screenonscreen.net

After a lengthy hiatus I’ve decided to start reviewing again.

Many films have been seen in recent couple of years and I intend to work my way though them in no particular order.

I imagine there’s no one out there looking but maybe that will change once I get rolling.

On the topic of wine – much has been sampled/consumed and I’ll share my thoughts on wines I liked and, Cellar Doors that offer a great visiting experience (with my Bespoke Wine Tours hat on).

Reviews coming shortly . . . . Woman at War, The Heiresses, Toy Story 4, Parasite, Shoplifters, The Favourite, Love Serenade, Sunday Too Far Away.

Carol  2015
Dir. Todd Haynes.  From USA  Seen: Jan 16, 2016

An atmospheric period piece (well, 1950’s) beautifully directed by Todd Haynes (‘Far from Heaven’, and the excellent but little seen here TV mini series ‘Mildred Pierce’).

Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara are very good in a tight, somewhat suppressed screenplay. True, a lesbian relationship such as this in the socially rigid 1950’s needed to be suppressed from general view and this is evident in the mood of the film.

Somehow this mood of repression seemed to infect the screenplay to the extent that I came away feeling like something was missing – not sure what though.

The role of Carol is tailor-made for Cate Blanchett – she does glamour and sophistication very well and Rooney Mara brings a nice mix of naivety, confusion and intensity to the role of Therese and the chemistry between them is there. Although the older Carol is clearly presented as the predator and the young innocent Therese as the ‘victim’, at times I felt that Carol was as much the ‘victim’

Production design by Judy Becker (BAFTA nominee) is superb.

A child custody sub-plot fleshes out the story arc, adding a bit of ‘vinegar’ to the story.

Overall enjoyable and very watchable, but for me not quite living up to the studio hype.

My Score: 7.8/10

Truth  2015
Dir. James Vanderbilt.  From USA  Seen: Jan 16, 2016

How much Cate Blanchett is too much? Just recently I had a double bill date with Cate; Truth and then Carol, which included a hair-raising dash by car from the Nova to the Sun.
Like ‘Spotlight’ I reviewed earlier, Truth is about investigative journalism and the challenges of getting around the powers-that-be trying to shut down their efforts to shed light into dark places.

Based on actual events, Truth is about the Television leviathan 60 Minutes with producer Mary Mapes (Cate Blanchett) and presenter Dan Rather (Robert Redford) and their team hunting George W Bush and his apparently fictitious military service in the National Guard in the run-up to the 200? presidential election. Like all good detective stories there’s plenty of tension, red-herrings, reluctant witnesses and bad guys.

Our Cate is really good in this and Redford is solid – bringing a certain gravitas to the Dan Rather character.

As the hunt hots-up Republican wrath is incurred and well . . . no spoilers,  but things do go well for our investigative journalists.

The film was shot in Australia – at Cate’s request apparently and led to the curious (but clearly pragmatic) use of numerous Aussie actors in key supporting roles.  I spent the film playing spot the Aussie. Aussies i spotted included Rachael Blake, Noni Hazlehurst, Andrew McFarlane and Steve Bastoni. There are others – see how many you spot.
While its subject matter (a politician fudging or falsifying history – who’d have thought!) isn’t as serious as that dealt with in ‘Spotlight’, ‘Truth’ delivers on every level.

My Score:  8/10

Bridge of Spies
2015  From USA.  Dir. Stephen Spielberg
Seen: Nov 10, 2015

OK so, not withstanding that this is probably my favourite genre, Bridge of Spies is a great film. Whether you like his films or not, there’s no denying Spielberg is a great filmmaker and it shows in this film. The screenplay was written by Matt Chapman and the Coen Brothers (Joel and Ethan). This is the second time Spielberg has worked with the Coens – the other being as Producer for the 2010 film True Grit.

Based on a true story, Bridge of Spies is both biography and spy thriller. It’s the story of American lawyer James Donovan, played by Tom Hanks,  who is recruited to negotiate a spy swap during the cold war and the time of the Berlin Wall. The swap is American U2 spy plane pilot Gary Powers captured after being shot down over Russia for KGB spy Rudolf Abel whom Donovan had earlier defended against charges of espionage. Abel was convicted but Donovan saved him from execution suggesting that he could be useful in some future spy exchange. Prophecy fulfilled when Powers is captured in Russia.

Donovan goes to West and East Berlin unsupported by the US Government (you are deniable) navigating this dangerous mission.
Hanks is very good, bringing plenty of gravitas to the role and just a little of the all-American good guy persona he often projects. Mark Rylance is excellent as the enigmatic Russian spy and probably steals the acting honors.
There’s plenty of tension in the atmosphere of East Berlin and during the spy swap sequence on the the Glienicke Bridge, known as the Bridge of Spies.
All in all an excellent film experience. Highly recommended!

Score: 9/10

The Belier Family  2014
Dir. Eric Lartigau.  From France (English subtitles)
Seen: Dec 2, 2015

A feelgood French comedy (melodrama?) about a teenage girl who lives with her deaf parents and brother. A farming family who manage their lives quite well, with the help of their teenage daughter Paula, their communications conduit with the outside world.

Paula somewhat accidentally discovers that she has an excellent singing voice which causes confusion and angst for her parents who ironically enough can never hear her sing and have her earmarked as working in the family farming business when she finishes school.

The story line charts Paula’s roller-coaster journey to a powerful final scene.

The film doesn’t offer any great intellectual challenges although it does present some thought provoking moments about the challenges hearing impaired people face.
Up-beat performances from the cast, effective and pacy, unobtrusive direction deliver a thoroughly satisfying experience.

Score: 8.5/10