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Filmsi - A not so serious look at films and film reviews

Anything film =D

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Filmsi - November 2011

The Invention of Lying, 2009

Hell-o all! I have to be honest I am not a huge a fan of Ricky Gervais unless he is pissing people off with his crude British humour which I enjoy, nothing funnier than causing offensive especially to those Hollywood types. So when choosing this film I knew I was not going to see Ricky Gervais at his finest but everyone has to pay the bills although that being said for God's sake its Ricky f****ing Gervais like he needs this sappy rom-com which then leads to the question why would he even bother with this?? The Invention of Lying is clearly the sappy romantic comedy that is most likely to be mediocre.

The Invention of Lying begins in a world were no human being could tell a lie but it goes beyond not being able to lie but people are insistent of telling the truth even if not asked. Which I think film actually infers. The movie starts with sad and pathetic Mark (Gervais) who is an unsuccessful screenwriter in love with Anna (Jennifer Garner). Anna is out of his league and she makes sure he knows this by constantly reminding him. Although I understand in this world there is no lying but what's the deal with over sharing? Unsurprisingly Mark somehow invents lying. For someone who is quite the fibber it intrigues me how these people don't realise how easy it is for them to tell a lie.

Misery guts Mark (Gervais)

The Invention of Lying is not terrible but it does not come close to being anywhere near good either. There are many things about the movie I really enjoyed while others were clear let downs. The so called love story between Anna and Mark was just ridiculous and annoying. The celebrity cameos were awesome and brought much of the laughs. The film also pokes fun at religion with some valid arguments about how crazy religion sounds. Despite the cameos and interesting insight about lying and how easy it is for us to tell lies about 3/4 the movie starts to lag. Further the film takes this detour into nowhere and story suffers from it. Then after this weird and unnecessary turn the film quickly and neatly ends. The ending is far too forced and left a sour taste in my mouth.

Final Verdict: The Invention of Lying was not a horrible film but it has many faults. One of it's major faults was the main story between Mark and Anna was just boring. As a black rapper might have once said I'm not feelin' it, dog. Although the ending was bad and the middle was kind of confusing the build-up and beginning was pretty hilarious so the film wins brownies points for it. 6/10

A party for two (Garner & Gervais)

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November 23rd 2011 @ 11:58

Posted By: Samira - Category: No Category

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15th Annual Japanese film festival!!

Hey all the annual Japanese Film Festival is here!! I went to this last year and watched a screening and absolutely loved it. So if anyone is interested the details are below. There are many exciting offers with the inclusion of anime and documentaries. I will most likely to be heading into a screening on the 27th of November in Sydney probably to catch a screening of Buddha: the Great Departure or something else on that day. The festival in Sydney will be held in Event Cinema on George Street Sydney City and is extremely popular so don't miss out. The Film Festival is screening over all the country in the major cities so check out the website for details.

Visit link to Japanese Film Fest site for more information.

Image from the City of Sydney website (Link) which also has more information.

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November 13th 2011 @ 10:45

Posted By: Samira - Category: No Category

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Contagion, 2011

Finally I review something that is recently in the cinemas, hooray! Finally getting out of the DVD hole and actually going to watch something at the movies.

So today's review (just in case you missed the tittle) is Contagion staring Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne, Jude Law and many, many more.

The premise of Contagion is simple enough; the world is gripped with a dangerous disease that is killing millions and is highly contagious as the world goes into hysterics scientists work night and day looking for a vaccine and possible cure.

Any film or story that talks about a deadly disease I am reminded of Albert Camus's The Plague, and honestly although the premises are very much the same the exploration of it is very different. Disappointingly Contagion does not explore the isolation that one might feel stuck in quarantine. And unlike The Plague, Contagion looks at the moment when people are freaking out because the possibility of their death is looming, although technically death is reality for everyone.

Death and Destruction and Jude Law

Contagion doesn't beat around the bush as it goes straight to spread of disease from the beginning of the film and within 10 minutes the whole world is under threat. The film follows mulitple stories and characters from around the world. However the "centre" of the film is Damon's character Mitch as his wife and stepson are the first to fall victims to the disease. And although Mitch brings insight to the human tole of the disease for everyday people I was more interested in the other characters and their quest to find the cure and/or vaccine. The film never lags and in constant movement and thus when it goes back to scenes with Mitch it seems to distract from the more important issues that the film explores. But director Steven Soderbergh does not spend too much screen time on Mitch. Thus Soderbergh did manage to balance the suspense with the emotion by placing scenes with Mitch and his daughter scattered throughout the film.

Damon's Mitch with his on screen daughter (Anna Jacoby-Heron)

The film does a good job of keeping me interested in every character within the film and making most if not all characters relevant within the film. As films with mulitple characters can be both confusing and annoying to watch but not this one. As mentioned the film is pretty consistent throughout its running time there are very few moments that bored me and thus the experience was very enjoyable. But despite its very strong beginning and middle, the ending was weak. Soderbergh's ending to the film was a little too neat and everything ends as expected and although most movie goers would be completely happy with this "nice" ending I wanted more. Maybe it's the saddest in me but I would have preferred a more ambiguous ending which leaves people questioning and wondering. Soderbergh also skilfully manages to end most of the individual stories that he developed in a natural progression without it being forced.

Marion Cotillard and Chin Han hard at work looking for a cause

Also I was really excited that there were so many famous faces in the film. It was rather fun to be pleasantly surprised by them.

Verdict: Contagion is a solid film which pulls no surprises in its story telling but is still really entertaining due to its consistency to hold suspense and tension. Although it is not without faults (especially with its slightly disappointing ending) most movie goers will be thoroughly satisfied with this film. 7.8/10

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November 12th 2011 @ 23:41

Posted By: Samira - Category: No Category

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Across The Universe, 2007

life under the influence of drugs

Although 20 or more years have passed since the disintegration of The Beatles they still remain to influence modern film makers, Across the Universe pays homage to the iconic band.

Across the Universe is based in the hay day of free love and world peace thus the film is based during the 60's and 70's. And true to the stereotypes of the time the film centred around the youth. A young factory worker from England Jude (Jim Sturgess) leaves behind his mother and then girlfriend in search to find his father in the States. Believing that he's father to be a collage professor but finds that he’s a janitor instead. Disappointed and a little hurt that essentially his father really does not want him part of his life Jude accidently meets a rather rebellious rich kid Max (Joe Anderson). After befriending Max, Jude meets Lucy (Evan Rachel Wood) Max's younger and beautiful sister. It is quite obvious from the onset that there was a clear connection between Lucy and Jude. Which really should be a given considering it is essentially a story about love. The rest of the film follows the relationship between Lucy and Jude. And although there are plenty of subplots the film is very much about Lucy and Jude.

Lucy and Jude

Across the Universe is kind of a confused film. In many ways it's trying too hard to be everything and thus failing to be anything at all. It was much more like a self-indulgent piece from the film makers (be it the director Julie Taynor or the writers & producers). There were many characters in the film and although it starts off as if these characters have their own stories but none of these stories actually followed through. So if the subplots are kind of disappointing than that must mean that much of the movie is about Jude and Lucy. Well not exactly, sometimes the movie is so caught up in establishing subplots and not following through with them many times Jude and Lucy gets lost in the chaos. It's a shame that Taynor had not followed through with the story arches she had developed and then so brazenly ignored.

I do however really like the incorporation of the music in the film. It was beautiful to hear all the classic Beatle's music again. And basically really only enjoyed the film because it's music.Taynor definitely focused on the free, youthful and rebellious nature of the time focusing on both sexual and drug explorations. A focus on the protest culture that was central to America in the 60's and 70's defined much of the film. Due to this the film was visually pleasing with the bright colours and interesting costumes and scenes.

Verdict: Across the Universe in its entirety is a bit of a disappointment. Although the music and visuals were spectacular to watch however if the story telling is confused and underwhelming even great music can't save it. 6.3/10

And I was disappointed they did not have the song Across the Universe actually in the movie but was only in the credits. And there was also no rendition of Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. C'mon seriously missing some awesome songs.

Free love

Sidenote: Sorry if this is badly written and poorly edited is feeling a bit tired well fix it later. And thank you again for reading.

Much love,
Samira =D

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November 4th 2011 @ 12:09

Posted By: Samira - Category: No Category

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Zombieland, 2009

Hey all today's review will be on Zombieland! Zombies seem to be a favourite in horror movies but for some reason I was never truly scared of them which is kind of odd considering I'm pretty much scared of everything. So here I was thinking Zombieland would not be scary at all. And the truth its not suppose to be but I'm just a chicken shit. So naturally I was genuinely shitting bricks.

Zombieland starts somewhere in the middle where the Zombie infestation has happened and the world is literally done for. As to why the Zombie infestation even occurred in the first place was never answered and was brushed aside. Our lead Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) basically explains what the world has been reduced to nothing but bloodsucking, flesh eating half human creatures and himself while he explains ways to survive a Zombie apocalypse (and let me tell I would not survive one). As what seems like a lifeless hole Columbus is living he somehow meets a tough somewhat unhinged cowboy Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson) and shifty sisters Witchita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin). There isn't much of a plot in the movie but a series of events stringed together with plenty of funny moments to keep you entertained.

L to R: Stone, Harrelson, Eisenberg and Breslin

Although I never thought Zombieland lacked any entertainment value or even plot until I had to write a summary then I realised there isn't much to the story. Yes, there are Zombies and there has to be other people other than Columbus and although everyone is pretty much dead, who exactly was he doing that voiceover for was a little strange but nevertheless entertaining. Zombieland has achieved it's aim because it sticks to the basics - decent actors playing interesting characters that are likable, classic zombies that don't sparkle with quite a bit of gory and pulled together with a very solid script. There is no need for 3D and there is no need to over sell it. It is what was it is; a zombie movie with comedy. And although Ruben Fleischer (director) doesn't stay away from the emotional aspects of living in Zombieland however he never truly explores it. I think having that emotional aspect was most likely to keep the masses happy as it would be far to dark and black if there was no scenes of tragic desperation and loneliness. And in true Hollywood style there has to be a love interest for lonely Columbus for all the geeks out there to live out the fantasy of bagging the hot chick.

Verdict: Zombieland was actually a scary comedy that makes you jump one moment and laugh the next. Lacks a plot but has good characters and a well written script to pull it altogether. Zombieland is no means a black comedy with many "emotional" scenes but it’s not a drama thus does not truly delve into the emotions or the dramatics. 8/10