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| A more realistic Austen hits
the big screen |
PRIDE & PREJUDICE Directed by Joe Wright
Certificate 15
WHO knew our Elizabeth would be so pretty and so cheerful? Not
that there’s anything wrong with Jane Austen’s fabled
character Elizabeth (Keira Knightley) to be so perfect in face,
form and attitude but it seems so unexpected in this lush period
take on Austen’s best book.
Debut director Joe Wright has a dream cast to work with: Brenda
Blethyn as the fidgety, flightly, rash Mrs Bennet who is married
to her polar opposite in Donald Sutherland (a joy to behold), and
Keira Knightley and Matthew MacFadyen as the destined partners.
While there are no twists or turns to expect, a sumptuous production
design exploits its nice budget to full effect, plunking us right
in the sitting room of Austen herself when it comes to tone and
appearance – all rope swings, mud, dirty long dresses, sweaty
horses and a terrifying turn by Judi Dench.
This version is a delight to watch, especially as the romantic uptake
unravels so slowly that the moviegoer may just think that our hero
may not end up with the heroine after all.
A perfect date movie from Terror Australis
WOLF CREEK Directed by Doug McLean
Certificate 18
EVEN scaredy cats will enjoy the vicious efficiency of Australian
director Doug McLean’s amazing new horror thriller which takes
its roots from reality.
Beginning as a nice little flirty ride from one Australian outback
town to another, three friends go on a road trip that shouldn’t
have gone wrong – but does – with lethal ease.
Constructed in a way to lull one into submission in the first half
hour or so, Wolf Creek takes a steep slide into terror as a failed
car puts the trio into direct contact with a nice, helpful kind
of bloke who has a few too many knives and odd stories.
But, and here’s the twist, who can you turn to when there is
no one else to assist you?
Of course, you may end up with the local roaming serial killer who
hasn’t brushed or flossed for months.
Likened to Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Wolf Creek is perhaps a new
horror classic, worth seeing even if you are not a fan of the genre.
This truly horrific thriller – horrific in a good way –
takes its sweet time getting to the gristle, but when it does, look
out.
Performances are as gritty as they need to be and the cinematographer
makes certain that you see just enough of what you may wish, by
the nasty end of the film, you hadn’t seen after all.
If you like horror and find little frightens or disturbs you, queue
for your ticket now.
In fact, Wolf Creek is made with such confident brutality, unrelenting
tension and grisly, never-seen-before effects, it is perhaps the
perfect date movie.
You want your date clawing your arm, screaming in your ear or climbing
into your lap during the film? They will, they will.
Also showing
Must Love Dogs
A gentle and amusing romantic comedy headlined by John Cusack and
Diane Lane as two lovelorn loners who meet and then proceed to mess
everything up.
Witty dialogue and zany incidents keep sugary sentiments to a minimum
for a truly enjoyable look at modern day love-after-heartbreak.
With Blood on my Hands: AKA Pusher 2
Danish director Nicolas Refn’s sequel to his groundbreaking
debut with this violent and emotionally intricate story of Tonny,
a thug who loves the life of a criminal but isn’t very good
at it. Thrillingly filmed, this one packs a wallop at the end.
R-Point
A Korean/Vietnamese frightener that’s more suspense than horror.
Full of atmosphere, it tells of one lieutenant who is sent to find
a lost platoon somewhere in Romeo Point (hence R-Point) only to
find that all the soldiers, save one, are buried where they were
lost.
A flawed psychological thriller done in a Vietnam war setting rather
than the anti-war film some have understood it to be. Directed by
Su-Chang Kong whose 1999 film Tell Me Something is also released
this week.
Tell Me Something
From 1999, Korean director Chang Youn-Hyun's look at a police detective
who gets involved with a serial killer is atmospheric, gritty and
gory but also sadly formulaic and cliched.
Don’t even ask what happens to the detective’s sweet partner
with a fondness for peanuts.
Room 36
A camp, giddy thriller shot in black and white and pivoting on a
case of mistaken identity. Low budget for sure and looking a bit
like a long short, this is a homegrown labour of love – and
proof that you can make a film with no budget and get it seen by
the public.
Admirably, its premiere this week is a charity event for the London
Bombings Relief Fund.
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
The French 1950s’ love story by director Jacques Demy starring
Catherine Deneuve and Nuno Castelnouvo is rightly famous not only
for being told entirely in song but also for its innovative use
of colour.
A poignant, vivid classic of its period, it deserves to be seen
on a big screen for full appreciation.
Daybreak
A mason is asked to brick-up the home a rich couple; a betrayed
wife holds her husband and his lover hostage and an unfaithful surgeon
learns some home truths: these are the extraordinary trio of tales
told with astonishing humanity and black humour by director Bjorn
Runge.
Pick of the indies
Lords of Dogtown
A fictionalised take on the documentary Dogtown and Z Boys, this
sporting drama follows the heady days of California’s skateboard
movement.
Set in the early 1970s, a gaggle of young surfers discover how to
use the newly designed urethane skate wheels to make their skateboards
capable of more thrilling moves than ever before, as well as learning
new ways to ride the boards themselves. From a script by one of
the skaters who was there, this is a tale of young boys finding
fame and fortune and mishandling all of it. Rebecca De Mornay appears
as one of the skaters’ burntout but still delectable mothers.
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