No. 58. (2020) AN AMERICAN PICKLE. Sept. 28th.

 

Film No. 58 (2020) October 30th.  3:10 PM  FENWICK 3 CINEMAS  Esperance.                        

"You have no wife, no children, no friends and no life, you need help" (Herschel tell Ben there could be more to his small apartment based life).

Seth Rogan has created a film that promised so much and delivered just a little. An American Pickle was made by Rogan for HBOMax so it was destined for the small screen and it plays that way. Perhaps, because I saw AAP on the big screen, I expected more. But the first 15 minutes are so impressive, small screen or not, I really do think Pickle could have been much better. Never the less, Seth Rogan fans, and there are plenty of those, will enjoy the fare that is American Pickle. 

What is it about? Well, we meet a Jew, Herschel Greenbaum in his oppressed home state, in 1919, wanting to make a better life for his family. Newly married to Sarah (Sarah Snook) they emigrate to New York to realize their dreams, only Herschel's first job, in a pickle factory lands him in a brine that preserves him for 100 years. He wakes, and turns his attention to finding a relative, Ben Greenbaum, also played by Seth Rogan. Now you're thinking, this could be quite interesting. Fun maybe, as Rogan does his thing as brotherly whacky types! No, it's here that it fizzes.  

For a moment there is a touch of the Peter Sellers and Being There. The simplicity of aged values in the modern world. But that doesn't develop. Then there is the test of wills as each tries to out do each other with their contrasting skills. That dies as Ben gets nasty, a diversion the screenplay didn't need to take. We know they're going to kiss and make-up in the end, but it's all too convenient and unclever for my liking. It's a pity the writing couldn't have found a way to sneak Sarah Snook back on screen. Snook in period clobber then in modern day garb with a script to match would have livened things up surely. 

Hey, plenty of people are liking it. Mostly in the U.S. watching on the small screen, but that was the audience Rogan and the HBOMax executives were aiming at. I should have waited for the same experience perhaps, but I doubt it would have improved my experience. 7GUMS.        

No. 56. (2020) ADAM. Sept. 15th.

 

Film No. 56 (2020)  Sept 15th.  4:45 PM.  Cinema 5  LUNA Leederville.

"Yes, but she hasn't listened to her since Dad died". (Warda (named after the singer in focus) tells Samia of a grieving habit her mother, Abla, has developed.

There is something very personal about this wonderful film from the streets of Casablanca. Adam tells the story of two women Samia, (Nisrin Erradi) and Abla, (Lubna Azabal) who, over a few months, play a significant role in each others lives. The sliding door moment of their connection and the significance of the role each plays need not be revealed here, the cinema connoisseur won't want to miss the power of this simple tale. While listening to creator (writer/director) Maryam Touzani talk about the real life family experience she intimately observed as a young girl one gets a sense that 8 year old Warda (Douae Belkhaouda) is the conduit for Touzani's story. The film's high points are always in the silences. Mixed with the deft close-ups of these strong, handsome women (often busy creating dough based foods) and the street sounds of this busy iconic city, the whole Adam experience is mesmerising. Adam was Morocco's official selection at Cannes (2019) and a selection at the Toronto (2019) festival. It was not an award winner, which many critics found astonishing considering some of the accolades handed out. In these strange times, take this journey into exotic Casablanca, a place so inaccessible to a traveller right now. 11GUMS.       

   

No. 55. (2020) DIRT MUSIC. Sept. 10th.

 

Film No. 55 (2020) September 10th.  9:30 AM  EVENT CINEMAS Vmax 11,  Innaloo.

"Now I really feel like a ghost, so I figured why not become one" (Lu's voice over to a note he wrote describing his reasons to move on).

I liked Dirt Music but I wanted to love it. There were too many vagaries in its story telling for it to really capture my heart. But it is an effective, sweeping love story told against the backdrop of two of the most beautiful, Western Australian coastal settings (Esperance & the Kimberley region) you're ever likely to see on screen.

Gregor Jordan (Two Hands, Unthinkable) returns to his Australian roots to direct a story written by Tim Winton. Not an easy task. The thing about Winton's prose is, there is an internalization that magically takes his reader to familiar emotions, which are not easily transposed to film. Perhaps this is why two of it's leads Kelly Macdonald (Georgie) and Garrett Hedlund (Lu) were cast. While neither are Australian (creating much criticism) they certainly have the look and some of the chemistry.

Georgie, seemingly has everything. A beautiful house overlooking stunning white sand and ocean, a ready made family, a wealthy fisherman husband Jim (David Wenham). She is however restless and emotionally unfulfilled. She craves to be truly loved. Two chance meetings with local loner, Lu, and she is smitten. But Lu has a deep, dark connection to Jim. The impending love story is going to bring angst, not to mention the opening of old wounds. It's here that Jordon doesn't quite develop a deeper "in" for his audience thus we might better understand why Lu is trapped in this, his brooding, emotional solitude.  

The story is not a complicated one. There are few original moves but there is some chemistry; thus rendering an authenticity to the compassion Jordan wants us to feel towards Georgie, Lu and eventually Jim. But is that enough? I ask the question because I simply loved the outdoor setting of every scene. I'm an unabated Esperance/Kimberley region devotee, so my opinion may not be enough to elevate Dirt Music to the heights its big studio execs would like. It's interesting that I've been unable to read anything of Winton's thoughts on Jordan's interpretation. There are rumours that he is not impressed. And oh, did I mention the soundtrack? Well Julia Stone, a local songstress with silky tones, appears fleetingly on screen, but it's her voice that wins D.M. another tick. 8GUMS.

         

    

 

No. 54. (2020) LES MISERABLES. Sept. 6th.

 

Film No. 54 (2020)  Sept. 6th.  11:15 AM  PALACE  Raine Square, Perth City. 

"I wanted to show the incredible diversity of these neighbourhoods. I still live there. It's my life. I love filming there. It's my set." (Director Ladj Ly describes with passion why he shot Les Miserables where he did).

One of the iconic titles defining French literature, headlines this wonderful cinema experience, and it's strikingly familiar to Hugo's original story. The fly on the wall, contemporary experience of working out of the pockets of Paris street policemen, Ruiz (Damien Bonnard), Chris (Alexis Manenti) and Gwada (Djebril Zonga) as they attempt to calm the streets, is the technique director Ladj Ly uses to tell this tale of upheaval and revolt. In what can only be described as possibly the best debut feature of 2019/20, Ly takes us into the streets he grew up on and still lives in. He asks questions about race, religion, violence as a solution, morals compromised, corruption (the symbol of Ruiz receiving a kebab on his first day), judgement, compromise, conciliation, compassion and so much more. Bonnard is brilliantly communicative (camera close-up of his alert, dark eyes) as the quietly observant rookie on the beat. He's our hero, our control, and he offers an alternative to impulsive problem solving necessary in the chaos of their street work. Decisions made that will lead to a climax which parallels Hugo's original tale. I can't wait for Ly's next feature. He's sure to be filming somewhere among his people again. 11GUMS.    

        

No. 53. (2020) CHASING THE PRESENT. Sept. 3rd.

 

Film No. 53 (2020)  Sept. 3rd.  10:30 PM.  Cinema 4  LUNA SX Fremantle.

"The epidemic of stress, anxiety and depression that we see in the world is not being addressed by our medical system. (One of James' compatriots explains failures in mental health care our world faces on a daily basis).

This interesting film explores "the meaning of life" as seen through the eyes of one materially successful young man, James Sebastiano Jr, as he seeks an ultimate understanding of his existence. I saw it with a friend who sees life through a similar lens to me, so conversation immediately afterwards as we explored our interpretations of Chasing The Present was as invigorating as the film itself.

Film maker Mark Waters (The Salt Trail) continues with themes of wellness and finding ones self here. Chasing is a slick, well crafted social commentary with the usual talking head POV contrasts including Russel Brand as a feet on the ground observer of life's vagaries. But I assume James S Jr has stumped up a pile of cash to present his journey as a tribute to his enlightenment.

The most interesting recurring scenes throughout this feature are the five segments of conversations with his dad, James Snr. As James Jr explains his transformation from anxious being to a more chilled operator, James Snr listens and reacts, at first cynically. With every new chapter of the conversation we learn more about what is real about this father/son relationship.  The techniques James Jr uses to legitimise their relationship are intriguing. Proof of his transformation perhaps!

These food for thought documentaries are to be watched when one is completely in the mood. I enjoyed this sitting for it's ideas and concepts. I was relaxed, empty of preconceptions and tensions. I may have reacted differently had I not been. As far as the craft of the film, I could not fault Waters work. I'll now seek out The Salt Trail, his other feature film of enlightenment. 9GUMS.

   

   

     

No. 52. (2020) BILL AND TED FACE THE MUSIC Sept. 2nd.

 

Film No. 52 (2020) September 2nd.  6:30  PM  EVENT CINEMAS  Innaloo.

"Bill, we've spent our whole life trying to unite the world, frankly I'm tired, dude" (Ted hearing of their latest challenge, lays it on the line).

I'm not sure there is a better fun, silly film release in these strange COVID 19 times. The audiences who flocked to Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure in 1989 then Bogus Journey two years later will be back to give loyal attention three decades on. And I dare say they'll enjoy it as much. I'm not familiar with the franchise but a quick read of the premise (won't take long) and I was on board. The time travel here is all in the aid of saving the world and Bill (Keenu Reeves) and Ted (Alex Winter) need to devise a piece of ground breaking music. See I told you it was silly. But what about, with the aid of a couple time-travel devices, the likes of Mozart, Hendricks, Armstrong could be gathered as music makers. Throw in daughters Thea (Samara Weaving) and Billie (Brigette Lundy-Paine) as faithful servants, exuding infectious energy and the laid- back genetic traits of their fathers' and you have a movie where you can leave your brain at the door and just sit back and indulge. It's uncomplicated and fun.  8GUMS.

       

No. 51. (2020) THE LEGEND OF THE FIVE. August. 30th.

 

Film No. 51 (2020)  August 30th.  1:30 PM.   THE HEART Margaret River.

"Do you really think five children could stand against the end of the earth?". (Marduk asks a deep question, in voice over, prior to the five magically appearing in a strange land).

Sometimes there are films created which raise more questions than they answer. But the reason for the queries is not about to engender the praise for The Legend which might be hoped for by distributors, creators, audiences even. How did anyone who read this, ultimately approve funding? How is it that it is getting a big screen release? How was it that at my screening, the first to walk out were a group of adolescents, the age demographic the film is aimed at? Who writes dialogue like this? dialogue that fails to give adolescents any credit for their intelligence? I respect all the artists involved in The Legend of The Five. I hope they go on to bigger and better things but unfortunately the 93 minutes I had to endure on this Saturday afternoon were excruciating. Unfortunately I'll never be able to cash in those 93 minutes later in life!  2GUMS.

       

No. 50. (2020) SLIM AND I August. 29th.

 

Film No. 50 (2020)  August 29th.  8:30 PM.  Cinema 1  ORANA Busselton.

"Sim and Joy were definitely trail blazers, they set a precedent". (Paul Kelly gives a general summary of how Slim and Joy set standards for the next generation of artists).

I thought I'd seen the best biography depicting an Australian icon last month when I watched Brock, Over The Top; the story of how Peter Brock became a legend. I was wrong, Slim and I, the story of how and why country performer Slim Dusty (David Gordon Kirkpatrick) influenced generations of song writers and performers throughout Australia is better. 

Kriv Stenders has written and directed this important contribution to the historical cataloging of an interesting and talented Australian via cinema. And while Dusty is the icon, it's his wife, Joy who is without a doubt the reason for Slim's legendary status. As the posters catch phrase describes it, It Takes Two To Create a Legend.

In the same way as Brock, Over The Top, highlights Peter Brock, Slim and I gives Australians a real sense of why Dusty has become so immortalized. Slim and I has talking heads of the likes of, Paul Kelly, Troy Cassar-Daley, Missy Higgins and Casey Chambers describing how Slim and Joy empowered them to succeed. Their revelations were surprising. Their occasional renditions of some of the Kirkpatrick/McKean magical lyrics were mesmerizing.

This film can be watched by many, you don't necessarily have to be Australian to appreciate Slim and I because Stenders has woven an interesting international story. The old saying "behind every good man there is an equally good woman" is a theme that holds up. The thing is, the lesser known Joy McKean may be judged as more than equal in Slim and I. The story is, Slim often said as much when he was alive! 10GUMS.

 

 

   

No. 49. (2020) LA BELLE EPOQUE. Aug. 26th.

 

Film No. 49 (2020)  August. 26th.  6:40 PM.  Cinema 4  LUNA Leederville.

"When you say "tailor made" evenings it's not just hype. (Victor reflects on his first experience in his new world).

The creator who came to mind as being most likely to admire a film of the quality of La Belle Epoque's ilk was Charlie Kaufman (Being John Malkovich, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind). The reason, well the simple idea of fading love and the craving of our key character Victor (Daniel Auteuil) to rekindle his desire for his wife Marianne (Fanny Ardant) is recreated without a cliche in sight. This rings of Kaufman through and through. Revealing writer/director Nicolas Bedos's (Mr and Mrs Adelman) technique for story telling would be to spoil much of the joy of this film. I read little about La Belle because I was told not to miss it and not to read anything about it. I did, by the way, have complete trust in the source of the recommendation. The only other special mention goes to the key performance of La Belle. That of Doria Tillier as Margot, the "plant" in Victor's fantasy world. Tillier is as convincing as the character (Margot)she plays. So convincing in fact that she has to take drastic action; a scene not to be missed in this original gem. 11GUMS.