No. 21 (2019) Capernaum (Chaos). March 9th.

Film No 21 (2019) March 9th.  4:45 PM  LUNA PALACE Leederville. 

The english translation for the film's title Capernaum is CHAOS. (Perhaps there won't be a better definition of the term than is depicted here).  

You may never meet a braver more admired 12 year old than Zain in all your life time excursions to the cinema, that is if you do indeed decide to take on the challenge that is Capernaum. This award winning tribute to all the disaffected people (but mainly children) who are born into a life they did not ask for, then proceed to bravely meet one seemingly insurmountable challenge after another is a triumph. Zain (Zain Al Rafeea) is our hero here. He lives with his family in Beirut with parents who don't care - because they can't care. He runs away to try to make a better life  for himself, only to be challenged again, but this time in a way that has us barracking and weeping for him. He is tested beyond his years (the child he cares for is adorable), he makes a stand beyond his years, way, way beyond his years and all for what? Director/Writer Nadine Lakabi has made a film using locals. The six month shoot must be a story in itself as her cast must have battled with the challenges within their own lives while also committing to this artwork. Capernaum is groundbreaking. If everyone living a first world life saw it, then perhaps real compassion among "The Lucky" would truly grow and comments like "I don't know if I needed that" coming from the 3rd row back as the screen goes to black would be rephrased as, "What can I do to help". 11GUMS.

    

No. 20 (2019) Premieres Vacances (Our Happy Holiday). March 7th.

Film No 20 (2019) March 7th.  1:15 PM Private Preview Screening @ Home via Vimeo link . 

"What did I expect, coming away with a girl I hardly know?".(Ben speaks his mind after a key beachside altercation).

Marion (Camille Chamoux) and Ben (Jonathon Cohen) are not representative of your typical Tinder date here. It's the type of romantic comedy French cinema is so adept at. A couple hook up, enjoy each other in every way, then test the chemistry with a holiday; a holiday with its beginnings on the underwhelming Bulgarian coast. The thing about Premieres is that we know where it's going. The premise is that opposites attract, they have their tussles over issues of opinion, values, and status along the way and these eventually come to a head. The leads are loveable enough (in particular Chamoux) so we're happy to ride almost every bump. Excepting for a couple of silly scenes (a particularly ridiculous pool scene), Premieres is an indulgence of little substance but plenty of heart. The French have so mastered this type of light entertainment. 8GUMS.  

    

No. 19 (2019) Hotel Mumbai. March 1st.

Film No 19 (2019) March 1st.  10:45 AM  LUNA PALACE Leederville. 

"I have been here thirty five years, this is my home". (The response from a humble footman when asked if there are employees keen to leave through a back entrance).

Knowing the death-toll of this dastardly act of terrorism means your cinematic experience on deciding to attend Hotel Mumbai is going to be excruciating at times. This was a terrorist attack of the most frightening kind. Hide and seek, knowing that if found the consequence would be both brutal and likely fatal. Co Writer and director Anthony Maras has devised a thoroughly tense depiction of this 2008 drama. The real importance of H.M. is that it pays tribute to the bravery shown by the dedicated employees. Arjun (Dev Patel) and Hermant (Anupam Kher) represent the many loyal, humble heroes who lived in the slums close by, earned a pittance at H.M. then risked everything to save the guests they served. Hotel Mumbai is equivalent to taking a stomach punch but you appreciate why. It's tense but far from fun! 8GUMS.

     

No. 18 (2019) Fighting With My Family. Feb 27th.

Film No. 18 (2018) February 27th.  6:40 PM EVENT Cinemas Innaloo.                        

"Do you know what it's like to want one thing in life and then your own sister takes it away from you." (Zak pleased his case for coach to re-consider hoping to be selected to try-out in the U.S. big league).

If you've never heard the real life story of Saraya-Jade Bevis AKA Paige of WWE wrestling fame then resist Google and go see Wrestling With My Family. This engaging, heartfelt comedy, takes us on the real life (with fairytale short cuts) ride of Saraya-Jade as she, with the help of her wrestling family, stretches (literally) to reach a dream. The script in the hands of Stephen Merchant (Extras, Life's Too Short) begins with a series of belly laughs before being bogged down in predictable sentimentality to finally rise again into a rowdy, raucous, rollicking, fist pumping yarn. The Rock (Producer) is not as pivotal as the poster would suggest but money talks so The Rock does as he wishes. "A comedy about a family that fights a little differently" is a promo catch-phrase that sums WWMF perfectly. It's a crowd pleaser; so much so, I predict small wrestling associations world wide are about to be inundated with new members.  P.S. Stay for the credits. 9GUMS.

      

No. 16 (2019) The Guilty. Feb 23rd.

Film No 16 (2019) Feb. 23rd.  10:45 AM  LUNA PALACE Leederville. 

"Does the person you are with know you have called us?". (Asger shapes his questions so the answers won't raise suspicion of the person Iben is with).

In the vain of Locke (2013), The Guilty takes us on an 88 minute real-time, fly on the wall, journey with the very complicated Asger Holm (Jakob Cedergren) sitting, under sufferance, in the Copenhagen police emergency call centre. The power of imagination can be forgotten in modern day film making but not in The Guilty. We begin our journey with Asger, there's something on his mind, he receives a distress call; suddenly he's a pivotal player in a kidnapping. From the outset we make similar assumptions to Asger in our interpretation of what's happened. The voices, brilliantly mixed, give us a picture of the melstrom swirling through the ears of Asger. Every minute that passes, every tight close-up, every subtle pause in conversation, The Guilty is not everything it seems. Could this 88 minute interlude into Asger's already complicated life represent a point at which the recalibration of his moral compass is inevitable? Will we ever know? 10GUMS.   

       

No. 15 (2019) John McEnroe: The Realm of Perfection. Feb 21st.

Film No 15 (2019) Feb. 21st.  8:00 AM  LUNA OUTDOOR Leederville. 

"The image we have of ourselves is rarely the image others have of us". (An introductory statement made in the narration to exemplify images of McEnroe arguing with a court referee).

Now here this a sports film offering up a new experience. It's like no other sporting documentary I've ever seen and it won't be to everyone's liking, I'm certain of that. During the period of McEnroe's domination of world tennis (1983 - 85), film shot at high speed (extreme slow motion) while he competed at numerous French Open events became a tool for demonstration purposes, to highlight his great technical skill. French film director Julien Faraut unearthed the archival footage in the hope of bringing off an art piece paralleling the mastery of McEnroe with  classic cinema. A deep and admirable aim but boring subject matter in this case. Some time into the editing process it would seem Faraut decided that the film should focus on an event, the epic final of 1984. McEnroe remains predominantly in the lense but the drama of his tense struggle with Ivan Lendl is epic. The film, quite suddenly, is captivating. The Realm of Perfection is the ultimate miss and then hit documentary. I think I'm glad I saw it. 7GUMS.

      

No. 17 (2019) Stan and Ollie. Feb 25th.

Film No 17 (2019) Feb. 25th.  3.50PM  PALACE CINEMAS Raine Square,  Perth City . 

"You don't still carry that around do you? Because I went ahead and did a picture with someone else sixteen years ago?" (Ollie asks his partner why such a long face in a key scene).

If ever a pair of comedians deserved to be immortalized on the big screen for the decent gentlemen and performers they were, then Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy surely stand at the front of the line. This decent and highly  entertaining tribute film, Stan and Ollie, definitely does these world renowned comic genius' proud. Made to appeal to the older demographic, Stan (Steve Coogan) and Ollie (John C. Reilly) simply gives a snapshot of their final tour; a series of slightly demeaning performances in 2nd rate theatres and halls across England and Ireland in 1953. But it's the performances of Coogan, Reilly and wives, played by Nina Arianda and Shirley Henderson respectively that gives this modest film an almighty lift. Arianda (Master of None) in particular is strong, self assured and has great comic timing. Maybe the real story of Stan and Ollie is in the true love each found later in life as their careers faded. 9GUMS.