Friday 30 November 2012

filmbore pick of the week - Hidden

Hidden (Caché)

http://www.ifi.ie/wp-content/uploads/cache-2-LARGE.jpgDirector: Michael Haneke
Screenplay: Michael Haneke
Starring: Daniel Auteuil, Juliette Binoche, Maurice Bénichou
Year: 2005
Language: French
UK rental release: June 2006

IMDb
LoveFilm
Rotten Tomatoes

One of the world's masters of the drama, Michael Haneke, won his second Palme d'Or at this year's Cannes Film Festival for his new film Amour (his first being for The White Ribbon in 2009). So, in honour of his success I felt it poignant to pay a visit to one of his previous masterpieces, Hidden.

http://afellinimovie.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/cache3.jpg
Georges Laurent (Daniel Auteuil, Jean De Florette, La Séparation) is a local celebrity, known for presenting a popular talk show on literature and arts. The small price of fame from being on TV does mean he gets some familiar attention of course by fans and the odd obsessive, but none like the one he is about to receive.

A curious video tape lands on the doorstep of the Laurent household, containing hours of surveillance footage of the front of their home. What is the meaning of this tape? It's accompanied by a crude drawing too, only adding to it's already apparent eeriness. Is this a schoolboy prank? From a voyeur perhaps? Or even a detective?

Georges' wife, Anne (Juliette Binoche, The Three Colours Trilogy, The English Patient) is slightly more disturbed then him over this gift from a new stalker. More in tune to normal affairs, she's also concerned over the effect this could have over their son, Pierrot (a debuting Lester Makedonsky). However, there's no doubt of the subtle mystery the tape has introduced to their lives as they slowly unravel its purpose.

http://fantasticvoyages.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/hidden.jpg
More tapes arrive, and so do more of the drawings, striking some kind of chord with Georges. Something is definitely troubling him. Is it just his dreams, or is a direct memory from the past haunting his conscience? Some of these tapes are not just of their home either, but of journeys to familiar places. The thought of reuniting with a boyhood family connection fuels further speculation to the intention behind the recordings, as the enigma darkens in George's mind. 

The trust between Georges and Anne is gradually deteriorating. As they delve deeper into the puzzle, Anne's fear & doubt and Georges' intrigue & paranoia slowly create a cavern between them. With this growing volatility, Georges will have to contain his emotional suffering to discover the truth behind the tapes.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HzOKnCk_3ks/TbbOSZpg0CI/AAAAAAAAAX8/zBRiGOXpc-Y/s1600/cache+composition.jpg

Let me start by saying that if you haven't seen an Haneke film before, this is a great entry point. Even though his backbone is drama, he has been known to stray from a genre and surprise, which can be a good thing, but also polarises views sometimes (for example, the excellent Funny Games). What I like about Hidden though is that it's textbook Haneke with all the fancy layers stripped out, leaving his pure craft for us to pore over.

His watermark can be noticed from the off with the calm, but unsettling, opening shot, drawing you in through pure titillation. In fact, Haneke captivates you throughout, capturing his trademark long patient shots, confiding in the audience to bear witness to the tale that will slowly evolve. Such assurance is confounded by the repetition of the exterior shot, mirrored from the opening one, which during the first act as a traverse between scenes of interaction. 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PI33HoYmHz0/ThrhaGZqd9I/AAAAAAAAC10/7avrbsIUI5g/s1600/JamieR-cache.jpgOther interesting filming choices in close-ups and unique camera positioning bring claustrophobia into the mix too. You won't notice most of the feelings born inside of you during the earlier scenes, but they creep up ever so gently to your emotive surface. This peculiar blend of a sense of unease and allure is aided by the unusual choice of using no music - dialogue, subtle noise and, sometimes, even silence build their own organic soundtrack for an authentic mood. These diverse decisions in cinematic craft help to draw some inspiring performances from our cast, for the always dependable Binoche, and the charasmatic Auteuil, who is astoundignly good in this picture.

Even though theme-less from an audible perspective, there are themes nonetheless, primarily on trust and deceit. As described in Haneke's filming methods above, he ironically lays such faith in your lap to how the story moves and how it is produced, while at the same time the trust between our leads is crumbling away. Yet, as strong as this subject matter is, behind it all this is simply the journey of Georges, having to get a handle on how the impact of decisions made so long ago can still affect you a lifetime later.
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m9bn519Srf1qb67klo1_1280.jpg

Using French as its language, this Austrian produced piece was denied entry to the nominations for the 78th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language film due to French not being the predominant language of Austria. This is a real shame as it would have been a strong contender for the gong, playing tug-of-war with that year's excellent winner, Tsotsi.

What's more frustrating though is how this film has split audiences in the past, due to some derived views that this slow (I prefer patient) bad thriller (er, it's more of a drama!) has no resolve (pay attention to the last shot perhaps?!). I am open to all opinions, but I feel that such views are so contrived when considering such a masterpiece. You could believe that it leaves you hanging, but even if you don't spot the clue in the parting shot it's still a rewarding piece of acting brilliance and cinematic confidence... Haneke doing what he does best! 

Don't forget to leave comments below, tweet me @filmbore or post on my Facebook page here.

Friday 23 November 2012

filmbore pick of the week - Battle Royale

Battle Royale (Batoru Rowaiaru)

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qLLQ86m_KDI/T2LsvTbIBYI/AAAAAAAABzU/vaY18aBZpQc/s1600/battle-royale-2000-screencap-01.pngDirector: Kinji Fukasaku
Screenplay: Kenta Fukasaku
Starring: Tatsuya Fujiwara, Aki Maeda, Takeshi Kitano
Year:2000
Language:Japanese
UK rental release: September 2002

IMDb
LoveFilm
Rotten Tomatoes

China last week for the spectacular Infernal Affairs, now a quick trip across the water to the cinematic goldmine of Japan. With a such a vast quantity of high quality films to choose from many decades of Japanese production, it's difficult to know which to go for this time around. But only one film keeps appearing in mind...Battle Royale.

Okay, this is not exactly "unheard of", as many of you will be aware of this genius movie. Firstly, I kept thinking of this picture because I recently watched The Hunger Games, of the which the book it is adapted from is clearly influenced by Battle Royale. But what surprises me most, however, is how many people know of Battle Royale but claim "I still need to watch it though". I have a simple answer for you...do just that!

At the turn of the millennium, human culture and society is in global meltdown. While unemployment infects the world, the youth rebel against the adult generation: boycotting school, committing heinous crimes, even violently attacking and murdering their own teachers. In response to this uprising in juvenile criminality, the Japanese government signs off a new legislation - the Battle Royal Act.

Each year, a lottery is held where one class of pupils across the country's schools is randomly selected to take part in an event, intending to breed fear in the culture of youth, in the hope of dampening their brutal behaviour and disobedience.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SnVkyPatymE/T1Qf7MKvjyI/AAAAAAAAZ4Y/zJNfVKoF3lo/s1600/BattleRoyale_049Pyxurz.jpg
Shuya Nanahara (Tatsuya Fujiwara, now known for the live-action Death Note films) is like one of these pupils. Not really as volcanic and dangerous as most, but still doesn't sit well with the older generation. He and his good friend, Nobu, are pondering whether to attend school at the end of the year so they can go on the annual trip, just for some fun. Shuya strongly considers this, as he knows that his crush Noriko (Aki Maeda) will be there, being the only student to attend all of the school's classes. Accept during their coach ride on their day out they are drugged and taken hostage to an undisclosed island...

In a mock classroom, their current teacher, Kitano (the brilliant "Beat" Takeshi Kitano, Brother, Sonatine, Violent Cop ) is pleased to announce that they are this year's contestants in the Battle Royale.

http://www.craigskinnerfilm.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Battle-Royale.jpeg
42 students, one island, 3 days. On this battleground they have the allotted time to use their guile and the mystery weapon selected for each of them, hunt each other down and fight to the death. When the time is up only one can stand as the survivor or they will all be exterminated. So they have little choice but to strike each other down to remain the victor and prevail.


Shuya wants to protect his friends, and righteously still holds his challenging morals to overthrow the system but can he come through when his own classmates could suddenly turn against him? Plus, there are unknown factors to take into consideration while the newly transferred students are on the prowl: Mimura, who's attending just for the sport, and Kawada, a previous winner. He'll have to lay his trust to fate if he's to overcome the battle of blood that awaits him.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jy-uXuME7I4/Tc8zW6N6i2I/AAAAAAAAAGY/PbKt8C4uBTw/s1600/battleroyale2.jpg

Let me start with a warning...  if you're a little queasy then I don't think this film is for you. If you can overlook a little violence and gore however, you owe it yourself to watch one of the first great films of the new millennium. 

Adapted from Koushin Takami's novel of the same name, where it detailed the tribulations and actions of each child in detail, Battle Royale takes the majority of these events as the story's narrative. The most prominent individuals are concentrated on, still leaving room to highlight the existing relationships the students had before they were put to this 3 day war, and the contradictions in their responses to said battle on each other. In fact, stripping down the action and murder and this story is an intriguing combination of drama and tragedy as love and hatred pair up, and as the only surviving couple in some scenarios. Kinju Fukasaku allows each character to breathe and relate between the madness, granting us some connection to these soon-to-be lost souls.

A big part to this success is due to the brilliance of one of the best young casts in cinema history. There's not a bad performance among them...some over-dramatic (and it works), some extremely reserved (yes...still works), some erratic and confuses (same)...I could go on. But most importantly, each role is superbly handled by each actor, giving gravitas where necessary and not being afraid to let their part step into caricature a little. This confidence proves the assured ability of these youngsters and the trust that Fukasaku had in them. In particular, our leads, Tatsuya Fujiwara and Aki Maeda, are natural performers, and our portal into this surreal, foreboding universe. 

http://i2.listal.com/image/316027/400full.jpgThe main supporting cast are just as excellent too, and there are some fascinating characters: the deadly but honourable Kawada, the quiet but sick-minded tease Mitsuko, the explosive killer Mimura, even the love-hating fitness-freak Chigusa (Chiaki Kuriyama, who played Go-Go in Kill Bill Part 1) brings plenty of surprise to our table of thrills. Some are just exaggerations of their current self, feeling the tension their new environment imbues them with, while some transcend into different beasts altogether, allowing instinct to take hold and morph them into pillars of survival.

http://daily.greencine.com/Battle-Royale-Beat-Takeshi-Kitano.jpgYet, as good as the young cast are we cannot ignore a star role from the reliable Beat Takeshi. As possibly the most famous movie star in Japan, and a behemoth of drama and action that he's most known from, it's so refreshing when he takes leftfield roles, and this is one of them. As the pupil's teacher, and overseer of the game, he has his own simple back story that reminds us of the reality of the piece. He also has a fondness of Noriko as his only good student, which has a small part in the storyline. His choice moments give a little more kick to the film, and it's a presence much needed in parts to remind us of the adults position in the society the plot portrays.

There is still a further plot to the original premise, mind you. It's not just a mindless foray of gory set pieces (which there are plenty of for those of you that crave them...and they are incredible!). Shuya's intent creates a sturdy spine, as he strives to beat the Battle Royale Act his own way, which helps to keep balance between the violent scenes and allows all of these ingredients to get wrapped up in package of excitement rarely matched by any film out there.

Besides all of this though, the big winner in my view is the humour. Don't get me wrong, this film takes it's thematic viewpoint very seriously and presents itself as an extremely relevant statement of society's direction. In fact, it is clearly so rich in satire that somehow it manages to afford the right amount of comedy to balance it out. The laughs come from the purposefully over-the-top kills that sometimes beggar belief. Each set up is geniously played, with every character present playing a poignant part in the looming death match that will engulf them. It's the extremity of these set pieces that gives real identity to this movie, and helped to elevate it to cult status in such a short period of time. 
http://s3.amazonaws.com/auteurs_production/images/film/battle-royale/w1280/battle-royale.jpg
Brave, gutsy, political, dramatic and incredibly gripping; you're a fool if you don't watch this at least once. It's so intense, even the trailer to the film is exciting, with the film's intro music (Verdi's Requiem Mass - Dies Irae) filling your amplifier's pipes as it's cleverly laced between choice shots from the start of the movie. If the trailer gets you, the film will slaughter you!

Really, it's a shame that Fukasaku died before completion of the film's sequel. Continued honourably by his son Kenta (who also penned this first instalment), it didn't manage to measure up to the stature of it's incredible predecessor. It would have been nice to see this turn into a saga, as there would have been plenty more themes to explore. Nevertheless, we are grateful that, before his passing, Fukasaku was able to craft one of the most unique pictures ever  to come out of a colourful, genre-challenging modern movie culture that Japan still thrives in to this very day.

Don't forget to leave comments below, tweet me @filmbore or post on my Facebook page here.

Wednesday 21 November 2012

The Eyelids Of Dawn Issue 1 - Buy Now!

My friend's new zine... and filmbore gets published!


The Eyelids of Dawn issue one has arrived. My friend, Dave Stockton from Sheffield, has managed and produced the creation of this fantastic new zine that you need to check out.

Reaching out to a number of creative souls, he has brought together an interesting collection of collaborators to put pencil & pen to paper. The result...a journal exuding character and intrigue. Full to the brim with exciting artwork, poems and stories, this exclusive book is a must see for those seeking something to spark your creative urges and challenge the mind.



Also, there are some film reviews by yours truly...the filmbore! This is my first publication as a film critic, of which I am very proud of. 
The Geek Rating


I've taken a wider approach to my reviewing here, including some more mainstream features but I've ensured that there are some independant pictures too. Also, I've introduced the geek rating...like stars, but with geeky-3D-glasses-wearing faces...



So, get your limited edition copy now. The zine is just £3.50, which is a bargain considering the high quality of the content and work that has gone into it from Dave and all of the contributors. For those that know me personally, I will soon have a few editions in my possession to sell directly to you. Otherwise, you can contact Dave directly by email on freq13@gmail.com to order your copy (his website is http://www.rhesusdistro.blogspot.co.uk/). There are prices for postage confirmed in the flyer above (which look very reasonable for global mail, I must say!) so get yours now before they're all gone!

The filmbore

Friday 16 November 2012

filmbore pick of the week - Infernal Affairs

Infernal Affairs
http://www.thatfilmguy.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Infernal-Affairs.jpg 
Director: Wai-jeung Lau, Alan Mak
Screenplay: Alan Mak, Felix Chong
Starring: Andy Lau, Tony Leung, Anthony Wong, Eric Tsang
Year: 2002
Language: Cantonese
UK rental release: June 2004

IMDb
LoveFilm
Rotten Tomatoes



When Martin Scorsese won the Director's gong at the 2007 Academy Awards there was a unified sigh of relief from fans of western cinema. Up until that moment, one of the most revered and creative movie makers of our age had never won an Oscar, despite numerous nominations. Strangely, the film that finally granted him his new bathroom decoration was not one of his original design. Said movie, The Departed, was in fact a remake - one of the only decent ones in existence might I add (see my Top 10 on decent remakes here) - of a successful Hong Kong cinema production known the world over as Infernal Affairs.

Ming is a young boy enlisted into a triad gang run by Sam (Eric Tsang, Cop On A Mission, Colour Of The Loyalty). A pep talk from his new boss encourages him on his journey ahead - to train in the police academy, while remaining secretly loyal to the triads as a mole in the police force.

Simultaneously, another young man in the police academy, Yan, is about to be expelled for breaking the rules. This is a ruse however, as he is to be given a confidential mission by Principal Yip and Superintendent Wong Chi Shing (Anthony Wong, Hard Boiled, Exiled) - he is their new undercover agent, who will join the triads and act as their contact in the criminal underworld.

http://movies.themoviebox.net/year/2004/IJKLM/Infernal-Affairs/images/main-page.jpgTime has passed, and Ming (Andy Lau, House Of Flying Daggers, Running Out Of Time) is now a fully established officer of the law, with a good relationship with his girlfriend and a fond appreciation for good quality sound equipment. In a hi-fi shop early on, he chances upon Yan (Tony Leung, Hard Boiled, Hero, Chungking Express), who by now is a fully respected member of a local criminal organisation. However, neither of them are aware of each other's occupation, and even further than that their true position and motive.

Yan now has only one contact through S.I. Wong after Principal Yip's life was taken. With Wong being the only person who knows his true identity as a police officer, his grip on a normal life is loosening. Yet he understands the importance of his role, and succeeds on tipping Wong off on a cocaine deal that triad boss Sam is about to undertake. Sam is wise to this threat however, flushing the drugs, and a stalemate is formed at the local police station.

http://www.toledoblade.com/image/2005/01/06/800x_b1_cCM_z/Masterful-cop-yarn-is-woven-in-Hong-Kong.jpgFrom this encounter between Wong and Sam, they discover that they both have a mole in their midst, specially planted to feed necessary intelligence back to their original bosses. They agree on a wager - a race to discover the traitor within their organisation. This added pressure puts incredible strain on both covert operatives: Yan is beginning to lose faith in his duty as a cop due to his consistent criminal activity to convince the triads that he is genuine; Ming, after over ten years in the force is more accustomed to the ways of the law and wants to eradicate his criminal history.

As both of our protagonists battle with their double identities, can they hold it together and do what's right?

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mbxe8msZOM1reo6i8o9_1280.jpg

You don't have to be an expert in world cinema to have experienced some Hong Kong movies, as films exported from this region have been some of the most successful movies globally outside of western outputs. Yet, I find it unusual that many people have not seen Infernal Affairs.

Let me clear this up immediately...if you haven't seen this film then you are doing yourself a major injustice. Rent it or buy it as soon as you can and watch this masterpiece. It's a proper Saturday night action thriller, with great performances, cool set pieces but with a spine of intelligence throughout. This "vertebrae of smart" exists thanks to the clever plot...

There have been many tales over the years that delve into the intricacy and blunder imbued within the themes of double agents. Sometimes, a film does a grand job at spinning a web of deceit so that much of this is eluded by the audience. But, in Infernal Affairs we are painted this picture in the first few minutes. This is incredibly brave, as in other hands this concept could have been completely miscalculated. What Alan Mak and Felix Chong have so ingeniously orchestrated in their script is to make the perspective of the double agent our own - as young boys they are thrown in to their opposite realms strewn with fear, doubt and intrigue and we go on this ride with them. Yes, the story skips many years but we know everything from the off, allowing us to enjoy the the delicate portrayal of the rest of the story.

http://image.toutlecine.com/photos/i/n/f/infernal-affairs-2002-33-g.jpgAnd what a yarn! This is how thriller's should be produced. As you learn more and more of each of our lead's circumstances you feel your allegiances switch over and over, urging Ming to turn to the "light side", and holding hope in Yan to find his way back to normality. Through its purposeful confusion, the narrative is perfectly balanced as it inches piece by piece to its dramatic climax.

This journey holds together so well thanks to a phenomenal cast. Lau, Leung, Wong and Tsang are all veterans of Hong Kong cinema and are household names across Asia. All of them, including other supporting members, are genuine and charismatic - our leads still maintaining a vein of calm and seriousness, while the pair playing their bosses allow their more colourful personas to fly (the scene in the station when they work out they each have a mole is great, with a pinch of banter thrown in). You know what you're getting with actors of this calibre... such royalty of the eastern screen is a stamp of approval.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mbxe8msZOM1reo6i8o6_1280.jpg

With expressive camera work, intense scenes and a nail-biting finish, it's no surprise that Infernal Affairs grew into a a whole trilogy, spawning a great prequel and even more superb sequel. And, it even caught the attention of a well known director hailing from Little Italy, New York, still awaiting his now, well-earned Oscar. 

This film is now a pedigree of eastern action thrillers, and you owe it yourself to see it!

 
Don't forget to leave comments below, tweet me @filmbore or post on my Facebook page here.

Friday 9 November 2012

filmbore pick of the week - Pi

Pi
http://theoohtray.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/pi.jpg 
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Screenplay: Darren Aronofsky
Starring: Sean Gullette, Mark Margolis, Ben Shenkman
Year: 1998
Language: English
UK rental release: July 2002

IMDb
LoveFilm
Rotten Tomatoes

It's clearly been a huge week in the United States, so I thought I'd delve into the cinematic culture of our neighbours across the pond this time around. And did I pick a film centred around the success of a leader, or the democratic system of their nation, or even a movie on politics?...No. Instead, I've opted for an underground, surreal jigsaw of a story that challenges a person's perspective on existence and convictions within religion, while exposing potential underpinning cultures trying to overthrow an overbearing system...I can't help myself! I'm talking, of course, about "the-now-famous" Darren Aronofsky's directorial debut, Pi.

http://www.seangullette.com/images/pmaxv.jpg
Max Cohen (Sean Gullette, Requiem For A Dream, Happy Accidents) is a genius. He isolates himself in his tech-strewn apartment like a cyber-punk hermit, applying his mathematical mind to solving life's most complicated and intricate problems. He sees numbers in every walk of life - everything belongs to a systematic pattern, that he endeavours to unravel. But a human mind can only be pushed so much, so he concentrates his focus on designing an über-computer named Euclid, to aid in his struggle to uncover the truth of life's paradigms.

One area he uses his new silicon friend for is to discover routine arrangements in the stock market; analysing the figures to uncover routine arrangements in a seemingly non-regulated numerical environment. This powerful device is clearly capable of such vast calculations, but a bug in the system crashes Euclid and produces a strange and random sequence of numbers. Could they have a hidden meaning?

http://www.cyberpunkreview.com/images/Pi09.jpg
While Max isn't pontificating on life's design (or repeatedly trying to mend his computer), he unwinds by playing the ancient game of Go with his long-time colleague, Sol (Mark Margolis, The Wrestler, The Fountain) - a mathematician of his own reckoning. Max confides in Sol through his trials and failures, and he is consoled by his colleague while able to discuss his discoveries in depth with a like minded fellow. But Sol can see the path that Max is travelling on of which he is blind to, familiar with the stress and pain that he will continue to imbue himself in if he continues on this journey.

But it's when Max meets a new gentleman appreciative of his hunt for truth that he falls victim to ignoring Sol's advice. Lenny (Ben Shenkman), part of a Hasidic Kaballah sect open his mind to the possibilities of the world's link with numbers and patterns, happy to discuss the geometry of our existence. Lenny believes that Max is on to something, and that the number Euclid provides is a key to something of a higher order. As Max is pulled from one side by the Hasidic Jews and the other from a thriving interest from members of Wall Street, his mental state is challenged. As he starts to suffer from blackouts and hallucinations, he starts to question his own sanity while at the same time wonders if releting to these new psychedelic messages could provide the answers he so desperately seeks.

http://d3ny4pswk2x1ig.cloudfront.net/af3cc5d892881eae0cb6b3f244cdfcd82b68f6bb445ab6d35a0c089e.jpg

At the 1998 Sundance Film Festival, a young new film maker was allowed to premier his first movie, Pi, in the hope of generating some success. Taken from the fact that the entire film budget (reported at around $60,000) was sourced purely from $100 donations from friends and family, he needed to be able to provide some return. Thankfully, with winning the Directing Award at the same event, and receiving Film Independent's "Independent Spirit Award" for Best First Screenplay, the signs were good...especially when Artisan Entertainment bought the distribution for $1million, with the film then going on to take over  $3million at the box office...not a bad investment!

Darren Aronofsky must look fondly back at this moment, as it was the key to opening the door to further success and making him the director he is today. What's interesting though is going back to visit his first feature and seeing how far he's come and what influences he's taken from it.

http://www.hoboes.com/library/graphics/movies/Pi/Search%20for%20Truth.jpgThere's no doubt that Pi is an art house picture. From it's black-and-white scheme and interesting film angles, the entire piece is a courageous exploit through filming techniques. Mind you, these methods are vital for the piece, as it sets the relevant tone throughout and keeps you in the correct state of being. And with a tale as original and intriguing as this, the non-conventional style is a welcome companion.

Speaking of the story, it's advisable that you keep a clear head while sitting down to take in this film. Each person takes away a different perception of its approach and you will only find yours if you stay focused and alert. Then again, it is still enjoyable as a visual treat and a collection of great performances, but it's the themes and script that really hold the piece and you must allow yourself to become embroiled in them.

Said themes are an interesting combination. One one side, there is the religious aspect, predominantly from the belief Kabbalah and the hunt for [enter spoilers here]. Then on the other we are taken through the logical realm of mathematics, and applying it to standard living. Numerical codes in religion, and Golden Spirals predicting our choices are just some examples of the theories thrown at you every time you discover a little bit more of Max's pursuit for answers. And then, Aronofsky throws in the game of Go as a different context on the design of the universe. All of these concepts paint an intricate landscape to lose yourself in, while you're trying to work out where the tale is going.

It's difficult material to handle, and Aronofsky has cast some great actors for the piece. The seasoned experience of Margolis and the refreshing passion of Shenkman's performance provide us with the necessary spectrum of response for the character of Max, but it's Gullette's take on the lead that pins the entire movie together. Sometimes cold, sometimes aloof, sometimes boiling inside, it's an incredibly confident take on a mysterious individual and he is the final breath to give this small film the air to become something higher.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HymRXpBrmyQ/UH1OMJJi6XI/AAAAAAAAYH4/JIBnE7XdtfQ/s1600/features_pi.jpg

Darren Aronofsky has become a household name of recent years, and a stamp of approval for good quality dramas and thrillers. His earlier works, including Pi, were extremely brave and challenged the general concept of film-making but what's clear is that he has taken his methods right through tot the modern day with his more recognisable movies such as The Wrestler and Black Swan. All of his features still have a vein of bleakness, which at an initial viewpoint would be very off-putting, but with Aronofsky's films this darkness thrives and takes on a life of its own, becoming the ironic light that gives his films their heart. 

It's not often that you find a film so confident in it's themes, while standing the test of time. I watched this film only a couple of years after it's release, and then again very recently, and I'm pleased to say that it hasn't lost its edge. It's still one of the most unique films to come out of the US, and on repeat watches can take you on numerous different journeys. A good thinker, and a good thriller!

Don't forget to leave comments below, tweet me @filmbore or post on my Facebook page here.

Wednesday 7 November 2012

October Overview

Still very busy...but it's time to progress!

http://media.cinemasquid.com/blu-ray/titles/brazil/56e917ea-dd4f-4ba8-a4fc-f0f3b3404cf8/screenshot-lrg-29.png 
Okay, so I've been busy all of October too, just as much as September, meaning that last month's content for filmbore was just the 4 weekly reviews again. Not to say that the articles themselves aren't good enough, but I think it's time for a change...

http://timeentertainment.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/t100_movies_brazil.jpg%3Fw%3D360%26h%3D240%26crop%3D1 
As usual, I've recapped on October's pick-of-the-weeks below as I do at the start of every new month, but I've added a second piece about furthering the sight and spreading my wings a little. I'd appreciate feedback from you all on the directions suggested before I take flight!


Also, for my weekly reviews I've kept up with the larger sized articles and still delving deeper into each piece. If any of you have any ideas for my reviews moving forward, please don't be afraid to comment at the end of the review in question. Also, any recommendations for future articles would be welcome, so please send them through. And remember, the film's you suggest have to be classifiable as world cinema, relatively small or at least independent to be even considered for the filmbore pot...

Pick of the week - recap

http://www.inreviewonline.com/inreview/current_film/Entries/2012/4/4_The_Kid_with_a_Bike_(2012)_files/shapeimage_3.pngThe Dardenne brothers smash it out of the park yet again with their recent piece: the beautiful The Kid With A Bike. This touching drama is serenely executed by the sibling-super-team, while the performances they have drawn out from their cast are exemplary, especially from the great young newcomer Thomas Doret.

http://www.cyberpunkreview.com/images/avalon18.jpg 
One for gaming fanatics, Avalon is a strange and unique Polish film directed by Japanese anime genius Mamoru Oshii. Using original special effects to illustrate the virtual environments explored by our lead, the story challenges the boundaries of reality in a future where online gaming is so dangerous it's deadly...literally!

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_C7SR-m1RbVI/TN2oQn2eeYI/AAAAAAAAAAU/wnf0iFg4z88/s1600/downterrace.jpgDown Terrace is Ben Wheatley's full-feature directorial debut, and fans of Kill List (and those waiting in anticipation for Sightseers) need to look into this film. It's a prime example of how brilliant story telling and genuine acting brilliance on very little money can generate a quality piece of British comedy drama.

Unless you've been otherwise occupied in a completely different solar system for the last few months, you will have hopefully have heard of The Raid. Be prepared for a shock wave of intense action and hyperactive fight scenes that will obliterate your movie mind. This excellently filmed cop hunt equivalent of the '84 arcade classic Kung-Fu Master is astounding!


What can filmbore do for you?

I've received some emails and tweets about furthering the content on filmbore, and there has been little different added as of late. I know I'm consistent in providing you weekly reviews on top quality films, which is the main premise of this site, but I can see the value in improving the articles in the other tabs that I've promoted previously. Therefore, I'll be looking to boost the level of content over the next few months in order to bring you more gossip, more articles and anything else filmic for your enjoyment...here's a few ideas:

This particular tab, filmbore News, is still used from time-to-time, with these overviews and the odd article. However, I've considered bringing small feeds into this tab with some of the smaller world cinema gossip I hear. I post the odd comment into twitter for those that follow me there, but let me know if you'd like to see more in this tab. I could provide a little more insight to the news at hand, providing source links too. Please consider though that I'd expect good viewing figures on these posts to justify the time spent.

Pick A Country is a tab I've received quite a bit of correspondence on. I'll ask you all to be patient on this, as I may have to develop something outside of blogger to handle it. I'll still be aiming at one film per country (with a couple of also-rans in some cases) with a little bit of content for each. Also, when it's live I'll encourage you all to comment on some of the choices...if an argument to select a film of your choice is good enough, I may even consider changing my picks!

So far I've only posted one Top 10 in the Top 10 with a difference page. This is because I've taken a long winded approach to the data, sifting through rafts of films to ensure none are missed for each list. I'm close to completing this research, so I'll have some good stock data to post on this tab soon, but what I'd like to get from you all are ideas on some crazy Top 10 ideas...the more bizarre the better! I've already had a few from some work colleagues (thanks Adrian Mair and Simon "streetg33k" Kent) that I'll be working on, so get yours in quick to get near the front of the queue. I'll try and do them justice!

http://jonathandallen.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/angry-box-face.jpgFinally, I know I need to do more for the Whingebox. There was some good activity from some of you on the introduction article here but only a little more on the next two main articles that I worked on. I'd really appreciate any views you have on hyped-up movies and ridiculous remakes, so please re-visit these items and comment if you haven't already. The better the activity on this tab, the more I'll put into it. Again, if you have suggestions for the WhingeBox please send them through...anything that's getting on your nerves within the film industry is good enough for this tab.


And as mentioned above, don't forget to send your suggestions for further weekly picks.

Thanks to all of you for all of the support so far. I'll do my best to make this site better over the next quarter, and hopefully in the near future I'll be able to bring you some good news regarding some of my movie reviewing elsewhere to this site...what this space!

Charlie filmbore Pitt


Don't forget to leave comments below, tweet me @filmbore or post on my Facebook page here.

Friday 2 November 2012

filmbore pick of the week - Once Were Warriors

Once Were Warriors
http://www.nzonscreen.com/content/images/0000/1786/Once-Were-Warriors-Gallery-4.jpg.552x402.jpg 
Director: Lee Tamahori
Screenplay: Riwia Brown
Starring: Rena Owen, Temuera Morrison, Mamaengaroa Kerr-Bell, Julian Arahanga
Year: 1994
Language: English
UK rental release: August 1999

IMDb
LoveFilm
Rotten Tomatoes


Multi-climatic. Steeped in Maori history. Some of the most beautiful vistas this planet has to offer. New Zealand's cultural stature has always been prevalent thanks to these facts and many more, but Once Were Warriors delves deeper into the more contemporary Moari communities and the characters inhabiting them.

Rebellious tribes of the youth populate the streets in the less privileged area where our tale begins. There's evident tension in this modern Maori society - blighted by Caucasian settlers and self-resentment through fleeing from their spiritual roots.

We're introduced to the Heke family. The head of the household is Jake "The Muss" (Temuera Morrison, Jango Fett of Star Wars prequel fame) - a charismatic ten tonne truck of strength, both demanding of respect and carefree at the same time. His wife, Beth (Rena Owen), feels the constant strain at home. Contending with her son Boogie facing court charges from a string of petty crimes, her eldest boy, Nig (Julian Arahanga, The Matrix, Fracture) leading a life away from the family that he is slowly feeling estranged from and Jake losing his job, she's struggling with the reality that they can't make ends meet.

http://jumpingpolarbear.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/maori.jpgWhere Boogie may be mixing in the wrong crowds, leading to court cases and pushing him ever nearer to the possibility of welfare housing away from his family, Nig is involved in a gang of a different calibre. His new new found tribe wear the ink of their ancestors with pride, carrying with them a sense of honour over their neighbouring fellow Maoris. Yet, it is Boogie's path that is one of true New Zealand heritage, as the next steps he's forced to take also directs him down the warrior's path in channelling the native Maori within him.

Brimming with hope and mothering tendencies, clearly influenced from her mother, eldest daughter Grace (Mamaengaroa Kerr-Bell) still looks to the future with positivity. However, she can only confide fully in her feelings with her homeless best friend, Toot.

With the continued divides brewing within their family, Beth continues the fight to bring honour, decency and stability back to the Heke family...a notion that Jake may find difficult to grasp and with dangerous circumstances.

http://pixhost.me/avaxhome/78/db/001cdb78_medium.jpeg

Based on Alan Duff's novel, Once Were Warriors was produced in just six weeks on a minuscule budget of just $1.2 million. It was screened at both the 1994 Venice Film Festival and the following Montreal Film Festival, receiving plaudits and acclaim at the latter. It was clear that Lee Tamahori in this, his feature length debut, had an eye for great drama, an ability to extract thrilling performances from his cast and overall had the right mind to tell a good story (leading him towards the bigger movies we know him for today, such as Along Came A Spider, Next and The Devil's Double).

How he handles this tale in particular is interesting due to how he creates the environment immediately, throwing away the stereotypical idyllic expectation of the rural country of New Zealand by not shying away from exposing some of the more underground, grittier elements of the nation's persona. The film begins with an edge, one of which it grasps onto until the credits roll.

Also, as the pressures on the Heke family begin to erupt early on, he helps you realise that this isn't the straight forward kitchen-drama the film first presents itself as. Instead, it's a brave insight into volatile relationships with incredible guts and little shame.

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h295/quadka/Two/OnceWereWarriors1994480pBluRayx2-10.png
The characters in particular are very intriguing. Jake is a real "Jekyll & Hyde", flipping between a loving, boisterous (sometimes singing!) father and a tumultuous behemoth, swelling with violence and hatred...the only constant in his schizophrenic personality is his overbearing righteousness.

Beth is the keystone to the family, seeking a peaceful, happy route for her children. No matter what has overpowered her, or how beaten she feels, she wears a smile and pushes out her inner strength in order to stay supportive to her kids.

The strongest vein throughout the entire tale though falls with Grace, who's trail is intertwined through each of the other characters' misfortunes and misgivings. She is the story's faith and ambition, making her journey all the more heartfelt at its more poignant moments.

These individuals shine not just through their situations, but due to some outstanding performances from the cast. The natural approach taken by all the key performers lends the right amount of realism to the piece, especially from the incredible execution of Beth by Rena Owen. Where Grace's story links the whole tale, Rena Owen's performance is the fundamental backbone to this film, and is the overwhelming heart it truly needs.

http://assets.flicks.co.nz/images/movies/large/09/09c6c3783b4a70054da74f2538ed47c6.jpg

If you choose to rent this wonderful New Zealand indie, once you press play on your DVD remote you are opening a window into the heavy responsibility of parenthood, questioning your ability to handle it. It shrewdly illustrates the impact you can have on your children, as your negative actions rub off on them, burdening them with your own faults and fates. However, as courageous as it is to approach such issues it's hard to ignore such a powerful drama, steeped with volcanic performances from its main stars and a brilliant handling of the material by its director.

Don't forget to leave comments below, tweet me @filmbore or post on my Facebook page here.