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.