If I could rename Wakefield, I'd call it A Selfish Man. It's been a month and I still do not know what to think of Wakefield. I was very tired, which didn't help. I admittedly watched a portion of this film through one barely open eye. That said, this was the world premiere of the film and I don't think anyone knew quite what to do with it. No one really laughed, and I feel like this is one of those films where experience hinges on audience reaction. It was adapted for the screen by Robin Swicord, who also directed the film, from a short story of the same name by E.L. Doctorow. The film was largely produced and financed by women, and this makes it a curious beast. The film's premise is that a married business man lives out a midlife crisis turned psychotic break, festering in resentment, when he suddenly decides that instead of returning home one night he'd spy on his family from the attic of the adjacent garage. The film has little dialog and is, instead, comprised mainly of voiceover narration. The result is disturbing, problematic, and bizarre. 3/5 Muriel's Wedding is a super enjoyable classic (at 21 years old) Australian comedy. Toni Collette and Rachel Griffiths are both so brilliant here in their break out roles as BFFs Muriel and Rhonda. Muriel is a socially awkward young Australian woman who's biggest dream is to get married and have a big fancy wedding. After yet another humiliation, Muriel steals some money so she can run away from dull, Porpoise Spit, to Sydney. While Muriel and Rhonda start fresh and really come into their own, and as Muriel's confidence is building, she still secretly harbours her fantasies about getting married. This movie is silly and fun, and it certainly warrants multiple viewings. 4/5 If you know what's good for you, you like Flight of the Concords. And, you individually love both Jemaine Clement and Brett McKenzie. People Places Things is a little indie dramedy starring Jemaine that I recently watched on Netflix. It's a bit uneven, but it's charming enough. People Places Things is about a single dad, graphic novelist, teacher who is trying to move on from his recent divorce. I could relate to this film on a number of levels, but I'm not sure it will hit home for everyone--and that is just fine. I laughed quite a bit, though I often laugh at moments in films that no one else would ever laugh at, so I dunno if you want to take my opinion on the comedic value with a grain of salt. And with these caveats I do not mean to pigeonhole this nice little indie flick, it really was good. Jessica Williams of the Daily Show is great as art student Kat. Jemaine is solid. 3/5 Here's another stellar pick from the Telluride Film Festival. I love a nice quiet, subtle, little character driven piece and that's what 45 Years is. During the week leading up to their 45th wedding anniversary things are thrown off course when the husband receives news that the body of his fiancee from before his current marriage has been recovered in the Alps--where she fell and died 50 years before in a climbing accident. The husband becomes moderately obsessed with his own memories and feelings about this woman whom he had pushed to the back of his mind for so long, while his wife is thrown into a spiral of confusion and jealousy. Charlotte Rampling is stunning. This beautiful film does a remarkable job staying with the wife, often refusing reverse shots and leaving others off camera. 5/5 Gone Girl is an American thriller directed by David Fincher, and adapted from the novel by Gillian Flynn. Gone Girl is about the aftermath of the disappearance of a beautiful young wife, Amy. The film is essentially a mystery about the events surrounding Amy's disappearance, and the consequences that her husband, Nick, has to endure when he becomes a suspect. This film is absolutely riveting. It unfolds in two parts, one showing the events through the perspective of the husband, and then through the wife's eyes. In many ways this film is about the disintegration of a marriage. Rosamund Pike is excellent as the icy Amy. 4/5 A Woman Under the Influence (John Cassavetes, US, 1974) This is a most exceptional example of stellar Independent American cinema--it was made with no studio money and Cassavetes mortgaged his home to make the picture. Mabel is the mother of three school aged children and wife of construction worker Nick. Mabel clearly lives with some kind of mental health issues--the specifics of which are irrelevant. After a breakdown Mabel voluntarily goes for in-patient treatment at a psychiatric hospital while Nick stays home with the kids. This film is remarkable for so many reasons not in the least the stellar performances all around. It's a raw, volatile, chaotic portrait of motherhood and of mental illness. Gena Rowlands was nominated for the Oscar and won the Golden Globe amongst others. The film was a critical success and won many awards. It is protected on the National Film Registry in the USA. 5/5 3-Iron (South Korea, 2004) is a South Korean romantic drama directed by Kim Ki-Duk. Ki-Duk makes a variety of films, some beautiful, quiet, and somber such as 3-Iron and Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...and Spring, others gruesome, violent, and shocking such a The Isle and Bad Guy. 3-Iron is about a silent drifter who breaks into people's homes in order to fix broken appliances and to clean. When he breaks into a house he thinks is empty, it turns out he's being watched by a similarly quiet, young abused wife. The two begin a silent romance. This is an astonishingly beautiful film. I like quiet films and this is certainly quiet. This film is worth every precious minute. 5/5 Middle of Nowhere is about a young nurse who drops out of medical school to stay nearby, while her husband is incarcerated. Then, 4 years into his 8 year sentence she meets a divorced bus driver and falls in love. This was stellar. David Oyelowo is magnetic. Emayatzy Corinealdi is brilliant as the wife, Ruby. This is a film by Ava DuVernay, who directed Selma, and its heavy and serious and sincere with just enough hope and light. Nothing schmaltzy or cheap here. More of this kind of stuff please! 5/5 |
LindseyHere is where I post new reviews as I see films throughout the year. Archives
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