Film No. 34 (2017) The Tip of the Iceberg. May 16th.

Film No. 34 (2017) May 16th  6.30 PM LUNA Paradiso, Northbridge.

"People don't commit suicide in this building, they commit suicide, period" (A manager answers Sofia's question about the prevalence of employees committing suicide while working on The Iceberg Project).

Sofia (Maribel Verdu) is appointed to conduct an internal enquiry into a spate of suicides in a division of the Multi-National company she works for. This sometimes surreal walk through a snapshot of Spain's GFC is slightly underwelming but never the less mesmerising. Verdu is excellent as the clean cut single minded executive, hell bent on finding truth in the maze of a male dominated culture. The GFC struck Spain with dire consequences, it continues to suffer those consequences. Iceberg gives us a sociological insight into one corporate condition. Only a few thrills for a film described as a thriller. 7GUMS.       

Film No. 33 (2017) John Wick Chapter 2. May 15th.

Film No. 33 (2017) May 15th.  6.45 PM Greater Union Event Cinema,  Innaloo.

"I'll kill them, I'll kill them all" (John Wick's catch cry continues into Chapter 2).

The legend continues. The body count mounts. John Wick, better known as The Boogeyman to his adversaries is back. He has a new dog and  retirement lasts just one throw of a stick on his front lawn until he's back working, if somewhat reluctantly. The cartoon characterisation is slick and has the precision of a well rehearsed ballet, especially the rhythmic shooting scenes. Every stanza has its own moves. Those who loved Wick 1 are going to salivate at Wick Mark II. 8GUMS.

Film No. 32 (2017) Wilson. May 13th.

Film No. 32 (2017) May 13th.  11.00 AM LUNA PALACE, Leederville.

"It's like the ultimate argument, it says no I don't want your job, I want to destroy your entire society" (Wilson discusses his theory on a tattoo on a fellow in-mate with that in-mate).

It's rare to feel the need to walk out on a film mid screening. Wilson, unfortunately, gave me that urge. Harrelson is Wilson, an ageing grump with a strangely optimistic disposition. There is an original quality about Wilson but a character who's a cross between Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm) and Norman Wisdom (Norman Pitkin) is a bridge too far. Wilson contains a chuckle or two in the first half then a cringe or two in the second half. Laura Dern (Pippi) playing Wilson's ex is completely out of place and looks ill at ease in her role; embarrassingly so. The sum of Wilson's parts amounts to a misfire. 3GUMS.    

Film No. 31 (2017) The Sense of an Ending May 8th.

Film No. 31 (2017) May 8th.  6.30 PM LUNA WINDSOR Nedlands.

"What you end up remembering isn't exactly what you witnessed."(Tony reflects on the repercussions of his past with ex-wife Margaret).

This screen version of the Julian Barnes, Booker Prize winning novel translates beautifully to the big screen. The literary minority may disagree simply because the richness of Barnes's prose could only be captured on a page but given that it allows a vast majority of people the chance to taste his deep thought, it's worth this translation. In the hands of Ritesh Batra (The Lunchbox) semi-retired Tony (Jim Broadbent) is sent a legal letter which triggers memories of a dark moment in his past. Clever flashback sequences, a stellar cast and a subtle brooding storyline are bound to trigger personal memories of regret in the predominantly "baby boomer" audience set. British to the core and jolly well done. 9GUMS.     

Film No. 30 (2017) Norman: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer. May 6th.

Film No. 30 (2017) May 6th.  10.30 AM LUNA PALACE, Leederville.

"You're like a drowning man waving at an ocean liner" (Norman's nephew describes his uncle's behaviour ungraciously back to his uncle).

If, like me, you've had reservations about Richard Gere's range as an actor then Norman is the film to quash those doubts. Norman: The Moderate Rise etc is a clever, thought provoking small film with big ideas. Norman (Gere) brings to the screen no past only a future. We don't even hang out with him at home. Norman basically lives a fake life desperate to make deals to help a nephew (Michael Sheen) who humours him. Norman finally meets a deputy minister (Lior Ashkenazi) of the Israeli government, thus he moderately rises. What happens to Norman next is surprising both for Norman and his audience. The irony of Norman's behaviour is both original and real. Gere's performance is worthy of an award or three. 10GUMS.

Film No. 29 (2017) Viceroy House May 1st.

Film No. 29 (2017) May 1st.  6.30 PM LUNA WINDSOR Nedlands.

"You're giving the nation back to its people, how bad can it be? So let's not make a mess of it".(Lady Mountbatten reassures her husband the simplicity of the task ahead).

  

There are conflicting historical renditions of the effectiveness of Lord (Hugh Bonneville) and Lady Mountbatten's (Gillian Anderson) Indian legacy when it came to Britain's hand over to India of independence. Viceroy's House gives a version which paints Lord Louis and Lady Edwina as good people who only had the best interests of a divided nation at heart. The costume drama is lavish with stiff upper lip performances of the highest order from the Lord and Lady. The indigenous love story woven into the narrative is flimsy but adds a human touch. Oh, and there's twist, old Winston C sticks his beak in to set The Lord back on his heels. 8GUMS.  

Film No. 28 (2017) The Zookeeper's Wife April 28th.

Film No. 28 (2017) April 28th.  6.30 PM LUNA WINDSOR Nedlands.

"Maybe that's why I like animals so much. You look in their eyes, you know exactly what's in their hearts".(Antonina talks from the heart as tensions rise in the once thriving Warsaw zoo).
  

Although told with a touch of "The Hollywoods", the story of Antonina (Jessica Chasten) and Jan Zabinski (Johan Heldenbergh) is as heroic a tale about their commitment to saving the lives of Jews in Poland during WWII as Oskar Schindler's (Schindler's List) was. The empathetic animal scenes and lavish images of the Warsaw zoo give the film a powerful beginning point before the gradual tensions brought on by the German invasion brings forth the real human drama. Any well made film depicting great deeds done by good people thus activating a ripple effect for years to come is a film worth viewing. The Zookeepers Wife is just such a film. 9GUMS.