No. 28 (2019) Claire Darling. April 1st.

Film No 28 (2019) April 1st.  1:45 PM  PALACE VERONA, Paddington  Sydney. 

"How are you? Are you well? Am I a grandma? (Claire rattles off, erratically, a series of questions as she suddenly realised it is daughter Marie standing in front of her).

Catherine Deneuve takes on another made for Deneuve project. La Derniere Folie Claire Darling challenges Deneuve to convince us of her character's ailing mind. Darling is in the early stages of dementia, so given her complicated life as the wife of a successful local mine owner, her erratic behaviour is a shock for family and friends alike. The film opens with Claire, being helped by young men, clearing her house. She's put everything up for sale; garage sale style. We're talking valuable items of art, furniture, ornaments. Something is oddly awry with Claire's demeanor. She's convinced it's her last day. Slowly, and I mean slowly, flashbacks reveal parts of the puzzle that is the sum of Claire's contemporary existence. Her daughter Marie (Chiara Mastroianni) is essential to laying pieces to the puzzle as well, but it just screams "here, look we've found another way to show off France's cine icon, Cath Deneuve". It will have it's fans, I'm not one.  6GUMS.

       

No. 27 (2019) Won't You Be My Neighbour. March 31st.

Film No 27 (2019) March 31st.  3:00 PM  GOLDENAGE INDEPENDENT, Surry Hills  Sydney. 

"The greatest thing that we can do is to help somebody to know that they're loved and that they are capable of loving". (Fred voices one of the underwriting philosophies of his children's legendary program, Mr Roger's Neighbourhood).

Voted by many U.S. film critics as their most loved feature documentary of 2018. To view this biographical film on the working life of T.V. presenter Fred Rogers one might not be surprised. Fred Rogers was the epitome of genuine kindness to two generations of American children from the 60's to the 80's. 'Mr Roger's Neighbourhood' took on themes of love, death and everything in between with such gentleness, when things "hit the fan" from 9/11 on, critics were blaming Rogers for creating a soft generation. The Morgan Neville (20 Feet From Stardom) creation captures the essence of Roger's unique public broadcasting philosophies. So many scenes are captivating but one in particular profiles Rogers, without an ounce of ego, convincing a senate committee judge that $20 million dollars need not be cut from the P.B. budget. He is nervous, he is genuinely quietly passionate but ultimately extremely convincing. In a world where compassion is exemplified by a leader hell bent on building a wall, W.Y.B.M.N. is both riveting, relevant and left hardly a dry eye in the house. 10GUMS.

             

No. 26 (2019) Pet Sematary. March 25th.

Film No 26 (2019) March 25th.  7:00 PM  GRAND CINEMA Cygnet Como. 

"There's something up there. Something that dates way back. Those woods belong to something else. (Jud talks with Louis as they walk towards that dark corner of the woods).

Surely a Stephen King story is both the easiest and most difficult tale to adapt to the screen. Easy because the tense story is already created, difficult because making your audience scared, really scared right on cue takes skill. The screenplay for Pet Sematary (1989) was written by King himself and surprisingly only gained moderate reviews. Pet Sematary (2019) is getting a warmer reception but surely not for any new and original tension building techniques. The Creed (Jason Clarke and Amy Seimetz) family are looking for a tree change but once only daughter Ellie (Jete Laurence), strays into the dark wooded "backyard" we know something unpleasant is imminent. King's narrative maintains the theme of exploring the depth to which human grief can cloud decision making, only with a major character shuffle. The pet cat, Church, plays his role and becomes the motley moggie King created. It's a colour by numbers version, but every colour is perfectly shaded and within the lines. Oh, and there's a big, big sequel set-up to conclude matters. One for the genre devotees. 8GUMS.     

        

No. 25 (2019) mid90s. March 18th.

Film No 25 (2019) March 18th.  6:45 AM  LUNA PALACE Leederville. 

"You're so cute, you're at that age before guys become dicks". (Estee seduces Stevie in another of his rapid transition into adolescence).

There has always been something expansive and surprising about Jonah Hill's acting range. After mid90's I'm convinced he is a filmmaker with a similar range. mid90s, like Eighth Grade, captures the anxiety of wanting, then doing all within one's power, to belong. Perhaps one of human nature's most widely experienced anxieties. Enter Stevie (Sunny Suljic) a young man hemmed in by brother Ian (Lucas Hedges) and single mum Dabney (Kath Waterson) and in a hurry to fast forward to adolescence. He eyes off the group of his choice in a skateboard shop. The mixture of easy language (improvised at times) mixed with subtle dramas relating to territory, and ranking in the group, makes for 95 minutes of fresh cinema. Some of the skating is thrilling. Ray (Na-kel Smith) holds the key to some of those thrills and the film's deeper philosophies. Families prone to taking a risk in their love for cine art should take a risk with mid90's. 9GUMS.

      

No. 24 (2019) The Trouble With You (En Liberte). French Film Fest. March 17th.

Film No 24 (2019) March 17th.  3.45PM  PALACE CINEMAS Raine Square,  Perth City . 

"I'll just get some cigarettes, I'll be five minutes" (Antione interrupts an intimate moment with Agnes to fulfill a craving, leading to a moment of hilarity).

Another original, lively example of French cine art. Original to the point that it layers fantasy with slap-stick comedy in a way I've not seen in a while. En Liberte tells the story of newly widowed Lt Yvonne Santi (Adele Haenel) coming to terms with the death of husband Capt. Jean Santi (Vincent Elbaz) a hero in the eyes of all. However Yvonne finds otherwise; an innocent man, Antoine (Pio Marmai) has served years in prison due to the corrupt behaviour of Jean. See, it doesn't give off the feel of a comedy does it? That's were the fantasy comes in. From the opening scene (repeated in varying versions of "truth" throughout) the fairy story that is En Liberte is revealed. Some of the visual humour is laugh out loud funny but as a complete feature film there is something slightly unsatisfying. The love story doesn't work for starters. Then while aiming for more laughs some of the scenes try too hard and thus become silly. Audrey Tautou's Agnes is never fully developed but she is a delight as always. I do however like a film with genuinely hilarious moments, En Liberte. 8GUMS.

   

No. 23 (2019) Destroyer. March 16th.

Film No 23 (2019) March 16th.  11:15 AM  LUNA PALACE Leederville. 

"I didn't want you to be like me. I'm mad, I'm still fucking mad, it's burned a circuit in my brain. (Erin tries to make peace with daughter Shelby).

If told Nicole Kidman plays an emotionally wrecked cop (Erin Bell) whose soul has been laid bare through her professional dedication to a grimy  undercover operation, you may be sceptical; I was. I needn't have been, Kidman, while spasmodically melodramatic, steers this puzzle of a thriller most competently. Kidman shows a pure range in the flashback scenes which makes her the right choice for this role. A twenties something Erin fills our screen legitimately with vitality and energy, and parallels present day Erin chillingly. There are holes in this film, but the satisfaction of placing a small puzzle piece in precisely the right place, is the satisfaction that is Destroyer (not sure about the title). And, of course, the Kidman effect. 9GUMS.

          

No. 22 (2019) Revenge. March 10th.

Film No 22 (2019) March 10th.  8:15 PM Private Preview Screening @ Home via Vimeo link . 

"Why must women always have to put up a fight?".(Richard stares threateningly into the eyes of Jen as blood and sweat drips from his brow).

Don't you just love it, Revenge. It's a word in cinema terms that screams out for someone to pay a price. In this French/Belgium production viewers need to be warned that Revenge plays out as a super/hero fantasy (with gore, lots of gore) and you bet; there are prices, let me repeat prices to pay. Matilda Lutz plays Jen the beautiful blonde bombshell accompanying family man Richard (Kevin Janzzen) on a hunting trip. Jen is there as his "play thing" but the mood changes when his buddies Stan and Dimitri arrive. Revenge is a B Grade gore fest but the lovers of this genre will rejoice. It's rich colour hues (deep blue and reds) tantalize and the make-up special effects (Laetifia Quilley) will have you squirming uncontrollably. The fear of stepping on glass may become your phobia after Revenge.  This is not a genre I love but devotees are going to have a contrary view. Oh, and if you are OCD about cleaning, give Revenge a wide berth. 8GUMS.