Susan Hated Literature

or Das Leben der Anderen
Dir & Writ: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck

• Martina Gedeck - Christa-Maria Sieland
• Ulrich Mühe - Hauptmann Gerd Wiesler
• Sebastian Koch - Georg Dreyman
• Ulrich Tukur - Oberstleutnant Anton Grubitz
• Thomas Thieme - Minister Bruno Hempf

In 1984 in East Germany the secret police, or Stasi were everywhere, watching everything. This film details the activities of one officer, Wiesler, as he monitored a popular playwright. Wiesler doesn’t believe that Dreyman could possibly be as pro the party as he makes out. Too arrogant. So he suggests keeping him under surveillance, just in case. His superior officer doesn’t agree, at first, but then Minister Bruno Hempf mentions that perhaps he isn’t such a fan, and that perhaps Dreyman isn’t a favourite. It turns out that Hempf is more than interested in Dreyman’s girlfriend, the actress Christa-Maria Sieland, and so would like nothing better than to remove his rival by having him arrested and taken away.

But Dreyman writes plays that are acceptable and even in favour of the Party. Of course he is the “artistic” sort, and so is suspect, but he has received state honours and has found much favour with the government.

Not all his friends and colleagues are so lucky. And a close friend, the director Jerska, is driven to suicide after being “blackballed” for several years. This prompts Dreyman into action. He begins to research the suicide rates in East Germany and discovers that statistics about suicides are no longer collected by the state, presumably because the figures are so high. So he decides to write an article for publication in the West. By this stage however his every move is being watched, and listened to. Weisler has more than enough evidence to have him brought in, yet he doesn’t.

This really is a fantastic film. I wasn’t too sure at first. I had heard of it before I went to see it, but didn’t really know what it was about. I’m so glad that it was on at just the right time though. It is perfectly written, perfectly acted and just an all round great film.

I don’t want to say too much and risk ruining anything, but if you get a chance I would highly recommend you go see this film. It is both depressing and uplifting at the same time. A much grimmer depiction of spying than anything you’ll see Bond get up to, this works as both a political commentary on what East Germany must have been like, but also as a look at a man who suddenly seems to discover his humanity and emotion. A beautiful film.

IMDb | Consider Phlebas | A T-Dog Tale | The New Culture Forum

Tags: 1984, 9 Stars, Das Leben der Anderen, East Germany, excellent film, Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, German, Germany - FRG & GDR, humanity, Martina Gedeck, Sebastian Koch, secret police, spy, subtitled, suicide, The Lives of Others, Thomas Thieme, Ulrich Mühe, Ulrich Tukur

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Dir & Writ: Scott Ryan
starring

• Scott Ryan - Ray Shoesmith
• Ben Walker - Tony Rickards
• Massimiliano Andrighetto - Max “Massimo” Totti
• Kane Mason - Benny
• [Nathaniel Lindsay - Edna

This is the story of Ray, who for the right money can make anyone disapear. Although it isn’t magic he uses, not unless you count a count as a wand. He is a hitman, working in Melbourne, and this documentary style film recounts a few of his jobs. The condition imposed on film-maker Max is that he won’t release the film until after Ray’s death.

It is a strange film, but very enjoyable. The style is used to allow Max to question Ray about his actions. To have an outsider looking in wondering can Ray tone down the violence, or how much would he want in order to eat his own shit. Did I forget to mention this is a comedy?

The focus of the film is all on Ray. The rest of the characters are just their to provide him with something to interact with. And Max, the cameraman is never shown un-pixelated on screen, to protect his identity from the police no doubt. And Scott Ryan gives an excellent performance as the almost charming hitman. His sense of timing is perfect and his delivery of the lines is spot-on. Of course he did write and dirct it, so he should know everything about this character, but it is still a wonderful role.

It is almost a buddy road movie, with Ray, Max and a possible target traveling across Australia to locate some money. There is a great discussion about Wayne Carey and whether sleeping with your vice-captain’s wife could ever be regarded as merely a mistake. Probably more likely to turn out to be a cult hit than a blockbuster, if yuo get the chance you should try to catch this film.

IMDb | Future Movies | Sever Jam Damage | Talking Pish | The Scotsman

Tags: Australia, Ben Walker, black humour, crime, excellent film, hitman, Kane Mason, Massimiliano Andrighetto, mockumentary, murderer, Nathaniel Lindsay, Scott Ryan, The Magician

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• Guy Pearce - Charlie Burns
• Emily Watson - Martha Stanley
• Ray Winstone - Captain Stanley
• David Wenham - Eden Fletcher

Sometimes you go to the cinema hoping for a good film, but thinking that what you are about to watch isn’t going to be fun, it may not even qualify as entertainment. The Proposition written by Nick Cave had that sort of an aura to it.

An Australian western, about a brother possibly heading into the outback to kill a brother in order to save another brother. A western that has far more in common with the violent realism of Unforgiven rather than the over the top, almost cartoon violence of some other westerns. It often makes for hard viewing.

None of the characters are the sort you’d want to take home and meet the family. Arthur Burns is a psychopath, middle brother Charlie took part in a robbery turned rape turned murder before leaving his elder brother. The police officer, Ray Winston’e Captain Stanley is the sort of man who would use one brother against another in an attempt to “civilise the land.” But at the same time you can sympathise with some of the characters, to a certain extent. Seeing Stanley with his wife won’t help you forgive some of his actions, but it does offer a sympathetic side. Likewise, Charlie’s desire to protect his younger brother Mike shows a less violence aspect to his character.

The great cast of actors are matched by some wonderful cinematography. The camera work doesn’t really make you want to go and live in the sand and grit, but it does convey the beauty and harshness of the landscape. And the amount of flies.

There is plenty of violence, and you see the effects, although it only rated a 16s here in Ireland, despite the censor’s warning of strong gory explicit violence. There are no bloodless deaths, nor off screen departures here. Everything is very sudden, and very real. And combining this with the occasional bit of poetical dialogue and the soundtrack makes for a great film. You will have to be in the right frame of mind to watch this film, but I’d highly recommend it.

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Tags: 10 Stars, Australia, cinematography, David Wenham, Emily Watson, excellent film, Guy Pearce, historical fiction, Nick Cave, R16, Ray Winstone, The Proposition, violence, western

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This is the non-spoiler review. Spoiler review is down below. The password is the name of The plantet. If you’ve seen the film you should know what planet I’m talking about. If not, then email me fencesitter at gmail dot com

• Nathan Fillion …. Capt. Malcolm “Mal” Reynolds
• Gina Torres …. Zoë Warren
• Alan Tudyk …. Hoban ‘Wash’ Washburne
• Morena Baccarin …. Inara Serra
• Adam Baldwin …. Jayne Cobb
• Jewel Staite …. Kaylee Frye
• Sean Maher …. Dr. Simon Tam
• Summer Glau …. River Tam
• Ron Glass …. Shepherd Meria Book

Remember that episode of The Simpsons where the teachers (I think) put on a show, and Bart said that although he “didn’t think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows.”
Well Serenity is the exact opposite of that remark

I went along with a friend who had never seen any of Firefly before, was totally unfamilar with this whole ‘verse, but after the film she’s heading out to buy the dvd.

It’s got everything in it. Crime, violence, death, guns^[1] love, comedy, shocks and surprises, spaceships and a whole lot more.

“Been more’n a year since I had anything twixt my nethers didn’t run on batteries!”

The great thing about Whedon’s work in Firefly and Serenity is that he is prepared to go to some dark places, and there are quite a few in this film. Suffering and death are not absent here. But always he somehow manages to get a laugh out in the middle of those dark moments, and yet without losing the emotional impact of that darkness^[2]

There were a few things that I was a bit “hmmm” over, but they were mainly how the film related to the series, and aren’t major problems anyway. I’ve since read that the storyline in the film was originally going to take two years of Firefly, and however much I adored, loved this film I wish Whedon could’ve had those two years, and then some more.

Tags: 10 Stars, Adam Baldwin, Alan Tudyk, crime, excellent film, Gina Torres, Jewel Staite, Joss Whedon, Morena Baccarin, Nathan Fillion, Ron Glass, Sean Maher, Serenity, sff, Summer Glau

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• picture064.jpg (3)

dir.Christophe Gans

* Samuel Le Bihan - Gregoire de Fronsac
* Mark Dacascos - Mani
* Jeremie Renier - Thomas D’Apcher
* Vincent Cassel - J.Francois de Morangias
* Emilie Dequenne - Marianne de Morangias
* Monica Bellucci - Sylvia

I just bought this on dvd after seeing many good reviews of it since its release. Plus, you know werewolf film so figured for 8 quid I wasn’t really wasting any money if it was rubbish.

It wasn’t. It is a great film. Very french in places, but never in a cliched manner.
The film is told in flashback by an noble facing the wrath of the crowd during the French revolution. He tells of the Geraudan Beast who chooses to attack only women and children, who cannot be killed, and who dominates the area.

In the pouring rain we meet our two main heroes, Fronsac; the king’s naturalist, and Mani; an Iroqui who has returned to France with Fronsac. Their first actions are to rescue an old man and his daughter from a beating by a group of men, dressed in women’s clothes.

The main plot, of course, revolves around the Beast. How to find her and kill her, as well as figuring out what she is.
Based on actual events that happened in France in the 1760’s, the film is stylish and great to watch. The fight scenes impressive and the whole film looks fantastic. The creature herself isn’t quite as good as the rest of the film, but she isn’t onscreen enough for that to be a problem.

Perhaps it is a little easy to id the “baddie” from the start, but overall the film is far from predictable. And it is interesting to see the differences between this and how a huge-budget Hollywood film might have been made.

Visually stunning, but also a great film

Official site (us) | IMDb

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There aren’t a lot of special features on the dvd I got, just an option to watch a dubbed version, a trailer and “The Legend.” This is actually quite an interesting interview with Michel Louis, a naturalist who has written a book on the subject. The film seems to be adapted from his historical account.

It is around twenty minutes long, and interesting, although the editing cuts out some parts that would have made his story more understandable.

Tags: 10 Stars, action, Christophe Gans, Emilie Dequenne, excellent film, France, Jeremie Renier, Mark Dacascos, Monica Bellucci, Samuel Le Bihan, sff, stylish, Vincent Cassel, werewolves

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dir. Andrew Jareki
Starring the family as themselves.

This is a documentary about a family, maybe a little on the eccentric side, but seeming quite normal nontheless and what happens when the father is discovered to be a paedophile.
He (Arnold) is first discovered by the customs as an improter of child pornography, and in a search of the house more material is found. Arnold had been a respected, well-liked teacher, and although retired when the magazines were found he still gave computer classes in his house. Because of this, the police thought the children who attended may have been at risk. After a month of interviewing the children the police returned to the Friedman house and arrested Arnold and Jesse, the youngest son (18) on charges of paedophilia.
Continue Reading »

Tags: 10 Stars, Andrew Jareki, Capturing the Friedmans, documentary, excellent film, paedophilia

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