Predators (2010)

I said I was going to watch Predators in my last post but I just meant I was going to watch some trash. Well, surprisingly, I actually went out and hired it, much to my lady's disgust. Holy shit but did I love the original 'Predator' (1987). I'm guessing I must have seen it at least 10 times as a teenager as my unstable testosterone levels were surging. Looking back at Arnie's filmography, I was a fan between 'The Terminator' (1984) and 'T2' (1991) years. 'Commando' (1985), 'The Running Man' (1987) and 'Total Recall' (1990) all appealed to my pubescent blood lust and I still hold them in fond regards. Ahhh, good times.

Needs to be seen at least 8 times.

I placated my lady by pointing out that Predators is a Robert Rodriquez film but actually, he only produced (I knew that). It borrows heavily from the original film, jungle setting, bunch of hard dudes with big guns and some of the actual dialogue and scenes seemed very similar, perhaps they were paying homage. Crap only knows. So not a lot of originality going on here but what about cool shit? Predator vs Yakuza isn't a scenario I've ever envisioned happening but it was damn good, I certainly should have envisioned it! Predator vs Predator was a highlight too, seeing one deliver a vicious knee to another in the head from 3 angles was a lovely touch, brought a tear to my eye. Beyond that however there isn't too much to get excited about. It's a bit of a laugh seeing Adrian Brody run around in mud, slapping monsters in the face but overall this is fairly ordinary fare even though I appreciated the insight into the feud between the different Predator breeds. I'd say watch it if you're a Predator fan but otherwise seek out some classic Arnie, 'Raw Deal' (1986) perhaps. 
2.5/5
On Tuesday night I am planning on watching a stinking pile of trash that will make Predators look like classic Kurosawa so stay tuned my little mud larks!

Father Of My Children (2009)

Another mature drama which is good, I'm a mature and dramatic human. Awwww shaddup! Shaddup!
This is a french film about an enigmatic, passionate man leading a life most of us wouldn't mind a slice of. He breathes his profession as a film producer and has a young family that he loves. There's not enough time in the day for this chap. It's a little exhausting watching him continually performing several tasks at once but it drives and fulfills him. Of course as we all know, life is a bitch and things don't always go to plan. His film company hits the financial skids and his treasured life starts to take a depressing tilt.



The film is about this gregarious character and the consequences his decisions have on his family and those around him. I think it does a great job displaying the ebb & flow of life and that an event is only one among others. While it is sad and some girlie-men may reach for the tissues, I feel it has a positive tone to it, encouraging even. There are some great performances especially from the kids and the lead actor, Louis-Do de Lencquesaing. 28 year old Mia Hansen-Løve directs stylishly, it has a real fresh feel. A top effort from such a young director, no doubt about it.
I'd have to say that this is one of the better films I've seen for quite some time. Them French sure know how to make a quality flick. 
Now I think I'll go watch 'Predators' or something.
4/5

The Eclipse (2009)

When is an Irish ghost story not an Irish ghost story? When it's a quiet family drama with supernatural themes on the side...I guess that's still an Irish ghost story though....ahem. Despite being reeled in expecting to see psychotic leprechauns wielding blood stained shillelaghs, I sat like a contented old mate at the bar with a tasty Guinness throughout this slow yet ultimately satisfying little number. Yeah, a little head scratching occurs at the films' conclusion but on reflection it's an intriguing blend of genres and the ghost elements make a compelling discussion point. Particularly if you're really into families and ghosts, and I know for a fact some of you people are.

Set in Cork there is some beautiful scenery and Aidan Quinn does a good job playing a cock you'd happily give a nudge into incoming traffic. Ciaran Hinds plays the lead character who's a grieving widower with a quiet dignity. A while ago I saw Hinds in Todd Solondz's 'Life During Wartime' (2009), the follow up to his film 'Happiness' (1998), in which he plays a paedophile. He manages to do a very convincing job as a fiddler, really. Both those films are amusingly disturbing and should be seen.
The Eclipse rates fairly low on the 'That was scary, I just wee'd my jeans a little' scale but reasonably well on the 'relationships and shit' scale.

3.5/5

Hi Mom! (1970)

Ok, my first follow up film from a previous post. My Brian De Palma tangent has taken me to this somewhat experimental, smutty, and I imagine pretty controversial in ye olde 1970, romp. De Niro attempts to break into the porn industry by making peeping tom style films which he records from his apartment. It's pretty silly and certainly has some funny moments especially as he trys to convince the porno boss to lend him some money. There is glimmers of hell-awesome Travis Bickle coming out in De Niro here too.





The second part of this ribald adventure finds De Niro getting into cahoots with a group of militant black actors. He is a minor character in the doco styled 'Be Black Baby' scenario. This is actually some pretty confronting stuff as the black guys paint their faces white and the white audience's black and then force them through a degrading experience where performance and reality is blurred. Beatings, rape, gunfire etc ensue.  Why haven't I ever heard of it before? I don't know but I imagine it's probably your fault.
It has a bit of an ad-lib feel which is sometimes awkward but there's some interesting stuff going on here for sure. I'll have to check out 'Greetings' (1968) at some stage where De Niro plays the same character.
Be black baby, be black. 
3/5

You, the Living (2007)

Ahhh Nords...funny lot, I like em, they make me laugh. This Swedish piece by Roy Andersson is a whole lot of little vignettes, some of them related, from day to day life. These moments are often mundane, depressing and quite familiar for anyone who claims to be human ( I have a wet pulp of grounded coffee from the bottom of a plunger in place of a heart so I don't count). A lot of them are pretty funny too in that dry, reserved Nordic manner. Andersson appears to have a reasonably dim view of how many of us conduct ourselves but at times he also seems to be celebrating our shortcomings, like hugging an old, pathetic, alcoholic uncle. He's shit but you still love him...well, perhaps you're a bit fond anyway. The drab colors and stark lighting draw out the mostly ordinary circumstances taking place. It took a little while to get into the swing of the pace of things, I wanted more from the scenes to start with but the unconventional structure is a treat once embraced. Please don't be stupid about this ok?
I guess poking a stick at life's awkward and anxious moments is better than slipping a rope around your neck and dropping off a height of approximately 1.5 meters. 
A therapeutic experience.
3.5/5




Roy Anderson has directed a couple of other films that sound like they will be worth tracking down.  'A Swedish Love Story' (1970) and 'Songs From the Second Floor' (2000). The latter is apparently in line with You, the Living but more depressing. Sounds awesome, I'm watching that shit! 
Talking about the Nords, a film I am very keen on is 'The Man Without A Past' (2002) by Finnish director Aki Kaurismåki. This is the second film in his 'Finland' trilogy, each film individual but dealing with the similar theme of the downtrodden. Poor pricks, being homeless in freezing arse Helsinki would suck ice balls. He has made quite a few other films that sound interesting but I'd like to start off by completing the trilogy with 'Drifting Clouds' (1996) and 'Lights in the Dusk' (2006) first. 
I will do my best as you know, I always do.