IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

This is the 3rd different outdoor cinema I've been to in a week. Perth has a lot of outdoor cinemas. And it was worth the long trip to see this oscar nominated film. Or just to stare at Gael García Bernal for 2 hours.

Like another film I saw today, The Paperboy, this was shot using camera of the period, to help sell the reality. It's not often you'll see  films being shot on video in 4:3. It certainly look authentic and the sound recording is top notch which, while incongruous with the images, is much appreciated. And it becomes hard to tell which parts are skilful recreation and which parts are just archival footage, it all blends together very well.

You can pick up the main story beats from the trailer, but the characters and mounting tension keep you invested. No surprise to find this was based off a play. In the end it's also a slightly depressing look at an industry I'm just learning I am now a part of, making television commercials for clients. Hits a little close to home there, but thankfully we've never had to overthrow a dictatorship whilst being followed and threatened.

Good stuff, check it out!

Save Your Legs!

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

This film had a few things going against it. For one it's an Australian comedy, which, let's be honest, usually means it's terrible. It's about cricket, which makes me fall asleep just thinking about it and it has a Bollywood number in it which just makes me cringe ever since some bad experiences doing an assignment on the subject at university *cue nam-like flashbacks*.

However these are all personal tastes, and even with all these strikes against I have to admit, while it didn't do anything for me, it was a perfectly crowd pleasing film and far from the cringe-worthy terribleness the trailer would have you believe.

Some fancy editing too.

The Paperboy

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

Lee Daniels' follow up to Precious is a very odd film and one that consistently succeeds in making the audience feel uneasy. Like his previous film it throws you in to a very realistic feeling setting with downtrodden characters we'd all rather pretend didn't exist.

And the 16mm photography and stylised editing really makes this feel like it was made in the period it is set. It looks great.

The film has an amazing cast that are all not afraid to get down and dirty with their roles. Nicole Kidman and John Cusack are especially confronting.

The story is somewhere between a coming of age character drama and a mystery and the structure seems a little muddled at times, it doesn't exactly have a logical flow and the naturalistic style of filming and acting can sometimes leave you unsure of what the focus of any one particular scene was meant to be. 

But those moments are outweighed by the interesting characters and performances. I'm still not exactly sure what to make of this one but I did like the look and its subversive nature.

Oz the Great and Powerful

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

Well, it's much better than Alice in Wonderland thank god. And It's definitely a Sam Raimi film. He make those flying Baboons pretty scary, and has a lot of fun with the Balloon ride to Oz. Some patented Evil Dead style whoosh pans following the sounds of something unseen, which had me giggling to myself for a while. As did the very brief Bruce Campbell cameo.

The story is nothing overly imaginative, they have some fun playing with the expectations of just who is the wicked witch but apart from that it's pretty much what you'd expect the prequel story to be, after having gathered as much from the other stories and tellings.

But it does look incredible. And Raimi doing 3D is truly something to behold. The creation of the little China Girl is just beautiful as well. All the costumes, hair and make-up are outstanding and pretty outrageous too. The prosthetic face for the evil green witch was a little odd though.

James Franco was fine as the wizard, but he never really popped for me, however Michelle Williams' take on Glinda was just delightful. And Rachel Weisz is great fun to watch too, especially in the latter half of the film. 

Danny Elfman's music sound like you'd expect it to.

A very expensive looking movie. Thankfully it's entertaining, but only really whilst watching it. There's not much you'll be able to take away from this one but there's some fun to be had.

Grabbers

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

The opening film to Monster Fest and a perfect choice it was. This is a fantastic B-Monster movie, with big tentacled aliens invading a small Irish island community who discover the only way to protect themselves from the creatures who drink blood, is to poison them by getting absolutely wasted. The premise made me cringe a little but the film delivers in spades.

The film is short and sharp, impressively put together with some really great effects and beautiful photography of the location. Throw in some genuine scarers a lot of laughs and some loveable characters and you've got a great crowd pleasing film.

I loved this film and shall be looking out for its release so I can share it with others. Looking forward to seeing what else MonsterFest has to offer!

Amour

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

Saw half of the Oscars but before best foreign film was announced I went to the first public screening of this, which won the award whilst I was viewing it. Just made it. Wish I didn't have to wait so long to see it though. And I wished they would play it in a normal cinema, like every other state in the country, instead of an exclusive season at an outdoor cinema with some of the most uncomfortable seats invented.

I love Michael Haneke's films and his stark, observational style. And here he's made one of his most straight forward and accessible films with two committed lead performances. It's a very frank film about getting old.

Not nearly as subversive or dark as his other films but it certainly has its moments. It definitely feels like his most heartfelt work though, even though it's just as cold and unflinching as the rest of his catalogue. I look forward to seeing it again in a more comfortable environment when I've had a bit more sleep beforehand. But even so I very much enjoyed Hanake's latest.