Films I Saw In June

Gran Torino (Clint Eastwood, 2008)

I've always had problems with Clint Eastwood's recent output. Films like Mystic River and Million Dollar Baby are always perfectly watchable with engaging storylines, but they always seem so 'worthy' and desperate for Oscar glory and the plot of this film (racist war veteran comes to terms with the multicultural world around him) did sound very contrived. But the truth is, this is Eastwood's best acting and directing performance since 'Unforgiven'. He's in a particularly grouchy mood, his performance at times seeming very like a Dirty Harry in retirement. The film is never sentimental, handles its subject matter well and has great performances by all through out. Very good indeed.


Rachel Getting Married (Jonathan Demme, 2008)
After watching the awful 'Margot At The Wedding' I was perhaps a little sceptical of this similarly titled film, but as it turns out this is how you do a Chekov style two sisters feuding around a wedding film. Anne Hathaway is excellent as the wayward sister who returns from rehab for the titular Rachel's wedding and in the process lots of family skeletons are brought out of the closet. It's a little formulaic to be sure, but it's well acted throughout and never loses your interest.




Zombieland (Ruben Fleischer, 2009)
Coming across as something resembling America's answer to 'Shaun of the Dead' this is a fun take on an already well worn genre. Jesse Eisenberg and Woody Harelson trek across a zombie ravaged America with a couple of girls and generally try and one-up each other while fighting zombies. The film is short and never overstays its welcome and is very enjoyable indeed. Particular mention must go of course to the celebrity cameo halfway through, which I won't spoil but you probably know anyway...




The Killer Inside Me (Michael Winterbottom, 2010)
Michael Winterbottom, one of the most versatile directors around has caused something of a stir with this film, an adaptation of Jim Thompson's 1950's crime novel. Most of the attention focusing on the main character's (Casey Affleck) brutalisation of women, opening up charges of misogyny against Winterbottom. Whilst I don't believe the film is misogynistic (Affleck's character is so vile and twisted that it doesn't exactly say much for masculinity either) it is one of the more brutal films of recent times. Shorn from it's controversy though and we are left with a film that's actually pretty dull with a script that plods along and poorly explains a plot that seems more labyrinth than it should. On the other hand, it looks really slick and Affleck delivers a fine, menacing performance up there with his 'Jesse James' role, but overall the window dressing and violence tends to distract you from what is really quite an average film at best.




The Fantastic Mr. Fox (Wes Anderson, 2009)
I was somewhat disappointed with this film, being a lifelong fan of Rahld Dahl's books and Wes Anderson, but the two really don't mix well together as a film. For starters, it is annoyingly quirky pretty much from start to finish and seems to be peppered with several adult or 'intelligent' jokes that seem to subvert it as a children's film. While the original novella had plenty of charm, this goes for quirk and does so in spades and in the end I had to wonder "who is this film for?". It's not without its plus points though, the animation is great and Clooney's vocal talents are put to good use for the title role, but in the end I just felt that Wes Anderson should stick to making live action indie comedies and stay away from animated kids stories.




Paranormal Activity (Oren Peli, 2009)
An excellent horror/ghost story film, genuinely unsettling and the best of its kind since the original Blair Witch. The story is simple enough, a couple are alone in a house and are haunted by a benevolent demon. It doesn't re-invent the wheel but knows exactly what makes the best horror films work and does it with aplomb. The two actors (Katie Featherston and Miach Sloat, using their real names) are both very convincing. It's scare factor may have been blunted on me as I was a little pissed when I saw this, but nevertheless it's still very creepy and definately worth a look for horror fans.




One Night In Turin (James Erskine, 2010)
After the debacle of England's World Cup exit this year, it might be worth revisiting a somewhat more noble defeat courtesy of this enjoyable doc. Relying solely on archive material and the odd incidental re-construction 'One Night In Turin' tells the story of England's 1990 World Cup campaign narrated compellingly by Gary Oldman. Of course, everyone knows how this ends but you still find yourself caught up in the tale which focuses as much on the off-pitch activities and the hooligan element of the times. It does centre a little bit too much on Paul Gasgoine as the main 'hero' though.




Harry Brown (Daniel Barber, 2010)
Morally bankrupt vigilante film set in and around Elephant & Castle with Michael Caine as a Royal Marines Vet pushed to the limit by a gang of local hoodies led by Plan B. From an ethical point of view this film is very circumspect, coming across like a Daily Mail readers worst nightmare and wildest dream at the same time. Still, it's quite watchable and if you can get over the political tones the film is kind of worth seeing for a decent central performance by Michael Caine and for it's arresting visuals.




Film Of The Month: Gran Torino, but Paranormal Activity comes close.