Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind    

Directed:Michel Gandry
Actors:Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet

Genre: Sci-Fi, Drama

I think this film reflects a new style of realism that is coming into film. No longer are characters larger than life, jumping off the screen. No longer are they portraying people with incredible abilities, insightfulness or purity of character. The characters in Sunshine are plausable, flawed, limited, simple. They live mundane lives and handle experiences ineptly. Like everyone they stumble through their experiences, not really knowing what's happening, or what the best thing is to do. Jim Carrey truly has developed as a serious actor in this film. Previously playing over the top characters from 'The Mask' and 'Ace Ventura'. The closeups show lines on his face, no sign of make up. His body language is introverted and clumsy when he encounters Clementine his aparant opposite. I think this film delicately introduces the modern complexities of long term relationships without going into too much dialogue. We are drawn to each other inexplicably, but somehow we cannot hold onto that initial buzz. The question this film asks is if you had your life to live all over again, would you do the same thing. There is also a philosphical aspect based on Nietzsche's philosophy. That it is wrong to aneathsetize ourselves from pain. To reach ultimate fulfillment we must work through the pain

Farenheit 9/11    

Directed:Michael Moore
Narrator: Michael Moore

Genre: Documentary/exposee

Ok so if i review this film i'll have to review 'Bowling for Columbine'. I've seen the series as well. Ah, so much work! ok. Michael Moore is a highly intelligent, highly skilled investigative journalist, yet i don't think he is a journalsit. He has deep personal compassion for the issues he exposes. He steadly builds a story surrounding the events of his documentary throwing in flippant, sarcastic humour and brilliant use of music to bring home his point. Look at this, how rediculous, but then you get live footage, scraps of news reports and classified documents to drive home the validity of the points he is making at that juncture. Popular culture and mainstream TV and music culture are cleverly interewoven with serious investigative journalism which gives the audience insider information and raises questions that I would never have thought to ask in relation to the events. There are some graphic scenes in this film of the iraq war, you see both sides, the soldiers fighting, soldiers suffering, innocent iraqi people, patriotic families, dissilutioned families, polititians arguing both sides. The bias is toward Micheal Moore's POV and he has a real knack for making the evil players look rediculous and calous. The biggest chill for me was the pampering and primping, application of make-up, smiling faces and silly faces, scenes of journalists, the president, the secretary, all in reddiness and i think 'for what' what is it they are getting ready to announce?, then a black screen and the sounds coming out of the speakers and the audience knows what they are getting ready to announce.

Japanese Story 

Starring Toni Collette, Gotaro Tsunashina
Director Sue Brooks
Writer Alison Tilson
Genre Drama

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 an 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 incorporating the history between two countries. 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 in real time. Positioning of characters in a scene subtley communicate cultural boundaries and distance. The choices to omit dialogue in certain scenes and replace it with non verbal communication between characters. As we all know body language makes up over 80% of communication, to add dialogue would clutter up the message. This film is a masterpiece, of the same calibre as 'Breaker Morant' I particularly liked the way Sandy was introduced, without much dialogue, her character was developed before she meets Gotaro, by this time we know quite a lot about her. It's sheer genious.

K-PAX 

Starring Jeff Bridges, Kevin Spacey
Director Iain Softley
Genre Drama

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 

Starring Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd
Director Gary Fleder
Genre Thriller

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.

Lost Highway 

Starring Bill Pullman, Patricia Arquette, Balthazar Getty
Director David Lynch
Genre Thriller/Suspense

I need to go back to this film to remind myself how it plays out. Basically it is difficult to work out, as all David Lynch films are difficult to figure out. It's mainly a manipulation of story through editing. However, there is room for theories to be put forward as to what it's all about. The sound track complements the plot perfectly and adds to the intrigue.

Lost Voyage 

Starring Judd Nelson, Janet Gunn
Director Christian McIntire
Genre Ghost

This film is pitiful. As many ghost stories are these days, unlike 'Sixth Sense' and 'Stirr of Echos' also 'Haunted' (not to be mistaken with 'Haunted House' which is also pitiful. A good ghost story makes your hairs stand up on your arms or sends a shiver down your spine. This film inspires a big gaping yawn.

The Magdelene Sisters 

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 

Starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving
Director Andy & Larry Wachowski
Genre Action/Sci-fi

I thought as the sequel is imminent, I'd better review the first one. This film touched me to the very core of my being. I find that people either love it or hate it. Those who love it took it at face value, but it went deeper for me, as an outcast and a miss-fit I have struggled to comprehend the sheep mentality of society. This film comments on the constructions of society. Although it's really about humans vs machines, re-inventing the theme explored in films going back to the '60's with '2001...' and more recently 'Terminator II'; it also managed to capture the constructs of society we all move around in. Only the select few can remove themselves completely from the confines, others are aware but can't figure out how to escape. It is interesting that the film has also alluded to a salient point, that being aware that society is merely a construct doesn't necessarily liberate a person from that consturct, instead it totally disembodies you from it so you're out there alone fighting what seems to be a losing battle against ignorrance and apathy. Hugo Weaving, steals the show I think, it is his best performance since 'Proof', he manages to be intimidating whilest at the same time comical. The opening scenes for this film are stunning, the new special effects technique, before it became a cliche, was the most impressive since Terminator II, t1000. It's such a simple effect, it's surprising somebody didn't think of it earlier. I first saw it done in a documentary with David Suzuki. Cameras are placed in an arc around the subject, so the subject is still in the centre, taken at different angles. combined with slow motion and a very convincing performance from Carrie Anne Moss, suspension of disbelief was further extended. It is a great skill indeed to photograph such implausible images and render them common place, baring in mind up until this scene there was no lead up to an alternative reality concept. All we knew was it was a sci fi film. Of course it also comments on the power of the sci fi genre itself, that knowing this is a sci fi immediately permits the unbelievable to occur.

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 

Starring Racheal Griffiths, David Roberts
Director Pip Karmel
Genre Comedy

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 Forlani
Director Martin Brest
Genre Supernatural/Romance

Brad 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 Heard
Director Zoe Clarke Williams
Genre Drama

I 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 

Starring Wil Smith, Tommy Lee Jones
Director Barry Sonnenfeld
Genre Action/Comedy

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 Moss
Director Christopher Nolan
Genre Suspense/Mystery

This 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 Kinnear
Director Neil La Bute
Genre Black Comedy

For 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.

Orphans 2000 

Starring Douglas Henshall, Gary Lewis, Stephen McCole
Director Peter Mullan
Genre Black Comedy

The story is very simple, four siblings have to come to terms with grief at the loss of their mother in their own way. There is an overwhelming sense of pathos which grows in the audience as the plot develops.

Red Dragon 

Starring Anthony Hopkins, Ralf Fiennes, Edward Norton
Director Brett Ratner
Genre Thriller

Two minutes into the film I realised this story has already been told, sometime around 1970. So I focused on whether they had enhanced the original, which they have. They have also linked it to 'Silence of the Lambs' with a nice little segue at the end. There is an attempt to maintain the integrity of lighting and set to 'Silence of the Lambs' but whoever did the lighting then was not used in 'Red Dragon' nor the same writers I suspect. However, it is a competent adaptation of the original story, with an admirable attempt to recreate the suspense of 'Silence of the Lambs'. I think I need to invent a new term for this film though, it's a prequil, but not in the sense that 'Star Wars' is. The events occur before 'Silence of The Lambs' but it was an after thought on the part of the film makers. It is also a remake. So it's a postprojection prequil remake. Because they are attempting so much in this film ,it comes across as a little rushed, this rushing to tell story has diminised the suspense.

Red Planet 

Starring Val Kilmer, Carre Anne Moss
Director Anthony Hoffman
Genre Sci Fi

At first I thought I'd made a boo boo, but stick with it, it does improve over time. What interested me was the film turned out to be about something entirely different to what I had first anticipated. I think one of the weaknesses is the casting, I don't think the message comes across well at all

Secret Window    

Directed David Kopp
writing Stephen King 'Secret Window, Secret Garden', film script David Kopp Starring Johnny Depp, John Turturro, Maria Bello, Timothy Hutton

Genre: Suspense

I think it would be safe for me to say that this is the first film adaptation of a Stephen King story that actually captures the essence of King. The humour, the quiet suspense, the confusion of events. I didn't realise I had infact read this story until Mort Rainey kept napping and not getting much work done on his story. Ah, i've read this. Of course, that spoils the rest of the film as far as the surprise is concerned. I still enjoyed watching the techniques. In particular though, i just LOVED seeing Johnny Depp in every scene. So much so that when other characters were in the same shot, i could not tear my eyes away from him. The audience becomes intimate with this characters daily activities. I have spotted a limitation in Johnny's acting range during this film. I can't tell you, because it would give away the plot. He is good at playing fear, vulnerability and now lethargy. Only Johnny Depp could have his hair sticking out in all directions and still look gorgeous.

Seven 

Starring Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kevin Spacey
Director David Fincher
Genre Thriller/Horror

It takes a lot for a film to disturb me, I've seen the darkest most horrific films going and this one really made my skin crawl. In 'Reservoir Dogs', Quentin Tarrantino had a decision to make in the scene where the ear is cut off, show it happen or pan away. He chose to pan away. Basically it's what you imagine that horrifies you, each victim undergoes the most sadistic torture, but all the audience sees is the result, left to fill in the gaps the imagination builds. You have to concentrate on the dialogue. There is a raw realism to the two detectives in the story, they are not glorified and this somehow adds to the horror effect of what they are investigating.

7 Days to Live 

Starring Amanda Plummer, Sean Pertwee,
Director Sebastian Niemann
Genre Ghost

As suspense and thriller films have been so disappointing lately, when one like this one are good, I start to think what is it that makes a good ghost story. It is very similar in theme to 'The Shining' there are some definate similarities between the two male characters in 'The Shining' and '7 Days to Live', but it's altered so that it's not a total copy, almost enhancing the original idea. One element that is missing from other suspense films is character development. Also, I believe the characters need to be likeable, who cares what happens to a character you don't like. So these characters are really likeable, they have gone through something that audience empathise with. The element that most filmmakers remember is mise-en-scene. The surroundings need to be eerie, dark. The main element missing though is time taken between scenes. It was most starley represented in the scene where the main female protagonist attempts to discover the history of the house. There is a character who could have told her right there, but instead we have to wait for her to see someone else. Even then much time is spent taking long slow pan shots of the building this character resides in. We are then introduced to more supspense enhancing scenes to delay the final release. Directors are in too much of a hurry to let us know what happens next. The reveal too much information after that, explaining every little detail like the final scene in a Hercule Poirot, Agatha Christie story.

The Shipping News

Starring Kevin Spacey, Judy Dench
Director Lasse Hallstrom
Genre Drama

You would get a similar experience if you were to watch paint dry, or the grass grow. It's always a bad sign when I start getting up and doing things around the flat when I'm watching a film. It had all the elements of a deeply touching and moving story, but it just meandered into mediocraty. No doubt this film will go into the annals of the classic dramas of our times like 'A Passage to India' and 'Amadeus'. Won lots of awards and respect from the critics, but boaring as dishwater.

Signs

Starring Mel Gibson
Director M Night Shyamalan
Genre Sci-Fi

HG Wells meets Thomas Hardy. You thought this film was about aliens right? Right! Except that old faithful 'Good vs Evil' rears it's familiar head. I am coming to the conclusion that there is a conspiracy at Hollywood to entertain the intellectually challenged. Basically, well that sums it all up really. The plot develops at snails place with a crumb trail of "signs" to lead you to the solution to our heroes problem. It's entertaining, easy to follow and uncluttered by multiple meaning and deep characterisation.

The Silence of The Lambs 

Starring Jodi Foster, Anthony Hopkins
Director Jonathan Demme
Genre Thriller/Horror

I think this is Anthony Hopkins best role. I was particulary impressed with Jodie's performance, I imagine she has captured the face of danger perfectly. You can cut the atmosphere with a knife, the Mise-en-scene, nondiagetic music and framing plus perfect casting all round makes this one of the best thrillers since Alfred Hitchcock put story to celluloid.

Sleepy Hollow  

Starring Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci, Miranda Richardson, Christopher Walken
Director Tim Burton
Genre Fantasy/Horror

Based on the novel by Washington Irving, Ichabod Crane changes occupation for the screen adaptation. There is a distinct atmosphere to the film, dark sets, victorian costumes and eerie backdrops creates a grims fairytale feel. Johnny Depp plays a forensics detective who hasn't quite accquired the emotional distance to carry out his duties, this adds a comical dimension to his character. Depp is well suited to these types of roles, how on earth he got into '21 Jump Street' I can't imagine.

The Stick Up  

Starring James Spader, David Keith, Leslie Stephananson
Director Rowdy Herrington
Genre Drama

Very cleverly constructed, it explores the fine line between right and wrong. This film alludes to certain moral dilemas police officer's are faced with and where exploiting their position could lead. We are presented with evidence in a way that can catch you out if you're not watching carefully. James Spader is well cast in this kind of role.

The Tallented Mr Ripley 

Starring Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law
Director Anthony Minghella
Genre Thriller/Suspense

This film is very similar in theme to 'A Simple Plan', the difference is I don't empathise with Mr Ripley. It was interesting the way the plot develops, you follow Mr Ripley's changes in character as it goes along and you begin to wonder what he will do next, or how it will all end up. There is no mystery involved just an exploration of a moral concept. "What would you do if..."

Terminator III 

Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Nick Stahl, Kristanna Loken, Clare Danes
Director Jonathan Mostow
Genre Action/Sci-Fi

I'm really glad I watched the re-run of 'T2' on TV because it made me aware it picked up where the other film left off. The humour takes a back seat and the film becomes somewhat philosophical not unlike 'Matrix'. It is not an inferior sequal. The action gets going right from the get go and doesn't let up. This does mean the new characters are barely introduced and the actions of our new terminator the TX seem perplexing. The Terminator is a different character to 'T2' which left me a little cold. I was greatly impressed with the way they made an apparently small framed female robot appear heavy. This film will leave you begging for more at the end. Be warned. There will deffinately be a follow up. One highly amusing part is when Arnold's character aquires his clothes and you have to ask yourself, why does a robot wear dark glasses?

Waking Life 

Starring Wo;eu Wiggins
Director Richard Linklater
Genre Animated/Drama

This film is sheer genius! The animation at times looks real, I can't decide whether they shot it then stencilled over it or if it's pure animation. I think the variety in quality of the animation is deliberate and adds to the underlying theme. There are increasingly deeper dialogs with the main protagonist. He passively receives information about life, philosophy and theories about dreams. I get the impression that the people portrayed are accademics in real life, scientists and theorists. It's a keeper for sure.

What Lies Beneath 

Starring Harrison Ford, Michelle Pfiffer
Director
Genre Thriller/Suspense

Until I saw this film, I thought that the art of suspense was dead. This film recreates the traditional suspense feel of the 1960s. I think the problems with current Suspense films is they don't put enough time into building empathy with the main characters. If you don't connect personally with the protagonist, you don't feel the suspense with them in each scene.

X Men 

Starring Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart
Director Bryan singer
Genre action

Crickey! This film is the worst. Barely entertaining. I should have brought the comic with me, I could have read it when it got really boring.

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