Newstalk ZB Review - Only God Forgives and Now You See Me

Newstalk ZB Review - Only God Forgives and Now You See Me

This week, I caught up with Jack Tame on Newstalk ZB to talk movies and the latest releases.

Talking Ryan Gosling in Only God Forgives and Jesse Eisenberg in Now You See Me.

And at the film festival, The Selfish Giant.

NZIFF Review - Much Ado About Nothing, You're Next and The Broken Circle Breakdown

NZIFF Review - Much Ado About Nothing, You're Next and The Broken Circle Breakdown

Joss Whedon's latest, Much Ado About Nothing sees a gathering of the Whedonverse alumni in a take on Shakespeare's play which has lost none of the subtlety and fizz of the Bard's work.

Keeping the actual text in place, and tweaking only some of the minor details, it still focuses on the quarreling relationship of Benedick and Beatrice (played by Alexis Denisof and Amy Acker) and the relationship of Claudio and Hero amid modern times.

Set on a sumptuous estate (Whedon's own) this black and white adaptation is a virtuoso of subtlety and wit. The dialogues between the characters shine with nuances and revel in the language, frolicking in the back and forth of Benedick and Beatrice as well as Nathan Fillion's constable. But there's also some silly visual humour such as when Benedick finds his three friends discussing how Beatrice has fallen for him - those moments of comic capery will delight audiences.

Acker and Denisof are perfectly cast, balancing the moments of lightness and tomfoolery with the seriousness needed by Shakespeare's text; other players circle around them but to be honest, they barely register as highly as this duo. With perhaps the exception of Nathan Fillion.

A Shakespeare to be watched and enjoyed, Much Ado About Nothing is a zesty treat which feels fresh and sparkling as the festival draws to a close in Auckland.

Adam Wingard's You're Next is a gory treat.

It centres on a family who've come together to celebrate the 35th wedding anniversary of their parents in a deserted country mansion. Partners are brought along for the weekend and tensions rise to the surface between brothers and threaten to bubble over.

But those have to go on the back burner when a group wearing animal masks start picking off their victims one by one. The only problem with their Extreme Makeover: Home Invasion plan is that one of them (played by Home and Away's Sharni Vinson) has a talent for fighting back....

You're Next is a delicious treat, delivering fresh and suspenseful thrills on the horror front, before also dishing out some laughs here and there. Overall though, it's a clever and bloody inventive look at the horror, with Wingard eeking out as much tension as he can here and there as the showdown goes on.

Crowd-pleasing and also jump out of your seat jolting are the order of the day - and You're Next delivers on the promise of thrills, twists and suspense. It's one of the freshest films in the Incredibly Strange section this year and it's not to be missed.

Finally, The Broken Circle Breakdown is a terrific and heart breaking look at the demise of a relationship.

Weaving back and forth over the course of a relationship, it follows the story of Veerle Baetens' Elise, a tattoo artist and Johan Helderbergh's Didier, a banjo playing bluegrass artist. As the story begins, their daughter Maybelle has been diagnosed with terminal cancer and their differing viewpoints on life are challenged.

The Broken Circle Breakdown is a great piece of cinema - it's blessed with a great soundtrack and uplifting country bluegrass music which helps anchor the story of these lovers. But it's also the performances of the two leads which linger long after the story moves across different time periods, charting the highs of love and the lows and perils faced when life throws them your way.

Ultimately downbeat, the journey is an incredibly emotional one - moments are shuffled around out of chronological order with glimpses of what's to unfold / what's already happened hinted at and expanded on later in the film. It's a thrilling narrative touch which proves engaging and affecting.

Brand new Sherlock Series 3 trailer is here

Brand new Sherlock Series 3 trailer is here

Following the events of the Reichenbach Falls, there's plenty of discussion whether Benedict Cumberbatch's Sherlock made it.

Well, the first trailer for Sherlock Series 3 has just dropped.

Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman and Mark Gatiss, Sherlock Series 3 will be back on the BBC soon...

Us and The Game Industry: Director Q&A

Us and The Game Industry: Director Q&A

Director: Stephanie Beth

Tell us about Us and the Game Industry. Where did the idea come from

I think it is remarkable how in such a short time the computer has enthralled so many. We are all on a quest as to what these objects (computers) do for us and what we do for them. Together, we are biology and culture.

I could see a chapter opening on Design for video games. My background education  is Fine Art/Cultlural Studies/Anthropology

The documentary affords a rare glimpse into the lives, philosophies, work and play of developers Jenova Chen and team at thatgamecompany. Other developers are: Jason Rohrer, Douglas Wilson (Die Gute Fabrik), Alexander Bruce, and Zach Gage. Vignettes of these and their works interlace a study of the build of the thatgamecompany’s Play Station network game, JOURNEY, a  game that gained stature in the world recently.

When did you begin shooting and did it all go according to plan?

March 2009. All went to plan

Where you a gamer before you began making the film?

No. I am a traditionally raised child in the liberal arts – traditional sports/Arts/culture. I’m not a gamer now

What’s the best reaction you’ve had to one of your films from an audience member?

Giggles last Sunday when Jason Rohrer said, “THE CASTLE DOCTRINE” is a game about home security and defence”

Conversely, what’s been the worst?

There has been no worst. I do pretty sensitive stuff.

What’s next for you?

Marketing US AND THE GAME INDUSTRY. It’s massive fun. It is a world community large project.

Twitter: usandthegameindustry@commondreamer

www.usandthegameindustry.com

NZIFF - What Maisie Knew

NZIFF - What Maisie Knew

Tremendously affecting and utterly engrossing, What Maisie Knew proves to be a truly wonderful NZIFF highlight.

Told from the point of view of Onata Aprile's young Maisie, it's the story of a child, pulled from pillar to post by divorcing parents. She's a rock star Susanne (Julianne Moore) and he's Beale, an art dealer (Steve Coogan) and their continual batting back and forth of Maisie, under proclamations of love is heartbreaking to bear.

When the pair inevitably split up, both get new partners - Beale takes the nanny Margo with him and ends up marrying her and Susanne winds up marrying on a whim to Alexander Skarsgard's Lincoln. But poor Maisie ends up going back and forth, taken in by various promises and let down by all prospective parents but never losing her prospective enthusiasm and hoping for the possibility of love.

When she starts to bond with the laid back Lincoln, a calming influence in her life, Susanne's insecurities come to the fore and things threaten to boil over which could have emotional consequences for Maisie.

What Maisie Knew is one of the finest dramas I've seen all festival.

Haunting and emotionally gripping, the slow burning heart of this film is anchored by a wonderful performance from Onata Aprile's Maisie; a perfect encapsulation of a young soul lost in life already and who never loses optimism. Neglected by her parents, and loved really only by Margo initially, she saves the joy for the nanny and bonds subtly and in a heartfelt manner with Skarsgard's Lincoln. The duo have a wonderful chemistry and the relationship of protector and charge is beautifully played with adorable soul and simple sensitivity by both Skarsgard and Aprile. Underplayed and never exploited, it's a natural relationship which shines in among Coogan and Moore's utter loathsome selfish behaviour.

If anything, What Maisie Knew belongs to Skarsgard and Aprile - and while the story plays out exactly how you may expect, it's only because you're hoping for a perfect resolution for Maisie, a kind of wishful fulfilment which we perhaps seek for the young in our own lives. There's a tremendous poignancy here which proves difficult to ignore.

Utterly affecting and ultimately rewarding, What Maisie Knew is essential viewing at the New Zealand International Film Festival.

NZIFF Reviews - The Deadly Ponies Gang, The East and Magic, Magic

NZIFF Reviews - The Deadly Ponies Gang, The East and Magic, Magic

With the final days of the festival dawning in Auckland, you could be forgiven for thinking the films have run out of steam.
Well, you'd be wrong - and there are some real beauties lined up waiting in the wings as we head towards closing night.

One of those is local doco / mockumentary, The Deadly Ponies Gang, a real blast of Kiwi fresh air.

Centring on best buddies Clint and Dwayne, who live in the fringes of West Auckland and who get around on horses (cos they're quick-er than cars as one remarks), it's the best ode to bromance I've seen in years.
Decking out their horses with bling and rolling like wannabe gangsters in places, Clint philosophizes and drops his way of life through the screen and a captive audience.

Director Zoe Mcintosh borders on parody with this duo but just manages to keep it on the right side of extremely humourous and totally heartfelt. The thing is that Clint and Dwayne are such larger than life characters, whether they're chasing chickens to tag or putting together a trophy with a glue gun to woo a potential girlfriend, they're pure cinema doco gold.
Add into the mix, a young kid Kody who's desperately trying to get into the gang (and who pimps his horse with a cardboard cut out car) and you've got all walks of life here.

When Clint announces that he's going to do a fundraiser to help his mate Dwayne get some teeth, it's perfectly in keeping with what's gone on before. Larrikins and proud Westies they may be, but they're nothing short of compelling doco subjects.

Zoe's film proffers up such belly laughs as we probe into their psyche but it's never anything more than a heartfelt salute to the colourful characters which inhabit the outer edges of Auckland - it's a riotous time at the movies and I really hope it gets a run after the festival, because there's a warmth and humanity in The Deadly Ponies Gang which is contagious and touching.

Plus, it's got teeth. Literally.

The East sees indie darling Brit Marling re-teaming with director Zal Batmanglij, with whom she did The Sound of My Voice.

Marling plays an undercover investigator working for a security firm, who infiltrates an eco-terrorist group, The East, who have a way of exacting vengeance on those they believe who've wronged others. From a company who they believe has been poisoning the water, to a more personal revenge quest, The East is believed to be a real threat. Head of the group is Alexander Skarsgaard's Benji, who's trying to keep the group focussed on their overall goal; but when Ellen Page's scratchy Izzy goes off track, things start to go a little haywire.

The early set up and premise is intriguing enough, and is slickly put together but when Marling's investigator reveals to one of the group she's undercover, the flaws start to show and the highly implausible starts to distractingly set in. It's a shame because The East is a polished piece, with another impressive performance from Marling; the ethical discussions and subtexts are interesting but the forcing you to suspend your disbelief one time too many takes you out of the thriller's overall feeling. Exec-produced by Ridley Scott and Tony Scott should give some indication of how upmarket this thriller's gone, but overall, while The East has a slickly engaging start, it soon unfortunately loses its way and becomes generic eco-terrorist thriller with little surprises left to reveal.

Chilean thriller Magic, Magic may have an impressive cast (Juno Temple and Michael Cera) but its overall feeling is one of muddled mayhem and a mystery which doesn't proffer any solution or clues to hang onto.

Temple plays Alicia, a young woman, who ends up on a rural retreat with a group of people she doesn't know when her cousin is forced to head away from the group. A lack of sleep after the flight to Chile means that Alicia's already disorientated and after prolonged exposure to the sound of squawking birds and Michael Cera's slightly off beat Brink, she loses the plot quite effectively.

As madness and psychosis sets into this nightmarish potboiler, the film loses its grip on what exactly is going on - offering up no idea as to why Alicia's descended so violently at the end and why voodoo's needed, it feels as if the film is being obtuse simply for the sake of it, rather than adding to the claustrophobic feel of mystery.

Don't forget as well - extra sessions of some of the NZFF films have been added in to the schedule for Auckland. Head to nzff.co.nz for more details.