Film No. 68 (2014) Siddharth September 22nd.

Film No. 68 (2014) September 22nd. 6:30 PM PARADISO Northbridge.

Siddharth

We hear so much about Bollywood, India's bigger than big film industry. It's Hollywood to this vast population of film lovers all vying to escape to another world of imaginative dazzle. Then there comes a film like Siddharth, a film so powerful in its depiction of the real agonies faced by some of India's inhabitants you'll sit in stunned silence as the credits roll, thankful in the knowledge life's lottery has been kinder to you.

When Mehendra (Rajesh Tailang) cannot even produce the simplest of memories of his son Siddharth, a photograph for the authorities, we know his plight to find his boy will be unimaginably difficult. This tale is based on a true story; a story told too often by families in the poor quarters of cities throughout India. 

The story is simple; we meet a humble chain-wallah Mehendra and his family, wife Suman (Tannishtha Chatterjee) and cheeky daughter Pinky (Khushi Mathur)living hand to mouth from day to day in a room the size of a small bedroom (without a door) in the back streets of Delhi. They have recently sent their 12 year old son off to work in a larger town some distance away so that he might earn added income so the family may raise their fortunes from the dirt poor to merely just poor. He is expected home after a month but he does not return. Racked with guilt and remorse Mehendra takes us from one frustrating dead end to another as we accompany him on his search for his son.

Cinema is such an adventure. We take a risk by paying our money to be taken on an emotional ride whenever we venture into these theatres. The emotional ride that Siddharth offers is excruciatingly painful but it also offers us the opportunity to feel true compassion towards others. Not all film goers seek this experience, it is not for everyone. But if you'd like the opportunity to journey with strong and courageous people who live with stress that we cannot imagine then go see Siddharth. You will walk away with a greater appreciation of all you have.  9GUMS  

Film No. 67 (2014) Son of a Gun September 20th.

Film No. 67 (2014) September 20th. 11.00 AM LUNA Leederville.

Son of a Gun

I can't recall a more exciting time in Western Australia with regard to feature film making. These Final Hours and The Reckoning have shown the Perth and Western Australian surrounds proudly as backdrops to these well made, tightly shot films. The much anticipated Son of a Gun is the latest to show off the same landscape and like The Reckoning's John Soto, the director, Julius Avery,is a local, so there is a legitimacy about each shot.

I say much anticipated because Ewan McGregor stars in this prison break-out come gold heist thriller. The state government threw its weight behind this project once it knew McGregor had signed on, even though he shared the billing with Home and Away star Brendon Thwaites. So far the film has competed at festivals and while the reviews have been mixed, distributers across many countries have been buying the rights without hesitation. American company A24 has bought the rights and they have very high hopes for its success and I must say I can see why.

We meet JR (Thwaites), a fresh faced prison inmate about to serve 6 months for a crime we're never informed of. Most importantly, mainly due to his chess prowess, he is befriended by Brendan Lynch (McGregor). JR is protected inside by Lynch for good reason. With JR so close to release there is much to be done on the outside before a daring escape leading to the inevitable Kalgoorlie gold heist. The action is abundant and the speed with which plot-lines develop are furiously quick, if just a little too convenient at times. It is however a rollicking yarn of B Grade proportions; it makes no excuses about its brashness.

Director Julius Avery won both a Cannes and AFI award for his short film Jerrycan which had an earthy, Ken Loach feel. Son of a Gun definitely depicts its characters from the world of hard knocks with a real authenticity. My reservations are that some of the most interesting characters aren't given time to develop, particularly considering the talent of the cast. I'm keen to see what Avery does after Gun; I hope it is a character driven drama with a splash of realism. Son of a Gun proves he is a young film maker who can work with the best (McGregor).  7GUMS       

Film No. 66 (2014) The Little Death September 13th.

Film No. 66 (2014) September 13th. 10.45 AM LUNA Leederville.

The Little Death (la petite mort)

The delight of previewing a film which has been promoted with little to no fanfare but stuns you with its brilliance is a delight indeed. The Little Death tells the extremely funny story of the behind closed doors sexual desires and fantasies of 4 couples. Right, so while this might sound slightly sordid, you couldn't be more wrong. The film is hilarious, belly laugh funny in parts.

Every nation has its own self effacing style of comedy; Death is a fine example of our Australian brand. While the film spends time building on the frailties of each couple as they communicate with varying degrees of success, the humour overflows when the actors find the straight faced timing for each key moment in every scene. Layered through all of this is the fact there is some link between each as we learn that they live up the street from one another.

From the very first scene where Maeve (Bojana Novakovic) rolls over in bed and reveals to her man Paul (writer / director Josh Lawson) she needs to tell him of her secret sexual fantasy, we know we are in for something fresh. We are taken aback by her revelation but are soon in fits of laughter at his misinterpretation of it. Fresh because while some of the themes could have fallen into the realms of smut, but they don't, in fact they give new life to the theme of sexual secrets.

But there is more. Just when we think that all the avenues of the film's narrative are covered, two new characters are introduced with an even fresher idea. Monica (Erin James) and Sam (TJ Power) become acquainted via a skype hook up whereby Monica is employed as a video relay interpreter to assist Sam with his fantasy. The long scene is both funny and moving. I'll be looking out for the work of Josh Lawson from now on. I hope he can maintain the standards he has set with The Little Death. 10GUMS.        

Film No. 65 (2014) The Infinite Man September 11th.

Film No. 65 (2014) September 11th. 6:30 PM PARADISO Northbridge.

The Infinite Man

The Infinite Man is yet another product from The South Australian Film Corporation. Films backed by this Corporation are often packed with fresh ideas and images. This low budget effort is no exception as it explores the Rom Com genre through the Sci Fi device of time travel.

Dean (Josh McConville) is in love with Lana (Hannah Marshall), but their relationship is teetering. We meet them in the oddest of circumstance, at an isolated motel complex in a barren land. The relationship has gone flat, Dean has in his mind, through meticulous planning, a series of activities to rekindle the magic of love. Unfortunately a "fly in the ointment" turns up in the form of Lana's ex, Terry played brilliantly by Alex Dimitriades.

The weekend is a disaster, Lana exits but Dean will not give up. He stays on at this soulless complex, for a year, using his inventiveness (a time travel gismo) to recreate the fateful weekend we have just witnessed in the hope of getting Lana back.

Lana has a line late in the film, which goes "Why do you have to make things so complicated?" I couldn't help but feel the need to ask writer director Hugh Sullivan the same question. But then again with time travel films there is always a puzzle to ponder and The Infinite Man is no exception. The film is fresh, new and well cast; I just got confused. But hey, sometimes you strike a smart film but your mindset is all wrong. Perhaps that was me on this occasion. 6GUMS.   

Film No. 64 (2014) Wish I Was Here September 8th.

Film No. 64 (2014) September 8th. 6:30 PM PARADISO Northbridge.

Wish I Was Here

There has been a good deal of publicity prior to the release of Zac Braff's latest film Wish I Was Here. The reason being that his first film Garden State, released 10 years ago, gained such cult status, his next effort was certain to be greeted with some hype. So with all that said, I have to say I loved Garden State and I quite enjoyed Wish I Was Here. I'm wondering however whether my opinion would have been different if I'd never experienced the Garden State phenomena.

Expectation is all important when it comes to movie going. It's like we invest (the price of our ticket) in a new idea and a new talent (Braff) and we are so impressed with the product (Garden State) we can't wait for the next instalment. Then when it takes 10 years to arrive maybe we should lower our expectations. Anyway, it is what it is. Never the less, Wish is an entertaining light weight film which tries a little hard in its endeavours to enlighten middle aged parentsto the idea that along with responsibilities comes new revelations and a time to say enough is enough.

Braff's thirty-something Aiden Bloom is a good guy following a dream to be an actor. His wife Sarah (Kate Hudson) supports him through thick and thin and while he's frustrated (a full family swear jar) he continues to wade through his claustrophobic suburban life. Gabe (Mandy Patinkin), Aiden's dad becomes ill and can no longer pay for his grandchildren's school tuition. There is much levity as we get to know the Bloom family. Both Grace (Joey King) and Tucker (Pierce Gagnon) are likeable pawns in the new dramas which unfold, depicting home schooling and dealing with the imminent death of their grandfather.

While the life lessons Braff taught us in Garden State were uncomplicated and delivered in the confines of just three characters, Wish I Was Here trips up on its own earnestness. In trying to tie his characters into a neat bundle of happily ever after-ness he loses some story telling technique. If you were a fan of Garden State then you are sure to spot those defects. Meanwhile if you've never heard of Braff's first film, go see this one. You are sure to enjoy the light manner in which he broaches serious aspects to life and then blends an appropriate soundtrack over the vision. He's particularly good at choosing music to suit his images.  7GUMS     







  

Film No. 63 (2014) Into The Storm September 4th.

Film No. 63 (2014) September 4th. 12.30 PM CRONULLA CINEMAS Cronulla NSW.

Into The Storm

My, how the disaster, come blockbuster movie has changed. Into The Storm is the latest film of this genre to blow onto our screens, quite literally. Unlike the blockbuster of the past, this film has no big name stars, the effects are CGI generated and the narrative is told in a less conventional manner.

It was not as if I was seeking out a more Poseidon Adventure 
style of film; I wasn't concerned in the least although I noted that inane dialogue remains the norm for this genre of film. After all, most film goers are there for the tension caused by the extraordinary effects rather than the spoken word. Never the less I found it a little irritating that Into The Storm did not attempt to try any new methods for character development. 

So what's it all about? Well a group of storm chasers prowl the landscape under the guidance of Pete (Matt Walsh); Pete bickers with Allison (Sarah Wayne Callies), his weather analyst, about the fact she is unable to guide them to his perfect storm. Early in the film Allison predicts that a small town, Silverton, will be the centre of something windy; they head in that direction. Enter Silverton High Deputy Principal Gary (Richard Armitage) who is at logger heads with his teenage sons as they strive to please him, all the while unaware of the nasty clouds approaching.

Well, the wind comes, the chasers and the Deputy and his family meet and there are resolutions aplenty. The C G Images take the film to new breathtaking levels in the final stanza as unlikely heroes emerge to save lives. I'm told it is Twister from 1996 retold. I haven't seen Twister so perhaps that is why my criticism is not scathing. But looking at the business Twister did those 18 years ago I now understand why Into The Storm was made. Twister grossed over half a billion dollars. I'm not so sure this film will achieve the same return.   6GUMS  

Film No. 62 (2014) Boyhood August 31st.

Film No. 62 (2014) August 31st. 11 AM LUNA Leederville.

Boyhood

I watched Boyhood open mouthed. I did laugh a few times, mainly because some scenes brought home a truth or two. The reason for my open mouth was that I felt in awe of Richard Linklater and the original method by which he has created this film. A truly excellent film.

To watch the actors Linklater chose for this brilliant project age over twelve years as he subtly melded the time changes from year to year gave me a greater sense of my own childhood and the observations, sometimes similar, I made as I matured over time. It is a clever film maker who can capture an audience using total fiction but with such realism we recognise ourselves and others via the flickering image. Every exchange of dialogue by the film's characters has a future bearing on what comes next. We certainly ponder that future but have a pretty good idea of what's to come.

We meet Mason (Ellar Coltrane) in the first scene. From the moment we set eyes upon him we know we are going to like him. It's just we don't realise how much. He lives with his sister Samantha (Loreiei Linklater) and his Mom (Patricia Arquette) in a run down rental property. Dad (Ethan Hawke) is no longer part of the family unit as he wrestles with accepting responsibility and loving his kids at the same time. The early scenes set a solid foundation for the path each character will follow over twelve years.

Mason grows into the young man we say farewell to in the final scene. We say it sadly because of the things he's seen, the battles he's fought, the advice he's listened to, the love he's shared and the quiet way he has dealt with his anxiety about life and what it all means. Arquette's final scene with her son is heartfelt and sums up a journey we have all experienced as parents. Boyhood is not to be missed; but only if you are in the mood to experience all your emotions in a film so unique I can't stop thinking about it.  11GUMS