In The Loop: Movie Review
Rating: 7/10
Cast: Peter Capaldi, James Gandolfini, Tom Hollander, Anna
Chlumsky, Chris Addison
Director: Armando Iannucci
A riotous hit at the New Zealand Film Festival, In The Loop finally arrives
on the wider circuit.
A spin off from the critically acclaimed The Thick Of It, it's a tale of
politics, foul mouths and hilarious misunderstandings with global
consequences.
With the British Prime Minister and US president looking to go to war, there
are the inevitable political splits - and the situation is made much worse by
Secretary of State for International Development, Simon Foster (Tom
Hollander)
His comment that war is "unforeseeable" during an interview is picked up -
and suddenly the entire world appears to be going to hell in a handcart.
Only to make matters worse, the UK's chief spin doctor Malcolm Tucker (a
stunning bilious performance from Peter Capaldi whose anger seems to push him
close to a stroke) latches onto Foster as he tries to limit the damage
control.
In The Loop is a dizzying, hedonistic trip through the corridors of
power.
It's about British politics and the satire - and takes in Washington politics
as well.
It's fast paced, intelligent, frenetic and full of endlessly quotable F word
moments - Iannucci shows why he's the king of UK satire as he lampoons the
reality of life behind the political curtain.
With a top notch ensemble cast, In The Loop is full of quality performances -
but one simply towers above the rest.
It's quite simply Peter Capaldi's film - his turn as spin doctor Malcolm
Tucker defies description - from the first moments when he tells Foster's new
intern to go away in no uncertain terms, it's clear he's not a man who minces
his words.
But if it's Tucker's tirades which are the lasting memory of the film, you
soon realize that the plot (such as it is) feels little more than a long drawn
out episode of The Thick Of It (which if you've not seen when it was on TV ONE then
I suggest you seek out the DVDs immediately)
That's not necessarily a bad thing but Iannucci almost paints himself into a
corner with his story and there are lulls throughout.
However, thanks to the juxtaposition of an impending global war and the
absurdity of constituency politics, he's able to weave a tableaux which is fun,
frantic and requires a certain level of intelligence to follow.
In The Loop is a vicious satire and a very funny expression of politics as
well as the levels it's played on - from the very top to the very bottom with
quibbling interns.
You have to wonder how close to reality and truth this actually it is - and
if it is, we're all in serious trouble.
Thursday, 1 October 2009
The Limits of Control: Movie Review
The Limits of Control: Movie Review
Rating: 6/10
Cast: Isaach De Bankolé, Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, Gael García Bernal, Hiam Abbass, Paz de la Huerta, Alex Descas, John Hurt
Director: Jim Jarmusch
A Lone Man (Isaach De Bankolé) is a criminal hitman, hired to do a job in Spain.
Through a series of encounters with pivotal contacts, he begins to edge closer to his target - but the nearer he gets to the hit, the more tangled the web becomes - who can he trust?
The Limits of Control is not your average film- with hardly any dialogue throughout and only the minimal soundtrack, it's not going to appeal to everyone.
Even the sparse dialogue is repeated throughout the film at various junctures and every precious word which is spoken, is pivotal, looped and recycled.
The idiosyncracies and actions of the Lone Man are also looped - each day begins with him doing his tai chi before demanding two espressos in separate cups at cafes in each locale where he finds himself.
Each meeting starts the same way with a contact asking him "You don't speak Spanish, right?" before passing him a matchbox with a piece of paper inside.
As he pieces together the puzzles of where he's meant to go, we learn at the same time he does.
However, it's not really about the plot - this is a Jim Jarmusch exercise in cool and minimalism - as well as cameos - the best being Bill Murray (but to reveal much about that would spoil the film.)
John Hurt and Tilda Swinton appear in scenes, espouse some philosophy with our hitman before disappearing into the distance.
But if The Limits of Control is about the characters, much of the surroundings help to frame some kind of narrative and context - Spain has never looked quite so beautiful as it does on the big screen here.
Those looking for a coherent plot with a solid explanation of what's going on will be sorely disappointed - but once you settle into the groove and the journey of the story, you are soon sucked in. The looped and repetitive nature of some of the scenes lulls you into a false sense of security as you wait for the jigsaw pieces to fall into place.
The Limits of Control is a diverse piece of film-making - and may just be the perfect solution to the full-on blockbusters currently in the multiplexes.
Rating: 6/10
Cast: Isaach De Bankolé, Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, Gael García Bernal, Hiam Abbass, Paz de la Huerta, Alex Descas, John Hurt
Director: Jim Jarmusch
A Lone Man (Isaach De Bankolé) is a criminal hitman, hired to do a job in Spain.
Through a series of encounters with pivotal contacts, he begins to edge closer to his target - but the nearer he gets to the hit, the more tangled the web becomes - who can he trust?
The Limits of Control is not your average film- with hardly any dialogue throughout and only the minimal soundtrack, it's not going to appeal to everyone.
Even the sparse dialogue is repeated throughout the film at various junctures and every precious word which is spoken, is pivotal, looped and recycled.
The idiosyncracies and actions of the Lone Man are also looped - each day begins with him doing his tai chi before demanding two espressos in separate cups at cafes in each locale where he finds himself.
Each meeting starts the same way with a contact asking him "You don't speak Spanish, right?" before passing him a matchbox with a piece of paper inside.
As he pieces together the puzzles of where he's meant to go, we learn at the same time he does.
However, it's not really about the plot - this is a Jim Jarmusch exercise in cool and minimalism - as well as cameos - the best being Bill Murray (but to reveal much about that would spoil the film.)
John Hurt and Tilda Swinton appear in scenes, espouse some philosophy with our hitman before disappearing into the distance.
But if The Limits of Control is about the characters, much of the surroundings help to frame some kind of narrative and context - Spain has never looked quite so beautiful as it does on the big screen here.
Those looking for a coherent plot with a solid explanation of what's going on will be sorely disappointed - but once you settle into the groove and the journey of the story, you are soon sucked in. The looped and repetitive nature of some of the scenes lulls you into a false sense of security as you wait for the jigsaw pieces to fall into place.
The Limits of Control is a diverse piece of film-making - and may just be the perfect solution to the full-on blockbusters currently in the multiplexes.
Samson and Delilah: Movie Review
Samson and Delilah: Movie Review
Rating: 8/10
Cast: Rowan McNamara, Marissa Gibson
Director: Warwick Thornton
This is the film which set all of Australia talking.
An incredibly powerful piece, it's the tale of Samson (Rowan McNamara) and Delilah (Marissa Gibson) both Aborigine who live on a reservation.
Life for them in the reservation is hard - a series of repetitive monotonies (as signified by Samson's brother's band which bashes out the same tune daily) and which offers no real hope.
One day Delilah's nan dies and after she's set upon by locals who claim she didn't look after her nan properly, Samson takes matters into his own hands, steals a car and the two head away from the reservation for what they believe is a better life.
However, they end up on the streets, struggling to get by and much worse off than they were - will they survive?
What an incredibly powerful and moving film this is.
Director Warwick Thornton's taken examples of his life in Alice Springs and put it up on the big screen for everyone to see.
It's mesmerising, horrific, humorous and will leave you wondering how anyone could live in a place such as this.
Both the first time leads are stunning - their performances compel you to watch them - even if it is with a sense of heartbreak. They spend most of the film hardly talking and as their non-verbal tender relationship grows, I guarantee you will be left feeling sick to your stomach at the moments when the real shocks hit.
Samson and Delilah is at times bleak and painful to watch - but you are glued to the screen and left fully aware that for some, this is the daily reality of their life.
There's light at the end - but even without that ray of hope glistening, the entire film is still compelling - and sickening - in equal measures.
Rating: 8/10
Cast: Rowan McNamara, Marissa Gibson
Director: Warwick Thornton
This is the film which set all of Australia talking.
An incredibly powerful piece, it's the tale of Samson (Rowan McNamara) and Delilah (Marissa Gibson) both Aborigine who live on a reservation.
Life for them in the reservation is hard - a series of repetitive monotonies (as signified by Samson's brother's band which bashes out the same tune daily) and which offers no real hope.
One day Delilah's nan dies and after she's set upon by locals who claim she didn't look after her nan properly, Samson takes matters into his own hands, steals a car and the two head away from the reservation for what they believe is a better life.
However, they end up on the streets, struggling to get by and much worse off than they were - will they survive?
What an incredibly powerful and moving film this is.
Director Warwick Thornton's taken examples of his life in Alice Springs and put it up on the big screen for everyone to see.
It's mesmerising, horrific, humorous and will leave you wondering how anyone could live in a place such as this.
Both the first time leads are stunning - their performances compel you to watch them - even if it is with a sense of heartbreak. They spend most of the film hardly talking and as their non-verbal tender relationship grows, I guarantee you will be left feeling sick to your stomach at the moments when the real shocks hit.
Samson and Delilah is at times bleak and painful to watch - but you are glued to the screen and left fully aware that for some, this is the daily reality of their life.
There's light at the end - but even without that ray of hope glistening, the entire film is still compelling - and sickening - in equal measures.
Wednesday, 30 September 2009
The Wrestler: DVD Review
The Wrestler: DVD Review
The Wrestler
Cast: Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood
Rating: M
Released by Roadshow Entertainment
At a time when the fighting world is all about the comeback of David Tua (link to sports), it's no wonder everyone's got return to form in mind when they talk about Mickey Rourke in the Wrestler.
He stars as fading 80s wrestler, Randy "The Ram" Robinson who believes in making every fight real (even going as far as to cut himself to shed blood in the ring).
However, in the aftermath of a fight, The Ram collapses and ends up in hospital, with a stark warning to make some changes - or face life alone and headed for the grave.
So The Ram tries to make amends with his daughter (Evan Rachel Wood) whom he abandoned during the excessive days of his fighting career - and even tries to convince ageing stripper Cassidy (Marisa Tomei) to try and make a go of a relationship.
But can The Ram change who - and what - he is before it's too late?
It's trite to say that this is Mickey Rourke's finest performance; the depth and aching emotional rawness he brings to the role shows why he was always the first choice.
And in director Darren Aronofsky's film, it's not as if Rourke is painted in a brilliant light - with his long blonde trestles and bloated puffer fish face, he doesn't exactly look like a star.
However, it's Rourke's performance which anchors the film as Aronofsky examines a life gone wrong and the implications of wrong decisions during a lifetime.
Granted you know the Ram isn't exactly heading for an easy path of redemption - and much like Rourke himself, there are a lot of parallels between the actor and character.
Extras are a bit lacking for the film with a behind the scenes doco and an interview with Rourke himself - but quite frankly, after you sit through this film, you may find it difficult to fight back the tears as it knocks you to the ground and subdues you as it delivers the killer emotional punch.
Rating: 8/10
The Wrestler
Cast: Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood
Rating: M
Released by Roadshow Entertainment
At a time when the fighting world is all about the comeback of David Tua (link to sports), it's no wonder everyone's got return to form in mind when they talk about Mickey Rourke in the Wrestler.
He stars as fading 80s wrestler, Randy "The Ram" Robinson who believes in making every fight real (even going as far as to cut himself to shed blood in the ring).
However, in the aftermath of a fight, The Ram collapses and ends up in hospital, with a stark warning to make some changes - or face life alone and headed for the grave.
So The Ram tries to make amends with his daughter (Evan Rachel Wood) whom he abandoned during the excessive days of his fighting career - and even tries to convince ageing stripper Cassidy (Marisa Tomei) to try and make a go of a relationship.
But can The Ram change who - and what - he is before it's too late?
It's trite to say that this is Mickey Rourke's finest performance; the depth and aching emotional rawness he brings to the role shows why he was always the first choice.
And in director Darren Aronofsky's film, it's not as if Rourke is painted in a brilliant light - with his long blonde trestles and bloated puffer fish face, he doesn't exactly look like a star.
However, it's Rourke's performance which anchors the film as Aronofsky examines a life gone wrong and the implications of wrong decisions during a lifetime.
Granted you know the Ram isn't exactly heading for an easy path of redemption - and much like Rourke himself, there are a lot of parallels between the actor and character.
Extras are a bit lacking for the film with a behind the scenes doco and an interview with Rourke himself - but quite frankly, after you sit through this film, you may find it difficult to fight back the tears as it knocks you to the ground and subdues you as it delivers the killer emotional punch.
Rating: 8/10
State of Play: DVD Review
State of Play: DVD Review
State of Play
Cast: Russell Crowe, Rachel McAdams, Ben Affleck, Helen Mirren, Jeff Daniels
Rating: M
Released by Universal Home Video
Taking the stunning BBC series of the same name, State of Play headed to the cinemas with the weight of expectation.
As far as I was concerned, John Simm's Cal McAffrey was the definitive version - and no acting by Russell Crowe could convince me otherwise.
Well, I was kind of wrong.
Crowe plays the grizzled jaded newspaper journalist who ends up investigating the death of a research assistant of friend and Congressman Stephen Collins (Ben Affleck).
But as he digs deeper, he discovers a conspiracy which has implications beyond what he imagined.
State of Play is not as good as the TV series - it was never going to be as the film's 2 hours long in comparison to the longer running time of the series which was a slow burner character piece.
However, that said this version is equally as compelling, complex, intelligent and thrilling. Crowe's part as the journalist is perfect for him - it really shows him acting his chops off - but Crowe's also smart enough to realize he's part of a great ensemble cast.
And what a cast - from Rachel McAdams' young blogger journalist to Helen Mirren's gruff newspaper editor, no one of them puts a foot wrong.
The end result is that the film is deeply compelling and immediately engrossing. The only disappointment is the relative lack of extras - deleted scenes and the making of State of Play fills out the disc- it would have been nice to have seen a bit more.
The original source material's been topically updated to include Iraq, wars between newspapers and their online departments - it's all quite a stunning mix.
It's good to see Hollywood's still keen to put out films like this - intelligent clever, gripping film-making and suspenseful.
State of Play drags you in straight away and doesn't let go until nearly two hours later.
Rating: 8/10
State of Play
Cast: Russell Crowe, Rachel McAdams, Ben Affleck, Helen Mirren, Jeff Daniels
Rating: M
Released by Universal Home Video
Taking the stunning BBC series of the same name, State of Play headed to the cinemas with the weight of expectation.
As far as I was concerned, John Simm's Cal McAffrey was the definitive version - and no acting by Russell Crowe could convince me otherwise.
Well, I was kind of wrong.
Crowe plays the grizzled jaded newspaper journalist who ends up investigating the death of a research assistant of friend and Congressman Stephen Collins (Ben Affleck).
But as he digs deeper, he discovers a conspiracy which has implications beyond what he imagined.
State of Play is not as good as the TV series - it was never going to be as the film's 2 hours long in comparison to the longer running time of the series which was a slow burner character piece.
However, that said this version is equally as compelling, complex, intelligent and thrilling. Crowe's part as the journalist is perfect for him - it really shows him acting his chops off - but Crowe's also smart enough to realize he's part of a great ensemble cast.
And what a cast - from Rachel McAdams' young blogger journalist to Helen Mirren's gruff newspaper editor, no one of them puts a foot wrong.
The end result is that the film is deeply compelling and immediately engrossing. The only disappointment is the relative lack of extras - deleted scenes and the making of State of Play fills out the disc- it would have been nice to have seen a bit more.
The original source material's been topically updated to include Iraq, wars between newspapers and their online departments - it's all quite a stunning mix.
It's good to see Hollywood's still keen to put out films like this - intelligent clever, gripping film-making and suspenseful.
State of Play drags you in straight away and doesn't let go until nearly two hours later.
Rating: 8/10
Dr Who: Delta And The Bannermen: DVD Review
Dr Who: Delta And The Bannermen: DVD Review
Dr Who: Delta and The Bannermen
Cast: Sylvester McCoy, Bonnie Langford, Ken Dodd, Don Henderson
Rating: PG
Released by BBC/ Roadshow Entertainment
Another release from the Sylvester McCoy years, this three part adventure from 1987 sees the 7th Doctor back in 1959 South Wales - and ensconced in battle at a holiday camp - Hi De Who anyone?
When an alien princess heads to the Shangri La holiday camp, the erstwhile Doc and his companion Mel (Bonnie Langford) find themselves caught in a showdown which will decide the fate of an entire civilization.
1980s Doctor Who wasn't always at its finest - even the most ardent of fans can acknowledge that - but this 3 parter sees a fair amount of gung ho action and double crossing to show that its intentions were admirable.
McCoy gives it his all and it's a shame the show will be forever remembered for its terrible shonky effects rather than the subtle layered underperformance of McCoy himself - and it's amusing to see Ken Dodd in a cameo role as a tollmaster.
The package is once again rounded off by a good solid bunch of extras - with no major making of doco appearing on the set, it's left to a series of rushes from the scene and interviews taken at the time to cover how the story came to be; there's a commentary from the director and script editor at the time - as well as McCoy himself.
However, the best part of this set is the latest in the Stripped For Action series which covers the comic appearances of the Doctor throughout the ages - this one's focused on the Seventh Doctor's years which ran when the show went off the air and is a fascinating look at how the show endured its years in the wilderness.
While Delta and The Bannermen may not be the best story to remaster and release, a healthy set of extras means the fans have something to get their teeth into - that is until the forthcoming release in October of the seminal classic from the sixties, The War Games.
Rating: 6/10
Dr Who: Delta and The Bannermen
Cast: Sylvester McCoy, Bonnie Langford, Ken Dodd, Don Henderson
Rating: PG
Released by BBC/ Roadshow Entertainment
Another release from the Sylvester McCoy years, this three part adventure from 1987 sees the 7th Doctor back in 1959 South Wales - and ensconced in battle at a holiday camp - Hi De Who anyone?
When an alien princess heads to the Shangri La holiday camp, the erstwhile Doc and his companion Mel (Bonnie Langford) find themselves caught in a showdown which will decide the fate of an entire civilization.
1980s Doctor Who wasn't always at its finest - even the most ardent of fans can acknowledge that - but this 3 parter sees a fair amount of gung ho action and double crossing to show that its intentions were admirable.
McCoy gives it his all and it's a shame the show will be forever remembered for its terrible shonky effects rather than the subtle layered underperformance of McCoy himself - and it's amusing to see Ken Dodd in a cameo role as a tollmaster.
The package is once again rounded off by a good solid bunch of extras - with no major making of doco appearing on the set, it's left to a series of rushes from the scene and interviews taken at the time to cover how the story came to be; there's a commentary from the director and script editor at the time - as well as McCoy himself.
However, the best part of this set is the latest in the Stripped For Action series which covers the comic appearances of the Doctor throughout the ages - this one's focused on the Seventh Doctor's years which ran when the show went off the air and is a fascinating look at how the show endured its years in the wilderness.
While Delta and The Bannermen may not be the best story to remaster and release, a healthy set of extras means the fans have something to get their teeth into - that is until the forthcoming release in October of the seminal classic from the sixties, The War Games.
Rating: 6/10
Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II: DVD Review
Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II: DVD Review
Robot Chicken Star Wars Episode II
Cast: Erm, The Star Wars cast of toys- voices by Seth Green, Seth MacFarlane, Breckin Meyer, Carrie Fisher - a cast of hundreds
Rating: PG
Released by Madman
Given the way the Star Wars films were written, there was always room for parody.
And perhaps the fact the characters were so memorable there was always room to take liberties with how they behave.
So it is with Robot Chicken Star Wars Episode II - hot on the heels of the very funny first episode, this latest special sees the characters back in for more comedy skits and more insane silliness than you can shake a stick at.
Loosely speaking, it's a series of sketches thrown together in no particular order - so you need to have a bit of knowledge of the Star Wars universe.
Because that way you can truly appreciate what's on offer - the brief sketches hit the same kind of marks they did in the first episode - you get an ongoing rivalry with The Emperor and Darth Vader, Gary The stormtrooper finding it difficult to take his daughter to the office in Take Your Daughter to work day&.there's all kinds of madness on show here.
And you can't help but wonder why some of this hasn't been plumbed before - Leia mocking Luke for seeing Ben die when she's lost an entire planet, the music from the Cantina being used for an ad - and perhaps best of all, the stuffy opening of Star Wars credits being turned into text talk&.
Given the rapid fire nature of the sketches, it's no wonder the original episode only ran to 22 minutes - this latest one has a wealth of extras to make the purchase all the more worthwhile.
With an extended broadcast version, the original version and a making of just being a few of the goodies on offer, there's nearly 2 hours worth of stuff to make up for the brevity of the actual episode.
But perhaps the best extra is the ability to get commentary on selected scenes via a device known as the Chicken Nugget - basically when prompted, the episode switches to an invision commentary which sees the creators explain their reasons for the sketch, what they were thinking - it's quite a nifty device and one which gives a bit of an insight into the lunacy.
There's been two episodes of this so far - and I can't for one moment imagine they've run out of ideas - if you fancy a bit of insane escapism and inspired lunacy, then Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode 2 is the best solution for these rainy days.
Rating: 8/10
Robot Chicken Star Wars Episode II
Cast: Erm, The Star Wars cast of toys- voices by Seth Green, Seth MacFarlane, Breckin Meyer, Carrie Fisher - a cast of hundreds
Rating: PG
Released by Madman
Given the way the Star Wars films were written, there was always room for parody.
And perhaps the fact the characters were so memorable there was always room to take liberties with how they behave.
So it is with Robot Chicken Star Wars Episode II - hot on the heels of the very funny first episode, this latest special sees the characters back in for more comedy skits and more insane silliness than you can shake a stick at.
Loosely speaking, it's a series of sketches thrown together in no particular order - so you need to have a bit of knowledge of the Star Wars universe.
Because that way you can truly appreciate what's on offer - the brief sketches hit the same kind of marks they did in the first episode - you get an ongoing rivalry with The Emperor and Darth Vader, Gary The stormtrooper finding it difficult to take his daughter to the office in Take Your Daughter to work day&.there's all kinds of madness on show here.
And you can't help but wonder why some of this hasn't been plumbed before - Leia mocking Luke for seeing Ben die when she's lost an entire planet, the music from the Cantina being used for an ad - and perhaps best of all, the stuffy opening of Star Wars credits being turned into text talk&.
Given the rapid fire nature of the sketches, it's no wonder the original episode only ran to 22 minutes - this latest one has a wealth of extras to make the purchase all the more worthwhile.
With an extended broadcast version, the original version and a making of just being a few of the goodies on offer, there's nearly 2 hours worth of stuff to make up for the brevity of the actual episode.
But perhaps the best extra is the ability to get commentary on selected scenes via a device known as the Chicken Nugget - basically when prompted, the episode switches to an invision commentary which sees the creators explain their reasons for the sketch, what they were thinking - it's quite a nifty device and one which gives a bit of an insight into the lunacy.
There's been two episodes of this so far - and I can't for one moment imagine they've run out of ideas - if you fancy a bit of insane escapism and inspired lunacy, then Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode 2 is the best solution for these rainy days.
Rating: 8/10
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