Shutter Island Dir. Martin Scorsese (2010)

Martin Scorsese was inspired by three things prior to making Shutter Island:

1. B-Movies
2. Alfred Hitchcock
3. Good Cinematography

These are all evident with this feature - I was hesitant to see this film, the trailer and the overall marketing of the film proposed the vision that Scorsese had sold himself out to Hollywood, to the mainstream.

How wrong I was - Indeed, Scorsese does follow with the tradition of thrillers with this feature, there is the antagonist, private detective, Teddy Daniels (Leonardo Dicaprio) and the protagonist being the institution, Shutter Island. Or so it seems at first glance.

The film is particularly successful in delivering the sensitive nature of mental health care in the fifties. The horror of the fifties mental health system is a political message in Shutter Island - As well as this, the political message of an ex-war veteran is one of the more current issues that the film focuses on.

Teddy Daniels is a broken man, bruised and clearly still haunted by the horror he witnessed at war. Without giving too much away, there are many twists in the film, the ending is particularly touching leaving not even the slightest crumb of comfort to the audience.

These issues distinguish Scorsese's feature from the usual mainstream thrillers that usually carry Capitalist, anti-feminist and conventional messages.

Twilight (2008) Dir.Catherine Hardwicke

Intrigued to see what all the irritating hype was all about, I was looking forward to immerse myself in Twilight – Director Hardwicke grabbed my attention with her unorthodox portrayal of teenage life with her indie flick 13 so I was interested to see how she would do with another teen film with an edge.

Bella Swan moves to the small town of Forkes to live with her father, she is not the archetypal vision of a teenage girl which is certainly a breath of fresh air – She is clumsy yet still cool and even manages to find herself some friends. She is drawn to the mysterious group of teens, The Cullen family, all adopted yet coupled up with each other.

When they walk into the cafeteria there is a definite hint that this sequence was inspired by Heathers (This didn't surprise nor disappoint me as every dark teen film has a connotation to the classic).

Handsome emo, Robert Pattinson plays Edward Cullen, the singleton of the family whom is instantly drawn to Bella and she also is mesmerized by him. The films potential lies when we discover Edward can not stand to be close to her, we sense its his attraction that is causing some kind of reaction in him and its no secret the audience is aware this is a vampire film.

The audience adopts a Sherlock Holmes type of role, intrigued by spotting the attributes of a vampire. He clearly is attracted to her or does he merely want to eat her? How did they become vampires? Are they really evil? The most fascinating part of the film is when we learn about the history of the Cullens – Going back in time learning how they all became blood hungry monsters.

Gradually, Bella and the most beautiful vampire boy Edward fall in love but must preserve their desires as Edward's Vampire instincts still longs to eat her. The movie is amusing as well as rather touching and clearly has considerable appeal for romantic teenagers. The encounter with the genuine human blood sucking vampires adds an interesting twist to the story and leaves room for a sequel which I am definitely going to endure.

Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging Dir.Gurinder Chadha (2008)

This film is not only painfully embarassing it is also full of destructive messages. Filled with plenty of homophobic remarks which attempt to reinforce the "humour" and add to the message that brains are an unnecessary luxury and that there is one definable image of attraction / beauty.

The most disturbing thing is British Indian Director, Gurinda Chadha has opted to cast the 'loser' of the group as an Asian girl. Very strange.

Boys are the only thing that matter in this film.

It is disturbing, disgusting and mindless adding to the already fame / beauty / sex obsessed society in which we live in. Awful, tasteless and totally uncool.



0/10

Dead Man Walking (1995) Dir.Tim Robbins

Tim Robbins directs a film based on a true account of a nuns relationship with a convicted murderer and rapist.

Susan Sarandon gives a stunning performance as Sister Helen Prejean, hailing from a wealthy background she lives a modest life in the ghetto of Louisiana. She is drawn to the case of Matthew Poncelete a convict on death row. She begins visiting him at prison and offering spiritual guidance when his appeal falls through.

Sean Penn plays the convicted murderer, he claims he is innocent and was merely present at the murder until Sister Helen encourages him to confess.

"The truth will set you free"

A very tricky film to produce but Tim Robbins works with it very well by celebrating forgiveness and provoking deep thought amongst the audience. Sean Penn manages to provoke sympathy to his chracter. Perhaps empathy. Here is an ill educated man who admits to the brutal crime, does he surely deserve to die?

Sister Helen has a confrontation with the victims parents and this scene proves the film to be very open minded and objective with the issue at hand. However the ending of the film is one of the most emotional and remarkable scenes in in film history.
As Matthew is strapped to the table he is elevated by the guards to the window where the witnesses including Sister Helen are sat and delivers his brutally honest and heart breaking speech.

The film focuses on the pros and cons of the death penalty but ends with the encouragement of forgiveness and compassion. A genuine film with an excellent cast and director. Tim Robbins keeps the film faithful to the real life book by Sister Helen. Hope, forgiveness and political injustice surrounds this film.

10/10

Rachel Getting Married (2008) Dir. Jonathan Demme

Certainly not one of Demme's most polished films but alluring none the less. Rachel Getting Married adopts a documentary style in showcasing ex-addict Kym (Anne Hathaway) return to home for her sisters wedding. The film acts as a looking glass into a dysfunctional wealthy family's life.

The film has strengths and these lie within the characters and the unfolding of their relationships with each other due to a troublesome past. An excellent cast but with mediocre characters.

Anne Hathaway gives a superb performance proving herself to be a dynamic and talented actress despite having taken one dimensional roles in the past. The family's obsession with multi-culturalism is rather irritating here, we're not sure who all the ethnic people are but we know there present for Rachel's Wedding.

Don't expect too much from the film.

3/10

Celebrating Gangster Films

The BFI kicks off it's gangster season on July 8th with William A. Wellman's The Public Enemy (1931). Expect Al Capone, Bonnie and Clyde and many more iconic gangsters to grace the screens of the Southbank Center.

For further information & bookings click here.

The Return of Heathers!

July's issue of EMPIRE magazine included an exclusive interview with Winona Ryder where she revealed there will indeed be a sequel to the cult classic, Heathers (1988).
"Whatever you hear, there is a sequel in the works..and Christian has agreed to come back.." - Winona Ryder

Ryder goes onto say how writer Dan Waters and director Michael Lehman are hesitant to reveal anything further on the project. Could this be a reminder to the young generation that the edgy Mean Girls (2004) was indeed based heavily on Heathers? Despite Tina Fey's remark that it had no connection to the cult classic, it clearly did.

Are teen black comedies finally making a come back? What a great time for it to emerge! With films like The House Bunny (2008), High School Musical and celebrity magazines urging teens to look and think in a superficial certain way, this is a blessing!

The purpose of black comedies are complex, they always make a taboo subject area or a serious issue, a lighter one and in turn provoke exploration and deep thought amongst the audience.

There also seems to be an essence of a healthy type of anger at societal pressure such as looking a certain way, the obsession with fame, seemingly mundane marriage life etc.

Morality doesn't usually exist in black comedies which is extremely liberating - The insanity of the situation is comfortable and intriguing to watch.

If you would like to check out some Black Comedies that are truly original and fantastic, here are a few:

The Ladykillers (1955)
Jawbreaker (1999)
Death Becomes Her (1992)
Beetlejuice
Serial Mom (1994)
I Wonder Who's Killing Her Now?
Dead Man on Campus (1998)
The Hospital (1971)

SherryBaby (2006) Dir. Laurie Collyer

The moment I read the back of the dvd cover, I was instantly drawn to the film. This is a story of the rehabilitation of an ex-convict who has just been released from prison thereby promising a character based story. I've never really admired plot based films, the best films have great characters so I was excited to endure Sherry Baby.

We first see Sherry in the opening sequence; listening to her ear phones staring out of the bus window bopping her head whilst she looks around the town. As she gets off the bus a man in a suit barges past her and she shouts out to him to acknowledge he has pushed her. As she looks around the public for validation and sinks into her brown paper bag for a cigarette, we are instantly drawn to Sherry the misfit, the misunderstood, the confrontational, the drama queen, the innocent. All these things.

The somewhat compulsive, ex-heroin addict, Sherry Swanson, is played by the ingenious, Maggie Gyllenhaal. She arrives at her half-way house and the audience learns she is keen to see her daughter Alexis as soon as possible. Gyllenhall is remarkable in this film, we see Sherry slowly try and piece her life back together again by getting a job, attending support groups, forming a relationship with a man and with her daughter.

The sheer brilliance of the film is it's raw honesty about life - Sherry comes to accept she can not look after her daughter on her own and needs support. We learn of her troublesome childhood and presenthood involving her father and come to admire her strength.

A beautiful film reflecting a young woman trying to live - At times the film doesn't really know where it's going but Gyllenhaal manages to lead the way.

8/10

Louis Theroux: A Place For Paedophiles

Last night on BBC 2 Louis Theroux graced our screens on his much talked about, controversial, new documentary. Based in California, Coalinga Hospital homes over five hundred convicted sex offenders.

The documentary sheds light on the mysterious question...'what happens to them after they're convicted'. Well, they play guitar, partake in Halloween parties, play sport as well as partake in intense therapy every day.

The usual 'On the fence, English gent' that we know Louis to be clearly felt uncomfortable in these surroundings and one has to congratulate him for finally challenging his subjects with blunt questions.

Theroux interviewed several paedophiles including Mr Rigby, a former junior athletics coach who lured the young into taking part in sexual initiations. Mr Lamb, who confessed to molesting 50 children. One man had undergone castration in an attempt to secure his release.

Even though, most of the men speak profoundly & honestly about their 'disorder' it just doesn't seem genuine. It's almost like they have memorised these lines from their psychotherapy sessions. It's all a bit strange and fake.

This documentary casts off forever any memories of Theroux's earlier career of moving in with D-listers and getting us to laugh at them, he spent a week almost living with paedophiles in a Californian hospital.

Having said this, the documentary as a whole is petrified of these men and lacks any perceptive insights. Instead, there is the obvious, these men are child like themselves, these men are in denial, these men will never be free etc. The efficient editing and Theroux's attempts to imitate the wondrous Nick Broomfield was obvious from the beginning.

None the less, this documentary undoubtedly reached in over 2 million viewers due to the subject matter. I feel like Theroux has no passion for telling stories nor does he have an opinion. He has been quotes saying: 'When I work, I like to be invisible'. Some may say this is key in becoming a documentary film maker as you get more out of your subjects...

However, I think there is a moment when your increasing absence contaminates an investigative documentary. Thereoux is a total bore following the Broomfield trend of interesting subject matter.

If you would like to watch the documentary please click here.

Sunset Boulevard (1950) Dir.Billy Wilder

Sunset Boulevard takes a cynical look at the film industry & is one of the masterworks of cinema. Co-written and directed by the great Billy Wilder, the movie is an unusual mix of black comedy and film noir. It is a accessible, well crafted Hollywood movie, but at the same time it has the density and originality one would expect from an art-house film.

The film opens with police vehicles driving down palm tree lined streets as a male narrator says in voice-over: "Yes, this is Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, California… A murder has been reported from one of those great big houses in the ten thousand block." Soon the police arrive at a mansion, where floating in the swimming pool is a dead body. The audience is instantly drawn into the film.

The most cinematic scene appears early on in the film; the shot of the dead man floating in the pool surrounded my paparazzi is stunning to the eye and makes a blunt statement on the film as a whole.

The story flashes back to six months earlier, and we meet Joe Gillis (William Holden), a hopeless young screenwriter. While driving along Sunset Boulevard, Joe's tire goes flat so he pulls into the driveway of a run-down mansion. The mansion reminisces the one described in Dicken's classic novel, Great Expectations. At the house he encounters a woman he recognizes as Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson), a movie star of the silent era. When Joe remarks to Norma that she used to be big, she retorts, "I am big. It's the pictures that got small." - Classic.

Joe soon learns Norma has written a screenplay she expects to play the lead in the movie made from it. When Norma discovers Joe is a screenwriter, she hires him to edit her screenplay. Then the aging former actress gradually makes the handsome Joe her gigolo. Joe moves into Norma's gloomy mansion, where she is attended by her faithful servant Max (Erich von Stroheim). Two or three evenings a week Max runs the projector while Joe and Norma sit watching her old silent films.

Ironically the movie we see them watching is Queen Kelly (1929), which starred Gloria Swanson and was directed by Erich von Stroheim.

Norma becomes increasingly happy as she comes to believe she will soon be the leading lady in a movie. Meanwhile Joe grows restless and gets involved with a perky young, ambitious script reader (Nancy Olson), this results in tragic consequences. But the events are so traumatic for Norma that she loses touch with reality.

Under the delusion that shooting has begun on her comeback film, Norma utters one of the most memorable last lines in all of cinema: "All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close up."

Sunset Boulevard will speak loud for film lovers everywhere. A Billy Wilder classic.

10/10