Locke (2013)

Year: 2013
Running Time: 85 minutes
Director: Steven Knight
Writer: Steven Knight
Cast: Tom Hardy, Ruth Wilson (voice), Olivia Colman (voice)

Locke is the perfect example of how a film can do so much while doing so little. Writer and director Steven Knight shows in his one man, minimalist film that tension can be built purely by conversational dialogue and needs very little added noise to achieve a high level of suspense. Tom Hardy gives an exceptional performance of a man who's eventful car trip contains several personal underlying themes and internal struggles which are familiar to many. Locke is an intriguing and mesmerising piece of raw, suspenseful and, unlike the lead character's situation, uncomplicated cinema.

When Ivan Locke (Tom Hardy) leaves his construction site, he is aware that there is one part of his life that is definitely about to change. However, he does not realise how much this car trip will impact other areas of his life which were seemingly idyllic before he turned the key in the ignition. During his hour and a half travel time, Locke has to deal with a number of challenging situations simultaneously which do not give him the luxury of knowing what life is going to be like once he reaches his destination.

Locke is incredibly intriguing for both its production and execution. It is primarily a one scene film, as the entire film takes place in Ivan Locke's BMW (aside from the opening moments of the film when Locke actually gets in his car) and the only character who is physically present in the film is Locke himself with all the other characters being just a voice on the phone. Locke is an ambitious piece of work because of these features, but Knight proves that he doesn't need more than what he has to create something clever, original and unpredictable. The film is incredibly tense and while there it does have subtle help from the musical score, it is all in the dialogue that makes it so. The screenplay is very well written in the way it intertwines three major storylines at once as well as incorporating the grudge Locke holds with his father which is continually at the back of his mind. Locke does not create suspense the way an action film would, but it does so in it's unpredictability.

While Locke's situation is not one that everyone will encounter during their lives, there are underlying themes in his situation which are extremely relatable. The theme that resonates the most is the idea that one action which seems harmless at the time can set in place a chain reaction where it changes the course of your life. This is ultimately what happens to Locke in the film and it is something which often plays on people's minds. The notion of "What if?" is such a common question asked in life and in Locke one has to wonder what would happen had he made different choices in his time leading up to this car trip, just as they would ask the same thing of themselves. Another idea in the film which some will be able to relate to is how Locke is trying so hard no to be like his father, that he is ultimately becoming like him. In life, sometimes people are so terrified about becoming a certain way that you start to morph into what they feared. In Locke, he obviously still is bitter towards his father for neglecting his family and wants to prove that he will not do the same thing. Yet, in his moment of weakness, he makes a decision that brings him closer to the way his father was than he ever believed he could be. This is perhaps not as common a notion as the first theme explained here, but one which does haunt many people psychologically.

The way in which Locke is filmed is wonderful. While the film has only one scene, the way this scene is filmed is varied so there is no reason for feeling like you are looking at the same shot over and over. The camera allows the viewer to see what Locke is seeing from several different angles and also allows Locke to be seen from varied angles which in turn let's the filmmakers use different lighting on him. The film takes place entirely at night so it is quite a skill to use the lighting from other cars and streetlights as an opportunity for a different perspective on Locke. The rain outside the car also gives a beautiful touch to the film and adds a sense of dread to enhance the seriousness of Locke's situations.

Tom Hardy gives a wonderfully controlled performance as Locke. His character is a particularly complex one who is not only facing the challenges of his situation, but also the challenge of trying to hold himself together during his time on the road. One may argue that they would like to see Hardy get angrier, but the reality of his situation is that he is on the road and he can't go crazy or he will never reach his destination. You can see within him that he is on the verge of going slightly crazy and even though does have a weak moment here and there, he is for the most part controlled. The side of his character that Hardy shows when he is talking to his father is also very interesting and makes the viewer uneasy.

Even though Locke is a film which may feel like it is restricted in it's surroundings, it is a film that does so much with what it is given. A wonderful, suspenseful and original piece of cinema.

8.5/10

Top 10 Films by a Two Year Old Future Film Buff

Please meet Movie Critical's guest contributor for today...my two year old son, Jackson!

When I was pregnant, one of the things people took delight in telling me was how when I had a child my movie watching days were over. Like many things people warn you about when you are expecting, this was a slight exaggeration. When you are passionate about something, your passion doesn't automatically leave you when you start a family, but it goes without saying that it does take a backseat compared to the love you feel for your child. My son is my world, but what I have learnt as a mother is that you can't neglect the things that make you who you are. Finding that balance in life is incredibly important because a happy mother means a happy child, and anyone who knows my son will confirm that he is indeed a very happy little boy. I understand that different people's passions can be hard to maintain when a child is present, but I am lucky enough to have one I can bring to my child.

My movie watching hasn't come to an end since having a child. Very far from it in fact. Even though little Jackson is only two, I try to get him involved with my love of film as much as I can. He had his first official trip to the cinemas when he was only two months old when I took him to one of Event Cinema's Bring Your Baby sessions and took him to many afterwards. The lucky thing has also been to the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood to see The Muppets Most Wanted while on our family holiday in the USA. Of course he doesn't accompany me to most of the films I go to in order to review, but he is growing up familiar with cinema and one can only hope that he will find the same love for cinema that I have. I'm very proud of the fact that he recognises Charlie Chaplin's Little Tramp and exclaims "Charlie!" when he see's his picture.

At home, it is a common misconception that having a child means that it is just a constant marathon of Dora The Explorer, In The Night Garden, Sesame Street and Peppa Pig. I'm not going to lie, these television shows do get air time in my household and I don't find them anywhere near as entertaining or enjoyable as Jackson does. However, his preferred entertainment extends past these television shows and funnily enough, he does tend to dwell near our collection of DVD's where he chooses his favourites and brings them over to my husband or I to put on.

Here is the good news for every parent. Having a child doesn't mean you need to sacrifice your enjoyment of film. The type of films you watch change (until the younger members of the household go to sleep anyway), but watching movies with young children doesn't have to be a mindless and monotonous activity. There are a great deal of films out there which can be enjoyed as much by adults as children for different reasons. Unless you have a severe distaste for animation, finding something for both you and your child to enjoy is not as trivial as it is made out to be. Children at a toddler age tend to like films which have colourful images and characters, music and singing, and children their age or older so they feel like they can relate to them. When you think of film viewing with children in terms of these ideals, there is a great deal of choice for mothers and fathers at family movie time.

So with Jackson's help, I have put together a list of the top ten films which can be enjoyed by both adults and children alike. With each film listed, there are the reasons Jackson and other children will enjoy it and the reasons why adults will also enjoy it.

Finding Nemo (2003)

Why children will enjoy this.....Finding Nemo is a great film for children of any age. Younger children will be particularly taken by this film because of the bright colours which are used in order to create the world of clownfish, Marlin and his son, Nemo. As the fish are underwater for 98% of the film, the gorgeous bright blue water of the world below the surface expands takes over the screen and has almost a hypnotising quality for children. They are also entertained by the cute and enjoyable characters, particularly Nemo, Squirt and Dory. Jackson finds Dory speaking in whale quite hilarious.


Why adults will enjoy this.....Finding Nemo really is a film for everyone. It is both simple and comical, yet quite emotional as it is ultimately the story of a father being separated from his only son and doing anything he can to get him back. Some of the funniest moments in the film are perhaps greater understood by adults than children such as Bruce and the other sharks at the fish eating support group. Ellen DeGeneres gives life to Dory and the seagulls steal the show with their "Mine, mine, mine" throughout the film. One cannot help but admire Finding Nemo also for the same reasons that the little ones love it too. It is such an attractive film to watch with an incredible use of colour throughout and wonderful visuals of ocean life.

The Muppets (2011)

Why children will enjoy this.....There are a number of Muppets movies and three seasons of "The Muppet Show" available on DVD, but the 2011 film has a particular charm for children. The Muppets are indeed colourful characters in themselves, both in appearance and in personality which make them excitable for children to watch. The Muppets is simplistic and has a generally fun atmosphere with several toe-tapping song and dance numbers. "Life's A Happy Song" is a sure favourite of any child with it's upbeat tempo and dance routine in the first scenes of the film.

Why adults will enjoy this.... The Muppets have been continuously in pop culture since the 1970's and there are not many people out there who do not enjoy watching Kermit and his friends. Jason Segel's screenplay provided the basis for the best Muppets film in decades with great comedic moments and the perfect amount of Muppets corniness. Again, there are elements of this film which are greater understood by older audiences such as hilarious cameos by celebrities such as Dave Grohl and Jim Parsons, and also references to the older films. While "Life's A Happy Song" is a favourite for younger audiences, "Man or Muppet" will be a favourite with older audiences and long time Muppet fans will love the inclusion of "The Rainbow Connection" and "Mahna Mahna".

Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone (2001)

Why children will enjoy this.... The first two Harry Potter films are favourites with young children because they relate to seeing the students at Hogwarts at a young age. Even though J.K. Rowling's books are read by people of all ages, they were first and foremost children's books, as are the case with the films. There are some moments in Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone which can be quite scary for small children, but the film is entertaining and enjoyable for children watching Harry, Ron and Hermione at eleven years old. They have a particular fondness for Harry's owl, Hedwig and playing spectator to a game of Quidditch.

Why adults will enjoy this....There is no denying it, the world of Harry Potter is a whole lot of fun. There is no wonder the books were and still are such a phenomenon as the world Rowling created is so original and imaginative. The characters are well constructed and Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry an enviable place to complete your education. The films, like the books, are also quite addictive as you become attached to the characters and have a thirst to know what happens to them as the years go by.

Despicable Me (2010)

Why children will enjoy this.... A film about a villain sounds like a tough sell for young audiences, but Despicable Me is actually quite a hit with young children. While the animation is undoubtedly well done and extremely colourful, it is certain characters which draw children into the world of Gru. Firstly, Agnes is the youngest of Gru's girls and the human character children love to watch the most as she is still a little girl. She has a great love for her toy unicorn and has a wild and entertaining imagination that comes with her naivety. Secondly, the infamous minions. The minions are hilarious to watch and hear speak in their gibberish, which is an extremely humorous quality that children love. Their bright yellow colouring is also particularly eye catching.

Why adults will enjoy this..... Adults will also enjoy the hilarity of the minions, but the humour doesn't stop with the minions. The film is very funny throughout and has a wonderful screenplay. Gru is an exceptionally well constructed character and there is a real pleasure in watching him go from being a hostile, unlikable villain, to a caring and protective father figure. The voice performances are also wonderful in Despicable Me with the voices of Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Julie Andrews and Kristen Wiig being almost unrecognisable.

Frozen (2013)

Why children will enjoy this.... Although still relatively new, Frozen is an absolute winner with children. Little girls adore princesses Anna and Elsa and it is not an unusual sight on any given day to see a little girl at the shops wearing one of their princess dresses. Yet Frozen is by no means just a girls film. Little boys enjoy Sven the reindeer and the antics of Olaf the snowman. The white winter wonderland has the same hypnotic qualities which underwater animation does as it is tinged with a shimmering light blue shade which is visually very pleasing.

Why adults will enjoy this.....Frozen is a wonderful Disney princess movie which is unlike many past movies of the same calibre as it contains modern themes and has deep underlying themes. People appreciate a fairy tale which scoffs at the idea of love at first sight and chooses to focus more on the undying love of family. Visually gorgeous and the comedic talents of Kristen Bell are a treasure. Love it or hate it, there is absolutely no way to get "Let It Go" off your mind after you hear Idina Menzel hit her high notes.

How To Train Your Dragon (2010)

Why children will enjoy this.... Little boys in general tend to be drawn towards dragons, dinosaurs or anything that roars, so How To Train Your Dragon is such a wonderful film for them. However, the animation of the main dragon, Toothless makes him very much like a pet and has many of the same characteristics that a cute puppy would have, so this makes him also attractive to little girls. Children are also quite taken by the flying sequences in which Hiccup and Toothless soar through the sky overlooking the sea and their island. The fast pace of these scenes leave children mesmerised and highly entertained.

Why adults will enjoy this..... Adults will no doubt enjoy How To Train Your Dragon for the same reasons as children will, as Toothless is really quite endearing to behold. The film is highly entertaining and can be quite an adrenalin rush at times. Jay Baruchel breathes life into Hiccup and adds to this character who feels like he is a real disappointment to his father, a notion which will ring true to many watching this film.

The Princess and The Frog (2009)

Why children will enjoy this.... Again, as The Princess and The Frog is a Disney princess movie, it can be seen as more of a girl's film than a boy's. However, the majority of this film takes place while it's two main characters are frogs rather than their true human selves. If there is one thing that children love in animation films, it is talking animals. Tiana and Naveen spend much of the film trying to become human again, so watching these bright green frogs bicker, laugh and sing with each other is highly entertaining for children. Not to mention there is also a trumpet playing alligator and a romantic firefly for them to also be entertained by.

Why adults will enjoy this..... The Princess and The Frog is based on E.D. Baker's novel, "The Frog Princess" and is a highly enjoyable adaptation with interesting characters and extremely catchy songs. What will surprise people about this film is how atmospheric it is. Set in the Jazz era in New Orleans, the sights, sounds and music are quite nostalgic and the fact that it is an animation does not take away from the feeling of being in Louisiana in this glorious time.

The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Why children will enjoy this....The Wizard of Oz is an absolute family classic. Admittedly, much of this film can be too scary for children, such as the Wicked Witch of the West and her monkeys. However, children love The Munchkins and their songs. In their mind, they are watching children like themselves because of their size. The Lollipop Guild are particularly popular with this age group. Another favourite part for children is when Dorothy opens the door in order to reveal a world of colour, as this is when the movie suddenly becomes a whole lot more interesting for young children. They love colour and black and white doesn't provide much stimulation for them, so when Dorothy opens the door they feel as though the film has just started for them.

Why adults will enjoy this..... Watching The Wizard of Oz as an adult is a completely different experience to watching it as a child. To watch The Wizard of Oz is to be filled with awe, as it was a film which was completely ahead of it's time and a masterpiece for the year of 1939. The scenes which you found scary as a child no longer seem as scary, but still evoke a feeling of dread and tension. The songs are just as enjoyable and catchy as they were when you first heard them as a child. There is a reason that The Wizard of Oz is a timeless classic, as it never gets old no matter how many times you watch it.

Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

Why children will enjoy this..... In December, watching a Christmas film is the perfect way to get in a festive mood. Miracle on 34th Street is another classic film which has stood the test of time and is a family favourite. As little children start to realise what Christmas is about, they develop a love for Santa Claus, a very prominent figure in this 1947 film. It isn't just Santa Claus they are watching, but little Natalie Wood. Again, children love seeing children in films and Wood was nine years old here. A favourite scene of many is when Edmund Gwenn's Santa Claus and Wood's Susan are playing make believe and pretending to be monkeys.

Why adults will enjoy this..... Miracle on 34th Street says a lot for the Christmas spirit. It is the faith of a child that drives the belief of Santa Claus and it is a belief that brings happiness and love. To not believe and be a sceptic doesn't guarantee happiness. Miracle on 34th Street is the perfect family Christmas movie as it brings happiness and optimism and reminds us all to have faith. Edmund Gwenn gives an Oscar winning performance that is just divine and Natalie Wood is just adorable.

Curious George (2006)

Why children will enjoy this..... Curious George is Jackson's favourite movie at the moment. His main reason for loving it is Curious George the monkey. This monkey really is a thrill to watch for children as he is full of life, very cute and often very funny. The fact that this cute monkey is smiling all the time makes children so happy and laugh uncontrollably. The animation is relatively simple compared to other films, but there is still a great use of colour which stimulates children. Curious George is a very happy, but simple film and this and the entertaining monkey works for children.

Why adults will enjoy this......  Yes, George is very cute and he will probably make you want a pet monkey yourself. The film is also what it is due to the talents of Will Ferrell, who gives his voice to George's human friend, Ted. There is no mistaking it is Ferrell behind the voice, but this is not a bad thing as his humour is perfect for the part and perfect for an adults enjoyment of the film. Curious George's Jack Johnson soundtrack is also something of a treat, which brings more happiness and fun to the film.

Thankyou to my beautiful son, Jackson for contributing by helping me choose the films to feature here!

2014 Melbourne International Film Festival Round Up

The 2014 Melbourne International Film Festival has just wrapped up another exciting and entertaining 18 days of film. This year saw the audience numbers rise to make 2014 the most successful year for the festival in it's 62 year history. Opening Night was held on the 31st July and featured the upcoming release Predestination as it's film, while closing night on the 16th of August was the Australian premiere of Felony attended by the cast and crew of the film.

We at Movie Critical were in Melbourne to experience the festival first hand and watch some of the best of what it's program had to offer. Our film diary consists of 25 films, which included 18 feature films and 6 documentaries from Australia, the United States, New Zealand, France, Belgium, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Austria, Denmark, Iran and China. We have put together a one paragraph review of each of the films we saw and our top 5 films of the festival to follow.  Please note that the films which will be receiving a theatrical release in Australia will also receive a full review closer to their release date.

Black Coal, Thin Ice (2014)

Screened at the Melbourne International Film Festival on the 8th and 17th of August.

Directed by Diao Yinan

The winner of the Golden Bear at this year's Berlinale, Black Coal, Thin Ice is an extremely atmospheric thriller set in contemporary northern China. Police officer Zhang Zili (Liao Fan) is injured on the job during an investigation into a grisly murder and retires to live a quieter, but more self-destructive life. When murders start happening which are very much like the one which he was working on all those years ago, he is propelled back into the world he has tried so hard to escape. Although there are elements of Black Coal, Thin Ice which are similar to many other films of it's genre, it presents it's audience with a fresh take on these elements. There is a period towards the middle of the film which is really quite slow, but even in this lapse the film is still captivating due to the power of it's visuals.The film is beautifully shot in the snow and the cinematography exquisite.

8/10

 

The Case Against 8 (2013)

Screened at the Melbourne International Film Festival on the 15th and 17th August.

Directed by Ben Cotner, Ryan White

When Barack Obama was elected President of the United States in 2008, there was reason for many to celebrate. Yet when Proposition 8 was passed in California, there was devastation for many in the gay and lesbian community who were planning to get married or were already married and were then informed that their marriage was in fact invalid in the eyes of the law. The Case Against 8 follows the court case against Proposition 8 and in particular focuses on the two couples, Kris and Sandy and Paul and Jeff who are propelled into the spotlight as part of the case. Although the documentary starts off slow and does give the impression that it is being staged rather than being filmed as actual events are happening, it soon kicks into gear and becomes a captivating and often suspenseful journey. It is also a beautiful story of two couples who are deeply in love which each other and the film is a great deal more personal and emotional than what a typical political courtroom documentary can be.

8/10

 

Epic of Everest (1925)

Screened at the Melbourne International Film Festival on the 3rd and 13th August.

Directed by Captain John Noel

Epic of Everest is the glorious restoration of the archival footage from the first expedition to concur the summit of Mount Everest. The 1925 silent film footage is completely mesmerising with its breathtaking visuals of the beautiful, but harsh conditions George Mallory, Andrew Irvine and their men had to endure. The camera work is truly incredible for the time in which it was filmed, especially the long shots in which they were able to shoot footage of the men from miles away. While the expedition was seen to be a triumph, it is saddening to see footage of the men who lost their lives on the mountain beforehand filled with hope and optimism.

9/10

(As this was a restored classic, it has not been included in our top 5 of the festival)

 

Felony (2013)

Screened at the Melbourne International Film Festival Closing Night on the 16th August.

Directed by Matthew Saville

Felony is a wonderful showcase of the filmmaking talent that is presently in Australia. Malcolm (Joel Edgerton), a drug cop who is currently being hailed a hero for his latest arrest, is involved in a terrible twist of fate which threatens not only to tear he and his young family apart, but also threatens to reveal extremely damaging secrets of the police force. He tries his best to cover up his lies and guilt, but is always under the watchful eye of rookie officer, Jim (Jai Courtney). Felony can sometimes feel like deja vu as much of it you may have seen in past films, but for the greater part is unpredictable and greatly entertaining. It is extremely tense and made more so by a wonderful musical score and sound mixing. Joel Edgerton, who also wrote Felony, gives an incredible performance of a strong man falling apart and encourages the audience to ponder what they would in the same situation.

7.5/10

 

 

The Good Life (La belle vie) (2013)

Screened at the Melbourne International Film Festival on the 5th and 14th of August.

Directed by Jean Denizot

The Good Life is an absolutely charming coming of age story with a difference which looks at that time when you approach an age where you can go your own way in life, but choose what to take with you from your parents. Based on an incredible true story, Yves (Nicholas Bouchaud) is a father who eleven years ago went to desperate measures not to lose custody of his sons and has been living on the run with them ever since. After another close call means another change of location, the eldest boy, Pierre (Jules Pelissier) decides it is time to take his life into his own hands and sets off leaving his father and brother, Sylvain (Zacharie Chasseriaud) behind. Sylvain feels the unease of his nomadic lifestyle and after meeting Gilda (Solene Rigot) he starts to ponder what life would be like without it's secrecy. The Good Life is very atmospheric and quite beautiful to look at with it's beautiful photography of the French countryside. Zacharie Chasseriaud is extremely likable and it is incredible to watch how his happiness with life changes gradually into frustration, but he is always driven by his loyalty to his father.

8/10

 

The Great Museum (2014)

Screened at the Melbourne International Film Festival on the 7th, 9th and 17th of August.

Directed by Johannes Holzhausen

The Great Museum is a documentary about the world inside the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. It explores how items are chosen to put on exhibit, how they are put on exhibit and how they are maintained, as well as how the museum operates day to day. This documentary is an absolute must for any art history fan and is made in a rather unique fashion. There are no curators who speak directly to the camera, but rather the viewer finds out what they need to know about the museum by playing witness to conversations between museum workers and also by watching them go about their work. The museum is an absolutely beautiful institute in itself, but the cinematography enhances it's beauty and does the Kunsthistorisches complete justice.

8.5/10

 

Jauja (2014)

Screened at the Melbourne International Film Festival on the 10th and 13th of August.

Directed by Lisandro Alonso

Jauja is a surrealistic adventure of a man who would go to the end of the world for his daughter. Captain Dinesen (Viggo Mortensen) is tempted by the promised wonders of the land of Jauja, but his attentions take a dramatic turn when his daughter runs away with a young soldier. He sets off to find her and encounters the dangers of the land and unforseen moral dilemmas. Jauja is a film that should be seen with an open mind, as it is quite surrealistic and doesn't abide by common storytelling techniques. Yet there are some extremely interesting camera shots used and glorious scenery assisted by an incredible use of camera. It's two hour running time does seem a great deal longer due to the slow pace of the story, but can be forgiven as there is so much beauty to play witness to during this time.

7/10

 

Jimi: All Is By My Side (2013)

Screened at the Melbourne International Film Festival on the 8th and 16th of August.

Directed by John Ridley

Jimi: All Is By My Side is John Ridley's tribute to legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix. The film chronicles Hendrix's (Andre Benjamin) life from when he was discovered by Keith Richards' girlfriend, Linda Keith (Imogen Poots) through to the beginning of his worldwide fame. Andre Benjamin does well as Hendrix, as does Poots as Keith and Hayley Atwell as his girlfriend, Kathy, and the soundtrack is also memorable. However, the film tries to do a little too much and believes it is amazing, and it is never a good thing when you can tell that this. There are too many elements of a documentary thrown into this biopic, such as captions informing the audience who is who and real photos thrown in when the character is talking about a particular event. Many of the creative choices of this film bring a film that could have been so much more down.

5.5/10

 

Jodorowsky's Dune (2013)

Screened at the Melbourne International Film Festival on the 7th and 11th of August.

Directed by Frank Pavich

Jodorowsky's Dune is a documentary about the film that never was. Back in the 1970's, eccentric filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky started work on the extremely ambitious adaption of Frank Herbert's "Dune'. The film was to have an impressive cast including Orson Welles and Salvador Dali and had some wonderfully talented designers behind the scenes. However, it was never to be and became legend. This documentary is absolutely brilliant. Jodorowsky is such a passionate man and so full of energy that his love for the film radiates off the screen. After seeing Jodorowsky's Dune, you really do feel as though you did see Jodorowsky's Dune, even though it was a film which was never made. The depth of information of the pre-production of the lost film in this film is perfect and the whole documentary has the atmosphere of a science fiction film, just like it's subject matter. After watching the film, you are devastated that Jodorowsky's Dune never got off the ground, but still in high spirits after experiencing something so fun and passionate.

8.5/10

 

The Kidnapping of Michel Houellebecq (2014)

Screened at the Melbourne International Film Festival on the 4th and 11th of August.

Directed by Guillaume Nicloux

In 2011, the author Michele Houellebecq did not turn up for his book tour and seemingly disappeared. His disappearance made a lot of people speculate as to where he could be, and this film is a fantasied answer to those questions which people have had. Houellebecq (who plays himself in this film) has experienced a kidnapping like no other where his every needs are attended to and he befriends his captors. The Kidnapping of Michele Houellebecq is an odd film with no real direction to it. It is quite funny at times and there is an interesting underlying theme of celebrity obsession, as Houellebecq's kidnappers are clearly impressed by his star status. However, the film doesn't seem to make a huge amount of sense and is not overly interesting for those who are not familiar with Houellebecq.

6/10

 

Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter (2014)

Screened at the Melbourne International Film Festival on the 2nd, 7th and 14th of August.

Directed by David Zellner

Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter is a retelling by the Zellner brothers of the Fargo legend. Kumiko (Rinko Kikuchi) is a painfully shy, Japanese girl who travels from Tokyo to Minnesota in the belief that the Coen brothers film, Fargo is real and that there really is a treasure buried in the snow there. It is a wonderful retelling of the myth with some glorious images, particularly those in the Minnesota winter. There are some brilliant underlying themes of cinema obsession and the need for adventure and self-importance. Rinko Kikuchi does wonderfully to portray a character which is completely introverted, but there is a thirst to know why Kumiko is the way she is which isn't fulfilled.

7/10

Please see out exclusive interview with director, David Zellner here

 

Life After Beth (2014)

Screened at the Melbourne International Film Festival on the 12th and 14th of August.

Directed by Jeff Baena

Life After Beth is a hilarious insight into what happens when family and friends are still in the grieving stage when the deceased shows up on the front door...showing all the vital signs that they are in the process of becoming a zombie. Zac (Dane DeHaan) is absolutely devastated when his girlfriend, Beth (Aubrey Plaza) receives a fatal snake bite. Not even a week later, she arrives back at her parents house with no recollection of what happened to her and Zac and her parents are overjoyed. However, it isn't long before everyone starts to realise that Beth is not the person she used to be. Life After Beth is truly funny and a wonderful directorial debut for Jeff Baena. There are several  missing pieces of information and holes within the story, but they are forgiven as the film is completely enjoyable and contains some wonderful performances by Dane DeHaan and Aubrey Plaza.

7/10

 

Locke (2013)

Screened at the Melbourne International Film Festival on the 1st and 4th of August.

Directed by Steven Knight

Locke is a film like no other. For the film's entirety, the lead character, Ivan Locke (Tom Handy) is in his car by himself and is faced with a number of challenges during his car trip. There is no physical appearance of any other characters, yet we hear them all during Ivan's phone calls. Locke is a minimalist film, but it demonstrates how much you can do with so little. The cinematography is quite beautiful and the way the lighting is used brings so much to the film. The story is unpredictable and the way which Ivan is trying so hard not to be the way someone was to him, that he becomes like that person in the areas of his life that he has taken the focus off. It is a theme which many can relate to. Tom Hardy gives an intriguing and wonderful performance as a man who is trying to hold it together in the most stressful of situations.

8.5/10

 

Queen and Country (2014)

Screened at the Melbourne International Film Festival on the 9th and 15th of August.

Directed by John Boorman

The long awaited follow up to 1987's Hope and Glory, Queen and Country is a surprisingly hilarious and very entertaining film. Lifelong best friends, Bill (Callum Turner) and Percy (Caleb Landry Jones) are excited to finally be given the chance to join the army in the shadow of the Korean War. Instead of being sent to fight, they are to be based in England preparing soldiers for their work in Korea and this is where the two boys are able to get into mischief, but also have their first adventures in romance. Queen and Country, despite it's autobiographical roots, is a wonderful addition to a small group of British war comedies and is incredibly funny. The story does suffer at times under the comedy aspect of the film and unfortunately feels a little flimsy as a result. Tamsin Egerton is a particular standout as Bill's love interest, Ophelia.

7.5/10

 

 

Trespassing Bergman (2013)

Screened at the Melbourne International Film Festival on the 4th and 14th of August.

Directed by Hynek Pallas and Jane Magnusson

Trespassing Bergman is an ode to legendary Swedish filmmaker, Ingmar Bergman. Until his death, the whereabouts of Bergman's home on the Swedish island of Faro remained a heavily guarded secret. In Trespassing Bergman, filmmakers including Michael Haneke, Claire Denis, Alejandro González Iñárritu and John Landis are allowed into his personal abode to explore to world of one of the most studied figures in film history. In addition, directors such as Martin Scorsese, Wes Anderson and Woody Allen also put forward their thoughts and experiences with Bergman's films. It is a film lovers delight to see all these admired filmmakers speak of their love for Bergman and also hear more about Bergman's life and see his past home. Yet, there is not a great deal more to this film than this and it does not evoke a sense of desire to hear more about Bergman nor is the film as mesmerising and awe inspiring as one would hope it would be.

6.5/10

 

Two Days, One Night (2014)

Screened at the Melbourne International Film Festival on the 2nd of August.

Directed by Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne

Winner of the Sydney Film Festival, Two Days, One Night is a small film, but an incredibly effective one. Sandra (Marion Cotillard) receives a call informing her that she will lose her job, unless she can convince her co-workers to give up on their bonus for the year. Over the weekend, Sandra visits each of her co-workers individually and asks them if they will consider saving her by giving up their bonus. Two Days, One Night is suspenseful in an extremely subtle and unusual fashion, as it is unclear what is going to happen at the end and how Sandra, who is already a fragile person, will react to either situation. It is really quite an emotional film, and Marion Cotillard does brilliantly in a role which makes the audience feel a great deal of sympathy and care for her.

8.5/10

 

We Are The Best! (2013)

Screened at the Melbourne International Film Festival on the 3rd and 7th of August.

Directed by Lukas Moodysson

Swedish film, We Are The Best! is an ode to growing up and the time when adult ideas first start to enter the mind of a child. Bobo (Mira Barkhammar) and Klara (Mira Grosin) are two 13 year old girls who decide to start a punk rock band without any musical experience of their own. It is when they convince Hedvig (Liv Lemoyne) to join the band, that they finally find their feet as a band. We Are The Best! is a fun and sweet film about a group of girls who start to see the world differently than they did as a child, and believe there is more to this world than what the other girls who are their age believe. Yet, it is still wonderful to see these girls at an age where they are starting to see things differently, but still hang on to the fun parts of their childhood such a running around laughing and throwing food at each other.

8/10

 

What We Do In The Shadows (2014)

Screened at the Melbourne International Film Festival on the 2nd of August.

Directed by Jemaine Clement, Taika Waititi

The hilarious What We Do In The Shadows was the perfect end to the festival. This vampire mockumentary follows four vampire flatmates in Wellington as they explain how they live in a modern world and the obstacles they face being an immortal beast, including their werewolf rivals and how they seek out victims and clean up after them. What We Do In The Shadows is universally funny and extremely creative. It is a new take on vampires living in the modern world and does well at interlacing history (both fact and fiction) into the film. All of the actors, especially Taika Waititi, Jemaine Clement and Jonathan Brugh do wonderfully well as their undead characters.

8.5/10

 

Wish I Was Here (2014)

Screened at the Melbourne International Film Festival on the 12th and 17th of August.

Directed by Zach Braff

Zach Braff fans have been waiting a long time for his directorial follow up to Garden State, and he does not disappoint with Wish I Was Here. Braff stars as Aidan, a family man who cannot give up his dream of being an actor while his wife, Sarah (Kate Hudson) works in a mundane office job. When Aidan's father, Gabe (Mandy Patinkin) falls ill, he can no longer pay for his grandchildren's tuition at their Jewish school and Aidan decides to home-school his son and daughter. Wish I Was Here is an incredibly sweet and funny film, which feels more like Scrubs than Garden State. It can fall into the trap of being oversentimental at times, but it is a welcome oversentimental in a harsh world. The soundtrack is enjoyable and there are some wonderful acting performances, particularly by Joey King and Josh Gad.

8/10

 

 

The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet (2013)

Screened at the Melbourne International Film Festival on the 3rd and 17th of August.

Directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet

The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet is a charming film told by the unique and magical storytelling of Jean-Pierre Jeunet. 10 year old child genius, T.S (Kyle Catlett) lives in an unhappy world where he feels like he is a constant disappointment to his family, despite his incredible achievements. He decides to leave behind his home on the prairie and travel to the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC, which is where his genius is recognised and exploited. This film is a sweet and often surrealistic film which can sometimes leave you pondering what is actually really happening and what is not. The cinematography and production design is exquisite and so intriguing to see on the screen. The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet is a rather emotional and often heartbreaking journey.

7.5/10

 

Movie Critical's Top 5 of the Melbourne International Film Festival

 

5. I Origins (2014)

Screened at the Melbourne International Film Festival on the 5th and 15th of August.

Directed by Mike Cahill

I Origins is an extremely intelligent film which explores the balance in life between science and spirituality. Biologist, Ian Grey (Michael Pitt) falls in love with the free-spirited Sofi ( Astrid Berges-Frisbey) and find that amid their passionate romance are also issues which cannot easily be overcome due to their conflicting views on life and the universe. Years after their relationship ends, Ian discovers that there is a possibility that Sofi maybe finding her way back to him in a way which contradicts all he has ever believed. I Origins screenplay is a brilliant piece of work. It is carefully constructed so that the most minute details all play a part in the bigger picture and no stone is left unturned. Even though there are still some questionable and slightly predictable moments in the film, the way it stays true in every way to and honours in such an original way it's theme of the science vs spirituality debate is extremely admirable.

8.5/10

 

4. Fish & Cat (2013)

Screened at the Melbourne International Film Festival on the 3rd and 15th of August.

Directed by Shahram Mokri

Fish & Cat is a truly remarkable film. What it does with the art form of film is spectacular. Shahram Mokri's film is a single shot film and what it does with one single shot is pure brilliance. Set on a lake in rural Iran, a group of university students are camping out while taking part in a night of kite flying. Little do they know that there are two very dangerous men nearby who have something else on their mind. Fish & Cat may not be to everyone's liking as it is very quirky and unless you are 100% committed to the film, it can be very confusing. However, the ways which the film avoids continuity problems that would arise from it being a single shot film is incredible and so well done. It truly challenges the rules of film making and is highly entertaining and atmospheric while doing it.

9/10

3. Dinosaur 13 (2014)
Screened at the Melbourne International Film Festival on the 2nd and 13th of August.
Directed by Todd Douglas Miller
Dinosaur 13 does exactly what a documentary should do. It informs, entertains, inspires and rises emotions of the viewer. In 1990, the most complete and largest Tyrannosaurus Rex fossil was found and was moved by palaeontologist Peter Larson and his crew to Black Hills, a small town where they wanted to keep and display the dinosaur known as Sue. The FBI and National Guard turned up soon after and seized the dinosaur skeleton and a court case followed with an outcome which no one believed would have even happened one that happy day when Sue was first discovered. The amount of emotion which this film provokes is surprising considering one would not believe this subject matter would be so. Yet, it makes you happy, sad and angry. The way the people saw Sue was not as though she was just a group of bones, but as though she was still a living breathing dinosaur and it is a beautiful love the palaeontologists and the town of Black Hills had for her. It is an incredibly interesting subject and ultimately is a story of love against money.
9/10

2. Boyhood (2014)
Screened at the Melbourne International Film Festival on the 2nd, 6th and 17th of August.
Directed by Richard Linklater
Richard Linklater's Boyhood is a beautiful and ground-breaking piece of cinema that's power lies in the subtlety of life's most meaningful moments. Twelve years in the making, Linklater's masterpiece is the true definition of a coming of age film and is revolutionary in it's production. Boyhood is made with a huge amount of love for life and for the process of growing up without any use of exaggeration. Mason is more than a character in a film, he is a boy you form an attachment to and cherish the opportunity to watch grow up.

9/10

 

1. The Immigrant (2013)

Screened at the Melbourne International Film Festival on the 3rd and 17th of August.

Directed by James Gray

The Immigrant is an incredibly beautiful and emotional piece of work which is strengthened by it's powerhouse performances by Marion Cotillard and Joaquin Phoenix and exquisite direction by James Gray. The year is 1921 and Ewa Cybulski (Cotillard) and her sister, Magda have arrived in New York to escape to horrors they have seen in war torn Poland. Upon arrival, Magda is detained on Ellis Island as she is seen as being too unwell to enter the United States and is separated from her sister. Ewa finds help in the charismatic Bruno Weiss (Phoenix) and he takes Ewa under his wing, but she soon finds herself mixed up in the world of prostitution at the hands of her saviour. Visually gorgeous and very nostalgic, The Immigrant is a masterpiece. The themes of social class and immigration are worked into the story with great care and emotion and the screenplay in unpredictable and captivating. Cotillard is wonderful as the fragile woman who fights to remain strong and hold onto her dignity despite her situation and Phoenix is an incredible presence in the film who is a far more intriguing character than he first appears to be. Jeremy Renner, who plays Bruno's cousin Emil/Orlando is also incredibly likable.

9/10