After seeing this film twice now, I think my idea of the film has become clearer. I had never heard of Edith Piaf before seeing this film, and I am ashamed of that. After seeing the film the first time, I decided to read up about her, her life and her career. One thing became very clear to me, and that was that she lived a very hard and sad life, but she was able to build this incredibly confident persona and this huge career, which is soaring now, after her death, more than ever.

Director Olivier Dahan had to go to great lengths to sift through the facts of Edith’s life from her exaggerated tales, which she loved to tell. Even without the dramatised fiction, the story is very much a tear-jerker.Edith’s parents were street performers. Her mother was a singer and her father was a contortionist. She was born into a family where performing was a way of making a living. This was also an impossible lifestyle to raise a child in, so she was dropped off with her paternal grandmother, who just happened to run a brothel in Normandy.

One thing many people are criticizing the film over is its non-linear way of story telling. She didn’t live a normal life; it was full of emotional chaos and disorder. The film doesn’t try to make sense of a life but is structured to revolve around her music, her emotions and voice. It would go against every thing Edith stood for to try and show clarity or order when it never existed. This is not a conventional biography. It is an experience of the life of an artist and how this artist used music as a stable force in her life. Some say it is a biography of her talent.

Piaf’s magical voice could not be recreated by anyone, let alone Marion Cotillard, who manages to embody everything that was Edith Piaf, with the exception of her voice. They used original recordings and recreated them digitally, and the results were lip-synced in a way I have never heard. Marion Cotillard physically resembles Piaf in the film, but also gives a credible impersonation of her voice. Something within her as an actress just shines through, she is able to channel Piaf in every sense, and she gives one of the best screen performances of the year, in one of the best biographies in recent years.

Fatac Rating: ***½

Michael Winterbottom, the director, has a fascination with addressing the conflict between America and Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran. This was shown in his previous films “In This World” and “The Road to Guantanamo”. As well-made and compelling as they were his latest offering, A Mighty Heart is so much more so. The film is more concerned with the plight of the victim versus the aim of the terrorists, than it is with staying in any specific genre.

It focuses on an American victim of the crisis of the Middle East. Daniel Pearl (Dan Futterman) is kidnapped by terrorists in Karachi, Pakistan, held to ransom and beheaded. The experiences and emotions of his pregnant wife, Mariane (Angelina Jolie) are dealt with in the film, which is exhilarating to watch. She has to deal with the fact that her husband disappears from the face of the Earth, and no-one, not the authorities, the Americans, the Pakistanis, can find a way to rescue him or figure out who the terrorists were.

As an audience, we know how the film ends, that is if we pay attention to current events. I knew a fair deal about the situation and happening before I saw the film, so I didn’t expect to be wowed or anything, even though the film is full of suspense and trill which, if I hadn’t known about, would have kept me on the edge of my seat. What I was looking for were genuine performances that could lift the story higher than a re-enactment of a hot event that it could have easily turned out to be if the talent involved wasn’t so committed to the story at hand.

The script by John Orloff is based on Mariane Pearl’s book which she wrote after the kidnapping, and the film was shot on actual locations, where possible, and this makes this film genuine and emotionally gripping.

Angelina Jolie’s performance as Mariane is devastating, and she is able to portray a woman who is an accidental hero, not on the battle field, but an ordinary person who was able to overcome devastation and still find it in her heart to forgive and never lose faith. Her love for her husband was extraordinary, and it truly comes across in the film. As much as I loved her performance in Girl, Interrupted, which won her an Oscar, this one just as deserving for every accolade or nomination it receives.

Fatac Rating: ***

A Mighty Heart. Directed by Michael Winterbottom. Written by John Orloff. Starring: Angelina Jolie and Dan Futterman. Running Time: 108 minutes. Rating out of five stars.

Released in South Africa on the 2nd of November 2008.
Viewed at a public screening with an audience of ordinary moviegoers.

The western. The re-make. Two things I am generally sceptical about in this day and age. Well, not anymore. James Mangold, who has directed two of my favourite films Walk the Line and Girl, Interrupted, delivered again.

The cast consisting of Russel Crowe, Christian Bale, Ben Foster, Dallas Roberts and Peter Fonda, were really good in an intense character study that is more focused on morality than being an action- packed roller coaster ride. It is one of the strongest cast performances of the year, and I would go as far as to say, look out for this come the SAG nominations. Ben Foster is (almost) able to steal the show as one of Wade’s gang members, he is phenomenally able to make one fear him, even though doesn’t appear to be anything worth fearing.

The story is about Ben Wade (Crowe), an gang member and outlaw who is captured and will be sent away to a prison, on a train, specifically, the 3:10 to Yuma. Dan Evans (Bale), a dignified rancher who is coming on hard times financially, and his two sons come across Wade and his gang as they are preparing to ambush an armoured stagecoach. After Wade is captured, Dan offers to take Wade to the train and therefore personally see that justice is done. He does this with a price. At the same time, Wade’s gang is off on a mission to rescue Wade, and this mission is lead by Charlie Prince (Foster). This conflict if interest sets off an intense character-driven plot that is far from being merely a shoot ‘em up film.

Fatac rating: ***½

3:10 to Yuma. Directed by James Mangold, written by Halsted Welles ,Michael Brandt and Derek Haas, staring Russell Crowe, Ben Foster, Christian Bale, Peter Fonda and Dallas Roberts, cinematography by Phedon Papamichael. Running Time: 117 minutes. Age Restriction TBC. Year: 2008. Rating out of five stars.

This is one of the best films I have seen this year. Funny, heartbreaking, visually beautiful…What a knock-out of a film. Basically the film is about Briony (Saoirse Ronan), witnesses her sister Cecilia (Kiera Knightley) and Robbie Turner (James McAvoy) engaging in some rather compromising positions in two situations, and sees it as some sort of sexual abuse. Her curiosity and naiveté get the better of her when she is instructed to give her sister a letter on behalf of Turner, apologizing to Cecilia. Turner gives Briony the wrong letter, which spoke of Turner’s rather explicit wishes to perform a sexual act with Cecilia.

The drama cleverly shows events from several different points of view, and never once borders on anything less than magnificent. There is not a single scene one can define as a low point, but so many I can label a high point, especially the Turner’s scenes in Dunkirk and when an older Briony (Vanessa Redgrave) tells the truth about what happened to Cecilia and Robbie in the end.

Kiera is more mature in this role than ever before, even better than her role in Pride and Prejudice, meaning she may secure a second Oscar Nomination. Every actor/actress in the film performs to the best of their ability (especially Saoirse Ronan and Romola Garai). Joe Wright’s direction push this truly British masterpiece beyond anything Pride and Prejudice ever was.

Fatac rating: ****½

Atonement. Directed by Joe Wright, adaptation from Ian McEwan’s novel by Christopher Hampton, cinematography by Seamus McGarvey, edited by Paul Tothill, original music by Dario Marianelli, staring Keira Knightley, James McAvoy, Saoirse Ronan, Brenda Blethyn, Vanessa Redgrave and Romola Garai, running time: 130 mins. Festival of Festivals 2007. Rating out of five stars.

Jon and Wendy Savage (Hoffman and Linney) are estranged. In almost every sense of the word. From each other, their mother, their father, society…I could go on. After the death of Lenny’s (Phillip Bosco) girlfriend, the siblings fly to Sun City to see how things are going.

They discover that their father signed a prenuptial type arrangement and is now homeless. It is from this point that Jon and Wendy begin their transition in to true maturity and end up in the unenviable position of having to care for the father who never cared for them.

The performances by the entire cast are spot on great, aided by the direction of Tamara Jenkins, one of the many female directors making their mark in film this year.

It has been said by many that it seems to be the Noah Baumbach film he failed to make this year. There is nothing with this film that I can label as badly done, it’s almost perfect, more in touch with reality than even Little Miss Sunshine, an all time favourite of mine. And that is the closest thing to indie perfection in a long time.

Fatac Rating: ****½

 

“I don’t really know what kind of girl I am” - Juno MacGuff.

Saw this film a couple of weeks ago at a mini-festival, and had high expectations, after watching the trailer a million times. Well my expectations were surpassed, in a big way. Directed by Jason Reitman, he has been quoted as saying it was a film he “had to make”. And it was a film I HAD to see.

Basically the film is about Juno, played by future Oscar winner Ellen Page, who falls pregnant in unplanned way when she sealed the deal for the first time with Paulie Bleeker, played by Michael Cera. She confronts her father and step-mom (Allison Janney and J.K Simmons) who are unbelievably calm about the situation, with support of her best friend, the gorgeous and teacher crazy Leah (Olivia Thirlby). With the help of Leah, who gives Juno the idea of looking for “desperately seeking spawn” in the Penny-Saver, she finds a childless couple (Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner) who are more than willing to adopt. “Baby starved wing nuts.” Hilarious!

The synopsis doesn’t even begin to explain how great this film truly is. Ellen Page is so brilliant, I would easily put her on the top of my Best Actress Contender list, ahead of all the more dramatic roles. This is one of the best female performances of 2007. She was brilliant in Hard Candy, a role which deserved way more attention than it got. Her convincing and humorous role in Juno cannot be ignored! The writing is quirky and unique (some say trying to hard and in your face, whatever!) written by first-timer Diablo Cody, who used to a stripper/phone sex operator. This is the first screenplay she has written, and it is bound to get recognition from AMPAS.

Soundtrack wise, it is one of the best soundtracks in a long time, featuring indie-favourites “The Moldy Peaches” and the bands lead singer “Kimya Dawson’s” solo attempts, which all add to the freshness of the film, some say the songs are annoying, but I cannot get enough of them and Juno wouldn’t be Juno if different songs were used, after all Ellen Page chose most of them straight off her iPod, showing that her portrayal of the title character was an extension of herself. Will it get noticed for Best Picture? I hope so. The year’s best comedy, flat out brilliance in every way.

Fatac Rating: *****

Juno. Directed by Jason Reitman. Written by Diablo Cody, starring Ellen Page, Michael Cera, J.K Simmons, Allison Janney, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, Olivia Thirlby and Rainn Wilson. Running time: 92 minutes. USA 2007. Festival of Festivals 2007.  Rating out of five stars.

After hearing about a “Festival of Festivals” showing in Johannesburg in early November, I didn’t even bat an eye lid. The festival was held at Cedar Sqaure, a very long drive from where I live and I am currently in the middle of writing my end of year exams. So “boo!” to that.

 That’s until I found out what films where going to be screened. Atonement, Juno, The Savages, The Walker, Away from Her, La Vie en Rose, Assassination of Jesse James, The Darjeeling Limited, The 11th Hour and The US vs John Lennon…

In South Africa, films are usually released many months after premiering on screens is the US or UK, so I was first in line for my tickets. If I wasn’t I would have to see Atonement on the 1st of February!!! The first film was La vie en Rose, which was pretty good, until the power went out, so we got refunded our tickets. This country can be such a joke. Friday was La Vie En Rose (A), Saturday was Jesse James and Across the Universe (Both: A+), Sunday was The Savages (A+) , Monday was Juno (A+) and Tuesday was Atonement (A+), Wednesday was The Darjeeling Limited (A+) , and on Thursday, The Walker (My friend Paige says it was pretty good, she says B-) was screened.

Overall the films were very good, the overall festival lacked something, um, everything. More than something, and the tickets were R42 a pop, a bit much I’d say. And that freaky he-she with the accordion has now given me nightmares and I now live in an extreme state of paranoia. Thanks Cinema Nouveau!  Next Year, lets have hold the festival in Rosebank - not so far out that no one can come - the audiences consisted of me and my ONE friend and a few others. No one showed up, and the films were SO amazing. 

*Here’s to hoping 2008 is even better*

It’s been a while since “Superbad” was released, and I must admit that I was too busy watching other films to take this one seriously. It was such a down to earth and genuinely funny film. Michael Cera is like a mirror image of myself…sorta! It was great fun, I want the DVD for Christmas! That makes it three hits in a row for Judd Apatow, with the success of “The 40 Year Old Virgin” and “Knocked Up” and now “Superbad.” Even though these films all seem to be formulaic and end up feeling the same…

I never expected to come across a film about teenagers that was able to make me laugh with and at the characters and relate to them at the same time. It was like my plight in life was transferred on screen. This one is full of crude humour, sex talk, alcohol, parties, popularity dilemma’s etc (Just like most of Judd Apatow’s films), and that is just what you get on the surface.

Underneath you get well-thought out characters who are able to work their way into your hearts gradually, and at the end of the film you just wish you were all buddies. Maybe that’s just me, but this is one of the best comedies of 2007, done and done.  I hope Apatow bows out of the genre soon, I would like to see something different from him for a change.

Fatac Rating: ***½

Superbad. Directed by Greg Mottola, written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, staring Jonah Hill, Michael Cera and Seth Rogen. Running Time: 114 minutes. Year: 2007. Rating out of five stars.