Into the wilds with cinema

Battu's Bioscope (1998)

Directed by Andrzej Fidyk this is a documentary shot in India. A man takes his travelling cinema round rural India showing Bollywood action films.

This is an interesting exploration and criticism of the love of cinema which ends up shining a light on the tragic life of the protagonist. There were times when I wondered just how authentic of a documentary this film is but it still ends up being an interesting watch whatever the case. If you can track it down this is certainly a though provoking film.

4/5

American shite

American Heist (2014)

Directed by Sarik Andreasyan this film stars Hayden Christensen, Adrien Brody, Jordana Brewster and Akon. A mechanic finds himself pulled back into a world of crime when his older brother is released from prison.

This film is based on the earlier film “The Great St. Louis Bank Robbery” and seems to manage to roll out nearly every genre cliché. Subtlety is thrown out the window and things get pretty stupid at times. It is hard to find anything to praise about this film as even some of the special effects seem a bit suspect too.

2/5

An old lady goes to Chechyna

Alexandra (2007)

Written & directed by Alexander Sokurov this film stars Galina Vishnevskaya and Vasily Shevtsov. An old woman travels to visit her grandson who is an officer on a Russian military base in Chechyna.

While the slow, sedate pace of this film fits it's protagonist well others may find it a little on the boring side. Unfortunately the content of the film is also somewhat of a gentle nudge towards ideas on Chechen-Russian relations that lacks the impact to make up for the slow pace in my opinion. There are some decent performances from the cast and the locations really capture the desolate landscape where the film takes place.

3/5

Animals

The Drop (2014)

Directed by Michael R. Roskam this film based on the short story “Animal Resuce” stars Tom Hardy, Noomi Rapace and James Gandolfini. A quiet man works at his cousin's bar that is occasionally used a drop point for money belonging to organised crime.

This is a really nice slow burner of a film and fits in well with the standard set by other adaptations based on the works of Dennis Lehane. Taking a fairly simple and familiar set up the script includes some great characters that help elevate the story. It helps there are great performances from the cast, particularly Tom Hardy as the film hinges on his performance completely.

4/5

Dumb

Dumb and Dumber To (2014)

Directed by Bobby & Peter Farrelly this sequel stars Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels, Rob Riggle, Laurie Holden and Kathleen Turner. Twenty years after the events of the first film Harry discovers that he needs a kidney transplant and may have a grown up daughter.

While this film certainly has it's funny moments they are not as often as they should be and the mean spirited nature of the protagonists takes away a lot from the film. The plot is pretty secondary just being a by the numbers effort to allow for the crass humour. Twenty years is probably too long to wait for a sequel and the long period of development certainly did not help this film.

2/5

Beauty in basic

Damon the Mower (1972)

Directed by George Dunning this animated film is inspired by “The Mower's Song”, a poem by Andrew Marvel. A man cuts the grass while talking about the woman he loves.

While the animation style is really unique and pretty interesting I found it hard to divine any deeper meaning from the occasionally surreal collection of images. No doubt there is probably more to this than meets the eye but what it is exactly escaped me. As this is only a short film it is worth a watch in my opinion.

3/5

Racist toons

Bosko, the Talk-Ink Kid (1929)

Directed by Hugh Harman and Rudolf Ising this film mixes live action and animation. An animator creates a new character who can interact with him and break the 4^th wall.

For such an early film there are some pretty cool innovations in terms of the interaction between human and animation. Unfortunately the film shows it's age as the animated character is clearly a racial stereotype which leaves a bad taste in the mouth. An interesting milestone in the path of animated film certainly but not much more than that.

2/5

Good marriage, bad adaptation

A Good Marriage (2014)

Directed by Peter Askin this film based on the novel of the same name stars Joan Allen, Anthony LaPagila and Kriesten Connolly. A middle aged woman finds out that her husband is a serial killer but decides not to call the police despite having the perfect opportunity.

I found it really hard to accept the premise of the film, that a person would rather live with a serial killer than call the police. It does not help that the film falls completely flat and fails to build any tension either. Both the main roles were weakly acted so in the end there is not much to recommend this film on which is unusual for a Stephen King adaptation.

2/5

Harry Potter and the angry lawyer

The Gamechangers (2015)

Directed by Owen Harris this film based on a true story stars Daniel Radcliffe and Bill Paxton. While Rockstar games aim to revolutionise gaming with the next entry in the Grand Theft Auto series a lawyer attempts to see the game company over their violent games.

This film takes a sledgehammer like approach to the discussion of mature content in video games and seems to have little understanding of how games are made. Most gamers will probably be wary of any film on this subject and as this film proves they probably have a right to be. Most of the performances are decent and there is some nice special effects but this film is not as mature as the games it is about.

2/5

An average Murray

St. Vincent (2014)

Written & directed by Theodore Melfi this film stars Bill Murray, Jaeden Lieberher, Melissa McCarthy and Naomi Watts. A down and out old man with a grumpy attitude end up baby sitting the son of the woman next door for money.

Nearly anything with Bill Murray in it is good and this is a pleasant enough watch but it is fairly predictable right from the get go. There are funny moments but at times towards the end the film does threaten to go a little overly sentimental. As much as I enjoy watching Billy Murray in anything I would question slightly his performance in the later parts when his character is unwell.

3/5

Not so deep

Lovelace (2013)

Directed by Rob Epstein & Jeffrey Friedman this biopic stars Amanda Seyfried, Peter Sarsgaard, Hank Azaria and Sharon Stone. We follow the true story of the young woman who stared in the porn film that was everywhere in the 1970s in America.

What I really liked about this film was how it almost plays the same story twice, first the one the public initially saw and then the much darker private story. While there maybe some disagreement over accuracy of parts of Lovelace's own accounts it is a good watch even if not as in depth as I would have liked. Sharon Stone is unrecognisable in her role and watching the film I had no idea she was in it.

3/5

Greed and that sinking feeling

Black Sea (2014)

Directed by Kevin Macdonald this film stars Jude Law, Konstantin Khanbensky, Scoot McNairy and Ben Mendelsohn. A joint British-Russian submarine crew heads to find missing Nazi gold on a lost u-boat in the Black Sea.

While the plot for this film runs through a number of the usual clichés for submarine films it is decently made and tense through out. At times the plot hints at but never fully explores the effect of greed on men and I would have liked to have seen this explored a bit more deeply but it is still a decent addition to the story. Most of the special effects are good and the claustrophobic nature of the situation is well captured.

4/5

Frankly everyone should die

All Cheerleaders Die (2013)

Written and directed by Lucky McKee & Chris Sivertson this film stars Caitlin Stasey, Sianoa Smit-McPhee and Brooke Butler. A high school student infiltrates the school cheerleader squad to get revenge after the death of her friend on the team.

There is actually a fair amount of potential in this film but it takes forever to get going and then is all over the shop. Sometimes it's fine to have a film where all the characters are morally ambiguous but here it's becomes impossible to find anyone to root for. The special effects get a little ropey when it comes to crystals and glowing lights too.

2/5

An 80s Cinderella disaster

Flashdance (1983)

Directed by Adrian Lyne this film stars Jennifer Beals, Michael Nouri and Lilia Skala. An 18 year old woman works as a welder, dances at a club at night and dreams of joining a ballet company.

Some how this film was a smash hit despite it's paper thin plot which has a suspect romance story involving a much older man harassing an employee into dating him. At times the film seems like little more than a series of music videos which are very loosely connected together. Some of the dance sequences are nice but the way they are edited together always suggests the use of body doubles.

2/5

Horses, Iceland, Death and Love

Of Horses and Men (2013)

Written and directed by Benedikt Erlingsson this film stars Helgi Bjornsson, Charlotte Bovig, Sigriour Maria Eglisdottir and Maria Ellingsen. We see six connected stories about people and their horses from the same rural community in Iceland.

No doubt there is something enjoyable about this look into the slightly bizarre nature of a community still so reliant on their horses. The interactions between the characters are often strange and hint at the similarities that still exist between man and beast. There is some great landscape photography that really captures the look of Iceland too.

4/5

The writers won

Seven Psychopaths (2012)

Written and directed by Martin McDonagh this film stars Colin Farrell, Sam Rockwell, Woody Harrelson and Christopher Walken. A struggling screen writer attempts to write a screen play about seven psychopaths but is distracted by his dog kidnapping friends.

This is a bizarre, off beat comedy that plays with it's audience in some really fun ways. While the observations on cinema are not especially deep or surprising there is more than enough character and charm to carry this film. Having a great cast certainly helps but it is the writing that is most impressive as it pulls off walking a dangerous, self aware tone.

4/5

Throwing shapes

Allegretto (1936)

Directed by Oskar Fischinger this is an animated short film set to music by Ralph Rainger. Shapes and colours swirl in time with music.

The images compliment the sounds here very well but it's hard to say that there is anything more to this short film than that. Given that this is a hand made animation it is an impressive achievement and certainly a diverting watch for a few minutes. While this is enjoyable modern technology has rendered it a little unremarkable.

3/5  

Love at first sight rubbish

Charlie Countryman (2013)

Directed by Fredrik Bond this film stars Shia LaBeouf, Evan Rachel Wood and Mads Mikkelsen. After his mother is taken off life support a young man travels to Romania and falls in love with a cellist.

There are some nice touches to this film but it is flawed by the central love story which is just not creditable at all. I am sure there is some potential but with the core of the story so weak the rest does not hold together. While I really loved the sound track to the film that is about all.

2/5

More of the same

Horrible Bosses 2 (2014)

Directed by Sean Anders this film stars Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis and Chris Pine. Our trio of protagonists start out on their own only to get screwed over by an unscrupulous businessman and seek revenge on him.

After a mediocre first film in this series this is more of the same, nothing especially interesting or fun but just about gets by. Some old material is rehashed by bringing back characters and there are some funny moments but there is little remarkable about this film. I suppose the idea for the plot does a decent enough job of not being a straight repeat of the first film but that is about the most you can say in favour of this film.

3/5

Short shite

Police Car (1966)

Directed by John Cale of the Velvet Underground this is a short film. A car with bright lights starts in the distance and gets closer.

This short is made with under exposed film and frankly it is impossible to tell what is going on. There are some white patches on a mostly black, murky background and that is it. How this film got on a list of 5000 important films is beyond me.

1/5

Nearly was but wasn't

Channeling (2013)

Written and directed by Drew Thomas this film also known as “De@th on live” stars Taylor Handley, Kate French and Skyler Day. In a world where people can broadcast their life live via contact lens a soldier returns home to investigate the death of his brother who broadcast his high action life to the world.

There is a really good concept here but unfortunately the story gets stuck in action mode and never really gets into what is a really relevant area. Why people seek the attention of others and the negative effects it can have are important, contemporary issues but there are times when this film does not seem to know what it wants to be. None of the performances are bad but there are times when the character actions make no sense at all.

2/5

Just one day

At Middleton (2013)

Directed by Adam Rodgers this film stars Andy Garcia, Vera Farmiga, Taissa Farmiga and Spencer Lofranco. Two married strangers meet while taking their children to visit a college and spend the day getting to know each other.

This is not the best romance film you will ever see but it's sedate pace and gentle nature do give it a certain amount of charm. Two unhappy characters have a brief flirtation over the course of the day which is much more interesting than the sub plot involving their kids. At first Andy Garcia seems a little miscast but eventually won me over.

3/5

Not really better

Better Living Through Chemistry (2014)

Written & directed by David Posamentier & Geoff Moore this film stars Sam Rockwell, Olivia Wilde and Michelle Monaghan. A downtrodden pharmacist finally snaps and begins a drug fuelled affair with a local trophy wife.

There are a lot of places this film could go but unfortunately the script never seems to have fully realised the characters so their actions are never convincing. What we are left with was a bit of a disappointment as there is some potential for a Breaking Bad lite style story here. At times it seemed like both Sam Rockwell and Olivia Wilde were miscast as well.

2/5

The grandfather of loony toons

Fantasmagorie (1908)

Directed by Emile Cohl this is an animated short film. A stick figure morphs through various objects in a bizarre stream of thought.

There is pretty much no narrative here at all but the humour and slightly surreal nature of the film really fit with the much later style of Bugs Bunny cartoons for example. The animation style is very simplistic but fits it's purpose even if it seems rudimentary. For it's short run time this is an enjoyable distraction that will likely raise a smile if not much more.

3/5

Never take an RV to Texas

Race with the Devil (1975)

Directed by Jack Starrett this film stars Peter Fonda, Warren Oates, Loretta Swit and Lara Parker. Two couples on an RV holiday together in rural Texas witness a murder and get chased by Satanists.

This is a pretty bare bones story that is little more than an attempt to cash in on the Satanist scare of the 1970s. Character is pretty much an after thought when it comes to the script which is more action than suspense or tension. At times it seems the film is made pretty cheaply and is very clearly a B movie.

2/5

Simplistic solidarity

Pride (2014)

Directed by Matthew Warchus this film based on real events stars Ben Schnetzer, Joe Gilgun, George Mackay, Paddy Considine, Bill Nighy and Imelda Staunton. During the 1984 miners strike in the UK a group of gay and lesbian activists raise money to help the miners.

As much as this is an interesting story about solidarity of causes much of the film does raise eyebrows at the historical accuracy as the film features many cliches and genre tropes. Some of the humour is too obvious and the film just a little too safe when creating a simplistic feel good piece rather than going deeply into some serious issues that are covered. There are some really good performances from the cast but at times the is a bit too much of a self congratulatory puff piece for my taste which is a real shame.

3/5

Not so extraordinary

Extraordinary Illusions (1901)

Directed by George Melies this short film is also known as “Dislocation Mysterieuse” or “Dislocation Extraordinary”. A clown performs tricking involving his limbs and head being detachable.

Compared to some of the other camera magic tricks I've seen from Melies this is not the best but for it's short run time it's pretty entertaining. Some of the editing is a little jumpy and you can see how this one is done very easily. While this may not be the directors best work you can see how it was a start on the path to his better stuff.

2/5

If you go down to the Norwegian woods today...

Trollhunter (2010)

Directed by Andre Overdal this film stars Otto Jespersen, Hans Morten Hansen, Tomas Alf Larsen and Johanna Morck. Three Norwegian students making a film about an alleged bear poacher discover he is actually a government sanctioned troll hunter.

Unusually blending found footage and fairy tale this film is surprisingly interesting voyage into Norwegian folk tales and wild life management issues. Some of the content may go over the heads of us non-Norwegians but apart from one or two moments this is a really well constructed piece. The CGI holds up well and the plot rattles along at a decent pace.

4/5

Aryan idiocy

Supremacy (2014)

Directed by Deon Taylor this film inspired by real events stars Joe Anderson, Danny Glover, Dawn Olivieri and Evan Ross. On the day of his release from prison a member of the Aryan Brotherhood is picked up by a gang groupie, shoots a cop and takes a black family hostage.

There is a pretty interesting set up here but the film never really goes anywhere or explores the characters in any depth. What could be a tense face off is kind of bland in the end and a bit of a disappointment. The lead actors do a decent job but there is not a lot to work with really.

2/5

Summer lovin'

Stranger by the Lake (2013)

Directed by Alain Guiraudie this film stars Pierre Deladonchamps, Christope Paou and Patrick d'Assumcao. A man that regularly visits a gay cruising spot by a lake in the summer begins a relationship with a man he thinks killed his predecessor.

This is a slow burning story that seems to serve as a criticism of the anonymous and dangerous nature of the cruising scene. Desire and lust over come common sense in what becomes a really taut but low key thriller. I really enjoyed how claustrophobic the film feels despite being shot entirely outside at a lake.

4/5