Film No. 83 (2024) December 14th. 11.00 AM LUNA CINEMA, Cinema 1, Leederville.
"Half papa, half aunt, half rich, half poor, half kingpin, half queen ... " (an example of the lyrics summing up Perez's predicament).
WINNER: Jury Prize (Jacques Audiard) Canne Film Festival.
Has there been a film quite like EMILIA PEREZ (EP)? Not really, but with a company like Netflix around to bankroll new, exotic, melodramas like EP, lets luxuriate in their extravagance while we can.
So how does a big studio react to a pitch which goes "It's a drama, also a musical about a drug lord and loving father who orchestrates an escape from his life. He wishes to be a woman. In finding her true self she tries to right some of the wrongs he/she created" ? "Oh, also, it will cost 50M and run for 140 minutes". "That's right, and the three leads are all female; Zoe Saldana is on board. You know her. AVATAR, yeh? It's a tale empowering female strength and sensibility". Likely an answer in the negative. But feminist film it isn't. Audacious melodrama it is!
EP has accumulated 115 awards or nominations since its Cannes debut in April. Awards aren't everything but that number is impressive. 72 year old Audiard (RUST AND BONE, THE PROPHIT) has hung in there. Thanks to Netflix we are allowed full access to his imagination. 10GUMS
Film No. 82 (2024) December 13th. 4.40 PM LUNA CINEMA, Cinema 6, Leederville.
"Why did you follow me home from the party? Or do you only remember when it's convenient?" (Sylvia needs to understand an aspect of Saul's recent behaviour).
NOMINEE: Best Film (Michel Franco) Venice Film Festival.
Director Kelly Reichardt has a rival, when it comes to depicting human behaviour, on screen, of the naturalistic variety. Given Michel Franco'sMEMORY, the likeness of styles is uncanny.
There is a scene early on in MEMORY (M) when we know this seemingly straight forward story will be a complicated, emotional trial. Sylvia (Jessica Chastain) and Saul (Peter Sarsgaard) sit in a park. Saul has early onset dementia. Sylvia accuses him of something heinous from their school days. Saul is confused but calm. From here we know that the unravelling of these complications will be worth our time. The warmth that grows in their relationship builds to a final scene which verifies the sheer faith we've always held for the repair that Sylvia had undergone. It's the most heartfelt, on-screen hug of 2024, for me.
After SUNDOWN (2021), I was eager to latch onto Franco's next project. He has a single shot, extended scene technique that bulldozes us through family reveals, never allowing his audience a distractive moment. 10GUMS.
Film No. 81 (2024) December 12th. 11:45 AM EVENT CINEMAS, Cine 6, Innaloo.
"No, no, the dead don't hurt". (Holger reassures young Vincent that the bird, freshly shot for their dinner, was in no pain).
WINNER: Jury Prize (Viggo Mortensen) Almeria Western Film Festival.
Is the western dead, or even dying? Never! Certainly not in the near future with Viggo Mortensen now an active creative in the genre! Here, he has created a very classy western indeed!
Don't think "western" of the revenge type, the type that ticks box after box in delivering gratification of the RIO BRAVO kind. ThinkMEEK'S CUTOFF (2010) and a smidge of JOHNNY GUITAR (1954). Vivienne La Coudy (Vicky Krieps) is our hero here. A dark-haired Meryl Streep comes to mind as Krieps portrays a woman who cannot be broken. She runs her own race, but while male company is the spice in her life masculine bullies, one in particular, have a say. Mortensen talks of his mother being his inspiration for Vivienne. Like FALLING (2020), his directorial debut, his stories are personal.
Mortensen didn't set out for his story to be a western. He decided on the genre to carry his message because the pioneer spirit best captures the strength of Vivienne. FALLING, his directorial debut, expressed his love for his father. 10GUMS.
Film No. 80 (2024) December 2nd. 4:00 PM LUNA CINEMA, Cinema 1, Windsor, Nedlands.
"It never gets easier; it gets less harder!" (Rona's new friend. A man who's been where she is. His advice, hopefully, a comfort).
NOMINEE: Best Feature Film (Noah Fingscheidt) British Independent FF.
Is Saoirse Ronan taking us on a journey here because it's exemplifying a cause she believes in or is this simply an opportunity to further extend her prestigious acting talents? Both, it would seem. She is the producer of OUTRUN.
Amy Liptrot wrote her memoir to further cleanse herself of her arduous journey of rehabilitation (alcoholism) in her late twenties. German director Noah Finscheidt (THE UNFORGIVABLE) combined with Ronan to retell Liptrot's agonising journey (detoxification) via a feast of cinematic naturalism. Using colour hair rinses, intercuts of London bar scenes and the odd number of days sober, subtitles; we know where we are in her timeline. But the true genius of the film is the rugged beauty of Orkney. The power of it's ocean, wind, fields, wildlife and salt air in bringing a broken lassie (Rona) to her senses.
I've not read Liptrot's memoir. She is said to be blown away with how close the film captures the realities of the "hole" she was in. Ronan is exquisite. Her performance had me fully buried in Rona's mess. It is testing! 10GUMS.
Film No. 79 (2024) November 24th. 6:15 PM LUNA CINEMA, Cinema 1, Windsor, Nedlands.
"We are so looking forward to another interpretation of our journey" (Raynor answers a question on how she feels about her story being released on screens in 2024).
Have you heard it all before? People lose everything (materially) and it's the spark to recalibrating their life in a way they could never have imagined. Yes? Well THE SALT PATH walks us along this path, quite literally.
The story of Raynor (Gillian Anderson) and Moth (Jason Isaacs)Winn's recalibration of life, based on Raynor's diaries, is an inspirational tale. Ray and Moth are in their early 50's, they become homeless, and Moth learns he has an incurable neurodegenerative disease. So, with only a tent, a few belongings and a chance to take steps forward in life, they decide to trek the 630 mileDorset to Somerset coastal walk. We go walking with them and discover much. Mainly about them, but you'll be surprised at how immersed you'll become. You'll ask questions of your own courage, resilience and reliance on others.
Anderson and Isaacs were Director Marianne Elliot's first choice performers. She must be pleased with the chemistry they generate. Author Raynor refers to the film as a wonderful interpretation of their adventure. So do I. 9GUMS
Film No. 78 (2024) November 18th. 6:45 PM HOYTS CINEMAS, Xtreemscreen Cine 1, Karrinyup.
"She doesn't give a twig about what anyone thinks." (The reminder given to Glinda that Elphaba doesn't need affirmation from the masses).
WINNER: Truly Moving Picture Award (Jon M Chu) Heartland Film 2024.
Is there any chance that Universal's gamble of taking the iconic stage musical WICKED to the big screen will not pay off? The term gamble suggests YES, but the execution of this BLOCKBUSTER means only Box Office $$$$$$$.
I have to begin with an admission. This form of cinema is not my favourite. WICKED PT 1, in no way, has lead me to change my mind, but it is a screen feast of a film. The many folk who have lapped up the chemistry of Elphaba and Glinda on stage, multiple times, will be back to the cinema for more of the same. It's addictive theatre, now even more accessible via film. With Universal counting on a part 1 and part 2 to follow, the green and pink inferno will rage. Jon L Chu (CRAZY RICH ASIANS) stokes this fire with passion.
Here, the camera gives leads Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande a licence to show what chemistry they have. Girls rule in WICKED, and all power to the spell they place at a time when the world could be kinder! 11GUMS
Film No. 77 (2024) November 15th. 4:00 PM LUNA CINEMA, Cinema 1, Leederville.
"Don't you think it's bizarre, after all these years, meeting each other here again?" (Edith asks Lucas the question that encapsulates an ultimate irony in a later scene).
WINNER: Peripheral Vision Award (Desiree Norsbusch) Galway FF.
What was the last play, adapted for the screen, that succeeded at the box office? Okay, excepting musicals (CHICAGO)!FENCES, and the pull of Denzel Washington, made a moderate profit. POISON, on the other hand, will not break even.
The fact is, screen adaptations, no matter the quality of the script and cast, are a hard sell. POISON, however, is an acting masterclass. Tim Roth (Lucas) and Trine Nosbusch (Edith) play ex-husband and wife. They meet 10 years after a dreadful tragedy, the aftermath of which drove them apart. The setting, which is a graveyard, and the resting place of their young son, is adjoined by a chapel alongside a small weir, brimming with water. The scene is bleak, but apt. The tension that ebbs and flows between Lucas and Edith as they reflect on what could have been, is palpable in this setting.
As a lover of both film and theatre, I feel POISON (GIF) has it all. Roth and Nosbusch were hypnotic. Portraying such raw grief must have drained them as artists. So, it is not entertainment, and it is a hard sell. I recommend it as a powerhouse, cinematic adaptation of theatre. 10GUMS.
