Shit, man

Hitman: Agent 47 (2015)

Directed by Aleksander Bach this film based on the computer game series stars Rupert Friend, Hannah Ware, Zachary Quinto and Ciaran Hinds. A mysterious assassin helps protect a young woman looking for her father.

Missing either 30 minutes from the film or the script this story makes little sense instead it blusters through a bunch of action set pieces. I do not know why Hollywood can not make a decent film based on a video game but this is yet another failure in the category. I suppose Rupert Friend does his best as the emotionless title character but there is not much to praise here.

2/5

A modern day Loudun

Beyond the Hills (2012)

Written & directed by Cristian Mungiu this film based on real events stars Cosmina Stratan, Cristina Flutur and Valeriu Andriuta. Two young woman that grew up together in an orphanage are reunited when one goes to visit the other who is now living as a nun.

Taking a story of religious ignorance of mental health this is a low key but good film. The plot takes it's time to unfold and while initially appears to be the story of two people who can not reconcile their different wishes for each other it takes a darker turn. I enjoyed the film and the location shooting provides a great backdrop.

4/5

Swirls

Yantra (1957)

Directed by James Whitney this is an animated short film. We see a swirl of colours morphing and changing in an abstract animation.

No doubt there is skill in creating such patterns with hand animation and this film is entertaining. Beyond it's superficial level I did not find much more to this film but I did enjoy it at least. The version I saw of this film was not of the highest quality and I am not sure if that was the fault of the recording or the original.

3/5

The hollow dream of driving a Bombay taxi

Gaman (1978)

Directed by Muzaffar Ali this film stars Farooq Shaikh, Jalal Agha and Smita Patil. Unable to find work in his home village a man leaves his wife and mother behind to search for work in Bombay.

This is a story of the cycle of poverty and how even trading a rural life for an urban one offers no release. Slow moving at times the film still manages to cover a couple of years in the life of it's characters and the montage sections help indicate the passing of time. The direction and acting is decent, the songs used in the film were award winning but did not do much for me.

4/5

A voyage in the great outdoors

The Revenant (2015)

Directed by Alejandro G. Inarritu this film based on a novel based on real events stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Domhnall Gleeson and Will Poulter. After his group is attacked by native Americans and he himself is mauled by a bear a man is left for dead in the wilderness.

Historical accuracy in terms of events and characters is thrown out of the window in this film even if it does try to be more accurate in other ways. When you get past what the film is not, it is an interesting tail of survival and revenge. There is some great camera work and landscape photography as well as impressive performances from the cast.

4/5

Wagner meets bugs bunny

What's Opera, Doc? (1957)

Directed by Chuck Jones this cartoon has voices from Mel Blanc and Arthur Q. Bryan. The demigod Siegfried (Elmer Fudd) goes rabbit hunting.

This is the classic parody of Wanger's operas and the cartoon does a great job of lampooning the style. The plot may not be especially deep but it provides a good stage for some silly behaviour. While the animation is on par with other Warner Brothers cartoons of the era the use of music stands it a bit above it's contemporaries.

4/5

Breaking the log jam

Las Acacias (2011)

Directed by Pablo Giorgelli this film stars German de Silva and Hebe Duarte. A trucker driving from Paraguay to Argentina has a woman and her baby as passengers.

This is a very simple, minimalist story that will not be to the taste of everyone. There is very little dialogue and little happens to the characters on their journey but the slowly warming relationship does have some charm to it. I enjoyed the film but did wish there was a bit more to it.

3/5