“Cyrus” Jay & Mark Duplass – 4.8/10

For starters: So fraught with stress were the ideas of a film that could bring justice to the mainstream Hollywood stereotype. Let’s not confuse this film with one that does: “Worlds Greatest Dad”.

For main course: We shall re establish where this film went almightily wrong whilst comparing it with films of its reverse (which are too many to speak of here so we shall only have one) such as “Man On Fire”. “Man On Fire” is your standard action film with the slightly more artistic edge that one does not expect from such, but I am afraid this isn’t the subject; I believe someone saw “Man On Fire” and thought of a great camera direction for a film of their own: “It’s realism! It’s what makes this film really real!” well… it’s not like this in the slightest, as this is a romantic comedy with a script for the reading age of a three year old.

For desert: On the other hand it is nice that Hollywood has made this effort to deepen their artistic plagiarism and actually show the public in the most ‘realistic techniques’: how shit is done with money’.

Conclude: Good times for some.

“My Dog Tulip” Paul Fierlinger, Sandra Fierlinger – 9/10

Dowsed in the most fitting and charming way, we are told a tale of despondency and solitude burdened by a man, seemingly incapable of a friendship with another human being. This Film harbors many tales, most of which Tulip endeavors to make most difficult for her master, but this challenge is one that brings him back to life once more.

This relatively short animation is most moving in a poignant Freudian manner, and in parts, it gets relatively uncomfortable to watch. Reborn as someone with the ability to love another, we see a man with his best friend, and their relationship becoming a kinship, that of love at first sight, and a pungent sexual undertone, whilst their affiliation becomes a partnership bonded by what seems to be their collective conscience.

Using a Fine Art practice, this animation’s idiosyncratic and amusing aesthetics allow us to penetrate the words of JR Ackerley with much accredited visual stimulation. It seems the artists have read between the lines of his work and added a most interesting flare to his cherished rapport, and the way he views human beings.

This film has slid itself into the top 20 for myself,  but due to it’s intensity, I am afraid when it comes to re watching, I will have to dust it off to be able to appreciate it entirely once more. JR Ackerley was a complicated man with many desires a Dog couldn’t fulfill, but his story is attractive and fills one with a sense of company at the loneliest times.  At the very focal point of this film is a phrase one finds hard to dismiss: ‘Unable to love each other, the English turn naturally to dogs’.

To conclude: radiant adaptation, exquisite art and intellectual authorship. Allot of hard work and effort from some exceptionally talented people.

“Russia 88″ Pavel Bardin – 6.7/10

 

Here we have a film that launches us straight into the right-wing subculture of a Neo Nazi gang in suburban Moscow. As immigration levels rise in the city, so do the tempers of fascists. A group of alpha male skinheads fight for the rights of ‘Russia for Russians’, stomping their ground as amateur filmmakers, to globalise their views through the medium of the YouTube. As the gang become less self aware in front of the camera, we see the cracks starting to appear in their system and families crumbling under the extremist views held. Violence turns into cold-blooded murder, and many of the gang members find it difficult to speak of their own decisions on becoming Nazi’s.

Rawness is at the very heart of this film, it’s documentary style really pulls the viewer into a hidden clique of society, bringing us closer to the reality of the issues raised by the clever authorship of this film. Realism also is of much importance throughout; with allot the music and costume coming from real stores and shops in the city of Moscow, and even some real footage taken from the internet.

Although I believe this is an important sociological piece, I can’t help feel that I was comparing it to a film like “La Haine”, whose aesthetics have greater intellectual planning and reoccurring motifs which deepen the meaning. a greater amount of artistic freedom or even an Avant-Garde edge would have made this film allot more pleasing to view.

To conclude, this stomping eye opener of a film, with great consideration intertwined with intelligent production, will keep you glued to the screen and leave you with a slightly dispelling feeling.

 

“Last Train Home” Lixin Fan – 8/10

Never before have I cried so much to a film. The tears I thought may be those of pity, but later I realised I was deeply unhappy with the ignorance I bear towards the East. Through writing and converse, for as long as my mind will allow me to recollect,  I have been aware of slave labour in China – formally known as “The Middle Land”. 

This documentary is one of the most profound pieces of truth I have ever come across as a ‘Westerner’, the word heavy with a toxic child, bears the association with The American Dream: oil; economics, and, most importantly; war. The documentary takes us through the grueling journey that over 2 million Chinese people take each year to be alone and resting with their families, with beautiful footage and brilliant production it allows us to enter the lives of those who take nothing for granted. Following a family over a three years, this stunning piece of work really shows Westerners how their clothes are made. I would recommend this film for education throughout the globe.

A heavy film with great truth. Well done Lixin Fan.