Finale Festival de Canne 2010...

As the Cannes film festival closes for another year I am happy to have noted that Javier Bardem (Penelope Cruz's on and off again partner) has won a best actor Award for the film "BIUTIFUL" and I look forward to it being released here in Australia.

Also of note was the closing film for the Cannes Film Festival, "The Tree" shot in Queensland, Australia and starring french actress Charlotte Gainsbourg.

I look forward to hearing the reviews by Margaret and David from ABC's "At the Movies", this Wednesday.

http://www.abc.net.au/atthemovies/

Harry Brown..

Michael Caine adds a presence to any film he is connected with and Harry Brown is no exception.
Visually the film is striking with contrasts shown in the tempo of the film beginning with the opening scene shot from a hand-held camera. The perspective of the film-maker is invoked via a blur of colour and action then contrasted with the gentle awakening of Harry Brown in the morning likened to the slow dripping of a tap.

Emily Mortimer also stars as a detective investigating various street crimes and incidences that originate from the seedy housing estates that both Harry Brown and others live in. Emily is able to show empathy and concern towards Harry Brown even when she suspects he may have more information concerning some of the recent violent crimes that have been reported in the housing estates of late.

Sean Harris (played the role of Ian Curtis lead singer of Joy Divison in the film "24 hour Party People")  role in this film is playing the depraved 'Strech' alongside an equally depraved pal. His sickly, grey and deathlike character is a junky dealing in 'pot', arms and anything else you wouldn't want to consider. Looking like a weedy little rat it's hard to have any concern for his plight and his character highlights the depraved souls terrorising and contributing towards the violence on the streets.

Harry Brown shows us how revenge is not always 'sweet' but painful and in his eyes necessary to restore some normality and security to his life and the lives of others.

With little dialogue much is left to the visuals of the film to make up the story-line. In the beginning we see a cautious Harry Brown unwilling to take the short-cut via the underground subway and at the closing of the film we see him choose this option regardless of whether it's the safest option, the old man once more empowered and no longer afraid of the consequences.

This film predictably has been compared to Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino with both actors being legendary stalwarts of the silver screen. I liked both films in equal measures however Gran Torino takes the time to allow the audience to know the character of the leading man and offers some light humour amidst the violence. Harry Brown on the other hand is unflinchingly a dark and sobering experience which manages to convey the reality of sensless violence by portraying large amount's of violence on the screen.
For those who are a little squeamish and unused to viewing violence in films I urge to reconsider for this film is an exception in the message that it conveys to the audience.

Cannes Film Festival....

The 63rd Cannes Film Festival is currently running from May 12th - May 23rd.
This years festival has Tim Burton, husband of Helena Bonham Carter, of Edward Scissorhand's fame as President of the jury.

No Australian films feature in this year's Official Selection however Robin Hood featuring to Australian actors, Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett is being premiered at the festival.

Of note in the official selection for the Cannes film festival this year is a new film by Ken Loach, the British director. Woody Allen also has a new film debuting outside of the official selection.
Both directors are realists in their own right albeit Woody Allen favouring humour as a way of making his point whereas Ken Loach tends to shock by uncovering and exposing the often dismal life lived by the lower classes in Britain and others in society.

Check out the festival review as it progresses at the link below:
http://www.festival-cannes.com/en.html

Kick-Ass..!

It's hard to believe that the lead in this film, Aaron Johnson (a.k.a Kick-Ass!) is the same guy who played a young John Lennon in last years Nowhere Boy.

Kick-Ass plays the typically nerdy-unable to find a date- and string two sentences together- in the presence of a pretty girl kind of guy, who feels life is left wanting after his young mother passes away. Kick-Ass and his mates are often at the receiving end of violence in the hands of young thugs in the city and finally, one day Kick-Ass has had enough! Whilst 'hanging' at his local comic shop Kick-Ass muses aloud about the fact that there aren't any everyday superheroes. He proceeds to go home after being held up by the aforementioned 'local thugs' and orders a wet-suit a.k.a his everyman's superhero outfit.
As a 'sign o' the times' Kick-Ass sets himself up with a blog where people can contact him to fix their problems. Alas on his first assignment Kick-Ass ends up seriously injured and in hospital but not easily deterred he continues to battle evil.

The controversy over this film however, centres around the tiny 10 year ,"Hit -Girl" whose daddy (a.k.a Big Daddy) is none other than Nicolas Cage. Big Daddy is portrayed as the ultimate middle-aged fuddy-duddy with something to prove and a costume reminicsent of Batman's! (On apersonal note I do digress but I happen to love "Hit Girl's" purple cyber bob!*).  Hit-Girl (Chloe Moretz) is an incredibly tough opponent and one to be wary of. She is able to fight off a group of assailants with nothing much apart from a samurai sword and a couple of switch blades! Hit-Girl is involved in portraying extreme levels of violence along with some serious bad language for someone of her age. This has concerned some members of the public about the suitability of a young girl playing such a role. On a moral level I guess it's not the ideal situation however it does make for an entertaining film.  I guess we need to keep perspective on things and realise that after all it is all make believe.

Kick-Ass was surprisingly entertaining although I felt Nicolas Cage added little to the film which is unfortunate as I have been a fan of his for a long time.  The real stars were Aaron Johnson and Chloe Moretz who both radiate charisma on-screen and who are able to garner your support despite the violence.

Accidents Happen!

Accidents sure do happen when Billy Conway is around!
Billy Conway is played by young Australian actor Harrison Gilbertson and Sebastian Gregory plays Doug Post, the supposed troublemaker friend of Billy's brother, who now lies in a vegative state in hospital care. Both characters are central to the story along with Geena Davis's role as the mother, Gloria Conway.

The film although filmed in Australia with a predominantly Australian cast bar Geena Davis, is set in a small town in North America. This film to me is reminiscent of Richard Kelly's break-out film, Donnie Darko.
It has the same snappy and uber cool teenage characters that are easy to fall in love with along with a killer soundtrack and a sense of doom and darkness to the film mixed with oddly lighter moments.

Billy Conway appears to be a change agent for danger, beginning with his family's car accident and the ultimate demise of his sister and serious injury of his brother as he reached over his parent's whilst driving and set the car off course. Subsequent to this event Billy tries in his own way to come to terms with the results of the accident as does each member of his family in different ways. Billy's family separated and his other brother, Larry Conway twin to the confined Conway brother turns to drinking and the constant hope that his twin will recover.

As the story proceeds Billy strikes up a friendship with his injured brother's old friend Douglas Post whom his mother views as a troublemaker and bad influence on her children. Again bizzare circumstances strike Billy and he becomes the centre of a serious "accident".

The younger cast members of this film are compelling to watch and it's good and surprising to see Geena Davis back on the lime-light.

I look forward to following the careers of both Sebastian Gregory and Harrison Gilbertson along with director Andrew Lancaster's future work. I find it a little sad that the film was purposely set in America in order to encourage wider release and viewing however it's refreshing to see the new Aussie talent out their. Although I love Ben Mendelsohn, Claudia Karvan and the other usual suspects they are starting to hit the age where the teenage role won't be so believeable anymore.