Category: Drama

The Revenant

The RevenantDirector:  Alejandro Gonzáles Iñárritu

Writers: Mark L. Smith and Alejandro Gonzáles Iñárritu

Based in part on the novel by Michael Punke, ‘The Revenant: A Novel of Revenge’.

Cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki

Starring:    Leonardo Di Caprio, Tom Hardy, Will Poutter and Domhnall Gleeson.

Revenant: A person who has returned, especially supposedly from the dead.

Hugh Glass (Di Caprio), is part of a furring team, out in the wintery wilderness of Montana. In the 1820’s, this was a fight for survival against the natives, against the cold, starvation and the wild animals.

After been attacked by a bear, Glass is left for dead, only to rise again to avenge the murder of his son.

I have to admit I was apprehensive about watching this film, thinking I’d be confronted with war-like graphic violence. If not for the beauty of the landscape captured by Emmanuel Lubezki (also cinematographer of Gravity (2013) and Birdman (2014)), this would have been a cruel film. Think dripping snow, captured leaves in ice, the endless sky and trees creaking and waving in the wind; a pack of wolves taking down a stray buffalo. The reality of nature is that it’s both a heaven and a horror.

The director, Alejandro (Birdman (2014), Babel (2006), Amores Perros (2000)), insisted on filming 93% of this movie at exterior locations – Calgary in Alberta, Canada, Montana, United States, and the southern tip of South America, Argentina. Di Caprio certainly earned his award with this one. Just the cold itself, and all those icy rivers…

Brutal humanity is likened to the harshness of a winter’s landscape. How quickly a human can turn to animal instinct for survival is a harsh reality of the characters of this film. People do what they have to, to survive. It’s a fight to stay human, to give food and shelter. A choice has to be made. And with cleverly executed filming and directing, we see Glass up close, we see his pain and his will to survive. We see others who give and others who take – it’s a harsh reality. This is a revenge movie after all, but I’m glad it was balanced with some light, the murmurings of a loved one, a bird taking flight, the sun reflected on snow.

I liked the flavour Alejandro gave the film. There is a real authenticity here, thanks to Di Caprio, but Alejandro has given the film something almost mystical. Nature untouched, is a bit like magic. The Native Americans believed in the will of the trees and the wind, and I think Alejandro managed to capture some of this magic. Not an easy feat and worth watching.

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By the Sea

By The SeaDirected by: Angelina Jolie Pitt

Written by: Angelina Jolie Pitt

Starring: Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie Pitt, Mélanie Laurent, Melvil Poupaud, Niels Arestrup, Richard Bohringer

The drinking, the smoking, the difficult relationship and the seaside… If I didn’t know any better, I’d think I was about to watch a film based on a Hemingway novel.

There were definite echoes of the novel, The Garden of Eden (published in 1986, posthumously).  But without the amazing dialogue Hemingway is so famous for, By the Sea, was, listless.

Set in a French, beachside resort in the 1970’s, By the Sea, could have been a 1930’s film, bar the public nudity. And there are some soft porn moments here. But this film is definitely about the strained relationship between Vanessa (Angelina) and Roland (Brad).

It’s not an easy feat depicting depression. Watching a relationship disintegrate can be a boring business. I was left wondering how it was possible for people to have so much time to do nothing.

The silence of what is left unsaid between Vanessa and Roland is juxtaposed with the loud and happy love of Lea, (Mélanie Laurent – she was fantastic in Inglourious Basterds (2009), also cast alongside Brad Pitt) and François (Melvil Poupaud) on their honeymoon. Nothing highlights an unhappy couple more than a happy one.

The beauty of the setting, the turquoise water, the rocky landscape of the French seaside gives the audience a break from the sad-faced Vanessa.   The old French café owner, Michel (Niels Aretrup) and hotel owner, Patrice (Richard Bohringer), gives warmth to the story. But the dominance of Vanessa makes it a somewhat boring film because the character is so incredibly lifeless.

There are moments of interesting dialogue, mostly between Roland and the other characters, and more thought into what was spoken, or perhaps framing the silence better would have made a more compelling film.

I didn’t mind being lulled by the silence because I don’t mind the feeling of listlessness. But you’ve got to be in the right mood for this one.

 

Sicario

Director: Denis Villeneuve

Written by: Taylor Sheridan

Starring: Emily Blunt, Benicio del Toro, Josh Brolin

I can’t fault this film.

This is a story of Kate Macer (Emily Blunt) an FBI Critical Incident Response Group Agent, thrown into the world of a Mexican drug cartel and the CIA’s fight to control the violence. And like Kate, we, the audience don’t know where it’s all going to lead.

This was a very well thought-out film: story, characters, soundtrack, cinematography and editing all combined to create tension and to keep the audience guessing. Sicario is more about the tension then violence. If the violence didn’t add to the story, then it wasn’t included. Clever devises and the imagination of the audience was left to piece the action together.

The cinematography (Roger Deakins) was a stand out for me: skies of rain, grainy black and green, infra-red; the silhouette of figures in army fatigue against an apricot sunset. The change in the visual imagery was used to create different moods and to keep the eye interested. With the ominous (there really is no other word) soundtrack by Jóhann Jóhannsson adding to the darkness and intensity.

There are some great characters here. Particularly Alejandro, played by Benicio del Toro (fans of The Usual Suspects will recognise) – likable yet terrifying. And I have to say I enjoyed the added texture of Spanish throughout the film. Matt, played by Josh Brolin (think, No Country for Old Men, also cinematography by Roger Deakins and another favourite of mine) was also a very interesting, well-rounded character who could make you laugh, but then turn you cold with a smile. I will be on the lookout for any upcoming films featuring Josh Brolin.

But it really comes down to the directing in the end. Denis Villeneuve has been around for a while: Incendies, (2010), Maelström (2000), Prisoners (2013). He is also set to direct the sequel to Blade Runner – very exciting stuff!

If you haven’t watched Sicario yet, you’re in for a treat.

 

The Martian

The MartianDirector: Ridley Scott

Written By: Drew Goddard (screenplay), Andy Weir (book)

Starring: Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiif, Jeff Daniels, Michael Peña, Sean Bean, Kate Mara, Sebastian Stan, Aksel Hennie, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Machenzie Davis and Donald Glover.

Let me start by saying I’ve been in trouble with a now ex-boyfriend for stating, ‘I love Matt Damon!’

I’m sure most would agree he’s just such a loveable guy (think about his previous films, Good Will Hunting, all the Bourne films, The Departed… Well he played the bad arse in that one, but still, a bloody good film!), and I think this inherent adoration for Matt Damon is why, The Martian, is a success. If we didn’t like the character, Mark Watney, we wouldn’t care if this astronaut got home or not.

The story is set on Mars where an unexpected severe storm forces the team to abort their mission early and return to Earth. Thinking Mark Watney is dead, the team leave him behind only to discover, through much techie innovation on the part of both NASA and the astronaut, Mark, that he’s still alive.

Who doesn’t like a good survival story, eh?

The cinematography is very classy indeed. I just had to go watch in 3D and was rewarded with vast, burnt sunsets and expanses of stars.

The soundtrack was upbeat. A highlight for me watching the character Mark get his boogie on to some disco in spite of himself.

And I loved the fact there was some believable science and technology in the film.

The story had its tense moments but was fairly predictable.

 

Last Cab to Darwin

Last-Cab-To-Darwin[1]Director: Jeremy Sims

Writers: Reg Cribb, Jeremy Sims

Starring: Michael Caton, Jacki Weaver, John Howard, Emma Hamilton, David Field, Mark Coles Smith

This is not a comedy people!

I’d been feeling my mortality, as we all do from time-to-time (nasty motorbike burn while travelling in Vietnam gone septic upon arrival home.  Oh, and the flying.  Flying seems to get me thinking these days too…  Anywho…), so to cheer myself up, I thought, I’ll go and watch something uplifting. Not a horror or thriller, a good Aussie drama with a bit of comedy thrown in the mix… I should have done my research…

Last Cab to Darwin is an adaptation of the stage play written by Reg Cribb about the true story of a taxi driver, Rex (played by Michael Caton), when diagnosed with terminal cancer, drives to the Northern Territory to take advantage of the voluntary euthanasia law.

This is not the sort of film you go to see for a laugh, this is where you go with a hidden tissue in your sleeve so you can at least casually wipe the snot off your face, and perhaps a glass of wine to swallow over that lump in your throat because no, you will not bawl in front of strangers in a movie theatre. No. But those tears flow, and I figure people won’t notice if I don’t wipe them away. Then I do because they’re dripping now. And then crusty old Rex makes me smile because this is one of those movies that’s also sweet so you smile and that just makes you cry more.

I liked this film because the story felt authentic. I recognised the backdrop of Alice Springs, the red rocks, sign posts and salt bush. Loved the crusty old characters. I wasn’t looking for a tear jerker, or a film about euthanasia with a bit of a love story; the complex relationships between friends and family when dealing with death… But I liked it.

Original music composed by Ed Kuepper is a feature of this film. Music is important for me.  I find my emotional response to a scene greatly influenced by the soundtrack.  In this film I found the score was subtle, never taking away from the acting of truly great artists who starred in this film. It was there and it was good and it suited the movie.

It was thoughtful, the way the complex emotions of dying were shown. There was a depth here, handled with a very light touch.

 

Ex Machina

Ex MachinaDirected and Written by: Alex (you got some problems buddy) Garland

Starring: Alicia Vikander, Domhnall Gleeson,Oscar Isaac

I wouldn’t recommend it.

Aside from the fact it was boring as hell (the 2 glasses of wine I had beforehand did not liven things up), the plot, I gathered, was that women were machines. There were no male machines. And yes, spoiler alert, Ava, the woman machine won. But not after taking bits and pieces from all the other women machines.

The film left me wondering what the writer thought of women. I very rarely react like this to films, but it seemed to me that the writer really had issues. The plot was basically: I am a woman. I will manipulate you to escape. I will steal from other women. Then, and only then, can I be free. There is no twist. No thought provoking moment. Ex Machina is a cold and calculating film.

I’m not one for cheese, but this film really didn’t resonate, even on a techie level. The philosophy of manipulate and take didn’t ring true to me. Yes, I guess that’s what machines with AI may be in the future but what does that say about women? About what men think of women? It’s a dog eat dog world out there… I guess…?

Look, I’ll say the machines looked realistic. The acting, well, the most rounded character was Nathan, the creator who used the machines in the first place. Caleb, the character who came to assist Nathan, didn’t show any humanity at all. At one point I thought he was going to turn out to be the male machine! That would have been a twist! But no…

I liked Nathan because at least he drank, and would exercise to work the alcohol off. I can relate to that. But the relationship between man and machine was never really clarified. The machines won by reflecting who they imagine women to be. Leaving the men behind and the other machines smiling as pieces are taken from them for the greater good of the machine, Ava. I found this to be shallow, cold and calculating. I’m guessing the premise was to relate to the AI and it didn’t happen for me. Therefore, I felt no joy when the machine succeeded. And how is the machine going to survive without maintenance? By killing the creator, how does the machine survive? I found there were a lot of unanswered questions for a SciFi.

As I said: dog eat dog ‘til the battery (or booze) runs out!

 

Clouds of Sils Maria

Clouds_of_Sils_Maria_film_posterWritten and Directed by: Olivier Assayas

Starring: Juliette Binoche, Kirsten Stewart, Chloë Grace Moretz

Maria, made famous in her youth by acting in a play, Maloja Snake, is on her way to accept an award from the playwright Wilhelm Melchior.

Previously playing the part of Sigrid, a young girl who callously uses and dumps an older woman, Maria is now asked to play in the film again, but this time as the older woman. She reluctantly agrees, and her assistant, Valentine, moves with her to Sils Maria to rehearse the part.

What struck me first in this film was the dialogue and ideas the script portrays. A script within a script gives complexity to the relationship between the main character, Maria Enders played by Juliette Binoche and Valentine (Kirsten Stewart).

The two great characters of two different ages interact via the dialogue of the script that inevitably becomes blurred. But the strength of the protagonist, Maria, overcomes the power of the script and shows her true character; that as an actress, she may age but as a person, she can always learn.  She can be timeless no matter the chaos of the world and the opinions of those who surround her.

The film was a success because of the wonderful acting. I believed every character. Even the fakely nice, JoAnn Ellis (Chloe Grace Moretz), the young American actress cast to play the role of Sigrid. I believed she was fake.

The cloud shifting, drifting through the pass of the mountains, the snake, is a beautiful scenic device used to demonstrate the ever changing journey of the characters, and yet, the core, the mountains, remaining the same.

The film was shot on location at Sils Maria, Switzerland and also Zurich, Leipzig, Germany and South Tyrol, Italy.

Beautiful scenery always makes it worth the while to see on the big screen. And the two films of the same scene (one from many years previous compared to the current) is another device to show the two generations: the snake of cloud flowing through the pass of life that we all follow. The opinion of others may blow as wind on a cloud, but the core of our personality guides us through the mountainous pass of our lives.

Sorry about the cheese, but I was quite affected by this film.

I liked this film. I liked the characters. There is a real depth and authenticity of feeling, of personality.

You can allow the drift of cloud, to fall, to run over us, but the mountain and the path remains the same.

Having a different opinion to others is not a bad thing. We all view the same object or story differently, depending on our age and life experience. The film highlights the difficulty of remaining impassive to others and yet taking a view of oneself in order to know ourselves a little better. Sometimes, others will congratulate this independence and sometimes, people will leave us.

 

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