RARE EXPORTS (Directed by Jalmari Helander 2010) A Christmas Film like no other and devoid of any way of proper description in a review this short. Let’s just say I came out of the cinema very impressed but also a bit confused with what the film was aiming for. I think if Jean-Pierre Jeunet had decided to direct a remake of Gremlins set in Finland it would look a little like this. An exciting, funny but overall highly unorthodox film that I’m looking forward to seeing again at some point this year.
THE CLINIC (Directed by James Rabbitts 2010) The one film at Frightfest that had my lady friend holding her stomach for most of it’s duration. The Clinic is an effective but menacing film. The premise is simple. While travelling across country with her fiance, pregnant Beth wakes to find herself in an isolated clinic in a bath full of ice and her baby missing. Gradually she discovers said clinic is inhabited by several other women who have unwillingly found themselves in the same situation and together they must find out what exactly has happened to them. Beautifully shot and disturbing in an entirely different way to most horrors, The Clinic gives us a fresh new talent in Director James Rabbitts.
SOCIAL NETWORK (Directed By David Fincher 2010) One of the highest grossing films of the last year and another sleeper hit for Fincher, The Social Network tells the true story behind Mark Zuckerberg’s theft of a college students idea for the now infamous time wasting scheme known as Facebook. Jesse Eisenberg (of Zombieland fame) really shines in this role and along with a surprisingly engrossing performance from one Justin Timberlake (a name I never thought would grace the pages of this blog) make this a highly enjoyable, if slightly too long film. The usual mouth watering cinematography and soundtrack (this time a superb Trent Reznor score) that you would expect from a Fincher film are all very much present and accounted for, and Eisenberg’s portrayal of Zuckerberg simply gets better and better as the story progresses. I personally didn’t enjoy the first half hour of the film that much but was patient and found the it really did pay off in the end (Pun very much intended).
A SERBIAN FILM (Directed by Srdjan Spasojevic 2010) OK, well, I’m afraid I just couldn’t leave this controversial title off the list as, despite what you have or haven’t heard about this film it really is unlike anything you are ever likely to see. Ever. By far the most talked about, revered, hated, loved film of last year and one I have been thinking of reviewing in depth for a while now(but simply cannot!), A Serbian Film is brutal, unflinching and disturbing beyond what even the toughest of gore hounds and exploitation film lovers could even begin to imagine, and not just because it breaks so many taboos and pushes so many boundaries of public expectancy it leaves one speechless, but because it’s actually extremely well made and original! If you do get a chance to see this film try and avoid the truncated UK DVD release from Arrow films and seek out the full version. (The same version that the BBFC insisted to be shown at last years Frightfest, resulting on the festivals curators pulling the film at the last minute, refusing to show a version of the film that ruined the integrity of the Directors original vision.) I am in no way saying I condone what goes on throughout this film or that it is in any way enjoyable but it certainly has stuck with me for both good and bad reasons and should at least be seen as the director intended it. People will undoubtedly ask if you would edit a record or a work of art? And the answer is understandably no. So why watch a film with certain scenes missing? Well, in the case of this film certain sources tell me the BBFC may for once have a valid point. Anyhow, You would need to judge this for yourselves. Right...I’m glad I don’t have to mention that particular film again anytime soon.
PIRANHA 3D (Directed by Alexandre Aja 2010) Not entirely sure what Alexandre Aja (the man behind such intensites as The Hills Have Eyes remake and High Tension) was thinking when he made this ridiculously over blown male fantasy of a film but there you go. Existing purely in 3d so the naked underwater sequences look all the more enticing, Piranha 3d is fun. Nothing more, nothing less. And whilst it most certainly isn’t good, or what I was either hoping for or expecting from this director, it’s worth seeing just to watch a hugely annoying but appropriately cast Jerry O’connell having his man hood removed and devoured by angry fish. Oh and of course, in the vein of peter Jackson’s Brain Dead it’s insanely gory. So much so it became hysterically funny as it progressed.
TOY STORY 3 (Directed by Lee Unkrich 2010) OK, not the normal title you would expect on the dark and sinister pages of “It’s a trap” but one simply too good to not mention. In fact, this may be my favourite of the trilogy. Luckily watching it in 3d on the big screen meant those of us who justifiably welled-up during the films rather full on climax could hide our tears behind our cardboard glasses and get lost in our own sentimental worlds.
EASY A (Directed by Will Gluck 2010) A Surprisingly enjoyable and light-hearted adaption of The Scarlett Letter starring the ever watchable Emma Stone as the down to earth high school student who relies on rumors and gossip about her apparent loss of virginity to boost her popularity at school. Obviously with mixed results and some hilarious twists and turns. Easy A is good fun and one of the better American teen flicks of last year.
PREDATORS (Directed by Nimród Antal 2010) What are you meant to think of a film when the director is seriously called Nimrod?! Well, actually, whilst obviously not up there with the original, comes very close and proved a more than likable 107 minutes. (minus the dull drop in momentum halfway through. No offence to Laurence Fishburnes performance but his scenes lost the film its drive for a while). Brody proves to be an unusual but good choice as the lead role and the obvious presence of action films new godfather Danny Trejo makes for satisfying viewing. The predator himself looks just the part too, as if he hasn’t had a wardrobe change since Arnie last kicked his ass about the jungle. The key to this film is how little it relies on special effects. Something quite refreshing these days. My only real gripe being the ridiculous CGI planet they discover halfway through the film. Not necessary.
WE ARE WHAT WE ARE (Directed by Jorge Michel Grau 2010) In this strange atmospheric Mexican Cannibal tale the audience is made to work fairly hard for most of the films running time to figure out what is actually going on. The story tells of a close but dysfunctional family living in poverty after coming to terms with the sudden death of their father. A rather bleak and down beat film that relies very much on the powerful and memorable performances of the teenage members of the cast to pick up the pieces and take care of the already disintegrating family unit. I felt the film makers were trying to avoid letting the film become a horror film as such by attempting to connect the viewer with the family stress and fear of the outside world in a way that is twisted yet recognisable. Not as groundbreaking as perhaps it wants to be but a good solid and at times quite nasty film nonetheless.
SUSPIRIA (Directed by Dario Argento 1977) A film I have seen so many hundreds of times and love so greatly I most probably know it word for word and shot for shot. However, I'm mentioning it here because Josh Upstart (Of local exploitation lovers Cigarette Burns Cinema fame) chose to screen a brand spanking new Blu Ray edition at the Rio Cinema in Dalston towards the end of last year. And boy did it look good! Obviously a cinematic highlight of 2010 (or any year should you be lucky enough to catch it on the big screen) and a film I'm sure everyone is familiar with already so a synopsis isn't needed here. The late night Saturday showing accompanied with rouge vino and an excitable crowd proved for a night out unlike no other. The next film being shown by Cigarette Burns will be Daughters Of Darkness on the 19th of February at the Rio and if you like your old school terror with a sting in its tail I would suggest you head on down.
SCOTT PILGRIM VERSUS THE WORLD (Directed by Edgar Wright 2010)I rushed my way through all six graphic novels in less than a week in anticipation to catch what (self confessed super geek and Shaun of the Dead creator) Edgar Wright could do with the story and idea. Knowing already he probably was the ideal man for the job it came as no surprise that no amount of wimpy mumbling from Michael Cera could prevent this from being one of THE films of the year. Hot on the tail of the simply outstanding super hero extravaganza Kick Ass, and I'm sure appealing to the exact same crowd, Scott Pilgrim is a good example of what can be done with a simple idea when left in the (W)right hands. A hugely colourful and enjoyable movie from start to finish and featuring some wonderfully knowing nods to everything from Seinfeld to Comic strip style Batman fight sequences. Not much bad to say here at all, though the love story did get a bit ridiculous towards the end. Now here's hoping it holds up on DVD.
Crazy Heart, Shutter Island, I love you Phillip Morris and the mighty Kick-Ass have not been forgotten, they were mentioned earlier on last year. Though Damned By Dawn, Cyrus and Whip It should definitely have been mentioned somewhere. My bad.
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