2 Notes
365 Films in 2014 (#212 - #230)
No real theme this edition, but I did include a memorial to Robin Williams (R.I.P.)
The Cinémathèque program at Mercury Cinemas presented Stranger Than Paradise and I was also lucky enough to catch Palo Alto in its regular season there too.
Still to come… A musical education (I promise.)
- August 9 -
212/365 Funny Games [1997]
- August 10 -
213/365 Funny Games [2007]
It’s taken a lot of processing to decide what to make of Michael Haneke’s project spanning a decade. Haneke produced a German language film in 1997 and then remade it for an English audience in 2007…shot for excruciating shot.
The premise revolves around a couple and their son being taken hostage by two male youths on their holiday at a lake house.
The German actors (Susanne Lothar and Ulrich Mühe) make it feel like a regular, white-collar family, whereas Tim Roth and Naomi Watts bring too much glitz and glam to the roles. And as great an actor as Michael Pitt can be, he feels miscast as the evil ring leader in the English version (maybe it’s because the other tormenter role feels familiar to his work from a previous film.)
Haneke is never one to edit for the sake of editing which can be painful at times but most of the stillness in Funny Games adds to the viewer’s tension. While the project itself is interesting to note, what slays is the feeling of emptiness at the final shot of the film combined with the jarring metal music that blasts.
Funny Games (1997) – (4 stars)
Funny Games (2007) – (2 and a half)
- August 11 -
214/365 Stranger Than Paradise [1984]
Jim Jarmusch is somewhat of a vignette King. He’ll present a tale or two to the audience and weave magic through the subtle “story” without employing common narrative devices. Stranger Than Paradise is a some times depressing some times delightful look at a thrown together trio comprising of slimy but well meaning Willie (John Lurie), fish out of water Eva (Eszter Balint) and the token side kick Eddie (Richard Edson).
For a black and white film with barely any soundtrack (save for the continuous use of Screaming Jay Hawkins’ ‘I put a spell on you’) the mind doesn’t wander as the group’s playful bickering and horsing around in tiny New York City apartments or roadtrippin’ to Florida pleasantly surprises.
The real star of the show is Willie and Eva’s Aunt Lotte (Cecillia Stark), a ranting, funny without trying to be funny ethnic lady that every viewer either knows or is related to.
Stranger Than Paradise is a film of two halves that starts out bleak but comes together in an hilarious turn of events.
-Presented by ‘Cinematheque’ at the Mercury Cinema -
(4 stars)
- August 12 -
215/365 Mrs. Doubtfire [1993]
With respect to Robin Williams, I am going to have to set aside the Men’s Rights Activism and casual transphobia of Mrs. Doubtfire because he’s so flawless as a cross-dressing nanny that it’s hard to process these issues within a film that practically raised a generation.
Even with a well worn story line of marriage break down, as expected, Robin Williams steals every damn scene he’s in - whether he’s slap-sticking all over the place as Mrs. Doubtfire, doing impressions as man-child Daniel or montaging a make over with his brother and “Aunt” Jack (the fabulous Harvey Fierstein and Scott Capurro).
As a film about divorce, sure, Daniel goes about it the wrong by tricking his ex-partner Miranda (Sally Field) into hiring him as a nanny, but the point is he’s desperate to spend time with his kids. Also the trickery leads to a lot of lols so how bad can it be? (Please don’t judge me I just really love this film.)
At the heart of Mrs. Doubtfire is that families come in all shapes and sizes and mum and dad might not always love each other but that won’t effect how they feel about the children. Gosh I’m tearing up thinking about it all.
Not that any one would take comfort in the death of a comic genius but the in development Mrs Doubtfire 2 will never go ahead and that should allow the original to be a testament to Robin Williams’ memory.
(5 stars)
216/365 Aladdin [1992]
This film. This is the animated film of an entire generation’s childhood. Genie. Mute Carpet. Cheeky Abu. Creepy Jafar. Doe-eyed but head strong Jasmine. GLORIOUS musical numbers. And animation that hasn’t dated over the course of decades.
It might be called Aladdin, but every one knows Robin Williams owns this. From the opening scene as a dodgy salesperson to the ending with all the feels, what a vocal performance. Williams single-handedly changed the way animated features were seen by Hollywood. Pre-Aladdin it would be hard pressed to find big name stars in films where their faces wouldn’t be seen. In 2014, there’s no avoiding CGI with encyclopedic lists of celebrities attached.
Aladdin doesn’t waste a single animated cell and although there’s only one name we remember vocally, the film’s legacy will last a lifetime for ‘A Whole New World’. Nawwww. *vomits*
(5 stars)
- August 13 -
217/365 The Birdcage [1996]
Is it possible that Nathan Lane may have out Robin Williams-ed Robin Williams in this camp 90s remaining of French film La Cage aux Follies?
Williams plays the straight and narrow nightclub owner, Armand Goldman, while Lane flounces around the screen as Albert, his partner in life. Lane is so great at over-the-top fabulousness while Williams stands aside, audibly sighing at his dramatic lover.
While we could all watch Lane and Williams give a master class in funny, there’s unfortunately a story to get to that isn’t as amazing. Some knock-off Bradley Cooper wants to marry Ally McBeal and apparently they’re twenty and eighteen years old respectively. Alec Baldwin’s vocal twin, Gene Hackman, is a conservative pollie who would never approve of his daughter marrying into a family with homosexual parents.
It was the 90s. They tried. But really, we’re all here for the Lane and Williams comedy hour as well as Hackman and Dianne Wiest getting out of a sticky situation in drag.
(3 stars)
- August 15 -
218/365 Brazil [1985]
If you’re ever looking for a film to assault your senses (maybe not smell) then famed Monty Python cartoonist, Terry Gilliam, has got a treat for you.
In a world not too dissimilar to George Orwell’s dystopian 1984, dreamer Sam Lowry (Jonathan Pryce) blerghs his way through each day as a shit kicker in the public service. All hell breaks loose when one of the worker bees is mistakenly arrested and killed for acts of terrorism and Lowry is placed in charge of investigating - post-modern bureaucracy ensues.
Brazil is so surreal and thematically absurd that it’s easy to assume that a lot of Tim Burton’s work must have be influenced by Gilliam. Dream sequences, ridiculous cinematography and an excellent Robert De Niro cameo fill the wonderful stupor of a Gilliam cinematic experience.
(3 and a half stars)
- August 17 -
219/365 Let the right one in [2008]
Those Nordic arty types sure know how to think outside the box. A vampire love story sends shivers up my spine and smacks of True Blood trash, but Let the right one in is more than a stock standard pulpy sucky tale of unrequited love.
Based on John Ajvide Lindqvist’s thing you can read on a Kindle, Let the right one in turns to young vampire love in the harsh, unforgiving climate of wintery Stockholm. Gosh it’s pretty and idyllic to look at then you remember people actually live there and no sunlight for months on end would get old….real fast.
Lovelorn Oskar (Kåre Hedebrant) and his vampire gf Eli (Lina Leandersson) are adorable but don’t fuck with them because they have no qualms about biting back.
If you’re a subtitle-aphobe, fear not, America has remade Let the right one in for all your philistine needs (and it stars Australia’s Kodi Smit-McPhee).
(4 stars)
- August 18 -
220/365 Palo Alto [2013]
Hats off to James Franco. He’s a busy dude. Between writing books, acting in films, being a sex pest on Instagram or bombing as host of the Oscars, he’s also had time to star in blockbusters and indie films based on stuff he’s written. It’s impressive if he didn’t come across as a bit of a d-bag in the process.
Palo Alto is directed by Coppola of the Gia variety (not Sofia) and turns Franco’s published short stories into a teen narrative. But, like, we’ve seen it all before, well it feels that way. Teens smoke, drink, do drugs, have sex… what’s more to learn?
Coppola’s aesthetic is pretty and warm, washed with lovely filters and scored with hip tracks. Emma Roberts and Val Kilmer’s son seem age appropriate as the leads and some of the parties they go to look fun if you’re bored on a Friday during the middle of high school, otherwise… “meh”.
I’m mostly here for the Val Kilmer scenes.
(2 and a half stars)
- August 20 -
221/365 One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest [1975]
Blend Orange is the New Black with American Horror Story: Asylum and the resulting clean eats smoothie would be the male centric One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Lead by a young antiestablishment fellow by the name of Randle McMurphy (Jack Nicholson), patients at the mental health facility include Danny DeVito and brown-haired Christopher Lloyd.
As is common with films set in correctional facilities, there’s always a stern authority figure and Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher) is brilliant as the no nonsense warden.
Real talk. Sure, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is a darling of the critics and featured on Top 100 film lists the world over, but I was basically waiting for The Simpsons moment the entire film. A lot of the performances were great to watch, particularly from young up and coming actors who we all know and love now, but much of the films middle act felt a little like filler.
Let’s just say Nurse Ratched dueling with Jack Nicholson is worth the price of admission.
*throws sink out window*
(3 and a half stars)
- August 21 -
222/365 World’s Greatest Dad [2009]
Over the course of Robin Williams’ career, he’s acquired such a diverse back catalogue of films it’s hard finding the right place to start to pay homage to the talented actor. Of course, the classics get a look in, but Williams had a knack of picking some left of centre films where he didn’t necessarily play the hyperactive man we came to love.
World’s Greatest Dad is breath of fresh air that went under the radar upon release in 2009.
Williams plays English teacher and failed writer, Lance Clayton father to the school’s biggest pervert and all round ratbag, Kyle Clayton (a constantly sweating Daryl Sabara). When his jerk off son, ironically dies jerking off, Williams becomes the star ghostwriter of Daryl’s “unpublished works”. Alexie Gilmore does her best ‘I look like I’m potentially related to Sigourney Weaver’ imitation and is enjoyable to watch as Williams undecided lady friend.
Sometimes indie films like World’s Greatest Dad come together with all the elements when on paper it sounds like they shouldn’t. And its general commentary about how we treat the dead, no matter how horrible they were when alive, is fascinating.
(4 stars)
- August 24 / August 25 -
223/365 Nymphomaniac Volume 1 [2013]
224/365 Nymphomaniac Volume 2 [2013]
Lars von Trier has made some of the most gut-wrenching, knock the wind out of you, devastating films over his lifetime including two particular favourites of mine, Dogville and the Björk-led Dancer in the Dark. Don’t be watching those when you’re having a downer of a day. But that’s the thing with von Trier, you know what you’re getting yourself into so you can only blame yourself!
Nymphomaniac v.1 and v.2 focus on the depravity of sex addict Joe (a von Trier casting favourite in Charlotte Gainsbourg) recounting her life long battle with the condition to a man who finds her bloody and beaten, Seligman (Stellan Skarsgård).
Volume 1 sets the scene with how a young Joe (Stacy Martin) finds herself wandering down a hyper sexualised path via encounters with a very British and very irritating Shia Labeouf. Her back-story also helps us understand and sympathise with a mental health condition that is highly taboo. And Uma Thurman gets to sink her teeth into an awkward confrontation which is always welcome.
Volume 2 got way more creepy and at times felt like it crossed the line between what should and shouldn’t be shown on film. One of the characters introduced to Joe is the VERY young P (played by the VERY young looking actor Mia Goth) and there’s a definite paedophile-y vibe going on that is uncomfortable at best. By comparison, the S&M scenes with Jamie Bell seem G-rated as opposed to some of the other content von Trier puts the audience through.
The beauty of von Trier films, depravity aside, he’s a master at film making and the experience always feels new and exciting to watch. He’ll use a split screen to tell a story three times over without venturing into tacky territory.
As an insight into nymphomania, it’s not a hopeful outlook, but of course, with von Trier and his Depression trilogy, nothing ever is.
Volume 1 - (3 and a half stars)
Volume 2 - (2 and a half stars)
- August 26 -
225/365 Con Air [1997]
90s action films just got it, didn’t they? Explosions, ridiculous hair, Trisha Yearwood anthems, a cast of thousands and of course Monica Potter.
Con Air is filled with great action performances (don’t be fooled, there’s not a single actor robbed of an Oscar here) from the likes of Steve Buscemi, John Cusack, John Malkovitch, Ving Rhames, an almost forgotten Dave Chapelle and badass Danny Trejo. Half of those people would never get a second look in for the seventh sequel of The Expendables, but in the 90s, everything was fair game.
And don’t worry, that’s not even mentioning the man, the myth, the hair… Nicolas Cage, himself, as good guy Cameron Poe.
Poe is a killing machine who gets locked up after defending HIS WOMAN. Cut to his release date years later and Poe is heading home to see HIS WOMAN and daughter for her birthday.
Who would have thought putting a whole bunch of hardened criminals on the one plane together would be a good idea? Oh yeah, and no guns allowed on any of the Air Marshals. Good work guys, reeeeeal good work.
What’s more to know? There’s a tonne of exploding planes, a “flying” car, loads of great catch phrases and two scary mofos in Cyrus The Virus and Garland Green (Malkovich and Buscemi respectively) as well as the rest of crims.
It starts and ends with ‘How Do I Live’, which is basically everything. Nuff said.
(4 stars)
- August 27 -
226/365 Noah [2014]
Not even God gets a look-in during this epic tale of Noah and rock monsters…whaaa? Rock Monsters? Even the most inattentive Catholic would have remembered Rock Monsters in the Scriptures and god damn it, they never happened.
Darren Aronofsky takes a lot of creative license for Noah but the concept kind of… sort of… works.
Russell Crowe mumbles his way through the clunky dialogue as the titular character and Jennifer Connolly does ‘concerned wife/mother’ well but for a story based on biblical history, it’s fun at times (the whole two of every kind of animal) and action-y enough for those who need explosions. There’s even some love story, albeit a little incestual, revolving around handsome actor types Emma Watson and Douglas Booth.
You’ll have to set aside the white washing of characters set in a BC-era but Aronosfky manages to weave a little of his pseudo-indie directing style into a multimillion dollar blockbuster. Oh and there’s a character called Ham (Logan Lerman) which isn’t very kosher.
Fortunately (or unfortunately) there’s no ass-to-ass scene (NSFW) to be found.
(2 and a half stars)
- August 28 -
227/365 The Queen of Versailles [2012]
Documentary filmmaking has the amazing knack of turning subject matter on its head and sometimes even the directors/producers get caught up in the chaos. It happened in Capturing the Friedmans and it happens in The Queen of Versailles.
On paper, a fly-on-the-wall look at a billionaire family building America’s largest house inspired by French palaces is enough to get punters along to check out the circus. But then the global financial crisis hit.
It’s all about former Mrs. Florida winner Jackie and her rise from rags to riches back to rags, but the Siegel family (including her husband and time share King, David) is always present as is the constant reminder of how hard the GFC smacked around the whole U.S.
Jackie means well but struggles to comprehend the need to cut back when times are tough, while David seems to have his head screwed on and gets the need to reel in the spending. Unfortunately for the Siegels, David can’t seem to let go of an investment that would put their bankruptcy dilemma to bed – this couple is a match made in insolvency heaven.
The Queen of Versailles is a fascinating look into new money, opulence and how when the American Dream falls, it falls hard.
(4 and a half stars)
- August 29 -
228/365 Oldboy [2003]
Oh boy. Park Chan-wook really does a number with his revenge film Old Boy - simple in theory, layered by the end.
Oh Dae-su (Choi Min-sik) is a drunk who winds up locked away for fifteen years with no explanation as to why. Even less explanation comes when he is released, thus sending him on a warpath towards finding his captors and making them pay.
Along the way he falls in love with an apprehensive Mi-do (Kang Hye-jung), although, he tries to assault her so can you blame her? Mi-do is a reasonable lady and can see Oh Dae-su is a troubled man so she’s willing to give him more chances than any sexual assault victim should. The real baddie of the entire outing is Lee Woo-jin (Yoo Ji-tae) who’s backstory is disturbing as it is important to the climax.
Oldboy could have been any Western action thriller but Chan-wook’s direction combined with Chung Chung-hoon’s cinematography create a twisted, harrowing vision of Seoul.
Oof. Dat ending.
(3 and a half stars)
229/365 The Dish [2000]
The people at Working Dog are just funny. Jane Kennedy, Rob Sitch, Santo Cilauro and Tom Gleisner have been responsible for some of Australia’s top comedies of the past three decades including D-Generation, The Castle, Frontline, The Hollowmen and of course, late night television staple, The Panel.
The Dish is what Australian film is so great at, no not depressing convoluted crap, but the story of an underdog coming good with larrikin humour as far as the satellite reception can broadcast.
Who knew that Australia played such an important role in showing the world footage from the moon landing and who knew it was the footage that almost never was!?
Excellent cast (Sam Neill, Patrick Warbuton, Tom Long, Eliza Szonert), hilarious writing, and a great Australian film to everyone involved ya big pack of galahs.
(4 stars)
- August 30 -
230/365 2 Days in Paris [2007]
Julie Delpy is one of those slashies that it’s hard not to love. She can act in her native French or with an adorable Franco-English accent. And she’s a great writer of relationship drama pieces that feel more real than any reality television drivel ever will.
Famed more for the Before series, Delpy shows definite inspiration from her time with Ethan Hawke in this back and forth with Adam Goldberg. Fortunately, 2 Days In Paris is far more accessible and less wanky.
Any one who has travelled will understand the guilt and ignorance felt from being an English-speaking tourist surrounded by Europeans who seem to speak every language ever invented with the expertise of a linguist. Jack (Goldberg) is all of us although he’s probably a little too neurotic and precious when faced with Marion’s (Delpy) home base of Paris.
More films should be about walking around foreign countries with witty, funny dialogue. It’s that simple.
(3 and a half stars)
