The Rover

Straight out of the future Australian Outback The Rover will intrigue you from the moment it starts; captivating its audience with its overpowering use of sound, in particular the stark contrast between silence, dialogue and music. The sound was almost used to cut between scenes, which made them almost seem jumpy but in a good way, you hear every breath and every footstep.

This deliberate use of distinct sound sits well with the pace of the film; there is no particular rush to the story. It’s a bit like Dude Where’s My Car in as much as there’s this dude, played by the extraordinarily talented Guy Pearce, looking for his car. Admittedly that is where the similarity ends, as it is gritty and dark not ridiculous or funny. Even for the most desensitised of audiences this film has the ability to shock with its sudden graphic violence.

Another shock was the acting, having previously avoided all films starring Robert Pattison, it was a surprise to see how unbelievably talented he is.  Pattison gives an almost Oscar worthy performance as the vulnerable young Rey, wiping the floor with Guy Pearce’s portrayal of the hardened loner Eric, a massive feat in itself.  He is definitely much more than a pretty face, which he actually hides quite well in this movie.

In fact there is nothing pretty about this film, not the actors, not the story, not the sound, which makes the Australian Outback a perfect backdrop for it; its barren and full of dull colours, which is also fitting as it is set at a time after an economic collapse.  However this story could have been told at any time, the only difference being the lack of authority, and the heavy hand when they do appear, not necessarily by them either.  There is no other reference for the period other than an opening line explaining that it is 10 years after the collapse, the focus of the story is actually nothing to do with the collapse, its literally just about Eric looking for his car.  

It is very slow and may not keep everyone’s attention throughout, as it could be seen as just one massive drawn out over reaction to a car theft, but go see it if you don’t like midgets, love Guy Pearce and want to be shocked by graphic violence.

All This Mayhem

ALL THIS MAYHEM opened this weekend, it may not be a film you have ever heard of before, but it’s definitely worth a watch.  Not necessarily the need for the big screen, however if you are part of the skateboarding community then get yourself down there, bring your board, get a pint (if you watch it a cinema that are decent enough to serve) and ooo at the tricks alongside your fellow skateboarders.

This documentary follows the lives of the Pappas brothers, from their childhood in Australia to their rise in America and, without spoiling it for those that don’t follow the skating world, let’s just say right through to the end of their careers.

In true documentary style this film combines interviews, home video and TV footage to give a rounded picture of the lives of Ben and Tas Pappas; it really shows the passion they have for each other and for their chosen sport, from being suburban “bogan’s” to comp circuit world champions.

This portrayal may sound like an honest one of brotherhood and elation, which it is, but as with all good things, they do come to an end.  However in the case of the Pappas brothers, not quite the end the skating world expected. 

Accompanied by amazingly frank narration from Tas himself, a great soundtrack and with some brutally honest revelations you should go see this if you are NOT a fan of Tony Hawk, love skateboarding and not afraid to get a little emotional in front of your friends.

RIP RW

Today the world lost yet another comic genius, academy award winner, Robin Williams.  For people of our generation one of their earliest TV memories will be of watching the amazing Mork and Mindy, then growing up with classic films such as Hook, Toys and Mrs Doubtfire; then getting older and realising the wealth of talent Robin Williams really has when watching films such as Good Will Hunting and One Hour Photo.

When someone dies no words can express the emotions, but as the internet floods with quotes and condolences, a rather poignant one stood out that Robin said in an interview a few years ago on Inside the Actors Studio:

‘If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates?’

‘The concert begins at 5:00.  It’ll be Mozart, Elvis, and anyone of your choosing.  There’s seating near the front’.

And Classic FM posted this with the comment ‘Farewell Robin Williams. Enjoy the Concert’.

A local Nott’s writer, put on their status in honour of him today, that “if a man as wonderful as you cannot find a way to laugh anymore, then the whole world is fucked”.  To some extent I agree with this and 100% agree with the sentiment, but its forgetting one thing, Robin Williams was suffering from an illness, an illness that is terminal to a higher per cent than people care to acknowledge or think about.  Robin Williams was suffering from Manic Depression, and suicide is a symptom, Robin Williams died of Depression; so to those people out there who have the inhumanity to say that suicide is selfish, consider that for a while.  I am not saying that all suicide is a result of Depression, and some suicides could be seen as selfish.  But Robin died a very poorly man, don’t let how he died detract from his amazing career and life.

 

Boyhood

Boyhood is Richard Linklater’s latest creative masterpiece, it combines elements of his previous successes; you see aspects of Before Sunrise/Sunset in how the concept of time is being used and also in the beautiful cinematography.  It also contains many a profound rambling akin to Linklater’s slightly edgier films such as Waking Life and Scanner Darkly.  Although it could be argued that Boyhood as a whole is greater than the sum of their parts.

The unique idea for a film, an experimental almost period film set in the then present but filmed over 12 years, is what attracted Ethan Hawke to work with Linklater yet again, and arguably he gets some of the best lines, “you don’t want the bumpers, life doesn’t give you bumpers”, when speaking to his very young son, MJ, played throughout the film by the very talented Ellar Coltrane.

At some points you feel like something very dramatic is going to happen, but you also get the sense of a rawness, that this hasn’t really been scripted to be going anywhere but to follow an adolescent grow up.  However it is definitely not cheesy, you don’t witness a load of firsts, but moments that people genuinely would remember from their childhood/adolescence.  What makes it so believable and genuine is that many of the ideas in the film were sourced from Hawke’s, Linklater’s and Coltrane’s real lives, what they were going through and what they were into at the time of filming individual scenes; from divorce to gifts they received. For example The Black Album was a gift Hawke actually gave to his daughter.

This film does last nearly 3 hours, but you have to remember they have crammed 12 years into this, having said that it is paced perfectly; nothing was that obvious, even when time was skipped it all flowed seamlessly.  The use of politics and music gave the audience a time stamp, as well as the changing haircuts and obviously seeing the changes in MJ.

There is a really strong life lesson to be learnt in ths movie, which perhaps some of us learn to late in life, but is portrayed beautifully here is that we are all accountable for our own decisions. If you decide to engage in this movie then it will make you laugh and at some points even move you to tears, but you would be forgiven if you find it slow, non-consequential and a bit too long.

Go see this if you would like to replay all the advice you may or may not have received, an interest in profound gibberish and American politics, or if you simply like having your memory jogged to reminisce those awkward moments of life growing up.

Starred Up

From just seeing the trailer or reading a synopsis for Starred Up you could be mistaken for thinking that this just another British prison drama, which initially could make you think of the hundreds of dramas seen on both tv and the big screen. However this is different, this is edgy, it makes you uncomfortable.

Jack O’Connell (from This is England & 300 fame) plays the outstandingly believable character of Eric, a young offender, who has been “starred up” to big peoples prison where his dad happens to be. Although Jack and the rest of the cast are quite accomplished in their previous achievements there are no “big” household names which make their characters even more believable as no one is particularly recognisable. Having said that it might be the career defining performance for the Aussie actor Ben Mendelsohn who plays Eric’s dad.

From the moment it starts you are sucked into prison life, you feel as though you are there. The distinct lack of a soundtrack and the 3rd person camera angles that David Mackenzie cleverly directed make you involved, you feel like you might actually get hit and before you know you are flinching in your seat. Forget 3D with direction like this you don’t need it. Even though it is mainly based on the real life experiences of 6 prisoners and a prison therapist, the script itself is clearly improvised during some of the more intense scenes. The pace of some of the insult flinging is too quick to capture it all but you will hear some of the most original insults known to man, you don’t know whether to laugh or be disgusted. (I obviously laughed).

Go see this if you like to watch naked men fight, to squirm in your seat and to leave the cinema feeling a bit battered and bruised.

American Hustle

It is probably fair to say that this film has been everywhere and everyone in it has been nominated for something, so it’s probably surprising that in the audience last night were two completely clueless people who had no idea what it was about, or just quite how long it was! Although it did make it turn into a game of guess who as its full of really famous actors in 70’s disguise, so if you don’t already know who is cast then don’t find out before you go and you can spend over 2 hours wracking your brains. (The two names revealed in this review are fairly obvious so as not to spoil the game!)

It opened with the most terrifyingly horrific scene; which is likely to have the same effect on the modern audience as the shower scene in psycho had for the pre-desensitized audience of the 60’s. It will stay in your mind’s eye and make you shudder for days to come... But thankfully shortly after this Amy Adams erect nipples make an early entrance, and so begins the longest ad ever made, an ad for the unbelievable power of tit tape.

Astonishingly enough Amy’s nipples are actually upstaged by the endearing and comical character of Rosalind, played by Jennifer Lawrence, whose vocabulary (watch out for her lingo for Microwave) and ability to end an argument are just sublime. In fact everything about Rosalind, and in turn Jennifer Lawrence, is simply adorable.

If you have seen Silver Linings, then you would agree that the direction is easily recognisable as the distinct style of David O Russell whose technique adds to the subtle humour of the film. It is not laugh out loud funny from beginning to end but you are more than likely to find yourself smiling throughout the film. However it is a very long film, but if you can’t follow the scam in this love story masquerading as a con film (oh the irony), then you can enjoy the soundtrack and retro stylings.

Go see this if you like lovely cleavages continuously on display, delightful arrays of hair dos, bizarre “sex” scenes and the song Delilah.

Oblivion

After Jack Reacher what little faith I ever had (possibly not since the days of The Firm and the first Mission Impossible) in Tom Cruise was restored; however good ol’ Tom has managed to completely smash that to smithereens with Oblivion.

Normally its not worth reviewing a bad film, however this was so appalling am actually in shock it was made let alone hyped and now the number one film in the UK.  The producers (plus the director – who happened to write this catastrophe -, cast, lighting crew, special fx guys, make up artists, costume designers etc) should all crawl into one of them very unrealistic futuristic caves featured in the film and think about what they have done for a good few years…

Virtually every scene is stolen from other mostly good sci-fi films (from Wall-E to Star Wars to The Island) and then twisted into something still recognisable but so bad and blatantly just does not even fit, because basically it’s a really poor love story.  In fact this film should really be labelled a mosaic.

At one point in the film it actually looks like Tom is sat at home playing xbox over dramatically thrashing around to entertain his kids whilst trapped in a bubble…although am not sure scientology allows Xboxes

Even Morgan Freeman couldn’t save this, despite the fact he enters with sunnies on and smoking a cigar; but he reveals yet another twist in the plot that just makes you slightly angry because there are way way too many of them and yet no story is really allowed to establish… he also seems to have caught the badactingitis that was clearly going around the set.  The extras are so bad it seems like they must have been paid in particularly weak cold tea.

The only saving graces, if you can call them that, is the fact that one actress is quite pretty (Olga Kurylenko) and Jack Harper (Toms character) talks this wobbly head doll thing Bob although that begins to grate towards the end of the film.   Oh actually that’s a lie, the saving grace of this, is in a strangely placed “artistic” interlude you see Jack Harper and his girlfriend in silhouette, very careful placement of their bodies makes him look taller than her, but yep you guessed it, in the very next shot 5 seconds later, instant short arse again, always worth a chuckle.

Go see this if you like pointless cheese (think gone off quavers), bad effects, even worse acting or just fancy a nap for 126minutes.