LITTLE AMÉLIE (or The Character of Rain)

 

Courtesy of Vue Lumiere

Animation outside of the major studios has been evolving. While we’ve all been slowly getting fed up with the sequels (except for Zootropolis 2) and uninventive stories being churned out, animated films have been making a huge impact. The likes of K-Pop Demon Hunters dominated last year, Flow making a historical win at the Oscars and one for the adults, stop motion animation film, Memoir of a Snail leaving an impression on audiences, animated films are evolving, or at least more are being seen by wider audiences. It's exciting to see the weird and unusual animated films alongside the more emotional and grounded stories being honoured at award ceremonies. Little Amelie or The Character of Rain is a shining beacon of hope that progress is being made.

Based on the memoir by Amélie Nothomb, the film follows Amelie, the youngest of three, born into a Belgium family living in Japan. We witness Amelie from birth, as she learns her place in the world and discovers the wonders of the world and her close bond with the family’s housekeeper Nishio-san.

Full review over at Filmhounds.

Watch List: May & June

Luca

Pixar and Disney's latest about two sea monster pals who dream of running away and exploring the world is adorable. The sea monsters themselves are intricate characters who feel more than just legends of the deep. When curious Luca meets confident Alberto, another sea monster living alone on an island, the two immediately bond over their desire to explore. Once the boys make their way to mainland, set in Italy, their story really begins. They meet Giulia, a little girl who's Dad is a fisherman with a cat that finds the boys very suspicious. The story it seems is about friendship and knowing when to let go and move on, but of course with Pixar there always has to be statements. The film morphs from one lesson to another, accepting others, trustung your friends and about family. One aspect which is neglected is the reason why Alberto is alone on an island when we first meet him. We get a slight insight but nothing more than one tear soaked scene and nothing more, which is shame. Overall, its an adorable story set by the idyllic Italian coast, a sweet getaway when you can't travel. 3/5

Shiva Baby

 

Full review HERE 4/5

The United States vs 

Billie Holiday

 

Full review HERE 

Summerland

 

Having missed this film, the first time round last year, I caught up with the sweet story about a reclusive writer of folklore and young boy separated from his family, far from home. Although there is heartfelt story of lost love in flashbacks and a revelation at the climax of the film, this is really all about two lost people needing comfort, one knowing and other not realising they missed it. Gemma Arterton is brilliant as the moody writer who has shut herself away from the world to the annoyance of the village, but this role suits Arterton perfectly. Adding the beautiful location, this sweet story by the coast during wartime is a delight. 3/5

Dinner in America

 

Full review HERE

When Marnie was there

 

Adapted from the book of the same name, the film brilliantly exports the story from its origianl location to a small country town in Japan. Anna is sent away to stay with relatives of her foster mother so that she can get well again. While in the town Anna becomes obsessed with a house that sits away from the town across a marsh. She has dreams about a girl named Marnie until she actually meets her in person. But its very clear the two girls are from different times but somehow can interact with each other at certain times. Over her stay, Anna tries to find out the mystery of their connection and who Marnie really is. The story is very on brand for Studio Ghibli, feeling grounded in the real world and the spirit world. The friendship between the girls is developed very quickly as if they already had a predetermined connection. Capturing pure joy and lonliness is the art that Ghibli has created so well over the years and this is no different. 4/5

God's Waiting Room

 

Full review HERE 

Nomadland

 

There was such a lowkey hype about Nomadland at festivals that I didn'y may close attention. There is no clear storyline or plot, just a year in the life of Fern, a nomad who drives from site to site taking on seasonal work in different states. We get to see her with her fellow nomad friends, on own adventure, with her sister who doesn't understand her lifestyle and in her town that no longer exists. Not only a comment on how the recession affected certain people and age groups, its showing that there are other ways to live but there is an underlying comment on how town can be so reliant on a factory to keep everything turning but within a blink of an eye that town can just disappear. Beautifully shot, a sombre character piece that is full of sadness and joy at the same time. 4/5

The United States vs Billie Holiday

 

 

 

While the war on drugs seems to be used as a reason to pursue Billie Holiday for years is excessive yet is stems from the truth. Although the film does use fictional characters to pad out the actual events and real people, the truth behind the stories is mostly all true which is some biopics tend to twist. The film does indulge in trying to be several different kinds of film in one and therefore over stretches the run time which does feel too long, but the amazing central performances at least make up for it. 

 

Full review over at Filmhounds HERE.

Zine Scene

Leading up to my blog's 10th Anniversary, I had hoped to reveal or start something bigger than planned but I'm still quite please with what's coming. Hopefully it will be coupled with a change of scenary but until March 17th (yes, I know that's St Patrick's Day, it just so happened that way) I can show what I've made in the last few months.

Usually I pick a film I've written a longer piece about but for the last two I chose because both films were made by women, with female characters front and centre. I loved both films for different reasons and wanted to celebrate further. The zines are just something I enjoy doing if you're curious as why I make them. I'm hoping I can add PDF versions to my blog or website in the near future so everyone can see them and not just the lucky few who get physical copies.

Back in October, I was lucky to see Saint Maud again in the cinema and with a socially distanced full room. It was a great experience and thinking back it really makes me miss cinema more and more. I made a zine to celebrate the film further at the end of last year, one I'm really proud of.

Both films have received nominations at various awards. Waiting for the BAFTA nominations to come out but I'm really hoping both get some recognition.  

Above and Below

Like many of you, I have not been lucky enough to see 'Parasite' yet. This week, thankfully, the wait is over. But just before we enter one of the most talked about films of last year and this year (so far) let us delve deep into the mind of Bong Joon-ho and see what lies beneath. In other words, lets go back and watch his previous films an revel in his fantastic genre twisting storytelling.

I wrote (at length) for Zavvi and the full post can be read HERE.

Why Jojo Rabbit should win Best Picture

Part of Zavvi's blog leading up to the Oscars, each film critic backs one of the nominees and the horse that ran out of the gate was 'Jojo Rabbit' by a mile, in my opinion. Its a black comedy war film where director Taika Waititi also plays Hitler, that's all you really need to be a winner. But if you want to know more about why I think this film deserves the 'top prize', head over to HERE.

Watch List 2019

This year, I keep saying it, has been an odd one for films, especially at the festivals. There has been notable ends to massive franchises, Avengers and now Star Wars, as well as some fantastic stories with women front and centre as well as films by women getting the praise they deserve. These are my films of the year, usually picked from what I've written about each month, but we all know I lapsed towards the end. I have included films from festivals as they were brilliant and I think count as a release in the UK. If you're wondering where Jojo Rabbit and Portrait of a Woman on Fire is, they come out next year so I'm afraid won't be included in this year.

This one crept up and made a huge impact on all comic book fans. Its the best comic book film I've seen, maybe even better than my beloved Guardians of the Galaxy. This Spider-Man film not only manages to side step some of the terrible films that came out, it even pokes fun at them. The fact that there are multiple universes and each one there is a Spider-Person must mean that there are multiple versions of all the Marvel characters. In this film, this is Miles' time to shine. The film introduces a new Spider-Man, passes the baton, gives him a worthy story to work with, gives him THE best mentor a would be hero could ask (Peter B. Parker perfectly cast/voiced by Jake Johnson) for AND even has time to introduce 4 other great Spider characters from multiple universes AND bring villain King Pin back to his original place, fighting Spidey as well make Dr Oct a woman voiced by the amazing Kathryn Hahn, literally all my dreams came true with this film. Story and characters aside, the film is brilliantly animated, making it look like a comic literally came to life, with the voiceover, speech bubbles, the black lines of the panels. This film is so brilliantly constructed, it shows up all the previous efforts, this film is pure comic book heart.
 
I first saw the trailer late at night while clicking through various posts and immediately regretted and was excited by it. Using a classic hip hop song to lure you in to the hellscape that await you - genius. A simple story at the core of the film, a family goes on vacation to the beach and are then terrorised by their distorted doubles, leaves so much room for the bigger issues being explored. Appreciating every aspect of the film and how much actual detail in the film is actually enjoyable, inbetween stuffing my mouth with my jacket to stop me yelling out in fear of course. The fact that Jordan Peele's horror film(s) are grounded in the horrific nature of human beings mkaes the horror feel much closer to home, even if a little bit of sci-fi is used to enhance the premise. With creepy twists and turns throughout as well as forehsadowing galore, its much more than I expected.

 So much has been said about Claire Denis' science fiction slightly horror toned drama where Robert Pattinson looks after a baby, at least that's putting it lightly. Death row inmates are given the chance to serve science by journeying into space to extract energy from a black hole. Aboard this particular ship is Dr Dibs, who is obsessed with making babies. She collectes sperm from the willing male inmates and tries to impregnate the female inmates. There is also the terrifyingly shot 'fuck box' which the crew uses to masturbate, all except Monte, nicknamed, the monk. Existence on the ship shifts from sedative induced nights to bleak days, some of the crew finds solace in the ship's garden, others stare into the vast space around them. The mystery unfolds of how Monte comes to be the only crew member left, plus a baby to care for but the true myteries are left unanswered. Such as why were they sent there, what crimes brought them to the ship (only two inmates' backgrounds are revealed) and are there more ships apart from the one with stray dogs? It's a science fiction peice of art that you can dwell on for days. Horror, is other people and the feeling that you're not in control seeps into the cracks of the ship and story and never really leaves you, as well as that damn 'fuck box'.

 An ode to being in the 8th Grade or in the UK, I think this is first year of secondary school. Captures exactly how it feels to be this age. I wrote all about how much I loved this film and everything its about HERE. 

Is it an origin story or is a slow burn thriller into the dark and dirty depressing side of comedy? Well maybe both. Its the film that caused the biggest discourse of the year. I wrote a long post on this one, so brace yourself, especially if you didn't like the film. Read it HERE. 

A brilliantly scripted story about two best friends and one night where they want to prove they are fun as well as smart. My post about the film is HERE.

This was my favourite film from EIFF and its about a woman who really can't be bothered to 'grow up', its superb. Really hoping this still gets a release in the UK. My review is over at VultureHound HERE.

Pedro Almodovar is back and he's back not with a vengence or comedy or thriller but a story very close to his heart, or at least it feels that way. Full review is over at Vulturehound HERE.

Jean Dujardin is Georges. He is obessesed with his deerskin jacket. What if his jacket was the only one in the world? Armed with a video camera, a plastic poncho and a ceiling fan blade, he can make that dream come true. The full review is over at Vulturehound and can be read HERE.

Two best friends, one writer, one party connoisseur, live in Dublin drinking their way through life, until one starts to look at their live without the ‘fun’ filter. I wrote more about the film HERE.

Based the novel 'The Sopranos' taking us back to the 90s, a group of friends are let loose on the streets of Edinburgh before a school choir competition, all with similar things in mind, booze, boys and having fun. My full review can be read HERE on Zavvi.