Black Swan

You know that awful feeling you get when you hear nails going down a blackboard? That physical feeling? Well expect to feel just like that when you watch BLACK SWAN.

Natalie Portman is simply magnificent in this role, playing the lead ballerina who is transitioning from a young 'perfect' adolescent into a courageous, strong woman. This transition in her life is one of the mind and this is where the thrilling nature of BLACK SWAN ensues. You will literally feel her struggle throughout this transition.

All the supporting cast are equally as brilliant. You are instantly transported into the world of professional ballet. Everything about the ballet world has been captured so well: from the costume and wardrobe, the unsocial competitiveness of the environment and the characters nuances. These achievements alone are wonderful and I admire the work that went into all aspects of the film to achieve this. Don't expect much fluff and grandeur here.

With such wonderful performances and a unique storyline, you can't not enjoy this film. Expect some scenes that will truly horrify you. You will feel uncomfortable but it's well worth it for the overall experience. I highly recommend it and can't wait to know what you think about it.

Share|

Broken Road

Broken Road (2009) from Lynsey Urquhart on Vimeo.

I had the pleasure of seeing this locally produced short film on Sunday night, under the stars, sipping a Cosmopolitan, eating popcorn, and sitting back in a bean bag. This film is one of a few that stood out for me at the film festival event Short, presented by The Last Beatniks and Elsewhere on the Gold Coast.

The cast performances are brilliant and the story flows effortlessly considering there is very little dialogue. The absence of dialogue is perhaps intentional, to provide an air of suspense.

Congratulations to the filmmakers who has collectively scored themselves a bevvy of awards for this production. I thoroughly enjoyed it and am proud that it's a local film of immense quality. Hope you enjoy it too!

Share|

Two Lovers

Don't be fooled by the title. This film is heavy and depressing in its delivery and the two love affairs at the centre of this film are just as somber. But I think that is the point of TWO LOVERS. The film explores the baggage we have as humans; baggage and hang-ups from previous relationships and how we inevitably share those insecurities and histories with subsequent partners with doleful effect.

The film follows the story of Leonard (Joaquin Phoenix) who is chronically depressed following the loss of his fiance' and has moved back home to be watched over by his concerned parents. For a middle aged man, this situation doesn't lift his spirits and he's soon chasing escape from his world by getting caught up in the unstable life of his new neighbour, played by Gwyneth Paltrow. Meanwhile, a quiet, smart and nice girl is literally knocking at his door but this women offers him little escape that he is desperately searching for.

There was no profound moment of realisation in this film, nor any noteworthy climax. Great performances of seriously complicated characters but nonetheless it was a slow, dreary film overall offering little insight into 'real' relationships that we haven't seen already.

On a side note, this was to be Joaquin Phoenix's last film in his acting career, before pursuing a life as a hip hop artist. You may recall that famous David Letterman interview. Well since then, we now know that was all a hoax. Even so, this film was an interesting choice as his last hoorah.

Perhaps TWO LOVERS had great potential. But I believe a depressing film can still provide the audience with something, anything; perhaps new and fresh explorations into the complexities of relationships. This film just did not quite deliver that for me.

Comments and thoughts of your own are always welcome!! Perhaps I'm wrong. And perhaps it's depressing and disappointing because it's all too real?

Share|

Infinity

Batelco - Infinity from Spy Films on Vimeo.

What are you thinking right now? Daydreaming?

This short film shows you just how wondrous your imagination can be. A brilliant production.

Share|

Eat. Pray. Love.

A guilty pleasure for the ladies.

Watching this film felt as if I had entered a secret women's club: Not a single male in the audience. By now you would have heard a lot about the film and its all true. It's good and it's not so good.

Adapting any best-selling novel to an entirely different medium is no doubt a difficult task. It always surprises me when people are upset that it's not the same as the book. Novels are more often than not jam packed with interior thoughts and 200+ pages of prose; which is not easy to translate into a 90 minute, purely visual and audio experience. Saying that, I actually think this film did quite well.

Eat Pray Love stayed true to the book and highlighted all of the key events and people Elizabeth Gilbert experienced. Julia Roberts fitted the role perfectly and encapsulated the persona of Liz without fault. But I'm saying this with a greater knowledge of the character because I've read the book.

Sadly, if you haven't read the book, the course of events may seem irrational and unsubstantiated.

The soundtrack was pretty damn awesome though! So go and enjoy it for what it is. A sensory and visual pleasure with glorious scenery of Italy, India and Bali.

I'm off to the travel agent.

Share|

Boy

Wow. What a delightful film.

BOY is New Zealand's highest grossing film... ever. Directed by Kiwi Taikia Waititi. This is his second feature film and he has certainly impressed his fellow country-men.

This is this story about Boy, a young kid who is growing up in rural New Zealand, without a mother or father around. He dreams of his dad returning (after he escapes jail by digging a hole under the fence with a spoon), moving to the city together, swimming in a pool and seeing Michael Jackson live. Did I mention that their rural village is by the ocean? Yes this film is full of jokes and contrasts. Whilst laughing with them while they run a muck, you also see a young Boy make the realisation that life is actually perfect as it is.

BOY is very much a portrayal of New Zealanders and their cliches. It's always enjoyable when people can happily make fun of themselves. But the jokes, the fun and the storyline are universal and will be appreciated by all.

This film is hillarious and heartwarming. The entire cast are brilliant and I just love the closing scene!! Lots of Michael Jackson references which are a lot of fun accompanied by fantastic production design perfectly reminiscint of 1984.

Don't miss this film!

Share

The Man Who Walked Around The World

Well this TV spot is the best ad I've seen in a very very long time. I love it and just wanted to include it here in my blog so more people can appreciate it.

When finishing my film degree, my lecturer asked me what I was going to do in the 'real' world, once all the fun of studying was over. He wanted me to make up my mind about what my specialty would be. I think he actually said, "Jess, you can either be a jack of all trades and a master of none OR you can specialise." All I honestly wanted to do was make a beer commercial. Yep. I love beer commercials. I love their big budgets, high production values, they always have a bit of comedy, sometimes they're innovative and they just look like great fun to make.

Now that I'm a bit older and hopefully a tiny bit wiser, I have decided I would like to branch out and also make a Johnnie Walker ad. In fact, I wish I made this one.

I also wish I made "Inception", but my thoughts on that piece of brilliance is to come.

So, basically, this is just a well made TV spot, that makes me wish I liked whiskey. Enjoy the extraordinary, long, single shot.

Share|