Snowtown (2011)

The horrific murders of eleven people between 1992 and 1999 in South Australia was a morbidly fascinating story for myself and many others. Now we have the film, directed by Justin Kurzel, of Australia's worst serial killer, John Bunting. He callously and methodically tortured and slaughtered those he found repugnant; pedophiles, addicts, gays, the disabled. A charismatic monster, he charmed and bullied the vulnerable around him to accompany his carnage.  

Daniel Henshall is astonishing as Bunting, I'm certain we'll be seeing more of this guy. His recreation of Bunting's ability to seduce and control explains much. The family Bunting attaches himself to is ripe for exploitation, the kids already victims to a seemingly unending assortment of assaults. Lucas Pittaway plays Jamie, who Bunting takes under his wing and drags into his maniacal world. He is portrayed as a susceptible, shell of a human; unable to stand his ground when things have gone beyond any semblance of sanity.

The desaturated grade of the film successfully draws the color and hope out of these people's lives and the soundtrack, somewhat appropriately, brought Deliverance (1972) to mind at times. The sights of the struggling Adelaide suburb the film's events are located in are depressing alone. There are many appalling, graphic scenes to experience; explosive acts of violence carried out on man and animal. I could take those on the chin but it was the acts of sexual abuse that rattled me and the habitual violation of care that has uncomfortably lingered. I guess many people will not be interested in sitting through this sort of confronting ride but it's certainly worthwhile. Great to see some exciting Aussie cinema again.  

4/5 

Patrick (1978)

After a near fatal accident, Patrick lies in a hospital bed and is believed to be a vegetable by the medical staff. He sure looks like one...

There are only a few minutes at the opening of the film to gauge Patrick's level of sanity prior to when he wound up in hospital. Clearly he wasn't well, and now, in the mysterious world of the coma, he is able to perform telekinesis...and spit. Pat would have been a stalker for sure back in his lucid days but now he can only creep on his nurse by attempting to drown her boyfriends or have the typewriter sexually harass her. Susan Penhaligon is very nice as Nurse Kathy, you can't blame Patrick for having a crack. The other acting highlight is Robert Helpmann as Doctor Roget; the camp, egotistical old twat who rules the depressing quack house with vigour when not eating frogs. 

Aussie schlock films like this have a unique quality that, despite their shitness, keep you hooked. All involved seem to have enjoyed themselves and there is even some all too rare, quality erection humor. As far as providing any chills, it hardly registers. The budget they had to work with did not appear to cater for special effects other than chairs being hurled about. "Patrick! Stop throwing chairs with your brain!". Really, you wouldn't want to have it any other way, truth be told. The mix of intentional black humour, 1970's Australian naivety and frequently stretched acting results in an amusing blend.  

Richard Franklin also directed Psycho II (1983) which I recall seeing when I was but a mere fledgling. Obviously he suitably impressed within the genre stakes with Patrick and 1981's Road Games to be given the keys to sully Hitchcock's masterpiece. Actually, all I remember is that lanky character Anthony Perkins making me nervous. 
Director Mark Hartley covered Patrick in his documentary Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation! (2008) which also reveals Tarantino's fetish for it. Plenty of weird and wonderful flicks are discussed, including the freaking excellent Razorback (1984). More feral pig films please! The doco is very entertaining and worth seeing for an overview of the period.

Fans of this fare will no doubt revel in the many ridiculous scenarios the film dishes up. It's a generic piece of work but has at least a few points of interest making it worthy of your abundance of spare time. 
Seriously, he eats frogs.

2.5/5

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) The Shining (1980)

A Jack Nicholson double post! Excited? Brilliant! I hadn't seen either of these films for many years so seeing them both with relatively fresh eyes was sweet.

Cuckoo's Nest raked in all the big Oscars in 1975; best picture, director, actor, actress and screenplay. It's not hard to see why. A super performance from Nicholson as the charismatic instigator McMurty is only one of many. Of course Louise Fletcher is perfect as the reviled Nurse Ratched, the bane of McMurty's incarceration. Brad Douriff, Danny DeVito and Christopher Lloyd are just a few of the fascinating inmates who reside under Ratched's iron fist. I also really enjoyed seeing Scatman Crothers (by god what a fantastic name) as the poor night watchmen who gets caught up in McMurty's shenanigans. Really, he should have known better but who could resist eh?

Party time! Think about it Scatman!

Czech director Milos Forman went on to direct a couple of other films about souls who rub against the grain of society. The People vs Larry Flint (1996) and Man on the Moon (1999) are the interesting biopics of Larry Flint and Andy Kaufman respectively. Two guys who knew how to rattle cages, just like McMurty. Forman's earlier work in the Czech Republic is held in pretty high esteem and features more overt comedy. The Firemens Ball (1967) sounds like a ribald lark as a party for the retiring chief becomes an alcohol fueled disaster. Apparently life in the old communist east was a ripe target for Forman, as shots are taken throughout the film. Sounds pretty good huh? I'm onto it.

Needless to say One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest is a gem. Forman has adapted Ken Kesey's novel into a funny, thought provoking and heart-breaking film. A true classic.

4.5/5 

Shit yeah. The Shining. Jack Nicholson. Stanley Kubrick. Scatman Crothers. Shit yeah.

Geeze, Nicholson sure did some good work back in the day, and there's still so many top shelf performances I haven't covered in this bloggy. Of course he slays it again here with a typical charismatic and frenetic descent into madness. Scatman's interaction with the kid is fun yet creepy and Shelley Duvall is just right as the warm yet quite useless ma and wife. 
Kubrick's vision of Stephen King's novel is technically stunning and is steeped with the sinister intelligence that you watch Kubrick films for. King wrote the original screenplay for Kubrick who rejected it, the final script Kubrick used takes quite a departure from the book. King went on to write his own made-for-television mini-series version which obviously met its critics but King fans seem to be happy. Despite there being some fabulous adaptions of his work, most people have their own horror stories of seeing a Stephen King story on the screen, so please excuse me if I don't rush out to see this. 

Come play with us Danny...forever!

The Shining has an abundance of truly unforgettable scenes that sear themselves onto your crusty brain. The beautiful aerial shots of the mountains of Montana and Colorado to the waves of blood pouring from the elevator were masterfully captured by John Alcott B.S.C.. He was also cinematographer on Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange (1971) and  Barry Lyndon (1975) for which he rightly won an Oscar. The man knew his stuff. 
Apart from the awesome performances there is an emptiness to the characters and the story, though that does little to detract from the overall impression of the film, it perhaps stops it from being an utter masterpiece. I suppose when you combine the talents involved in this film with months of isolation in a hotel that echoes the lives of slaughtered children that results in a bloody rampage you just can't go wrong.
4/5

This is a pretty amusing re-imagining of the film. I can only pray to an imaginary deity that someone saw the film on the basis of it.

Fitzcarraldo (1982) My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done (2009) Incident at Loch Ness (2004)

What we have here is three films, two directed by Werner Herzog and one starring and produced by the man. I guess you could say I have been having some Herzogian times of late. Let's get into it then eh gang...

Kinski. Lunatic. Brilliant.

Fitzcarraldo is played by Klaus Kinski, Herzog's main guy for five films. Visually he is rather startling in appearance; a shock of white hair, white suit and Kinski's er...unique face. Fitzcarraldo is a man of passions, one of which is opera. His dream is to build a house for his passion in the small town he inhabits in Peru. Requiring some serious coin to get the operation under way he decides that the lucrative rubber business is a good bet. The rubber trees he needs to access are up north and it will require journeying by river so a paddle steamer is acquired. To get the boat to the river requires crossing actual mountains, not a simple task. After much of the crew flees this mad expedition, Fitzcarraldo, by fortune, enlists the help of the forest natives. Amazing scenes of hundreds of men pulling a massive boat up a mountain in the Peruvian jungle takes place. What makes it even more amazing is the fact they actually did it for real while shooting the film. Herzog's passion for film making seemingly matches that of the character's story he is sharing. While I have not seen it myself, the doco Burden of Dreams (1982) captures the dramas involved in the huge undertaking. I really need to see this asap sirs and madams. Part of those dramas were Kinski, his good self. A character as possessed as Fitzcarraldo needs to come from somewhere and Kinski himself was perhaps even more so. Scenes of him screaming and ranting like a maniac at the crew can be seen in another documentary, My Best Fiend (1999), which is directed by Herzog and is a great insight into their relationship and should be seen. As much as they inspired one another they also conspired to murder one another. Those wonderful nutters.

4/5

The hulking presence of Michael Shannon seems to forewarn of the strange character you are about to encounter (much like in Boardwalk Empire) in My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done. His character Brad is a strange cat but after returning from a trip to the Peruvian jungle (gee Herzog loves it) his behaviour becomes increasingly bizarre. Asked to leave a theatre production he was to appear in, he goes on to slay his mother by sword, mimicking the tragedy in the play he was to lead. Events in Brad's past are recounted and insights through others shed light, sort of, on the guy's dilemmas.

A fine cast of actors who are serial offenders when it comes to appearances in the 'realm of odd' do good here. Willem Dafoe, Chloë Sevigny, Brad Dourif, Grace Zabriskie and Udo Kier all seem to enjoy the unusual material. That unusualness may indeed be exasperated by the fact that David Lynch was a producer. My beady little rat eyes lit up like a toxic inferno when I saw two of my favourite directors were in cahoots. Although entertaining it doesn't live up to the potential that many may have seen for this collaboration. It seems a little stretched at times with some unnecessary scenes, but if you are a fan of Herzog or Lynch this is still a treat. A tracking shot of a can of oatmeal rolling down a driveway, pet flamingos which Brad refers to as his 'eagles in drag' and garish scenes of suburbia are only a part of the lunacy. For me, it was certainly worth dipping my beak into. 

3.5/5

Zach Penn directed this mockumentary, Incident At Loch Ness, and also stars as the ridiculous director who leads Werner Herzog and their crew on a hunt for old Nessy. The beautiful scenery of Scotland and Herzog's presence are the only things that save this from being a complete disaster. Penn is perhaps the most moronic and irritating character (I hope he was acting) I have endured for a looong time. The first 5 minutes is actually quite encouraging and those not in on the joke could wonder if it was in fact a real doco. Silly twists and characters and obvious setups destroy that and sink any hope of enjoying this for what it is. There are a few memorable scenes with Herzog that got me through it, he is, in fact, credited with writing and producing this with Penn. Hopefully this is the last we'll see of this collaboration. More time hanging out with Lynch thanks Werner.

2/5

Not actually sure what this has got to do with the film but a good chance to hear a Herzog story anyway.

Other Films I'm Watchin' Round Up #2

Rocksteady- The Roots of Reggae (2009) A humble documentary that tells the story of the music known as Rocksteady. It was the precursor to Reggae and the people and times surrounding its birth and continued practice are illuminated here. It's all very nice, if a little dull though, a bit like how I find the music after a few tunes to be honest. Some great characters and performances however and surely worth seeing if you're a fan of the sound. 2.5/5

Legends of Rocksteady

The Kids Are Alright (2010) Well now, this film was nominated for 4 Oscars and, despite being well made, has some annoying characters I would have enjoyed seeing become involved in a car accident. The lesbian couple played by Julianne Moore and Anette Benning are painful and Mark Ruffalo as the sperm donor of their kids is a wonder-twat. The kids are actually quite alright though. 2.5/5

Moon (2009) Sam Rockwell brings it home (woh) in this atmospheric sci-fi. Visually it seems almost like it was shot in the 80's but it works beautifully and the soundtrack by Clint Mansell is perfect. Oh yeah I love this film. 4/5 

Get Low (2009) Robert Duvall and Bill Murray, that's a winning combination in my books. Murray is understated but still brings his unique charm and Duvall is great as the grizzly old bastard that has the town terrified. It walks a fine line with the sentimental drivel at times but has some touching moments and is pretty damn charming.  3.5/5

Rebel Without a Cause (1955) Alright, finally, I get it. James Dean that is. That kid could act the socks off a moggy. Entertaining stuff alright but I had to keep myself in check with the context of it at times. It's been so satirised over the years; the actual film, genre and era but obviously an important film. He was a good kid. 3.5/5

No blades man!

The Town (2010)

I must admit to enjoying this little sub-genre of films dealing in Boston's seedier side of life. You can generally expect tough talking Irish-Americans from a poor Catholic neighbourhood, dealing in or struggling against vices and criminal enterprises. To name check a few of the notables, Scorsese's 'The Departed' (2006), Eastwood's 'Mystic River' (2003) and to a lesser extent, Van Sant's 'Good Will Hunting' (1997). Ben Affleck obviously gets his kicks from them too having previously directed 'Gone Baby Gone' (2007), and now directing and starring in this. It's familiar territory; Affleck and his buddies are bank robbers running amok, a love interest enters the fray, Ben wants out of the criminal life, the FBI closes in, one more job looms, shit explodes. Very familiar indeed. However it is carried off well, blending some of the more solid action scenes I've witnessed for a while with rising tension amongst the heist mates. 

Hey guys, where's the Dropkick Murphy's soundtrack?

I enjoyed this, I was into it the whole way through. The love story is a little tiring and the predictable plot turns are present but they're executed solidly and professionally, just like the robberies. The mighty Pete Postlethwaite delivers with a quiet viciousness in a small role as a criminal boss. This was his second last film before succumbing to the scourge of cancer.

Affleck appears to have moved past his phase of appearing in steaming piles of shite. Now seeing his name attached to a project offers intrigue as opposed to praying you'll never be stuck in a plane with nothing else left to watch. If he keeps directing to this calibre, he and his brother, Casey, will have some exciting work ahead of them. 

As much as I enjoyed The Town however it didn't linger with me after the credits, a mark of success in my books. It is still never the less a worthy entry into the Bostonian crime genre. 

Now get the fawk outta here kid before I smack ya. 

3.5/5

Sunday Too Far Away (1975)

Another entry from the golden period of Australian film which produced many under-rated gems. It stars Jack Thompson, naturally, as Foley, the top local sheep shearer in the parched flats of South Australia. The long, hard days of working in the sheds are followed by raucous booze soaked nights. Despite the boredom isolation brings, the 'cockie' ie the farm boss, his tempting daughter, shit-awful food and impending strike action all keep the boys on their toes.

The story is a little fragmented but the setting definitely appears authentic and has been shot nicely. I could taste the sweat and dust in the relative comfort of my urban hovel. Jack is perfect in the role as one of the boys and shows a bit of vulnerability when his chips are down. Max Cullen also impressed as did Reg Lye as Old Garth, an alcoholic at the end of the line. The stupid things masculinity can drive a bloke to are fairly well exposed here but the joys of mateship is nicely shown as a counter.

I didn't know about this film before seeing it which surprises me, it doesn't seem to get much love which is a shame. Even the lack of clips on Youtube is an indication, so follow this link to Australia's National Film and Archive site for some viewing pleasure. The life of a shearer is not all laughs but there's certainly a few in this film. I think one day, maybe I'll shear sheep and drink rum all night too.

3.5/5