House of the Devil - 2009

Haunted house flicks and gore films have been pumping out of the Hollywood system for the last few years, but here is one film that slipped under the radar in Australia and thanks to many of the film bloggers out there, I was able to find this movie on blu-ray...

House of the Devil is a 2009 film directed, written and edited by Ti West. Shot to recreate the horror films of the 1970's and 80's West employs many techniques to give you a truly unique experience and a movie that you won't forget. It follows young college student Samantha Hughes in her quest to find an apartment. Strapped for cash, she finds a leaflet on a noticeboard for a "BABY $ITTER" ... She calls the number and after some waiting around, receives a response to go this house in the country. With her best friend as her ride, Samantha takes a trip to the house (co-incidently on the night of the lunar eclipse) where she finds out things aren't exactly as they appear.

Now, if you're a fan of "torture porn" affairs such as "Hostel" or the "Saw" franchise, this film probably won't appeal to you. If you like slow moving... suspension building, incredibly detailed films that totally get under your skin, then this is for you. As I mentioned before, Ti West has used many techniques to give you an authentic 70's/80's experience. The hair, costumes, props, sets... and also the editing, cuts, titles, camera angles and use of zoom are all incredibly affective.

The performances are all amazing too. Samantha, played by Jocelin Donahue does a super job of playing this young, free spirited babysitter who ... yeh ... and there are some super creepy moments with character actor Tom Noonan who plays Mr Ulman (the owner of "House of the Devil")

What I really enjoyed about this film was that it didn't need super fast editing and tonnes of visual effects to scare the audience. It's slow burning nature made me feel at unease the whole time... and there were many moments where I was screaming out and just making "errghhhh" noises in reaction to what was happening on screen. There are a couple of moments of "jump scares" and they work extremely effectively as they happen so randomly and because most of the film is working so quietly.

I watched this film on blu-ray and can honestly say it was such a treat. The grain that I guess would be due to the film being shot on 16mm makes it so much scarier and adds to the fun. Definitely not a film for everyone... but if you have an attention span that is quicker than cooking a packet of Mi Goreng then this film is for you... Great fun!

Godfather, The - 1972

Due to bloggers dislike for my video review - please click here to watch the file...

Frozen River - 2008

First time writer/director Courtney Hunt delivers one heck of a miserable and fascinating film touching on people smuggling in Northern America.

The story centres on Ray Eddy, a single mother who is struggling to make payments on her new trailer house that she is trying desperately to buy to keep her sons warm in the harsh winter. With a dead end job that is paying her next to nothing and the bills piling up (one for a massive plasma TV screen that pretty much looks after her children) Ray happens to meet Lila Littlewolf a mohawk bingo hall employee who takes Ray's car after she claims she found it in the car park. Eventually the two pair up and enter the dangerous world of people smuggling across St. Lawerence between America and Canada.

After seeing "The Fighter" (2010), another film starring Melissa Leo, I was curious to see her Oscar nominated performance in this movie. Along with her nomination, Hunt was nominated for Best Original Screenplay.

I am kind of sensing a trend in the movies I am watching, misery fests that offer no real happiness. The film is no different. Needless to say Ray gets in some serious shit as she struggles to make the payments for her new house. With her eldest son at home sick and tired of eating tang and popcorn, Ray is desperate to make one last run to get her family out of the shit and finally live the life they had before her husband left with all their savings.

For a first time director, Courtney Hunt really captures the environment of St. Regis Mohawk Reservation. There is a real sense of isolation in these surroundings, and what interested me about this film was how it plays with racial differences between the "white" and native inhabitants of the land. The sense of urgency and desperation by the two women is perfectly portrayed and combined with the cinematography and gritty realism of its location, Frozen River is an intense and unforgiving thriller.

If you were lucky enough to see last years incredible "Winter's Bone", I'd totally recommend this film... And if you like depressing cold films... then this is a winner! Melissa Leo is amazing.

Equus - 1977

Everyone has probably seen or heard about the controversy of Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe starring in the 2007 stage version.. but, before the boy wizard got his dick out on stage... there was a film version directed by the legendary Sidney Lumet.

Written by Peter Shaffer in 1973, it is based on the true story of a 17 yr old boy who stabs and blinds 6 horses in a stable. Without knowing any of the backstory to this crime, Shaffer wrote this play to explain why such a young man would commit such an incredibly horrific act.

We meet psychiatrist Martin Dysart (played by Richard Burton), who is assigned by a court magistrate to assess and help out Alan Strang, the young man who did some serious fucking damage to these horses. Through-out the movie, we flash back via some lengthy sessions that delve into Alan's upbringing.

It is revealed that Alan's mother was a religious nutter and have raised him with the belief that sex was a dirty act but that he could find fulfilment in devotion and commitment with god. His father however, an atheist, believes that Alan is spending too much time investing in the bible, especially the violent and graphic content within its pages.

After some hard work in therapy, Dysart finally gets Alan to explain to him his first encounter with a horse... and how his parents ripped him away from this animal that he truly admired. Alan also speaks of the time he met Jill Mason, a young girl who worked in a stable. Jill suggests to her boss that Alan works in the stable and after some time, proves an extremely hard worker; both looking after the horses and keeping the stable extremely clean. He forms a rather close bond with one of the horses, who he names "Nugget" ...

This is when shit starts to get freaky ... Alan starts taking Nugget out for midnight walks ends up riding him bareback and naked, pretending to be a king.. Back in the present day, Dystart gives Alan a truth pill... to finally get to the reason why he blinded those horses.

Jill takes Alan to a erotic cinema, where they watch some nice Swedish material... things are going well until Alan spots his father... apart from the anger and confusion, Alan finally realises that sex is a natural thing for men to do. Jill and Alan head back to the stable to finish off what they were starting at the cinema... The two get freaky until Alan hears the horses below... He begs them for forgiveness; seeing them as God-like figures... He yells at Jill to leave and then starts screaming "THEY SEE YOU... HE SEES YOU... FOREVER..."

Alan heads downstairs and takes a hoof pick and stabs all six horses in the eye!!!

PHEW!!!

This story is mental. Like, heavy shit. Amazingly acted and directed by the incredible Lumet... he takes you right into the lives of all these really deep and evolved characters. Adapted by Shaffer himself from his stage play... the man knows what he's doing. Screen icons Joan Plowright and Eileen Atkins tear some of this dialogue up... but the show really belongs to the performances from 7 time Oscar nominee Richard Burton and Peter Firth (who plays Alan).

I don't know how to really take this film apart... but if you're in the mood for a fucking epic misery fest with some really interesting views of worshipping and religion then this is for you. If you're a horse lover.. it might be a bit awkward for you at the end.

Equus is hard viewing... but certainly fascinating.

Days of Being Wild - 1991

Despite being quite a fan of Asian cinema, I don't actually recall seeing any of Wong Kar-wai's films. The man is possibly one of the most popular directors hailing from China and Days of Being Wild is his first partnership with Australian born cinematographer Christopher Doyle.

Loosely described as "Rebel without a Cause", this film centres on "York" a play-boy character who meets Su; a store attendant who he tells he will never forget their meeting. She becomes infatuated with this man, and ultimately falls in love with him. Being unable to commit her, York turns her away. It deals with rejection and how people cope with losing people. Kinda. The strange relationship with his adopted mother, a former prostitute is also touched upon as possibly one of the reasons why York finds these women, and can never commit to any of them.

After his adopted mother tells him she is leaving to go to America, York decides to go travelling to the Philippines to meet his real mother. Unfortunately, things don't exactly work out and this "bird" meets his fate in a rather dramatic conclusion.

I was more interested in this film to see the early work of this much loved director... who has gone on to make some very well known movies.. the most popular would be "In the Mood for Love" (2000). I was also keen to see how the work of cinematographer Christopher Doyle has developed over the years. Doyle, who is responsible for films such as Hero, Paranoid Park, Rabbit-Proof Fence to name a few.

The film is very lush and technically very savvy... in large part thanks to the music and production design- placing me very firmly in the hot and sweaty Hong Kong in the 1960's. All the actors do a fine job, it was cool to see a rather young Andy Lau pop up as a policeman too.

If you're a fan of Eastern cinema and perhaps are a fan of Kar-wai or just like lush visuals and some Asian hotties, I'd send this flick your way. If you're after something with a bit more of a bite, I'd look elsewhere. Either way, there is something to enjoy in this Asian treat.

Citizen Kane - 1941

Currently known as the "greatest film ever made", I was always a bit ashamed to say I'd never seen it. Voted by American critics and audiences, the Orson Welles directorial debut is certainly one of the finest films I've ever seen.

As I understand it, Orson Welles was approached by the RKO studio (who also produced the original KING KONG) after his extremely successful and rather controversial radio play of "War of the Worlds". Welles was then given free range to choose his actors, crew and basically have final cut of his film...

A brave choice for the studio, but they obviously saw something in the 25 yr old (holy fuck I have nothing to show for my life) and he eventually cast himself in the lead role, along with writing and directing responsibilities.

If you're not familiar with the story, it's quite simple... a dying man utters his last word... "Rosebud.." and because this man happened to be like, the richest man in the world... the news is MASSIVE... Enter news reporter Jerry Thompson, who tries to discover who this man was... based on his dying word. The film flashes back to key moments of Kane's life as Thompson interviews key figures from the tycoon's life.

What impressed me most about this movie, was how current it still was. It is simply and purely, classic story-telling. One thing that stood out, was the photography. I remember being back in high school and my teacher telling me stories about how Welles used the camera and the use of focus... At the time I wasn't really interested but I wish now I was paying attention. His use of lighting and technical skills with the camera, I'm assuming would've been quite groundbreaking at the time... The use of low angles in this film resulted in Welles digging a trench in the studio to allow the camera to be right underneath his characters.

Ultimately Kane is a treasure, and if you haven't seen it, I would suggest you get around to it. There are some fascinating stories about the making of this film and included on the DVD is a 2 hour documentary (not viewed) that sheds some light on this film and the man behind it.

Oh, and if you don't know what Rosebud is already... watch the film, it's a rather sweet reveal.

Basquait - 1996

Before watching this film, I had no idea who this man was, nor the art he produced. I had purchased this movie quite a long time ago when I saw it in a bargain bin for $5 ... and I am so glad I did.

Directed by Julian Schnabel ("The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"), this story is a biopic/drama about the life of artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. If you're like me and not really into the "art world" you possibly might not know who this guy was... which is a shame because his art is really quite impressive. Using his roots as a graffiti artist, Basquait built a following with his skills combing the graffiti/ghetto style of expressionism into large panels of work.

The film is a pretty standard affair, although one thing that caught my eye was the ridiculous cast! Courtney Love, Gary Oldman, David Bowie, Parker Posey, Christopher Walken, Benincio Del Toro, Claire Forlani, Willem Dafoe, Dennis Hopper and even a very young Sam Rockwell makes an appearance. All the characters are (I believe) based on real people from his life... with the most influential being his best friend Andy Warhol (as played by Bowie) who at times steals some scenes.

However, it is really Jeffrey Wright that carries this film, apart from being a mega babe, he totally captures the "struggling artist" character and brings a real honest and humble quality to this very talented individual.

I really would've liked a bit more depth to his character though, and I would presume that might have something to do with first time writer/director Schnabel. At times I felt it was more about showcasing his art and style - without going into some real substance of what made this man tick. There are small hints at his struggle being an African/American through-out this film but perhaps there may have been something more to explore.

Overall this film is a good introduction into a very talented artist who's life was cut short thanks to a (you guessed it...) heroin overdose. If anything, watch this film like I did... and then do some research into the amazing art that Basquait created. You won't be disappointed.