Film No. 50 (2016) High-Rise August 13th.

Film No. 50 (2016) August 13th.  10.45 PM LUNA Leederville. 

"What is it about poor people and their obsession with money?" (The Architect's wife Jane (Sienna Guillory) bemoans the fact that her cleaner wishes to be paid).

High-Rise is a lavish comment on working class obsession as a repercussion of The Thatcher years. The multi-storey residential  housing complex of the title is a snapshot of class structure and the oppression which brings the lower middle and working class to breaking point.


  Whilst the first 45 minutes of High-Rise makes a promising "entrance" after that the set up fails and becomes a confusing and chaotic mess. This is unfortunate as the 70's could not have been captured better via wardrobe and motor-vehicle adjuncts.   


Tom Hiddleston gives another effective James Bond audition as Laing, a doctor who sides with the best looking young mums and the working class in general. Listen out for the soundtrack which uncovers a couple of unique versions of classic songs, in particular ABBA's SOS.


Ben Wheatley (Sightseers) has emerged as a director who won't appeal to all but he has his own style, a style not congruent with mainstream cinema. I enjoyed the dark humour and images of Sightseers, I can't say the same for High-Rise. 4GUMS.