Zero Dark Thirty

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

A C.I.A. procedural on the hunt for the worlds most wanted man. I didn't expect to go for it as much as I did, it was surprisingly engaging, especially since we all know the outcome. I didn't feel the length as much as I expected to, so that can only attest to the filmmaking and actors doing a good job.

For me it wasn't an overly satisfying film, besides the minutia of the events you can basically gleam everything you need to know about it from news and trailers, so not many surprises. It's a very straightforward telling of what happened. To what end, I'm not sure but I did enjoy it in the moment.

You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

Woody Allen's latest, or should I say latest released in Australia. This was actually a 2010 film and the two films he made after it have already been released here. I don't know why we are only getting this one now but it's here and I saw it. It was quite enjoyable but didn't really go anywhere.

Cool cast assembled to play a divers bunch of characters all dealing with different self delusions to make their lives more manageable. Some of these work out and some don't. That's pretty much the sum of it. 

Flight

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

It's nice to know Robert Zemeckis hasn't abandoned live action filmmaking. And it's a fine return to the form. He's made a character study of an alcoholic battling with addiction entertaining and engaging, with the help of a good script and some great actors doing what they do best.

It's certainly a smaller scale film than he's done in quite some time, it's also the most adult film I've seen from him. It's nice to see him exercise some restraint in regards to his camera work. He's still got it, I hope we got more from him soon.

The Possession

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Tyler, Jordan

Yeah, it's not too bad.  There were 2 good moments of suspense, some very standard possession CG stuff and quite a lot of characters that, let's be honest, we don't mind seeing bad stuff happen to... Not exactly satisfying but it wasn't terrible.

Big Man Japan

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

Hitoshi Matsumoto became a name to watch for me with this film. A documentary style look at a Japan where their fabled kaiju giant monsters were real and giant men were the countries protectors. 

The character at the center of the film is a little bittersweet. He's very funny to watch but the whole film is tainted with a sadness. It's an interesting statement about the degradation of these once iconic allegorical stories to mere spectacle to nothing more that cheap saturday morning kids tv shows, as referenced in the utterly bizarre finale.

Despite this sad theme, the film itself is very amusing in that insane Japanese way. The subdued documentary segments are interspersed with giant cg monster fights that are just as absurd. It's a bit of a riddle of a film but I really like it and what it has to say about the breakdown of this proud tradition of filmmaking. 

The Devil's Backbone

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

Some early Guillermo del Toro and a great little thriller with some supernatural tendencies. Beautifully crafted, I love the cinematography here. Great to catch up with again. I hope he will one day finish his thematic trillogy. Pan's Labyrinth is one of my all time favourite films and his treatment for Saturn and the End of Days sounded fantastic too.

Extraterrestrial

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

Huge fan if Nacho Vigalondo's feature debut Timecrimes. Once again he's taken a high concept sci-fi trope and made a grounded smaller scale personal story.

Here we have a couple after a one night stand, neither remembers much of what transpired. Then the jealous next door neighbour complicates things. Then the girls boyfriend returns and further complicates things. Not to mention the giant saucers hovering over cities all over the world leaving our characters all but abandoned after the evacuations.

I really like this one as well, it's a wonderful little drama with some unique complications. There's no intention to explain or investigate the presence of the spacecraft, but the way the relationship plays out because of it is fascinating and inventive. Look out for this one!

Side By Side

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

Oh the times we live in. They landed some cool folks to interview about this and the opinions are varied and occasionally heated. All narrated by Keanu's dulcet tones.

I'm all for nostalgia but some of these guys are just going to be left behind...