Fish Tank (2009) Dir. Andrea Arnold

Newcomer Katie Jarvis plays Mia, a loud mouthed, angry fifteen year old living with her alcoholic mother and younger sister in a council estate in Essex. Arnold tackles the issue of 'Broken Britain' sensitively and honestly without the overly emotional and dramatic nature that we see with Shane Meadows. She has the cleared eye social realism window as the iconic, Ken Loach exhibits.

Filmed in a documentary style, the audience warms to Mia as the film progresses, we see the helplessness of her situation and begin to admire her loner status. Her world begins to get shaken up when her mother has a new boyfriend. Michael Fassbender plays Connor O'Riley, an intelligent and charismatic man who sparks a connection between Mia and himself.

On one hand, Mia has not known love all her life so when Connor begins giving her attention and positive encouragement, Mia is intrigued and tries to make sense of this. On the other hand, Connor himself is not the typical hero of the film, we learn he has a wife and child and his relations with Mia begins as a disillusioned father - daughter one.

At home, Mia's little sitter watches American programs such as MTVs Cribs and Sweet Sixteen which is clearly a well thought out sequence to outline the problem with society. Whilst spoilt teens get bought huge parties and cars for their birthday's, Mia is desperately trying to live and make sense of love and purpose.

The good bye sequence between Mia and her mother towards the end of the film is the most interesting sequence - Mia's mother is dancing to one of Mia's cd's, Mia approaches her and starts to mirror her dance movements, whilst they stare lovingly into each others eyes, Mia's sister starts mirroring them too.

This mirroring can be interpreted as the mirroring of life styles. Is their hope for Mia's future? Or will she too turn out to be like her mother? Unemployed with a drinking problem.

Whilst Mia packs her things up - Her sister cheekily asks her if she is going away to the 'special school' to which Mia replies "Nah, you can have my place" initiating that her sister will grow up to be a troubled teen as she has. This brings the audience to understand these characters and how they see the world.

Jarvis gives the film extreme depth - She is certainly an actress to look out for in the very near future.

The Unconvential Truth of The Twlight Series

The Twilight Series has encouraged a heavy amount of hype, primarily with teenage girls. Lusting over two very different portrayals of the ideal man.

Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) is the blood sucking, soulless guy. Feminine in appearance, lean in build and he plays hard to get with Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) throughout the series. He is the broken man. The emo.

Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner) in contrast has muscles, he is tanned and makes his feelings about Bella strong and clear from the beginning.

These two leading men can be compared to male stars from the past. Edward Cullen as the bisexual icon, James Dean and Jacob Black mirrors the masculine in every shape and form, Marlon Brando.





Teen flicks such as Mean Girls, Cruel Intentions and She's All That often sexualise the female body - The camera often pans from bottom to top on the leading lady's body. We see this in the sequence in She's All That when Laney Bloggs (Rachael Leigh Cook) has just had a revolutionary make over and as she walks down the stairs, the camera adopts the view point of Zack Siler (Freddie Prinze Jr).

Therefore the audience instantly adopts a hetero sexual male voyeuristic view point of the female being the hunted. Metaphorically, the male is merely at opposite ends of the camera, being the hunter.

The Twilight Series has flipped over this tradition that occurs in teen flicks and for that matter, all mainstream films. Ironically, plot wise, Bella Swan is constantly being hunted by the blood sucking hunters however, the underlining messages of the film are extremely different from this notion.

The camera sexualises the two leading men instead of Bella or any other of the female counter parts. The constant slow motion shots of Edward entering a room, is the camera adopting Bella's view point.

Edward Cullen is also extremely feminine and Bella is certainly not the archetype of the idealised feminine character. Her style is casual and somewhat dull, she is very much in the background.

The character of Edward Cullen challenges audience's notion of the ideal male and furthermore, The Twilight Series has reflected that sexuality in the twenty-first century is versatile and constantly evolving. We are entering into yet another sexual revolution and the film industry seems to be picking up on this.

Everybody's Fine Dir. Kirk Jones (2009)

Despite the film clearly failing with it's mission of mirroring About Schmit - Everybody's Fine is a warm-hearted, easy viewing film to endure. Frank Goode (Robert De Niro) is a recently retired and widowed father who decided to go on a trip to visit each of his children once they all miraculously cancel on him for their annual dinner.

As Frank travels, he realises that his kids have been telling him a false story about their lives — Happily married advertising executive Kate Beckinsale is far from living in domestic bliss, big-shot dancer, Drew Barrymore is actually a bisexual waitress with a child .

The movie continues on this with rest of his children, growing less gripping each time yet it continues to be an enjoyable film due to De Niro's emotional performance.

The real tragedy occurs when Frank discovers what has happened to his youngest son - The ending is somewhat unsatisfying but leaves room for the audience to continue enjoying their lazy Sunday afternoon with the family.

A cup of tea and some digestives are recommended during viewing.

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)