Movie reviews : Films I’ve just got to mention
Sometimes you go to a film and you come out feeling, OK, that was ‘nice’, it was a nice night. Sometimes you come out just so gobsmacked, so moved, so inspired, so changed or humbled or impressed by the acting, directing, writing or artistry you just got to say something. So here’s my list of recent gobsmacker ‘must see’ films:
heartbreaking, gritty, spiritual, important. Presley Chweneyagae was fabulous and utterly convincing ****
here’s a review by Chris:
A beautiful film, humane, soulful, important. Leleti Kuhmalo and Kenneth Kahmbula were faultless and deeply moving. ****
Matthew Mc Fadyen is a compelling, moving actor with a some of the reserve and mystery about him that is so compelling in actors like Anthony Hopkins and the wonderful young actor, Ryan Gosling. Matthew stars in this mystery-drama alongside NZ newcomer, Emily Barclay (who strikes me as a young Julie Walters). They make a lovely team and the twists and turns in this film make it both poignant and surprising. ***
Brokeback Mountain (2005)
A beautiful, heartbreaking, socially important film with wonderful performances by Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhall and Michelle Williams. ****
Transamerica (2005)
Moving, fun, bring the tissues. Felicity Huffman was incredible as was Kevin Zegers as the son. ****
here’s a review by Chris
Fabulously written, wonderfully philosophical. Justine Clarke and William Mc Innes play their characters in a way that is so poignant, relateable with a wonderful mix of fun and black humour. ***
Great fun, raw, silly, innovative, quirky. Let’s see it at Cannes. Shane Jacobson is the most endearing and likeable character in this… really reminiscent of Marki Addy in The Full Monty and the wonderful John Goodman. ***
here’s a review by Chris:
A sensual, beautiful, shocking, gritty film introducing Abbie Cornish, considered the new Cate Blanchett and Sam Worthington who I also saw do a wonderful job in Tap Dogs. ***
Peaches 2004
Another sensual, beautiful film, introducing Australia’s answer to Audrey Tatou, an upcoming Australian actress, Emma Lung. ***
Pride and Predjudice (2005)
Classical period gem with great emotional tension. Wonderful to see Kiera Knightley in something with such substance. She and Matthew Mc Fadyen did a wonderful job with this. ***
Vera Drake (2004)
Gritty, shocking, moving film. Wow. Imelda Staunton was astounding in this. If you haven’t seen her work, run and find it. I love Julie Walters’ work and that of Brenda Blethyn in the same way. All of them, wonderful British actresses. ****
Joyeux Noel (2005)
Wonderful, moving, poignant film so timely in our current waring world. Awesome. The lip syncing in the opera numbers was the only fault but, forget that, the story, the acting, the characters in this… just gobsmacking. And wonderful to see Daniel Bruhl in this after seeing him in Ladies in Lavender. ***
Bad Boy Bubby (2005)
Crazy, surreal, shocking, philosophical film which is unforgettable. Woah, incredible guts behind this film. Nicholas Hope is incredible in this. Forget Forest Gump (well, not really as that’s one awesome film and Tom Hanks is at his best in that), watch this film. ****
Ten Canoes (2006)
Awesome, innovative, eccentric, beautiful, playful, funny, one of a kind film. Hope it goes to the Oscars. Congratulations to all the actors in this. It was so tangibly real. See it. ****
One of the best written films I’ve ever seen by a first time writer/director/producer, Murali K Thalluri, who self funded the project. The cast was so vibrant, so highly talented. Introducing Teresa Palmer, so reminiscent of Abbie Cornish here. A faultless, gripping, riveting, shocking and important film. It will ground you with a jolt. The best $10 of therapy around. ***
An Inconvenient Truth (2006)
Empowering, honest and a stark exposé of the true face of human selfishness at its most destructive and apathetic. Watch this is you dare and I wholeheartedly dare you to. ****
Kanyini (2006)
A most important educational and socio-historical film for any person who cares about truth, justice and equality. ***
This was such an incredibly fun, feel good film. I’m not much for Rom-Com but Kinky Boots is too quirky to be slung into the usual rom-com pile. It had me in tears. Sarah Jane Potts is adorable and Chiwetel Ejiofor is the best thing since Tim Curry in Rocky Horror Show. I love Brit comedy and this one has the life and soul of three of my favorites; The Full Monty, Billy Elliot and Little Voice. ***
Well what can one say… Judy Dench… she’s like Tony Hopkins and Michael Caine… she’s an institution. The name Judy Dench is associated with a pretty high standard of film and this one lives up to that (she was also wonderful with Bob Hoskins in the wonderful Mrs Henderson Presents). Well, here she plays opposite Cate Blanchett and the quirky Bill Nighy. It’s a gripping film, somewhere between a drama and a thriller and its so wonderfully dark and gritty. ****
My goodness, I’m so horribly biased with this one, being a fan of Peter Rabbit. Renee Zelwegger does a wonderful job as Beattrix Potter and the scenery is also star of the film along with the wonderful animation as Peter comes to life. A lovely heartbreaker of a film. ***
Becoming Jane (2006)
Anne Hathaway did a convincing Brit in this story of Jane Austen. Like Kiera in Pride and Prejudice, it was nice to see her in something with such substance. James Mc Avoy was captivating and utterly steals not only Jane’s heart but that of the audience. ***
Venus (2006)
Absolutely captivating, disturbing, moving. This is a must see performance from the legendary Peter O’Toole (nominated for an Oscar for this and rightly so). He stars opposite young British newcomer Jodie Whittaker who is just spectacular in this. She is most scenes and manages to hold her own with awesome O’Toole in an incredibly tight script and wonderful writing which truly highlights what good writing should be. ****
My Best Friend (2006)
What a gorgeous film by Patrice Laconte. Starring Daniel Auteuil and Dany Boon, the leading characters in this are so captivating and their friendship is superbly done, touching on the aloneness of all people. Loved it. ***
Amazing Grace (2006)
What a film. An historical epic set in the 1700s about the abolition of the UKs slave trade. Brilliant script, brilliant cinematography. Brilliant direction. Important, moving story. Incredible performances all round with Ioan Gruffudd at his finest and Romola Garai really shining as his Mrs. Loved it. ****
Oh WOW. This film floored me. Whilst about sex slavery, The Jammed is actually a film with universality. It’s an important film, critical film, a gripping rollercoater, a poignant story of sisterhood, survival, growth and diversity. It’s also a damning critique of our goverment’s policy on refugees and illegal immigrants and how their policies, far from protecting Australia, can empower human traffickers. This will rile many a conservative who prefers a back patting surface image of Melbourne, of Sydney, of the underbelly of any modern city and I dare them to see it. All the more ironic that’s its set in what’s called ‘the lucky country’. It’s a film you don’t want to see, and for this among a fifty other reasons that spring to mind, its why you should find a Nova, a Cameo or any of the other cinemas it’s showing at. It’s a film the powers that be wish will go away, and a film any humantiarian should hope, doesn’t.
Emma Lung and Saskia Burmeister were awesome among a very powerful cast. If little pics like this could get to the Oscars, these girls deserve to be nominated. The roles were demanding, the breadth vast. The performances top shelf, no problem. Not an acting flaw in sight. The script was tight, the dialogue made every precious piece of blah count, the direction was good, and all performances were credible.
I have never seen a film like this come out of Australia and it has set a standard on high concept film which I hope to see other writers aspire to. I just hope this film stays on the radar yet it’s a film that after seeing, you can’t help but talk about. I expect word of mouth will keep it out there. ****
I adored this film. Ryan Gosling is as good as Dustin Hoffman as an actor. The man is a genius. The storyline was strong, original and tight. The characters were rich and tangible. I could deeply relate to the lead’s fear of touch as ‘pain’ and terror of intimacy. His delusion that a doll was a real woman was so close to my 30 years certain there was another girl, my best friend, in the mirror, and my loss of her on understanding and accepting the physics of mirrors was so akin to the lead’s struggle with the perceived death of his ‘real girl’ that I could so deeply relate. What for others may have been a voyeristic journey into the bizarre, for me was a wonderful validation. Just awesome. Hat’s off to the screenwriter, but also to the director and actors. Great job. See it. ****
author, artist, composer, screenwriter.
I’ve seen Pride & Prejudice & Brokeback Mountain from this list. I preferred Pride & Prejudice as I quite like Jane Austen to read. I tend to favour biography though will read anything really. I would like to see Vera Drake. I love movies
Have you seen Millions? It is my favorite of recent movies. Fun and hopefull. The people in the theater clapped when it was over.
Also, Amelie? A french movie with Audrey Tatou. My other favorite. Try them both and let me know what you think.
I’ve seen Amelie and yes, its one of my favorite all time movies. Though I didn’t mention it because its not a recent release. I watch a lot of movies because the words in books end up tumbled and lost so I can’t enjoy novels like other people can. I struggled to keep up with the language i n films till I was in my twenties but fortunately I can follow a film now. I still struggle if they involve lots of characters as I’m face blind and take a lot to get used to the patterns of a character, so you can imagine some action/adventure flicks with constantly changing characters. It all ends up like watching a football match. I tune out. I don’t go much for rom-com if its ‘production-line’, canned-laughter style. I feel force fed and my brain feels numb. I like quirky films, surreal films, stuff that’s got grit, that’s tangible, that takes me somewhere new, not just replays the same old, same old prescriptive of ‘one normality fits all’. That stuff alienates me and I’m simply too non-conformist for it. People forget that in the west we have our own version of North Korea, the brainwashing dynamic, ours is called mainstream media and its this that keeps us all striving to fit one mould, question nothing etc. Sorry, I’ll pull back now from the edge of that elitist rant and say, no, haven’t seen Millions. I’m glad it was great fun for you. One of the most fun comedies I can think of is probably Waking Ned Devine. It was funny but not at all formulaic, it was naughty, quirky and silly fun. I like comedy which is dark and I like comedy contrasted with poignant and surreal which is what Amelie has. Thanks for dropping by.
Hi, Donna,
Remember me? The man in the wheelchair, friend of Sue Norris in St. Helens, UK – we are still fighting for support for her.
But it’s a film I’m writing about.
At the second International Welsh Conference on Autism in Cardiff (which I think you nearly attended) we spent an afternoon watching a preview of a new film, ‘Snow Cake”. It’s a story around a woman with high-functioning autism and massive compulsions, dealing with the death of her daughter in a car crash. The man who was driving the car spends time with her, struggling to come to terms with his own feelings and the woman’s extraordinary, to him, behaviour.
In my view the situation was dealt with with amazing sensitivity and accuracy. Nothing jarred as being out of place or untrue. The ‘autie’ characteristics were coached by and modelled on Ros Blackburn, who you may know.
As the film is set in the Canadian winter, it’s being released in the UK in November or December to be seasonal. I don’t know what they’ll do in Australia!
But everyone should see it if possible. It could open a new level of understanding of the ‘autistic situation’.
Good blog!
Jonathan Griffith.
Hi Jonathan,
yes, I remember you two.
There’s no mention of Snowcake being modelled particularly on Ros.
Perhaps Ros identifies with it. I’m sure a number of relatively high profile people with autism will identify with it. Its good to see the NAS in Wales supporting the film.
I know they researched many people with autism for Sigourney’s Role.
And as it was not a UK production nor set in the UK, I’m not certain they’d have sought out and based it on Ros in particular, who is very much a UK person and, having met her on the public speaker’s circuit, she’s as similar and different as any of us with this shared label.
As Ros has a video with NAS UK its very possible they sourced that, among other materials, to draw upon for Sigourney’s character.
If it was modelled on Ros, the film would have to cite this somewhere and all it cites is that Sigourney’s character was developed after researching the lives and experiences of a range of ‘high functioning’ people with autism.
I think any film involving a character with autism should never define the whole of that condition because those with the label are way too diverse for that. I think the strength of a film featuring an autistic character has to be in its storyline, not specifically in the portrayal of a condition (which is the job of documentary). Sounds like you enjoyed it as a beautiful film in its own right, which is how it should be. The interesting thing for the general public about autism isn’t always how ‘different’ we are or may be, but where our shared humanity meets.
… Donna *)
I’m glad if you’ve seen the film - or have you just looked it up?
I agree very much with your comments.
Ros was at the showing and spoke afterwards about Sigourney spending time at her home, absorbing how life was being Ros.
The scriptwriter was there too but I forget where she got her understanding of autism.
Anyway, whoever and wherever the autistic traits came from, they did a good job of that particular character - and the film is certainly good!
Jonathan
Snowcake was indeed based on a lot of reasearch on people who autistic and high functioning, but Sigourney Weaver spent eight days living with Ros in preperation for the role. I know this as a very good friend of mine knows her well. Check out this link too. http://www.theage.com.au/news/film/ms-weavers-feeling-for-snow/2007/08/02/1185648016725.html?page=2
interesting link.
given Temple and Ros are quite known, I’d like to know who all the other lesser known autistic people were who she spent time with. Sad that they get no publicity.
Rie Tomosaka, the lead in the 12 episode Asian TV series, Things You Taught Me, ( http://www.tbs.co.jp/eng/catalog/english/drama/86.html ) studied me from Nobody Nowhere to inform her character, of Mayuko ( http://pro.imdb.com/title/tt0256559/ ). Nobody Nowhere is cited in the credits for the program, although the series in no way mirrors the story of Nobody Nowhere.
Having watched the series, I can see a lot of aspects of my autism and some of my personality in the character of Mayuko. She is extremely different to Sigourney’s character in Snowcake and this reflects strong differences between those like Temple and Ros who Sigourney must have studied, and those like me.
Mayuko displayed really significant meaning deafness, visual fragmentation, extreme sensory confusion with touch, vision and sound and her own quite autistic language and significant Exposure Anxiety… all of which I can relate to. Mayuko was not at all cold or snappy like Sigourney’s character and whilst she had her own strong interests was not as OCD as Sigourney’s character. Also I felt Sigourney’s character displayed no Exposure Anxiety in her character, more a sort of emotional psychopathy. Where Mayuko displayed meaning deafness, Sigourney’s character displayed literality. Where Mayuko displayed a lot disorientation and fascinations due to visual perceptual fragmentation, Sigourney’s displayed obsessional self stimulatory fascinations with sparkly things. Where Sigourney’s character was rather clipped and emotionally detached, Mayuko was aloof, flighty. They were both solitary but in very different ways.
I met Rie Tomosaka in Tokyo as well as the male lead, Takaya Kamikawa. Rie is so beautiful as a person, a really light but deep sort of soul, and I found her quite ‘autie’ in real life. Takaya was a delightful, warm man, you could almost imagine him as a really fab care worker working with auties. He was very autie friendly.
The hanging sculpture Rie kept fixating on in Mayuko’s bedroom in the series, is in my house. I was generously offered it by the lovely producer, Tsunenari Yamasaki. It’s really buzzy.
Things You Taught me is in no way a film about me, nor based on my life, but the lead really does capture a pretty good range of my experiences and some degree of my personality.
The series also features two songs from my first album, Nobody Nowhere: Sometimes and Beyond The When.
It has played throughout Asia and I think it has now been released with English subtitles.
http://www.donnawilliams.net