#1 - HALF NELSON
Stars - Ryan Gosling, Shareeka Epps, Anthony Mackie
Director - Ryan Fleck
Memorable Quote - 'We're always changing. And its important to know that there are some changes you can't control and that there are others you can.'
Review - Half nelson is one part sweet, one part shock, and two parts skill.
Following Gosling as a teacher in a rough area of town, it explores his
failed relationship with an old flame, his awkwardness around his
family, and the crippling drug addiction that only adds to his general
asshole quota. Enter ___, a student in the class who finds him clutching
a crack pipe in the girls toilets, and soon becomes his only hope at a
saving grace. Rather than the normal
white-teacher-helps-ethnic-minority-students storyline which we have
come to expect, this rather turns the dynamic on its head, leaving you
with a new and interesting experience. Gosling is as great an actor as
ever (this time his mannerisms include wiping his mouth on various items
of clothing) and any unpleasant stereotypes are quickly blown away. A
rewarding watch that will make you think, and hope for a better ending
for everyone involved. 4/5
#2 - TYRANNOSAUR
Stars - Peter Mullan, Oliva Colman, Eddie Marsan
Director - Paddy Considine
Memorable Quote - -redacted due to un-family-friendly nature-
Review - Tyrannosaur is a strange, bleak film. From the outset we are hit with
the contradictory and conflicting nature of the characters throughout:
our protagonist kicks his dog to death in the first scene, making him
immediately utterly reprehensible; directly following this is the solemn
procession home and burial of he dog, a show of remorse that almost
makes so as to redeem him. This duality - the idea of good and bad
existing in the same person - becomes a central theme, as does the idea
of situation having no impact on morality: a sheltered middle-class
marriage can be as broken as a lower-class one. The twist ending is gentle and brings a small note of redemption for both of the central characters, though one remains largely less likeable than the other. It's an interesting one - perhaps not quite enjoyable, though it will come back to your mind again and again after watching. 3.5/5
#3 - SLEEPING BEAUTY
Stars - Emily Browning, Racheal Blake, Ewen Leslie
Director - Julia Leigh
Memorable Quote - 'Such a sleep works wonders.'
Review - A bit of a strange one here as well! Lucy is a poor student (I sympathise) who takes money for the objectification of her body: first as a medical experimentation subject, then as a hostess for exclusive dinners, and finally as a 'sleeping beauty', lying drugged in a bed whilst customers do what they will. It is a powerful film: we are trapped in Lucy's bland, emotionless worldview, everything as sterile as the lab except for the one interaction between her and a dying (suicidal?) friend. Even this is muted and calm; she does not sob or wail, simply allows the tears to run down her face. The colour scheme of the film is also muted, reflecting this same worldview; it is beautifully constructed, and the only truly uncomfortable moment comes as an old man begins to undress. Hint: it may start off being a vaguely interesting scene, but if you do not want mental scars, you must look away when he gets to the boxers. At last she begins to take back control of her own life, and finally at the end she awakes screaming into the real world again, her feelings coming back to life. You get the impression that everything that was bottled up throughout the film now becomes uncorked, and the events will haunt you for a while afterwards with their gentle, lyrical questions. 4/5
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