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Reviews
The History of Future Folk (2012)
If this doesn't warm your heart I'm sorry. You ain't got one.
Having trudged my way, miserably, through much box office fare of late this little gem took on the status of a diamond in the dung heap.
It's pretty much the definition of "short and sweet". Others have described the wacky story so I won't bother. In theory it shouldn't work but somehow it does. I think maybe it's the immaculate deadpan of the lead actor that carries it; or maybe the catchy songs; or the way its low budget is always taken seriously - silly costumes notwithstanding; or the two genuinely touching love stories. Or... well, I could go on.
Find this movie, however you can, and give it a chance. It's adorable. If only it had been given the release it deserved I guarantee it would have been the talk of the town. Sadly the movie business doesn't roll that way.
One thing I absolutely guarantee: we'll be hearing more of the people involved before very long. As "calling cards" go it doesn't get much better than this.
Weekend (2011)
Mike Leigh, this is how to do it.
Believe me, I HATE "slice of life" movies. Also, as a gay man, I hate it when I'm expected to love a movie, simply because it happens to feature the gayz.
So. I hated this flick for the first twenty minutes. The dreary, quotidian setting; the non-dialogue; the horrible, soapy ordinariness of it all.
Then... It got me. I suddenly understood that there was a genuine intelligence at work, behind what had seemed merely dull. There was a proper story being built, in the most subtle and sure-footed way. There were two terrific performances. There was excellent (albeit ever-so- slightly hackneyed) cinematography. Crikey, I thought: this is actually good.
The parallels between this and "Brief Encounter" are inescapable. I'd bet a week's wages that the writer/director had that classic in mind from day one; but there's no shame in stealing, so long as it's done well - and this is done so very, very well.
I could waffle on for paragraphs about why this is such a good film, but I shan't. However, I want to say one last thing. In a great film, every scene should move the story forward - and that holds true for sex scenes. In fact, sex scenes should obey that law more than any other, because (let's face it) sex can be entertaining in itself.
The (few, delicate) sex scenes in this film always move the story along. The characters actually reveal themselves through sex. And that, to me, marks it out as great storytelling.
Hats off to all involved. I hope you go on to greatness. No, sorry, you've already done that. What I meant was: I hope you go on to mainstream success and lots and lots and lots of money!
Srpski film (2010)
Not at all shocking, but good (I think)
Perhaps I'm beyond help, but seriously, I didn't find this film in the least bit shocking.
Yes, there are some horrible, horrible ideas. *SPOILER ALERT* A man f*cks a newborn baby (possibly to death); the central character decapitates a woman and f*cks her twitching corpse; later, he sodomises his own 8 year old son.
Okay, all those "thoughts" are utterly vile, but the film maker holds back, every time. And I think that's part of what he's trying to say. The "film within the film" is horrible beyond belief, but the ACTUAL film isn't pornographic at all. It's a comment on pornography. It almost mocks those in the audience who really wished they could see the depravity which is only implied. Really, if this seemed like violent porn, watch it again. You don't actually see much at all. It's almost all in your mind.
There is, I think, some sort of reflection on the debasement of war, but it's pretty thin.
For me, the central thrust (as I've said) is to mock those audience members who truly would like to see this kind of depravity.
For me, the big bum note of the film is the very end, when *SA!!!!* the protagonist kills himself, his lover and his child. It seems to say that love and forgiveness aren't possible. But so much of the set-up seems to say that love IS possible.
This isn't a work of genius (although the cinematographic is top-drawer, and the acting's good, if not exceptional). It's an interesting, not-quite-formed art movie.
And, seriously, if this "raped your soul" then you never had an imagination.