Forum 6 Wagga
Films reviewed
• Winter’s Bone
• Gasland
• Heartbreaker
• Another Year
• Wagner & Me
Opening night of the festival. We begin with “Winter’s Bone”, a film I only knew about from its trailer, a film that I figured I wasn’t going to enjoy. And it was true I didn’t enjoy sitting in the second row of the cinema having my neck so far back it hurt or having to watch the movie as if I was watching a game of tennis. Then it started, and there was no giant action scenes no love story nor was it a comedy everyone must see. It was a film about a girl keeping her family warm and feed. But to do this, she had to find her father. This film was set in the cold depths of America, where it’s bitter, dark and that the locals rule over the law and have their own justice system for doing wrong. The main character of the peace is Ree, played by Jennifer Lawrence, who plays this character wonderfully, giving her a strength and beauty at the same time, you seem unable to take your eyes of her during the film, it’s only when her uncle Teardrop played by John Hawkes enters the scene. At the beginning of the film, we get a sense of Teardrop being a mean and dark guy, on the drugs and harsh to woman. But its John Hawkes ability as an actor to bring this character around, and by the end of the film, we respect and care for the man.
The sound the lightning of the picture brings another layer into the film, which makes you react and feel the cold environment of this world; I enjoyed how the director Debra Ganik brought in the humour of this world, while all audience will see this and have different reactions to it. One particular scene would be in regards to Ree teaching her 8yr old brother and 5yr old sister how to shoot a gun, we may look at this as odd and even funny, but in the deep south of America, this is a natural occurrence. I enjoyed how this world is brought into life, and the challenges Ree faces to get out of her town, but knowing at the same time, she be there for a long, long time.
When I watch a documentary I feel it should leave me with a punch in the face, it should leave me with a sense that I need to get of my ass and go out and fix the problem. Gasland was more a flick to the ear then a punch to the gut. I felt bad for the people who have been living with their problem, becoming sick and unable to drink or use their water. Josh Fox, the writer and director of this documentary, is a first time film maker, and this is clear with the footage he has, being in and out of focus, unable to keep the camera standy. But besides his doggy film making footage, he was smart with bringing humour to the story. While he repeats things and keeps it simple, this town has fringe drilling, this town has bad water, this town has fringe drilling this town has bad water..........
This went for pretty much the film, mixed in with facts, interviews. Josh Fox didn’t keep me involved visually, but rather involved with his dialog and from time to time fire shooting out of taps.
With cutting the film up with his family home and environment with the crap that mankind is doing to itself it did give me a sense of important and that I need to do something to stop it, but outside not signing the dotted line to drill on my land, I didn’t know what I should be doing to help.
Going from a very cold and compelling story, to a realistic story, right into a fictional world of beauty, humour and romance. Even though there are subtitles it didn’t bother me at all. Because this film was entertaining to watch and I could easily fall back and watch it. You can clearly notice that this film can and could be turned into another American rom-com, which I’m pretty sure this is, just with Italian subtitles. The acting was enjoyable to watch, the lighting gave it the film a spark of beauty, while the music seemed to add to the humour more to the romance. While the main character Alex Lippi (Romain Duris) felt pushed past the real and into the unreal, which I thought added to the film. Leaving his surrounding characters to be more real adding to the balance of the film. All in all this film was very enjoyable. It had no depth or heart pounding will they won’t they moment. While the sound, music acting and environment blended well with each other.
First things first, this film went for just over 2 hours. Why? This may have been a very sad, but sweet yet depressing film, and maybe because it wasn’t really made for my generation I felt closed off by it. I couldn’t relate to any of the characters, all being married or an old lonely drunk, or a not so old depressed antic woman who needs to be loved or a son that is played just dull. Leaving the theatre it made me sad and a little depressed, I understand that’s what films are there for to make you feel something, even though this film didn’t excite me, it got down to my gut and has me thinking, that it’s not only young people who have problems. The acting was excellent, while the director Mike Leigh gives the film a steady pace, with every shot planned, so the cut gets every expression every side look every option of every character in the room. The look added to the movie in a massive way. With each and every session showing through the movie. You don’t leave the film in a happy go lucky way nor does it finish in the same way. But it has you thinking about the characters and where they all going to end up. Which was the smart move by the director, because the different generations that will see this will have a different option towards the characters and where they go from the dinner table onwards.
First of I must say, I fell asleep during this film. Just because it visually wasn’t stunning, I worked out that I could close my eyes and just listen to it. I could fob aught the CD and just listened to it. There was talking and music. Which is fine, whatever entertains you. But when you are now in a visual world, you really need to visual excite your audience. I would like to go on about this, but I hardly can remember it, all I know was it wasn’t a documentary that need 88mins, easily just been an ABC 30mintue special. Maybe If I knew more on the subject and enjoyed Wagner as much as Stephen Fry does, I could of sat there and loved watching the film.
No comments:
Post a Comment