New Releases (15/11/12)

New to cinemas this week we have the newest (and final...i think) installment in the Twilight Saga, Breaking Dawn Part 2. Now, if I wasn't researching what was out this week I never would have known this was out. There has been absolutely no publicity (not that there needs to be), but there is a really bizarre atmosphere surrounding the release.

Also out this week are Dead Europe, the haunting adaptation of the acclaimed novel by Christos Tsiolkas and The Angels' Share, Ken Loach's crowd-pleasing Cannes winner, both of which I have seen, as well as Robot and Frank, Two Little Boys and God Bless America.

Dead Europe - Australia's Tony Krawitz (Jewboy, The Tall Man) directs the adaptation of The Slap author Christos Tsiolkas' award-winning novel in this searing film about history, guilt and secrets. Ewen Leslie delivers a great performance as photographer Isaac, whose father's death in suburban Sydney reveals the schism in his family and prompts a return to the ancestral homeland. On a trip to his parent's village in Greece, he learns something of his father's cursed history. At first he dismisses the revelation as superstitious nonsense, but over the course of his travels - from Greece to Paris to Budapest - Isaac is forced to confront the anti-Semitism of the past, the embedded bigotry in the bones of Europe and the nature of inherited guilt. It is on this fateful trip that Isaac will learn the truth of his family's migration to Australia, their refusal to ever return to Greece, and the burden he continues to bear as a consequence of acts committed years before his birth. Krawitz sensitively depicts this clash of mythology and a very contemporary reality in this daring and enigmatic film populated by spirits and outcasts.

The Angels' Share - The Angels' Share introduces Robbie, an ex-offender and new father who embarks on an adventure with his new found friends to a whiskey distillery and discovers that turning to drink might just change his life.

Robot and Frank - Set in the near future, Frank (Frank Langella), a retired cat burglar, has two grown kids who are concerned he can no longer live alone. They are tempted to place him in a nursing home until Frank's son chooses a different option: against the old man's wishes, he buys Frank a walking, talking humanoid robot programmed to improve his physical and mental health. What follows is an often hilarious and somewhat heartbreaking story about finding friends and family in the most unexpected places.

Two Little Boys - When Nige finds himself in a spot of bother after a series of unfortunate incidents, he is forced to ask Deano for help. The problem is Deano is not really the kind of guy you should turn to in a crisis.

God Bless America - Frank (Joel Murray) has had enough of the downward spiral of American culture. Divorced, recently fired, and possibly terminally ill, Frank truly has nothing left to live for. But instead of taking his own life, he buys a gun and decides to take out his frustration on the cruelest, stupidest, most intolerant people he can imagine -- starting with some particularly odious reality television stars. Frank finds an unusual accomplice in a high-school student named Roxy (Tara Lynne Barr), who shares his sense of rage and disenfranchisement. Together they embark on a nationwide assault on our country's most irritating celebrities.

Weekly Recommendation: I have heard near-unanimous praise for Robot and Frank (and Frank Langella's performance) so I am going to blindly make it my top recommendation. The Angels' Share is very entertaining, and Dead Europe, though haunting and ugly, is worth a look too. Having also seen Two Little Boys and God Bless America I find them hard to recommend.

New Release Review: The Angels' Share (Ken Loach, 2012)

The Angels' Share, a tale of whiskey espionage from respected British director Ken Loach (The Wind That Shakes The Barley), screened at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival (extraordinarily, it is Loach's eleventh film accepted) and picked up the coveted Jury Prize.

It is an edgy, though heartfelt, redemption story about a troubled and violent Glaswegian youth, Robbie (Paul Brannigan), who has one chance, with a baby on the way, to turn himself around, learn to be responsible and establish a route to a new life. Balancing the effective drama with a clever dose of comedy in the vein of The Full Monty, it is often uproariously funny. But both the poignant drama and the laughs are engrained in a real human story and that's what results in the film having more of a profound effect than one would expect.

Struggling to stay out of the way of his local tormentors and being aggressively told to keep away from the mother of his newborn child, Robbie is facing a crossroads. He could leave town (as recommended) and start afresh, or he could prove that he deserves a second chance and has the ability to change. While on community service, a bizarre series of events leads to him attending a whiskey tasting session in Edinburgh with his community supervisor, Harry (John Henshaw), and it is there that he discovers an unlikely hidden talent - a fine nose for whiskey. He enlists a few of his buddies (local misfits charged with minor misdemeanours), when they learn about a priceless whiskey set for prompt auction, to help him utilise his talent to their economical advantage.

There is some really strong comedy, and though Robbie is a loser who is hard to sympathize with initially, he eventually wins us over. The support cast are all hilarious. One of the few issues for me personally were the Scottish accents, which were so thick that it was difficult to understand what was being said at times, and I definitely missed a few of the jokes. Viewers should be aware that there is some strong profanity and grisly violence, but The Angels' Share is a potential feel-good hit that should thrive on positive word-of-mouth.
                                                                                                                            My Rating: ★★★★ (B+)

Monday Links (12/11/12)

It has been a little while since I posted here on Film Emporium, but I have actually been doing little else but watch films. After three busy straight stressful days at work, Sam and I hopped on a coach and made our way to Canberra, Australia's capital city, on Saturday morning. Two of our friends were generous enough to let us stay with them, and as there were a few films screening at the Canberra International Film Festival that we were interested in seeing, there was plenty of motivation. By the end of the weekend - which was very pleasant - we had seen Abbas Kiarostami's Like Someone In Love, Jacques Audiard's Rust and Bone (both of which screened at Cannes earlier in the year) and James Ponsoldt's American indie drama, Smashed. All of them were excellent and provoked a lot of contemplation and discussion. Reviews of each to come soon.

Recently, my review of The Sessions, which features a remarkable central performance from John Hawkes as a young man affected by polio, is now online at Graffiti With Punctuation. I also caught up with Andrei Tarkovsky's science fiction masterpiece, Solaris, one of only three of his films I was yet to see.

Here are some links for this week:

Chris Elena shares his 'Best Films Set in New York'.

Alex gives Rust and Bone a glowing reception, and though I haven't read his review to see how he justifies his thoughts, I can certainly understand his admiration for the filmmaking...and the performances. Marion Cotillard take acting to a new level.

James provides an in-depth analysis of Kurosawa's Ikiru. 

Check out Margaret's Anne Hathaway Appreciation at Cinematic Corner. 

John reviews The Queen of Versailles.

Tom Clift has been reviewing for Film Ink. Check out his review of The Master.

Tyler is working his way through (and updating) his Top 100 Films. Check out numbers 90-81.

Werner Herzog vs. Errol Morris?

Dave reviews Killer Clowns From Outer Space and Blake interviews Lee Unkrich at Graffiti With Punctuation.

That's all for this week...I'm off to see Radiohead live. Hope everyone is well.

New Release Review: The Sessions (Ben Lewin, 2012)

The Sessions is a warm, crowd-pleasing biographical account about immense courage and sexual healing that will entertain and leave few dry eyes in the house.

Mark O’Brien (John Hawkes) is a man who has lived most of his life with the support of an iron lung and several compassionate aids (notably Vera, Moon Bloodgood). Despite his paralysis, Mark’s brain remains sharp and he becomes a renowned writer, journalist and poet. Mark comes to realise that there is one experience he desires above all else – sexual intercourse with a woman – and he vows to lose his virginity. After consulting with his priest, Father Brendan (William H. Macy), who declares that he believes “God will give him a free pass on this one”, he contacts a California sex surrogate – a therapist (Helen Hunt) who offers therapeutic guidance through intimate sexual interactions.

Continue reading at Graffiti With Punctuation. 

New Releases (08/11/12)

It is a bit of a mixed week this week. When I read that The Master, The Sessions and Seven Psychopaths were being released on the same day I was very excited. Having been disappointed by Seven Psychopaths and having heard terrible things about Alex Cross (also released) it has weakened somewhat. Still, The Sessions has been very well received, and The Master, for me (and many others), is one of the best films released this year.

The Master - the highly anticipated new film from ambitious American writer, co-producer and director, Paul Thomas Anderson (Boogie Nights, Magnolia and There Will Be Blood). A grandiose achievement in almost every sense, this evocative work of vibrant cinematic vision is a film that will offer rewards for inquisitive film goers for a long time to come. Not easily forgotten, it is a dark and haunting storm that stirs emotions, offers up individual moments that will leave a viewer in awe and through its explored themes, leaves a percolating concoction of contemplation and admiration. At the fore of this story is Freddie Quell (Joaquin Phoenix in his first screen role since I’m Still Here), a World War II Navy veteran who is struggling to adjust to a post-war society. A gaunt, sickly-looking alcoholic with a bent back and a limp, emotionally and physically Freddie is a mess. He bounces between jobs – a portrait photographer and a vegetable farmer – and is consistently under the influence of toxic concoctions that are clearly unsafe to drink. He then stumbles onto a pleasure boat in San Francisco where he meets Lancaster Dodd (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) the leader (‘master’) of a philosophical movement known as The Cause. He sees something in Freddie, perhaps recognizing himself and relating to his personal struggles, and after accepting him into the movement as a patient and disciple, begins to exert his influence.

The Sessions -  Based on the poignantly optimistic autobiographical writings of California-based journalist and poet Mark O'Brien, The Sessions tells the story of a man confined to an iron lung who is determined - at age 38 - to lose his virginity. With the help of his therapists and the guidance of his priest, he sets out to make his dream a reality. Stars John Hawkes and Helen Hunt have been mentioned in the Oscar talks for their performances, and Hawkes has been great of late (everyone, he should have been nominated for Martha Marcy May Marlene last year following Winter's Bone the year before, yes?). Check out Chris Elena's review for An Online Universe at the link.

Alex Cross - follows the young homicide detective/psychologist (Tyler Perry), from the worldwide best-selling novels by James Patterson, as he meets his match in a serial killer (Matthew Fox). The two face off in a high-stakes game of cat and mouse, but when the mission gets personal, Cross is pushed to the edge of his moral and psychological limits in this 'generally poorly received' action thriller.

Seven Psychopaths - Marty (Farrell) is a struggling writer who dreams of finishing his screenplay, "Seven Psychopaths". Billy (Rockwell) is Marty's best friend, an unemployed actor and part time dog thief, who wants to help Marty by any means necessary. All he needs is a little focus and inspiration. Hans (Walken) is Billy's partner in crime. A religious man with a violent past. Charlie (Harrelson) is the psychopathetic gangster whose beloved dog, Billy and Hans have just stolen. Charlie's unpredictable, extremely violent and wouldn't think twice about killing anyone or anything associated with the theft. Marty is going to get all the focus and inspiration he needs, just as long as he lives to tell the tale.

 Weekly Recommendation: The Master. Definitely, I really want to see it projected in 70mm (Hayden Orpheum Cremorne only - Sydney) so if you get the chance I think that would be very worthwhile. It is going to look amazing anywhere, however. From what I have heard The Sessions is also going to be a very worthwhile watch. If you haven't had the chance to see Argo, The Intouchables or Frankenweenie yet, they also come highly recommended and continue their run this week.

Trailer: West of Memphis

West of Memphis is the hotly anticipated new documentary following the trio of Paradise Lost documentaries (the latter, Purgatory, was nominated for Best Documentary Feature at last year's Academy Awards). West of Memphis focuses on the extraordinary case of the West Memphis Three - Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley Jr. - the three teenagers wrongly convicted for the murder three 8-year-old boys in West Memphis in the 1993. Now, nearly 20 years later, the men have been released - and this documentary provides further insight into the devastating case and the miscarriage of justice, their personal journeys along the way and an investigation into a new suspect.

Produced by Peter Jackson and Damien Echols and directed by Amy J. Berg, there is no set release date in Australian cinemas though it is screening at the Brisbane Film Festival later in the month. Check out the trailer below:

DVD Review: Once Upon A Time In Anatolia (Nuri Bilge Ceylan, 2011)

The haunting Once Upon A Time in Anatolia, directed with great precision and assurance by world-class filmmaker Nuri Bilge Ceylan, shared the Jury Prize at last year's Cannes Film Festival with The Kid With A Bike. I caught it earlier in the year at the Sydney Film Festival, but due to unsuitable circumstances to watch a film of this length and tone, I had the desire to watch it again in an attempt to unpack its mysteries.

The film opens in the dead of night as a group of men in three cars - including a police commissioner (Yilmaz Erdogan), a prosecutor (Taner Birsel), a doctor (Muhammet Uzuner) and a murder suspect (Firat Tanis) - drive through the tenebrous Anatolian countryside, the serpentine roads and rolling hills lit only by the headlights of their cars. They are searching for the corpse of a local man who has recently been buried there. The suspect, who has confessed to the murder, claims he was drunk at the time and can't remember where he buried the body. The convoy drives from spot to spot, often captured in a lengthy unbroken shot as they approach their destination from a distance, and search for signs that distinguish it as the burial ground.

The story unravels like a police procedural, but it is unconventional to say the least. Realistically, events unfold at a natural pace and only when the characters are ready to converse or take action. If a character needs to step out and urinate, the rest of the group waits and converses about matters both trivial (yoghurt) and poignant (death), and we wait along with them. This is a simmering drama that is less about action, and more about philosophizing, building atmosphere and developing character. 

Monday Links (05/11/12)

I watched Brick for the first time this week. I was impressed, especially by Joseph Gordon Levitt's performance. It was well-dialogued and gripping, if some of the developments were unrealistic, given the location and the age of the characters.

I also made a trip to the cinema to watch Frankenweenie. Great to see it in contention for an Oscar nomination for Animated Feature. It would be disappointing to see it miss out, because it is some of Burton's best work in a while. It looked stunning and is an effective balance of sweet, amusing and macabre, with some honorary nods to classic creature films. It even brought some tears to my eyes.

My review of Seven Psychopaths is now online at Graffiti With Punctuation. I am in the minority with my opinion on this one. It is out this week.

Later today, I will be posting a DVD review of Once Upon A Time In Anatolia on The Film Emporium, a film I appreciated much more on a re-watch.

Tomorrow I am seeing Two Little Boys and next weekend I am traveling to Canberra for the Canberra Film Fest. Like Someone In Love, Rust and Bone and Smashed are scheduled in. Then I am seeing Radiohead live and watching Skyfall, so there are lots of awesome things to look forward to. Just have to get through this week of work. Its been kicking my ass recently. Very busy.

So, enough about what I am up to. Here are some links:

Ruth shares her thoughts on The Master. 

Sam has a new 'Best Films Set In...' feature. This time its Hotels

As part of his Horror Marathon, Alex looks at his Top 10 Scariest Non-Horror Films.

CS reviews A Fantastic Fear of Everything (starring Simon Pegg) at Toronto After Dark.

Nick asks us a question: What does the 'Nooooo' really represent? 

Margaret at Cinematic Corner reviews Skyfall.

Anna compares Fight Club - book vs. movie.

Sam Fragoso reviews Flight.

Andrew's 'Essential Performances of the 90's' Tournament has come to an end. You can now check out the winner.

Tyler, like Alex, lists the 20 Scariest Films He Has Ever Seen.

Ryan shares his thoughts on new Disney animation, Wreck-it Ralph.

And, if you are an Australian resident, be sure to enter the fantastic giveaway currently running at Graffiti. Find out how we are celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Universal Pictures.

Hope everyone has a great week.