Film No. 3 (2025) January 11th. 12:50 PM EVENT CINEMAS, Cine 10, Innaloo.
"I also wanted to say, I know you're not the most comfortable person with people". (Benji opens up on his cousin, desperate to keep everything open when it comes to discussions on their trip).
WINNER: Best Original Screenplay (Jesse Eisenberg) Chicago Film Critics A.A. (2024)
Is film making, for Jesse Eisenberg, his preferred method of personal therapy? He openly talks about how his scripts become a reflection of his streams of consciousness; so yes, undoubtedly. A REAL PAIN (PAIN) is a shining light, reflective of his imaginative process.
To say PAIN is a refreshing blast of a cool breeze on a hot day is an understatement. Cousins Benji (Kieran Culkin) and David (Eisenberg) were once like brothers. Benji is troubled, unreliable, but also charismatic. David commits to Benji's vigil to visit Poland to pay homage at the childhood home of their deceased grandmother. Their Jewish heritage, WWII and its horrors meant paying this respect would "cleanse" them (Benji mainly). Their adventure, as part of a tour group before their visit, is where the real cleansing takes place. Benji centres us in a way that we feel welcome as part of the group. We wander in the hands of guide James, with fellow tour members, Marcia, Eloge, Mark and Diane through multiple towns and cities of Poland. But Benji talks the truth, as he sees things, throughout this 90 minutes of delightful film-making. The actions and reactions to these truths glue PAIN together.
In the same way that Aaron Sorkin stamps his mark on character interaction (MOLLY'SGAME), Eisenberg's style is uniquely his. "Oh, that sounds like an Eisenberg script" will be exclaimed in years to come. I for one can't wait for his next effort. 10GUMS.
Film No. 4 (2025) January 12th. 1.10 PM LUNA CINEMA, Cinema 7, Leederville.
"Not everyone can believe this. Surely they can see what he is." (Lee describes her feelings about Adolf Hitler, as she watches a newsreel with Roland).
WINNER: Crystal Award (Ellen Kuras) Women in Film Crystal Awards. (2024).
Was Lee Miller the most rebellious female photographer of all time, as described by the Arts in Focus publication in 2024? It's a bit like asking if Kate Winslet's best screen performance is this one. Don't you think?
Director Ellen Kuras portrays one of her life-long heroes, photographer Lee Miller, via the talents of Kate Winslet - another admired artist of hers. The inspiration for the film comes from the biography, The Lives of Lee Miller, written by her son, Anthony Penrose. The rights for the story were bought by Winslet. It's a story worth telling. Miller's WWII portraits remain etched in the minds of a world coming to grips with the horror of war. And LEE is a handsome but prosaic depiction of her adventures. Miller was a strong minded woman who loved photography, life, and men. Her demeanour when amongst men left them in no doubt where they stood. They were in the presence of a woman of substance.
LEE, cost $50M to make, and Winslet and her backers are battling to break even. Miller, an American hero, has failed to attract an audience in the US. Seeing one of their own depicted by a Brit may have grated. LEE is clunky, I wish it wasn't. 7GUMS.
Film No. 2 (2025) January 8th. 3.00 PM BACKLOT, The Auditorium, West Perth.
"Whether we like it or not, the clock is ticking." (Early in their relationship, Tobias brings up the subject of their having a baby, with Almut).
ANTICIPATED: Feel Good Drama (John Crowley) BFTA (2024).
Can a film like WE LIVE IN TIME (WLIT) lose lustre because of the "toing and froing" from time frame to time frame? Not for me, but there are some who are critical. You need to have your wits about you, but, for what tight, slick, drama, do you not?
Director John Crowley doesn't quite reach the heights of BROOKLYN, but he shows his class. When it comes to the heartfulness with which this love story of Tobias (Andrew Garfield) and Almut (Florence Pugh) is told, Crowley needed to do things differently. After all, the, meet by accident, fall head over heels in love, only to break our hearts, trope, is well worn. Crowley takes us on a non-linear story path. He picks his jigsaw pieces and places them (scenes) in an order to more lift us, than break us. Pugh shows her own talent by playing a character equally as talented (world class chef and more!). Garfield is a perfect good guy.
WLIT is a crowd pleaser. You know what you are getting - like a restaurant meal. perhaps it's your favourite fish dish, sometimes it's overcooked, your hope, is that it will melt in your mouth. "Chef" Crowley makes this experience a tender one. 9GUMS.
Film No. 1 (2025) January 5th. 2.50 PM LUNA CINEMA, Cinema 5, Leederville.
"I'm learning from her. You should too" (Ingrid explains to Damian how much being with Martha is influencing her life).
WINNER: Best Film/Golden Lion (Pedro Almodóvar) Venice Film Festival (2024).
What is it about the whimsical soundtracks which accompany so many Almodóvar films? It's a part of his cinematic fingerprint. It is such a unique aspect to his often simplistic story-telling, usually about very serious matters.
THE ROOM NEXT DOOR (TRND) gives us Ingrid, (Julianne Moore) a seemingly successful author, whose latest book contains themes of death. A concept she is frightened of. A friend from her past, Martha, is sick with cancer. She reignites their friendship to emotionally assist Martha towards recovery. The extension of this helping hand places Ingrid in a position of comfort she could never have contemplated. Almodóvar takes us on an emotional journey that encompasses the theme of euthanasia with such dignity, both Moore and Swinton must have drooled at the opportunity to perform to the beat (that soundtrack) of a master.
The winners of The Golden Lion (Venice FF) are often serious, profound films delivered with a unique voice, ROMAand NOMADLAND, are recent examples. TRND follows the trend. It is particularly profound. 11GUMS.
Film No. 88 (2024) December 28th. 1:00 PM PALACE Raine Sq, Cinema 2, Perth City.
"My Cinderella, yes my Cinderella." (Ani's work pal describes her friend prior to Ani leaving work for the last time).
WINNER: Palme d'Or (Sean Baker) BAFTA (2024). Cannes Film Festival.
Does Sean Baker create characters for screen that are meant to shock audiences? No, but they are profound; helping us to feel a great sense of empathy for their plight. ANORA will exhilarate you, however.
So, think PRETTY WOMAN without the gloss. Mikey Madison (Ani) has all the beauty of Julia Roberts, but the silver slipper she needs to fit into may not be there when she most needs a fitting. The themes of loneliness, greed, the need for love, and trust run through ANORA. All the heroes Baker present us with are battered and bruised from life's travails. He issues some hope and then allows his characters to either unravel, or toughen up. Ani, a stripper (and more), meets her prince in the form of a Russian oligarch's son, Ivan (Mark Eidelshtein). We scream at her - "It's too good to be true, lovey, wake up!"
I adored THE FLORIDA PROJECTand liked RED ROCKET. Both could have done with another cut. ANORA is nearly perfect. And Ani, while your awakening was rough - you finally cottoned on to what was in front of you all the time. 12GUMS.
Film No. 87 (2024) December 27th. 8:00 PM SOMERVILLE Outdoor U.W.A.
"The person we are after needs to be a little bit more like us." ("Budding" principal Wadsworth begins his relationship with Mareta in an extremely cumbersome manner).
NOMINEE: Most Anticipated Film (Miki Magasiva) Hawaii Film Festival.
Does TINA lose some of its lustre because it is not based on an actual teacher? If, in the back of your mind, Mareta was a real life gifted mentor overcoming multiple adversities ... ready to be Googled, post film; then yes, maybe!
Director Miki Magasiva talked of the influence TO SIR WITH LOVE and DANGEROUS MINDS had on his movie, TINA. Unfortunately TINA can't "hold a note" to these autobiographically inspired stories. Magasiva has created a heartfelt story inspired by choirs, and his love of feel-good stories about people who inspire others to sing. Anapela Polataivao playing Mareta carries the film. The script gives her licence to make us laugh, cry and love. She is our hero but to the detriment of her antagonists. Why do we have to have characters using cliched tropes of the 60's and 70's to sledgehammer us into loving Mareta, and hating them?
The outdoor festival screening I attended had the audience captivated by TINA. The applause and adulation suggested this crowd-pleaser had achieved its gaol. Tina will please many; just not me. 7GUMS.
Film No. 86 (2024) December 23rd. 9:40 AM EVENT CINEMAS, Cine 2, Innaloo.
"Good morning Gromit. How's my favourite pooch? Another great day of inventing beckons. Wait till you see the next thing I've been working on". (Wallace makes his usual morning greeting to his faithful companion).
NOMINEE: Best Animated Feature "The Annie" (Nick Park) Annie Awards.
So, with VENGENCE MOST FOWL (VMF), does Aardmanand more specifically, Nick Park, continue to maintain a standard of stop-motion entertainment which reinforces his standing as the "king" of this craft? Yes. Most certainly YES!
There is such skill to the story-telling techniques of directors Merlin Crossingham and Nick Park. The well-intended scheming of Wallace; the evil dastardliness of McGraw (doing "bird" in gaol) and the problem solving abilities of Gromit (our go-to hero) are a delight. The latter pair are voiceless; their eyes and ears say it all. Sadly devotees of W & G are going to battle to catch their mates on a big screen. BBC 1 and Netflix will be dropping VMF on Dec. 25th. The creation of elf-like gnomes into the storyline is clever. If more folk get to share W & G's antics via streaming (plus @ Christmas time) then all the better.
Writer Mark Burton (EARLY MAN, SHAUN THE SHEEP) has a wonderfully inventive mind. Part of the W & G schtick is the elaborate problem solving needed to foil a dastardly deed. Burton's images and dialogue will have you back for re-runs. The cleverness of Burton and Park has millions of fans revisiting W&G unendingly. 11GUMS.
