Wish You Were Here

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Myself

This serious film was made unintentionally hilarious by the private commentary I got from the group of old people sitting behind me in the theatre. The poor dears just couldn't comprehend the concept of non-linear storytelling and the best they could do to figure out what was going on was to read out loud every single bit of text or information that came up on screen, be it a sign post or a letter or even the production company logos at the start. Equal parts infuriating and adorable.

Despite the narrative jumps back and forth I found the story to be pretty simple and the mystery to be not so mysterious. And apart from that mystery all the film has to offer is a bit of martial drama, so I didn't find much to engage me, which is probably why I spent a good deal of time listening to old people or notice that one of the number plates in the film had my initials.

Looks nice though. I guess it was alright.

Act of Valour

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Myself

No. Just... No.

In the end it doesn't matter that this film has some of the best inventive shooting and editing of military operations, a fascinating visual look from a variety of sources and extremely realistic visceral action. It doesn't have story, characters or acting. Casting real navy seals lends authenticity at the expense of everything else.

There's really no point in wasting your time on this propaganda when you'd get the same experience watching someone play Call of Duty for 3 hours. Love the shooting style and action, just give me something to hang it from please.

Dark Shadows

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Myself

Before seeing this film the only thing I knew about Dark Shadows was a passing reference in the Fright Night remake. I cant attest to the accuracy of the adaptation but I can see that this is clearly a Tim Burton film, his visual style is clamped all over it. And not the cool old school plaster and painted backdrops look, the new smooth and glowy digital one, which I don't like as much.

The trailer makes the film out to be a comedy and while it does have some funny moments it probably shares more in common with its melodramatic roots. You can see them pushing the family friendly horror too and some moments are kind of effective, in particular the bloodshed that occurs when Barnabas rises from the grave.

My biggest problem with the film is that it feels like they tried to cram in 5 seasons worth of plot into the film and many of the characters get short changed. It leads to a big climax of revelations that is ridiculous and funny and very hard to tell wether intentional or not. Perhaps that means it's working. Or perhaps it is just terrible.

There is some fun to be had here. As you would expect, it looks and sounds amazing and the great cast do what they can with their characters. It looks very expensive for the kind of light entertainment it ends up offering. It's you're bored and there's nothing else on, you could do worse but it doesn't leave much of an impression.

Red State

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Myself

Write Up.

Listening to the commentaries, which are actually 6 smodcasts. Most don't run the entire length of the film so I'm only writing it up once, but I've actually sat through it now quite a few times to get through listening to them all.

I gottas say they are some of the most informative and interesting commentaries you'll likely ever hear. A must for any film students. And what's really cool is they get people in you don't always hear from. Like the casting director and the first AD or the DP. They each have in-depth discussions and Q and A's with a live audience. And Kevin Smith keeps things funny too. even if you didn't like the film, definitely check them out. You can probably listen to them online too.

The Lady

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Myself

I always take note when Luc Besson makes a new film. Even this film, which doesn't completely work dramatically and seems like a very unlikely match of material and director, has some great moments.

First and foremost the true story is rather incredible, although perhaps not the easiest to dramatise. They play up the separated lovers romance angle but it never had the groundwork to really resonate. They cram a lot of stuff in and it is quite a long film but there's usually something interesting happening to keep things moving. They managed to cram a lot in.

Michelle Yeoh and David Thewlis are just fantastic. It helps I'm a big fan of both but even then they can never quite sell the blatant sentimentality they heap on at the end. It's a terrible thing to say, considering it's all a true story but it's one of those stories that if you saw as just a film you probably wouldn't believe it. 

There are a lot of great scenes that really do work though. Mainly all the stuff towards the first half in Burma and the campaign for democracy. The way they portray the evil regime is like something out of a 90's action film. I guess that's Besson coming through. But perhaps the language barrier or difficult shooting conditions stop him from really connecting this one with the audience. 

I was very intrigued by the end titles alluded to the difficulty of getting footage from inside Burma. Sounds fascinating. And it works as a political and historical educational piece but the rest is a little dry. 

The Caller

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Myself

Ooooooooooo problematic. It's cool to come up with a cool high concept plot device and I really loved the idea behind this one but paying it off and filling in the plot holes that pop up once questions start being asked, you know, actually making it work. That's another skill altogether.

I think even in the trailer you can see the problems with this one. I'm not one for alternate timeline theory but to be fair, the film sets up rules and sticks to them so I guess that's fine. But it's really tenuous. It doesn't bother to explain it's conceit either, it just is and expects you to go along with it.

Conceit aside, this film played up the horror right from the get go and doesn't ease you into it at all. This film really doesn't care much about suspension of disbelief. The suspicion and fear is cranked up to 11 from the opening and there's just no way to get in as an audience. You kinda get used to it as you go along but it makes those opening moments very hard to take seriously and consequently you're never quite onboard for the rest of the film.

Vampire Bill is in this. As is Luis Guzman whom I just cannot take seriously which makes his role problematic here too.

Yep. The whole film is just problematic. Points for trying. Some nice ideas that just don't develop too well and lack the execution needed to make it work.

Flight of the Navigator

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Jordan, Tyler

Write up.

80's kids sci-fi adventure awesomeness.

Agora

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Jordan

This film was also quite overlooked when it was released. Huge budgeted Spanish film, made in english language set in Alexandria at a time of great religious upheaval. Sure to be a controversial subject with a lot of resonance today.

The film is really telling the story of Hypatia, played by Rachel Weisz. And that is interesting in its own right but with the backdrop of the religious politics of the day and the civil war in the city you have a big epic looking backdrop to place her character in.

As impressive as the production design and scale of everything is, I sometimes wish the film had chosen to just focus on one of the elements. You could make the biopic for less than half the cost of this film and I'm sure it would be just as interesting.

But what is fascinating that you get by putting them together is the futility of it all. It actually does serve to emphasise themes and makes a great point. Director Alejandro Amenábar includes these almost godlike point of view shots from the heavens, cameras that zoom in or out right from space to the bustling streets of the city. Again it's all about putting eveything in context and it works rather well.

It's an intriguing story that raises a lot of questions as well. It can be a little stuffy at times but the production is an impressive feat and well worth a look. 

The War of the Worlds

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Jordan

Write Up.

This story has been at the centre of a debate between myself and some friends and thus a screening was in order. The debate rages on. But the screening was fun!

Bug

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Mum

This is a bloody fantastic movie that was completely overlooked when it was dumped straight to dvd in Australia a few years back. William Friedkin adaptation of Tracy Letts' creepy play was one of my favourite releases of 2006. Not in the least for another intense and off the wall performance by Michael Shannon who is reprising his role from the stage.

That trailer does a terrible job of advertising the film and makes it look more like a straight forward horror film. In truth I can't think of a way you really could market the film to a broad audience but rest assured, it's not a b-grade monster movie. It's a psychological paranoid thriller that is wonderfully shot and paced and has some really really great performances.

The way the madness of the film builds and the paranoia spreads like a disease is absolutely riveting and horrifying to watch. It's short and intense, has a great sound design and leaves you with some strange ideas, especially if you stay through the credits and see the little scenes hidden in them.

Friedkin seems rejuvenated by the material here. I'm very excited to see his next film, also written by Letts, which looks equally as nuts. For now though, everyone go out and find a copy of this amazing film and watch it alone late one night. It's a lot of fun!