No. 62 (2020) I HATE SUMMER (Odio L'Estate). October 11th.

 

Film No. 62 (2020)  October 11th.  4:00 PM.  Cinema 1  LUNA Leederville.

"Gentlemen, what's better than a nice vacation all together?".(The local poliziotto endeavours to make his life easier by proposing a solution to the triple booking fiasco).

I Hate Summer is 130 minutes short ... I say short because you could have knocked me over with a feather when I realized how time had elapsed without even the minutest thought of sneaking a peek at my watch. Odio L'Estate is the epitome of a good time at the cinema.

There is nothing new about the premise of a number of  families (in this case, three)converging on the one holiday bungalow due to a booking stuff-up. 

Three of Italy's leading comics Aldo, Giovanni and Giacomo play the father/husbands of the families. All experience varying degrees of life stress from their families and each other. There is also much to be learned about one another. What begins as a major glitch in their holiday plans, turns into a summer break to remember.

The magic of I Hate Summer lies in the casting, right down to Brian, the loveable Labrador. I get it that the three comedians sell the film without question in Italy, but for me the wives Carmen (Maria Di Biase), Paola (Carlotta Natoli) and Barbara (Lucia Mascino) are equally as amusing, particularly Di Biase as the warm, playful Carmen who keeps Aldo in perfect check.  

The French and the Italians have mastered this offbeat comedy style like no other film-makers. They take the simple, mix it with talent, then place it in light and wonderfully relaxed settings. Director Venier has a touch of Tati. There are a couple of belly laughs here. But more importantly Odio L'Estate is full of thoughtful, pleasant moments. And let me tell you, a two hour film which seems way shorter takes skilful execution. Bravo! 9GUMS.

           

 

      

  

No. 61 (2020) BAD TALES (Italian Film Festival). October 3rd.

 

Film No. 61 (2020)  Oct. 10th.  4:00 PM  PALACE  Raine Square, Perth City. 

"The true story was inspired by a false story." (One of a series of puzzling voice over statements which set the scene for Bad Tales).

There has to be something very thought provoking about a film you do not enjoy and yet you know is quite brilliant. For me Bad Tales is that film. It is a beguiling, contemporary Roman suburban tale, where I felt nothing but a voguer looking at three, sweat soaked families interact leaving their audience to step over the debris on the way out through the exits. It is reassuring to know the fable is not based on an actual event, but is a figment of the combined imaginations of the D'Innocenzo brothers (Boys Cry). Just maybe they have observed a menagerie of emotionally lazy parents who show love for their children in the same way they treat any triviality of life. We observe at very close quarters (close-up after close-up) examples of parenting we know has the potential to lead to unfortunate outcomes. Very unfortunate outcomes! The highlight of Bad Tales is the beauty and innocence of the children the brothers have created. The early scenes of  beautiful young souls galivanting, laughing and coming of age in what seems like a world without complications has us hoping their world will be a virus that spreads to the adults. Hope being the key word here! 9GUMS for style, substance, message and art. 3GUMS for pure enjoyment.        

        

No. 60 (2020) ON THE ROCKS. October 3rd.

 

Film No. 60 (2020)  October 3rd.  10:00 AM  PALACE  Raine Square,  Perth City. 

"It's nature, males are forced to fight, dominate and impregnate all females." (Felix gives his one dimensional view on the role of the male in life itself).

Sofia Coppola turns her hand to light, off beat film making here. Who better to continue in partnership with Coppola than Bill Murray for the light, but never the less pleasant, On The Rocks? And Murray is good, he's the heartbeat of Rocks. For those wanting to see Coppola take us deep into the beating heart of human emotion, commitment, and what it takes to be happy, On The Rocks is more Lost In Translation than Virgin Suicides. 

Rashida Jones is Laura, a successful wife, mother and writer who is bound by the walls of a spacious, well appointed apartment. What's not to like about life? Well, the fact husband Dean (Marlon Wayans) is away a lot as he builds his tech business gets her fertile mind ticking. Is she married to an adulterer? Enter dad, Felix (Murray) and he definitely has a take on Laura's suspicions. He's highly experienced in these matters. His life has revolved around rascally behaviour. He also has the advantages of wealth and boredom to coax Laura into a touch of 'on the road' detective work to ratify their suspicions!

Jones has the right look to have us rooting for her. Murray we know is a rascal but we're keen to see where he takes us. More importantly they make for a good on-screen team. Wayans works the loving father and husband role to a tee, and well, as I've mentioned, it's all very pleasant. I enjoyed my 90 mins with Coppala's easy script and direction but I walked from Cinema 5 feeling that there was something missing. Like that lovely, tender chicken with a delicate almond drizzle you ate but it came without vegetables, the vegies with a crunch. Full satisfaction is never quite there.  8GUMS.  

  

     

No. 59 (2020) LUCKY GRANDMA. September 30th.

 

Film No. 59 (2020)  September 30th.  6:30 PM.  Cinema 1  LUNA Leederville.

"Discount bodyguard, discount rate".(Grandma haggles with a protection boss over her proposed protector).

I'm not sure what to think about Lucky Grandma, even 24 hours after first viewing it. The offbeat small (Chinese/US aligned) film starts so well as we get to know the quiet, chain-smoking Grandma (Tsai Chin) who resists the wishes of family give up her independence and live with them. Grandma withdraws all her meagre savings and heads to a casino out of town by bus. Is her behaviour a kickback on the pressure coming from family? It's not a dialogue driven film so who knows, but while she is anything but lucky at the casino it's what happens on the bus trip home that sets Grandma up for a colourful chapter in her twilight years. Because of her actions on the bus she soon needs protection, enter Big Pong (Hsiao-Yuan Ha) and here lies the potential for the heart of Lucky Grandma, the beginnings of a buddy theme. The issue for me is, it only partially develops this comic trope. They are a charismatic combination. The danger Grandma finds her self in is never taken very seriously but some of the violence is graphic. But that is a part of the film's charm. So while I wanted to love the film more, I did like its quirkiness. Oh, and perhaps the star of Lucky Grandma is the soundtrack; a mixture of percussion, wind and string like nothing you've head before. I'm playing it now as I type. I'll play it again within the next few weeks, depending on my mood. I don't often commit to that when it comes to soundtracks. 8GUMS.

No. 57. (2020) THE TRANSLATORS. Sept. 22nd.

 

Film No. 57 (2020)  Sept 22nd.  6:45 PM.  Cinema 2  LUNA Leederville.

"The first ten pages of Daedalus Book III are no longer yours. Pay up within 24 hours".(In shock, horror, Eric reads his text message while eating his evening meal).

I dare anyone to get 30 minutes into this puzzle of a film and predict where it is going! So long as you haven't read a spoiler review. This review will give no clues as to the outcome but more importantly it will, hopefully, be placed on your must see list. The Usual Suspects (maybe a little of Knives Out) is the film that most comes to mind when thinking about a comparative puzzle in a film.

Put simply and with little fanfare the film begins with a book show. Eric Angstrom (Lambert Wilson) the publisher of a book titled The Man Who Did Not Want To Die, the third in the Daedalus trilogy, expresses excitedly to the world it will be released in multiple languages within months. Cut to a montage of translators (9) making arrangements to arrive in Paris to bunker (literally bunker) for two months to translate the novel. Simple enough, the idea comes from a similar actual event which took place in Italy for a Dan Brown novel, years ago.

Early in the story it's revealed the first 10 pages of the book has been posted on the internet. Eric isn't happy, it could only have been done by a translator. But who? And is that the puzzle that needs solving? I can't tell you, I've already told you that.

The Translators is truly entertaining. It's clever, smart and best of all none of these qualities is possible without a cast to match. There's Alex Lawther (The End Of The F*cking World) and Olga Kurylenko (Quantum of Solace) who add youth and vibrancy as the English and Russian translators. Although the development of each of the translators is scant and could have been more thorough but the films length was perfect so elongating things may not have worked. If you like to be stretched with clever plotting, the this is for you. 10GUMS.        

 

No. 58. (2020) AN AMERICAN PICKLE. Sept. 28th.

 

Film No. 58 (2020) October 30th.  3:10 PM  FENWICK 3 CINEMAS  Esperance.                        

"You have no wife, no children, no friends and no life, you need help" (Herschel tell Ben there could be more to his small apartment based life).

Seth Rogan has created a film that promised so much and delivered just a little. An American Pickle was made by Rogan for HBOMax so it was destined for the small screen and it plays that way. Perhaps, because I saw AAP on the big screen, I expected more. But the first 15 minutes are so impressive, small screen or not, I really do think Pickle could have been much better. Never the less, Seth Rogan fans, and there are plenty of those, will enjoy the fare that is American Pickle. 

What is it about? Well, we meet a Jew, Herschel Greenbaum in his oppressed home state, in 1919, wanting to make a better life for his family. Newly married to Sarah (Sarah Snook) they emigrate to New York to realize their dreams, only Herschel's first job, in a pickle factory lands him in a brine that preserves him for 100 years. He wakes, and turns his attention to finding a relative, Ben Greenbaum, also played by Seth Rogan. Now you're thinking, this could be quite interesting. Fun maybe, as Rogan does his thing as brotherly whacky types! No, it's here that it fizzes.  

For a moment there is a touch of the Peter Sellers and Being There. The simplicity of aged values in the modern world. But that doesn't develop. Then there is the test of wills as each tries to out do each other with their contrasting skills. That dies as Ben gets nasty, a diversion the screenplay didn't need to take. We know they're going to kiss and make-up in the end, but it's all too convenient and unclever for my liking. It's a pity the writing couldn't have found a way to sneak Sarah Snook back on screen. Snook in period clobber then in modern day garb with a script to match would have livened things up surely. 

Hey, plenty of people are liking it. Mostly in the U.S. watching on the small screen, but that was the audience Rogan and the HBOMax executives were aiming at. I should have waited for the same experience perhaps, but I doubt it would have improved my experience. 7GUMS.        

No. 56. (2020) ADAM. Sept. 15th.

 

Film No. 56 (2020)  Sept 15th.  4:45 PM.  Cinema 5  LUNA Leederville.

"Yes, but she hasn't listened to her since Dad died". (Warda (named after the singer in focus) tells Samia of a grieving habit her mother, Abla, has developed.

There is something very personal about this wonderful film from the streets of Casablanca. Adam tells the story of two women Samia, (Nisrin Erradi) and Abla, (Lubna Azabal) who, over a few months, play a significant role in each others lives. The sliding door moment of their connection and the significance of the role each plays need not be revealed here, the cinema connoisseur won't want to miss the power of this simple tale. While listening to creator (writer/director) Maryam Touzani talk about the real life family experience she intimately observed as a young girl one gets a sense that 8 year old Warda (Douae Belkhaouda) is the conduit for Touzani's story. The film's high points are always in the silences. Mixed with the deft close-ups of these strong, handsome women (often busy creating dough based foods) and the street sounds of this busy iconic city, the whole Adam experience is mesmerising. Adam was Morocco's official selection at Cannes (2019) and a selection at the Toronto (2019) festival. It was not an award winner, which many critics found astonishing considering some of the accolades handed out. In these strange times, take this journey into exotic Casablanca, a place so inaccessible to a traveller right now. 11GUMS.