Lady From Shanghai

And this week's Friday night movie has been... The Lady From Shanghai!

Original image located here. Accessed 18th December 2020

Once again I am watching a movie from the pre-New-Hollywood era: in this case, from 1947. Nothing wrong with that - but in this case, I have been wanting to see this because there's a story attached.

You see apparently, this movie originally ran for three hours but the director, Orson Welles, was forced to cut it down to half that running time. The missing portion has since been lost to time and the movie has suffered for it.

With this in mind, watching The Lady From Shanghai is an odd experience. The narration is strongly placed, the flow is jarring and there are moments that may have required additional scenes. Welles have been attempting to do something different with film noir - admirable seeing as he was working with the limitations of what he had - but he doesn't quite pull it off successfully. Still it has it's moments: Not least of which is the final showdown in a hall of mirrors (oft-imitated but never bettered).

Temple Grandin

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Temple Grandin!

Original image located here. Accessed 11th December 2020

As mentioned in previous posts, I will show favoritism to movies that are based around protagonists that are on the autistic spectrum. And this movie is one from that particular ell. It's a biopic based around livestock scientist Temple Grandin.

I will admit: I had no idea who Temple Grandin was until i saw this movie. And if a Biopic makes me interested in knowing more about the person in question then it has done it's job with flying colors.
Over the course of the movie, we see key moments in Grandin's life: Her diagnosis, her ingenuity, her coping methods and her revolutionary ideas on the treatment of livestock. And such a remarkable life is handled by Claire Danes giving the performance of her career.
It may be a TV movie but it sure stands head and shoulders above the rest.

Lady and the Tramp

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Lady and the Tramp (1955)!

Original image located here. Accessed 4th December 2020

Well i am a dog person so perhaps it is inevitable that I end up seeing this.
You know, this movie is sixty-five years old and yet it still comes across as being quite striking. One of the beauties of animation is that it can do things that Live action can never do and that certainly is the case here. It is impressive that we have animated dogs acting very much like real dogs and the sheer expressiveness of these characters are stunning to behold.
It may be short and it may be overlooked by Disney fans but honestly? I think this is one of their strongest works.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (part 2)

And this week's Friday night movie has been...Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (part 2)!

Original image located here. Accessed 27th November 2020

And so here we are: the endpoint of a journey that took ten years to complete (although for me it took eighteen). We have seen these characters, not to mention the actors and actresses playing them, grow and age over that time. On the whole, it is impressive that this film series manage to pull off a continuous story being told over a decade - Okay sure the story in question was already established in written text but it is difficult to imagine current movie franchises as they are had they not followed the path the Harry Potter movies made out. Indeed, it's not much of a stretch (at least in my mind), to picture the MCU looking over Harry Potter's shoulder and taking notes.

As for the movie itself, i was expecting a conclusion that would leave a crater of sizable portions and that's exactly what i got. Clearly the first Deathly Hallows movie existed just to get some of the character moments out of the way so we can see the final confrontation between Harry and Voldemort. And what a confrontation it is: The siege is spectacular, the sight of Hogwarts following said sage is indeed a shock, the long-awaited final confrontation is something to behold and it's nice to see various faces form the preceding movies make a reappearance.
However for all the spectacle, my favorite moments in the movie are, ironically, the quiet ones (example: "You've been so brave sweetheart"). I have spoken previously how it worked for the last movie but here it strikes gold, being able to warm the cockles of my cold, jaded heart.

And so, we reach the end of this particular movie serial. I may have been skeptical when i started but these movies did win me over. Granted the movies may be a mere glimpse when compared to the richness of the source material (or so i have been told) but now, the fandom sure makes a whole lotta sense.
So here's to you, Harry.

Oh and House Ravenclaw forever.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (part 1)

And this week's Friday night movie has been...Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (part 1)!

Original image located here. Accessed 20th November 2020

Last week i observed that there is nothing wrong with serials taking the occasional step back and addressing a more smaller-scale/personal story. The only difference between this and the Half Blood Prince however is this pulls it off more successfully.

In all honesty, this movie surprised me: I was expecting something apocalyptic, considering the build-up with Voldemort, but what I got was the opposite: I got to see Harry on the run and having to confront the possibility that he, along with Hermione and Ron, is out on his own and just what a terrifying prospect it can be. I can imagine seeing these kids tramping through the wilderness may seem dull but that's kind of the point: It's an effective use of conveying isolation.
And such a mood reaches it's height with the graveyard scene - for me this is, so far, the apex of this series. It is well done and proves that being quiet can be damn effective.
Also who would have guessed that the music of Nick Cave would work in a Harry Potter movie?
Still, this movie is still intent on building up to a major conclusion. And I can imagine it's going to be something spectacular - after all, how could it not?

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince!

Original image located here. Accessed 13th November 2020

It is interesting to revisit this movies over a decade later. Because I can do it on my own terms and be as far removed from the hostility this series initially attracted as I wish. Of course, a disgusted fanbase grumbling about an adaptation is nothing new but as the years went on, this hatred eventually died down. So I have to ask: Do the Harry Potter fans still hate the movies? I suppose
a) the fact that the movies all came over the course of a decade wore the haters down
b) the Potter fans grew older and wiser
c) the realization from the fanbase that the movies were drawing in new interest
d) the knowledge that we should be grateful that these movies gave us Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe
e) the haters moved on. To Game of Thrones (probably).
Can anyone confirm this?

As for the movie itself, I will admit that this is perhaps the weakest entrant in the series so far. Sure it all looks nice and we get some interesting character moments but far too often Half Blood Prince comes across as meandering and slow paced - which seems to go against the grain of what came previously. I don't object to serials taking the occasional step back and address a more smaller-scale/personal story but not if they make two and a half hours a slog to get through.
HOWEVER! I am willing to forgive this tedium purely for the final half hour. Oh my goodness, is that a rollercoaster of a ride. Atmospheric, frightening, exciting and heart-wrenching, it is proof that when these movies score a hit, they can knock it out of the park.
Ultimately though, I can't shake the feeling that the slower pace of this entrant is a buffer for what's happening next which, as is my understanding, is going to get nasty.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix!

Original image located here. Accessed 6th November 2020

Seems Chronicles of Narnia isn't the only fantasy serial I have neglected...
Funny thing with the Harry Potter movies: I started them but I never got around to completing the series entirely. So for this November, i will rectify this situation. Granted I've picked a bad time to do this but hey, I'm not one to leave a job unfinished.
Now previously I couldn't remember if I have seen Order of the Phoenix before but I watched it anyway: Largely to refresh my memory.

However it is difficult to assess this movie on it's own as a) it's part of a serial and b) it's the first of four movies headed by the same director, David Yates. Still, this was a lot of fun. And it has the same wonder, adventure, scares and humor that won me over when i saw the first movie back in 2002 (!).
Also it is handy to be reminded why people hate Dolores Umbridge so much.

Eyes of my Mother

And this week's Friday night movie has been... The Eyes of My Mother!

Original image located here. Accessed 30th October 2020

Behold: the final entrant in this year's clutch of October horror movies.
Now in my view, there are two kinds of horror movies: There's those with the jump scares and there are those that rely on mood and a creeping dread.
Guess which type i find myself gravitating towards.

And in the terms of creating mood, this movie has it in spades. The black and white imagery is effective and use of atmosphere, quiet, and a slow build up prove to be the most potent things going for this movie.
Granted there are moments that don't work (ie, the abrupt plot developments, the use of torture, a middle section which seems to lag and the vibe of this movie being the bastard lovechild between a horror movie and an art-house movie) but as a depiction of trauma, loneliness, being cut off form the real world and being warped a young age, when this movie hits, it knocks it out of the park.

The Bride of Frankenstein

And this week's Friday night movie has been... The Bride of Frankenstein!

Original image located here. Accessed 23rd October 2020

Last year, in October, i watched the original Frankenstein. So it is fitting that I would see the sequel this year.

Seeing as the Monster, and it's sympathetic portrayal at the hands of Boris Karloff, was such a selling point in the previous movie, it would make sense for it to be expanded upon in the sequel. As such, the monster gets to speak, learn some basic concepts and undergoes a quest for companionship and acceptance - all with the pathos that powered the engine of the previous movie.
In fact much of the movie is shining example of doing a sequel: It takes the original and expands it. What is shown here is a combination of the familiar and the new - which is a trickier balancing act than one would think. The use of humour is a bit strange and threatens to derail the film but once again, it's the atmosphere, the use of horror and the monster itself that makes this movie work.

 As for the Bride herself, she is a remarkable creation: The mummified body, the freaky hair, the bird-like movements and the ear-piercing shriek. And what is most astonishing is that she makes an impact even with the most limited of screen-time.

Braindead

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Braindead (Dead Alive)!

Original image located here. Accessed 16th October 2020

Like most of the world, I only knew of Kiwi director Peter Jackson through the Lord of the Rings trilogy. So it is somewhat inevitable that I would eventually take a trip to the low budget horror movies that Jackson was making before he struck gold with bringing Middle-Earth to the screen.

I have previously stated that I'm not a fan of slasher movies because they are populated with idiots - but saying that only misses the point. Because the whole point of slasher movies, and by extension it's cousin-in-horror the zombie movie, is seeing HOW the hapless fools on screen get taken out. And it is to this end that Braindead succeeds: The kills are indeed (and I can't believe i am typing this out) creative, bloody, gruesome and hilarious - and often all at once.
So there is certainly is a lot going for this movie with it's ingenious special effects, bonkers model design, pitch-black humor and enough blood to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool (apparently much of Jackson's pre-Lord of the Rings movies are a lot like this).
But personally, this movie strikes me as someone trying to remake Psycho but instead opted to do it drunk. And is all the better for it.

The Fiend Without a Face

And this week's Friday night movie has been... The Fiend Without a Face!

Original image located here. Accessed 9th October 2020

It may be a tradition to watch some horror movies during October but that doesn't mean there isn't any room for some schlock.

Last week I made mention that Night of the Living Dead invented the modern horror movie. Well, it would appear that this was the type of thing it was moving away from.
This movie is pretty much a product of it's time (the 1950s): Alien invaders, distrust of science, wonky special effects, fears of the atomic age, Cold War paranoia and glorification of the military.
Such aspects may be laughable now (particularly the special effects) but I give this movie credit: It's got quite a bloody climax that I didn't think movies of that time were capable of.

Night of the Living Dead

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Night of the Living Dead!

Original image located here. Accessed 2nd October 2020

Well it's become something of a tradition with this series that October is a month spent wholly committed to watching horror movies. And this year, we're kicking off the year's run with a swing for the fences: A movie that a launched a thousand zombie tropes.

I have spoken previously how intimidating it can be encountering a movie that stated a whole lotta trends: In such cases, the lessons this movie gave have been used and replicated so many times that to go back to the source can leave it with having less bite than it should have.
So is this movie dated? Yes. Is it clearly shot on the cheap? Of course. Does it still pack a punch over half a century later? I do believe it does. Stunning lightening, chilling atmosphere and being done straight-faced all add up to deliver a striking (and gory) whole.
Also of note is that this movie truly functions as the bridge between the horror movies of the pre-mid-sixties and the more modern horrors movies. Here the rules got re-written and have been studied extensively since.
There is a part of me that would say that this movie should not have the punch it does, given the passage of time and a horde of imitators that emerged in it's wake but somehow, it still does so.

The Hateful Eight

And this week's Friday night movie has been... The Hateful Eight!

Original image located here. Accessed 25th September 2020

I have seen a Magnificent Seven, a Ruthless Four and now we arrive at a movie that I've been wanting to see for quite some time. And I finally got the opportunity to do so (thanks Nick!).

No way around it: This a Tarantino film and it is therefore expected to see what he can do with the lessons he had picked up through watching countless movies. In a way, considering his affinity with gun battles, disjointed narratives and limited locations, it is unsurprising that he should again try his hand at a western.
Now I do enjoy a good western and I can see some familiar tropes being put to use: The use of scenery, the bounty hunter tracking down criminals, the presence of a stagecoach, the abrupt nature of people getting gunned down, lot's of blood and the presence of the late great Ennio Morricone. But these tropes are placed through the lens of a Tarantino picture: Thus we have some fascinating characters, a truly weather beaten look, some gripping suspense and a lot of black humor.
It may be difficult to determine Tarantino's best work but this is well and truly up there

Bill and Ted Face the Music

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Bill and Ted Face the Music!

Original image located here. Accessed 18th September 2020

Of all the late eighties/early nineties franchises to resurrect, I didn't think anyone would touch this one, let alone it being any good.

Once again, the titular characters make the movie - after they're all there in the title. It's amazing how Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves can step back into this roles, after nearly three decades, and bring these characters to life. They may be older and but by no means wiser and they're still funny to watch. One might think that it would be embarrassing to see some middle aged dudes still acting like teenagers but here it just adds to the hilarity.
But even though this is Bill and Ted's movie, it's their daughters, Billi and Thea, who end up stealing the show. Brigette Lundy-Paine and Samara Weaving have the mannerisms of their onscreen fathers down pat that they are a delight to watch
It would be baffling to think of such committed actors in what is, a lowbrow stoner comedy but here it works. Throw in a message of bringing the world together through music, one surprisingly touching scene and a theme of second chances (which i will admit to being a sucker for) and we have a movie that is better than it has any right to be. It could've attempted to do a flat out (and lazy) reprise of Excellent Adventure but, much like Bogus Journey, it refused to do so and came out all the better for it.
You could say it was....Excellent!

A Clockwork Orange

And this week's Friday night movie has been... A Clockwork Orange!

Original image located here. Accessed 9th September 2020

This may surprise a number of you readers but I have never seen this movie. Sure I have seen parts of it but I have never seen it all the way through - and not doing so seems dishonest to this serial and myself as a cinema geek. Ironic that this particular movie has a reputation as being one of the most difficult to get through.
Furthermore, this is another case of a movie being so well known that it's reputation precedes it (seems it's something of a touchstone for both film snobs and the anti-sociable). And I have always been suspicious of such proprieties: How can you judge a work on your own terms when it has a weight of a reputation so large that it can't hope to live up to such expectations? (Yes Firefly, I am looking at you).
Finally, there is the issue of shock tactics. For me, the greatest enemy of shock tactics isn't the straight-laced complainers who protest them -- No, it's the march of time. Because the march of time brings copycats who will either replicate the same approach (to some extent) or try to surpass the original to the point where the original looks toothless.
With such factors in mind (whether we like it or not), how do we assess A Clockwork Orange?

In all honesty, i have seen worse.
It may be a bold claim but i this lifetime, I have seen countless movies, a lot of anime, many a music video on rage and a whole lotta weird stuff on SBS.
So yeah, I've see things.

But given the passage of time, I have to admit that there is still some bite in this movie. The art design is extraordinary, the vision of the future is both bleak and plausible, the satire hits with precision and the movie still looks relevant nearly half a century later.
It may be easy to slam Stanley Kubrick for being self-indulgent (seriously how much phallic imagery can you cram into one movie?) but it certainly stands head and shoulders above it's followers. Amusing one moment and downright disturbing the next, this isn't the type of movie I see myself revisiting but at least i can say that I've seen it.
Also, the sci-fi nerd in me finds it funny to see David Prowse in this movie.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

And this week's Friday night movie has been... The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader!

Original image located here. Accessed 4th September 2020

And so, following from Prince Caspian last week, we arrive at the followup. Can't say i read the book, as opposed to the other movies, but I do remember this segment from the BBC adaptation quite vividly. So maybe that may yield a fresh perspective?

Once again the strengths of this movie series are evident: Plenty of imagination, stunning locations, impressive special effects, an adaptation that somehow achieves the difficult balancing act between being faithful and putting a new take on the material, and a cast giving their all & injecting their characters with plenty of personality. I think it's fair to say that this is the point where the movies stopped looking over the shoulder of the Lord of the Rings movies and started down their own path.
Also the idea of Eustace being a steadfast sceptic in spite of being transported to a high fantasy world is an idea that has plenty of mileage.

However, there is no getting around it: This is the endpoint of this particular movie series. It is indeed disappointing as there was a lot going for this serial and was, so far, shaping up to be the strongest adaptation of the Chronicles of Narnia - how fitting it is then that the final image in the movie is a door closing. Which means now that the rest of the books in the series (four for those keeping score) will remained unfilmed, the series will remain incomplete and the entirety of having the whole series adapted remains out of reach.
All hope now falls to the proposed Netflix adaptation to carry the baton but somehow I doubt it can match, let alone surpass, this effort.
Besides, I doubt I can accept Aslan being voiced by someone who isn't Liam Neeson

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

And this week's Friday night movie has been... The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian!

Original image located here. Accessed 28th August 2020

I've always had a soft spot for the Chronicles of Narnia. Sure, it may be easy to dismiss it for it's simplicity and it's heavy-handed Christian allegory, but for me, it was one of, if not THE, first exposures I had to high fantasy. And I have since never looked back. They say 'get them while they're young' and it certainly worked for me.
I did see the first movie in this (now unfinished) saga but, for some reason or another, I never got around to seeing the rest of it. Well, now is a good as any to rectify this situation.

It may be easy to sneer at this movie for it wishing it was the Lord of the Rings trilogy but it still has enough to make it capable of standing on it's own two feet. I loved the battle scenes, the creativity in use, the visuals, the presence of Peter Dinklage, the character development (sadly this is the last we will see of Susan and Peter) and the dialogue and the effort being put into to adapt what is one of the lesser titles in the Chronicles.
It does seem like a high-fantasy-movie-lite but ii does it's job and it does it well.

A Whisker Away

And this week's Friday night movie has been... A Whisker Away!

Original image located here. Accessed 21st August 2020

We're taking another trip to the anime well with one that the gf chose. This time, we having a gander at Netflix's attempt at making an anime. Or, to be more accurate, Netflix's attempt to beat Ghibli at their own game.

To be honest, that last sentence pretty much sums up my feelings toward this movie - it became apparent early on and, try as I might, it was a difficult perception to shake off. A Whisker Away certainly comes across as aiming to replicate the imagination and whimsy of Ghibli - as well as the beautiful scenery, detailed animation, quiet moments and dynamic female lead.
Indeed, the more I think about it, the more the comparisons to Ghibli seem inescapable.

Okay seriously, despite such grumbling, there is still a lot to like about this movie. The lead character may be annoying and clingy but she goes through some vital character development. The plot is interesting and goes in interesting directions. The animation is detailed and well done.
So in the end, it's a solid effort.

Sunset Boulevard

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Sunset Boulevard!

Original image located here. Accessed 14th August 2020

Hey, it's the movie based on the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical
But seriously, the musical was how I became aware of Sunset Boulevard - my dad had a CD of Lloyd Webber's best known songs and it contained musical's theme song ("Kiss someone's wife! Kiss someone's ass!"). So it was a surprise to seventeen year old me that there was actually a move that came well before it. A movie that has gone down in history as being one of the greats of cinema.

And they weren't kidding: Photography and set design that would be more at home in a horror movie. A scathing critique of Hollywood that makes me wonder how those involved agreed to do it. And the performance to end all performances from Gloria Swanson. You know how people talk up a movie only for it to turn disappointing? That certainly is the case. A monumental picture that has not been tarnished with age (70 years!).
Funny thing, I've seen this and The Talented Mr Ripley - two films that came up on my radar from the connection to The Disaster Artist/The Room. So has Tommy Wiseau seen this? One can only wonder.....

Ponyo

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Ponyo!

Original image located here. Accessed 7th August 2020

Once again, we take a trip to the anime and once again it's Studio Ghibli film.
I must confess: I have always had a degree of caution with Hayao Miyazaki - or to be more precise, everything that has followed since his first final movie Princess Mononoke. Sure I love Miyazaki's work as much as the next person, but for all his movies made after Princess Mononoke and all his announcements of retiring that never seem to last long, there is a sense of how long he can keep going. Are Miyazaki's advancing years catching up to him? Can anyone keep a winning streak of movies up for so long? He's gotta produce a dud movie at some point (thereby proving he is indeed human like the rest of us), right?

Well it won't be this time around. Okay, so yes this may be aimed at a younger audience, yes there are some issues around the plot, yes there are some abrupt developments narrative-wise but I am willing to forgive all of this for the truly wonderful animation. As expected in a Ghibli there are some astonishing high level of animation with some staggering attention to detail.
Is it a dud? No. Is it one of Miyazaki's lesser works? Yes. Is it ultimately a blotch on an otherwise illustrious track-record? of course not.

Paddington

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Paddington!

Original image located here. Accessed 31st July 2020

Being a child of the eighties, I grew up in an era where the movies for children were some real hardcore stuff (ie Never-ending Story and Labyrinth). But when the nineties rolled around, movies aimed at families tended to be weak, lacking in bite and a struggle for adults to sit through. Thus, it is only in recent years that this stigmata against 'family' movies are now turning around and the audience aren't being  treated as idiots. And Paddington, it would appear, is one such example.

As i have yet to sire children, this enables me to judge this movie from outside it's family demo-graph and see if it stands on it's own two feet. And what do you know, it succeeds admirably. This movie is very funny, complete with a British sense of humour, and is surprisingly touching. Also seeing Sally Hawkins, Peter Capaldi and Nicole Kidman in this is hilarious to me.
Having seen this movie, along with the How to Train Your Dragon series and the Pixar stable, it seems to me that filmmakers are aiming for an approach of 'family movie that adults can watch without their kids'. If that is the case then more of the same please.

It Must Be Heaven

And this week's Friday night movie has been... It Must be Heaven!

Original image located here. Accessed 24th July 2020

Let me say this up front: I am not a fan of 'arty' movies. You know the type I'm referring to: The kind of movies that are loaded with images that have symbolism and little else. The kind of movies that have no plot favoring instead a series of non-sequiturs. The kind of movies that thrill critics (read: people who write words for a living). And the kind of movies that come across as being self-indulgent and clearly made by one guy yelling "Ask me what it means!" in a non-stop fashion.

So one would think that I would despise this movie. And yes I will admit that was indeed a challenge to get through. But if that was the case then it must have made some kind of impression on me. Considering that director Elia Suleiman dominates on both sides of the camera, this movie still doesn't strike me as self-indulgent.
There is indeed humour at work but it is strange to see it amongst scenes that don't appear to go anywhere. There is a hypnotic quality to this film but it appears to be at odds with a commentary on being a Palestinian.
So yes, this is quite an odd movie but at the same time, it has indeed a seductive quality to it. And that is enough to save it from being a target of contempt.
After all, if a movie can do that then it must be doing something right.

The Wind Rises

And this week's Friday night movie has been... The Wind Rises!

Original image located here. Accessed 17th July 2020

We're heading back down to the anime well this time. And in a way encountering this movie was inevitable. It's a Studio Ghibli, directed by Hayao Miyazaki and it's a..... biographical picture? Well this is a new trick.

I've watched a lot of anime over the years and, as such, I've found that it's a medium where biopics are rarely touched upon (or least the one's I've found). So to have the legendary Studio Ghibli tackle one is cause to raise an eyebrow. And in this case, we have a movie on Jiro Horikoshi and his life as an aircraft designer

Of course, this being a Miyazaki movie there are elements we've come to expect: Flying sequences and a high quality of both animation & story-telling. All are present but there are new some tricks at play: Firstly is it's nature as a biographical film. Secondly, Miyazaki's imagination/whimsy takes a backseat to a more realistic approach. Sure there are some flights of fancy but here they are shown to be few and far between. And thirdly, Miyazaki's trope of female characters isn't in play here. Granted this is down to it being a biographic movie but I can't think of any other of his movies where a male character has such a dominating presence.
Seems you can indeed teach an old dog new tricks.

Ultimately, Miyazaki's touch is as sure as ever. The Wind Rises is quiet, thoughtful and beautiful.
Much has been said how this was the last movie that Miyazaki will be working on. So is it the curtain call that Tale of Princess Kaguya was? Maybe. I never got the impression that Miyazaki is saying good bye - There is some discussion on seeing dreams come to fruition but the most explicit sense of saying goodbye is the conversation at the end.
Wait, Miyazaki is working on yet another final movie? Oh well, never mind then...

Mirai

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Mirai!

Original image located here. Accessed 10th July 2020

We're taking another trip into the anime well today. And another look into the mind of one my favorite anime creators, Mamoru Hosoda. I loved Wolf Children, I loved Summer Wars, I loved the Girl who Leapt through Time and Boy & the Beast was pretty good too. So can the Midas touch strike again?

No way around this: This is a movie that demands time. At first I didn't know what to think of it but slowly (and surely) this movie does reveal itself.
The strongest in this movie is it's depiction of families. Granted this is a strength of Hosoda's work but here, we are shown a family through a young child. The child in question may be loud, obnoxious, threatened by the arrival of a younger sibling and frustrated by unhelpful adults but that's the point. I have seen plenty of depictions of children in animated form but this certainly is the most realistic approach. Furthermore, the life lessons taught over the course of the movie are interesting and, the conclusion still works, proving that self-acceptance is a ploy that will never fail.
This may not be the most welcoming of movies but when it hits, it knocks it off the park. I know some people didn't like Boy and the Beast but having seen Mirai I think it's fair to say that Hosoda may be back on track. So what will he do next....?

Knives Out

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Knives Out!

Original image located here. Accessed 3rd July 2020

Man, hasn't this movie been proving itself to be something of a critical darling. I however noticed the name of writer/director Rian Johnson: the guy who gave us the Last Jedi and has thus been something of a polarizing figure in the Star Wars community. So the question here is can he do something with his own material?

Apparently he can. This is a murder mystery, worthy of Agatha Christie, but with some interesting twists on the tried-and-tested formula. Although it may not be immediately apparent at first, this is indeed compelling to watch and, as with any murder mystery, the clues are all there and there's no cop-out. Plus, the twist are enough to keep this movie standing on it's own two feet
Plus, this movie has a Southern James Bond and a Jerk Captain America - which should be the price of admission alone.

Stagecoach

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Stagecoach!

Original image located here. Accessed 26th June 2020

I'm going after one of the big ones here today folks. I won't say no to a western and this is one of the big ones: The 1939 classic that was John Wayne's breakthrough role and the movie that elevated the western into a genre to be taken seriously.

Clearly the strength of this movie relies on three things: First up, is the characters. They are all well-realized, well-written and a stunning example of how to make the most of a small cast within a limited/restricted location.
Secondly, is the stunning scenery, that would become a trademark of John Ford's later movies (The Searchers anyone?). It looks as wide and empty as one would expect the frontier to look.
And thirdly is the stunning climax where the coach is under attack. It is tense, well shot and exciting. Indeed, one gets the impression this scene was one that has been studied by many a filmmakers ever since and has been alluded to in many an action movie.

It may be easy to dismiss this movie given it's age but, given the path it beat down, this is one movie that, quite rightly, demands respect. Furthermore. it is interesting to pick up elements that would be replicated countless times thereafter.
I always find it a gamble to talk about a movie from the 'classic' era (ie pre-1970/New Hollywood/Star Wars) but in this case, the gamble has paid off

The Hunter

And this week's Friday night movie has been... The Hunter!

Original image located here. Accessed 19th June 2020

I remember this movie being a big deal at the time (2011). This was due to it being shot entirely in Tasmania and featuring a major star in the form of Willem Defoe. So it is perhaps my patriotic duty to take a look at this.

It may be slow and, at times, aimless but there is still a lot going for this movie. Firstly, is the star where Defoe, giving a superb performance with the weight of the movie resting entirely on his shoulders. Secondly, is the Tasmanian wilderness, the true MVP, being recognizable, threatening, and being the greatest tourism ad for the Apple isle ever made, all at once. And thirdly is the musings on the human relationship with endangered species, in all it's forms, which all come to a head in the final, gut-punching, fifteen minutes.
It may be forgotten now but it's a great movie and worth a look.

Crazy Rich Asians

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Crazy Rich Asians!

Original image located here. Accessed 12 June 2020

I know more than few people who have been talking up this one. But I was cautious as it's intent is clearly spelled out in the title. Therefore I was concerned that this wouldn't be for me as I am a) white and b) not having money to burn

Thankfully that wasn't the case. For a movie that was telling a story through an Asian perspective, it is indeed universal and quite a lot of fun. It could be observed that the formula for the rom-com, which is movie is running on, is indeed rock-solid but, at the same time, challenged in numerous ways to present a healthy perspective on romance. But the real meat in this movie is the cast themselves, least not Michelle Yeoh, delivering stellar performances and giving them a chance to shine on their own terms.
At first glance, there may appear to be a lot stacked up against this movie but it comes out with it's head held high.

A Silent Voice

And this week's Friday night movie has been... A Silent Voice!

Original image located here. Accessed 5th June 2020

Far be it from me to try and block out what is happening in the world right now, so let's make it quick:
This is an anime movie that addresses themes such as regret, friendship, redemption and self-worth. Such themes are universal (and familiar in my case) and thus comes with the stamp of recommended.

Looking For Alibrandi

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Looking For Alibrandi!

Original image located here. Accessed 29th May 2020

Somehow this has slipped under my radar for quite some time. But when the gf found out about such an overlook, she made it her mission to rectify this.

At first I thought Looking For Alibrandi was some 'chick flick' fare, which may account for my initial avoidance of it, but it seems such an assumption is incorrect. It may tell of the trials and tribulations any teenage girl may face but in a way that is indeed universal.

There's a lot of things that work for this movie: The emphasis on Euro-Australians, recognizable Sydney locations, a snappy soundtrack and a compelling plot. Granted I am far from the teenage audience that this movie was intended for but the fact that I enjoyed it speaks volumes to it's universality.

Your Name

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Your Name!

Original image located here. Accessed 22nd May 2020

Yep, we're taking a dive into the anime well this time folks. And in this case, we're tackling a movie that got a major release and scooped up plenty of acclaim in the process. Being the anime nerd that i am, I was well aware of this movie but I had been holding off seeing it because of the director attached: One Makato Shinkai.
As such there was a part of me thinking: 'YOU again.'
For me, Shinkai was one of those directors that had potential but was somehow missing the mark, with works that came across as dull and meandering, often ruining ideas that sounded compelling on paper. So approaching this movie came with caution: could he get his act together this time around?

Well the answer to that is resounding: YES!
Yep, Shinkai pulled it off. At first things were slow but when it hits it's stride. this movie knocks it out of the park. It's compelling, with beautiful artwork, a gripping plot and some moments of real emotional power. It's roller-coaster of a movie that kept going all the way to the end.
I will admit being intimidated by this movie given it's reputation but now, all the plaudits make sense. Great movie!

Marie Antoinette

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Marie Antoinette!

Original image located here. Accessed 15th May 2020

I had heard of this movie from back in 2000s and I never thought I would be seeing it. But, as it happened, the gf suggested we give it a watch.

Obviously this movie is playing the whole 'Marie Antoinette as a Rock Star' angle with the soundtrack (featuring the Cure, New Order and the Strokes among others) and the presence of Marianne Faithfull in the cast. So clearly this is not aiming to be an accurate retelling of the life of the famous monarch.

Getting past that however and there is still a lot going for this film. The visuals are stunning, the location shooting is gorgeous and the wardrobe department are having a field day. Okay so it may not be historically accurate, and the opulent lifestyle shown here may be difficult to connect with, but as a piece of visual storytelling this is indeed something else.

The Imitation Game

And this week's Friday night movie has been... The Imitation Game!

Original image located here. Accessed 8th May 2020

As mentioned previously in this series, i will show favouritism towards movies that portray protagonists who are clearly on the autistic spectrum. As such, i was eventually brought to this: A biopic on mathematician and computer engineer/pioneer Alan Turing.

Of course, this makes this movie an oddity: It is a movie about an Aspergian who historically actually wasn't an Aspergian. Okay sure some historians have tried to match Turnings behaviour to those on the autistic spectrum but doing so is more speculative.

Historical inaccuracies aside though, it would seem that the entire movie rests on the shoulders of it's lead, Benedict Cumberpatch. And he's an actor I like a lot because he never gives in a dull performance - and what do you know, he's firing on all cylinders here. His portrayal as an Aspergian is indeed accurate and is more than enough to make this movie engaging and capable of rising above any historical inaccuracies.
Funny thing: I am used to see Benedict Cumberpatch in roles where he is ultra confident (ie Richard III and Dr Strange). So it is indeed a surprise to see him in a role which is the antithesis of such roles. And further proof what a talented actor he is.

Lion

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Lion!

Original image located here. Accessed 1st May 2020

Here's a local movie that, in the years since, has garnered attention to an overseas market. Granted it was a co-production with the US and the UK helping out an Australia movie but it's good to sea local talent being recognized in such a manner. That and the use of Tasmanian locations is enough to pique my interest.
That and the gf urged me to take a look.

I have to say I'm impressed with this movie. i was impressed with the story it wanted to tell. i was impressed with the use of recognizable Tasmanian locations. I'm impressed that they managed to get some name actors in (David Wenham, Nicole Kidman and Rooney Mara). I was impressed with the cinematography and the use of Indian locations. And I was impressed with the central performance of Dev Patel.
I've heard this movie being called Manipulative but I don't get that. What i saw was an uplifting story told both honestly and very well. And I can't ask more than that.

Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief!

Original image located here. Accessed 24th April 2020

Much has already been said/mocked/condemned about Scientology, with their beliefs and the tendency to attack any questioning parties. I thought I knew a lot about them but this documentary provided a whole new trove of information. And a lot of it is terrifying to say the least.
We meet the founder L Ron Hubbard, we see the extent of the influence of Scientology, and just how weird the religion can be. We also see some of the nastier tactics utilized against those who both criticize and leave the Church.

But what i find interesting is the second part of the documentary's title, the words: 'Prison of Belief'. Considering the tactics used by the Scientologists (legal action, always attacking and never defending, strong-arming celebrity endorsement, buying up key real estate, ruthlessness towards whistle-blowers and shunning those who leave), it isn't too hard to see the same tactics being applied by other groups, both religious and non-religious. Indeed it is surprising to learn how great the need for agency in one's life can be and what it can lead to
Perhaps the most telling moment for me came in the remark that through joining a group who encourages you to think for yourself, you end up being told what to think.

When Marnie Was There

And this week's Friday night movie has been... When Marnie Was There!

Original image located here. Accessed 17th April 2020

Being the Studio Ghibli fan that i am, it is fair to say that I would inevitability come to this movie - largely through the influence of the gf also being a Ghibli fan. Personally, I think any Ghibli movie that doesn't have the involvement of Miyazaki has an uphill battle to find a wide audience. But I am willing to give such a movie a chance.

Perhaps the choice of the words 'uphill battle' is a fitting one because this is indeed a challenging work.
On one hand, the art is up to the Ghibli standard (very high), the middle section is interesting, the building of suspense surrounding the mansion is engaging, and if this is Ghibli's attempt at a ghost/haunted house mystery story then it's remarkably effective.
But on the other hand, Anna is a hard character to like. Sure the pain of being the outsider can be relatable but lashing out people who try to help is not an endearing quality. Other characters seem either inconsistent (ie Marnie) or just.... there (ie Hisako). And the twist ending, as well as the exposition dump about Marnie, could have been handled better.

Was I expecting too much from Ghibli? How could I not given their staggering legacy?
So in the end I know some people love this movie but to me, it is hard to do so.

The Hunt For the Wilderpeople

And this week's Friday night movie has been... The Hunt For the Wilderpeople!

Original image located here. Accessed 3rd April 2020

I've had many people recommend me this movie so here we are: The little New Zealand movie that could.

So what this is really is a chase movie: Two protagonists on the run from the law and bonding as they do so. So what makes this one different? Well, the chemistry from the two leads, the fact that this chase takes place across bushland and an all-too quirky sense of humour that only the Kiwis can provide. Some beautiful shots of New Zealand scenery at it's best doesn't hurt either.
I thought I knew what to expect from Taika Waititi following Thor Ragnarok and Jojo Rabbit but apparently not. And that's a good thing

Rurouni Kenshin

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Rurouni Kenshin (2012)!

Original image located here. Accessed 27th March 2020

Twenty years ago, I had my first exposure to the anime that was Rurouni Kenshin. And, much like many people, I thought it was awesome. Later that year I watched the Memories OVA and doing so truly cemented my interest in Kenshin.
So perhaps it was inevitable that I would come to the series of live action movies that had been produced under the Kenshin brand.

If anything this movie is clearly aiming for a large audience. Granted it has a ready-made audience as this is based on a widely-loved manga/anime series, but there are various indicators of working beyond such a fanbase: The budget is clearly a big one, the fight scenes are stunning to behold and as an action movie it works well.
As a fan of Kenshin, I could recognize the important elements of Kenshin and some key story beats. This is clearly an adaptation of the first manga arc and it does it well with handling of key characters and even adding parts that were only introduced later in the manga. So i did enjoy this movie but would appear that being a fan of Kenshin helps - because I watched this movie with the gf, with it being her first exposure to Kenshin, who was left baffled.

But of course, this movie is the first of a franchise, so it would be interesting to see what happens next in the sequels....

The Talented Mr Ripley

And this week's Friday night movie has been... The Talented Mr Ripley!

Original image located here. Accessed 20th March 2020

Once again, this is another case of a movie I've been meaning to see for some time. But I finally come around to it for three reasons.
Firstly, I recall when this movie originally came out and left a lot of people baffled as to what to make of it - least not my parents who thought it was some sort of inspirational/life-affirming movie (and I can imagine they weren't the only ones). Yet once again, the distance of time builds a perfect platform to assess this movie on it's own merits.
>Secondly, I have seen the stage version of this with the titular role being played by a good friend of mine.
And thirdly, further interest was generated with the connection this movie has to The Room.

Perhaps it is just as well that I approaching this movie with an independent mindset because this is, ultimately, an odd movie - both for it's time and over twenty years later. As a psychological thriller it works well, assisted by some truly stunning imagery of Italy. But at it's core, this movie is a character study, one of a person who is a con-artist and commits some horrible acts but, at the end, still comes out as sympathetic. And the confusion surrounding Tom Ripley, assisted by Matt Damon's performance, makes him a compelling character to be sure. So in the end. if this movie is making me feel for a guy I have no right to, then it must've done something right.
What concerns me though is that we have a guy trying to belong but is greeted with condescension. Which makes me wonder how many 'people who shout at other people on the internet' would find such a scenario familiar....

Emma

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Emma!

Original image located here. Accessed 13th March 2020

Funny how things turn out: I never had much interest in the works of Jane Austen - I may have read Persuasion at Uni but said interest never went any further. That was until I was involved in a stage adaptation of Pride and Prejudice (twice!) so if you told 2000 me that I would be watching the latest adaptation of Emma twenty years later, 2000 me would say you'd be out of your mind.
That and the gf chose this one.

I suppose with any Jane Austen adaptation, there will be a ready made audience more than eager to lap it up. Of course, Emma is unfamiliar to me so i had no idea what to expect. And this was a surprise to me: It is slow moving at times but it still has plenty of humor. The number of characters may be difficult to keep track of but they are played by a committed cast.
Ultimately the movie is beautifully shot and the costume design is stunning (high collars ahoy!). So yeah, looks like we have a winner.

Senna

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Senna!

Original image located here. Accessed 6th March 2020

Last year I saw the documentary Amy and came away impressed - so much so, I was inspired to check out this: an earlier documentary from the same people, focusing on legendary Brazilian F1 racer Aryton Senna.

Much like Amy, Senna is intent on building an image of it's subject, showing Aryton doing what he did best. As such, we follow his career as the documentary discusses various points in his career: His rise to success, his various wins, his ability to drive in the wet, the rivalry with Alain Prost, and Aryton becoming a hero to many a Brazilian. We see nothing of Aryton's personal life but we do see a tonne of footage that, in hindsight, would've been difficult to get a hold of.
So this documentary goes a long way in explaining who Aryton Senna was, his passion towards F1 racing and his various triumphs. And even when we know how the story ends, it still hits hard.

The Invisible Man

And this week's Friday night movie has been... The Invisible Man!

Original image located here. Accessed 28th February 2020

The gf chose this one
Now this is not the first time I have seen a movie with Kiera - that honor goes to Little Women. Thing is, i chose that one - which means that I went for the 'chick flick' movie while Kiera selected a psychological thriller. Go fig.

Anyho, I noticed that the director of this movie is Leigh Whannell. In recent years, he may have made a name for himself through the Saw franchise but to me, Whannell will forever be the movie critic on Recovery. I mention this because, if this movie is anything to go by, he knows his stuff: he knows how to craft suspense, how to build tension from nothing (ie blank walls) and how to build a connection with the audience that leaves them (ie me) drained by the end of it.
That being said, there certainly a lot going for this movie. It has scares, unbelievable tension and Elizabeth Moss giving it her all. Recommended

Dances With Wolves

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Dances With Wolves!

Original image located here. Accessed 21st February 2020

I have mentioned previously how approaching certain movies can be an intimidating experience on reputation alone. And whilst this movie is one such instance, it does present an interesting case as this movie has a reputation that can only be described as a polarizing one.
On one hand, this was a sizable hit in it's day and subsequently silenced many a nay-sayer. It won Best Picture at the Oscars making it one of three westerns and one of six films done by a first-time director. It challenged a lot of western tropes by showing the Native Americans in a positive and sympathetic light.
But on the other hand, it was an undeserved winner at the Oscars. It robbed victory from Goodfellas. Despite it's intentions it still was a white man's movie. And a proponent of the 'white savior' trope that many a viewer would find insulting.
So for me, in order to appreciate this movie it is therefore necessary to divorce myself from both trains of thought and see it movie purely for what it is.

And you know something? It's actually pretty good. It may drag at times (I'm glad I didn't see the four hour special edition) but it succeeds in it's goal of offering a differing view in the western. Kevin Costner is certainly in control on both sides of the camera. But, much like the Searchers, the real star in this movie is the scenery, with moments of real beauty set in jaw-dropping landscapes.
So yeah. it's a solid movie from the brilliant moments of silence with Dunbar in isolation all the way to the punch-in-the-gut ending