Month: December 2020

The Dry

Rated: MA15+The Dry

Directed by: Robert Connolly

Produced by: Bruna Papandrea, Jodi Matterson and Steve Hutensky, Robert Connolly, Eric Bana

Screenplay Written by: Harry Cripps and Robert Connolly

Based on the Book Written by: Jane Harper

Starring: Eric Bana, Genevieve O’Reilly, Keir O’Donnell, John Polson, Julia Blake, Bruce Spence, Matt Nable, William Zappa, James Frecheville, Joe Klocek, Claude Scott-Mitchell, Sam Corlett, BeBe Bettencourt, Miranda Tapsell.

The tone of, The Dry is set in the opening moments: from above, the landscape looks barren, drawing the eye like water into drought-stricken dirt.

A baby cries.

The floorboards of a farmhouse are soaked in blood.

On the back of a note to attend the funeral of a childhood friend, Federal Agent Aaron Falk (Eric Bana) reads, You lied.

The Dry is a mystery of two crimes separated by twenty years that slowly unfolds in the town of Kiewarra.  A town where a spark could start a blaze, a town suffering 324 days without rain.

It’s a country town that holds secrets revealed in the subtleties as Aaron gets caught up investigating a suicide murder case while his own past catches up, locals banging on his door in the middle of the night.

What happened all those years ago?  Why do the locals hate Aaron returning to his childhood home?

What happened to Ellie Deacon (BeBe Bettencourt)?

It’s a slow and quiet mystery that was gripping because of the many moments that ground the story, the local school principle planting a tree in memory of the dead, a kind gesture but bitter sweet: ‘God knows what I’m supposed to tell the kids when it dies,’ he says, knowing the tree will die like so many others in the never ending drought.

And there are so many layers to this story, handled with care by director Robert Connolly – all those subtle moments hinting at character, questioning the action of something as simple as closing a glass sliding door.

There’s some light moments to offset the foreboding drive of drama, from classic characters like the memorable publican, McMurdo (Eddie Baroo) – the pub overrun with customers (said with tongue-in-cheek) or the order of the sea food basket a risky choice being oh so far from the ocean.

Alongside a solid storyline, it’s those moments that nod to the Australian countryside that ground the film in the authentic and is such a pleasure to watch on the big screen.

The landscape reminded me of childhood growing up in country Victoria, those century old gum trees, finding that special spot, that magic tree while watching the dust form whirlwinds across the paddock.

The backbone of the film is Aaron returning home, the flashbacks to those days of growing up and swimming in the river with friends.  Director Robert Connolly explains, “If I was […] to go right to the crux of THE DRY, it’s about the emotional impact of returning to the place you grew up.”

The landscape is captured beautifully here (filmed in the Wimmera Region), the past when the river was flowing.  The tragedy of a young death.  The return to childhood memories to now see the town dry, the once flowing river empty.

What sums up the film for me is the use of the soundtrack – there to amplify those dramatic moments, but noticed even more when absent, with only the sound of the wind.

Overall, I found, The Dry to be a quiet film, mysterious with a subtle slow burn, that’s gripping in the telling.

A Call To Spy

Rated: MA Call To Spy

Directed by: Lydia Dean Pitcher

Written by: Sarah Megan Thomas (original screenplay)

Produced by: Sarah Megan Thomas p.g.a.

Edited by: Paul Tothill (BAFTA nominee)

Starring: Sarah Megan Thomas, Stana Katic, Radhika Apte, Linus Roache and Rossif Sutherland.

It’s your light that lights the world

Inspired by true events, A Call To Spy follows two civilians recruited by Churchill’s new spy agency’s (Special Operations Executive (SOE)) Vera Atkins (Stana Katic), to become the first female spies in the recently fallen France during WWII.

Nazi domination in Europe 1941 asks for extreme measures to disrupt Occupation, to create rebellion, to set France on fire.

Virginia Hall (Sarah Megan Thomas, also producer and writer) is to lead on the ground.

Noor Inayat Khan (Radhika Atpe), the fastest wireless in her unit, to radio the messages.

Operation Brigitte (Virginia’s byline as alias journalist: Brigitte LeContre) is born.

It’s inspiring to watch the courage of the unlikely spies being trained: Virginia the rich American with a wooden leg who dreamt of being a diplomat, and the Muslim pacifist, a descendant of Indian Royalty and believer of peace and truth who refuses to give up, who has resolved to resist the Nazi Occupation of the country she grew up in and loved, France.

The film sheds new light on the hideous grip Nazi Germany had over the French population, the lack of food, forced labour – the betrayal of friends bred out of desperation.

It’s not that the film becomes too bloody or gory, but I always find war movies a difficult watch.

The seeming lightness of, A Call To Spy at the beginning drew me into the exciting world of rescue and secret messages; the danger of getting caught, yet escaping.

But as the war progresses, the deeper the conflict and the more at stake.

As mistakes are made the Colonel Maurice Buckmaster (Linus Roache) admits the horror when doing your best just isn’t enough.  When making the wrong decision means lives are lost.

The task given to Britain’s amateur spies is described by the Colonel as a lonely courage.

So the reality of war, the murder, the betrayal and the secrets even amongst the spies is revealed as the sadness and horror of the brutality of war continues.  Which is why I find watching war movies difficult.  It gets me every time.  The anger.

Yet, I got swept up in this story, which provoked admiration of the courage to keep going, no matter the danger.

Bon courage.

Which shows the quality of the cast and the restraint by director, Lydia Dean Pilcher.

If you’re sensitive to those war provoked emotions.  This one sneaks up.

Virginia Hall is the subject of three 2019 biographies. Her prosthesis, Cuthbert, is named on the Congressional Gold Medal awarded to OSS (precursor to CIA). Noor Inayat Khan was recently commemorated with Britain’s prestigious Blue Plaque.

Wonder Woman 1984

Rated: MWonder Woman 1984

Directed by: Patty Jenkins

Written by: Patty Jenkins, Geoff Johns, David Callaham

Produced by: Charles Roven, Deborah Snyder, Zack Snyder, Patty Jenkins, Gal Gadot, Stephen Jones

​Starring: Gal Gadot, Kristen Wiig, Pedro Pascal, Chris Pine.

For the first time in, it seems like in forever, I settle into my seat as the lights go down and the big, booming bass comes up. All at once, I’m gathered up and soaring over wild and rocky island where a tournament that barely conforms to the laws of physics is taking place between a cohort of Amazons. Their aerial feats heap peril upon danger and I’m immediately swept into a world of strength and precision where it is possible to move over land, air and sea in unimagined and gravity-defying ways.

Unlike other super heroes, Diana of Themyscira (Gal Gadot) is not a fully-formed super being; she makes mistakes and must earn her powers. Amid the pyrotechnics of the genre it’s a subtle distinction, but it underwrites and in some ways allows this movie to nudge the genre’s boundaries.

After a rigorous preparation in physical combat and a painful introduction to ethics, Wonder Woman’s training continues, even while she is out in the world and on the job. When an out of control car careens out of nowhere, Diana instinctively kicks it to the kerb and is at once assailed by doubt. Has her action been seen by the bystanders around her? A momentary impulse may well have blown her cover as a mild mannered specialist in antiquities at the Smithsonian museum.

Not only does Diana buck the genre as a hero who is still learning her craft, the villain (Pedro Pascal) is a man who more than anything wants to live up to an heroic ideal of himself. Instead of a frustratingly invincible villain, this one, grinning snake oil salesman though he may be, is merely a man with a seriously misguided sense of what it is to be a good parent. Together with a highly unusual premise that to embrace the truth you must be prepared to let go of even your dearest wishes and dreams, this combination allows the story to delve into some of the existential dilemmas we must all reconcile. And, despite being set in 1984, in that decade of power dressing, big shoulders and extremely unfortunate leisure wear, the storyline and the question it asks are very much at one with the times in this era of fake news.

But this is a comic come to life and Wonder Woman 1984 is very much a high flying adventure. The towering atrium of a multi-story shopping centre almost doubles as a private gymnasium for Diana when a feckless trio of crooks attempt to rob a jewellery store and grab a child hostage on their way out. But, this time, Diana does remember to take out the security cameras before sheleaps over the handrail.

While some viewers might wish for a deeper emotional frisson between Diana and her long lost love (Chris Pine), for those of us who’ve let their inner child loose this is an unmissable opportunity to upend armoured vehicles travelling in convoy on a lonely stretch of desert highway, lasso bullets and hitch a ride on a commercial flight at the end of a golden rope.

A Christmas Gift From Bob

Rated: PGA Christmas Gift From Bob

Directed by: Charles Martin Smith

Written and Executive Produced by: Garry Jenkins

Produced by: Adam Rolston, Tracy Jarvis, Steve Jarvis, Andrew Boswell and Sunny Vohra

Starring: Luke Treadaway, Bob the Cat, Kristina Tonteri-Young, Phaldut Sharma.

Based on the autobiographical books about James Bowen and a stray cat (Bob) that befriended him on the streets of London, A Christmas Gift From Bob is the sequel to the international Indie film, A Street Cat Named Bob”

While James was homeless and addicted to heroin, the cat’s relentless affection and companionship eventually inspired James to make a go of life.

And the third book of the series, A Gift From Bob documents one of the last Christmases James and his ginger cat spent together before they became famous.

Based on this moment in time, the film opens on a glamorous premiere, launching the first book, following James (Luke Treadaway returning in his role) and Bob (starring as himself) curled around his shoulder, James wondering why he’s there.

He’s meant to write a second book – it’s expected soon and he has no idea where or how to start.

How do you continue a story of redemption once you’re off the streets?  What comes next, except wondering how to keep paying the bills and have food in the fridge?

And what happens when Animal Welfare start investigating, asking questions about James’ ability to care for his friend and companion: the cat who saved his life?

It’s all a little bit inspirational because through hardship there’s growth.

And a hell of a lot of light cheese filled with those aw, moments.  But it’s good cheese, well, absolutely pushing the Bob-the-cat: it’s from Bob, this song is about Bob, this is a card… from Bob…

Cue sweet soundtrack on repeat.

But it’s a Christmas card from Bob as he sits there on his blanket, next to James as he hands out those cards to the other characters in the story, the busker and his cat creating a community of people through their support of the pair.

It’s a movie about what Christmas means to people and how hard it can be for people who have lost their loved ones or have nothing or no one to celebrate, so the film pulls those heart strings, giving those clichéd moments meaning like, what goes around comes around.  And stronger together.

Because like Bea (Kristina Tonteri-Young ) constant friend and supporter of James says: Christmas isn’t a season, it’s feeling.

Bob has now passed.  So it’s kinda sweet to see him there on the screen for everyone to share.

Here’s what James had to say: ”Bob saved my life. It’s as simple as that. He gave me so much more than companionship. With him at my side, I found a direction and purpose that I’d been missing. The success we achieved together through our books and films was miraculous. He’s met thousands of people, touched millions of lives. There’s never been a cat like him. And never will again. I feel like the light has gone out in my life. I will never forget him.”

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