Monday, September 14, 2009
Pryce, Malcolm: Don't Cry For Me Aberystwyth (10.02.09)
The fourth Louie Knight noir in the parallel universe where Aberystwyth is home to, among others, veterans of the Patagonian war. With most of the characters continuing from the previous novels, the murder of Father Christmas starts the story off with Adolf Eichmann, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Etta Place, Mossad and the Pinkertons all playing a part. this is a briliant mix of noir and spy fiction with the latter being dominant. The many twists are reminiscent of those spy thrillers where no-one is quite who or what they seem to be with the whole revolving around the solidness of the ongoing cast led by Knight, his partner Calamity, his father Eeyore and his recovered love Myfanwy. brilliant in both conception and execution.
Kirino, Narsuo: Real World (10.02.09)
A rather strange novel about four girl students, one of whom lives next door to a weedy student they call 'Worm' who murders his mother, steals the main girl's bike and mobile telephone which then leads him to talk to all of them. One actually goes off with him which results in a tragic end for her. In few words, the author conveys the world of the girls and their respective natures very well though the overall impression is one of some disquiet - possibly this is intended.
Sullivan, Tricia: Double Vision (03.01.09)
An interesting novel in which the heroine seems to be employed as a human filter for images transmitted from a far-off planet where there is a battle between humans and The Grid whereas she is employed by a company that specialises in marketing using subliminal images - or does she? There is a conflict between what she considers real and a somewhat tenuous grip on everyday life. Even with different typefaces to separate the two worlds, I was not always certain which was which though this is possibly inherent in the plot. The book is well written and leavened with humour at times with both realities being credibly delineated.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Armstrong, Kelly: Haunted (19.12.08)
With the heropine a dead witch enlisted by the Fates to recapture a Nix, this is quite a good story with the lead character anything but infallible. It took me some time to get into the story partly because, as with most books these days, It read it in a number of small amounts though, later on, I made certain of extending these. Worth another try with this author.
London Film Festival 2008 (08.11.08)
Another festival has been and gone and it has been a little less enjoyable than last year though this may be distance lending enchantment.
DEAN SPANLEY
A delayed start as the cast were paraded for no good reason as only the director spoke. Early parts of the film seemed to be rather overlaid with tricksy camera angles which added nothing but a tour de force by Sam Neill and the usual charismatic performance from Peter O'toole which more than matched that in 'Venus' made this a delightful film to watch. Solid support from Jeremy Northm and Bryan Brown and a nice cameo from Judy Parfitt rounded things out.
THE WARLORDS
A Chinese epic which does not have spectacularly brilliant costumes like 'The Curse of the Golden Flower' but has a more solidly based character driven plot from the opening sequence where Jet Li, a general who has been thoroughly defeated, pulls himself from under dead bodies of his troops to the final few moments. Based, apparently on a manga, it tells the story of Li and two bandits who become blood brothers and then defeat the enemies of the Emperor but have a falling out. The battle scenes are very well handled with a cast of thousands (not CGI) in contrast to the very human interaction between the three and others. Overall, a very good film.
ACHILLES AND THE TORTOISE
The latest Takeshi Kitano effort is a distinct improvement on his previous two which were more than a little self-indulgent. A strange story about an obsessive artist who shows great talent as a rich child but then, following his father's ruin and death becomes impoverished while supported by a loving wife. The adult artist is played by Kitano and the art shown is his - some of it more acceptable than others - with the film being a satire on the art world of today, the indluence of dealers and their control of both the market and 'taste' and the ever-present search for the next big idea.
THE SILENCE BEFORE BACH
A finctionalised documentary with one very great advantage - Bach's music. Starting in an ampty set of rooms with a player-piano moving around while playing the Goldberg Variations, it then takes scenes from the life of Bach and, later on, Mendelssohn, as well as a number of contemporary scenes though what a lingering sequence of a well-rounded young violinist taking a shower has to do with the rest is not clear - at least she had the figure for it.
THE FUGITIVE FUTURIST
A short silent shown in Trafalgar Square before the main feature which I did not see as it had started to rain- sitting on cold steps is just about acceptable but cold, WET steps is not. The film purported to show a future London though a machine which showed the Thames covered over by a roadway amongst other fancies (and the winner of a future horse race) with the finale being the inventore being taken back to the asylum! Enjoyable.
LOUISE-MICHEL
This possibly claims the tital for the biggest load of pretentious rubbish I have set through (only because I had a dinner reservation at the end of the tilm). There are bad films cheaply made by beginners and others like some of the Frightfest offerings and many of those which go straight to DVD but this was supposedly made with serious intent and greeted with near reverence as the latest masterpiece from Kervern and Delepine whose previous offering 'Aaltra' had some merit. The best part of this mess was the fact that it ran only 90 minutes though this felt like several hours.
HANSEL AND GRETEL
A scary fairy tale for adults when a young man crashes his car and wanders into the forest looking for help. He is found by a sweet young girl who takes him to her home. His phone does not work and there is no phone in the house where the parents and three children make him welcome for the night - but the next day he finds no way back to the road and rescue. An interesting Korean film, well made and conceived with a charming and unexpected ending.
THE LIVING CORPSE
A 1929 German-Russian co-production which has been restored complete with orchestral accompaniment, a change from piano onl;y which can be a little wearing. The gret Russian director, Vsevolod Pudovkin, takes the lade role of a husbadn who wants his wife to be happy by marrying her lover but finds that is not possible as there are no grounds. He refuses to compromise by arranging a false adultery and then fakes his own murder which allows his wife to marry after a year's mourning. Some years pas but he is recognised by the man who was setting up the fake adultery who then tries to blackmail him. He refuses and there is a trial for bigamy (!) during which he commits suicide to allow his wife to continue her life. The two things that puzzle me and why he went back to a restaurant where he was bound to be recognised and why he appeared to be the one on trial. The film was long but well mad with some very noce shots and interesting montage sequences.
THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE WEIRD
A great romp set in the 1930s - Indiana Jones meets the Good, the Bad and the Ugly! The plot which involves a treasure map, a bandit, a bounty hunter and a patty criminal and the Japanese army is almost irrelevant, providing the basis for a series of splendid set pieces - a train robbery, a running battle through the thieves' quarter of the city and an extended chase in the semi-deserts of Manchuria which is where the Japanese army gets involved. Very well done with the main characters all demonstrating great panache in their roles.
Comment
Yop... that about covers it. By and large we agree with each other (so what else is new/) with perhaps more tolerance on your part for historical 'epics' than on mine. The one thins we can agree 100% upon is that 'Louise-Michel' was a complete, but complete waste of our time (and I didn't reack 'Aaltra' either)
pppatty
DEAN SPANLEY
A delayed start as the cast were paraded for no good reason as only the director spoke. Early parts of the film seemed to be rather overlaid with tricksy camera angles which added nothing but a tour de force by Sam Neill and the usual charismatic performance from Peter O'toole which more than matched that in 'Venus' made this a delightful film to watch. Solid support from Jeremy Northm and Bryan Brown and a nice cameo from Judy Parfitt rounded things out.
THE WARLORDS
A Chinese epic which does not have spectacularly brilliant costumes like 'The Curse of the Golden Flower' but has a more solidly based character driven plot from the opening sequence where Jet Li, a general who has been thoroughly defeated, pulls himself from under dead bodies of his troops to the final few moments. Based, apparently on a manga, it tells the story of Li and two bandits who become blood brothers and then defeat the enemies of the Emperor but have a falling out. The battle scenes are very well handled with a cast of thousands (not CGI) in contrast to the very human interaction between the three and others. Overall, a very good film.
ACHILLES AND THE TORTOISE
The latest Takeshi Kitano effort is a distinct improvement on his previous two which were more than a little self-indulgent. A strange story about an obsessive artist who shows great talent as a rich child but then, following his father's ruin and death becomes impoverished while supported by a loving wife. The adult artist is played by Kitano and the art shown is his - some of it more acceptable than others - with the film being a satire on the art world of today, the indluence of dealers and their control of both the market and 'taste' and the ever-present search for the next big idea.
THE SILENCE BEFORE BACH
A finctionalised documentary with one very great advantage - Bach's music. Starting in an ampty set of rooms with a player-piano moving around while playing the Goldberg Variations, it then takes scenes from the life of Bach and, later on, Mendelssohn, as well as a number of contemporary scenes though what a lingering sequence of a well-rounded young violinist taking a shower has to do with the rest is not clear - at least she had the figure for it.
THE FUGITIVE FUTURIST
A short silent shown in Trafalgar Square before the main feature which I did not see as it had started to rain- sitting on cold steps is just about acceptable but cold, WET steps is not. The film purported to show a future London though a machine which showed the Thames covered over by a roadway amongst other fancies (and the winner of a future horse race) with the finale being the inventore being taken back to the asylum! Enjoyable.
LOUISE-MICHEL
This possibly claims the tital for the biggest load of pretentious rubbish I have set through (only because I had a dinner reservation at the end of the tilm). There are bad films cheaply made by beginners and others like some of the Frightfest offerings and many of those which go straight to DVD but this was supposedly made with serious intent and greeted with near reverence as the latest masterpiece from Kervern and Delepine whose previous offering 'Aaltra' had some merit. The best part of this mess was the fact that it ran only 90 minutes though this felt like several hours.
HANSEL AND GRETEL
A scary fairy tale for adults when a young man crashes his car and wanders into the forest looking for help. He is found by a sweet young girl who takes him to her home. His phone does not work and there is no phone in the house where the parents and three children make him welcome for the night - but the next day he finds no way back to the road and rescue. An interesting Korean film, well made and conceived with a charming and unexpected ending.
THE LIVING CORPSE
A 1929 German-Russian co-production which has been restored complete with orchestral accompaniment, a change from piano onl;y which can be a little wearing. The gret Russian director, Vsevolod Pudovkin, takes the lade role of a husbadn who wants his wife to be happy by marrying her lover but finds that is not possible as there are no grounds. He refuses to compromise by arranging a false adultery and then fakes his own murder which allows his wife to marry after a year's mourning. Some years pas but he is recognised by the man who was setting up the fake adultery who then tries to blackmail him. He refuses and there is a trial for bigamy (!) during which he commits suicide to allow his wife to continue her life. The two things that puzzle me and why he went back to a restaurant where he was bound to be recognised and why he appeared to be the one on trial. The film was long but well mad with some very noce shots and interesting montage sequences.
THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE WEIRD
A great romp set in the 1930s - Indiana Jones meets the Good, the Bad and the Ugly! The plot which involves a treasure map, a bandit, a bounty hunter and a patty criminal and the Japanese army is almost irrelevant, providing the basis for a series of splendid set pieces - a train robbery, a running battle through the thieves' quarter of the city and an extended chase in the semi-deserts of Manchuria which is where the Japanese army gets involved. Very well done with the main characters all demonstrating great panache in their roles.
Comment
Yop... that about covers it. By and large we agree with each other (so what else is new/) with perhaps more tolerance on your part for historical 'epics' than on mine. The one thins we can agree 100% upon is that 'Louise-Michel' was a complete, but complete waste of our time (and I didn't reack 'Aaltra' either)
pppatty
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Koontz, Dean: The Darkest Evening of the Year (08.11.08)
Another first following from the Srephen King experience earlier in the year. Apparently, this is not typical of the author though it does mix the supernatural in a thriller setting. Character development was a little flat and the heroine and hero a little too good to be true while the villains were just bad. some of the imagery is rather overblown - " In the sky's distillery, the afternoon kight was a weak brandy" being a particularly noteworthy example. The various strands from the early chapters and skil;fully brought together and the book is a good read. I shall eventually try others.
Comment
I'm obviously having a pernicious effect on your choice of reading - but there are some treats amongst both Koontz and King
pppatty
Comment
I'm obviously having a pernicious effect on your choice of reading - but there are some treats amongst both Koontz and King
pppatty
Leon, Donna: Blood from a Stone (08.11.08)
Another excellent novel about Commissario Brunetti which again gives a convincing portrayl of Venice without hyperbole and presents a rounded picture of Brunetti and his family. The plost is possibly a little overblown though not until the denouement. Not only Brunetti's family environment but also his working one are skilfully depicted with economy. The whole series is well worth seeking out - and I must try one of the German TV adaptations soon
Banks, Carla: The Forest of Souls (08.11.08)
A rather confused novel in many ways, it examines the events before and during World War II in what is now Belarus by taking the back story of two elderly people, one the grandfather of a university lecturer and researcher and one the mother of the former's department head. The link is added to by an investigating journalist who interviews the grandfather as a result of which he has an involvement with the graddaughter while also being a friend of the mother. The murder of the lacturer's best friend provides the basic plot but there is an overload of information which is presented in a far from satisfactory manner.
Robinson, Todd (Ed): Hardcore Hardboiled (08.11.08
A variable collection of 'neo-noir' fiaction, some of them good, some of them not to good. As with most such collections, the phrase 'parson's egg' comes to mind though one doesn't know in advance which are the good bits.
Carofiglio, Gianrico: The Past is a Foreign Country (24.09.08)
A positively brilliant psychological study of the insidious effects of 'hero' worship when a law student is led astray by a charismatic man of about the same age (ealy/mid 20s) whom he meets at a party. Very much in the Patricia highsmith vein and completely believable with the early loss of morality coming in small doses once the first step has been taken. The parallel police investigation seems irrelevant until near the end when the denouement provides some sort of salvation. An excellent study of a flawe human being from an Italian master.
Frightfest 2008: Day 5 (24.09.08)
THE DEAD OUTSIDE
Yet another of the fatal pandemic leaving few survivors type, this time set in Scotland. Dour and downbeat, it is probably well done but just did not resonate withme at all.
THE DISAPPEARED
Set on a London housing estate, the elder of two sons is blamed for the disappearance of his younger btother by his father.
He starts hearing voices, meets a girl living in the next flat who persuades him to visit a clairvoyant. Matters come to a head when his best friend's sister goes missing and he is led to the rather shocking truth. A mix of realism and the supernatural comes off well though, as with the preceding film, I find it hard to relate to the characters.
MIRRORS
A Hollywood remake of a Korean horror and it shows - high production values with an in vogue star in Kiefer Sutherland, a nude Amy Smart (is it written into her contracts?) and brilliant special effects. At the end of it all, definitely inferior to the original.
Summary
Two outstanding films in 'Let The Right One In' and 'Martyrs', some greatly improved British offerings compared with earlier years and a strgong mix of schlock from the USA made this a solid festival if not quite up to one or two earlier editions.
Comment
As you now know ms smart manages to keep her duds on in 'Love 'n' Dancing'(but this is a movie that only completists like me are likely to see)
pppatty
Yet another of the fatal pandemic leaving few survivors type, this time set in Scotland. Dour and downbeat, it is probably well done but just did not resonate withme at all.
THE DISAPPEARED
Set on a London housing estate, the elder of two sons is blamed for the disappearance of his younger btother by his father.
He starts hearing voices, meets a girl living in the next flat who persuades him to visit a clairvoyant. Matters come to a head when his best friend's sister goes missing and he is led to the rather shocking truth. A mix of realism and the supernatural comes off well though, as with the preceding film, I find it hard to relate to the characters.
MIRRORS
A Hollywood remake of a Korean horror and it shows - high production values with an in vogue star in Kiefer Sutherland, a nude Amy Smart (is it written into her contracts?) and brilliant special effects. At the end of it all, definitely inferior to the original.
Summary
Two outstanding films in 'Let The Right One In' and 'Martyrs', some greatly improved British offerings compared with earlier years and a strgong mix of schlock from the USA made this a solid festival if not quite up to one or two earlier editions.
Comment
As you now know ms smart manages to keep her duds on in 'Love 'n' Dancing'(but this is a movie that only completists like me are likely to see)
pppatty
Frightfest 2008: Day 4 (24.09.08)
FROM WITHIN
This is set in a community ruled effectively by the local pastor whose fundamentalism is willingly accepted by the locals to the
extent that deviation leads to ostracism. His son is even more fundamental than he is. A series of suicides and the return of an outsider after the death of his mother lead to an unexpected denouement. Well enough done without being too good.
LET THE RIGHT ONE IN
According to the writer of the novel and screenplay, the film is based on his own childhood with the supernatural element added. A teenage vampire love story which is extremely well done with the setting in a small town in the depths of winter excellently portrayed.
THE BROKEN is an English supernatural thriller - what happens when you see yourself drive by? Excellently acted by Lena Headey in the lead with able support from Richard Jenkins as her father, the twists of the plot tighten the tension in a believable London for a change.
AUTOPSY
A rather poor gore strewn piece of rubbish with no much to commend it.
MARTYRS
A disturbing Frecnh film about the work of a rich cult who lebieve that ultimate suffering brings revelation of life after death.
If it were not so well done and acred, it would be just another nasty piece of exploitation but the film is much more than that - almost up to the standard of 'Jack Ketchum's The Girl Next Door' from last year in its impact.
Comment
I did not find Martyrs a festival highpoint - too unrelenting for entertainment
pppatty
Reply
not everyone thinks films should just entertain: what is entertaining about slasher horroer other than the relief that it is happening to someone else
mgp1449
This is set in a community ruled effectively by the local pastor whose fundamentalism is willingly accepted by the locals to the
extent that deviation leads to ostracism. His son is even more fundamental than he is. A series of suicides and the return of an outsider after the death of his mother lead to an unexpected denouement. Well enough done without being too good.
LET THE RIGHT ONE IN
According to the writer of the novel and screenplay, the film is based on his own childhood with the supernatural element added. A teenage vampire love story which is extremely well done with the setting in a small town in the depths of winter excellently portrayed.
THE BROKEN is an English supernatural thriller - what happens when you see yourself drive by? Excellently acted by Lena Headey in the lead with able support from Richard Jenkins as her father, the twists of the plot tighten the tension in a believable London for a change.
AUTOPSY
A rather poor gore strewn piece of rubbish with no much to commend it.
MARTYRS
A disturbing Frecnh film about the work of a rich cult who lebieve that ultimate suffering brings revelation of life after death.
If it were not so well done and acred, it would be just another nasty piece of exploitation but the film is much more than that - almost up to the standard of 'Jack Ketchum's The Girl Next Door' from last year in its impact.
Comment
I did not find Martyrs a festival highpoint - too unrelenting for entertainment
pppatty
Reply
not everyone thinks films should just entertain: what is entertaining about slasher horroer other than the relief that it is happening to someone else
mgp1449
Frightfest 2008: Day 3 (24.09.08)
PEUR(S) DU NOIR
An animated feature made by a number of different animators which I had thought of mssing. As it tunred out, it was variable but the good bits were very entertaining and there were enough of them for the lesser parts to be ignored.
DANCE OF THE DEAD
Zombie formation from toxic waste combined with prom night angst in a forgettable but enjoyable mix which turned out to be rather better than I was expecting.
MANHUNT
A Norwegian version of 'The Most Dangerous Game' with a foursome going into the Norwegian wilderness where they are hunted by some of the locals. Rather shocking and brutal with, yet again, the resourceful female escaping - or does she?
THE CHASER
A Korean suspense thriller where inept cops and an ex-cop lead who runs a call-girl ring. he gets involved in the hunt for a killer when he thinks he is losing girls because they run away. Very well done with a fine leavening of humour and a strong central role.
BUBBA'S CHILI PARLOR
A near amateur effort at producing the grindhouse movie reproduced by Tarentino and Rodriguez, much more professionally.
Virtually no redeeming features.
Comment
Ine tends to lore tolerance and patience after sitting thru (sic) so many films in a row but Bubba's whatsit was total rubbish
pppatty
An animated feature made by a number of different animators which I had thought of mssing. As it tunred out, it was variable but the good bits were very entertaining and there were enough of them for the lesser parts to be ignored.
DANCE OF THE DEAD
Zombie formation from toxic waste combined with prom night angst in a forgettable but enjoyable mix which turned out to be rather better than I was expecting.
MANHUNT
A Norwegian version of 'The Most Dangerous Game' with a foursome going into the Norwegian wilderness where they are hunted by some of the locals. Rather shocking and brutal with, yet again, the resourceful female escaping - or does she?
THE CHASER
A Korean suspense thriller where inept cops and an ex-cop lead who runs a call-girl ring. he gets involved in the hunt for a killer when he thinks he is losing girls because they run away. Very well done with a fine leavening of humour and a strong central role.
BUBBA'S CHILI PARLOR
A near amateur effort at producing the grindhouse movie reproduced by Tarentino and Rodriguez, much more professionally.
Virtually no redeeming features.
Comment
Ine tends to lore tolerance and patience after sitting thru (sic) so many films in a row but Bubba's whatsit was total rubbish
pppatty
Frightfest 2008: Day 2 (24.09.08)
TIME CRIMES
Another in a line of excellent Spanish films where the horror is psychological rather than blood-spattered. Ignoring the theory that you cannot go back in time (or forward) and meet yourself, the film plays with the results of going back a short way in time by leaving the current male lead in a nightmare where he meets himself not once but twice with devastating effects.
KING OF THE HILL
This late substitute for 'The Substitute' is anoth Spanish film again using the theme of killer children in the wild, more or less and adventure film than any sort of frightener - reminiscent of 'The Most Dangerous Game' withouth the prey knowing who was hunting them or why. Well filmed and gripping, it had a plus in that the hunter came out on top.
TRAILER PARK OF TERROR
This took the teenagers in jeopardy theme into a parody of the genre while piling on the gore. Not that good though it kept moving.
MUM AND DAD
What a nasty little film. Some nice touches though.
Gave up on the remaining films of the day.
Comment
I wasn't as taken with the two Spanish entries as you seem to be although i found the first one rather fascinating, albeit totally
unlikely
pppatty
Another in a line of excellent Spanish films where the horror is psychological rather than blood-spattered. Ignoring the theory that you cannot go back in time (or forward) and meet yourself, the film plays with the results of going back a short way in time by leaving the current male lead in a nightmare where he meets himself not once but twice with devastating effects.
KING OF THE HILL
This late substitute for 'The Substitute' is anoth Spanish film again using the theme of killer children in the wild, more or less and adventure film than any sort of frightener - reminiscent of 'The Most Dangerous Game' withouth the prey knowing who was hunting them or why. Well filmed and gripping, it had a plus in that the hunter came out on top.
TRAILER PARK OF TERROR
This took the teenagers in jeopardy theme into a parody of the genre while piling on the gore. Not that good though it kept moving.
MUM AND DAD
What a nasty little film. Some nice touches though.
Gave up on the remaining films of the day.
Comment
I wasn't as taken with the two Spanish entries as you seem to be although i found the first one rather fascinating, albeit totally
unlikely
pppatty
Frightfest 2008 Day 1 (24.09.08)
A month has passed since the rather tiring Frightfest weekend sponsored by Film4 so there has been time to allow the immediate to be replaced by a more considered opinion - though not any great change of heart.
EDEN LAKE
The opening film is a British effort set somewhere in a rural part of the commuter belt round London (at least one reviewer places it in the Midlands but I think wrongly so) which tells how a couple are terroried by a gang of local youths whose path they cross in a bucolic seting which is presumably meant to point up the difference between superficial appearance and 'reality'. Better done than many recent British horror films, it has some resonance with films such as "A Clockwork Orange' and 'Them' (not the ants one) while tending to reinforce the feelings of ther well-to-do about the 'lower' classes being a bunch of ill-behaved criminals which is far from the truth for the most part.
I KNOW HOW MANY RUNS YOU SCORED LAST SUMMER
An Australian comedy horror which should have stayed there.
Comment
I'm I guess pleasantly surprised at how well reviewed 'Eden Lake' has been (at least in the British press); I doubt the reviews will by quite so glowing in other markets.
pppatty
EDEN LAKE
The opening film is a British effort set somewhere in a rural part of the commuter belt round London (at least one reviewer places it in the Midlands but I think wrongly so) which tells how a couple are terroried by a gang of local youths whose path they cross in a bucolic seting which is presumably meant to point up the difference between superficial appearance and 'reality'. Better done than many recent British horror films, it has some resonance with films such as "A Clockwork Orange' and 'Them' (not the ants one) while tending to reinforce the feelings of ther well-to-do about the 'lower' classes being a bunch of ill-behaved criminals which is far from the truth for the most part.
I KNOW HOW MANY RUNS YOU SCORED LAST SUMMER
An Australian comedy horror which should have stayed there.
Comment
I'm I guess pleasantly surprised at how well reviewed 'Eden Lake' has been (at least in the British press); I doubt the reviews will by quite so glowing in other markets.
pppatty
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