Helene

Burnie, Tasmania, AUSTRALIA

Joined March 17th 2008

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"Welcome to this grand illusion...all of it's yours, right through these doors." What could be more indulgent than going to the cinema? For me, writing about the film can be as much fun as watching it.

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About Me: My name is Helene. I have a BA in Film and Spanish and Honours in Film. My thesis was on Spanish Cinema.

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el perro

June 23rd 2008 08:26

Bombón: el perro
Director: Carlos Sorin
Released in Australia: 2OO5
Star rating: ***1/2

Director Carlos Sorins cute title Bombón: el perro refers to el perro (the dog) called Bombón. Bombón is a massive white pedigree dog with great comic timing. His name in Spanish means sweet or lolly; its like an Australian saying sweetie or love as a term of endearment.
This is a gentle film that revolves around the life of unemployed 52-year-old Juan Villegas, played by Juan Villegas. This adds a touch of realism to the struggles and problems faced by the unemployed in Patagonia, Argentina, and many other Spanish speaking countries. Juan lives with his daughter and her children in a small run down house amidst a desolate, barren landscape.
He carves knife handles as a side-job, but no one buys them. One day he does a good deed by helping a young woman whose car has broken down and is rewarded with a gift of a dignified pure bred dog; Bombón. This dog changes his life. Its easier to meet people and he goes into the dog show business.
Slow paced but never boring for the moment you see Villegas kind and incorruptible eyes you are taken by his benevolence; if anyone were to do him wrong it would be crushing.

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Junebug

March 31st 2008 06:34

Junebug
Director: Phil Morrison
Released in Australia: June 2006
Star rating: ***1/2

City people are slick, and country folk do crafts. City slickers and country crafters are forced into close habitation when southern beau George (Alessandro Nivola) marries college educated, and well spoken Madeline (Embeth Davidtz). Shes English too, which makes her refined and glamorous in the eyes of her heavily pregnant sister-in-law Ashley (Amy Adams, who was nominated for an Academy awardfor her fascinating child/woman role).
Madelines an art-dealer who knows the difference between art and craft. But does she have the tact to comment, or not, on her mother in laws Kath and Kim decorating habits?
The catalyst for staying at the in-laws house, and the series of events and emotions that unfold, is that she needs to make a deal with a reclusive North Carolina artist. Husband and wife drive into his past to consolidate their future. Only they dont know that yet.
Human relations and emotions are intriguing to watch and analyse. Well, if its an eclectic bunch like this one, otherwise you could just watch your neighbours.
When Madelines understated chic and determination to succeed in her career contrast with the gaudiness and simplicity of life in Americas South, Georges family react in various ways exposing their personalities, beliefs, anxieties and feelings. And Madelines.

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Hard Candy

March 21st 2008 07:40

Hard Candy
Director: David Slade
Released in Australia: July 2006
Star rating: ****

Fourteen year-old Hayley (Ellen Page currently screening in a theatre near you as Juno) and thirty-two year-old Jeff (Patrick Wilson) chat suggestively in internet chat rooms, and try to make emoticons erotic. They decide to meet at a nearby café. Hes trendily handsome, and doesnt wear a dirty trench coat or leer as the pedophile stereotype promises. She appears taken by his maturity, good looks, and his attention to her. She invites herself to his home, and you to squirm in your seat.
Hard Candy is staged to present Hayley as the victim, the ingénue, but she outsmarts her predator with her gumption. Her plan is to wreak vengeance on internet pedophiles. Not only does she do it with words, but with a violently twisted psychological mind play, and medical implements. Hayley has done her homework and knows that Jeff had something to do with the murder of a young girl.
Theatrically intense, the off-screen shocking scenes make the audiences imagination imagine the worst.
There is a surreal sense of claustrophobia as the situation unfolds in Jeffs apartment. The rest of the world seems distant. The camera manically follows Hayleys plotting and the cuttingly succinct dialogue. Always question the kindness of strangers.

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