The Rover

 

As I watched the movie, I thought to myself that this would be the kind of movie that I would write and make. From the characters, to the guns, and the drugs, the apocalyptic social situation, the dialogues (or lack of), the photography, the apparent lack of motive, the beautiful landscape that is Australia and the choice of the lead actor - Guy Pearce. It couldn't have meant much to many others, and therein is a possible lesson for me. But the bright spark comes from an unlikely source - the supporting lead played by Robert Pattinson. Who would have thought he could provide credibility to an indie type indulgence. 

Rating: * * *

The Home Song Stories

A well made family drama by Chinese born Australian director Tony Ayres - apparently inspired by his own story. Joan Chen performs brilliantly as Rose the slightly neurotic mother of 2 - a Shanghai nightclub singer/hostess who seems to be more keen on living the fast life rather than rearing her 2 young children. The family relocates to Australia after accepting a marriage proposal from a faceless Australian sailor. Doesnt take much for Rose to head out looking for more. Told from the perspective of the young boy, The Home Song Stories is a moving tale of a mother who shouldn't have been.

Rating: * * *

Noise

Opens with the shocking scene of a massacre in an Aussie suburban commuter train which has a lone survivor. Its Christmas, the killer is out there and the people in the suburb are quite obviously shaken. In the midst of all of this, a cop suffers from tinnitus and finds him facing the wrath of his superiors. Resulting self-doubt, confusion wracks the young man. Strangely enough he finds himself in the eye of the investigation - but dealing with his own condition which threatens to bring him down all together. Fantastically shot movie, with its deliberate story line - which conveys brilliantly personal as well as group fear - and outstanding performances completes a highly watchable film. Another feather in the cap for Aussie films.

Rating: * * *

The Piano

Ada (Holly Hunter)and her daughter Flora (Anna Paquin), arrives on the shores of New Zealand as part of an arranged marriage to Alisdair (Sam Neill) who is a wealthy land owner. Ada's most treasured possession after her daughter is her piano which she plays with great passion defying the silence she lives in. The language of music that she speaks and her body soon has a local Maori native, Baines (Harvey Keitel) lusting after her. And who said one needs words to fall in love...

Rating: * * +

Ten Canoes

Watching this film is like taking yourself back to the nights of your grandfather telling you tales of yesteryear. The narrator guides you through a story within a story scenario of an ancient aboriginal tribe. A story of their old customs, sorcerers, fearsome warriors and their many wives. And as it is today many wives spells trouble even in the old days...

Rating: * * +

Jindabyne

When does someone really die? When life departs from their body or when the living realize that they are gone? These questions come to mind when watching this film from Ray Lawrence.

Four friends on a weekend fishing trip discover a body of an aboriginal woman floating on the river. They choose to continue with the trip and report the body only after they have had their fun. This sends shock waves through the lives of the involved men especially Stewart (Gabriel Byrne). His wife Claire (Laura Linney) finds it hard to digest what her husband has done. Racial and familial tensions start to run high in this taunt drama which has you hooked but does not reel you in.

Rating: * * +

Clubland

An English stand up comedian, a star from yesteryear, is struggling with herself and with keeping the family afloat in this little town in Australia. Despite all her posturing about being in control, she has no clue on what her children really want and becomes ore overwhelming - even to herself. Her elder boy finds himself a girl and is often at crossroads dealing with his urge to be with the girlfriend and his mother's need for him to remain in the nest. A watchable family drama.

Rating: * *

Somersault

It is never a good idea to make out with your mom's boyfriend as Heidi (Abbie Cornish) discovered. Unwilling to face her mother she runs away to ski resort where she sleeps with random men. I am not sure what the director was trying to show other than highlighting some obscure form of personality disorder.

Rating: * +

The Proposition

The Proposition is a fascinating watch; good old-styled western movie about revenge and dealing with the natives. However, its set in the great, barren Australian outback. Guy Pearce is part of a splinter group of outlaw brothers who is caught but needs to hunt down his brother, to save another.
Finely shot and with the script written by the enigmatic Nick Cave, throws up a relatively simple yet interesting story - and a haunting soundtrack. Superb performance by Ray Winstone and everyone around (Guy Pearce appropriately stoic). It also shows how the aborigines were dealt with by the colonialists in their attempt to induct civilisation. A movie that stays in your mind well after the credits roll.

Rating: * * *

Little Fish

Tracy (Cate Blanchett) an recovering heroin addict is slowly getting her life back together. She struggles to get a bank loan to start a new business. All seems good but her past comes crowding back in. One by one the characters from her yesterdays, file back into her life sucking her back to a place she does not want to be.

Hugo Weaving plays Tracy's family friend who introduced her to heroin and the man has outdone himself. For once I did not feel like saying, "Welcome, Mr. Anderson".

Rating: * * +

Lantana

Sex and deceit rule the lives of the characters in this film. They lie to themselves and their spouses. But in the end they are only human. Director Ray Lawrence throws pieces of a jigsaw puzzle at you. The seemingly easy puzzle starts to come together as the film progresses. But in the end they don't fit so well which is what makes this film so beautiful.

Rating: * * *

Japanese Story

As they say, Jack and Jill went up the hill. To fetch some stones, despite being difficult strangers. Jack, as expected, fell and then broke his crown. Jill came crumbling after. A sad (as in, horrible) film, but with some outstanding Aussie desert footage.

Rating: * +

Look Both Ways

A cartoonist who sees death everywhere. A photographer who has been diagnosed with cancer. A reporter who has gotten his girl friend pregnant. A man being run over by a train is witnessed by the cartoonist. The incident is covered by the reporter and the photographer. A film that flirts with a morbid fascination with death but with a streak of life infused in it.

I saw this movie with Aromal as usual. By the 50th minute he walked out swearing he would acquaint Wenerd with much pain and suffering if he met him. I agreed to help him dole out punishment to the twisted bastard. But I continued to watch the flick with a sense of foreboding depression. But around the hour mark something happened. Everything just clicked. Maybe it was the soundtrack or the rain or the fact that the "death animations" stopped . I really don't know. All I can say is that I have never seen such a powerful movie before.

Rating: * * * *

Fat Pizza

One of the most offensive movies have come across. Though theres not a moment that one isnt laughing. Made in the Cheech & Chong tradition, tells us the day in the life of a lebanese pizza delivery boy in sub-urban Australia.

In what can be construed as rascism - he spares no one - the vietnamese, aussies, Indians, lebanese, italians and americans. Its sexist as well; rude and abusive of disabled people. The idea is that no one is left feeling that they are the only ones to be abused. A philosophy that deserves more merit.

Theres a bit performance by the great Merv Hughes: as an axe-wileding serial killer - fucking hilarious!

A classically orey the funny movie.

Rating: * * *