FILM CHALLENGE: 18) Coraline

18) Coraline

Director: Henry Selick

Year: 2009

Plot Summary: When Coraline moves to an old house, she feels bored and neglected by her parents. She finds a hidden door with a bricked up passage. During the night, she crosses the passage and finds a parallel world where everybody has buttons instead of eyes, with caring parents and all her dreams coming true. When the Other Mother invites Coriline to stay in her world forever, the girl refuses and finds that the alternate reality where she is trapped is only a trick to lure her.

When I was 5 years old, I played a game on my Dad's computer called Toonstruck; a cartoon puzzle game involving cute furry animals, humorous talking scarecrows and bright, colourful animation. Then, all of a sudden, things went dark. Everything began to die, those cute animals turned satanic and what was once bright and colourful became post-apocalyptic and grey. Nothing has ever scared me more, in the following 14 years of my life, than that terrifying experience of playing Toonstruck.

However, if I watched Coraline at the age I was then, it would certainly surpass even Toonstruck. Henry Selick's nightmarish stop-motion animation is as close as a children's film will ever get to being The Exorcist. And, you know what, this makes Coraline brilliant. After all, there's nothing more memorable than having the living daylights scared out of you. The opening paragraph of this post is proof alone. I can't remember my first day at pre-school and wouldn't be able to recall my 5th birthday under Chinese water torture. But every frame of those moments when Toonstruck turned from an innocent, cute children's world to something you'd find in Cormac McCarthy's The Road will forever remain in my memory.

Sure, the film has it's faults, of course. For an adult viewer it's obvious from the very beginning that the 'other' world isn't quite as nice as it seems and there are moments when things feel a little unnecessary and stretched-out. However, this is almost forgivable because of Selick's incredible animation. If anything, Coraline is hard proof that animated films can be more creative and artistic than any life-action movie could ever dream of. Whether it's the wonderful contrasts of monochrome and colour, the glorious transitions, the sensational action scenes, the breathtaking imagery or the haunting changes of the tint depending on the mood, every second of Coraline is a feast for your eyes.

While Pixar clearly still have the monopoly on this genre, and rightly so, Coraline gives them a fairly good run for their money with this creative, terrifying and totally imaginative Oscar-nominee. It still hasn't convinced me to watch Nightmare Before Christmas though.

4/5

By Daniel Sarath with 3 comments

FILM CHALLENGE: 17) Bad Lieutenant: Port Of Call - New Orleans

17) Bad Lieutenant: Port Of Call - New Orleans

Director: Werner Herzog

Year: 2010

Plot Summary: After Katrina, police sergeant Terence McDonagh rescues a prisoner and hurts his back in the process earning a promotion to lieutenant plus an addiction to cocaine and painkillers. Six months later, a family is murdered over drugs and Terence runs the investigation.

I pride myself on being a fairly accurate when judging how good or bad a film will be. Based on its trailer, adverts, synopsis or cast and crew I seem to have a decent - yet utterly pointless - talent for being able to tell what a movie will be like and where its faults will probably lie.

While everyone around my raved about how good Iron Man 2 was going to be, I was one of the very few who rightly predicted that it would be an unnecessary sequel crammed with more special effects and comic book trademarks than an actual narrative. Moreover, I even predicted that Slumdog Millionaire would be a strong Oscar contender after seeing it in October 2008 at the London Film Festival despite people telling me The Curious Case of Benjamin Button would undoubtedly be the front-runner.

However, I hold my hands up high and admit that I was mostly wrong about Werner Herzog's sort of remake of Bad Lieutenant. Having hated the look of it since the first trailer was released months, I was very pessimistic about seeing this Nicholas Cage movie about a drug and gambling addicted detective investigating the killing of 5 immigrants in New Orleans. But it actually turned out to be a fairly entertaining piece of film-making.

Sure, the first hour of the film confirmed all my expectations. After a great opening scene, what follows is a loose narrative involving Cage using his power and authority to obtain drugs and indulge in gambling while solving a murder case that you really don't care much about. Moreover, he is seeing a prostitute whose presence in the film doesn't really contribute anything to the story and there is a sub-plot involving his father that, for a whole 60 minutes, doesn't develop whatsoever.

It's monotonous, tedious and is unsure about whether it wants to be The Wire or Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas stylistically. Despite it's attempts at being darkly comic and outrageous, nobody in the showing laughed at all and two people even walked out.

However, then comes the second half of the film in which Cage's detective begins to find himself cornered by his addiction, his debts, a group of hit men with a vengeance and fellow officers who are starting to grow wise of who he really is. From here, Bad Lieutenant really picks up and becomes surprisingly exciting, funny, shocking and entertaining. Literally in the space of five minutes, the prostitute, played by Eva Mendes, becomes an interesting character and one that is important to the narrative, the mystery story becomes more engrossing, Herzog's style falls into place, the family sub-plot develops into a key feature of the movie, and people in my showing started laughing and gasping with every twist and turn.

It isn't going to be the cult classic it set out to be and the below average first half lets it down, but Bad Lieutenant certainly rose above my expectations and ended up being a fairly fun, utterly crazy and pretty clever police drama with a twist.

3/5

By Daniel Sarath with 2 comments

FILM CHALLENGE: 16) All About My Mother

16) All About My Mother

Director: Pedro Almodovar

Year: 1999

Plot Summary: A single mother in Madrid, Manuela, sees her only son die on his 17th birthday as he runs to seek an actress's autograph. One of his last requests before he died was to know who his father was, so Manuela goes on an adventure to find the man - a transvestite named Lola who does not know he has a child.

In the hands of anyone else, this bizarre, ambitious, quirky and melodramatic meditation on womanhood would have fallen apart into a shambolic and absurd mess. However, Pedro Almodovar somehow makes it a touching and entertaining hybrid of drama and comedy.

In All About My Mother, the many different roles that women could perform in life - mother, daughter, wife, grandmother, sister, nun, lesbian, prostitute and even transsexual - all collide playfully with each other in this 90 minute ensemble piece. But despite the vast number of roles and characters that appear in the film, every single one is three-dimensional and well-developed in a way that makes you care about their stories.

Moreover, the entire cast are all stunningly performed and it's almost impossible to single out one particular person who shines the brightest in the movie.

As is almost always the case in the director's work, there are a number of odd twists and surprises throughout the narrative. But despite these bizarre events, All About My Mother is lovingly crafted and has a gentle humor and a genuine affection for its characters, therefore, you cannot help but submerge yourself in the lurid soap opera that is being presented to you.

Almodovar displays, yet again, his unique gift for transforming some wildly overdone melodrama into a subtle and evocative little film.

Moreover, All About My Mother blossoms with the usual brilliant colours, lavish backdrops and lovely images that have made Almodovar such a popular director. This bright, colourful world the characters inhabit helps to enhances the viewer's experience of their characters' joys. Also, by contrasting it with their sorrows, it allows the audience to relish such sadness with a particular poignancy.

It's not a masterpiece like Talk To Her, but All About My Mother is a tremendously entertaining piece of work. Moreover, Almodovar must be applauded for making a film about women, dedicated to women and starring only mainly women despite being a man. This rare and unusual gift of being able to create a piece of fiction that so brilliantly characterises females shows just how talented the Spaniard really is.

4/5

By Daniel Sarath with 1 comment

FILM CHALLENGE: 15) Katalin Varga

15) Katalin Varga

Directed by Peter Strickland

Released in 2009

Katalin Varga could easily be described as Romania's answer to Kill Bill. In story, the two films share only slight differences; it follows a woman who, after her and her son are kicked out of their home, sets out to stay with her mother and, along the way, decides to take care of a few ghosts from her past. What exactly happened in her past is the main enigma in Katalin Varga too, much like what Tarantino did in the aforementioned Kill Bill. However, in style and tone, this revenge thriller is more like Dead Man's Shoes or Red Road. There's no entertaining violence or black humour to be found here as Peter Strickland has instead created a movie that is slow-burning, atmospheric and quietly disturbing.

Moreover, there isn't a hero in Katalin Varga who you side with until the end; it's a film full of shades of grey. While you can see why Varga would want revenge because of what these men did to her, Strickland also makes the villains human and, therefore, you feel sorry for them despite what they did. This is something I applaud the film for, it's not a movie that promotes the use of violence as a means to exorcise demons but, rather, shows that violence is never the appropriate answer. It also shows that no matter how much something a person has done sickens you, they aren't monsters; they are human beings as well who are capable of guilt, pain and love.

The cinematography, it must be said, is absolutely amazing. Scenes of Varga and her son travelling through the beautiful yet haunting landscape of Romania almost make the movie as gripping as the the mysteries in the narrative. The film is also a great debut from British director Peter Strickland whose unique style may prove himself to be the new Andrea Arnold or Lynne Ramsay in coming years.

Sure, the thin narrative means that once you know what these men did, there's little that would entice you to revisit this Romanian revenge thriller. Nevertheless, it's daring, atmospheric, beautifully shot and very thought-provoking.

3/5

By Daniel Sarath with 3 comments

FILM CHALLENGE: 14) 500 Days Of Summer

14) 500 Days Of Summer

Directed by Marc Webb

Released in 2009

500 Days Of Summer, as the title suggests, takes place over the 500 days in which Tom Hansen knows Summer Finn and it follows the blossoming of their affection for each other right through to the eventual heartbreak. While this sounds more cynical than most romantic comedies, I love the movie because it is one that everyone can relate to. Everybody has their Summer Finn; the one person who you loved and lost, the one person you will always look back on no matter how many relationships down the line and the one person who changed your perception on love forever. It may be one of the most memorable and important factors in growing up for a lot of young adults, however, it's a theme that has rarely been touched upon in romantic comedies; a genre that instead thrives on the idea of happy ever afters.

It's a wonderfully written film that deserves to be placed alongside other modern rom-com classics like High Fidelity and Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind for developing such an original concept in a genre that has become so tired over the last two decades. It's also extremely funny with scenes of our two protagonists in Ikea and the main character taking part in a dance interlude after he and Summer sleep together causing huge laughs even on a second viewing.

Aside from the writing though, the acting is tremendous. I refuse to believe that Tom and Summer could have been played by anyone other than the talented Joseph Gordon Levitt and indie sweetheart Zooey Deschanel as they have a brilliant chemistry together and do a wonderful job of bringing their characters to life.

However, the real star of 500 Days Of Summer is director Marc Webb who gives the film a quirky yet stylish touch that makes it stand out from the crowd. From the use of black and white to changing the aspect ratio and from the use of slow motion to split-screen sequences, the direction is constantly artistic and clever in the movie.

Undoubtedly the high point though is the excellent Reality Vs Expectation sequence when Tom goes to a party hosted by Summer after their break-up. The sequence, which features the song Hero by Regina Spektor, is both fascinating to watch and absolutely heartbreaking at the same time as it juxtaposes the main characters optimism with what really happens.

But juxtaposition is something that occurs in 500 Days Of Summer a little too much. The narrative is told in a non-linear structure and uses this device throughout a huge chunk of the film's mid-section to contrast Tom's happiness against the heartbreak that is later to come. For example, cutting out a scene like the one where Tom and Summer go to the cinema juxtaposed with Tom sitting there alone would do little to affect the outcome of the movie. After all, the contrast has already been enforced by the scenes at the greeting card offices, the two montages of why Tom loves Summer and hates Summer and the aforementioned dance and Reality Vs Expectation sequences. Sure, the moments like this are funny and prove how good Webb's style is, but I can't help but feel they become pointless after a while and do nothing to develop either the characters or story.

Nevertheless, Webb has created one of the most honest, refreshing and funny romantic comedies of the last decade in 500 Days Of Summer and I strongly believe that it's a film that everyone who claims the genre is dying out should check out immediately.

4/5

By Daniel Sarath with 7 comments

FILM CHALLENGE: 13) I'm Not There

13) I'm Not There

Directed by Todd Haynes

Released in 2007

I'm Not There is both incredible and frustrating in equal measures. There are moments when I think Haynes has created a masterpiece and there are moments when I feel utterly drained by the movie.

It's almost criminal to call it a biopic of Bob Dylan because I'm Not There is so unlike anything that the genre has ever produced before. The film revolves around six intertwining and non-linear portraits of Dylan that are all performed by different actors. Each character represents a different 'face' or 'era' of Dylan that is influenced not only by the iconic singer's life story, but also his lyrics, stories, myths and inspirations.

For example, Marcus Carl Franklin plays him during his childhood working in carnivals and playing 1930s folk songs for his supper; a fictional back story influenced by what Dylan told journalists when he arrived in New York in 1961. Meanwhile, Cate Blanchett plays him as he turns away from folk music during his 1965-66 tour; events which actually occurred and are well-known to any Dylan fan.

For Dylan fanatics like myself this makes the film a lot of fun at times as you try to decode the meaning of the scenes by thinking about his lyrics, his interviews, events in his life, etc. Even if you aren't a huge fan of Dylan though, it's very original and undoubtedly interesting. After all, he's such an enigmatic character who is contradictory, mysterious and puzzling and I'm Not There perfectly captures this persona. Moreover, casting such a variety of actors to play him enforces the idea that Dylan was a voice of the people. He's you, he's me, he's female, male, black, white, young, old, etc.

The six narratives are also filmed in different styles too and this makes I'm Not There a joy to watch. The aforementioned 65-66 era, for example, is shot in a style reminiscent of 8 and 1/2 while Christian Bale's segment is made like a documentary. Also, the soundtrack is awesome with the likes of Sonic Youth, Eddie Vedder and the fantastic Jim Jones providing their own unique covers of Dylan material.

However, my main problem with I'm Not There is that, as interesting and artistic as the concept is, none of the six portraits of Dylan have strong enough stories to really grip you to the film. They simply show him in different eras with different personalities and that's it. There is no connection between them, they don't really have an arc and there is no consistent theme running through the movie. At times, therefore, it's like watching six short films that have simply been spliced up and connected in a non-linear order to make a 2 hour compilation.

Furthermore, there are a number of bizarre sequences in the film that seem to add nothing to the film. They don't present another side to Dylan or represent any moment in his life. The Ballad Of A Thin Man scene, for example, although it is very well filmed and the cover by Stephen Malkmus is amazing, only reinforces the rivalry between Dylan and Keenan Jones and seems to exist for the sole purpose of showing off Haynes' film-making.

You have to admire Haynes for making such an original film that refuses to conform to any genre cliches or story-telling conventions. However, I feel like he takes it a bit too far sometimes. While there are times when I'm Not There is fascinating, enigmatic and artistic, it can also be pretentious and self-indulgent.

3/5

By Daniel Sarath with 4 comments

FILM CHALLENGE: 12) Days Of Heaven

12) Days Of Heaven

Directed by Terrence Malick

Released in 1978

Terrence Malick could possibly be my favourite director. I can't think of another film-maker who has created such beautiful and poetic cinema as the notoriously shy 66 year old and Days Of Heaven is no exception.

Every single aspect of this romance story set around the turn of the century is filled with such overwhelming beauty. From the heartbreaking score by Ennio Moricone and the wonderfully authentic costume design to the intricate sound production and the Oscar winning cinematography it's a film that is driven more by how it affects your senses that an actual narrative. In fact, the film could have no plot at all and I'd still rave about it simply because every frame is heart-stoppingly gorgeous. The scene with the locusts, in my opinion, is among the most breathtaking moments ever captured in any form of art.

That's not to say that there is no story though. Days Of Heaven takes the love triangle cliche that we have seen in hundreds of movies before and brings something entirely unique to it, telling the story of a couple from Chicago, Bill and Abby, who move to a farm in Texas along with Bill's sister to find work. Upon arriving, the owner of the farm becomes infatuated with Abby, wanting to experience romance having found out he is dying. What's unique, however, is that the narrative spends almost half of the movie making the viewer understand the situations of the three main characters and giving you a three-dimensional portrait of them, allowing the romance between The Farmer and Abby to only blossom until almost half way through.

What I also love about Days Of Heaven, and every Terrence Malick film for that matter, is that it never treats the audience like idiots. It allows you to think of explanations for yourself and it doesn't hit you in the face with its symbolism and metaphors although they are many to find. It even allows you to imagine your own reasons for why the main characters - who are brilliantly performed by Brooke Adams, Linda Manz, the incredible Sam Shepard and the usually terrible Richard Gere - act in certain ways throughout Days Of Heaven instead of providing redundant and patronising monologues.

An absolute, must-see masterpiece and one of the greatest films of all time.

5/5

By Daniel Sarath with 5 comments

FILM CHALLENGE: 11) Shaun Of The Dead

11) Shaun Of The Dead

Directed by Edgar Wright

Released in 2004

If any British comedy from this decade will be looked back on in years to come and regarded as a classic, it's undoubtedly going to be Shaun Of The Dead. From the creators of Spaced, the film tells the story of Shaun and his lazy roommate who, following an uprising of zombies, try to find a safe haven at the local pub along with Shaun's family, friends and ex-girlfriend, Liz, who he is trying to win back.

The film deserves to be praised alone for perfectly combining two genres that have rarely worked before: comedy and horror. While films like Scary Movie and Eight Legged Freaks were a total disaster, Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg have succeeded in creating a picture that is hilarious, clever and original all the while being violent and bloody. It's the Evil Dead for this generation and it's a movie that will influence other horror comedies for years to come.

In particular, the zombie slaying scene set to the Queen song 'Don't Stop Me Now' is among the funniest moments in any comedy of the last ten years. However, there are countless moments in Shaun Of The Dead that had me laughing out loud, from the group practicing blending in as zombies to Shaun and Ed deciding which records are worth throwing to decapitate the undead.

Personally, I also loved the little digs at British culture towards the end as the aftermath of the zombie uprising is shown; zombies being used to work at supermarkets, a game show involving zombies and a debate on Trisha with a woman who wants to marry a zombie.

Shaun Of The Dead is almost so funny that you forget just how good Edgar Wright's direction is. His trademark quick flashes give the film an energetic pace while the tracking shots of Shaun's walk to the shop in which the rise of the zombies is first made known to the audience are brilliant.

Moreover, there is also a great character drama at the heart of the story as the viewers witness the loving friendship between Shaun and Ed, the relationship between Shaun and his mum, the love triangle between David and Shaun and, most of all, the demise of the romance between Shaun and Liz and his desperate attempts to show her he can change in order to win her heart again.

4/5

By Daniel Sarath with 2 comments

FILM CHALLENGE: 10) The Back Up Plan

10) The Back Up Plan

Directed by Alan Poul

Released in 2010

The biggest problem with this challenge is that I do have to include every film I see, even the ones that I'm dragged to kicking and screaming by friends who share an entirely different taste than myself. This weekend, I was dragged in a similar style to see The Back Up Plan. For me, films like this are the lowest standard of cinema. However, I decided that I would at least try to keep an open mind nonetheless and not judge a book by its cover.

Therefore, I'll start with the positives: It had a nice opening animated sequence that set the tone for what was about to come fairly well. It was short. It... Um... Well, to be honest with you that's about it. If I was to name the negatives, on the other hand, it would probably take you just as long to read this blog post as it would to watch Springsteen in concert.

Before I even mention the acting, the characters, the story or the direction, it's important to say that there is nothing humorous about the film whatsoever. The writers seemed to mistake people falling over, spilling wine, fainting, walking funny and making strange noises for comedy and after about the 10 minute mark the 'jokes' already start to become repetitive, obvious and annoying. Also, around that same point, you can guess exactly what is going to happen for the next hour and 20 minutes. I've seen cliched films before and I know how obvious some stories can be, but you would have to have been living under the Taliban's regime to be surprised by anything in The Back Up Plan.

Since when has acting stopped being the art of bringing to life a written character and become walking around looking attractive too? The acting in this film was so wooden that, to paraphrase Mark Kermode, it was like being sat in Ikea for 90 minutes. Moreover, the direction was sloppy, rushed and lazy and you can almost tell that, Alan Poul (who was, shockingly, one of the directors and producers of the awesome Six Feet Under) couldn't care less about what he was committing to the screen.

However, can you blame him? Especially when the script gives you characters like these who are so loathsome. They are stereotypical, two-dimensional and, at times, the movie is unquestionably sexist as Zoe cares about one thing and one thing only in the course of this narrative: having a baby to solve her loneliness. That's right, according to this film, she couldn't commit herself more to her work or take up any activities and there's no way her friends could do anything to help her become less lonely. The only solution is to do what a woman does best: Give birth.

I'd rather drink bleach while shoving a knife in a toaster and standing on broken glass than watch this film again.

0/5

By Daniel Sarath with 10 comments

FILM CHALLENGE: 09) Dr. Strangelove

09) Dr. Strangelove

Directed by Stanley Kubrick

Released in 1964

There have been a quite a few politically charged comedies over the last few years including In The Loop and Four Lions, but Dr. Strangelove will always be the cream of the crop. It is as clever as any comedy that has ever been committed to celluloid and does a fantastic job of satirising every aspect of the Cold War era.

Dr. Strangelove is, firstly, able to portray the foreboding of the American people during this era as the narrative is set entirely in the hours leading up to an attack on the Soviet Union. An attack which would cause a deadly retaliation resulting in the world's demise. Despite the comic tone of the film, there is an underlying tension as to whether this bomb will reach its target or whether the inadequate people in the war room can stop it.

That, in fact, is another thing that Dr. Strangelove does a wonderful job of capturing. The arrogance of the people in the war room as the minutes countdown to the end of the world is almost painful to watch as they sacrifice saving human lives for debating about transcripts, references and, later, whether they could use it to their advantage. Sure, it's an over-the-top and satirical look inside a war room, but it's one that sums up how many Americans felt during this period; that their government was too busy worrying about winning and looking superior than actually protecting its citizens.

Moreover, the commander who launched the attack gives us a great insight into the paranoia of some people at this moment in history. It's not an attack launched out of retaliation or retribution but one based on a conspiracy theory involving water fluoridation and bodily fluids.

However, it's not only a study of Cold War era life. It's also a superbly written narrative packed full of shock revelations and moments of genuine laugh-out-loud humour. The classic line "Gentlemen, you can't fight in here, this is the war room!" is still one of the best jokes in a comedy film even to this day and even the final scene of a pilot riding the bomb remains as absurdly funny as it was 50 years ago.

Moreover, the entire cast are brilliant. Upon researching the film after watching it, I realised that Peter Sellers actually played three roles in Dr. Strangelove. The fact that I didn't realise because he was so convincing as every character says a lot about Sellers' talent and I believe he was sorely robbed of an Oscar.

I was even going to mention the direction, but let's just leave it at this: It's Stanley Kubrick. You'd be stupid not to expect greatness.

5/5

By Daniel Sarath with 3 comments

FILM CHALLENGE: 08) Inglourious Basterds

08) Inglourious Basterds

Directed by Quentin Tarantino

Released in 2009

The first time I watched Inglourious Basterds I remember remarking to my friend that, despite loving the film, it probably wouldn't be as enjoyable after numerous viewings. Tonight, however, was the third time I have watched it and it seems that I just continue to enjoy it more and more.

The movie interweaves the stories of numerous characters as events build up to the premiere of a Nazi propaganda film at a French cinema. A premiere that the entire Nazi high command, including Hitler, will be in attendance at. It sounds from its description to be a very traditional World War II film, but it is anything but. In many ways, Quentin Tarantino's movie has more in common with spaghetti westerns than it does Katyn or Black Book. He borrows endlessly from Sergio Leone's style of filmmaking from the extreme close ups and unique framing right down to use of Ennio Morricone music. The movie's incredible opening scene could even have been directly lifted from Leone's The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.

However, while it was the opening scene that struck me as the highlight of Inglourious Basterds the first time I saw it, I now absolutely adore the third chapter titled 'A German Night In Paris'. It almost has the feel of a French New Wave film like Jules Et Jim and puts tension, violence and excitement aside for 15 minutes while two main characters are explored.

As always with Tarantino, the conversational yet utterly mesmerising dialogue is fantastically written. But the more I watch Inglourious Basterds, the more I realise just how good the cinematography and direction are too. As the camera pans down to reveal the Jews under the floorboards in the opening scene it is hard not to feel shaken, as Landa's silhouette is framed in the doorway as Shoshanna tries to escape you truly feel how mysterious and evil the man is and as the flames roar in the final act you feel the carnage of what is happening.

Another standout point is obviously Chrisoph Waltz as the aforementioned Hans Landa. Move over Javier Bardem, because his enigmatic, contradictory, clever, thrill-seeking and sadistic character is one of the most entrancing and scary villains of the last decade.

Moreover, it's also refreshing to see a movie that doesn't portray the Jews as victims during the war. Instead, they are fighting back with everything they have got.

While the film's last lines state that it "might just be his masterpiece", this isn't necessarily true. What it is though is a damn fine piece of unique film-making from Tarantino who, once again, has somehow made an art house movie that multiplex audiences will love. How he does it I don't know, but there's one thing that's for sure: He's the biggest director of the generation and I for one hope he doesn't stop any time soon.

4/5

By Daniel Sarath with 3 comments

FILM CHALLENGE: 07) The Grapes Of Wrath

07) The Grapes Of Wrath

Directed by John Ford

Released in 1940

There are some films that I just can't understand why people call classics. 2001: A Space Odyssey is one of them; it's not a terrible movie by any means but I find it very pretentious and difficult to return to. 8 and 1/2 is another as I turned it off after an hour feeling drained and uninterested. Having just finished John Ford's 1940 drama The Grapes Of Wrath, it seems that I have found another to add to the list.

Don't get me wrong, there is a lot that I liked about the film. Having studied lots about the Wall Street crash and the depression era that followed, I can appreciate just how authentic the movie is. Moreover, Henry Fonda and the entire cast give very admirable performances, Ford's direction is amazing, almost every character has their own personality and the photography is fantastic. But my main issue with The Grapes Of Wrath is that there's a huge gap between the 30 minute mark and the 1:15 mark where neither the characters nor the plot develop. Therefore, most of the 2nd act of the film, in my mind, is fairly redundant.

At first, we are introduced to our main character who has been paroled from prison after committing murder and returns home to his family. Upon arriving he learns that their land has been taken and their only hope is to travel west to California and find a job picking fruit. They remain strong-willed and optimistic as they embark on their journey and let nothing stand in their way. However, that's about as deep as the story goes for the next 45 minutes. After that, the characters seem to simply plod along without undergoing any changes. Even Fonda's character, who promises to become more human and more fascinating in the beginning, seems to take a supporting role throughout the middle section. Sure, the film picks up again in the third act but by that point I'd almost lost interest in the characters situations feeling neither engrossed or moved by their journey.

Maybe it's one of those films I'll revisit in years to come and discover how great it is. Or maybe it was better in its time than it is nowadays. However, I can't say I was thrilled by The Grapes Of Wrath despite its great start. Having said that though, it's still better than a lot of movies that are out there, so my score is:

3/5

By Daniel Sarath with 1 comment

FILM CHALLENGE: 06) In Bruges

06) In Bruges

Directed by Martin McDonagh
Released in 2008

The best way to review this comedy about two hitmen in hiding would be to simply list the immense number of side-splittingly hilarious moments. For example, Ray's child like excitement when he discovers that "They're filming midgets!". Or when crime boss Harry expresses his passionate love of the town by arguing "How can f**king swans not be somebody's f**king thing?". Or even Ken and Ray's debate as to whether it's moral to kill a lollypop man if he's Chinese and knows karate. After all, In Bruges is a film that constantly makes you howl uncontrollably with laughter. There are moments when the jokes come so hard and fast that you can hardly find a moment to breathe.

However, while the obvious strong point of the film is its politically incorrect but extremely clever humour, you'd be hard pressed to deny that there's actually a great narrative here too. As the story slowly reveals the reasons why the two characters are in this medeival town and what they are to do there, interesting themes of existentialism and symbolism of purgatory start to reveal themselves. Furthermore, you start feel sympaphy for Ray despite the terrible act he has committed. You side with him and hope he finds redemption, a refreshing quality for a genre of comedy that is so often populated by two-dimenstional cliches.

Ray is superbly performed by Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, who plays Ken, is as good as ever. But it's Ralph Fieness who you are left wanting more of. He even delivers the standout line in my opinion: "You're an inanimate f**king object!"

In Bruges is a one-of-a-kind film that is funny, sad, thought-provoking and utterly original. Sure, its not without its faults, but seeing as I'm going to bed with aches all across my body from laughing so hard, I'd say its done a very successful job!

4/5

By Daniel Sarath with 3 comments

FILM CHALLENGE: 05) Control

05) Control

Directed by Anton Corbijn

Released in 2007

Control is the biopic of Joy Division singer Ian Curtis and is one of the most impressive music films in recent years.

The film is directed by famous photographer Anton Corbijn, therefore, it's almost pointless to say just how beautiful it looks. Shot in a stark black and white, not a single frame of Control is wasted. Particularly gorgeous are the shots of Curtis and his wife, Debbie, as they stand in a smoky club awaiting a performance by David Bowie. Moreover, there is a fantastic moment where the singer is walking through the streets of Macclesfield in a jacket with 'Hate' painted across the back.

However, just because Corbijn is a photographer doesn't mean that Control is only a great film to look at; it's also a fascinating insight into the mind of Ian Curtis which, unlike any number of Hollywood biopics, never attempts to explain every little detail of its main character to the audience. Instead, you are to draw your own conclusions as to the way he acts and why he changes over the course of the film. Is it his fear of dying or his early marriage that causes him to seek adventure outside of his relationship with Debbie, for example? Or is he disillusioned by the sudden transition from working at the job centre to performing on TV?

Another admirable point to make is that at no point does Control worship the singer. We see both the good and the bad in Curtis and Sam Riley does a wonderful job in portraying the charming alongside the repulsing. This was his first movie performance and he deserves all the praise he received from it as Riley captures Curtis to perfection. However, it's Samantha Morton who, once again, steals the show here as Debbie Curtis. Her shy and mousey personality makes you fall in love with her and her sadness breaks your heart.

As far as music biopics go, Control is the one that all others should aspire to be. The band performances are electric and show just why people love Joy Division, the soundtrack is incredible, the performances are stunning, it's mesmerising the watch and, all the while, it delves into the complicated world of Ian Curtis in a unique and fascinating way.

4/5

By Daniel Sarath with 2 comments

FILM CHALLENGE: 04) Dogville

04) Dogville

Directed by Lars Von Trier

Released in 2003

Wow. Writing a shot review for Lars Von Trier's examination of American life could be the most challenging aspect of this project. No words could do justice to the disturbing, chilling and yet utterly unique masterpiece that is Dogville; it's simply an experience you have to witness for yourself.

The story focuses on Grace, a fugitive on the run, who hides away in the town of Dogville. She wins over the simple folk of the town with her honesty, kindness and good nature, but when things get tough, the people of Dogville bear their teeth.

Lars Von Trier's intention here is, quite clearly, to present the worst qualities of American society. And he does that so well through his direction. For example, the entire movie is set on a sound stage with only chalk outlines to mark the houses, shops and streets of the town. It's an interesting way to film a movie but one that is so perfect for Dogville as it allows the audience to fully see the full brutality of what happens behind the walls in this seemingly simple suburban town. Moreover, I suppose shows how fake the generosity and kindness of the citizens is.

Also, he brings out phenomenal performances from his small but star-studded cast as they ultimately capture the worst qualities of human beings from greed and deceit to jealously and hatred. They're so impressive, in fact, that as the film approaches its climax, you almost applaud Grace's murderous revenge because you hate the characters with such intensity. However, as the slaughter begins, you feel guilty and ashamed for these thoughts.

This, to me, is a tremendous thing about the movie: It toys with your desires and thoughts and emotions by, at first, placing you in the shoes of each and every character, allowing you to sympathise with them, then later showing the effects that those feelings could have.

The running time is almost 3 hours long and there are moments when it is draining to watch, but from the opening shot of the soundstage town it's impossible to draw your attention away from such a brilliantly daring and completely outstanding piece of cinema.

5/5

By Daniel Sarath with 3 comments

FILM CHALLENGE: 03) The Ladykillers

03) The Ladykillers

Directed by Alexander Mackendrick

Released in 1955

While it's always been regarded as a 'classic' British comedy film, I've never had any intention to watch The Ladykillers before. However, I decided to watch it this morning and it's actually a very amusing mix of comedy and crime.

Alec Guinness and his four criminal accomplices all turn out great performances in this darkly comic story of a heist that takes place right under the nose of an innocent, lonely old lady. As the heist unfolds and the old lady grows wise to their plan, things go from bad to worse for the criminals with hilarious results.

In many ways, you can see where directors Joel and Ethan Coen found their inspiration for such black comedies as Fargo and The Big Lebowski. It has a fast pace and sharp dialogue that almost reminds you of a slapstick movie, but is all the while centred around themes such as murder and betrayal. The characters are all eccentric in their own brilliant ways, the direction of the film is as foreboding as a film noir yet as whimsical as a silent movie, and the script hits you with constant unexpected twists and turns that are both madcap and extremely amusing.

It's a great example of an early black comedy that keeps you laughing, keeps you guessing, makes you cringe and makes you gasp right from the first minute. I would have no reservations about watching it again soon.

4/5

By Daniel Sarath with 2 comments

FILM CHALLENGE: 02) Sherlock Holmes

02) Sherlock Holmes

Directed by Guy Richie

Released in 2009

As far as popcorn flicks go, it has to be said that Sherlock Holmes is one of the more entertaining releases of the last year or two. By no means is it perfect, but it's got pretty much everything you'd want if you are just looking for something easy-going to watch after a long day: There's a strong mystery story that, while keeping you intrigued from start to finish, you never have to think too hard about. There's plenty of fun action sequences throughout including a very amusing moment reminiscent of David And Goliath. And there's even enough laughs to keep you smiling the entire time.

Robert Downey Jr stars as the famous detective alongside Jude Law as Dr. Watson, both of whom do a perfectly fine job in capturing the characters from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's original stories. Holmes it still a brilliant detective with outstanding observation. He still smokes his trademark pipe, is still bohemian in his lifestyle and is still somewhat of a loner. Watson, moreover, remains the brave and capable a right-hand man who is the chronicler of all their adventures.

However, this is about as far as the similarities go. While little homages are paid to some of the classic stories, it's a much more modern version that we have ever seen before. There are chase sequences, slow motion fist fights, explosions, shootouts and swordplay. The mystery itself is actually closer to a Dan Brown novel than anything Doyle has written. And even in terms of it's style, the director, Guy Richie, brings his fast paced and almost comic book like trademarks from Snatch and Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels to the picture.

I can see some people who are huge fans of Holmes being put off by this, but at least it's a fresh take on the stories that will pave the way for a younger audience to appreciate such a fantastic franchise.

Of course, it's not a film without it's faults. It does take some time before the narrative really starts to flow and, as much as I like Mark Strong, the movie's villain, Lord Blackwell, is very conventional. Moreover, Holmes' voiceovers early in the film make the action a bit disjointed, there isn't much tension throughout and some of the film's flashbacks are fairly redundant.

However, it's hard to feel unsatisfied with the overall outcome as it's just so much fun to watch. My favourite part of the story is the joyfully camp relationship between the two protagonists. Holmes and Watson argue like a married couple over the ownership of the dog, they bicker about each others bad habits and, in one very funny scene, Holmes attempts to show off in front of Watson's girlfriend. However, beneath it all, there is a loving friendship between the two characters and we recognise that they will always be a loyal team.

Oh, and Hans Zimmer's score is a gem too!

3/5

By Daniel Sarath with 2 comments

FILM CHALLENGE: 01) Fahrenheit 9/11

01) Fahrenheit 9/11

Directed by Michael Moore

Released in 2004

I remember watching Fahrenheit 9/11 many years ago having loved Bowling For Columbine, but found it to be very confusing, very heavy-going and ultimately inferior film to Moore's aforementioned Oscar winning documentary.

However, I decided to give it another go after I recently discovered it won the highest prize at the Cannes Film Festival, was named one of the best films of the decade by The Guardian and also believing that I'd be able to understand it a lot clearer now that I'm older.

To say I'm glad that I watched it again is a gross understatement. This time around, I found the film to be absolutely incredible.

When I first put the film on, I seemed to remember that most of Fahrenheit 9/11 was about the faults of the Bush administration before and after 9/11 and how, in many ways, they exploited the suffering of many Americans during this period for their own personal motives. In fact, this is only part of the story. Moore doesn't just point his finger at George W. Bush for the things that happened, he also points a finger at the entire system in the USA. From the businesses that exploited the American people's lives for money to the media who kept everyone in fear of attacks. From the congressmen who were too lazy to read the Patriot Act to the recruiters who used poverty to find soldiers, Moore suggests that there are tons of people to blame for what happened in the USA.

What I found to be the most impressive aspect of Fahrenheit 9/11, however, is the fact that, even if you don't know much about American politics, Moore's film is very understandable and clear in presenting its evidence. Admittedly, a lot of it confuses me and this is probably why I didn't like it the first time around, but Moore does a great job in explaining what everything means and the effects it later had. The evidence that is revealed is completely jaw dropping too. At times, it's so frightening that it leaves you in utter disbelief. I find it difficult to believe that anyone could dispute 90% of what is revealed in the film as Moore constantly backs up his point with interviews, documents and footage.

Despite the tough subject matter, the film is also very entertaining, fast paced and, at times, very funny. I applaud Moore's decision to do this as it will allow people who would normally have little interest in politics to be gripped to the story. But having said that, in many scenes, Fahrenheit 9/11 is tremendously harrowing. In particular, the moments before the Iraq war breaks out, the bodies of the children who were killed in the first bombings and the footage of a grieving mother visiting the White House after her son was shot down in Iraq are hard to watch. However, the most powerful for me was when the story focuses on 9/11 itself. Instead of showing the planes crash into the World Trade Centre, Moore presents the sound on a black background before showing the disillusionment and suffering of those in New York during the aftermath.

Overall, Fahrenheit 9/11 is a fantastic expose of what really happened behind the scenes during a period in American history that will forever change the country. It also shows just why Michael Moore is the most popular political film-maker of our generation.

5/5

By Daniel Sarath with 2 comments