Super Fast Reviews for People in a Hurry Part 3

  Good evening to you all. This part of the year tends to feel like an empty vacuum after the delights of Christmas. The days grow dingy and bleak as the temperature begins to plummet. The sort of weather which Werner Herzog would say, make a man "look into the abyss, only to see himself looking back". But wait... What's that? The cinema is showing good films for a change. Thank god for Oscar season! Although, the strange thing is that the Oscar films don't have the highest scores in this update. That would belong to a TV show and a film that shows humans have far more potential than we could possibly imagine. They really believe that the sky is not the limit, and that humanity can conquer galaxies, planets, eternal life and so much more... There is no limit. It's really what I needed on a dull, breezy and dark January morning.

Birdman (2014)

Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu

USA

  This is one of the few films that I found appealing ever since I saw the trailer last September. I anticipated for the film more than I should have, which normally results in a disappointing experience of the film (The Wind Rises and Cloud Atlas). 'Birdman' was far more than what the trailer had shown. The film is near flawless.  The story of an actor risking everything for a Broadway play, while juggling his homelife and his movie-acting past is told with sweeping beauty and grande splendor.
  The long, never-ending take, is not a gimmick, just merely a beacon to show how great the acting is. There was a couple of dodgy transit shots and some of the actors slipping up on a word or two, but who cares? The film is wholly magnificent. Inarritu, has created an experience that no other film has done. It reminds me of what I found so interesting about film in the first place.

Score 89

The Theory of Everything (2014)

James Marsh

Britain

  This Stephen Hawking Biopic (like Birdman) has been nominated for Best Picture. It follows Hawking (Redmanyne) and his relationship with his wife Jane (Jones), as his Motor Neurone disease got gradually worse. The story of a man, who is told he has two years to live, is indeed a great story to tell. Everything is done by the books. I know this is what everyone else believes, but they're right. The large amount of biopics coming near Oscar time is colossal, and has now started to take the piss. The UK film Industry and Hollywood are now making films with the belief "this guy has an amazing story to tell, lets tell it".
  There is nothing wrong with the film. The acting is brilliant. The story is well told. The cinematographer does a decent job with the visuals. There is nothing to set it apart from the countless other biopics. I saw the Benedict Cumberbatch film 'Hawking' late last year, and I expect the two to merge in my head, during the years to come.

Score 71

Gurren Lagann-Series 1 (of 1) (2007)

Hiroyuki Imaishi

Japan

  Gurren Lagann tells the story of Simon and his friend Kamina, in their underground village. They are not even told there is a surface, yet Kamina disregards this. One day, a Beastman Gurren (large robot) falls into their village, and with the help of Yoko, they manage to destroy the machine. As the series continues, their goals get bigger and bigger, until they are throwing galaxies at each other for the fate of the universe.
  Gurren Lagann is completely barmy and over-the-top. It doesn't give the viewer anything to think about, so could be seen as nothing but thoughtless entertainment. However, the creators had this intention, and created something so enjoyable, so fun, with such iconic and great characters, that it has stayed with me every since I finished watching. I may say this is the greatest thing I have ever seen. In 24 episodes, there is so much character development and so much exhillarating mayhem, that now it has ended, well... I sort of miss it. I kind of hate it for making every other anime look crap in comparison. It'll make you shout "THIS IS THE DRILL THAT WILL PIERCE THROUGH HEAVENS" to your friends only for them to reply with "huh?". Why are you even reading this? You should be watching it now!!!

Score 100

It's Such a Beautiful Day (2012)

Don Hertzfeldt

USA

  It's Such a Beautiful Day is the culmination of Hertzfeldt's three shorter films "Everything is Going to be OK", "I'm so Proud of you" and "It's Such a Beautiful Day", which tells the story of Bill, as his psyche gradually gets more and more shattered. Bill is the most ordinary of men, taking oranges from the back of the pile, and chewing on a sore in the corner of his mouth as he looks at a shopping bag blowing in the wind. Hertzfeldt then shows Bill's sad past, bleak present and his incredible future, showing that even the most mortal and ordinary beings can be ultra-incredible and extraordinary.
  The film is a poetic swansong to life, told through some of the best animation I have ever seen. Hertfeldt draws, narrates, writes and produces his films. The ultimate auteur. The talent this guy has is unbelievable, with an entire filmography of short films which must also be seen. I know its only January, but this may be the greatest film I see all year.

Score 96

Tuesday, After Christmas (2010)

Radu Muntean

Romania

  This film tells the story of a man, choosing whether to devote himself to his wife or his lover. The man is a pretty normal guy, but his ability to cheat on his loving wife really makes him unsympathetic and detestable. Both woman are nice and beautiful, so choosing between them is hard and when he does, the consequences are likely to anger the audience. The film takes its time to reach its climax, with a long and gradual run-up to Christmas. This could be seen as ultra-realist, something that is so real, it is actually a bit boring. If you turned on the film at a random moment you would most likely see an ordinary conversation.
  While this may be well directed, acted and photographed, nothing interesting or different happens during the film. Nothing to take it "out of the crowd" but not a bad film at all. That said, I wouldn't ever watch it again and I don't believe it is a classic in any way.

Score 62

La Soufriere (1977)

Werner Herzog

Germany

  Herzog is often seen as one of the best directors making films today, having created the Epic 'Fitzcarraldo' and one of the best ever documentaries 'Grizzly Man'. I've seen 15 of his films altogether and 'La Soufriere' remains as one of his best. Herzog travels to the island of Guadeloupe, where a volcano (Soufriere) is due to erupt. The once-busy city is now barren and abandoned, as the citizens have been evacuated. One person has decided to stay in the town, and it is this reason, Herzog journeys to the island.
  The film is filled with haunting imagery, and narrated by Herzog himself (what a voice!). To see a city deserted, with empty streets and livestock roaming amok, feels like something from a Hollywood blockbuster. As the film continues, it ventures further into the island, and the people of the island. The final interview with a guy who isn't afraid of dying, is deeply moving, haunting, thought provoking and unforgettable. Perhaps, one of the greatest moments in documentary cinema.

Score 84

Super Fast Reviews for People in a Hurry Part 2

  Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a good one :) Lots of essays this month (4 and an exam), so film watching has been at a minimum. Not many films here, but there is a definite variety. Hopefully in the next update I will fit some Oscar hopefuls in. Enjoy!

The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies (2014)

Peter Jackson

USA

  Most fans were up in arms about the third film, as Peter Jackson was far from faithful to the book. The only thing that irritated me was that there wasn't more Smaug. He just shows up for ten minutes and dies. How about the big battle with Sauron? He's defeated as well in the first half hour. So yeah, the rest of it is armies meeting and armies fighting.

  Treat this seriously and you will be annoyed, however treat it as a comedy and you'll have alot more fun. My expectations were so low, I was laughing at everything! Bears strapped to Eagles, Legolas jumping like he's in a Mario game and of course the never-ending 1vs1 fight scenes. However, it was the corny dialogue which had me laughing the most. Its better than Desolation of Smaug, but worse than An Unexpected Journey. 

SCORE 76

Making a Splash (1984)

Peter Greenaway

Britain

  From one Peter to another, this is a short film programmed for Channel 4, where Greenaway assesses humans relationship with water, through hyperactive editing and Nyman music. I had previously listened to Water Dances, and its probably my favourite Nyman piece of music, although I had no idea Greenaway used it in a film. The ending result is magnificent. 25 minutes of cinematic bliss. I say all this but only Nyman/Greenaway fans will like it.

SCORE 82

The Blues Brothers (1980)

John Landis

USA

  Behind the phenomenal jazz soundtrack, lies a mediocre, unfunny film. This was my first time watching, and I was surprised how bland, drawn-out and empty the film is. It's not straight up "here's the jokes... Laugh" comedy (like Blazing Saddles etc). The comedy comes from the situations, the characters and the dialogue. It puts on a funny atmosphere which makes you prone to laughter, but it never worked. Of course I can't deny the songs, including James Brown, Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles, are leagues better than the film itself. I can't understand the hype and acclaim behind this one.

SCORE 58

The Pit and the Pendulum (1961)

Roger Corman

USA

  I'm not a horror aficionado, but I really enjoyed this 1960s horror film. Vincent Price is brilliant as the cowardly husband, a rare role for the king of horror. The film changes the Edgar Allan Poe story quite a lot, there is a pit, there is a pendulum, and it is terrifying. This is decades before the shock horror which is popular now, and doesn't age as much as I would have thought. I would have loved it to be longer, as the 80 minutes does't cover some necessary parts of the story.

SCORE 77

The Castle of Cagliostro (1979)

Hayao Miyazaki

Japan

  Before Spirited Away, before Princess Mononoke and even before Studio Ghibli! This romp was Miyazaki's first film, straight after directing a series of episodes of Future Boy Conan. It plays out like a classic caper, and the action does not stop for a second. The cool characters and excellent animation makes this a fantastic watch. Ridiculous amounts of fun to be had, and after all, Miyazaki never made a bad (or even ok) film.

SCORE 78

Syndromes and a Century (2006)

Apichatpong Weerasethekal

Thailand

  I have reviewed two of his films on the blog before, where I praised him for having a unique vision and for going against everything normal movies do. This film is no different, and is better in some regards. For starters it doesn't start with a 45 minute shot of a back of a car. Set in a hospital in the country, the film tells the everyday stories of the workers and patients. Gorgeous scenery and peaceful mentality abound. All of his films are split into two parts, and the second part to Syndromes is... well... interesting? I'm still trying to make sense of it.

SCORE 75

La Poison (1951)

Sacha Guitry

France

  After the Second World War and before the French New Wave was a thing, Guitry was hugely popular in France. Now he has faded into cinematic obscurity. Despite this film starting slowly, with a peculiar prologue, the film picks up pace about 40 minutes through. From there it is plain sailing, and a complete joy to see unravel, until the abrupt yet brilliant ending. Also stars Michel Simon, the beardy giant from Boudu Saved from Drowning.

SCORE 75

Russian Ark (2002)

Aleksandr Sokurov

Russia

  I finally got round to seeing the infamous Russian Ark. Yes, the film famous for the ultimate gimmick, that is the entire film is shot in one constant take. No breaks. No nothing. As impressive as that is, I thought it would get tiresome. Turns out the whole film is magnificent from start to finish. It's like a window through history, an adventure through time or a journey to a place that is nearly forgotten. Russia has such a colossal history, so its nice to see a film do it justice. More than a film it is an experience, one that I couldn't recommend more. Although, I would like to see the blooper real.

SCORE 81

Super Fast Reviews for People in a Hurry Part 1

I am back from a long hiatus studying, ready to review films again!!! However I'm still studying, so this is all I can cobble together at this point. A barrage of random reviews of films/TV series etc, I've seen in the week (Week ending 27/12/2014). I hope you enjoy!

Durarara (2010) Series 1

Ryohgo Narita

Japan

  Durarara is my first Anime series I've watched, and boy was it a ride. The Anime is about Mikado, a lonely teen, who moves school to Ikebukuro. There he meets his long-distance friend (Masaomi), a shy schoolgirl with big breasts (Anri) and a ton of crazy characters. One thing Durarara does really well, is the characters are each unique in their own eccentric and crazy way. Each viewer will have a different favourite character. The characters are very much the driving force of what happens, most of which is told through flashbacks. Lots of them. Some of the episodes have over 6 different flashbacks, meaning the story revolves around revelations in back-stories. Every character has a secret past.
  Music is good, although often repetitive. The animation is also good, despite the animators deciding not to animate crowds and extras. Sorry if I'm making it sound average. Its a captivating and enticing watch, which made me ignore many of the flaws. Its really great, and I kind of miss it now I've watched it.

SCORE 87

I Killed My Mother (2009)

Xavier Dolan

Canada (French)

  The film is astounding to be directed by a first time director. This is my first Dolan film and I'm very impressed. Dolan stars as well, as a teenage homosexual, firing off against his mother. The acting is really what entices the audiences, and drives the film forward, with stellar performances from the whole cast. The performances are perfect, even if the characters they're portraying are irritating. The son has anger issues, that consistently shouts at his helpless mother.
  Dolan breaks the illusion of mothers-son relationships being all about love and care, and has created a film unlike any other in cinema. Even if the cinematography looks like a dodgy cross between Pedro Almadovar and Jean Luc-Godard, and the protagonist is an asshole, Dolan has created one of the most interesting and thought-provoking debuts in cinema.

SCORE 75

Nekromantik (1988)

Jorg Buttgereit

Germany

  I finally obtained a copy of one of the most infamous and disturbing films ever made. Well that's what the reputation says. This film centres on a streetsweeper, who takes a corpse home after a cleaning job. After a 'lovely' sex scene, his wife then leaves the streetsweeper for the corpse, leaving him alone and mentally deranged.
  I rarely watch repulsive, stomach churning films, but I thought it would be great to watch with a few friends round the house. The film is so poorly made, they hated it immediately. The acting is also dire, but no-one sees these films for the performances. I found the nasty bits no more than off-putting. That is until the final scene, which had me in fits of laughter. The 'grande' finale is a highpoint of the "Nasty" genre, but doesn't make up for a mostly dismal film.

SCORE 56

The Children (2008)

Tom Shankland

United Kingdom

  Now for a film far worse than Nekromantik. 'The Children' takes place in a "snowy"(obvious fake snow going on) country house near a forest. Its a family gathering for Christmas, but things go wrong when the children become evil and murderous.
  The synopsis is pretty decent, with much potential for exploring Oedipul themes and "What if?" scenarios. However everything about the film is so awfully dull, any chance of this is thrown out of the window and torched with a flamethrower. Firstly the acting is catastrophic. Secondly the dialogue is corny and written by a retarded 5 year old. Thirdly the development of the film is inconsistant with a snore inducing introduction, to pointless and random deaths. Fourthly, and most importantly, it is not scary whatsoever. Not even chilling. This is the sole purpose of a movie described as "horror", and if it doesn't do it, it fails completely.

SCORE 18

Patema Inverted (2013)

Yusuhiro Yoshiura

Japan

  This is a beautiful Anime, that really exceeded my expectations. Age is a schoolboy living in a Utopian world on the surface. Patema is a same-age girl who lives underground. They both have different gravities (so up is down for Patema and down is up for Age). Together they rescue each other while falling in love.
  A year ago I saw a film called 'Upside Down', which looked great and had a perfect relationship between the two characters, but the story was the most flawed in existence. The inverted mechanic works perfectly in Patema Inverted. The relationship between Age and Patema is wonderful as well. The dystopian future setting, like that of City of Ember crossed with North Korea, looks phenomenal, with the outside containing wide open green fields and large open skies, and an underground city which is mysterious while being equally as beautiful. The flying mechanic is really great to see on-screen, and lots of fun to watch. Its what 'Upside Down' should have been.

SCORE 84

The Castle of Sand (1974)

Yoshitaro Nomura

Japan

"The Castle of Sand" is a typical Police/Detective thriller, similar to Akira Kurosawa's 'High and Low'. The plot thickens, as revelations come to light, resulting in a phenomenal final act. Here, the film changes pace, to a sweeping, emotional, melodramatic, wordless Epic which left me stunned. I've been years trying to find this film, and its well worth the hunt.

SCORE 86

Make Mine Music (1946)

Robert Cormack

USA

  I appreciate the movies Disney have made during the war more than most people. 'Saludos Amigos' and 'The Three Caballeros' are unanimously disregarded, despite being some of Disney's best. Donald Duck is a painful screen presence (the Jar Jar Binks of Disney), degrading these films from a 85 to an 80. Make Mine Music doesn't have Donald Duck so it should therefore be flawless.
  Even though there are a couple of brilliant sketches, the film doesn't reach up to the mastery of its two predecessors. Maybe its the removal of the exotic ambiance, or some of the sketches are too long and drag. I'd still recommend watching it, for a couple of moments of excellence.

SCORE 74

Toronto Film Festival 2014: In Review

So that was it. The festival is over and I'm back in boring old England. But blimey, what an excellent time I have had. All the films I watched were brilliant in some way or another. The films I referred to as 'filler' in the lead-up, all proved themselves to be worthy films. I will do small reviews of all the films I watched during the four days, with my own mini-award ceremony.

Scarlet Innocence (2014)

I reviewed this one on the blog, but to wrap up, its a sophisticated erotic thriller about a man's descent and a lover's deceit. Even though it's not the sort of film I like, I cannot deny how well directed all the scenes are.

SCORE
72

AWARDS
Best Acted, Film Least Recommended to See with Parents

The Dead Lands (2014)

A film about aborigine New Zealanders, that feels like The Lion King meets Apocalypto. The film started with a fire alarm, so we had to leave the theatre, and the fire brigade was called. After a while we were allowed back in, and the film began. What proceeded was a mediocre film, which was predictable throughout. The cinematography was mildly good, but, again, it felt like a lesser Apocalypto. The post-screening Q&A was introduced by a tribal dance (link to the video) and all the actors and directors seemed incredibly passionate and friendly. The audience seemed to love it as well, but their was nothing in the film for me. Infact it made me very tired, I must have fallen asleep 15 or so times during the film, only to be woken up by a character shouting OOGA BOOGA.

SCORE
59

AWARD
Most Enthusiastic and Passionate Cast, Most Sleep Inducing

Tokyo Tribe (2014)

One of my most hyped screenings as I am a colossal Sono fan ever since seeing the four hour  Love Exposure at 1am on Film4. I have seen eleven of his films and none have disappointed thus far. Sono is a constantly improving director which I would admit is probably my favourite. The film begins with a ten minute shot, accompanied by monotonal rapping and concluding in violence and nudity. What I love about Sono is that he gets the balance of nudity, violence and exploitation, so none of them are overused and exhausted. The whole film was incredibly enjoyable, although the film comes into it's own during the last 30 minutes. What happens during the final third is classic Sono, with non-stop, full throttle, laugh-a-minute exhilaration.

The crazier the ideas of his films are, the better they turn out to be, so when I heard Sono was directing an Epic Gangster Rap Musical, I was overjoyed. The whole film was great, even if the rapping did absolute nothing for me. The film may even top WTF lists in years to come it was so insane, however it is definitely not for everyone.

The screening was part of Midnight Madness, so I the film and Q+A finished about 2am. Instead of being tired, I was pumped, humming "Tokyo Tribe, Never Ever Die" until I got to the flat. The audience was crazy, clapping moments of the film, and heckling the sponsored adverts. If you ever get to see a Midnight Madness screening I would advise to do so, there is nothing quite like it.

SCORE
82

AWARDS
Favourite Director, Craziest Film, Most Enjoyable Film, Third Best Film

Cruel Story of Youth (1960)

This Nagisa Oshima film was showing as part of the Cinematheque, which was showing classic and restored film throughout the festival. This has been a film I had recently wanted to see, due to its notoriety and that it kick-started the Japanese New Wave. This free screening was accompanied by an unexpected introduction from Claire Denis, who greatly admires the film and how it was unique for the period.

The film has aged slightly, as the synopsis of "two reckless youths falling in love, and concluding in tragedy" has been repeated ever since. Yet the film is largely forgotten, unlike Oshima's "In the Realm of the Senses" which has only got more infamous and controversial. The story concerns a young woman falling for a young man, even after he slaps and rapes her. The woman resists at first, but eventually succumbs to his male stature in a hybristophilia type way. The youth portrayed in the film are selfish, audacious, full of hatred for older citizens and without a care in the world. None of the characters are sympathetic, but provide a good character study of the type of people I wouldn't know anything about. It also provides a snapshot into a time of the late Post-War Japan period, with rioting and lost youth. It's a film that I would recommend if a fan of film history, but not enjoyable whatsoever. Seeing as this is Oshima's second feature, I am very impressed.

SCORE
74

AWARDS
Oldest Film, Least Likeable Protagonists.

The Tale of Princess Kaguya (2013)

My most anticipated film of the festival is Studio Ghibli's latest. Directed by Isao Takahata, formally known for 'Grave of the Fireflies' and 'Pom Poko', who was also there for the after-screening Q+A, which is possibly the most star-struck I have been. He's not just another over-rated celebrity, but a genuinely talented and respected old man. Did I mention I've seen every Studio Ghibli film to date (excluding The Wind Rises)? Well it was time to begin, and well... It was even better than my exceedingly high expectations.

The film grabs you from the very first scene and does not let go until the closing credits, by which time I was so close to tears. The film itself has a sad story of homesickness and nostalgia, but its the pure overload of gorgeous images that really got to me. Every scene is drawn as an unbelievably beautiful water-colour painting, that fitted the tenth century setting perfectly. The themes of longing for the past is universal and affects every person in the world. These may be the reason why the phenomenal world of Princess Kaguya is one I want to experience again and again.

This may be the beginning of another Ghibli golden age, but don't get your hopes up, as Takahata said during the Q+A that it's more likely he won't direct another Ghibli film, than he would. I could see Takahata was about to cry as he was saying this.

SCORE
88

AWARDS
Best Film, Closest to Tears, Most Timeless Film, Best Animated.


Coming Home (2013)

Zhang Yimou's newest film is very much a tear-jerker. Not me, but the audience was sobbing like crazy. It chronicles the return of a rebel prisoner to his amnesia-suffering wife in the aftermath of the Cultural Revolution. Gong Li's character does not recognise her husband when he does return, causing him to go to great lengths to get her to recognise him. The film is primarily a family drama, where everything that can go wrong, does, for maximum dramatic effect (like Hanake's 'Amour'). It is filled with cultural history of a largely forgotten period of history. Yimou usually shoots on film, focusing on large stories and epic landscapes, so I found this his least impressive film, as its shot on digital and focuses on a small family. The film is disappointing for me, as I know Yimou is capable of unforgettable epic films like 'Raise the Red Lantern', and 'Flowers of War', but this is very much a step back in his career than one forward. The film does have some shining moments, such as a beautiful piano scene, and the letter reading, but the overload of sad scenes made me groan far too often.

Gong Li is the best thing about this film, giving a truly wonderful performance. All the acting is great from the three main leads, but I wasn't feeling the film as much as the constantly sobbing girl I sat next to. The Yimou Q+A afterwards was really quite brilliant. Despite only making films from the mid-80s, he does feel like a true master of cinema.

SCORE
71

Song of the Sea (2014)

This wonderful film is directed by Tomm Moore, the man who created one of the most gorgeously animated films ever made with 'The Secret of Kells'. From the trailer, it looked like the animation style was identical, although the story is quite different. The film is about a brother and a sister who go on an adventure to save the magical fairies who have turned to stone. On the way they must dodge vicious owls, and take guidance from a wise man with a long beard, each hair of which contains a different story. Even though 'Song of the Sea' is clearly aimed for children, the creators have conveyed so much heart, emotion and power into the film its impossible not to be stunned, amazed and moved. It is equally as good as 'The Secret of Kells', which is very high praise indeed. The Q+A with the director was very fun, with the children in the audience asking better questions than some of the grown-ups.

SCORE
82

AWARDS
Second Best Film

In Her Place (2014)

'In Her Place' is a South Korean drama directed by first-time director Albert Shin. The film is about a city woman who travels to rural Japan to live with a teenage girl and her mother. The protagonist soon changes to the teenage girl, when its revealed she is pregnant. Albert Shin is a Canadian director who went back to South Korea to make this remarkable film. The action takes place mostly around a small house in the desolate village of Gungnam, so there are no fancy sets and thus the film focuses on the characters. The whole film is a brutal character study that is physically exhausting, in particular, a devastating scene towards the end. None of the characters were likeable (the directors intention), so I found the film to drag, even if it includes one of cinema's biggest "Oh Sh*t" moments. Well done to Albert Shin for an astonishing debut.

SCORE
73

AWARDS
Biggest "Oh Sh*t" Moment

Luna

'Luna' is a unknown and unhyped British film directed by David McKean. What persuaded me to buy tickets is it has one of the best trailers I have ever seen. Turns out the trailer gave away all the best parts of the film. Luckily for me I only watched it once (and I suggest you do the same). The story begins as a couple, Grant and Christine, who have recently lost their baby, visiting friends in a remote woods. When their baby passed away, their world deteriorated and they created a sort of fantasy world. As they visit their friends, Fraya and Dean, the fantasy world slowly returns as they struggle to differentiate fantasy from reality. Its quite an incredible film, based slightly off a true story. The characters and the actors portraying them feel like real people, providing a gripping character study. The bizarre and artistic animations are also faultless, adding to the creepy otherworldly aesthetic. 'Luna' will scare, move and will make you think. It stayed with me a while, and is definitely worth watching.

SCORE
79

AWARDS
Made me think the most post-watching, Most Interesting Film

Confession

'Confession' is a thriller by first-time director Do-Yun Lee, who looks about 14. Collaborating with the cinematographer of Oldboy, and some fine South Korean actors, Lee has made a thriller to the standard of South Korean master-works 'I Saw the Devil' and 'The Chaser'. The script reminds me of Infernal Affairs, while the atmosphere is reminiscent of 'Memories of Murder'. All of this for a directorial debut! Safe to say this was originally filler, but turned out to be the biggest surprise of the festival. If I was to say anything bad about it, it would concern the acting of one of the actors while crying (which wrongfully made me laugh several times) and the ending should be cut by 15 minutes. I am incredibly impressed with this film, and can't wait to read the reviews when its fully released.

SCORE
81

AWARDS
Best Debut, Biggest Surprise

National Gallery

The final film I saw of the festival was Frederick Wiseman's 'National Gallery'. A sophisticated 3 hour documentary about the National Gallery in London. I find art mostly dull and uninteresting, but Wiseman's documentary did considerably change my thoughts. The three hours was cut down from 170 hours, and takes place during the winter of 2012. Wiseman takes a look at the many wonderful pieces of art and the behind-the-scenes management of the gallery. What did surprise me is how he made the film look so good when using his own artificial lights would be banned due to them fading the pictures (I asked him this in the Q+A once the film had finished, and he said it was because he used a RedOne camera and edited like crazy afterwards). It's quite unexpected how beautiful the inside of the art gallery looks like on film, with gleaming floors and beautiful works of art on the walls. The staff talking about the art really impressed me, and showed me how a simple painting can have an unbelievable story behind it. The film may be too long, but its one of the most relaxing, peaceful experiences possible and is easy to chill throughout. The final dancing scene was a specific highlight, and one of the most gorgeous scenes at the festival. Wiseman is seriously old, but I hope this is not his final film.

SCORE
75

AWARDS
Best Documentary, Most Relaxing Film, Longest Film

Scarlet Innocence (2014)

  'Scarlet Innocence' (Madam Ppang-Deok) is a 2014 South Korean film directed by Pil-Sung Yim and starring Woo-Sung Jung and Esom.

  Deoke (Esom) falls in love with Hak-Kyu (Jung), a university professor turned writing teacher. They have a passionate affair, with major consequences for Deoke's Deaf mother, and Hak-Kyu's wife.

  My first film at the Toronto Film Festival 2014, was the world premiere of this erotic thriller, complete with Q+A with the director. I intentionally watched this film without researching about it, and was pleasantly surprised. 'Scarlet Innocence' is an impeccably crafted film, but is not without a few flaws.

  First thing I noticed was the cinematography, reminiscent of a Soderbergh thriller, with each character lighted so you can see their every sweat. Light is used impeccably, especially the earlier on outdoor scenes. The cinematography is perhaps too good, (not in a Epic 'Lawrence of Arabia' way, but in a "Can't be filmed any better given the material" sort of way), not only because of the composition and lighting, but because it perfectly fits the mood and tone of the film.

  The nice love story that the film begins on quickly takes a dark turn, and continues to get progressively darker. Similar to 'Filth' and 'Wake in Fright', the film chronicles a man's descent into despair, with frightening results. It doesn't just stick to this, by also having a story that includes betrayal, lust and gambling. This film does try and fit too much into the run-time, which helps with the biggest problem for the film that is: there is no clear act structure. The vacancy of any clear middle and end acts make the film hard to enjoy, as I constantly thought the film was wrapping up, only for it to continue for another hour. The film was best during the first 20-30 minutes as you could see clearly what was happening, and was a pretty authentic erotic romance, similar to, and better than, 'Last Tango in Paris', but after this, there is no clear direction where the film is headed making it feel a bit muddled.

  Also impressive is the acting, where I could tell each and every emotion from how the characters act on screen. Woo-Sung Jung takes a break from his heartthrob/action films to portray a multi-layered deceitful persona, far different from his roles in 'A Moment to Remember' and 'The Good, the Bad and the Weird'. If the Oscars were more internationally friendly, I would say he could easily win Best Actor. When I think of South Korean films, I think high-paced action, adorable romances and advanced cinematography, but never quality acting. The acting is good in South Korean movies but never before to this high standard. Both the lead actor and actress were incredible, even during the uncomfortable and revealing sex scenes.

  The reason why this is not scored higher, is because it's just not my type of film. An erotic thriller, where the characters have no redeeming features, is not the sort of film I like at all (I found 'Last Tango in Paris' to be a horrible experience). This is a sophisticated, high quality film that I definitely recommend, if you like the genre.

TO CONCLUDE
The first-class acting and brilliant lighting outshine the muddled plot and unsympathetic characters.

SCORE
72

Toronto International Film Festival

I am currently chilling in Toronto, in preparation for four days of hardore film watching (that is watching lots of films, not watching films that are hardcore). I have 13 films planned, and I'm going to be too busy to review them. Here is a complete list of films I will watch:

September 4th 2014

6pm Scarlet Innocence (South Korea)
It has been a while since I watched A South Korean thriller. The Chaser, Mother and I Saw the Devil are recent classics, so I decided there was no better way to start the festival.
9pm The Dead Lands (New Zealand)
I know very little about this film. It is mainly filler for the films it is sandwiched between. Its a film about aborigine tribes in New Zealand.
12pm Tokyo Tribe (Japan)
I'll be surprised if I can stay awake for this long. Shion Sono is perhaps my favourite director, having not made a bad film in his 15 year directorial career. This film is a Yakuzza, gangster musical, that I expect to be phenomenal. I am indeed a fan, having seen 11 of his films. Shion Sono may even be there!

September 5th 2014

11.45am Aire Libre (Aire Libre)
This is filler, and optional. It looks awful from the trailer, so I might miss it if I am exhausted.
3pm Winter Sleep (Turkey)
The worldwide acclaimed, 3 hour, Palme D'Or winner, is a film I have yet to get tickets for. I do intend to. I was a bit bored by his previous film 'Once upon a Time in Anatolia', but his work is visually interesting and tells stories at a slow and meditative pace.
8pm Coming Home (China)
Zhang Yimou's latest film. Yimou is known for directing the 2012 Olympic Ceremony, 'Raise the Red Lantern' and 'The Flowers of War' (starring Christian Bale). He is a superb director who is truly a visionary.

September 6th 2014

9am The Tale of Princess Kaguya (Japan)
I would NEVER miss a Studio Ghibli film. This one is directed by Isao Takahata ('Grave of the Fireflies') and is based on a tenth century Japanese fairytale. The reviews have been brilliant thus far.
11:30am Song of the Sea (Europe)
Directed by the same guy who directed the masterful 'The Secret of Kells', this has the exact same animation style.
2pm In her Place (South Korea)
This is, once again, filler, but it has the most potential out of all the fillers. The trailer gives little away, so I know very little about it.
6.30pm Luna (Britain)
The trailer is really quite something. I have to physically pull myself away from the screen to avoid watching it again (incase it spoils the film). The film looks very experimental, and indie. An unanimated 'Waking Life'.

September 7th 2014

9.15am Confession (South Korea)
Another thriller filler. Although I am down with anything South Korean.
12:15am National Gallery (Britain)
I have yet to see a Frederick Wiseman documentary. I'm not sure starting with a 3 hour documentary about London's National Gallery is a good idea...
4.15pm Love in the Time of Civil War (Canada)
I like the name. Watching films based on names has failed me before ('2001 Maniacs: Field of Screams', 'The Wild Women of Wongo', 'Cannibal Woman in the Avocado Jungle of Death', 'Dinosaurus'), but this film has a far more interesting synopsis.

Films I Wanted to See (showing later in the festival or doesn't fit with my schedule)

Beats of Antonov (Sudan)
Looks magnificent from the trailer. About the Sudan civil war, and I would have seen this as well. If it were longer than an hour long.
Rec4 Apocalypse (Spain)
The first Rec is the scariest film I have seen. The second was good and more of the same. The third was atrocious, partly because, they thought it would be a good idea if they put the camera down and shoot it like a movie. BAD IDEA. It's called Rec, the shaky cam should be compulsory. This fourth one also doesn't have shaky cam, and the story has been blown out of proportion (much like the Paranormal Activity franchise). Why is this here then. The director of the first two, Jaume Balaguero, is directing this, but mainly because it is a guilty pleasure.
They Have Escaped (Finland)
Finnish films are quite a rare occurrence. But it does look like a crazy and brilliant coming of age story from the great trailer. Definitely one for DVD.
The World of Kanako (Japan)
Tetsuya Nakashima is quite a director. His films are vibrant, energetic and startlingly dark. This is his latest film, is about a missing girl and a father's plight to save her.
Fires on the Plain (Japan)
The director of 'Tetsuo''s attempt to adapt and remake Kon Ichikawa's horrifying anti-war film, for present day audiences.
Horse Money (Portugal)
Pedro Costa is a little-heard of auteur from Portugal. This film continues the story of Cape Verdean, as he survives in the Portugese slums. The fourth in the series after Ossos, In Vanda's Room and Colossal Youth. I am speechless from watching trailers of his films. The light manipulation in these films are truly beautiful.
The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness (Japan)
Who doesn't want to see a documentary on Studio Ghibli? Documenting the creation of 'The Wind Rises' and 'The Tale of Princess Kaguya'.
The Look of Silence (Indonesia)
Follow-up documentary of The Act of Killing, this time told from the victim's point of view. Also directed by Joshua Oppenheimer.
The Years of Fierro (Mexico)
Fascinating documentary of death-row convict Cesar Fierro, who has been locked up for 30 years. Even more worryingly he might be innocent. Gripped me from the first few seconds of the trailer.
In the Crosswind (Estonia)
This looks to be the most visually stunning film of the festival. It concerns the Latvians, Estonians and Lithuanians which were sent by the USSR on trains to the remotest Siberia.
Partners in Crime (Taiwan)
About three high school friends. One of them dies in an alleyway, while the other two discover why she died.
Goodbye to Language 3D (France)
I doubt many people even know (or care) that French New Wave pretentious rebel Jean-Luc Goddard, is still making films. This is probably over-hyped, but I will watch it anyway.
X+Y (England)
An autistic student travels to Taiwan for the Maths championship. Starring Asa Butterfield from 'Ender's Game', 'Hugo' and 'The Boy in the Striped Pajamas'.
Pasolini (Italy)
I have always thought a film about Pier Paulo Pasolini would be a great idea. This film stars Willem Dafoe (who looks remarkably like him), and chronicles the final days of his life before his assassination.
Mr Turner (Britain)
I have yet to see a good Mike Leigh film (mostly OK and unmemorable), nevertheless he is an amazing director, and this film has heaps of praise.
Leviathan (Russia)
Tons of praise at Cannes, has turned director Andrey Zvyagintsev a name to look out for. His previous work 'The Return' was quite a film.

I will catch-up with the films in this segment during the next year.





I have tickets for all but five of them, the others I intend to buy when they become available. At $18 each (£12), I couldn't stop buying. Now I am about to leave to see some movies!

Police (1985)

  'Police' is a 1985 French film directed by Maurice Pialat and starring Gerard Depardieu.

  Gerard Depardieu plays a policeman called Louis, who attempts to bust a Tunisian narcotics ring. However he falls for Noria, one of the drug traffickers girlfriend, and ends up protecting her, due to the wrongful accusation of theft.

  Depardieu and Pialat had four total collaborations, 'Police' being the first. Pialat has always been a director that is spoken about, but surprisingly few people have seen any of his films (his most voted film on IMDB has 2,500 votes). This is my first foray into his films, which seem to be recommended to me constantly. Gerard Depardieu, on the other hand, seems to be France's most known and loved actor. He may not have the charm that propelled so many actors to stardom, but he has an unparalleled screen presence and a humongous filmography. Ever since watching the brilliant (and actually quite depressing) 'Jean de Florette', Depardieu seems to continually surprise me, and this is no different here. The first ten minutes provides a level of acting rarely achieved in 1970s-80s cinema, with a intense atmosphere and lingering shots.

  'Police' is a crime thriller like no other. The documentary aesthetic, the naff 1980s mise-en-scene and the bland interiors makes the film unique. These points may sound negative, but they combine to create a realistic portrayal of 1980s police that is rarely shown. Usually you get ultra-stylised, minimalistic versions of police offices, but Pialat does the reverse, and creates an authentic setting and atmosphere, so life-like, its easy to forget that this is a film. The film was made half way through the 1980s, and thus, was doomed to be unforgivably naff. The awful hairstyles and the cringe-inducing clothes make an unwelcome return from Rohmer's naff films, but they rarely effect the film itself. Even if Depardieu's haircut is one of cinema's worst.

  Pialat has made the film his own, but he has made the experience of watching it far from enjoyable. The characters may be well developed, and the film is well crafted, however the film lacks structure, contains confusing storylines, and has more words per minute than any film I have seen. 'Police' is far from most people's safety zones, not only in it's content (sexism, nudity, police abuse) but also in what an audience is used to with a film. For example, the main protagonist Louis (Depardieu) is tough, arrogant, sexist and rude. Having a main character that is hard to sympathize with (no matter how well acted) will always irritate the audience. In many different aspects, the film proves to be well made, but so hard to like.

TO CONCLUDE
Incredibly well acted and directed, but really hard to "adore".

SCORE
68