With our weekly section on hold due to a holiday break followed by the LFF, we’re trying to catch up with all the best new releases that have hit the theatres during our absence with this packed-up October recap.
Three films stood out from an excellent crop of new releases and deservedly would have been granted film of the week honours: Sundance winner ‘Beasts Of The Southern Wild ‘; Tim Burton’s black & white animation ‘Frankenweenie” and the best Bond film in ages ‘Skyfall’, the three of them are currently wowing audiences worldwide.
Our film of the month, and second five star review of 2012 is Behn Zeitlin’s acclaimed debut ‘Beasts Of The Southern Wild’★★★★★, a lesson in magical realism showing the post-Katrina nightmare through the lively imagination of Hushpuppy, a 5 year-old girl who tries to make sense of the terrible events with a naive mix between reality and myt; in total contrast with his father’s fierce struggle to prevent their home, community and livelihood being wiped out by the catastrophe. Poetry and social commentary merge in one of the most visionary features of the year. Beasts is likely to obtain the push from most critics and indie awards’ in the Oscar race. Ouvenzhané Willis and Dwight Henry pack a strong onscreen emotional punch and despite being non-professional they should also count among the favourites for their correspondent acting categories.
The opening gala at this year’s London Film Festival marked Tim Burton’s return to his origins after a string of rather lacklustre big budget missteps, turning one of his first shorts into a full-length work. ‘Frankenweenie’ ★★★★ is a totally enjoyable stop-motion, black and white animation in 3D and a glorious tribute to the horror genre that sets Mary Shelley’s timeless creature in suburban America, where a lonely kid inspired by his science teacher finds the formula to bring back to life his dear pet dog. The procedure is discovered by other kids who promptly follow his steps, creating havoc with their resurrecting attempts. Full of references to both his own films and many other classics, US audiences have cruelly ignored it, probably due to a release after a number of similarly horror-influenced animated works that, despite being inferior, had already conquered the US box-office. However, the skill and endless inventiveness of Burton should be enough to earn him at least a nomination for best animated film as deserved reward.
And just storming UK theatres this weekend, ‘Skyfall’ ★★★★ is the much hyped new Bond movie, celebrating the agent’s 50th anniversary in style with what’s probably one of 007’s best offerings. Sam Mendes has managed to retain the franchise’s most characteristic elements (exotic locations in Istanbul, Shanghai, Macau…; exuberant Bond girls; jaw-dropping action scenes and international espionage thrills) combined with a more intimate storyline that digs in the main characters’ past and enables its impeccable cast to flaunt their acting skills (Daniel Craig and Judi Dench shine, while Javier Bardem often steals the show as uber-camp baddie Raoul Silva) bringing part of the action back to the UK, it takes the most of many London locations and ends in a remote part of Scotland. Fans of the quintessential British secret agent are already raving about it. For everyone else, this is the perfect occasion to get reacquainted with the most famous franchise British cinema has offered to the world.
Other highlights in our screens during October were Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris’ following-up the acclaimed ‘Little Miss Daisy’ with another charmingly offbeat comedy, ‘Ruby Sparks’★★★½ where the pair nearly venture into Woody Allen territory through the story of an author who sees his creation becoming real and inevitably falls in love with her; Walter Salles finally taking Jack Kerouac’s influential novel ‘On The Road’★★★★ to the big screen with predictably divisive, yet very interesting results; plus a couple of arthouse treats from two rising European auteurs, Russian Andrey Zvyagintsev’s third opus ‘Elena’★★★★½ and French-Swiss Ursula Meier with her sophomore work ‘Sister’★★★★. Check our Top 20 favourite movies of the month in full, after the jump.
| 1-BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD ★★★★★ Benh Zeitlin (NEW) A masterclass in magical realism, since it conquered Sundance the buzz surrounding this superb debut hasn’t ceased to grow. The post-Katrina nightmare narrated through the lively imagination of a 5 year-old kid, mixing fairytale and reality while trying to make sense of the terrible events. Non-professional actors Dwight Henry and Ouvenzhané Willis form one of the most touching father-daughter relationships in recent memory. Already a critical favourite, Oscar nominations await. |
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| 2-FRANKENWEENIE ★★★★ Tim Burton (NEW) The king of goth in a welcome return to form, remaking one of his early shorts. Shot in 3D and gorgeous black and white Frankenweenie’s stop-motion animated marvel serves as a tribute to the horror genre as a whole setting Mary Shelley’s creation in contemporary America. No one like Burton knows how to dig the dark side in everyday life out. This tale of solitary kid who finds the way to bring his pet dog back to life and the chaos that ensues when other kids discover his formula is no exception. |
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| 3-ELENA ★★★★ Andrei Zvyagintsev (NEW) After nearly two years gathering international awards across the festival circuit; many of them for her impressive lead star Nadezhda Markina, the third film in this promising Russian auteur’s career offers a bleak glimpse of Russia’s new class structure through the story of a nurse who marries the millionaire she’s been caring for, while her relatives constantly take advantage of her new privileged position. The film slides from social commentary to noir when her husband announces his intentions to alter his will in his daughter’s favour. Gripping, fascinating and very recommendable. |
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| 4-SISTER ★★★★ Ursula Meier (NEW) The follow-up of Meier’s critically acclaimed ‘Home’ is an accomplished foray into the Dardenne Brothers’ brand of social realism that focuses on two young siblings living with no parents in the vicinity of a mountain resort. The younger kid makes a living by stealing ski equipment and progessively resorts to wittier tactics to make ends meet; he supports her older sister who’s seems to be in a state of careless immaturity, failing to acknowledge the dramatic circumstances they both are enduring. A touching story widely enhanced by a superb European cast featuring rising star Léa Seydoux and the always excellent Gillian Anderson. |
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| 5-HOLY MOTORS ★★★★★ Leos Carax Visionary, Genius or just plain bonkers, this personal tribute to cinema by cult French auteur Carax is the first true masterpiece 2012 has delivered. Criminally left empty-handed at Cannes, its many episodes see Denis Lavant being driven around Paris in a mysterious limo to a series of different assignments. Mr. Oscar, his character, jumps from finance investor to street beggar; from crime to motion capture; Eva Mendes to Kylie in a mind-blowing genre hopping ride referencing many significant landmarks in the history of film. |
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| 6-ON THE ROAD ★★★★ Walter Salles (NEW) More than half a decade since the novel that defined the Beat Generation saw the light of day, the director of other high profile adaptation, ‘The Motorcycle Diaries’, finally got the go ahead and brought the cream of Today’s young actors on board. Many are praising how faithful to Kerouac’s original spirit it is on its depiction of a young writer and his charismatic friend hitting the road on a sex, drugs and jazz-infused search for inspiring vital experiences; others dismissed it as overlong, misogynous and failing to excite. The result of revisiting such an influential work was always going to be hugely divisive. Worth finding out why! |
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| 7-SKYFALL ★★★★ Sam Mendes (NEW) The most famous agent on her majesty’s secret service celebrates his 50th birthday in style. Director Sam Mendes has managed to preserve every one of Bond’s most distinctive features while adding layers of depth to the main characters, allowing Craig, Dench and Fiennes far more room to boast their fine acting. However, it’s Javier Badem’s high camp baddie the one who steals the show. 007 followers are already raving about it. Everyone else should take advantage of this occasion to reconnect with the best franchise British cinema has given to the world. |
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| 8-RUBY SPARKS ★★★½ Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris (NEW) The follow-up of ‘Little Miss Daisy’ is another intelligent comedy, inspired by the myth of Pygmalion and not miles away from Woody Allen’s territory. The tale of acclaimed young writer falling in love with his creation after finding she’s become real and the neurotic re-writing of her character when relationship troubles arise is a total delight. Paul Dano and Zoe Kazan, who’s also responsible for the screenplay, lead a star-studded ensemble, including a rare appearance by 70’s icon Elliott Gould as the author’s psychologist giving advice on how to cope with such an unusual partnership |
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| 9-BARBARA ★★★★ Christian Petzold One of the Berlinale’s winners and Germany’s submission to the foreign language Oscar, the best reviewed German movie since ‘The Lives of others’ shares the common subject of how police oppression invaded the sphere of citizens’s privacy under the communist rule in East Germany. Nina Hoss collected raves for her performance as the doctor who finds herself banished from Berlin and relocated in a remote Northern town hospital. |
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| 10-KILLING THEM SOFTLY ★★★★ Andrew Dominik Brad Pitt continues his enviable string of fine roles with this look at organized crime’s decay as a metaphor for the current state of the US in the midst of the financial crisis. This is Pitt’s second collaboration with Andrew Dominik, heading one of the most impressive casts in recent memory where some usual suspects (James Gandolfini ; Ray Liotta; etc.) are joined by rising stars Ben Mendelsohn and Scoot McNairy. The film also benefits from a darkly comic screenplay filled with sharp dialogues and remarkable one-liners. |
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| 11-THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER ★★★ Stephen Chbosky (NEW) Stephen Chbosky adapts his own best-selling novel, a heart-warming coming-of-age story where an introverted newcomer makes friends with a pair of peculiar siblings, joining their arty circle of misfits. The three would forge a special bond helping guide them through the ups and downs of high school life and the typical insecurities of teenage years. A real crowd-pleaser, boasting three fine performances from its well-chosen leads, the film only flaw is being too concerned with its own cuteness, which sometimes undermines the storyline from reaching its full dramatic potential. |
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| 12-5 BROKEN CAMERAS ★★★½ Emad Burnat & Guy Davidi (NEW) Filmmaker Emad Burnat bought his first camera in 2005 for the birth of his son Gibreel, soon to find a different use for it as a way to document the injustices and oppression inflicted upon his community, the inhabitants of a small Palestinean village in the occupied territories of the West Bank. Filmed over five years and named after the number of cameras destroyed by the violence of Israeli soldiers, this outstanding documentary is filled with the kind of footage you rarely see in mainstream news and constitutes an unique testimony from a conflict that has long time been a shame for the whole world. |
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| 13-LOOPER ★★★½ Rian Johnson Despite an unfortunate promotional slogan hailing it as this decade’s ‘The Matrix’, this excellent example of high concept sci-fi is one of the best works the maligned genre has offered for quite a while. Set in a near dystopian future when a shady business of time travelling hitmen is booming; to avoid legal troubles, after a number of years every one of them is sent to kill his future self. A disturbingly puffy-faced Jonathan Gordon-Levitt discovers his older version in Bruce Willis and rebels against his fate. Great fun! |
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| 14-ABOUT ELLY ★★★★½ Asghar Farhadi ‘A Separation’ was Roberawards favourite film of 2011 Thanks to its international success, now Asghar Farhadi’s former opus gets a much deserved release and it’s nearly as superb as its illustrious successor. Another complex moral tale where in the middle of a friends’ gathering for a weekend in the sea, the disappearance of one of the guests would open a can of worms filled with lies and recriminations. |
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| 15-UNTOUCHABLE ★★★½ Olivier Nakache & Eric Toledano The highest grossing French film of all times begins the conquest of Anglo-Saxon markets. Omar Sy and François Cluzet give superb performances as the streetwise unemployed guy and the quadriplegic millionaire that hires him as a carer. The story of their odd friendship focuses in the comic clash between their opposite backgrounds and happily avoids most of the usual sentimentality that goes with those matters. Easily a contender for feel-good movie of the year, a Foreign language Oscar may also be in the cards. |
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| 16-MADAGASCAR 3: EUROPE'S MOST WANTED ★★★ Eric Darnell & Tom McGrath (NEW) An animated Franchise that doesn’t take the audience for granted and keeps on improving on every instalment, Madagascar 3 brings indie darling Noah Baumbach on co-writing credits. Our favourite animal bunch are on a Penguins rescue mission to Montecarlo, joining a travelling circus afterwards as a means to go back home to New York’s Zoo. It’s impressive vocal cast features Ben Stiller; Chris Rock and Sacha Baron Cohen in top comic shape and among the new recruits Jessica Chastain; Bryan Cranston and Frances McDormand, whose hilarious “Captain DuBois” provides some of the funniest moments. |
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| 17-LIBERAL ARTS ★★★ Josh Radnor (NEW) TV actor turned film director, Radnor delivers this slightly dull, yet rather charming romantic comedy starring himself as a college administrator going through some early midlife crisis when his failed career is brought to mind by revisiting his old campus for an old professor’s farewell party. The rest of a stellar cast features appearances by Richard Jenkins, Zac Effron and show stealing strong female roles as new and old flames for Elizabeth Olsen, the younger student he falls for, and Allison Janney in full Mrs. Robinson manner as former teacher crush. |
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| 18-ROOM 237 ★★★ / THE SHINING ★★★★★ Rodney Ascher/Stanley Kubrick(NEW) Did Kubrick direct the shooting of the fake landing on the moon? Was ‘The Shining’ packed with subliminal messages to condemn mankind’s endless self-destroying ability? Those are some of the, rather far-fetched, theories depicted with mind-blowing detail in this entertaining documentary collecting some of the conspiracy theories that surrounded both the director's life and his horror masterpiece. Timely, the analysed classic gets also re-release with a new version featuring twenty minutes never before seen in UK screens. Together, they make a perfect double-bill for this Halloween. |
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| 19-PRIVATE PEACEFUL ★★½ Pat O'Connor (NEW) After the theatrical and Oscar nominated success of ‘War Horse’, it was a matter of time for more of Michael Morpurgo’s prolific body of work to be taken to the big screen. Based on another novel set during the First world war, ‘Private Peaceful’ obviously lacked Spielberg’s big budget; epic grandeur and treacly sentimentality. However, production values aside, it had little to envy his American counterpart, managing to build an equally affecting and solid drama with its humbler resources. |
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| 20-GINGER & ROSA ★★½ Sally Potter (NEW) Two teenage girls's friendship in 60's London is disrupted by the disintegration of one of their families, dragging them both down while adapting to new circumstances. Ginger finds solace to the point of obsession becoming an activist against the escalating nuclear threat in Sally Potter’s most accessible work to date. Breakthrough performances by young stars Elle Fanning and Alice Englert , showing remarkable onscreen chemistry, are the film’s sole brilliant element and can barely save it from a muddled screenplay and the rest of a notable cast left to struggle with their half-baked roles. |
