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For Those in Peril (2013)
As deep, scary and as beautiful as the sea itself
The Edinburgh International Film Festival 2013 Presents:
Writer, Director Paul Wright creates a beautiful poetic tale, exploring the power of love and loss in his deep, visceral and emotionally charged feature debut.
Aaron, an awkward outsider in his small fishing community, returns home after surviving the boating tragedy that claimed the lives of all else aboard, including his elder brother Michael (Jordan Young). Aaron, who feels increasingly frightened and isolated, can remember no details of what happened. He not only struggles with the guilt felt from being the only survivor, but the guilt imposed on him by a community who will not readily forgive him for being alive, while their loved ones are dead.
In his loneliness and anguish, Aaron reaches out Michael's fiancée (Nichola Burley) which fuels the communities suspicions and anger further, in particular Nicola's father (Michael Smiley).
"Do you think if you believe anything enough, it'll become true?" asks Aaron. With his state of mind worsening by the day, Aaron, propelled by folklore and local superstition clings to the hope that Michael is still alive, and thus sets out to save him from "The devil in the ocean".
Wright's feature debut is a strong character drama that explores psychological trauma through a visceral coloured palette and a rich, compelling and thought provoking narrative. Wright uses almost every aid at his disposal to ensure the audience feels and experiences Aarons increasing fragility, torment and state of mind, and he balances it note perfect. This is achieved through a tapestry of visual formats (Super8 footage), sound, folklore and news articles that blur the lines between reality and fantasy. These methods of storytelling never force an idea, but rather tease the audience with possibilities, allow them to draw their own conclusions.
Wrights prominent direction and vision is felt throughout the narrative, but it must be said, his cast deserve as much recognition. George Mackay gives a powerful, sad and heartbreakingly honest performance as our troubled lead, Aaron.
Kate Dickie provides the emotional centre of the film, and exists as Aarons only buoy in stormy waters, in a town that has outcast one of their own. Cathy performance although understated encapsulates the heartbreak and strength of a mother who wrestles with her own grief, whilst trying remain strong for her now, only remaining son. Both performances are quite simply stunning and career defining.
It could be argued that the film becomes stagnant in its second act, refusing to move on in narrative, busying itself with visual flourishes and techniques that slow the pace. I however enjoyed these moments and found they added intrigue, beauty and mystery to an already compelling film.
In-Short
As someone I know put it, "For those in peril is as deep, scary and as beautiful as the sea itself"
For all my other film reviews and movie ramblings head to www.moviereviewworld.com
We Are the Freaks (2013)
An extended version of a not so funny Inbetweeners episode
The Edinburgh International Film Festival 2013 Presents:
Director Justin Edgar's 'We Are the Freaks' is a stylish 90s coming of age, comedy drama, showcasing the relationship between three friends (who are all outcasts in society for different reasons) over an eventful weekend that may shape the rest of their lives.
The film starts with a certain style and visual flare as Jamie Blackley commands the screen with charm and charisma, before he unexpectedly breaks through the 4th wall, talking directly to you, the audience, Ferris Bueller style. The opening 20 minutes is full of promise feeling both fresh and innovative as the film quickly draws you in through its lead character, Jack.
We follow Jack (Jamie Blackley) and his two oddball friends, Parsons (Mike Bailey) and Chunks (Sean Teale) on a Friday night that will change their lives.
Each of our three protagonists are misfits or as they see themselves 'Freaks' for one reason or another.
Jack who is from an underprivileged background struggles to achieve his ambitions due to his financial difficulties. The film however over his character as he awaits to hear if he has be awarded a college grant thus allowing him to attend University.
Parsons comes from a stern, claustrophobic and domineering family that have his life fully mapped out for him, regardless of his own views and ambitions. His girlfriend Claire (Rosamund Hanson) also knows what 'best' for him, which all comes to a 'head' in the second act. :P
And lastly there's Chunks (Sean Teale) the oddball, slightly insecure, eccentric, whose privileged background means he doesn't have to work and instead lives on his divorced parents guilty handouts.
We follow this trio of misfits through an eventful Friday night thats full of high-jinks, mishap and realisation.
What started with such promise slowly falls away to becoming rather generic and uninteresting. All the visual flare and creative novelties of the first 20 minutes are all but dropped. Before we even reach the end of the first act the 4th wall seems to have been rebuilt, never to come down again. The punchy repartee of dialogue in the opening sequences also seems to vanish making way for unconvincing and uninteresting word exchanges between characters, followed by throwaway gags and comedic set pieces that we have all seen before.
Michael Smiley (Kill List) offers a captivating performance as Killer Colin. His scenes are pitch perfect and offer the right balance of comedy and fear as we watch this volatile character fill the screen with great delight.
Jamie Blackley who starts strong slowly shrinks as the film progresses. Mike Bailey plays the unsuspecting comic relief, tragedy character but his performance often feels like a half baked impersonation of Will McKenzie from The Inbetweeners. Sean Teale who also starts with promise quickly becomes nothing more than an irritating one dimensional presence on screen.
By the end the film, despite its interesting moments, vibrancy and frequent skillful direction, it just seems to run out of steam. The films lack of commitment to what it's trying to say, ultimately leaves it all feeling a bit flat and essentially playing like an extended version of a not so funny Inbetweeners episode.
In-Short
We Are the Freaks isn't a bad film by any means, it just frustratingly teases us with enough moments of promise, skill and quirk to know there was a far better film in there somewhere. Instead, what we get is nothing we haven't seen a million times before.
For all my other film reviews and movie ramblings head to www.moviereviewworld.com
Blackbird (2013)
Blackbird - An beautiful exploration of the clash between cultural heritage and the contemporary 21st century in rural Scotland
Written and Directed by the creative mind of Jamie Chambers, Blackbird is a modest Scottish drama that explores the clash between the preservation of traditions and cultural heritage in the fast moving contemporary world of the 21st century.
The film centres around young Ruadhan, a strange, solitary but sensitive soul, who when not on his daily ramblings collecting peculiar oddities for his battered houseboat that sits marooned on a hilltop on Alec's (Norman Maclean) land, he spends most of his time with the older generation of the community, captivated by the old ways and in particular their Scottish folk songs.
The clash between old and new is the main theme and one that effortlessly drives the narrative forward. Despite it being a universal theme, the characters in the story anchor it in subtle ways, making it feel a very personal and sincere journey.
When Amy (Scarlett Mack) reluctantly returns to the village after spending several years studying in Glasgow, she to struggles adjusting back into the community. Feeling at odds, she finds solace in her childhood friend Ruadhan and soon a relationship of sorts is established. However it is when one of the elderly villagers dies that Ruadhan's behaviour becomes increasingly erratic and self destructive, as he refuses to accept the quickening changes to his idyllic village, changes that are altogether out of his control.
Ruadhan foresees the forces of change from outside influences as a runaway threat that can only culminate with losing all that once was. In his increasingly anxious and stubborn state of mind he fails to see that perhaps the old and new can co-exist and establish a mutual harmony.
When Amy's step mother buys up Alec's land, Ruadhan is left with no choice but to move and this is where Ruadhan reaches a crossroads in his life. With Amy moving back to Glasgow and his close friend Callum (Patrick Wallace) toying with the ambitions and dreams of escaping the clutches of his father by driving to Spain, Ruadhan must make a life changing decision and discover who he truly is and where he wants to be.
His fear for the loss of tradition and heritage comes to a head when he witness for the first time through his fog of stubbornness, these traditions living on, embraced by the 21st century. Ruadhan hears the folk songs he was so frantically trying to learn and preserve live on through a recording on Amy's IPod. He also hears a young local girl singing the songs of old, continuing the cultural legacy. This is perhaps the moment that everything clicks for Ruadhan, and indeed the moment he understands that perhaps these two ways of life can co-exist after all.
The cinematography is elegant and captures the wild Scottish landscape beautifully, playing as much a character as its cast itself. Andrew Rothney, Scarlett Mack, Patrick Wallace and Norman Maclean give especially standout, naturalistic performances that truly bringing the film to life. The intricacies of each of their characters can be felt subtly in every frame.
In-Short Blackbird remains one of the first films I have seen in a long time that feels honest and authentically Scottish, despite its universal theme. It is not only a beautiful film, full of character and charm but also a stunning piece of filmmaking.
Blackbird had its world premier at The Edinburgh International Film Festival 2013 and despite not winning the major award, it was certainly one of the finest films in its category.
For all my other film reviews and movie ramblings head to www.moviereviewworld.com
Sinister (2012)
Siniter Review
Sinister Plot A once successful crime writer moves his unsuspecting family into a house with a dark past.
Review True crime writer Ellison Oswalt is looking for his next big story and decides it may lie in a house that was once witness to a mass hanging. Without telling his family of its tragic past they move in and as his research begins Ellison uncovers the properties true past.
For the past few decades cinema has been awash with lazy throw away horror films, each a copy and paste from the one before. Hollywood's sure way to make a quick buck, "If it's not broken then why fix it". Hollywood knows its market and its teenage target audience who have become so accustomed to the sloppy, poorly made genre movie that they have inevitably become the norm.
So what makes Sinister different....well. Nothing really. The film starts with promise but quickly slides into the ridiculous and ultimately the monotonous.
The cast never quite seem to gel on screen as a family. The dialogue between them seems clunky and unnatural. When the supernatural element eventually kicks off the special effects feel and look extremely amateurish and leave you feeling cheated. The drama that unfolds in several key scenes in the film are poorly executed and at times are more likely to result in a snigger than a gasp. With a wafer thin narrative there's very little here to keep you guessing for its 110min running time...
Another horror film that far from delivers its promise. Poorly written, directed and executed
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Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012)
Beasts of the Southern Wild Review
Beasts of the Southern Wild Beasts of the Southern wild is a story told through the eyes of Hushpuppy a 6 year old girl who must show great strength when faced with her father's fading health and a storm that will test her courage, strength and her communities will.
In an industry chocked with superheroes and shock'em horror movies this film comes as a refreshing alternative. An emotionally charged tale that boasts beautiful, visceral visuals that unashamedly capture the beauty, hardship and horrors of life in the "Bathtub", a small community who live in the swamplands of Louisiana on the other side of the levy.
Hushpuppy living a near orphan life wants nothing more than to be held, loved and wanted like any child, but is slowly becoming a product of both her environment and her father's tough love approach as he prepares her for life once he has gone. Both these elements are key to the story and act as plot devices throughout.
Both leads give powerful Oscar worthy performances and none more so than the young Wallis who was plucked out of obscurity for her first time role here. The performances give the film a raw edge that feels real, powerful and unforgettable.
With a beautiful soundtrack to match its visuals and stellar performances from all, this Terrance Malick Es tale is simply stunning.
See more of my reviews at http://www.moviereviewworld.com/