Out to own this week:
Taxi
 | “Why are you sweating so much?” Jafar Panahi Jafar Panahi, we salute you. Sentenced to house arrest and a 20-year filmmaking ban, the Iranian writer-director has managed to make three movies in that time – each getting more ambitious in scope. Anyone who has watched pre-curtailment CRIMSON GOLD or THE CIRCLE or OFFSIDE will know what a devastating shame that this ridiculously gifted filmmaker should be prevented from pursuing his craft – works narratively dense, politically engaging and emotionally powerful. [To read more, click here.] |
Nina Forever
 | “You’re a bit vanilla,” David (Javan Hurst) Humour, melancholy and the macabre are comingled to entertaining effect by writer-directors, the Blaine brothers. Grieving and horror and droll observations might have made for an unwieldy composition at best, or tasteless exploitation at worst. The seas of tone have been navigated skilfully, winningly so, as the outcome is far from obvious. Refreshing. Especially in genre's often reluctance/incompetence to do other than telegraph its intentions so far in advance. [To read more, click here.] |
Sleeping with Other People
 | “Whose juices have I been tasting?” Sam (Adam Brody) It was a shame writer-director Leslye Headland’s BATCHELORETTE did not break out. Her misanthropic characters were even bolder than those in rival BRIDESMAIDS. Maybe realigning her sensibility to encompass market forces has caused a conventional, throwaway romantic-comedy? Whatever the reason for dilution of Headland’s previous bite, SLEEPPING WITH OTHER PEOPLE is annoyingly predictable. Fellow fans of the filmmaker’s debut, unaware of the tired formula, might be on edge, holding out for something akin to THE BREAK-UP: A bittersweet ambiguity. Why do mainstream rom-coms constantly think satisfaction must be had utilising the same conclusion? [To read more, click here.] |
The Mule a.k.a. The Smuggler
 | “Everybody works for somebody,” Detective Les Paris (Ewen Leslie) An Aussie drug comedy, even though based on true events (which the co-director (Tony Mahony), in a Q&A relayed, appears to be a very, very loose source), had the warning sirens blaring, at potential puerility, was not allayed by the first line, “Drop your pants.” A customs officer requires lead and co-director Ray Jenkins (Angus Sampson) to prepare for a cavity search. [To read more, click here.] |
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