List of Films Comprehesive videography IMDB
Just added 'Insomnia', 'Red Dragon' 10 March 2003.
Harry Potter, The Chamber of Secrets
Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Kenneth Branagh
Director Chris Columbus
Genre Fantasy/Adventure
What comes to mind when I'm watching this film is Enid Blyton. Its a great whodonnit kids adventure with a fantasy setting. It is much more engrossing than the first film and even had me feeling elements of suspense and excitement, pretty good for a film directed at children. This is one the whole family can enjoy (sorry to be so cliche).
The Hours
Starring Nichole Kidman, Stehpen Dillane, Julianne Moore, Ed Harris, Jeff Daniels, Meryl Streep
Director Stephen Daldry
Genre Drama
An academy award winning performance from Nichole Kidman. Not only had they completely changed her look, but her performance of Virginia Woolf was intense and compelling. The story challenges the audience to try to get inside the minds of the characters. There are no dialogue clues, but there are actions taken by the characters that may lead to insight into why they behave the way they do. It requires close scrutany for critical analysis. I liked the way all the characters are linked across time. This was done also in 'Orlando', gender and sexuality are merged but not questioned. My heart went out to Virginia Woolf's husband Leonard. Again as in 'Adaptation' there is a reference to the writing processes. I could not help thinking this was a biographical film. Perhaps the next film will be about Sylvia Plath?
Insomnia
Starring Robin Williams, Al Pachino
The choice of locations adds symbolic meaning to the story and becomes a motif to the main theme. There was a great deal of promise to the main concept which I think was not explored enough by the writer. The underlything moral is one that has been traversed many times before, still there are scenes which enable the audience to enter the psyche of the protagonist with simplistic understated realism
Japanese Story
Starring Toni Collette, Gotaro Tsunashina While i was watching this film, a thought occured to me. Females are responsible for this film. How do I know this. Well the cinematic objectification of the male form. As Tachibana comes out of the sea and wipes himself down Sandy looks on with interest, through her eyes we see a close up of his legs. But that is all besides the point. Because this film is inciteful, well informed and provocative. I like that it doesn't labour the point that it's an Australian film by creating rediculous stereotyped Australian characters. The issues, characters and story have a impact on the audience because they are grounded in reality. What is explored is a mixture of the private and the public domains of relationships. Working relations between collegues, and business partners, cultural relations between two countries poles appart in value systems and customs, personal relationships between close friends and relatives. At the same time we look at the relationship between people and their environment, the dangers that lurke for the uninitiated in the Australian wilderness. The scenes that impressed me the most were those where plot and story line run together in real time. We struggle with the characters to figure out physical constraints and the fragile nature of life. Delicate patterns are carefully and painstakingly filmed for maximum impact. The actors play out their parts in a low key fashion, because the situations gravity and discomfort is communicated through the slow and deliberate filming of real time.
K-PAX Finally a story that treats the audience as if they have more than 2 brain cells. There are two readings of this film, both have valid arguments presented throughout the story. The audience's interest is maintained as more conflicting, ambiguous information is presented. At the end it still remains open, leaving the audience to decide which is the truth. It delicately combines philosophy, psychology and sociology. There are some scientific and astronomy arguments used which I found impressively convincing. Beautifully photographed. Kevin Spacey is well suited to this role, providing a convincing performance of someone who doesn't need to stay, so doesn't need to stress the small stuff.
Kiss The Girls I had hoped this film was going to be a follow up from 'Seven'. It wasn't. There were some interesting points made in this film about the nature of the 'victim', usually the focus is on the investigation and profiling the killer, this film centers on the victims and the investigator.
Director Christopher Nolan
Genre Thriller
Director Sue Brooks
Writer Alison Tilson
Genre Drama
Director Iain Softley
Genre Drama
Director Gary Fleder
Genre Thriller
Starring Judd Nelson, Janet Gunn
Starring Geraldine McEwan, Anne-Marie Duff, Nora-Jane Noone, Dorothy Duffy
Director Peter Mullan
Genre Drama
This film documents the treatment of females in Ireland up to much more recently than anyone would be comfortable. It's religion at its worst. Religion in itself is not bad, its the interpretation of it that can make people have a twisted viewpoint. I knew about these places in Ireland where females were sent. This film re-enacts the lives of 3 new arrivals. I was greatly impressed by the use of silence in this film, silence and looking on as each girls story unfolds. In the first story we see lips moving, people looking over, but we can't hear over the sound of music. Another scene the girl is watched from a window and there are no sounds in the background. The individual cases are deliberately chosen for maximum empathy and outrage from the audience. Although the purpose of it is pennance for sins, it becomes a story not unlike other prison stories, dealing with imprisonment and what institutionalising people can do to them. The photography in this film is superb, without being overly arty nor any use of sophisticated camera techniques the meaning hits home. There's this scene where we have the close up of an eye, we can see blood coming down the lid and in the iris is the reflection of the nun. There is a huge symbolic message to this scene, at this moment a girls whole outlook and attitude has changed. This film is not for the faint hearted, the injustices and the punishment is relentless with only a few moments of black humour.
The Matrix 
The Matrix Reloaded
Starring Keanu Reeves, Hugo Weaving, Carrie-Anne Moss
Director Andy Wachowski
Genre Sci-Fi/Action
OK, better late than never! I've just visited Imdb, no wonder the graphics appeared 3D - THEY WERE. Why did our IMAX have to close down (Get it opened!!!). I'm not surprised that this film was not in the same league as The Matrix I. What it was, was action packed, amazing almost 3D graphics. On the concepts side I found it somewhat lacking. I would like to give Keanu credit for his martial arts skills, in the last film his moves verged on the comical, in the sequal he is looking good, the choreography is outstanding for the fighting scenes, as well they needed to be with the complicated scene with Neo and Agent Smith. I saw the 'making of' programme which professed it to communicate on many levels, stating that some walk away with one others 15. Well all you media critics and film analysts, I defy you to find more than 4 levels of meaning in this film. What I did spend my time doing was trying to work out the computer technology analogies. Ok so there is Greek mythology - Prophesies, but not quite. In Greek mythology the prophecy is fulfilled because of the knowing (very frustrating story concept for me), that is, none of it would have happened if someone hadn't told them it was going to happen, the act of avoiding it makes it happen), the concept of computer viruses was alluded to in The Matrix I perhaps there's an irony there (I won't give anything away), There's the man machine debate, are machines ruling our lives. That concept has been expanded upon. If you go back to the original films about machines there was a negative view, that they were going to destroy us, a luddite theory, smash the machines before they render us useless. There are some fascinating characters in Matrix reloaded, I can't for the life of me work out what they represent in a computer, they have blonde dreadlocks and shimmer in and out. I guess there are some philosophies and theology debates in there, superficially referrenced in a scene then gone forever, the theory of predestination vs free will.
Me Myself I 
When I first watched this film I thought 'Sliding Doors' rip off. Having watched it again out of that context I was able to evaluate it on its own merits. I think it is an insightful look into the life of women in Australia, sometimes mocking the gender stereotypes, but also exploring 'self empowerment'. To take a quote from Dr Phil 'We behave our way to a better life'. I think the depth of characterisation is compromised in order to get comic impact, as some of the scenes are a little implausable given the characterisation of the protagonist we are initially presented with. It's something that can be overlooked for that reason. Plenty for the 'feminist academic' to get their teeth into though.
Meet Joe Black
Starring Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins, Claire ForlaniBrad Pitt is so cute in this! Although there is a supernatural theme to this film it really follows the traditional romance genre of old. It's beautifully filmed. I am not a fan of the Romance genre, but I found this to be quite stirring. The 20th Century 'Romeo and Juliet'.
Men
Starring Sean Young, Dylan Walsh, John HeardI have been impressed with Sean Young ever since I saw her in 'Bladerunner' and then in 'Fatal Instinct'. This film however is not one to be noted as one of her best. It has a strong feminist message to it, but I kind of got the grasp of a teenage boy exploring the world through a young persons eyes. I liked some of the scenes which very much explored the issue of 'the politics of the body' but I didn't really agree with the philosophy of the character which is where the argument fell flat.
Men In Black I 
Action packed, funny, entertaining. The rapport between Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones is what I think makes this film work. It's a new concept in playing with the aliens, where they are just like us, just have very rubbery faces at times.
Memento
Starring Guy Pearce, Carrie Anne MossThis film is excellent. It is the best use of editing I have seen in a very long time, well since 'Lost Highway'. You are placed into the life of the protagonist, as if you were living through his experiences. Top class performances and an excellent cast.
The Mothman Prophesies
Starring Richard Gere, Laura Linney
Director Mark Pellington
Genre Mystery
Not the most challenging of story lines. The Mothman Prophesies explores mythology combined with a love story. The mystery element is intriguing but leaves me feeling a little flat and uninspired. The camera work and mise en scene are dark and forboding, however the acting did not deliver what the mise en scene enticed. Richard Gere has seen better days and doesn't really suit this type of genre.
Nurse Betty
Starring Morgan Freeman, Renee Zellweger, Greg KinnearFor a film adict like myself, this film is wonderful. There is an interplay of sanity and insanity, comparing and contrasting fantasy, reality and day dreams and the hollywood machine. Sometimes it's what the story doesn't say that adds depth to the overall meaning. Renee Zellweger is well cast in this role combining innocence and silliness so you don't feel sorry for her character you almost fall in love with her. I get an overall message that if you live the dream it becomes a reality.
A-G O-Z