Only got to nine films this year, and was so busy that I didn’t do any reviews as I have done previously. So, here’s a short and sweet rating (out of five stars) and summary:
FOUR LIONS – ★★☆
It was a politically incorrect premise, having a comedy about a bunch of would be terrorists trying to blow themselves (and others up) in the UK, but putting that aside, it just didn’t really tickle me enough. Could have been a short film, or perhaps a series of progressive sketches on a comedy series. If you watch the trailer you’ve seen most of what there is already.
KIDS ARE ALRIGHT, THE – ★★★☆
Overall enjoyable film, though at times it felt a little bit like a ‘zany US sitcom’ because the mom was a mom and, wait for it, the dad was a mom too!, and it seemed to play that up a little too much at times.
LOURDE-No Rating
Fell asleep about five minutes in, and dozed through about an hour of it before I walked out, since I knew I wouldn’t be able to pick up from there.
MONSTERS – ★★★☆
Pretty good sci-fi flick based around an idea where alien mutations/lifeforms exist in an ‘infected zone’ between the US and Mexico. A photojournalist must try and escort the daughter of his paper through this zone from Mexico to the US. Worthwhile if you enjoyed District 9 and Cloverfield, but not really as enjoyable for either. The biggest let down for me was probably the ‘monster design’. While the effects were good,the look of them seemed a little uninspired.
THEY ALL LIE – ★
I don’t know if it was just me but I didn’t get what this was about. It felt as if they forgot to show us the first reel or something to set out the plot. I have really liked a lot of Argentinian films at previous MIFFs, so was looking forward to this one. I didn’t walk out, but I may as well have.
TROTSKY, THE – ★★★☆
Pretty good Canadian comedy – would probably appeal to those who like the humour of Rushmore.
WEDDING PARTY, THE – ★★
I wish I could say I liked it more, but the best thing about it was spotting the shoot locations around Melbourne. The story just didn’t sell me and the characters weren’t believable. Some good performances by the actors, though. It felt like there was some confusion about who/what the story was really about – possibly was either undercooked or overcooked in the scripting.
WILD TARGET – ★★★
Comedy about an assassin who is hired to kill a young gal, but instead ends up not doing it, then protecting her from the would be killers. It was enjoyable enough, but I had a hard time buying into the level of ‘bumbling fool’ that the assassin’s character was, given he was meant to be one of the world’s best. Worth seeing.
SEX&DRUGS&ROCK&ROLL – ★★★
Another year, another film about a musical artist, this time Ian Dury & The Blockheads. It was very very well made, and the acting was top notch. I just can’t work out why the story had to be told, because there didn’t seem to be much of a differentiator here amongst all the other films featuring an artist who is self absorbed, takes drugs, mistreats their family, but are famous, so it must be okay since they wrote some hits. I don’t mind the music, but am not a massive fan. It’s an ok film either way, but probably far better if you’re really into them. One day they’ll start doing late 80’s early 90s bands and I’ll probably be a lot more interested. How about one about Primal Scream, or the Stone Roses, or Happy Mondays?
