Sonatine (1993) –
8/10
A band of Tokyo Yakuza are sent to Okinawa to help end a
gang war, but find themselves in hiding when the conflict takes a turn for the
worse. One of Takeshi Kitano’s most famed efforts as a director is also the
first I’ve ever seen of him. Despite a very lurid subject matter, I actually
found the film to be quite meditative. It doesn’t rely on gigantic action set
pieces, glamorous style or visual appeal, but it does really take its time to
absorb every moment no matter how subtle and invites you to do the same. The
violence is bloody but infrequent, but its real appeal is in the humanity of
its characters. They are criminals, but still people and its many calm
sequences illustrate the best of this. Throughout all of this, ‘Sonatine’ is
more generally a cool insight into the business practices of Yakuza clans and a
test of where morality and honour fit into it.
Girl, Interrupted
(1999) – 8/10
After a series of dramas leading her to a stay at
Claymoore mental hospital, a young woman forms a close bond with the other
patients and questions her own state of mind. Based on Susanna Kaysen’s
memoirs, ‘Girl, Interrupted’ is a solid biographical that in equal parts
explores the personal nature of mental illness and the anti-establishment chaos
of the 1960s. The film almost comes off as highly symbolic of the era, with its
patient characters playing society’s rebellion while the hospital staff are
everyone else. This fact fortunately doesn’t obscure the real drama of the
film. There are times where the film gives up its answers too willingly and
walks into predictable tropes, but in its moments that surprise you’re left
with many different feelings. Performances by Ryder, Jolie and Goldberg are
strong and are scripted to showcase themes with clarity.
Star Trek Beyond
(2016) – 8/10
After venturing into uncharted territory in space, the
crew of the Enterprise find themselves stranded on another planet and fighting
an enemy challenging the Federation. While known as the director of several
‘Fast & Furious’ movies, Justin Lin proves himself an adept replacement for
J.J. Abrams and brings us a great sequel that lives up to the two outstanding
Star Trek reboots. Admittedly there were some times I felt like an episode of a
Star Trek TV show. What I can’t deny however is how much it lives up to
expectation in really demonstrating the wonders the franchise has to offer when
pushed to its creative and budgetary limits. I honestly forgot how well this
new cast performed when living up to their original counterparts. With a
slightly more humoured and adventurous approach that’s more closely aligns with
the 60s series, I don’t doubt in the slightest that both long-time fans and
newcomers will enjoy this in equal volumes.
Imaginaerum (2012)
– 7/10
A dying man battles his dementia by descending into a
world of his childhood fantasies while his estranged daughter re-examines her
feelings towards him. ‘Imaginaerum’ is a nice treat for fans of Nightwish, but
for others this film promoting the album of the same name will more likely
leave people looking for something of appeal. Even as a fan of Nightwish myself
I’m compelled to admit that the film really is far from excellence. While
toying with ideas about memory, passion and purpose, the film is simply too
short and inattentive to properly service any of them and what’s left to enjoy
is in its aesthetics. It boasts some terrific special effects that help bring
its fantasy world to life, and the band’s music never fails to please me.
Despite its areas of achievement, I finished the film wishing I just listened
to the album instead. Something for fans, but others should pass.
Who’s Afraid of
Virginia Woolf? (1966) – 8/10
A bitter middle-aged couple use their hosting of a
younger couple to direct their emotional woes at one another in an
alcohol-fuelled rage. The 1966 Best Picture nominee based on the popular play
released a few years earlier is a film that isn’t afraid of involving the
audience in the personal dramas of its characters and making them feel
uncomfortable in the process. The entire experience is remarkably explosive
with its very sudden twist revelations and unstable characters. At the same
time, I appreciate how ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?’ toys with the
audiences’ anticipation. The performances are all excellent, particularly leads
Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. While both of these characters are deeply
flawed, there are glimmers of hope for their marriage and how it holds up
against the drunken madness really is the focus of this movie’s drama.
Flash Gordon
(1980) – 7/10
An American football hero and his friends travel to the
planet Mongo to battle a merciless tyrant and save the Earth from destruction.
Having never seen the famed 1930s film serial, this 80s adaption of the comic
strip proves to be a very flawed, but consistently entertaining sci-fi
adventure movie. Drawing our sympathies in with its pitting human characters
against extra-terrestrial beings, I think where the film performs best is in
its world-making. Planet Mongo is distinguished by a vibrant colour scheme,
unique costumes and an evident political situation combining monarchy and
totalitarianism. Where it falters is in writing, as its characters are
two-dimensional and despite featuring some notable cast members there are few
standout performances. Nevertheless it’s hard not to find joy in ‘Flash Gordon’
for its adventurous nature and classic theme song.
Batman: The
Killing Joke (2016) – 7/10
After escaping from an asylum, The Joker sets out to make
a point on the state of his own madness by targeting the Gordon family while
Batman hunts him down. It’s a sad shame to see this great one-shot comic book
not achieve its absolute potential in film form, but I do believe it’s
worthwhile viewing and that the backlash is the result of bitterness over it
being less than perfect. The real pitfall is that it often feels watered down.
It’s less daring than its literary counterpart with its unnecessary romantic
prologue and trimming of its controversial story’s most unsettling moments. I
must admit however to my glee at simply having Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill
voicing Batman and the Joker once again, showing just as much enthusiasm as
ever, and fortunately it still keeps its themes intact and most of the darkness
in check.
Sausage Party
(2016) – 8/10
In a supermarket where the products dream of being
purchased and taken to a place they call ‘The Great Beyond’, a sausage seeks to
understand his own existence. Even being well aware of the outrageousness of
this Seth Rogen vehicle ahead of time, I do have to admit that the insanity
took me by surprise quite a lot. I can’t help but draw connections to South
Park, and would argue it’s in the same class of side-splitting vulgarity. It’d
be easy to say that the movie’s hyper-sexuality, racism and overall readiness
to mock the things human beings do is little more than a ploy to stir the pot
of controversy, but often actually proves itself to be an intelligent criticism
on religion and the search for truth through metaphorical characters. I however
would still be pressed to say that the real joy is still in its comedy, which
at its best is unpredictable and leaves you thinking about why you’re laughing.
A Girl Walks Home
Alone at Night (2014) – 8/10
Set in the Iranian ghost-town of Bad City, the locals are
unaware of the presence of a vengeful, but otherwise lonesome vampire. This
experimental Persian-language film from the US doesn’t offer much in terms of
narrative, but is in the rare few cases where it doesn’t exactly need to. The
film succeeds exclusively on the collective results of great atmosphere, the
emotions of its characters and underlying messages. The unsettling vibe is owed
to the combined qualities of a film-noir-like black-and-white colour
cinematography scheme and a wonderful choice of music that sits somewhere
between Persian classical music and that of a spaghetti western. The use of a
feminist undertone, without any preaching, helps to reinvent the vampire myth
and draw us into the state of gender roles in Iran.
Godzilla Raids
Again (1955) – 7/10
Godzilla battles a monster called Anguirus, which
threatens the city of Osaka. ‘Godzilla Raids Again’ might carry more
significance in beginning a trend that would become staple in the long-running
franchise than being a genuinely great monster movie in its own right. It lacks
the themes of the memories of nuclear destruction and instead takes a more
clichéd route toward the campier American science-fiction films of the time.
Occasionally this works wonders in its own way, but it’s not uncommon for the
film, despite its short length, to become depressed and slow. Its setting up
traditions of brawls between kaiju monsters has an important historical
implication, but in the case of this film it evidences its own infancy and can
only impress so much. While far from uninteresting, it fails to recapture the
previous film’s excellence.
Tales from
Earthsea (2006) – 7/10
A series of strange occurrences across the land of
Earthsea lead a wandering wizard and a troubled young prince to investigate a
link with an evil sorcerer. There seems to be a great deal of drama in the
Studio Ghibli epic ‘Tales from Earthsea’, so it’s a point of wonder why the
debut of young Goro Miyazaki pales in comparison to many of the great company’s
other efforts. The primary answer I can offer is that it feels overstuffed with
numerous fantasy elements, but few of these aspects of it ever provide
something truly memorable. This outcome is very rare for Ghibli, which is
definitely a good thing. While many characters arcs reach their full potential
too little too late, I can still definitely hold the stories of Arren,
Sparrowhawk, Tenar and Therru in good esteem. These stories remain consistently
compelling courtesy to Ghibli’s legendary animation style and the great voice
performances for the English dub. ‘Tales from Earthsea’ is a low standard for
Studio Ghibli, but still high enough to be considered a good film experience.
The Best Years of
Our Lives (1946) – 9/10
Three servicemen from different ends of society return to
small-town America at the end of World War II and find themselves struggling to
return to their former lives. I find it difficult not to have an immense
respect for ‘The Best Years of Our Lives’ and strong as a statement it may be I
hail it as one of the most important cinematic achievements of its time. While
the tales of its three central characters are equally compelling, the more
general societal significance it sets out to achieve reigns supreme. It doesn’t
try to force anything on the audience, but invites them to act as an observer
to the realities of being a veteran. While at times the film can be very
harrowing with its examination of marriage failures, unemployment dilemmas,
living with disability and rejoining society, I’m very happy to know that the
film offers a touch of hope for its characters, all of whom you grow deeply
attached to over a 3-hour runtime. William Wyler was an excellent director and
the film’s taking Best Picture was deserved.
My Top 10 Films for August 2016
1. The Best Years of Our Lives
2. Star Trek Beyond
3. Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
4. Sausage Party
5. Girl, Interrupted
6. Sonatine
7. A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night
8. Batman: The Killing Joke
9. Tales From Earthsea
10. Godzilla Raids Again
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