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A Walk on the Moon (1999)
I'm watching this film 25 years after it was made and it's beautiful
A Walk on the Moon captures Diane Lane and Viggo Mortensen at their most beautiful ;the casting is perfect. A trip down memory lane perhaps but the themes of marriage, love, betrayal, parental responsibility and community are still very relevant. A young American Jewish couple of working class means enjoy vacationing in the countryside with their family and other such families every year. The resort is kind of run down and this is a time when people were really content to play board games, enjoy simple food and even watching TV was a special event. The young couple married very young and there are rumblings of wanting something more especially from the woman. Along comes the hippie salesman and something clicks. A really passionate connection and most women would entirely understand how this beautiful young woman would search for more in her limited life. It does not mean she does not love her husband and family ; but she yearns for life. What ensues is an examination of parenthood and how we are moulded in to identity that is good for the 'whole' but not necessarily for the individual. The outcomes all make sense; nothing feels forced. Would have like to more about Walker ; why did he live alone in that house? My guess is his parents had passed and his brother was missing in action (Vietnam War) and it was a psychological base. But he seemed lonely and alone. Why? There are threads of the Bridges of Madison County coming through ; the woman has to chose in the end between her yearning for a more passionate exciting love or her commitment to family. We all know what she would chose and does especially in 1969. I am not so sure the husband would be as forgiving as the film implies . I would imagine with all the changes ahead in the 1970s this couple might not last the whole ten yards. One might think at some point she would search out Walker again and take that journey across America he was talking about . The husband would perhaps later pursue his science study and excel. Who knows, that is what film is about ; questioning the unknown.
Gloria Bell (2018)
I love Gloria
I've watched this film a few times and it stays with me. An excellent portrayal of a very ordinary middle aged woman just like every other one, with a past and at that stage of life where the future could look bleak. Children are grown and on their way in life with their own problems and Gloria has a reasonable job and a hobby in disco dancing. This is where she lets off steam every week and with the hope of perhaps meeting someone to fall in love with. The family back story is interesting and adds to Gloria's character; she is an optimist. Gloria is popular and good with people but she is lonely. Julianne Moore has the ability as an actress to illuminate a whole internal character without strong dramatisation; she is a masterful. One evening at the middle age disco dance she meets Arnold played by the truly excellent John Turturro. What ensues is a relationship of complexity, hope, disappointment and comedy. Highly recommend this film as a very apt portrayal of life and ageing. Gloria just never gives up - this is a film of hope and reality.
True Things (2021)
Incomplete study of a complex woman
To begin, there are two very good actors as the main protagonists of this film but that does little to save it. Ruth Wilson plays a woman who obviously has come out of a relationship that meant a great deal to her and can't let go of it. Tom Burke as the job centre universal credit bad boy type does not work at all. Wrong casting. We see a woman who is not in control of herself. She makes very bad decisions that are unappealing and furthermore indicative of a personality disorder. Somehow she wrestles through her days and is not engaged with her job, friends or parents. As she embarks on a sexual relationship with this unsavoury character she looses more and more control. Everything points towards breakdown; she is not young but does act like a mixed up teenager. However, it is clear she is suffering. As we are led through several ordeals with this man somehow or other and without much depth of writing or script they are off to Spain. This is after she has lost her job. Her parents are there in the background supporting her. At this point of the film everything becomes unbelievable. The man who claims he is an abandoned orphan brought up in care has a sister about to be married in Spain. He declares to her ' let's get married and have kids'. AS IF. A party ensues and said man shows his inconsistency of character. She walks off in to the night and suddenly is a mass of smiles down in the Spanish town. Next we see her smiling like a mad woman on a bus hurtling through the Spanish countryside. End of film. Are we supposed to assume that this was a right of passage in order for her to find her true quest for freedom?? If so it has been done badly. In truth and from what everything in this film has led us to see with our own eyes; she is detached from reality and her future looks unsure. I would be worried for her.....parents would surely be rescuing her at a later date after misfortune one can predict.
All of Us Strangers (2023)
Feel sorry to give it a low rating but really didn't enjoy it
After reading all the high reviews I was looking forward to watching this film. From the beginning you know you are entering the world of a man who is sorely depressed; sad and in some kind of mental rut. The music stays the same throughout the film which is a kind of electronic droning which irritates and conveys a nihilistic atmosphere. Then there is this big brutalism architecture in an empty modern high rise where he lives with one other resident who becomes his lover. In between we discover that the main protagonist lost his parents age 12 and that was surely devastating. For some reason the crux of the film takes us back to his deceased parents as they were in his childhood but in fact they are 'alive in some memory reality' whereby the protagonist is able to discuss his adult feelings and his memories of past with them. He appears to keep returning to his childhood home. Obviously all this must go on in his head IN HIS DEPRESSION and he is dealing with loss, his homosexuality and how his parents may have dealt with it if they knew and then there is an added dose of his lonely childhood where he felt he had little understanding from his parents as a child who 'did not fit in'. Well I'm not surprised this adult man is confused or depressed. At 12 when he lost his parents as an only child puberty would have been emerging and all kinds of psychological states would be in limbo . In the meanwhile we see the lovers embark on a passionate relationship and at this point I felt very disappointed with the script. I mean is that the extent of this relationship? Sex, alcohol, drugs and club scene? By the end of the film the main protagonist discovers his lover dead, in his apartment obviously there for a long time as there is a putrid smell and empty alcohol bottles. The lover mysteriously then appears alive in the front room and they convey their feelings of love, loss, loneliness and end up in the main protagonists bed hugging to the Power of Love by Frankie goes to Hollywood ( the favourite album of his childhood). What does this mean ? The film does not work. There will be a lot of Paul Mescal fans loving this. There will be a lot of people finding connection to the idea of depression and sexuality and loss. But one has to completely suspend belief which is fine in some context but for me this film is missing a coherent reference point - like why is this protagonist so lonely and sad at the age of about 35-40? No context to his life at all. The bleak scenario of his lover has zero content at all too - just hooking up and conveying 'feeling' ? If I would add my interpretation of the lover I would perhaps suggest that the lover symbolises the life he had lived in his youth - and in truth this character is not real at all just like his adult parents. He had lived through short-lived meaningless relationships of intense sex with a lot of drugs and high and lows that left him empty and alone. By the end of the film metaphorically, we can assume the main protagonist had gone though some kind of therapy maybe even after being sectioned and he had worked out the loss of his parents and his previous lifestyle. The high rise being symbolic of the hospital he was within. We are left with very little at the end . I understand the director took his inspiration from the Japanese book 'Strangers' which became a film too, in Japan. The Japanese do these kinds of films so much better all in all. They understand the concept of 'other worldliness' and define it with aesthetic beauty. All of us Strangers is a study in grief depression loss and sadness but it has zero aesthetic beauty. The lack of connection to that core of 'other worldiness' which is the absolute centre of the theme of the film is conveyed clumsily and darkly . The end result leaves the viewer with a nihilistic and purposeless conclusion.
Saltburn (2023)
Intriguing character study of British classes with silly ending
Believe it or not to those viewers who may think this storyline of characters is farcical; these characters do exist in Britain in many shapes and forms and it sure ain't pretty. Emerald F does come from the British upper class herself and so she will be creating this Saltburn symbolism from personal experience. In the first half of the film the storyline may be slightly far fetched but the themes are plausible and very interesting. Plus there is humour and wit. As the film progresses with the climax of one of the main character's demise I was onboard. Then the film descends in a parody and I believe the cost was to be left out of any Oscar nominations. In short a step too far. The character played by Rosamund Pike (and I have met such types) would 100 % not fall in to the trickery of the main protagonist: money is their God not delusion. The ending was also a vanity project apparently it was not scripted and the director in spite of her many talents got seriously off track at that point.
Another Year (2010)
A slow burn of real life
I have watched this film several times and each time it gets better. The first time I judged it rather harshly because I wanted a bit more excitement but that is the point; this film is about real life. The main protagonists are a long married couple who are stable and have a very nurturing relationship. On this axis many unstable people gravitate in their community. There have been negative comments that the couple seem too good to be true. I beg to differ. They are adults in the true sense of the word. Somehow they are able to live in relative humility and provide meals and hospitality for friends and family that give a sense of belonging to lost folk. But this couple are not unaware, they know exactly what is going on around them. They are good people, intelligent and take responsibility. Other people weave in and out of the storyline with a myriad of life challenges and that is where the film gets masterful. There is pain, loss, humour, fear, sadness, joy and oh yes the eternal clicking of the clock of life that moves on season by season. What is evident too is that the human condition is marred by people not being able to truly grow up and leave their past behind for better or worse. Amazing performance by Lesley Manville deserves a mention.
Jodaeiye Nader az Simin (2011)
A truly masterful story about the human condition
This is a film that stops you in your tracks and reminds you what filmmaking should be about . In the west we have deviated so strongly away from the art of true storytelling. Using all these special effects and contrived ideas of what society SHOULD be, no longer what it is . A Separation is a human drama set in Iran about love, divorce, children, old age, disability, class structure and on top of all that a deep insight in to the complexities of Iranian society. Western media does not understand a thing about Iranian society and we are so brainwashed by agendas. Thank goodness for films like this that lift the lid off politics and just immerse is in a truly masterful story about the human condition.
Past Lives (2023)
Flat as a pancake
Everything about this film is contrived and sentimental. From the first scenes of Korean family life and schooling where the main protagonists meet as children; not engaging . I already was bored with the pair of them then and there. One of the major issues with this film is the script and lack of it. Again those long meaningful silences only work when there is a considerable depth behind it and unfortunately this film has zero depth. As the protagonists move in to adult life and the film moves on to New York and the friends reunite with a history and a past - there would have to be drama to make it work...of some sort. Or humour or complexity. There is none. It is very two dimensional and flat. I know many people have engaged with this film as some kind of 21st century revelation of relationships that were missed or a path that could have been taken - well their lives must be pretty shallow. There was nothing in this film which conveyed what was really between these two people on a deeper level . The long meaningful looks were not enough - where was the story ?
Sideways (2004)
I've seen it about six times ; its a great cure for melancholy times
This film never gets old. In fact I can say it's perfect with the right blend of storytelling, humour, meaning, depth and social commentary. It's a simple premise; two former college roommates have reached their 40's and both are on a precipice. Miles is bitterly disappointed in life; cynical, depressed and in a mid life crisis due to the break up of his marriage and career stagnation. Meanwhile ex golden boy Jack has reached a point where his good looks are fading and even though he still has the bravado to kid himself about his failing acting career he is also at a mid point crisis. He is about to marry in to a wealthy Greek American family who will provide him with long term security and a beautiful fiancee but the freedom loving jock vibe of his early 20's is still raging . What ensues is a marvellous Californian wine trip where these two buddies are having a male bonding week before Jack's wedding and then the hilarious adventures start. Without giving anything away the days unfold with a story that is unforgettable. Highly recommended.
Palm Trees and Power Lines (2022)
This happens all the time but we never want to look at it
We know that sexual grooming of children and teenagers is extremely prevalent all over the world and this film really slaps you in the face with how this can happen and the lethal combination of seriously bad parenting, vulnerable innocents and predators. The film begins with a typical teenage scenario of out of control teenagers and no parental guidance. Leah, the main protagonist is a pretty girl emotionally vulnerable and drifting. Her mother is unable to provide her with what she needs at a difficult time of growing up. Predators are all over mainstream society looking for their moment to seize and take advantage of innocence. Unfortunately Lea is intoxicated by the attentions of a good looking man double her age if not more and falls in to his attention trap. After all, she has no father figure and craves recognition and love. In a short time, the predator has hooked her in and what is particularly amazing about this film is that the portrayal of the grooming seems as natural and easy as could be. That is what is so horrifying . The process of grooming is making the victim become dependant on the predator for everything that is missing. The predator is actually a heartless stone cold evil manipulator . The most disturbing aspect of the film is that we are left with a reality at the end that leads us to believe that Leah will go back to him and be eternally damaged . This could be seen several ways ; an unfinished ending which is not satisfying, a bleak reality that gives no hope or that Leah will eventually pull herself out. We will never know, As we never know truly about the millions of victims around the world that go unnoticed. What happens to them?
Mr. Jones (2019)
A little known true story about a brave man who gave testament to the horrors of Stalin
This film is based on a true story about a young man who in 1930's Europe was able to foresee the events about to unfold with Hitler and no one listened to him back in England. Furthermore he had a wish to interview Stalin and with great resolve did get to Russia only to come across the absolute horrors of the great famine caused by Stalin's ideology. Again no one wanted to listen to him; the reasons why are slowly revealed and are horrifying. Here we have a 20th century horror reoccurring in the 21st century paradoxically. The main protagonist is played by James Norton who is excellent. Everything about the film is authentic and wonderfully filmed. One has to think that this important high calibre film with very relevant subject matter was hardly heard of. Passed by in all awards categories and recognition. Instead we are usually served up a load of tripe in global media awards. This kind of filmmaking will stand the test of time because it is a testament to history and human suffering.
Babylon (2022)
Chazelle's vanity project and it doesn't leave a mark
This movie is not really about the beginning of Hollywood and the apparent wild and crazy things that went on there during the decadent '20's....it's more about a vision from a director who has a lot of sentimentality about Hollywood 'in the old days' and wants to cram every story he has ever heard into his interpretation. Chazelle has a misguided belief that the sheer chaos he has made out of this film could be in any way something to contribute to the history of Hollywood. Clearly Chazelle has a very vivid imagination and has made some masterful films. Babylon just does not work. End of. It seems that the Director has taken a hotchpotch of various true life scenarios of this era and mixed them all in to a confusing sequence that makes zero sense. I don't buy the 1920s Hollywood was like this. Yes, there were incidences of debauchery and madness , bad people, mad people , disillusioned people and fading stars etc but this was all before the age of mass information and things happened on a much smaller scope. Brad Pitt fits the role of the fading star but the portrayal is empty. Margot Robbie may play the tragic starlet looking for fame but she misses the refinement of the pathos because the director is too busy making this film a spectacle and it has no focus. The montage at the finale of the film conveys nothing and the Director finally reveals his ego. Somehow in the shots of old Hollywood and memorable moments of cinema, Chazelle weaves in shots of his own film Babylon as if this could possibly be part of all this. No, it's really not. Babylon is forgotten as soon as one walks out of the cinema. Three laborious hours of nothing.
Tár (2022)
Cinematic masturbation
Every so often a film comes along that wins awards even though secretly people are thinking 'I can't wait for this to end'. In short, one of the reasons this boring self absorbed psychodrama of a film gets attention is because Cate Blanchett is in the main role - Blanchett has attained some kind of cult status as the actress no one can criticise because she is too good. I would be so bold as to suggest that not only is she playing a fictional emotionally complex conductor, she is also playing a part of her own character intertwined with an alter ego acting role. Enough has been written about the themes of power, celebrity, classical music snobbery, sexual relationships, mental breakdowns, etc etc etc. All this is fine and dandy if one can connect to the storytelling and find meaning. At nearly three hour-long and feeling like one is still waiting for the story to make sense ......couldn't wait for it to end and felt like it may last a lifetime.
Love + Hate (2005)
Beautiful film about the power of love against racism and ignorance
I recently saw this film on BBC Iplayer and was really surprised to see it was made in 2005; the subject matter is as relevant and important now and it has not aged one bit. The film is set in a bleak Northern England town and one that has well known cultural divides between ethnic Brits and Pakistani immigrants. Two young people from very different backgrounds meet and fall in love against the odds. There are important strands through the entire film. Young love that cannot be restricted by race and cultural divides. Racism and violence shown in thuggery from both sides; abuse of women shown on both sides and how such behaviour results in pain and disharmony. Love and Hate is a hopeful film because with zero sentimentality it portrays the human dilemma and the working classes of the UK struggling with identity and existence who strive to make sense of their reality. The strong soundtrack is uplifting and the film does not flinch from portraying the ugliness of poverty versus the hope of young love. A great ending and what became of the two young actors who played the main protagonists? Their performances are brilliant and hold the film together.
To Leslie (2022)
A realistic story of 21st century working class America with a trite ending
'To Leslie' is a harrowing film and educational. If you want to see bare bones working class America with all it's American dream stripped away then this is the film to portray it. Riseborough delivers an Oscar worthy performance for sure and any controversy about her nomination is really undeserved. She exceptionally captures the plight of the addict and her lack of place in the world she lives in. The lottery win is actually second place; more importantly it's her relationship with her son; her friends, her family and how there is no where for her to go. She is between a rock and a hard place. Mid way through the bleakness of this film emerges an act of kindness which its totally believable and goes along with the main theme of good people not really able to find a stable footing in a country that offers very little to people on the edge. The ending spoils the film and is sentimental. The fact that the serious addict who has a history of extremely damaging behaviour can overnight turn in to a diner owner is not possible. There needed to be far more context; one felt that the budget had been reached and the ending had to be concluded. Not believable and yet, the performance of the main protagonist and the social cultural setting does still redeem this worthy film.
From Scratch (2022)
Beautiful, moving, incredible acting and really worth watching
I read the book and enjoyed it and read some bad reviews about the series. I was cynical when I started watching - how wrong I was! In fact I enjoyed the series more than the book. Netflix invested some serious production money in to this and it shows. The actors are all fantastic; top notch. The filming and the script are wonderful. The series begins in Florence and then to LA and finishes in Sicily - everything is evoked to perfection. The story is incredibly sad and never indulgent as some romance stories can be. I thoroughly recommend watching it; it's worth it and a very moving and inspiring story .
Aftersun (2022)
Whatever it is ..it's not enough
Found this film utterly pretentious and boring. Cannot understand the hype. I sincerely believe it is because the main actor has a cult following around him so he could literally stand and be filmed doing nothing and he would get a 5 star review. The premise of the film appears to be a last chance holiday between a young father and his pre-teen daughter before there must be separation due to the father's mental health struggles. The child appears as an adult towards the end of the film and seems depressive herself; but its only suggested. That is the issue with this film; no substance only suggestion. Long lingering shots of sleeping people in the dark - when I say long ...I mean long. Found this intensely irritating . Or a long lingering shot of waves crashing at night. WHY? Depression metaphor? To me the film is a kind of art house experiment and the kind of film that wins 'Most promising director' on a Film Making Masters . It's a long film too and I couldn't wait for it to end.
Silence (2016)
A Masterpiece
Some stories have to be told - without special effects and being driven by 21st century hype. Scorsese has taken a subject matter that is fascinating and powerful set in an era of Japanese history that is so far removed from Western ideology that only a master film maker could achieve telling it with greatness. Greatness has been achieved. People who were bored - probably have no concept of Japanese culture (not 21st century type) and also the historical significance of the failure to convert the mass population of Japan to Christianity. There is a profound message in this film. Highly recommended for intelligent people . Great performances too.
Jackie (2016)
A total waste of time - story is done
I can't see the value in this film. The story of Jackie is KNOWN ! Nothing in this film takes you by surprise - in fact it is a two dimensional experience because it is like looking at a news reel. Natalie Portman's performance is robotic and empty. Her 'Jackie' voice is so irritating and overdone. There is no humanity in the performance to be frank . Yes the film looks good , the sets , the styling , the wardrobe , etc etc is accurate but when you are watching this film it is so artificially set up that you are almost aware that you are within a film set . No , it deserves NO nominations . Awards ? Hope not . As for Kennedy's death - why do we need to see that yet again ???? It's 100% done - the whole creepy business and lies and conspiracy of this event is over .