I've Loved You So Long
This powerful story explores the tentative relationship between two sisters who barely know each other, as a shell-shocked Juliette arrives to live with her younger sister Lea, after being away for 15 years.
"I've Loved You So Long" is a raw, sparse film about human pain that is at times difficult to watch, and yet mesmerising. As Juliette slowly but uncompromisingly opens and embraces her new life, we rejoice as she finally begins to reclaim power from the oppressive secrets of her past. With an exquisitely stripped-down performance from the lead actress, this magnetic, emotionally wrenching film is very highly recommended.
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Two girlfriends on a summer holiday in Spain become enamored with the same painter, unaware that his ex-wife, with whom he has a tempestuous relationship, is about to re-enter the picture.
"Vicky Cristina Barcelona" is an audacious romantic comedy that raises provocative questions on life and love. Set amongst the splendour and beauty of a Catalan backdrop, the affable characters provide a funny and capricious look into human relationships. The arts, love, sexual passion, and desire are blended together, explored, and then endearingly exposed in all of their intricacy - creating a bittersweet, entertaining film.
American Teen
A documentary on seniors at a high school in a small Indiana town and their various cliques.
All the stereotypes are covered in this down-to-earth documentary, allowing every audience member to find a teen they can relate to. Our young protagonists are a mature lot, providing good material for the camera. As you could imagine, there is plenty of angst and drama, and while most of it is probably staged, it's still fun to experience vicariously. American Teen is ultimately about confronting new chapters in our lives, and is definitely worth a look.
Dostana
When a landlady, to protect her sexy niece, turns down two young men eager to rent her apartment, they pretend to be gay.
Similar stories in Hollywood have produced deplorable fare, but how does the Bollywood version compare? Laughs are the same, elicited from the "obvious" humour in straight people playing gay stereotypes. The best scenes involve Sam's mother, who unintentionally becomes aware of his lifestyle change, a key scene that introduces the running themes of family and forgiveness. Dostana is superficial, but you will find it hard to resist its glamour and charm.
The Wackness
A lonely teenager spends his last summer before university selling marijuana throughout New York City, trading it with his unorthodox psychotherapist for treatment.
The Wackness follows the empathetic character of social outcast and drug dealer Luke Shapiro, centering on the unlikely friendship he develops with his eccentric therapist Dr. Squires. In each other they find a solace of sorts, sharing their parallel frustrations with life. This movie is entertaining in its strangeness, as it paints an almost sardonic humour through the juxtaposition of adolescent anxiety and middle-aged depression.
Young@Heart
A story of a group of senior citizens who perform contemporary and classic rock and pop songs.
Gimmicks are concepts to despise, and while such is the focus of this documentary, it is impossible to deny its warmth and charm. The elderly members of Young@Heart simply sing for passion and joy, and to keep and brain cells working, all notions you must admire, irrelevant of your age. As frustrating as the early rehearsals might be, it's the final show we anticipate for the whole time and it delivers on all accounts, both a humorous and touching celebration. Young@Heart will renew your passions in life.
Caramel
A romantic comedy centered on the daily lives of five Lebanese women living in Beirut.
It appears chick-flicks can transcend world boundaries. Caramel is time spent with friends, five women working in a salon, all trying to remove the issues in their lives. Such real-life problems we can relate, from lust, romance, age and daunting marriages. With genuine affection from the director's hand, we actually care about these characters and enjoy the company, while adversely sympathising with them in the arduous scenes. Caramel is a refreshing sweet of cultural insight and winsome friends.
Son of Rambow
Set in the early 80's, this is a comedy about friendship, faith and the weird business of growing up.
Son of Rambow is a quirky comedy that takes us on a nostalgia trip. It rekindles our sense of youthful exuberance as we're invited into the imaginations of a couple of schoolboys as they set about creating their own crude and amusing homemade 'Rambo' movie. Through their unlikely friendship we remember the ecstasy and difficulties of being a kid. Though the story lacks excitement in parts and suffers prematurely from a relatively dull climax, lovers of heartfelt movies will find it very engaging.
Gomorrah
An inside look at Italy's modern-day crime families. Based on a book by Roberto Saviano.
Gomorrah is a sprawling mess of characters and storylines. You see a mafia suit distribute money among the neighbourhood, two gung-ho youths wanting to be gangsters, and a guy who creates skirts in a workshop. You are clueless on how all these scenes fit together to create the big picture. Trying to make sense of it all is a slow and boring exercise. Gomorrah is a badly executed and frustrating insight into the Italian underworld.
Surveillance
An FBI agent tracks a serial killer with the help of three of his would-be victims - all of whom have wildly different stories to tell.
It's always captivating when information is revealed the way Surveillance does it. Three victims, interviewed by the cops, three different perspectives intertwine, and the audience is left to put the pieces together. The performances are strong across the board, all accessories to driving the speeding tension. A riveting story, twisted narrative and sadistic characters make Surveillance an engrossing thriller.
Diary of the Dead
A group of young film students run into real-life zombies while filming a horror movie of their own.
The internet video revolution has spawned a number of these "home camcorder" films. This medium is ideal for creating a claustrophobic and isolated environment, the perfect playground for zombies to scare. A relentless sense of dread seeps from the screen, a feeling that augments the relief and humour of other parts of the story. Scenes often end in fits of laughter, with the living dead dispatched in innovative and amusing manners. With a mix of solid scares and laughs, and a fresh new perspective, Diary of the Dead is great fun.
A Complete History of My Sexual Failures
Independent filmmaker Chris attempts to interview his ex-girlfriends to find out why they dumped him.
It's difficult to ignore such an amusing title. This documentary starts promisingly, our lovable loser aggravating some of his past liaisons with the help of his mother. There is a definitive point about half-way in that marks the passing of this premise. Chris has to resort to stunts to fill the remainder of the running time, some guiltily hilarious though most are pathetic. The only genuine moments feature the girl our filmmaker was to marry. These are also the dullest. This film is quietly amusing in the first half and a disappointing failure in the second.
Ben X
An alternative to getting bullied at school, an autistic teenager retreats into the world of online games.
Ben-X provides a respectful insight into the direct, and indirect, effects of autism. Frantic mish-mash editing adeptly creates Ben's isolated world, portraying his simple wish to be free from the torments of his peers and social etiquette. Surprisingly, delving into the online-world demonstrates both therapeutic qualities and dangers, as it cleverly weaves the multimedia of the game into the real world. The conclusion is questionable, but doesn't deny the story's warmth and grace. A well-grounded deterrence for bullies round the world.
The Death of Mr. Lazarescu
Follows the title character as he is passed on from hospital to hospital waiting for dire attention.
As the health of Mr. Lazarescu deteriorates then fails, so does this film. If the intention was to force the audience to associate with (and endure) Mr. Lazarescu's suffering, then it is a resonating success. The shaky handheld camerawork becomes nauseating, and the drawn out length nearly bores us to death. You can’t help finding yourself willing his demise to come sooner, not to end his agony, but your own. Such is the lack of empathy created by unstirring, stagnant scenes. Best avoided.
Katyn
An examination of the Soviet slaughter of thousands of Polish officers and citizens in 1940.
There is no denying the importance of this film. However, its purpose invokes a rather dull and bleak history lesson. The streets of Poland are beautifully recreated on the screen, only to get lost to the bombardment of dates and sporadic jumps through time. The interesting aspect of the tragedy is the taboo nature of the subject, but this is only briefly explored and serves as mere introduction to the horrifying and unyielding finale. Katyn provides overdue closure to those connected with the story, but lacks the emotion to connect with the rest.
In Bruges
Two hit men are sent to hide out in Bruges, Belgium after a difficult job goes wrong in London.
This film is essentially a black comedy that juxtaposes humour with tragedy. Set amongst the churches, canals, and cobbled streets of the titular Bruges, it uses this very setting to accentuate the very polar natures of our two leading characters. The highly strung Ray struggles to cope with the lack of excitement while the older, more refined Ken immerses himself in the history of the town. Amidst the dry humour created by their interaction is woven a very clever story that presents an undercurrent of morality.