Once (2006) ~ Film Review #once

Once (2006) ~ Musical

Directed and written by John Carney, Once tells the tale of two struggling musicians, played by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová (The Frames / The Swell Season).

Set in Dublin, Hansard’s vaccum repairman / part-time busker forms an unlikely partnership with Irglová’s Czech immigrant flower / Big Issue seller, when she generously offers him 10 cents for his heart-felt and mesmirising performance (to an audience of one) of ‘Say it to me now’.

It’s not long before Hansard’s character learn’s of his new friend’s musical talents and following a duet of the Oscar winning song, ‘Falling Slowly’, the two set out to create an album together.

The storyline of Once is essentially a vehicle or excuse to perform songs filled with such rich melodic beauty, that you can’t help but smile.

This is a film that was never going to win awards for it’s dramatic capabilities and Once never attempts to be something it’s not.

Despite this modesty, the audience is treated to one of cinemas most heart-warming and memorable scenes when together with their make-shift band (fellow buskers), they lay down their first album track, ‘When Your Mind’s Made Up’.

Carney’s storytelling and direction, maintain a constant respect for the friendship between his lead characters and despite the romantic tension, he doesn’t give in to a predictably loved-up subplot. This is a film about real people making beautiful music – nothing more and nothing less.

As an entirely original modern-day musical, Once, is peerless when subject to critical appraisal.

Carney’s simple storytelling combined with Hansard and Irglová’s original music, ensures that Once, even after multiple viewings, will long be remembered as a genre classic.

5 Stars ~ beautiful

Sidenote: Glen Handard and Markéta Irglová’s on-screen chemistry transfers to the live stage and as the Swell Season, I could not make a stronger recomendation!

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The Matrix (1999) ~ Film Review #thematrix

The Matrix (1999) ~ Science Fiction
( #thematrix )
Keanu Reeves recently hinted that the Wakawski Brothers are in talks over the creation of 2 more films to add to the Matrix francise that captured our imaginations back in 1999.

While entertaining (arguably for some), the 2nd and 3rd installments of the trilogy failed to reach the same heights of the original and the incredible (“I know Kung Fu!”) started to cross over towards the rediculous (come on… an orgasmic cake)!

With fears that further additions could bring more of the rediculous than the incredible, it’s a great time to remember just why The Matrix became one of the most universally popular films of the last decade.

Starring the ‘cool-again’ Keanu Reeves as computer hacker Neo (Mr Anderson), the power of the human race is suppressed within a digital and false reality that is ‘the Matrix’. Charged with ‘opening Neo’s mind’ to the digital imprisonment and eventual ‘unplugging’ is Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) and the uber-cool, Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne).

The adventure that ensues produces some of the coolest movie moments of all time! Here are just a few of my favourites:
* “Wake up”
* “I know Kung Fu!”
* Neo Vs Morpheus
* Hugo Weaving and “Mr Anderson” (use the voice… you know you want to)
* Dodging bullets
* Rescue of Trinity from crashing helicopter

Hopefully this has jogged your memories!

Feel free to add more highlights.

Who should you see this with?
Your mates! People who are happy to embrace their inner computer tech nerd!

5 Stars ~ see it more than once!

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Rear Window (1954) ~ Short Film Review #rearwindow

Rear Window (1954) ~ Thriller

Alfred hitchcock classic with James Stewart and Grace Kelly. Chemistry between these 2 legends is brilliant but Kelly is by far the star. Story telling without the bells and whistles. More intrigue and comedy than thrills but still very easy to watch.
4 1/2 Stars

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The Social Network (2010) Film Review #thesocialnetwork

The Social Network (2009) ~ Drama

Starring Jesse Eisenberg and Justin Timberlake, it’s hard to decide whether this is a great film or whether our interest and engagement is tainted by the fact that secretly, as devoted users of Facebook, we want the film to succeed so that the hours spent reading the updates of our countless ‘friends’, can be justified.
So, is David Fincher’s film great (as suggested by the numerous award nominations)? Extremely watchable but not a classic!

What I like about the film…
Jesse Eisenberg plays the Asberger-esque character to perfection – as he always does. Fincher’s simple direction ensures seemless narrative that is never dull and (as mentioned above) as a Facebook user, I want to know more about the phenomenon of which I am a member!

What I don’t like…
Justin Timberlake’s performance is extremely self-conscious and he still has a lot to learn when it comes to acting.

Who would you see this film with?
Take your partner, wife, husband, lover, friend from High School that you never spoke to or looked at ~ this is one for everyone!

Rating ~ 3 1/2 Stars

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Pans Labrynth (El Laberinto del Fauno) (2006) ~ Film Review #panslabrynth

Pans Labrynth ( en Espanol: El Laberinto del fauno) (2006) ~ Fantasy
Director, Guillermo del Toro, creates one of the most haunting, beautiful, horrific and original fairy-tales ever made.
Set in 1944 during a postwar facist regime in Spain, the story focusses on the life and imagination of 12 year old girl, Ofelia. Along with her pregnant mother, Ofelia has been forced to live with her brutally violent step father, a military officer charged with the search and execution of rebel fighters.

Fearing for the life and happiness of her mother and un-born baby brother, Del Toro creates for Ofelia an imaginary world that is full of excitement, adventure and importantly, hope.

Within this world, the characters and events that take place, while often terrifying in their own right, parallel Ofelia’s real life fears and struggles in a way that highlights the strength, courage and love of a little girl that is desperate to save her family.

What I like about this film:
Beautifully acted and directed, this is as close to perfection that a film comes. Completely original and unapologetically brutal.

What I didn’t like:
A warning to some viewers: there are some moments of extreme violence which may be disturbing (as the film intends!).

Make seeing this film a priority.

If you’ve already seen this film, see it again!

5 Stars

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Black Swan (2010) ~ Film Review #blackswan

Black Swan (2010) ~ Drama

Director Darren Aronofsky has made the creation of tormented character studies an art-form (Requiem for a Dream; The Wrestler). Black Swan is no different as he draws us in and makes us want to look away at the same time.

Aronofsky’s offering to us in Black Swan is ballet dancer Nina (Natalie Portman), a talented ballet dancer, who has been offered the role of a lifetime as Swan Princess, Odette, in Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece, Swan Lake.

Looking to reignite the public’s interest in the ballet, the unconventional creative director, Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel) requires his lead Nina to also play the Black Swan, Odile, the daughter of an evil magician.

Nina is the White Swan in every way, petite, graceful, meek, and submissive. As the daughter of a retired ballet dancer, played by the very creepy Barbara Hershey, Nina must find a way to unleash the confident, seductive, temptress that is the Black Swan, Odile.

The competition and second for this challenging role, Lily (Mila Kunis), is everything that Nina isn’t – daring, wicked, promiscuis, confident: the Black Swan.

The transformation of Nina is the reason why Portman is so widely tipped to win best actress gong at the Oscars this year – but we were made to wait as Oronofsky slowly broke down his lead with the patience and precision of a butcher’s knife. Painful and often hard to watch.

What I liked about this film:
Natalie Portman’s portrayal of the painstakingly frustrating and brilliant Nina makes Black Swan. Her commitment to the role (including 2 years of full-time ballet training) is what makes this film work. The transformation. Be patient – it’s worth the wait.
The score from Swan Lake. Beautiful.

What I didn’t like:
I can’t get my head around whether I admired Portman’s restraint and Nina’s enduring meekness or whether it annoyed the bejeezahs out of me. What I do know is that without it the film’s crescendo would not have been nearly as great or shocking.
I’ll let you decide for yourself.

Who should you see this with?
Definite winner as a first date (more daring than a safe rom-com). Not alone – you’ll need to talk about it.

4 Stars

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True Grit (2010) ~ Film Review #truegrit

True Grit (2010) ~ Western / Drama
#truegrit
The Cohen Brothers’ latest film, a remake of the classic 1969 western, True Grit, can rightfully take its place alongside some of true greats of the genre – including the original that earnt screen legend John Wayne, his only Best Actor Academy Award.

Starring Jeff Bridges as the rugged, uncompromising, ‘shoot and ask questions later’, Marshall ‘Rooster’ Cogburn, the Cohen brothers have mastered the rare skill that many modern-day directors neglect, story-telling that is both character centred and genuinely moving.

‘Employed’ by the precocious Mattie Ross (deserving Oscar nominee, Hailee Steinfeld) a 14 year old girl looking to avenge the death of her father, Cogburn, Mattie and Texas Ranger LeBoeuf (Matt Damon), set off in search of key suspect, Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin).

Their journey, through some of the most beautiful, yet rugged American terrain, brings with it genuine thrills, humour and moments that are both heart-felt and desperate.

Jeff Bridges once again showcases why he is one of the most engaging and bankable actors on screen. His performance contains so many subtle and effortless moments of pure genius.

As the hardened gun-slinger, ‘Rooster’ Cogburn, Bridges shows the many layers of his character – vulnerability, ruthlessness, warmth, loyalty, chivalry – with complete ease and without a hint of being self-conscious.

True Grit is in many ways, the perfect
film. My only criticism is that the directors fell into the trap of giving us, the audience, what we don’t always need – a perfectly neat and ‘every story is resolved’, ending.

To go on such a great journey with Bridges, Damon, Steinfeld and Co at the healm only to be dealt a mouth-full of fluff at the end is less than this great western deserved.

That aside, see this film. You will not be disappointed.

4 1/2 Stars

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Let The Right One In (2008) ~ Film Review #lettherightonein

Let the Right One In (Sweden, 2008)

Set in the early 80s in a small and insignificant suburb of Stockholm, director, Thomas Alfredson restores confidence in a vampire genre that is all too often formulaic and predictable.

How can such a film survive without the seductive, blood lusting, super-human narcisists (or brooding, love-sick twats) that we have come to love and expect?

In presenting us with the unexpected, Alfredson introduces us to Oskar, a bullied 12 year old boy struggling to find his way in the brutal social world of the public education system.

The only joy in Oskar’s world is his mysterious new friend Eli, an 11 year old girl who lives in the appartment next door. Eli’s secret is in many ways as shocking and brutal as Oskar’s miserable life at school.

Based on John Lindqvist’s novel of the same title and set against the stark, eery whiteness of winter in Stockholm, our story remains focused on the relationship of our two young, yet accomplished leads. Despite moments that are brutally violent and visceral, it is this complex story of friendship, loyalty and love that is most affecting.

Alfredson’s film-making is both exceptional and beautiful. His ability to unpack and explore the vulnerability and darkness within all of his characters with such understated care, is something to marvel at.

An absolute joy to watch. Totally unexpected. Unapologetically brutal and tender.

A masterpiece!

5 Stars

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Location:#lettherightonein

Volver (2006) ~ Film Review #volver

Volver (2006) ~ Drama ( #volver )
Director: Pedro Almodovar
#volver #moviereview
Almodovar’s 2006 award winning drama, Volver, is a more than worthy addition to a chest that’s already full of gritty yet beautiful cinematic gems.

While not as confronting or brave as Gael Garcia Bernal’s transexual, transvestite, uh, female lead in 2004′s ‘Bad Education’, as the desperate yet strong and reslient Raimunda, Penelope Cruz gives the performance of her career (well at least not since ‘Jamon Jamon’! )

Set primarily in Madrid, Raimundu lives an uninspiring life with her 14 year old daughter, Paula and unemployed, alcoholic husband, Paco.

Their lives are turned upside down when Paula stabs and kills Paco when he reveals to her that he is not her real father while attempting to sexually assult her.

As is typical, Almodovar’s lead, Raimunda, while faced with extreme adversity, must find strength and resilience to ensure that her daughter’s life is not destoyed by this horrible event.

While Volver is certainly ‘tamer’ than many of his previous films, Almodovar, not generally known for his subtlety, treats us to a story of enormous warmth, richness of emotion; complete with all the colours and flavours of a vibrant Madrid.

While the importance of examining the strengths and vulnerbilities of our female characters is a central and resonating theme, it is the stories of friendship, loyalty, family and small town superstition that keep as engaged and intrigued from start to finish.

Penelope Cruz is at her saucy and firery best and her pure talent is always highlighted when given opportunities to perform in her native Spanish language.

Volver is character driven, story-telling at its best. Deeply layered, intriguing, colourful, tragic and beautiful.

4 1/2 Stars

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The Hurt Locker (2010) ~ Short Review

#thehurtlocker
The Hurt Locker (2010) ~ Jeremy Renner’s performance as a seemingly unaffected bomb technician, should have netted him the Best Actor Oscar. Quality film-making and a worthy addition to an increasing catalogue of quality, post 9-11 war films.

Outstanding.
5 Stars

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