Change Your Image
fogg98
"Heaven" - by Tom Tykwer & Krzysztof Kieslowski.
"La Fille Sur Le Pont" (The Girl on the Bridge) - with Vanessa Paradis and Daniel Auteuil.
"eXistenZ" - by David Cronenberg and starring a luminous Jennifer Jason Leigh
The hilarious - "Harold and Maude"
"Que la lumi�re soit" (Let There Be Light) - starring the gorgeous H�l�ne de Fougerolles.
"Trois couleurs: Bleu" (Three Colours:Blue) - another wonderful Kieslowski film.
"Dead Man" - Johnny Depp and Jim Jarmusch.
"L�on" - with 12 y.o. Natalie Portman almost upstaging Jean Reno.
"Mrs Parker and the Vicious Circle" - Jennifer Jason Leigh and Campbell Scott at their very best.
"Le Fabuleux destin d'Am�lie Poulain" - (Amelie) That beautiful minx, Audrey Tautou, in Jean-Pierre Jeunet's finest.
"Unstrung Heros" - A simple yet moving film starring Andie MacDowell and Michael Richards. Diane Keaton directs.
"Les Visiteurs" (The Visitors) - wonderful French farce.
"Antonia" - near perfect Dutch film.
"Out of Sight" - smolders as an Elmore Leonard story should.
"Leaving Las Vegas" - One of the few times the academy got it right. Nicolas Cage is outstanding.
"The Royal Tenenbaums" - my favourite film ever (this week).
"Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" - Great adaptation.
"Jacob's Ladder"
"Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" - I haven't laughed so hard in years.
I also enjoy anything directed by Woody Allen, Wes Anderson, Terrence Malick, Neil LaBute, Jean-Pierre Jeunet and most films by Bernardo Bertolucci.
If it stars Johnny Depp or Jennifer Jason Leigh or Audrey Tautou; Drew Barrymore, Juliette Binoche, Jean Reno, Nicole Kidman, Virginie Ledoyan, Tim Robbins, H�l�ne de Fougerolles, Winona Ryder, Sean Penn, Daniel Auteuil, The Marx Brothers, or Taylor Rain - I'll watch it.
Some of my movie bugbears are: the humour of Mel Brooks. Steven Spielberg and Woody Allen refusing to do DVD commentaries. Musicals. Singers who think that they�re movie stars. Sportsmen who think that they�re movie stars. Comedies not winning Oscars. Men crying in films. Women crying in films and 99.9% of child actors.
Reviews
Australian Rules (2002)
Not quite as great as it's made out to be.
Dear Viewer - The film 'Australian Rules' is an enjoyable enough excursion. The plot, the whacky characters, accents and Cinematography are all 'ocker' enough to make sure that the world knows where it comes from. The trouble for me was that this was just a by-the-numbers effort. The lead characters have been applauded nation wide although the only true stand-outs were the mother and the (white) best friend. Rent this (as it won't be shown in the cinema; it only had the shortest of runs here) if you want the repetitive glance at small-town Australia. I only hope that some-one can do our great land justice. Still, it's better than some of the nonsense slumming about.
Dead by Monday (2001)
A film about loss.
Although considered to be a dark comedy, Dead by Monday never quite reaches the lightless corners you hope it will. The thread of loss is sewn through the film; lovers, husband, agent, ability to write and eventually the will to live. While the film steers clear of feeding us the sickly sweet syrup you find dripped over most films from that part of the world, there are few surprises and the ending is a tad predictable. That said though, the direction flows smoothly and Curt Truninger's choice of leads is spot on. Helen Baxendale is one of many bright British stars as is Tim Dutton and they both shine in their turns as Julie and Alex.
The idea that two Brits may meet in a film must somehow appear unbelievable as Helen Baxendale is forced to deliver her lines with a lip-twisting Canadian accent, and while passable, just seems unnecessary.
So the story of sad boy meets sad girl, with a twist and a road trip is worth watching and an applaudable effort for second-time-out director Curt Truninger.
Get Well Soon (2001)
Promising piece
Mr Vincent Gallo is an absorbing, eye-catching beast. Whilst immediately drawn to his fractured features, it is his concentrated screen presence that you hold in mind. Here he plays Kevin, in the guise of the Bobby Bishop, a late-night talk-show host. Becoming increasingly aware of his frustrating emptiness, he starts to twist free of the ever-pandering agents, artists and parasites that accompany his fame. His thoughts turn to an abandoned love (Courteney Cox), and returning home for a reconciliation, encounters involving and amusing obstacles such as thieves, hookers, imitators, mental patients and the police. This is clearly Vincent's film, from the music to the awakened speech to camera near the end, however Courteney Cox performs admirably and the scenes with her mother are played well. The rest of the cast fill their scenes with delirious energy, although the wonderful talents and Romanian beauty of Elina Lowensohn were not rewarded with enough screen time. Director Justin McCarthy's direction is crisp. He develops the story well, and has framed New York nicely. Keep an eye out for 'Jump', an earlier piece of work.
Que la lumière soit (1998)
Let there be delight!
Ah, if only all films came from France. If only all women were as beautiful as Hélène de Fougerolles. What a wonderful world this would be, non? I would be totally lost without French cinema. Their drama's are raw, intelligent and rip emotions from inside, throw them in your face and say "There!! - SEE! LIVE!! FEEL!!!" Thrillers are innovative, experimental and imaginative and their comedies are witty and chaotic, and.....well, just bloody good fun! Que la lumière soit is a sublime comedy, textured with arresting characters and some wonderfully farcical scenes, inter-laced with truly poignant moments. See this film. It is well cast, well paced and should have you roaring with laughter. Amen.
Quills (2000)
Knobs out for a jolly good romp!!
Debauchery, deviants and devilish dialogue. What a great time I had watching this film. As it only received a limited release here in Australia (you savages!!) most missed this wonderful piece of cinema. Over-the-top performances from all involved, lashings of thunder and lightning and dark, dank cells all add up to make this stylishly directed piece of film well worth watching. Rush always delivers the goods and has great range, Kate Winslet likewise and Joaquin Phoenix is starting to prove himself a worthy player (his early scenes with Rush are hilarious.) Let's not forget Mr Caine who always does 'nasty' with vigour. Oh, and a bit more of the delicious Amelia Warner please. All that and a beheading to boot (and who doesn't love a good beheading scene?) So relax, forgive the accents, enjoy the lavish settings and loose yourself in a wonderful film - thank you sir, may I have another?
Drunks (1995)
Soak in the stars
This is Peter Cohn's film adaptation of a Gary Lennon play, and as is the case with most theatre to film crossovers, there is a rumbling sense of unfulfillment. Each fleeting view into the lives of these sad souls is too brief, never allowing the time to really absorb any one character, as you might do were you to watch an actual performance of the play. That said, Mr Cohn has assembled a very fine cast indeed, and although the roles are delivered in a "wait your turn..speak..sit down" style, you can see why a couple of these actors are considered 'greats' in their field. Richard Lewis offers an adequate performance as 'Jim' and is the only one afforded the opportunity of giving his character depth. Elsewhere, Howard Rollins, Calista Flockhart and Faye Dunaway all do a pleasing job with what little they're given, while Amanda Plummer and Sam Rockwell are criminally under-used. It is however, the stalwart skills of both Dianne Wiest and Spalding Grey that lift this film. Along with 'Rich' the bar-man adding unintentional comic relief (watch how he throws those coasters down!), they almost justify the rental fee. So grab a bottle of bourbon, sit back and wallow in the self-pity of others. It might just cheer you up.
Scream 3 (2000)
The after-mint of a filling meal
If Scream was the sumptuous main course, Scream 2 the delicious dessert, then Scream 3 is the after dinner mint. Not as gratifying as what went before, however, a very satisfying way to round everything off. I recommend refreshing yourself with 1 and 2 and then catching a late session of 3, as it all adds to the experience (and helps with a bit of background knowledge.) All your favourites are back. Sidney - holed up in the hills, with her nightmares to keep her company. Gale - still the gung-ho, take no prisoners reporter. Cotton - now with his own talk show and Dewey - the lovable oaf who is now a technical adviser on 'Stab 3', around which, Scream 3 revolves. Events surrounding Stab 3 eventually bring together the main protagonists and introduces us to a crop of fresh faces including Parker Posey (Daytrippers), Emily Mortimer(Ghost and the Darkness), Scott Foley(Dawsons Creek), Patrick Dempsey(Mobsters) and Jenny McCarthy(Jenny.) Throw into the mix a couple of cameos by Carrie Fisher and Lance Henriksen and, excluding Jenny M. who is but mere eye-candy, you have a very talented cast. Although I never thought I'd say this about any Hollywood slasher-flick, I found myself wishing there was a little more graphic blood-letting. C'mon Wes, where was all the blood? I fear that events in the U.S.A. involving kids and schools and what not are spilling over into the film world and forcing the bigger players to tone down the violence. It's a shame as it does take away a little from the film, especially after the first two . However the grisly opening, the humour, the suspicion and the 'all-is-revealed' ending are all there and the film skips along at a great pace. Look out for the return of Randy in a great 'voice from beyond' scene. The in-jokes and tongue-in-cheek references have your head spinning for the first half and guarantees a repeat viewing when it comes out on video. For those of you going in fresh, enjoy what is a fun film that still has you looking over your shoulder as you walk home. If you liked the Scream series, then check out the recent Aussie effort - Cut, with Molly Ringwald and Kylie. Overall, a 6/10 fun night out. Eat it up!