Late last night I sat with anticipation, as a huge fan of UK Series The Thick of it, to watch In The Loop. I wated to love this film.
The film is satirical, well executed and truly laugh out loud funny. With ridiculous scenarios and Peter Capaldi sprouting a wave of insults and swearing as chief of spin for the UK Prime Minister. The film follows the lead up to invading Iraq, and it is perhaps this storyline, where the machinations of pro-war and con-war factions have been examined and post-mortemed by the public and the media, that results in this not being as fresh and fun as it could have been.
It does viciously satarise both the UK and the US political machines brilliantly with not a single redeemable character in site. It doesn't maintain it's pace in the last third and the arc finishes exactly like a TV Episode. That said there is much to love from Gandolfini's anti-war general. Tom Hollander channelling Yes Minister and Mimi Kennedy as the power-hungry, alienated Assistant Secretary of State.
If you haven't seen the TV series I suspect you would love this film. I just liked it.
(Find the dvd's!)
Friday, June 5, 2009
SFF Day 3: Disgrace
Last night the first offering was Disgrace made by the team that gave us La Spagnola. This is an incredibly faithful rendering of the novel by JM Coetzee. John Malkovich and Jessica Haines are fantastic in the lead roles of father and daughter respectively.
The film follows the life of a White University Professor in post-apartheid South Africa who retreats to the country farm of his daughter after being forced to resign after a scandalous affair with a student. The remainder of the film plays out the complexities of life in South Africa against the relationship with the farm hand (as representative of the shift in power between black and white in South Africa) who is now buying out part of farm. The film is beautifully, even magnificently, shot with every frame lovingly delivered. Malkovich is as always amazing in his portrayal of a flawed, layered human being, who struggles with his daughter's decisions after they are brutally attacked by a trio of black teenagers who rape her while he is powerless to stop them. The father and daughter almost seem to represent the old (now lost) white power in south africa the daughter representing the new, guilty-for-apartheid, struggling with their place white South Africa.
The film had the potential to be fabulous but remained compelling without being enthralling.
It is emotionally and visually stunning and yet some elusive piece is just beyond your reach.
The Q&A after advised that at the completion of script-writing the novelist provided some notes. This alongside an unwillingness (due equally to the powerful love for the book and the novelist sensibilities) to stray from the rendering of the novel may explain some of my percieved limitations.
The film follows the life of a White University Professor in post-apartheid South Africa who retreats to the country farm of his daughter after being forced to resign after a scandalous affair with a student. The remainder of the film plays out the complexities of life in South Africa against the relationship with the farm hand (as representative of the shift in power between black and white in South Africa) who is now buying out part of farm. The film is beautifully, even magnificently, shot with every frame lovingly delivered. Malkovich is as always amazing in his portrayal of a flawed, layered human being, who struggles with his daughter's decisions after they are brutally attacked by a trio of black teenagers who rape her while he is powerless to stop them. The father and daughter almost seem to represent the old (now lost) white power in south africa the daughter representing the new, guilty-for-apartheid, struggling with their place white South Africa.
The film had the potential to be fabulous but remained compelling without being enthralling.
It is emotionally and visually stunning and yet some elusive piece is just beyond your reach.
The Q&A after advised that at the completion of script-writing the novelist provided some notes. This alongside an unwillingness (due equally to the powerful love for the book and the novelist sensibilities) to stray from the rendering of the novel may explain some of my percieved limitations.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
SFF Day 2 (Part 2): The Private Lives of Pippa Lee
The second session last night at the Sydney Film Festival was the quitely moving The Private Lives of Pippa Lee.
The film is filled with famous names (the grandaughter of Elia Kazan among them) and faces but is dominated by the incredibly delicate performance of Robin Wright Penn and the slightly heavier but equally captivating performance of Blake Lively in the title role (Wright Penn as the elder version and Lively as the younger version).
Wright Penn is able to brilliantly play off the self-absorbtion of her much older husband (played to perfection by Alan Arkin), the manic hysteria of Winona Ryders' friend and the stoic desperation of Reeves as the younger recently seperated son of neighbours from the retirement village her husband has moved them into.
During the course of the movie the layers of Pippa Lee are peeled back to unveil a woman who has spent her life being what others want of her and is strugling (Silently and mostly unaware) against her life slipping away. The film is absorbing and unexpected in the most part and whilst some of the moments don't ring completely true, they have enough echoes of truth to sustain you in the story. The ending whilst expected to an extent is satisfying.
This film again has me again questioning why Wright Penn (who became famous for a Soap Opera) is not more sought for her capability?
The film is filled with famous names (the grandaughter of Elia Kazan among them) and faces but is dominated by the incredibly delicate performance of Robin Wright Penn and the slightly heavier but equally captivating performance of Blake Lively in the title role (Wright Penn as the elder version and Lively as the younger version).
Wright Penn is able to brilliantly play off the self-absorbtion of her much older husband (played to perfection by Alan Arkin), the manic hysteria of Winona Ryders' friend and the stoic desperation of Reeves as the younger recently seperated son of neighbours from the retirement village her husband has moved them into.
During the course of the movie the layers of Pippa Lee are peeled back to unveil a woman who has spent her life being what others want of her and is strugling (Silently and mostly unaware) against her life slipping away. The film is absorbing and unexpected in the most part and whilst some of the moments don't ring completely true, they have enough echoes of truth to sustain you in the story. The ending whilst expected to an extent is satisfying.
This film again has me again questioning why Wright Penn (who became famous for a Soap Opera) is not more sought for her capability?
SFF Day 2: The Maid
My second foray into the festival was the Latin American offering The
Maid from Chile.
Maid from Chile.
The lead actress deserves her best actress award from Sundance. She
took the largely unsympathetic part and made her performance
compelling. My ambivalent feelings about the film are probably due to
a deliberate decision by the director/ writer to hide the character of
both the maid and the family, almost showing her to us through the
eyes of the family.
I think that lack of personal insight into any of the characters and
their motivations made me feel a little distant. Watchable yes,
unmissable - no.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Modification Notes on the Diminishing Rib Cardi
If doing this again I would
* start the waist ribbing a couple of rows higher (not too many)
* cast on the neck with 2 needle sizes smaller
* add a few less stitches on the front panels at the top and increase between the neck and the chest a handful more times to compensate.
And I will be doing this again.
* start the waist ribbing a couple of rows higher (not too many)
* cast on the neck with 2 needle sizes smaller
* add a few less stitches on the front panels at the top and increase between the neck and the chest a handful more times to compensate.
And I will be doing this again.
Double Your Pleasure Sock Swap - Package Arrives
Loving the sock yarn - now I have to decide what to make with it.
I pair for my partner and I keep the other yarn....decisions decisions. No hints here!
2 x50g balls of Kaffe Fasset Landscape Striping by the look.
1x100g ball of Moda Vera Noir in Merlot.
P.S for those that are wondering I did go back and buy more perfect buttons for the new cardi.
Sewing will have to wait until I am home in daylight.
SFF Day 1: Looking For Eric
The pre-film settling took ages (always does when there is a red carpet). The pre-film speeches took longer. Notable mentions Claire (festival director) wore orange and pink (and looked great) and NSW Film and Television is being renamed Screen NSW.
Now to the important part - the film
The film opening knocks you to attention and then succeeds in wrenching your heart (to near tears) all before the opening credits. Yes, I am watching a Ken Loach film! The film follows a down on his luck Postman (Eric) who is trying to live with two (very ungrateful) teenage sons. His daughter's need for a baby sitter brings him into contact with the ex-wife he abandoned years ago.
Loach creates real, flawed characters who you can actually feel for then introduces Eric Cantona as an Imaginary friend, figment of Eric's mind who coaches him through his current life woes, in equal parts consoling, cajoling and confronting. The film is both emotional and incredibly funny. Many moments of spontaneous pure laugh absurdity and reality ensue.
Cantona's charisma is palpable and Steve Evets brilliantly renders the lead character. Whilst the film asks you to suspend your disbelief you happily follow along as this ride is emotional and thoroughly enjoyable.
For the football fans there is enough footage of Cantona's greatness (and the odd recitation), for the non-football fans the film has delights aplenty.
A fantastic start to the festival.
Now to the important part - the film
The film opening knocks you to attention and then succeeds in wrenching your heart (to near tears) all before the opening credits. Yes, I am watching a Ken Loach film! The film follows a down on his luck Postman (Eric) who is trying to live with two (very ungrateful) teenage sons. His daughter's need for a baby sitter brings him into contact with the ex-wife he abandoned years ago.
Loach creates real, flawed characters who you can actually feel for then introduces Eric Cantona as an Imaginary friend, figment of Eric's mind who coaches him through his current life woes, in equal parts consoling, cajoling and confronting. The film is both emotional and incredibly funny. Many moments of spontaneous pure laugh absurdity and reality ensue.
Cantona's charisma is palpable and Steve Evets brilliantly renders the lead character. Whilst the film asks you to suspend your disbelief you happily follow along as this ride is emotional and thoroughly enjoyable.
For the football fans there is enough footage of Cantona's greatness (and the odd recitation), for the non-football fans the film has delights aplenty.
A fantastic start to the festival.
Opening night at the film festival
So here I am at the Swisotel waiting for 7pm when they will let us in
to the State Theatre for the Opening Night Film.
to the State Theatre for the Opening Night Film.
Now I remember why I avoid this it is a bit of a scene and entering
from the non-celebrity end of the red carpet has you coralled into a
squeezy bit of the entrance so you feel a bit like cattle.
I am really looking forward to the film though. Ken Loach - should be
worth it!
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
The Cardigan Pre-Buttons (Not with the iPhone!)
The neck is a little big but will wear nicely with the buttons.
Monday, June 1, 2009
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