Black Sheep, Ondine, Le Serpent

A bit of a tree theme going on today, it seems! Ah well, can't complain - a mid-week update can only mean that I'm catching up on the ol' backlog.

#1 - BLACK SHEEP

Stars - Nathan Meister, Peter Feeney, Danielle Mason, Oliver Driver, Tandi Wright

Director - Jonathan King

Memorable Quote - 'I'm not a tree. I'm a fucking sheep!'

Review - Now here's a little something unexpected - a dark comedy from New Zealand centered around the idea of rampaging, genetically modified sheep who can make people into more sheep - sheep zombies, if you will. The craziness of the idea in the first place gives a good indication of the kind of things you'll see if you watch it: immense sheep wearing hippy waistcoats, vicious embryos with teeth, defeat by helicopter blade and sheep love all make an appearance, and throughout you'll root for the wimpy, sheep-phobic, righteous younger brother, Nathan. Following the popular theory that it only really works if one of "us" becomes one of "them", there is asomewhat predictable twist that nonetheless comes to a satisfying conclusion. The locations are rolling hills and steep cliffs, the kind of beautiful scenery you'd expect in New Zealand, but there are a few disgusting areas as well. Balancing gore and humour perfectly, you won't find yourself bored or annoyed at it taking itself too seriously. Full of laughs, too self-aware to be precocious, and not too over-zealous with the effects, this is well worth checking out. 4/5

#2 - ONDINE


Stars - Colin Farrell, Dervla Kirwan, Alicja Bachleda,

Director - Neil Jordan

Memorable Quote - Priest: 'And I can't marry her.'
Syracuse: 'No, you're a tree.'

Review - For a night in with pizza and wine, this is nothing short of a treat. Starting as a modern retelling of an old myth, it is sweet and light, though darker depths are hinted at in the characters' backstories and reputations. Annie's medical difficulties add another element to the fairy tale - could this be her magical help from the seas coming to cure her? Things quickly take a turn into reality, however, as the truth slowly leaks through: Ondine is actually an illegal immigrant and drug mule, who has escaped from her dealer and wants to keep away from him for good. By leading dangerous men to their door she risks Syracuse and Annie's lives, and Syracuse allows himself to get so sucked in to the fairy tale idea he almost ruins everything. As the film powers towards its conclusion the tension builds, and everything seems to be getting worse and worse - will the fairy tale ending ever come? 'Ondine' will at first entrall and enchant, then keep you on the edge of your seat, and finally send you off to bed feeling satisfied. Farrell's brooding performance is perfectly matched by the mysterious selkie and his witty daughter. Fully recommended. 5/5

#3 - LE SERPENT

Stars - Yvan Attal, Clovis Cornillac, Pierre Richard, Olga Kurylenko

Director - Eric Barbier

Memorable Quote - n/a

Review - This one is a thriller again - you know how much I love my French thrillers - and what is strongest about it is the deep sense of desperation you begin to feel on behalf of the main character. Surely, surely, there is no way out for Vincent? Plender is a great villain, striding around in his black overcoat, matching thuggish looks with sharp intelligence and appearing every which way Vincent turns. The film plays like a mystery novel, in fact: every new arc is a puzzle we must solve, trying to outguess the movements of each character as their mutual backstory is gradually revealed. You feel that Plender really is a dangerous force, someone who could destroy Vincent's whole life and take it for his own if he wanted to, and the only question seems to be how long Vincent can hold on for. Some of his actions may not follow logically, but they are the actions of a man desperate to clear his name and rid himself of any legal issues before his children are taken away from him. Lastly, he becomes a man desperate to save those children from what might be an unpleasant fate. Well constructed with carefully created characters, I enjoyed this thoroughly and highly recommend it. And come on now, this is the twenty-first century - don't be a Philistine and let the subtitles put you off. 4.5/5

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