strong line-up of films and events. Alas, due to work commitments, I could only make it to one night of the festival – the Discovery Screening – in which a brand new short and feature are presented to an audience. And may I say, the future of UK comedy looks bright!
All Consuming Love (Man In A Cat)
A short film from Dice Productions which is, as all good shorts ought to be, properly weird. A woman believes that she has mice, so buys a cat. Inside the cat’s hollow, squishy head lives a tiny man in a jumper. Such a wonderful little existence is created. The animation and voice acting is great, and it’s very funny indeed. Check out the trailer below. Seeing this did raise the question of how difficult it is for short films to be seen in a proper cinematic environment, though, which is a real shame.
Black Pond
The Thompsons are a couple that have been together for many years, but have reached a point of simply existing. There is no joy in their marriage any longer, and most of their life is being lived through their daughters who have moved out. Whilst out walking the dog, Boy, Tom Thompson (Chris Langham) meets Blake (Colin Hurley). Blake seems a little simple, or innocent, but pleasant enough, so goes back for tea. This small act goes on to change the lives of all involved, and results in a death and a divorce.
The outcome is given away early, but it is the details and the character development that provide the interest. The relationships between the Thompsons and their friends are realistic to watch and the is the main strength of the film. The only character which doesn’t work quite as well is Eric Sacks (Simon Amstell). His scenes felt very different from the rest of the film, and the character much less real, which jarred with the family.
Chris Langham and Colin Hurley really stood out for me, with Langham managing to squeeze every drop of humour from his role.
Although being shown at a comedy festival, there are no jokes in BLACK POND. It is, however, extremely funny. The humour comes mainly from the characters and their relationships, and is very dark in places.
Highly recommended.
Life Just Is
I was lucky enough to be invited to see an early screening of new British Indie LIFE JUST IS, a fresh take on the lives of urban 20-somethings, from writer/director Alex Barrett
We follow a group of friends for a week. We see relationships begin, break up and develop. However, these aren’t standard ‘movie’ relationships, and they don’t necessarily go the way the characters would like. One of them, Pete is going through a tough existential crisis, while Tom and Claire are struggling with the simpler problem of mutual attraction.
It took me a while to get into the film, but much like real friendship, I think that is because I had to get to know the characters. Once I did, I was thoroughly engrossed. I was worried that the episodic nature of the film – each day has its own title card – might break up the flow, but it works really well and actually keeps the film moving, where perhaps it could have stalled on certain events.
The film manages to be both very large in scope, discussing religion and the existence of God, and also extremely intimate. The conversations are very realistic in the way they are written and are performed naturally by the cast, which really brings the characters to life. Of course, in an ensemble piece like this, some of the characters will end up a little neglected – but wanting to know more about them just proves that what we see is interesting and well thought-out.
Ultimately, once the film had finished, I find myself wishing I could see the next day in the lives of these characters. Watch it, and you’ll feel like you’ve made some new friends.
Visit the official website and follow on Twitter.
Kim Jong-Il’s monstrous creation, PULGASARI
I went to the fantastic Roxy Bar And Screen to see PULGASARI.
Now, the story behind the film is pretty amazing. Back in 1985, Kim Jong-Il had South Korean Director Shin San-ok make a monster movie. Of Course, San-ok had been kidnapped by North Korea, and was being held against his wishes. Special effects are from Godzilla studios Toho.
The film follows the story of a village which is being, essentially, pillaged by the King. The villagers revolt, and several are taken prisoner. One, the blacksmith, creates a small doll out of rice and food. When touched by human blood, the doll comes to life, and begins to eat metal.
As the villagers continue to fight against the evil regime, the monster grows in size, before becoming large enough to take on entire armies.
Some of the torture scenes are surprisingly shocking – particular an old woman getting her legs beaten by a plank of wood. Some of them are fairly silly (such as an executioner giving a full-on movie ‘evil laugh’). However, it isn’t the people that are the stars of this film, it’s Pulgasari himself.
In his first scenes, he’s tiny. You will want one as a pet. Once he’s big, though, the effects are standard 80′s Godzilla stuff. It’s bonkers, and I loved it. It’s really the sound effects that lift this film, though. They are very cartoonish in places, with hilarious consequences.
Without getting into the politics of the film, it is very entertaining in a ‘so-bad-it’s-good’ kind of way, and is different enough from other Toho monster films to be fresh.
Like the ‘Asian Movies Meet-up Group‘ to stay up-to-date with other events and screenings.
The first film of 2012
A silent film about the death of silent film. Rave reviews, great anticipation and awards buzz that would be deafening, except, of course, it’s all silent.
Can a film eighty years out of time really be as good as everyone is saying?
The film starts in the 1920’s, and George Valentin (jean Dujardin) is a Hollwood star at the height of his fame. Following a chance encounter with Peppy Miller (Bérénice Bejo), a young actress, Valentin steps in to give her career a boost, and the sparks between them fly.
The trouble begins when cinema takes that giant leap into the unknown – sound.
As with so many of the great silent stars, George Valentin doesn’t make the transition, and his life begins to fall apart. At the same time, Peppy Miller become the new biggest name in town.
The story is simple and won’t tax you at all. The real joy of The Artist is the clever way that homage is made to silent classics, but in a very fresh, very modern way. There are moments of absolute brilliance. What’s more, the comedy is spot-on.
Watch it, ideally in a cinema that’s been running since the 1920′s, because the year has started with one of the very best films!