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Film Reviews
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More film reviews. I might have had a bit too much time on my hands....

Film Reviews Page: 1 3 4

	Upojenie This is a live collaboration between guitarist Pat Metheny and Anna Maria Jopek that would be very good if the levels on Metheny's guitar weren't set so insanely high during the solos. She's a former Polish Eurovision contestant which again highlights the poverty of UK pop music at the moment. It's basically a pop concert with some interesting arrangements here and there and obviously sung in Polish. Check out the 42 string Pikasso guitar Pat Metheny plays.
	The Upside of Anger A nice little film. There's some good acting which is allowed to shine thanks to the film's leisurely pace and unobtrusive directing. Nothing especially dramatic happens at any stage but Kostner and Allen hold the attention throughout and the supporting cast all do their jobs pretty well. It's an odd one to review but I can say that when the film finished I wasn't upset that I'd spent the time to watch it.
	Manufacturing Consent A documentary about Noam Chomsky and his relationship with and opinions of the media. I'm embarrassed that it took me so long to investigate Chomsky's political work along with that of Michael Parenti, Robert Fisk and others, although in my defence it's not as if the school system encourages independent thought or the questionning of the dominant paradigm. This is a must watch if you're interested in politics.
	Amarcord I was put off even attempting to watch a Fellini movie because film buffs discuss them as if they are some kind of sacred mystery. Piero suggested this for a beginner and I really enjoyed it. It's funny. I like the bricklayer gag particularly (roughly from memory "I'm a bricklayer, my father was a bricklayer, my grandfather was a bricklayer, so tell me, where is my house?"). There's also a memorable shot of a peacock in the snow.
	Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring Another glorious looking oriental film, this time from South Korea. The story is a kind of buddhist meditation.
	Joni Mitchell: Shadows and Light A concert featuring Joni Mitchell and a pretty heavyweight band including Pat Metheny and Jaco Pastorius. This woman's talent is almost intimidating. Although I still prefer the glorious old folk stuff she did, her jazz explorations can only be admired and this concert is a fine showcase of several prodigious talents. My favourite song is probably coyote which has a great groove to it, partly due to some awesome bass guitar from Jaco Pastorius.
	Iraq For Sale A documentary about the disgusting war profiteering by American corporations linked to the US government generally and the Bush administation in particular. It will make you very angry.
	Our Brand is Crisis Another documentary this time about the disastrous consequences of importing US-style spin doctoring into a Bolivian general election. The American team suffer from noticeable hubris after a series of election victories and though they manage to get their man elected by exploiting the fears of the electorate, the greater good isn't served at all, leading to some fatal civil disorder.
	Friends With Money I liked this. Jennifer Aniston gets a lot of grief for one thing and another but she's a gifted comic actress in my opinion. She doesn't deserve the crap she gets anyway. She's part of a strong cast in a film about the lives of some upper middle-class couples in Los Angeles. I think it works well.
	Murder on a Sunday Morning A murder is committed in Florida and the police pick up a random black guy. Frightening that this still happens but at least a documentary maker managed to pick the case up and show it to the world. The defence team seemed quick to accept the apparent confession of another suspect at the end, given what had gone before, but that's the only complaint and could simply be due to editing. The film is a rare chance to see behind the scenes of a real trial. Brilliant.
	Peaceable Kingdom This documentary scared me vegetarian. These animals suffer so brutally that it's pretty gruesome viewing but essential nonetheless. I think most of us have lost touch with the reality that the beef mince in our bolognese was once walking around mooing. I had anyway. This is bad enough in of itself but the sadistic treatment they receive in the process is hard to take. Grit your teeth and watch it on Google Video, you'll be wiser for it.
	Simon & Garfunkel: The Concert in Central Park An event as much as a concert. They do pretty much all of my favourite songs including April Come She Will, The Boxer and America. The atmosphere of the crowd is electric and they raise a cheer at the line "and in the naked light I saw, ten thousand people maybe more" which they obviously adopt as a reference to themselves.
	The Panama Deception Scary stuff. The warning signs were there all along of the course the Bush administration were likely to take. The cast of characters that were responsible for this murderous enterprise on defenceless Panama is much the same as the one that brought us the 'War on Terror'.
	Night on Earth A nice film and my favourite of the Jarmusch films I've seen so far. It has a slow start with Winona Ryder, but get's better and better, hitting a peak with Benigni's hilarious performance in Rome, followed by the reflective finish in Helsinki. Good stuff.
	12 and Holding A kind of coming-of age film that, although it deals with some bleak subjects, is uplifting in many ways. The performances by the young cast are all outstanding and I was very impressed by the whole package. The plot is based around the a group of friends who are targeted by bullies that accidentally kill one of them in a fire. The film then follows the children as they deal with the aftermath and various other issues in their lives. Excellent.
	The Weatherman A gentle comedy about Nicholas Cage's character, a TV weatherman, and his personal journey towards self-acceptance. I liked it.
	This Film is Not Yet Rated A documentary about the movie rating system in America. It tries to uncover the secret identities of the members of the panel, as well as the inconsistencies and bias of their decisions, and succeeds in both. It's very revealing and very well put together. I wish we had more people making these kind of feature length documentaries in the UK.
	Vampyros Lesbos A lesbian vampire film from 1971. A friend of mine introduced me to the soundtrack, which is very interesting so I thought I'd watch the film. It's pretty weird viewing. The 1970s looked so different and I always find it fascinating the way the world changed so quickly over just a few decades. Interesting but obviously not one to watch with your parents.
	Dido: Live at Brixton Academy I watched this and remembered how good she is. I checked on Wikipedia and apparently there's been lots of delays with her new album which is why she hasn't been around. Anyway, I thought she was a breath of fresh air and had undeniable talent. I hope the new album's worth the wait...
	Slayer: Still Reigning A band I was into as a kid, it's kind of amazing that they're still going, some of them well into their forties. They do all the favourites, 'South of Heaven', 'Mandatory Suicide' etc and play as well as they ever did. Raw and uncompromising.
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