Month: September 2024

Folks, I have some bad news. This blog could be closed down. I was upset about Jared Leto abeing referred to as an actor. Therefore, I did the one reasonable thing which would show my displeasure. I threw a brick at the window of my local CEX and stole thirty seven copies of the movie Shakespeare in Love. Of course, this showed my strong emotion towards Leto stealing actual Italian actor jobs. I can tell this loves labour of an introduction has been lost on you, so I’ll quickly disclaim that I didn’t smash in the window of the CEX. However, if you know any fans of Joseph Fiennes and Gwenyth Paltrow, then please let me know as I may have a gift for them.

I usually like to go through movies in reverse star order but save my worst until the penultimate to do a show of dragging it through the mud. However, that feels unfair to Radical which while my least favourite, was more a consequence of me not watching any bad movies in August. Lucky me. Radical is a fluffy liberal feel good movie about a teacher going into the slums of Mexico and teaching children at a low attaining school through your classic Dead Poets Society/Mr Bernstein controversial teaching methods, despite the lack of support from those around him.

This film, which is based on a true story, has plenty to like. Eugenio Derbez (most famously in CODA) brings a contagious charistmatic energy. Meanwhile, each of the main three or four children have enough of a personality that they feel real. There are some moments of feeling, however the film at times does feel a bit paint by numbers and soft in an attempt to reach as wide an audience as possible. By no means a bad film, but more of a family film night than a watch to consider tough questions.

Hollywoodgate is an interesting premise of a documentary. Following the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, a documentary film maker is given access to the Taliban for a year, focussing on a couple of generals. It is an interesting look into an area you don’t see much of, especially seeing the weapons the US left behind, now in Taliban hands. However, the biggest limit of this film is that you don’t really get to know the characters or see the wider impact on Afghan society in general.

Only the River Flows is one of China’s highest grossing independent films, mainly thanks to it’s lead star Zhu Liyong. When a detective is left to solve a murder, he looks to do so efficiently. However, after doing so fairly quickly, he begins to have doubts about whether he’s got the right man.

There is plenty to like here. The lead performance, showing the troubled cop, is well done and the 16mm cinematography showing a dark gritty look is amongst the year’s best. There is also a dream sequence about two thirds in which is such a fantastic scene. Those first two thirds are really intriguing, and the film noir genre is kept fresh as we start to worry about whether the detective is losing their mind and what is real. However, from there the film goes a bit down hill as it loses its bite. It’s difficult not to compare this to Bong Joon Ho’s memories of murder. Thematically similar, this film struggles without the lashing criticism of power that it so clearly wants to hint at. Even the bolted on epilogue seems to pay homage with its final shot matching that of the Korean masterpiece. It really is frustrating as there is such a good idea.

It’s always refreshing to see a good quality animation, especially when based on some good fiction. Kensuke’s Kingdom is based on the Michael Morpurgo book of the same name. Done in a way which feels like a childrens book illustation, we see Michael get lost on his family boat and wake up with Stella on a seemingly abandoned island. However, soon he finds out he’s not alone, but on an island with another human, the old and lonely Kensuke who’s job is to protect the animals.

With a suprisingly high quality acting cast including Ken Wanatabe, this film is full of a lot of soul. It’s short running, but it has a good pace, keeping that Michael Morpurgo magic. There are moments of genuine heart as the child learns to protect nature and we learn more about Kensuke’s past, which while the younger audience won’t appreciate the gravity of, the older ones certainly will. If it’s available on streaming, I would recommend it as a really solid family drama.

The best documentary you’re going to watch (Watch it, damn it) dropped on Netflix last month. Daughters almost feels like a companion piece to Sing Sing, the Colman Domingo film I watched on the night of typing this (except this film is much better). A group of fathers of young girls are going to have a daddy, daughter dance in ten weeks time in a US prison. For a number of them, the privatised system has restricted the time and relationships they have with their children.

The movie starts with listening to prisoners talk about their relationships with their children and their regrets. In between, we also meet the children, seeing their views on their fathers. These are mature and diverse from love to anger. Even the younger children are aware of whats going on in a slightly naïve way. We then go to the dance which will make you cry, before we see some of the people in the coming months. It’s a really mature, understated and heartfelt documentary, so of course Netflix have hidden it behind annoying Olivia Colman movie. Watch this instead.

“I’m going to blow you like the Brighton Hotel”

That’s not a line you want to see in a movie you’re watching with your folks. However, that juvenile attitude we see in Kneecap is very much the charm. Somewhat, a surprise hit and one that many I’ve talked to have seen or were going to see, it’s set in the late 2010’s and shows the (rather liberally told) story of the coming together of the Irish language rap group Kneecap in a time the British Government weren’t willing to protect it. Liam and Naoise are strongly anti-brit, a sentiment instilled by their father. One of them likes writing rap lyrics. When an interepreter/music teacher, JJ, helps him out with the police and sees his lines, they form the group Kneecap, much to the authorities’ displeasure.

The story sounds ridiculous, and at times looks it. Dad didn’t realise it was a true story until the end, which makes the pay offs even more novel. Not one for the faint hearted with all the drugs, sex and bombs, there is lots to enjoy. The dialogue was phenomenal. It was laugh a minute and may have been the funniest film of the year, even at the weirdest times. The acting was also suprisingly good. The three leads all played themselves. DJ Provai in particular brought out a stellar rperformance, so move aside Lady Gaga. The music was entertaining and the pace was lightning quick to create a fun, genuinely interesting story. If you want a slightly wacky grown up film, this is the one to choose.

Film of the Month

What a month for films. I can already say that September won’t live up to it. Such a variety of great films, that I hope you’ve found one you want to dig out. There is one more for your consideration, and that is Didi.

Chris is an American born child to Chinese immigrants. As a young teenager in 2008, he is known as Chris, Didi or Wang Wang to different people showing his identity. This classic coming of age shows him trying to find his identity, moving between friends and dealing with such an awkward stage of teenage life that you both feel nostalgia for and are equally thankful you’ll never have to go through again.

Very much feeling a complimentary piece to Eighth Grade, this shows the millenial angst of growing up with such integrity. It really captures the awkwardness of interactions, and whenever Chris makes a mistake, you feel for him as the story shows you why he’s doing it. Both Izaac Wang and Shirley Chen in the mother role bring great performances. It’s a wonderful and empathetic film, which if it can find an audience is one of the best crowd pleasers of the year.