Out to own today:
It Follows
 | ”Just know that I love you,” Annie (Bailey Spry) What an opening. A young woman runs from her home into the dawn. A place of theoretical sanctuary, turns out not to be so. Even neighbours unloading a car do not assuage her palpable distress. Hysterical wailing is wisely sidestepped (though when you come to find out what is after her it would be understandable), and instead wrought tension is perfectly calibrated to make you sick to your gut – in an enjoyable way, if you enjoy that sort of thing. Driving to a beach, the young woman, Annie, rings her father to try and briefly put her house in order. In the morning her horrifically broken body is discovered. Limbs twisted and severed would have required immense power. [To read more, click here.] |
Cake
 | “I pay her to care about me,” Claire Simmons (Jennifer Aniston) Evicted from a workshop on lasting chronic pain, with the recommendation that she find a group that serves her anger issues, is a hilarious opening, that has Aniston’s in your face lead cut to the bone unaccompanied by hesitation. Covered in scars, think George Clooney in FROM DUSK TILL DAWN but replace tattoos with hardened tissue, and limping, Aniston might have been slumming for an Oscar had it not been for the tongue whiplash at her disposal – an award is still not out of the question at her engaging out of the blue performance. Refusing plastic surgery to soften her wounds, they are displayed as outward manifestation of inward suffering. Sentimentality is given short shrift. [To read more, click here.] |
Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter
 | “I am like a Spanish conquistador,” Kumiko (Rinko Kikuchi) Some movies are too quirky for their own good. Whenever KUMIKO, THE TREASURE HUNTER has an opportunity to offer up something wise or believable, the narrative opts for tedious idiosyncrasy. A shame, as leading lady Kikuchi is an engaging presence. Wasting her skills is not just the preserve of indiedom, 2013 should have been Rinko’s breakout year, but PACIFIC RIM and 47 RONIN turned out to be utter duds. (Here’s hoping for her team up with Juliette Binoche and director Isabel Coixet in NOBODY WANTS THE NIGHT). [To read more, click here.] |
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