New Release Review: Samsara (Ron Fricke, 2012)

Samsara is a unique and extraordinary feat of documentary filmmaking and explores, through a carefully considered ordering of breathtaking HD images, a series of worldly phenomena. It works as an often-mesmerizing trance-like journey that captures all forms of the human experience – including the natural, the spiritual and the artificial – and should provoke an array of reactions. One of the most prevalent themes is the juxtaposition between images of mass production and mass consumption, with a clear message to demonstrate the extent of humanity’s waste and convey how our planet has recently been ruined by both consumerism as well as natural disaster.

Continue reading at Graffiti With Punctuation.

Monday Links (17/12/12)

As we near Christmas, I think everyone's lives get a little busier. Throw in an abundance of screenings to end the year, keeping up awards mania and shopping for those last gifts (exactly what I am doing after this post), there isn't as much time for writing. I am trying to keep up with everything. My reviews of upcoming Boxing Day releases, Wreck-It Ralph Les Miserables and Sightseers (and coming soon - Quartet and Samsara), as well as Judd Apatow's new film This is 40, can be found at Graffiti With Punctuation. Here on The Film Emporium I have been constructing some End-of-Year Lists. My Top 5 Australian Films and Best Male/Female Performances of 2012 have received some attention.  

Recently Bonjour Tristesse checked out Peter Strickland's masterpiece of sound, Berberian Sound Studio.

Nikhat shares her Favourite Looking Films.

Margeret's Movie of the Month is Soderbergh's Solaris. After falling for Tarkovsky's last month I am intrigued to see what Mr. Soderbergh comes up with.

Steve reviews the Powell and Pressburger I am most excited to see next, A Matter of Life And Death.

If you admired Silver Linings Playbook (haven't yet seen it) you will be interested in Amir's spirited defence of it.

Alex shines the spotlight on Michael Haneke and lists his Top 10 Movies Set In A Prison.

Sam lists her Top 6 Soundtracks of 2012 and Chris reviews new Apatow (This is 40) at An Online Universe.

Nick (Cinematic Romantico) shares his love for Atonement. 

James has been catching up with the good stuff. Check out his thoughts on Once Upon A Time In Anatolia and Oslo, August 31st.

Sam Fragoso makes a big announcement - and reveals some exciting news - about Duke and the Movies.

Kwenton has just joined the team at Graffiti With Punctuation. Check out his first review: Smuggler. In the hope of inspiring more people to see Krzysztof Kieslowski's Three Colours Trilogy, I added Red to the Five Star Films canon.

John Likes Movies has moved...and the new site looks great.

Corey discusses 48fps.

Tom Clift dug Jack Reacher (as did I). Check out his review, and interview with writer/director Chris McQuarrie. 

Simon lists his Ten Best Female/Male Performances of 2012.  

and finally, Jessica shares 10 Things She Loved About The Hobbit.     

Though my content will not stop over the next two weeks, this is the last links post I will have the chance to write before Christmas. SO, I would like to thank everyone who has stopped by the site (and returned) over the course of the year and left me feedback. Your support and your individual work inspire me everyday. I need to make more of an effort to leave feedback of my own (add it to my 2013 resolutions). I wish you all a Merry Christmas and look forward to discussing all things film again in 2013.      

2012 Round-Up: Some Unseen/Underrated Gems + Some Much-Loved Films I Don't Share Enthusiasm For

Everybody has different tastes. There will always be films that you love that many others don't, and there will be films that you don't see what everyone else admires so much. Opinions on films are subjective, and what makes discussing the medium so interesting is the fact that everyone brings something different into and away from the experience. Here some films from 2012 that I loved personally that have either been appreciated less by the majority or largely unseen during a limited cinema release. Following this I will list a few films I did not share the consensus enthusiasm for.

Here are some surprisingly excellent films that had a limited release in Australian cinemas this year and seen by few people. Either they were turned off by the trailer/promotional material, were adverse to the films' premise and the stars (so many guests refused to see Bernie because of Jack Black's involvement) or didn't get the chance to catch them at the cinema. Though Headhunters, Bernie and Your Sister's Sister were critically well-received, most of them either received tepid recommendations or were disregarded altogether. I highly recommend checking them out if you haven't.

This Must Be The Place - "This wonderful weird and ambitious road movie is funny in a droll, deadpan sort of way – whether Cheyenne (Sean Penn, in a flawless performance), an 80's goth rock star, debates the reasons his pool has no water in it, or corrects the fact that ‘Mick Jagger once sang with him’, it is full of great dialogue and clever self-referential comedy. Cheyenne's seemingly impossible quest, which takes him through New York, New Mexico and Utah, remains a quest we mysteriously find ourselves wholeheartedly embracing. This oddball collaboration of far-out comedy and heartbreaking drama is original and unpredictable film making from Paolo Sorrentino."

Headhunters - "A cracking Norwegian thriller. On one hand 'Headhunters' is gripping and suspenseful, while on the other it is riddled with a macabre sense of visual humour. But above all, it is a lot of fun. There are several different genres at work here (heist thriller, chase film, black comedy, melodrama - they all get thrown together) and after a fairly conventional build-up, there is a wild and unexpected turn and a dramatic shift in tone. It becomes more and more unpredictable and surprising. There is a chunk of this film that contains some of the funniest sequences I saw in a cinema all year. "

Bernie - "The latest film from writer-director Richard Linklater (Dazed and Confused, Before Sunrise/Sunset), is a fascinating tale based on events that seem too outrageous to be true. Linklater, through an equal dose of sensitivity and respect and exploitative humour deftly crafts one of the most surprising and effortlessly entertaining black comedies of the year out of a somewhat morbid and shocking case of true crime. Fuelled by a complex and nuanced performance from Jack Black, career-best work, and hilarious support from an in-form Matthew McConaughey and a tantrum-throwing Shirley MacLaine, the intelligent screenplay by Linklater and Skip Hollandsworth features an obscure blend of cinematic technique (scripted narrative intercut with interviews with residents of Carthage about Tiede, Nugent and the story) and shape-shifting genre, Bernie is a rewarding example of offbeat mockumentary filmmaking."

Review: This is 40 (Judd Apatow, 2013)

Written and directed by Judd Apatow (The 40-Year Old Virgin, Funny People), This is 40 follows married couple Debbie (Leslie Mann) and Pete (Paul Rudd), first introduced in Apatow’s 2007 hit, Knocked Up. We re-visit them on the morning of Debbie’s 40th birthday – and the film concludes with a party to celebrate Pete’s 40th – and traverses their marriage, their relationships with their family and their tumultuous personal lives over a number of weeks, revealing they are in serious turmoil. Offering up consistent laughs, courtesy of the intelligent writing and excellent performances from the two leads and an ensemble of hilarious cameos, This is 40 also whacks an emotional punch, honestly stripping back this marriage to the roots of the problems, and challenging the characters to face them and find mature solutions.

Continue Reading at Graffiti With Punctuation. 

Top Male/Female Performances of 2012

Rules: These performances have been selected from films I have seen for the first time in a cinema in 2012 - whether it was released theatrically or at a festival. If you're wondering where Elizabeth Olsen is for Martha Marcy May Marlene for example, I watched that film at the Sydney Film Festival last year even though it hit cinemas in February of this year. I would have included Leslie Mann in my Top 10 Female Performances (This is 40) but the film doesn't hit cinemas until January.

As I have seen 'almost' everything eligible for consideration, here's how my selections for Best Male and Female Performances of 2012 stand. Inspired by Simon Miraudo (Quickflix).

Male

Male Performer of the Year

Honourable Mentions - Chris O'Dowd - The Sapphires, Scoot McNairy/Brad Pitt - Killing Them Softly, Hugh Jackman - Les Miserables, Sean Penn - This Must Be The Place, Joel Edgerton - Wish You Were Here, Mark Duplass - Your Sister's Sister, Logan Lerman/Ezra Miller - The Perks of Being A Wallflower, Matthias Schoenaerts - Rust and Bone, Frank Langella - Robot and Frank, Toby Jones - Berberian Sound Studio, George Clooney - The Descendants, Jean Dujardin - The Artist and Omar Sy - The Intouchables.

 10. Anders Danielsen Lie - Oslo, August 31st

9. Gary Oldman - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

8. John Hawkes - The Sessions

 

7. Jack Black - Bernie
 

6. Mads Mikkelsen - The Hunt/A Royal Affair

5. Jean-Louis Trintignant - Amour

4. Matthew McConaughey - Killer Joe/Magic Mike/Bernie

=3. Philip Seymour Hoffman/Joaquin Phoenix - The Master

2. Denis Lavant - Holy Motors

1. Michael Fassbender - Shame/Prometheus

Female

Female Performer of the Year

Honourable Mentions: Kirsten Dunst - Bachelorette, Kate Winslet - Carnage,  Saskia Rosendahl - Lore, Vanessa Paradis - Cafe De Flore, J. Smith Cameron - Margaret, Elizabeth Olsen - Liberal Arts, Michelle Williams - Take This Waltz, Rachel Weisz - The Deep Blue Sea, Quvenzhane Wallis - Beasts of the Southern Wild, Rosemarie DeWitt - Your Sister's Sister and Jennifer Lawrence - The Hunger Games

10. Amy Adams - The Master

9. Rashida Jones - Celeste and Jesse Forever

8. Emily Blunt - Your Sister's Sister/Salmon Fishing In the Yemen/Looper

7. Anne Hathaway - Les Miserables/The Dark Knight Rises

6. Mary Elizabeth Winstead - Smashed

5. Charlize Theron - Young Adult

4. Marion Cotillard - Rust and Bone

3. Rooney Mara - The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

2. Anna Paquin - Margaret

1. Emmanuelle Riva - Amour

2012/13 Awards Coverage

Much like last year I am immersing myself in the awards season in the lead up to the 85th Academy Awards. The big problem, I haven't seen many of films in contention yet. This year, I am providing updates and commentary on the awards season for Graffiti With Punctuation. Head over there for my articles on the Independent Spirit Awards nominations, The European Film Awards, The AACTA Awards, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards and the SAG nominations, amongst others.

Upcoming Release Review: Les Miserables (Tom Hooper, 2012)

Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, Les Misérables tells the enthralling tale of Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman, Australia), a man who survives nineteen years of imprisonment and becomes a town mayor. Pursued by a relentless police inspector after breaking his parole, Valjean involves himself in the lives of those that need his help. Tom Hooper’s (The King’s Speech) garishly epic screen adaptation of the timeless tale of redemption features a large ensemble cast and though his bombastic ambition doesn’t amount to a wholly successful work, there are some remarkable sequences. One can’t deny its sweeping spectacle and the fantastic work from most of the cast.

Les Misérables is adapted from the enormously successful Alain Boublil, Claude-Michel Schonberg and Herbert Kretzmer’s musical, the source of which is Victor Hugo’s 1862 novel. When Javert (Russell Crowe, Master and Commander), a man who strictly adheres to the law, becomes consumed by his obsession to re-prosecute Valjean, his pursuit culminates in their unexpected meeting on the frontlines of the Paris Uprising of 1832. Along the way Valjean takes upon the care of Cosette (Amanda Seyfried, Mama Mia), the illegitimate daughter of a factory worker, Fantine (Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Maried), forced into prostitution to care for the youngster. As a teenager Cosette falls in love with Marius (Eddie Redmayne, My Week With Marilyn), one of the student revolutionaries leading the revolts on the streets of Paris.

While there is every chance of the unacquainted musical novice falling under Hooper’s spell, this wearying tale is better catered for connoisseurs of the genre. The narrative is loaded and moves briskly (often too so), and though it is still a popular and relevant stage production, some sequences are clearly unsuccessful in the transition.

Continue Reading at Graffiti With Punctuation. 

Top 5 Australian Films of 2012

As we draw near the conclusion of 2012 I thought I would look back and highlight some significant Australian releases over the last 12 months. Though there have been some absolute duds hit cinemas this year, it has been a strong year for Australian film overall. All of the films I mention below are very different and show off some of Australia's best up-and-coming talent. I think you will see, judging by my list, that the AACTA voters for the nominees (courtesy of Graffiti With Punctuation) got it pretty much right.

5. The Sapphires - Understandably, following a heap of buzz following the film's premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, audiences came in droves to see The Sapphires. It became one of the biggest box office hits of the year. The film is a lot of fun and can't be faulted for its energy, offering up a series of catchy soul beats and lively stage performances. Despite uneven pacing and oversimplification of some serious national issues, not to mention the grittier aspects of Vietnam struggle, viewers recognise that it is more interested in being a charming underdog story, producing laughs and lighting up the screen with renditions of soul favourites, than it is about detailing such dramatic issues. This is acceptable. It is a spirited, heartwarming tale and a celebration of the extraordinary story of these women. With a funky soundtrack, glowing cinematography and fine performances from (including the roguish, scene-stealing Chris O'Dowd) this is destined to become a classic.

4. Not Suitable For Children - A romantic comedy focusing on Jonah (Ryan Kwanten), a freewheeling young guy who sets out to ensure he fathers a child before he becomes infertile, having been diagnosed with testicular cancer. It is the directorial debut of Peter Templeman (Oscar nominated for his short film, The Saviour, in 2007). It is a light, amusing adult comedy with a consistent offering of laughs and a strong soundtrack. The use of montage cleverly pushed the story along, allowing for plenty of awkward exchanges between Jonah and his housemates, who try and talk reason into the shell-shocked partier whose paternal instincts have kicked into serious overdrive. Features great chemistry between Kwanten and Sarah Snook (in a breakout role) as well as effective support from Ryan Corr as Jonah's housemate and stressed-out party maestro.