Documentary Bender (Quick Hits)

Intimidad is small in scope, but I like its intimacy, and I'm moved by the blood, sweat and tears shed by the young couple as they chase their dream. 

Devil's Playground offers an interesting glimpse into a rite of passage for young Amish kids, but lacks any real scope, partly due to the secretive nature of the Amish, who don't like to be photographed.

Murder on a Sunday Morning exposes the credibility of our police forces, from the initial racial profiling to the complete lack of any investigation despite innumerable red flags that clearly exonerate the suspect. It also exposes our judicial system for the broken mess that it is.

Intimidad

Score: 65%

Devil's Playground
Score: 60%

Murder on a Sunday Morning
Score: 75%

Attack the Block

Why can't Hollywood invest some of its trillions of dollars into smart, funny, genre-mixers like Attack the Block? That's pretty much my only real issue with the film: its low budget shows. Not terribly so, but enough to make me think, why can't Hollywood invest in this kind of film? Why are they always throwing hundreds of millions of dollars at laughable sequels (and prequels) and unnecessary remakes? Sadly, it says far more than any of us wants to admit about the movie-going audience. So I guess the real question isn't why won't Hollywood feed these creative projects, but why is the American audience not demanding more?  Or the non-PC version: why are American movie-goers a bunch of mouth breathers? 

OK, that's off topic and a sore subject (and better left alone). I'd blame the booze, but I haven't had that many beers. Guess I should have gotten properly pissed before I set out to write this review. Certainly would be a good excuse for anyone crying about how I just called American movie-goers stupid. "I was wasted at the time, barely remember a thing...no idea I even said it, really."

And then he remembered he was reviewing Attack the Block, and began typing.... OK, fine, Americans aren't stupid, they know that Hollywood will remake any successful foreign film...oh wait, it's because Americans are too lazy to read sub-titles or piece together a British accent. Damn, I thought I was getting myself out of that one but it seems I've dug myself in a little deeper. But it's true, and I wouldn't doubt it for a second if someone told me that Hollywood was remaking this film. Of course, the Hollywood version would cost $50 million dollars more and be a mere shell of the original, albeit a pretty, shiny expensive shell. Yay for Hollywood!

Anyway, Attack the Block is in simplest terms, an alien invasion movie. But it is filled with elements from many genres: horror, sci-fi, comedy, action and even adds in some social commentary for good measure. And the genres mesh well in a very solid script from writer/director Joe Cornish. The pacing has a quick tempo and keeps the action moving along nicely. The cast of mostly non-professionals do a good job carrying the movie and get a little help from some professional actors, including Nick Frost in a bit role that adds just enough without stealing the thunder from the main characters.

This movie isn't going to scare you much, if at all, (unless you are someone who is frightened easily) but it will make you laugh and it does entertain on multiple levels.

Attack the Block
Score: 75%

Animal Kingdom

Hell, I'm sitting here drinking--a little buzz blurring the old Gulliver--and having just finished watching Animal Kingdom, I can't help but talk about it. Of course, talking means typing, and I know it's been a long time since I dropped an entry, but sometimes the right film pushes the right buttons...and then there's the alcohol. I think it has more to do with the alcohol to be honest, as I've seen a lot of films since my last entry, although I don't mean to suggest the film lacks punch, or isn't worthy of a late night drunken ramble. It clearly is, and a recommended film for those of discerning tastes.

Yes, I'm immediately giving the finger to all the jackasses out there who will complain about the slow pace, or the lack of action every 2.4 seconds to fuel the 21st Century phenomenon known as cultural ADD. OK, maybe it's not a known phenomenon...perhaps I just made it up. And no, I'm not poking fun at the real ADD (or ADHD) but commenting on the...forget it, if you don't know what I'm talking about, you might be one of them...or dead! So please stop reading if you suffer from cultural ADD or are in fact, dead. (Side note: if you're dead and reading this, I'm A) excited to know zombies exist, B) surprised the undead are accessing the web, and doubly surprised they're reading this blog, which has been deceased perhaps as long as they have, and C) I'm not home, try the neighbors.

Is anyone at this point questioning the legitimacy of my earlier statement that I've been drinking? Sure, it's pretty damn obvious I'm smiling away to the wonderful effects of a choice Pinot Noir, which sadly tapped out an hour ago. Fear not, I've shifted over to an equally robust and tasty...beer; sure it's an entirely different species, but isn't that the whole point of Animal Kingdom? Somehow I made it back around to the movie I watched, which is probably a good thing for anyone reading this blog.

It's great. Check it out. You'll love it.

Seriously speaking, and without spoiling too much (assuming you haven't clicked on the link and viewed the trailer) this is a crime story set in Melbourne. Some critics have likened it to Goodfellas, probably because they're lazy, or because they assume their readers are. Of course there are similarities, but this isn't an Australian Goodfellas, so don't expect Scorsese-style flash...or the Mafia.

Influenced by true crime stories out of Melbourne in the 1980's, writer and first-time director David Michod crafts an ambitious tale of the decline and fall of a criminal family. The film has a gritty realism, with great performances all around. It manages to avoid a lot of the cliches of the genre, but of course, some manage to seep in no matter how hard one tries. But they certainly don't detract, and for most part Michod crafts a well-paced, tense crime story that will stand the test of time...except that damn Air Supply scene. I understand the influences for the story comes from Melbourne in the 1980's, but Air Supply....really? "I"m all out of love, I'm so lost with--ack, gluck, blechhh! Sorry, that song makes me throw up.

Animal Kingdom

Score: 79%

Documentary Films

Bus 174 is part investigative journalism, part tragic mirror held up to Brazil’s societal illnesses. A must see for fans of documentary films. 













Stevie is one of those films that sits on the fence between exploitation and interesting character study. I thoroughly enjoyed it, but am still uncertain as to the director's intentions. It's an engrossing portrait of how one man's childhood of neglect and abuse (mental and physical) creates the ticking time bomb he becomes as an adult.













The Garden is about fighting for justice, and sadly, about how little politicians and our courts care about the rights of impoverished people. It is a living document to the sad reality that justice is not for all. The power, perseverance, and dignity of the farmers is inspiring.

Bus 174

Score: 85% 

Stevie

Score: 75%

The Garden

Score: 83%

The Edge of Heaven

The Edge of Heaven

Score: 72%