Bran Nue Dae
Directed by Rachel Perkins, this lighthearted Australian musical comedy is set in the old pearling port of Broome, in the summer of 1965. A young aborigine lad just likes to hangout with his mates and girlfriend, but, at the end of summer, he has to return to a distant religious boarding school to further his education. After an act of youthful rebellion, the lad runs away from the school, and starts an adventurous road trip all the way back home. The movie is corny, but it has a charm which is infectious, and well suited to this style of musical. The enthusiastic aborigine cast, the entertaining songs, and the exhilarating dance routines, all give the movie an appealing vitality.
Temple Grandin
This movie comes as a real surprise! The subject is autism, but, there is no trace of the sentimentality you would expect to find from a bio pic of this nature. The movie explores the life of Temple Grandin, who, at a young age, was diagnosed as autistic. Through the perseverance of her mother, Temple is taught how to live with her autism, and, she is able to attend a special needs high school. In time, she goes on to college, and graduates as a Doctor of Science. Eventually, Temple becomes involved with animal husbandry, designing revolutionary humane cattle slaughterhouses. Temple’s autism takes the form of ‘visual thinking’, like taking snapshots of the world in her mind, and, as cinema is a ‘visual language’, director Mick Jackson brilliantly depicts the way Temple thinks. Claire Danes is not convincing as a sixteen year old autistic, but, as her character gets older, Claire gets so much better.
Exam
This is another movie which will take you by surprise. Eight candidates, applying for a position with a mysterious and powerful corporation, are locked up in a windowless room to undergo their final examination. The candidates have eighty minutes to discover the reason why they are all there. Restricted entirely to the featureless room, English director Stuart Hazeldine comes up with many inventive ideas to maintain suspense, interest, and visual excitement. He creates a remarkable and unusual ‘real time’ drama.
Ondine
Irish screenwriter and director Neil Jordan has provided us with some impressive movies, which include ‘Mona Lisa’ (1985), ‘The Crying Game’ (1992) and ‘Interview with the Vampire’ (1994). His latest movie is a whimsical Irish fairy story, presented in a modern day setting. A fisherman captures in his net a beautiful young woman. He thinks she must be dead, but, she comes alive before his eyes, and, then, a strange and beguiling love affair is about to commence. Jordan fills his movie with much fascinating Celtic mysticism, and his evocative photography is especially outstanding. Both Colin Farrell and Alicja Bachleda give well modulated performances.
Accidents Happen
You would never believe it to look at, but, this movie is financed and produced completely in Australia. The movie tries very hard, and succeeds, in pretending to be American. This is disappointing, as it once again shows the Australian Film Industry’s lack of faith in their country’s own talent. Or, more probably, it demonstrates the Australian Film Industry’s determination to break into the International market. Anyway, be that as it may, the movie is actually quite an interesting look at a middle class American family, and how its life is changed through a series of unfortunate road accidents. Director Andrew Jackson creates a ‘black’ comedy with a biting edge, while Geena Davis’ particular comedic talents are appropriate for this production.
The Last Station
British actress Dame Helen Mirren was nominated for an Oscar for her performance in this movie. It is hard to see why. Dame Helen is good, but, she is just Dame Helen, and doesn’t really bring anything new to her role. The movie is also pretty turgid, concerning as it does, the last days of the famous Russian writer Leo Tolstoy. When Dame Helen finds out that her husband, Tolstoy, is planning to leave his writing royalties to a charitable foundation, Dame Helen has a right royal fit, and much squabbles and family bickerings take place over the contents of Leo’s will. Canadian actor Christopher Plummer is by far the more interesting performer, in his role of Leo Tolstoy. The movie is badly written and directed by Michael Hoffman.
Georgia O’Keeffe
American artist Georgia O’Keeffe (1887-1986) was probably the most prominent female expressionist painter of her times. This routine bio pic follows her life from her arrival in New York in 1916, where she was to paint throughout the 1920s and 1930s, until her move to New Mexico, in 1949. There she was to remain, and become increasingly reclusive. The movie also attempts to explain her thorny marriage to art impresario Alfred Stieglitz. Art connoisseurs will find the movie of interest. Movie buffs will find it devoid of entertainment. Like most of the movie, Joan Allen and Jeremy Irons give competent but uninspired performances.
Leap Year
Amy Adams has a very hard time trying to get to Dublin by February 29. Her boyfriend is attending a conference there, and she wants to surprise him with a marriage proposal on Leap Day. Directed by Anand Tucker, this is a very predictable romantic comedy. Don’t worry if you have to pop out to the kitchen for a cup of coffee, or grab a cold Bintang, you won’t miss a thing.
