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: * * *

Prometheus

A group of humans and an android find themselves on a remote moon after discovery of a star map that promises to answer the human origin question. Predictably the crew find themselves treading murky waters and to their "surprise", alien creatures. The plot tries to go philosophical with Noomi Rapace's character's questions about faith and God interwoven in to the quest for the answer to human creation. However the prequel to the Alien franchise goes beyond its ken and tries to answer questions it has no business or need to ask. But the film is gorgeous to look at and that alone makes it worth a trip to the cinemas.

Rating: * *

First Snow

A directorial debut that began with ambitions of creating something as stylish as Memento. So he gets the actor - and, predictably, the similarity ends there. Guy Pearce is this ruthless salesman, who runs into a fortune teller who predicts imminent death. And then the waiting begins, paranoia builds and the ruthless salesman is left to tremble expecting the end. Its the script that ultimately fails, as there is very little Pearce's intensity and fine camera work can achieve on its own.

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: * * *