Patricia Bieszk

Sydney, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA


Joined December 6th 2008

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I am a freelance entertainment writer from Sydney with academic credentials in cinema studies. For more information please email cinemapoids@gmail.com

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Slumdog Millionaire
Q: Who does not love a good fairytale? Especially one that features pure, incorruptible love between an amiable prince and a pretty princess, who trapped by ruthless fate, experience a series of many cruel and unexpected turns of events and yet still manage, against all odds, to reach a happy ending? Come in Danny Boyle, the one of Trainspotting (1996) fame, who brings the same raw vividness, an acute power of observation and an exhilarating pace into the Indian slums taking us on an entirely different trip. Slumdog’s pauper-to-prince hero Jamal Malik is an everyman and an underdog, brilliantly channelled by newcomer British-born Dev Patel, whose mother dragged him to an audition in London. As a young boy Jamal meets Latika (Freida Pinto), like himself just another orphan on the streets of Mumbai. Against the wishes of his wicked older brother Salim (Madhur Mittal), he invites her to share their shelter away from the rain - in a dunny can. Thus a triangle of affections forms and its tensions are explored throughout the film, the plot of which is framed by a TV gameshow scenario, where Jamal ends up in a desperate attempt to reconnect with Latika after many years of separation.

Love it or hate it, “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” it is – with all its sweat and tacky gore, adding an irresistible element of suspense and mcfamiliarity to an otherwise exotic reality for mainstream Western eyes. The catchy and timeless story was based on Indian diplomat Vikas Swarup's debut novel Q and A, written in England over 2 months to kill time while wrapping up his official post: “I'm not one of those writers who wants to spend four pages describing a sunrise. There are so many of them in India. I'm a sucker for thrillers and I wanted to write one. I'm much more influenced by Alastair MacLean and James Hadley Chase. I'm no Arundhati Roy.” Boyle’s cinematic adaptation seems to share these sensibilities, and is strangely reminiscent of the visceral imagery and favela themes of City of God (2002) and the magic realism of Emir Kusturica’s Time of the Gypsies (1988), combined to form an emotionally affecting tale, which effectively draws the viewer into its characters’ world.

Slumdog Millionaire
The charming Ayush Mahesh Khedekar as little Jamal before he gets into big trouble in Slumdog Millionaire

While the film’s quizshow premise is rather tenuous, Boyle’s unapologetic, vibrant direction focuses on the wider tapestry and contrasts of modern Indian life in their glorious detail. The film is confrontational, as to be expected of Boyle, in its unswerving and uncompromised portrayal of the country, somehow absent from Bollywood fare. Religious turmoil, caste conflicts, rampant exploitation, child slave-labour including prostitution, maiming and torture, is interspersed with flashes of humour, like making fun of the gullibility of Western tourists alongside chuckling at the Indian propensity to set up shop on the spot, selling whatever can be sold to get by – as the young brothers do at the Taj Mahal, offering their very unofficial guide services right next to the official ones, unnoticed in the surrounding chaos.

Slumdog Millionaire Dev Patel Freida Pinto
Love conquers all: Dev Patel and Freida Pinto in Slumdog Millionaire

Oscar Wilde once said that “we’re all in the gutter, but some of us are looking up at the stars.” Jamal chooses Latika as his guiding star and his tireless pursuit of love becomes a focused ray of light in a world so smelly, corrupt, and cruel, that it drives his brother to consciously choose a ‘survival of the fittest’ path, leading him to become a rising star of the criminal underbelly. Does one’s birth predetermine and limit fate? Do we have any control over our circumstances, or has it all already been written? Jamal’s story is an attempt to filter the culturally rich, complex and diverse spice-mix that is India into an essential oil, including as its basis the elusive ingredient of spiritual enquiry, which has met with Deepak Chopra’s approval (he wrote a review, funnily enough focused on…politics). A tale of two brothers, Slumdog Millionaire can be philosophically interpreted as a portrayal of two widely divergent sets of values and attitudes towards life, epitomised by a long list of dual opposites: optimism vs. cynicism, vulnerability vs. violence, faith vs. religion, love vs. money - all ultimately meeting on the far off common ground of redemption. While this vision may appear simplistic, it allows for shades of gray, emphasizing the importance of individual choice and hinting at the underlying mystery of the human existential predicament.

A: Like a fairytale, Slumdog Millionaire ultimately espouses a hopeful, childlike belief in the miraculous power of love to overcome insurmountable obstacles life presents us with, a message ever popular as evidenced by worldwide box office success and dozens of awards, including 3 Golden Globes, 7 BAFTA’s and 8 Oscars.


Review by Patricia Bieszk


© Copyright P. Bieszk 2009




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OSCAR WINNERS 2009

March 15th 2009 08:59
oscar winners 2009
The Academy has not disappointed this year with its occasionally offbeat choices, political stands, the obligatory glitz and glamour and the singing and dancing Hugh.


Hugh Jackman at Oscars 2009
Hugh Jackman effortlessly steals the audiences' hearts at 2009 Academy Awards



Best Motion Picture of the Year Nominees:

• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): Ceán Chaffin, Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall
• Frost/Nixon (2008): Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Eric Fellner
• Milk (2008): Bruce Cohen, Dan Jinks
• The Reader (2008): Anthony Minghella, Sydney Pollack, Donna Gigliotti, Redmond Morris
• Slumdog Millionaire (2008): Christian Colson

Prediction: Correct. This was a slam dunk.

Sean Penn in Milk
Sean Penn plays it queer with bravado in Milk


Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role Nominees:

• Richard Jenkins for The Visitor (2007)
• Mickey Rourke for The Wrestler (2008)
• Brad Pitt for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
• Frank Langella for Frost/Nixon (2008)
• Sean Penn for Milk (2008)

Prediction: Miss. The biggest surprise of the evening was Sean Penn’s Oscar win. Mickey Rourke was robbed in professional terms, but this year the Academy decided to support gay rights, specifically gay marriage, plainly illustrating the cultural forces at play beneath the glitzy surface.


Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role Nominees:

• Anne Hathaway for Rachel Getting Married (2008)
• Angelina Jolie for Changeling (2008)
• Melissa Leo for Frozen River (2008)
• Meryl Streep for Doubt (2008/I)
• Kate Winslet for The Reader (2008)

Prediction: Miss. After endless nominations for Sense and Sensibility, Titanic, Iris, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Little Children Kate finally hit the home run, ironically for a role arguably least memorable out of this line-up. One gets the feeling she was awarded as the most deserving overall, and not so much for The Reader. Another stand out performance in Revolutionary Road probably contributed as well.

Kate Winslet The Reader
Kate Winslet as a seductress in The Reader


Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role Nominees:

• Josh Brolin for Milk (2008)
• Robert Downey Jr. for Tropic Thunder (2008)
• Philip Seymour Hoffman for Doubt (2008/I)
• Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight (2008)
• Michael Shannon for Revolutionary Road (2008)

Prediction: correct. Another slam dunk. A class act by the Academy.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role Nominees:

• Amy Adams for Doubt (2008/I)
• Penélope Cruz for Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)
• Viola Davis for Doubt (2008/I)
• Taraji P. Henson for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
• Marisa Tomei for The Wrestler (2008)

Prediction: Correct. Penelope’s efforts in Hollywood couldn’t remain unrecognized for long, and this was one charismatic role. This way she and Javier Bardem can have a balanced mantelpiece set.

Best Achievement in Directing Nominees:

• Danny Boyle for Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
• Stephen Daldry for The Reader (2008)
• David Fincher for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
• Ron Howard for Frost/Nixon (2008)
• Gus Van Sant for Milk (2008)

Prediction: Correct.

Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen Nominees:

• Frozen River (2008): Courtney Hunt
• Happy-Go-Lucky (2008): Mike Leigh
• In Bruges (2008): Martin McDonagh
• Milk (2008): Dustin Lance Black
• WALL•E (2008): Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter, Jim Reardon

Prediction: Correct.

Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published
Nominees:


• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): Eric Roth, Robin Swicord
• Doubt (2008/I): John Patrick Shanley
• Frost/Nixon (2008): Peter Morgan
• The Reader (2008): David Hare
• Slumdog Millionaire (2008): Simon Beaufoy

Prediction: Correct.

Best Achievement in Cinematography Nominees:

• Changeling (2008): Tom Stern
• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): Claudio Miranda
• The Dark Knight (2008): Wally Pfister
• The Reader (2008): Roger Deakins, Chris Menges
• Slumdog Millionaire (2008): Anthony Dod Mantle

Prediction: Miss. Slumdog takes it all.

Best Achievement in Editing Nominees:

• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): Angus Wall, Kirk Baxter
• The Dark Knight (2008): Lee Smith
• Frost/Nixon (2008): Daniel P. Hanley, Mike Hill
• Milk (2008): Elliot Graham
• Slumdog Millionaire (2008): Chris Dickens

Prediction: Correct. If an Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire doesn’t keep you at the edge of your seat, not much will.

Best Achievement in Art Direction Nominees:

• Changeling (2008): James J. Murakami, Gary Fettis
• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): Donald Graham Burt, Victor J. Zolfo
• The Dark Knight (2008): Nathan Crowley, Peter Lando
• The Duchess (2008): Michael Carlin, Rebecca Alleway
• Revolutionary Road (2008): Kristi Zea, Debra Schutt

Prediction: Correct. If not completely successful on all levels, David Fincher’s film was an art director’s dream.

Best Achievement in Costume Design Nominees:

• Australia (2008): Catherine Martin
• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): Jacqueline West
• The Duchess (2008): Michael O'Connor
• Milk (2008): Danny Glicker
• Revolutionary Road (2008): Albert Wolsky

Prediction: Miss. We were rooting for Australia, but the big wigs took it away, as usual.

Best Achievement in Makeup Nominees:

• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): Greg Cannom
• The Dark Knight (2008): John Caglione Jr., Conor O'Sullivan
• Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008): Mike Elizalde, Thomas Floutz

Prediction: Correct.

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score
Nominees:


• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): Alexandre Desplat
• Defiance (2008): James Newton Howard
• Milk (2008): Danny Elfman
• Slumdog Millionaire (2008): A.R. Rahman
• WALL•E (2008): Thomas Newman

Prediciton: Correct.

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song
Nominees:

• Slumdog Millionaire (2008): A.R. Rahman, Gulzar("Jai Ho")
• Slumdog Millionaire (2008): A.R. Rahman, ("O Saya")
• WALL•E (2008): Peter Gabriel, Thomas Newman("Down to Earth")

Prediction: Miss.

Best Achievement in Visual Effects Nominees:

• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): Eric Barba, Steve Preeg, Burt Dalton, Craig Barron
• The Dark Knight (2008): Nick Davis, Chris Corbould, Timothy Webber, Paul J. Franklin
• Iron Man (2008): John Nelson, Ben Snow, Daniel Sudick, Shane Mahan

Prediction: Miss. Apparently the members of the Academy did think that turning Brad Pitt into a “garden gnome” (as pointedly referred to during the awards show) was worthy of gold. One hopes they were being a little ironic.

Best Animated Feature Film of the Year Nominees:

• Bolt (2008): Chris Williams, Byron Howard
• Kung Fu Panda (2008): John Stevenson, Mark Osborne
• WALL•E (2008): Andrew Stanton

Prediction: Correct. Who doesn’t love little robots with big hearts?

Best Foreign Language Film of the Year Nominees:

• Der Baader Meinhof Komplex (2008)(Germany)
• Entre les murs (2008)(France)
• Revanche (2008)(Austria)
• Okuribito (2008)(Japan)
• Vals Im Bashir (2008)(Israel)

Prediction: Miss. An obscure choice by the Academy, but this way maybe the film will receive a wider international distribution.

Best Documentary, Features Nominees:

• The Betrayal - Nerakhoon (2008): Ellen Kuras, Thavisouk Phrasavath
• Encounters at the End of the World (2007): Werner Herzog, Henry Kaiser
• The Garden (2008/I): Scott Hamilton Kennedy
• Man on Wire (2008): James Marsh, Simon Chinn
• Trouble the Water (2008): Tia Lessin, Carl Deal

Prediction: Correct.

Overall results: hits 12, misses 7, equals not too bad. We’re aiming to improve these ratios next year.

Slumdog Millionaire
Slumdog Millionaire takes away a multitude of little bald men at 2009 Oscars


© Copyright P. Bieszk 2009


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OSCAR TIPS 2009

February 10th 2009 06:34
Oscars
The Academy is known for its excessess and notorious unpredictability due to the political campaign tactics involved in the trophy race. Obviously not all deserving parties are awarded each year, however the worthwhile films are remembered long after - regardless of the actual results. I kind of wish money was involved in this betting! Oh wait. There is. In the meantime play we may, with a degree of wishful thinking. My bets are highlighted below. Feel free to comment, especially if you violently disagree An update discussion will follow after the awards.

Best Motion Picture of the Year Nominees:

• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): Ceán Chaffin, Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall
• Frost/Nixon (2008): Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Eric Fellner
• Milk (2008): Bruce Cohen, Dan Jinks
• The Reader (2008): Anthony Minghella, Sydney Pollack, Donna Gigliotti, Redmond Morris
• Slumdog Millionaire (2008): Christian Colson

Here’s betting on the Slumdog. It’s confrontational, innovative and features a lovable underdog hero. Plus the voters will have actually sat all the way through it.
Slumdog Millionaire Danny Boyle and Dev Patel
Danny Boyle and Dev Patel are clearly happy with themselves - with good reason


Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role Nominees:

• Richard Jenkins for The Visitor (2007/I)
• Frank Langella for Frost/Nixon (2008)
• Sean Penn for Milk (2008)
• Brad Pitt for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
• Mickey Rourke for The Wrestler (2008)

Brad wanted to prove he can also act when ugly (the jury is still out on that one, let’s just say it wasn’t quite Charlize Theron in Monster caliber performance), Sean did well, but if Mickey doesn’t get it there’s going to be a WWF protest and nobody wants that. It’s Mickey all the way. Go Mickey!
The Wrestler Mickey Rourke
Mickey Rourke as The Wrestler: a face that speaks volumes


Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role Nominees:

• Anne Hathaway for Rachel Getting Married (2008)
• Angelina Jolie for Changeling (2008)
• Melissa Leo for Frozen River (2008)
• Meryl Streep for Doubt (2008/I)
• Kate Winslet for The Reader (2008)

Anne Hathaway
Melissa who? Oh my, all of Brangelina got nominated, that must make for a hell of household tension! Angelina’s already got one however, and Meryl has several little naked golden men (let’s face it – the Academy feels obliged to nominate her by now, she’s sort of like the female Eastwood – a monument that is still breathing). It’s a tough call though: it could be Anne, that talented doe-eyed beauty and recently so ubiquitous, or Kate, who’s been nominated before and is deserving, but no one has had a chance to see The Reader. Have to go with Anne.



Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role Nominees:

• Josh Brolin for Milk (2008)
• Robert Downey Jr. for Tropic Thunder (2008)
• Philip Seymour Hoffman for Doubt (2008/I)
• Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight (2008)
• Michael Shannon for Revolutionary Road (2008)

Philip got one for Capote, everyone loves Robert, Michael was a standout and Josh had a really bad haircut in Milk – something Hollywood loves to award as a sign of great acting as evidenced last year by Javier Bardem’s win for No Country for Old Men. Who can deny sorely missed Heath though, we’re all still in mourning and one thing’s for sure: Hollywood is sentimental.
Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight
Going out in style: Heath Ledger as the Joker will have the last laugh


Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role Nominees:

• Amy Adams for Doubt (2008/I)
• Penélope Cruz for Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)
• Viola Davis for Doubt (2008/I)
• Taraji P. Henson for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
• Marisa Tomei for The Wrestler (2008)

Penelope is our wishful thinking dark horse bet here. She’s zesty and vivacious in Woody Allen’s film, but the laurels might get stolen by Amy, the Hollywood darling, or Marisa, who’s got an Oscar for My Uncle Vinny ages ago, but her performance opposite Rourke is affecting.

Best Achievement in Directing Nominees:

• Danny Boyle for Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
• Stephen Daldry for The Reader (2008)
• David Fincher for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
• Ron Howard for Frost/Nixon (2008)
• Gus Van Sant for Milk (2008)

Here’s thinking Danny will get it. But Gus has a good chance too, as the Academy likes to distribute the awards evenly between deserving films – the director can miss out if the film already got the best picture nod…

Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen Nominees:

• Frozen River (2008): Courtney Hunt
• Happy-Go-Lucky (2008): Mike Leigh
• In Bruges (2008): Martin McDonagh
• Milk (2008): Dustin Lance Black
• WALL•E (2008): Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter, Jim Reardon

As above. The bet is on Milk, but WALL•E is a favourite and Mike Leigh could also steal the show.

Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published Nominees:

• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): Eric Roth, Robin Swicord
• Doubt (2008/I): John Patrick Shanley
• Frost/Nixon (2008): Peter Morgan
• The Reader (2008): David Hare
• Slumdog Millionaire (2008): Simon Beaufoy

This is an eeny, meeny, miny, moe situation. But since the winner usually takes it all, the bet is on Slumdog.

Best Achievement in Cinematography Nominees:

• Changeling (2008): Tom Stern
• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): Claudio Miranda
• The Dark Knight (2008): Wally Pfister
• The Reader (2008): Roger Deakins, Chris Menges
• Slumdog Millionaire (2008): Anthony Dod Mantle

Button has to go home with at least one award, overnominated as it is, and Miranda’s work is breathtaking and nuanced, especially in the early New Orleans scenes. All the nominations are strong here though.

Best Achievement in Editing Nominees:

• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): Angus Wall, Kirk Baxter
• The Dark Knight (2008): Lee Smith
• Frost/Nixon (2008): Daniel P. Hanley, Mike Hill
• Milk (2008): Elliot Graham
• Slumdog Millionaire (2008): Chris Dickens

Button was under-edited as far as this reviewer is concerned, Frost/Nixon has a good chance but Slumdog has that millionaire tension going for it and the Boyle rhythm, so that’s our bet.

Best Achievement in Art Direction Nominees:

• Changeling (2008): James J. Murakami, Gary Fettis
• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): Donald Graham Burt, Victor J. Zolfo
• The Dark Knight (2008): Nathan Crowley, Peter Lando
• The Duchess (2008): Michael Carlin, Rebecca Alleway
• Revolutionary Road (2008): Kristi Zea, Debra Schutt

Changeling does an amazing job of recreating the period and The Dark Knight draws us into the darkness and leaves us there, but Button will probably take it.

Best Achievement in Costume Design Nominees:

• Australia (2008): Catherine Martin
• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): Jacqueline West
• The Duchess (2008): Michael O'Connor
• Milk (2008): Danny Glicker
• Revolutionary Road (2008): Albert Wolsky

Since Australia got snubbed out of everything else (see Baz, you cannot bribe them with Over the Rainbow), here’s hoping it’ll get a nod as a consolation prize. But costume dramas are notorious in this category, so Duchess has an advantage.

Best Achievement in Makeup Nominees:

• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): Greg Cannom
• The Dark Knight (2008): John Caglione Jr., Conor O'Sullivan
• Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008): Mike Elizalde, Thomas Floutz

Who do you think was uglier: the Joker or the Button? Button it is. One thing is for sure, Hellboy will be ignored (but we love him anyway in all his hornlesness).

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score Nominees:

• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): Alexandre Desplat
• Defiance (2008): James Newton Howard
• Milk (2008): Danny Elfman
• Slumdog Millionaire (2008): A.R. Rahman
• WALL•E (2008): Thomas Newman

Slumdog will probably take it, in one big sweep, unless it gets the award in the category below.

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song Nominees:

• Slumdog Millionaire (2008): A.R. Rahman, Gulzar("Jai Ho")
• Slumdog Millionaire (2008): A.R. Rahman, ("O Saya")
• WALL•E (2008): Peter Gabriel, Thomas Newman("Down to Earth")

Strangely enough it’s probably going to be WALL•E, against the odds. The Academy happens to loooove cartoon songs.

Best Achievement in Visual Effects Nominees:

• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): Eric Barba, Steve Preeg, Burt Dalton, Craig Barron
• The Dark Knight (2008): Nick Davis, Chris Corbould, Timothy Webber, Paul J. Franklin
• Iron Man (2008): John Nelson, Ben Snow, Daniel Sudick, Shane Mahan

It’s going to be the Knight. Quite frankly it’s not such an interesting (or attractive) achievement to show us how Brad will age.

Best Animated Feature Film of the Year Nominees:

• Bolt (2008): Chris Williams, Byron Howard
• Kung Fu Panda (2008): John Stevenson, Mark Osborne
• WALL•E (2008): Andrew Stanton

Where is the nomination for Igor I ask? The Panda was cuddly and Bolt featured one ferocious hamster, but it’s WALL•E that has the most heart and a pertinent message.
WALL•E
Watching the stars: WALL•E will be a bright light on Oscar night


Best Foreign Language Film of the Year Nominees:

• Der Baader Meinhof Komplex (2008)(Germany)
• Entre les murs (2008)(France)
• Revanche (2008)(Austria)
• Okuribito (2008)(Japan)
• Vals Im Bashir (2008)(Israel)

Waltz with Bashir has had the strongest distribution and exposure, so we are going with this one. Not the strongest category for the Academy.

Best Documentary, Features Nominees:

• The Betrayal - Nerakhoon (2008): Ellen Kuras, Thavisouk Phrasavath
• Encounters at the End of the World (2007): Werner Herzog, Henry Kaiser
• The Garden (2008/I): Scott Hamilton Kennedy
• Man on Wire (2008): James Marsh, Simon Chinn
• Trouble the Water (2008): Tia Lessin, Carl Deal

It's a toss-up between Herzog and Man on Wire. Betting on the latter – pure cheekiness.

Ok, back to watching the stars. Tune in after they roll the red carpet back, for either a bitchfest or a gloatfest...


© Copyright P. Bieszk 2009

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Revolutionary Road
Director Sam Mendes burst into the scene in 1999 with his directorial feature debut American Beauty, an instant crossover success with viewers of various ages, nationalities, creeds and degrees of snobbism, the film won a best picture Oscar and (for once) deservedly so. It was a confrontational black comedy that revealed life’s magic alongside its banalities and the ever-present possibility of redemption. These qualities are sorely missing from Revolutionary Road, which is best described as a disappointing 1950s version of Desperate Housewives without an ounce of humour added to the cake mix. Unlike Mike Nichols’ Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf (1966) with Elisabeth Taylor and Richard Burton or Stanley Donen’s Two for the Road (1967) starring Audrey Hepburn and Albert Finney, films tackling the theme of marriage with insight and psychological nuance, Madden’s newest project, inspired by a cult 1961 Richard Yates novel, documents lives of quiet desperation by shortcuts, giving the title an ironic resonance on many levels. Apparently, contrary to the myth, there were no happy, functional people in the 1950s. At all.

Revolutionary Road Kate Winslet Leonardo DiCaprio
Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet play it one more time in Revolutionary Road

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PAPER DOLLS (2006)
The Paper Dolls are gay Filipino expats deemed “half women half men”. Marginal amongst society’s margins, their complex lives are open-heartedly revealed to us. Working in Tel Aviv as caretakers for the elderly in Orthodox Jewish communities, their temporary visas expire the moment they lose their jobs, and as a result, they are constantly hiding from officials eager to deport them. After work they get dismissed by prettier, more mainstream drag queens, who regard them as amateurs, and by club owners, who find new ways to humiliate and exploit them. Homophobia is expected in this environment so any sign of interest and acceptance is treated as a wonderful gift, rewarded with unfailing devotion and care. Despite the general stance of spirited naïveté this documentary enthuses, it stumbles on uncharted territory, much like the director Tomer Heymann, who came across the amateur cabaret troupe The Paper Dolls in an alley, after one of their shows.


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BAMAKO (2006)
Abderrahmane Sissako’s Bamako is one of those rare film-going experiences that educates, challenges preconceived notions and simultaneously manages to express the culture, the feelings and the plight of the people on whose behalf it speaks. Using the conventions of courtroom drama, we are presented with a faux trial of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, and their ruthless debt policies in Bamako, Mali. Various representatives of the community, from intellectuals to peasants, are called in as witnesses. Each provides crushing evidence of pervasive injustice and inhumanity experienced on a daily basis and demonstrates the sheer impossibility of a dignified life in this vicious circle of poverty. In the background, life in Bamako continues in its easy sun-bathed rhythm, illustrating the complexities and absurdities of issues discussed in the trial as they affect people’s daily lives. The astounding landscapes and beautiful people clash with the extreme hardship of life surrounding the makeshift open-air court, as a couple marries, families struggle to survive at the cost of their own integrity, and a sick man patiently awaits his death as he cannot afford treatment. All this heartbreak is interspersed with flashes of music and humour – Danny Glover, one of the film’s producers, appears in a mock-spaghetti western depicting a morality tale “African style”.

BAMAKO (2006)
Aïssata Tall Sall and William Bourdon as the attorneys and Assa Badiallo Souko as one of the witnesses in Bamako

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THE CAVE OF THE YELLOW DOG (2005)

January 9th 2009 08:11
THE CAVE OF THE YELLOW DOG (2005)
The Cave Of The Yellow Dog is no longer as firmly entrenched in the realm of magical realism as its predecessor The Story of the Weeping Camel (2003) was. If comparisons are unavoidable, Cave holds its own as a worthwhile film-going experience. It is a heartwarming and intimate portrayal of the Batchuluun family and their everyday life on green Mongolian pastures, reminiscent of Nikita Mikhalkov’s award-winning Urga (1991). Brilliantly observed and beautifully captured, director Byambasuren Davaa’s world consists of small details revealing a richness of cultural heritage and admiration for the simplicity of the nomadic existence. The Batchuluuns have a lot of respect for each other, their work and surroundings. The parents adore their children immensely. The kids are charming, especially the little bundle of trouble Babbayar, who appears to have more personality than his small frame can safely hold. His oldest sister and our heroine Nansal has astuteness and wit to boot, adopting a stray puppy for friendship and good fortune, as it turns out.

THE CAVE OF THE YELLOW DOG (2005)
The Batchuluun family, happy to share their life on the Mongolian pastures

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The Day the Earth Stood Still
What makes remakes potentially interesting is the possibility of building on top of existing material in order to update it and reflect the contemporary cultural climate, and the ensuing conversation with the preceding film and the audience. Perhaps that is why good and thought-provoking remakes are so few and far between (such as The Magnificent Seven, The Departed or Diabolique) – creating one would require actual engagement with the material on a deeper level and bringing a new element or point of view to the equation. Most remakes however fail at this (think Vanilla Sky, Psycho), and The Day the Earth Stood Still is no exception, despite the promise displayed by director Scott Derrickson in his chillingly effective previous effort The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005). While the older version of The Day had a sincere and heartfelt pacifist message reflecting the time of the Cold War and racial prejudice, as an update we get colour cinematography and nice digital special effects, but that’s about it. I am guessing the main reason for the remake was the timeliness of the environmentally friendly (or rather desperate) but unelaborated on message and the need for a new sci-fi vehicle for Keanu Reeves.

For those familiar with the original - and beloved amongst science-fiction fans - 1951 Robert Wise version of The Day the Earth Stood Still, the plot will hold no surprises: one day the planet wakes up to what looks like an alien invasion and reacts with unevolved violence. Reeves, predictably wooden but nonetheless a pleasure to look at, despite being in his mid 40s and still wearing his suit from The Matrix, portrays the alien Klaatu who has the power to decide the fate of the human race. I shall venture a guess that the big black robot Gort was modeled after him, especially in its capacity to display the full range of emotions: on and off. Kathy Bates looks tired as the president’s secretary (in this film she is doing all the government’s work it seems), but Jennifer Connelly lights up the screen a little as the scientist Helen Benson, entrusted with a mission to embody humanity’s better side and thus worthy of being saved – hey, at least we are represented by a good looking profile


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THE DESCENT (2005)

January 3rd 2009 10:04
The Descent
Thinking of becoming a vegetarian? This film might just push you over the edge! Imagine Wolf Creek and Resident Evil minus the camp, double the gore, and with the gloom dial maxed. Six rather comely lasses venture on a caving trip, which slowly and relentlessly turns into a nightmare, not unlike Dante’s hell, which seems never to run out of extra circles here. The adventure is the idea of brunette ego-tripper Juno (Natalie Mendoza), seeking to rekindle her friendship with meek blonde Sarah (Shauna Macdonald). Their four friends join in for a girl-power expedition, and some do kick ass, but hey – it’s a gory horror flick, so most just kick over. Let’s just say that the slime in the cave isn’t of purely mineral origin. Impressively gory visuals escalate like an unstoppable violent avalanche – blood lake included.

The Descent
Sarah (Shauna Macdonald) goes for a gory swim in The Descent

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Midnight Movies
A nostalgic trip into the realm of the cult, the trashy and the surreal, this documentary celebrates the unique cinema experiences offered by the midnight movie circuit of the 1970s. Director Stewart Samuels concentrates on 6 movies: Alejandro Jodorowsky’s Mexican spaghetti western/mystic acid trip El Topo (1970), George Romero’s ground breaking zombie horror film The Night of the Living Dead (1968), John Water’s bad taste classic Pink Flamingos (1972), in which Divine the drag queen unforgettably consumes dog poo, the camp mega-hit The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975), The Harder They Come (1972) with its hip Jamaican vibes, and David Lynch’s melancholy industrial nightmare Eraserhead (1977). Besides interviews with directors and distributors, critics Roger Ebert, J. Hoberman and Jonathan Rosenbaum recycle their widely published ideas on the subject. Nowadays we can only imagine - with a tinge of jealous longing - what it was like to sit in a pot-infused atmosphere, breathing in countercultural ideas in an era of excitement and transgression on the art scene.

Eraserhead
Jack Nance as the embodiment of existential angst in David Lynch's Eraserhead

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