It was a good weekend film-wise. Somehow inspite of the not very easy previous film “Walhalla Rising”, everybody seems to have seen and liked the latest Refn. “Drive” is not too common though, so perhaps it is a bit strange that the larger audience embraces it. Perhaps “Drive” is going to be the new “Pulp Fiction” which was something completely new when it came out, but most people agree that it is a modern classic. In any case, “Drive” came out to be a very slow action thriller. This indeed sounds strange, but it is exactly what it is. We follow a “driver” with different sides. In the first scene he is the driver of a getaway car, but after that he is an overly friendly neighbour, but it is very clear that he harbours deep waters. His darker side comes floating up when he gets involved in a situation that runs out of hand. A dark thriller with a few very violent outburst develop, but still mostly in a very slow pace. Refn worked out his idea perfectly and managed to make a very slow, but lively film with alternating speed, good use of music, good acting and inspite of the very thin and predictable story, a well-structured film. Indeed, “Drive” has the elements to become a classic.
Drive * Nicholas Winding Refn (2011)
Small Town Murder Songs * Ed Gass-Donnelly (2010)
What a great film. The title refers to three main elements of the film. In a small town, a murder is committed. The small town is a very religious, remote community and the film is layered with Biblical quotes and religious singing. Often the music replaces the sound of the film which is very well done. It certainly gives the film a great and slightly surrealistic atmosphere. What adds to this is the very slow pace of the film. Long shots before something happens, not too much dialogue. The story is mainly about Walter, a local police officer with a past that keeps catching up with him, in particular during the investigation of his first murder case. This does not really make the film a thriller, it is more a drama with thriller elements. I love a film in which music is used in such a way that it intensifies the film and “Small Town Murder Songs” is definately one of them.
Madeo * Joon-ho Bong (2009)
The young man Do-joon is not 100% perfect mentally, but his overly protective mother (the “mother” from the international title) does not always seem to be either. When Do-joon is framed for a murder, his mother goes to the utmost to get him free. That sounds a bit like one of those far-Eastern bloody revenge thrillers, but “Madeo” is nothing like that. Actually, “Madeo” is more of an absurdistic comedy with black humour and then layered with drama and thriller elements. I found the film a good laugh and a surprising and enjoyable film.
Tightrope * Richard Tuggle (1984)
I wanted to see this classic, but my usual DVD rental did not have it. Another of their shops did, so they had it come over. That proved to be a VHS tape… After doubting for a while I eventually got the tape, but it was of such poor quality that my player couldn’t get it running straight. I brought back the VHS advising them not to rent it out anymore. A couple of weeks later I was back and when looking up something for me, suddenly the “Tightrope” DVD came from below the desk. They found an old DVD release! Well, the film is not really worth all the trouble… Clint Eastwood plays detective Block who is on the hunt for a serial killer, aiming for women with ‘unusual sexual activities’. The film tries to shock a bit with semi-erotic scenes, talk about S&M, etc. all not very convincing, but that could be hindsight. The story is not too bad though, the atmosphere at times alright, so “Tightrope” is not really a bad film, just not a really good one either.
Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson * Alex Gibney (2008)
It is not entirely a coincidense, but when I rented this documentary I was not aware that the man from the title is the author of “Fear And Loating In Las Vegas” of which I recently reviewed the film, a great film that was made when Thompson (1937-2005) himself was still alive. In this documentary we get to learn a man that was quite much like his character in Gilliam´s film in real life. Always under influence of alcohol and drugs, a journalist that wrote the weirdest descriptions about the most common events, often a drug-influenced mix between real events and fantasy. Reporting several election-campaigns, sport events and writing descriptions of the decay of the American dream, Thompson became a cult-figure during his life-time. The documentary shows footage of the good man, readings of his writings by Johnny Depp (who apparently became a friend of his during the filming of Terry Gilliam´s film) interviews with both his wives, his friends, employers and the producer of the film. The result is a colourfull and highly entertaining portrait of a man I know close to nothing about, but I can tell you: if you liked “Fear And Loating In Las Vegas”, you will definately want to see this documentary.
Deep End * Jerzy Skolimowski (1970)
One of several films with the same name. This one is older than I thought and apparently just released on DVD, it was at the new releases of my usual DVD rental. The box presents it an absurdistic comedy with erotic and dark thriller elements. The story suggests ‘coming-of-age’. The 15 year old Mike starts his first job and falls in love with his beautiful, yet older, co-worker. Susan proves to be way out of his league, but Mike does not take “no” for an answer. The film indeed has some amusing scenes and portrays (I guess) a bit the far ends of the 1970′ies society with sexual educational films in the cinema and erotic clubs for discos; but a thriller? Not really. Actually the film suggests to be more daring than it is in the end, but Jane Asher is nice to look at and the film is not boring.
Le Moine * Dominik Moll (2011)
Based on a 18th century story this quite dull film is based. Vincent Cassel is “The Monk” from the title. He was raised in a monastry and has the best sermons in the area. He is tested by the devil and fails miserably. I do not really know what this film lacks. The settings are nice, the acting is not bad (Cassel surely makes a broad CV with this film), the story is not even that boring. Perhaps it is the slow pace, but that does not always bother me. Maybe the atmosphere did not work entirely. I am not sure, but I did not really like this film.
In Time * Andrew Niccol (2011)
I heard this was a strange film, but when I saw Justin Timberlake on the cover, I already figured that might not be alltogether true. Indeed, “In Time” is a typical Hollywood action thriller, but then with (agreed) a somewhat uncommon story. Somewhere in the future time has become the currency, people literally pay for things with their lives. Everybody has a certain amount of time and a bread costs them a day so to speak. When you run out, you die. Of course people can also earn time. People’s “clock”s have been worked out quite silly and the writers of the film seemed to have tried to put as many ambiguous expressions in the first part of the film (“do you have a minute?”, that sort of things). The first part became too dull. Fortunately, when the action thriller elements come in, things get better, a bit at least. For the ladies, I can say that Timberlake can actually act. For the gentlemen, a part of the story is that nobody gets a body that ages beyond 25, so Niccol only used young and attractive actors. The overall result is an allright, but not very interesting film. The good side is that it gives a rather crude view on capitalism.
X * Jon Hewitt (2011)
Little expectations with a 5.6 on IMdB, but I did not feel like looking for titles from my list, so I just picked “X: Night Of Vengeance”. The film starts even not so badly with a provocative sex scene portraying one of the main characters (Holly) as a high-class escort girl. The other girl we follow is Shay who ran away from home and tries to earn a bit of money in the oldest profession. When their paths cross, mutual problems arise, serious problems. A cat-and-mouse game starts quite niceely, but slowly but surely goes downwards until the end of the film becomes rather weak. Throw in an obligatory surprising twist in the story and you have “X” in a nutshell. A film to watch only when you have nothing better to see. Both women are a reason perhaps, but as a whole I can see where the IMdB-rate comes from.
The Ledge * Matthew Chapman (2011)
I am glad that I did not read the box before watching this film. It gives everything away! We find a young man on a ledge of a high building. Policeman Hollis gets the job to talk him off of it and in hearing Gavin’s story we slowly get a picture of the situation. The basis of which is two men, one woman and the two man have very actual and very opposing philosophies. Gavin is a cynic materialist and Joe a fundamentalist Christian. These elements lead Gavin up the roof. The story is worked out nicely. I remained one step behind of the film until the end. Not that the story is extremely elaborate, but the plot keeps ‘shifting forward’, the viewer following in its trail. I actually found “The Ledge” very well done for a Hollywood production. The atmosphere is good, I could associate with all three main characters and when you think about it, the film even has a message for the modern man.