PIECES REVIEW
I'm flabbergasted that anyone could give this moving, masterpiece of a film a 1 (too much salt and butter on their popcorn I suspect). I was blown away by just how moving and brilliantly executed Pieces was, a truly outstanding achievement by the director and his team. Even more remarkable considering the ludicrously small budget and impossibly short shooting schedule I believe he was confronted with. I wasn't quite sure what to expect from the film - with mental illness as its premise it could easily have been overwhelmingly confronting. However, I was taken by surprise by an absorbing and captivating story - relentless from start to finish - and quite an assault on the senses, that frequently found me on the edge of my seat. Yet in doing so, the film didn't deviate from its mission to capture and reflect on all of the characters' states of mind and shine a light on their inner, troubled worlds. In fact, I think it's the first time I've really gained such a raw, revealing and convincing insight. I had empathy and understanding, a feeling like "hey, in another life, this could easily have been me?" Quite an achievement to create such an deep-emotional impact - one I suspect, deep down, was Martin Wilson's objective. If so, "it's a 10 from me"!
I now see Pieces has been nominated for two AACTA awards, one for Best Indie Film and a second for Best Costume Design (with the Alexander McQueen-inspired outfits looking so amazing). Richly deserved. It's a complex and trilling interplay of characters. A story brilliantly interpreted and communicated with astute, sensitive direction and raw performances that challenge the audience to question: "are they actors playing a role or real people?" Like other multiple characters films I've seen that are connected by interlocking stories brought together by fate (such as Crash and Magnolia) Pieces is compelling and emotionally riveting. To walk in the shoes of someone with lived mental health challenges for just 90 minutes, was for me life-changing.
Quite simply, it's a titanic and outstanding achievement. And as a bonus, I don't think Perth has ever looked so damn good. So contemporary and gloriously urbane. Like it had dropped its Hicksville persona and pulled on its big city pants. I know that was not the point of the picture but I think it's done a well-needed job of that, without detracting one iota from the picture's intent. And it made me proud. (By the way, I've got the same feedback from friends over east who've seen the film, so it's doing a top secondary job for Tourism).
My money is on a triumph at the AACTAs. Well bloody done Martin. Hat's off to Perth.
VAUGHAN SUTHERLAND.
I'm flabbergasted that anyone could give this moving, masterpiece of a film a 1 (too much salt and butter on their popcorn I suspect). I was blown away by just how moving and brilliantly executed Pieces was, a truly outstanding achievement by the director and his team. Even more remarkable considering the ludicrously small budget and impossibly short shooting schedule I believe he was confronted with. I wasn't quite sure what to expect from the film - with mental illness as its premise it could easily have been overwhelmingly confronting. However, I was taken by surprise by an absorbing and captivating story - relentless from start to finish - and quite an assault on the senses, that frequently found me on the edge of my seat. Yet in doing so, the film didn't deviate from its mission to capture and reflect on all of the characters' states of mind and shine a light on their inner, troubled worlds. In fact, I think it's the first time I've really gained such a raw, revealing and convincing insight. I had empathy and understanding, a feeling like "hey, in another life, this could easily have been me?" Quite an achievement to create such an deep-emotional impact - one I suspect, deep down, was Martin Wilson's objective. If so, "it's a 10 from me"!
I now see Pieces has been nominated for two AACTA awards, one for Best Indie Film and a second for Best Costume Design (with the Alexander McQueen-inspired outfits looking so amazing). Richly deserved. It's a complex and trilling interplay of characters. A story brilliantly interpreted and communicated with astute, sensitive direction and raw performances that challenge the audience to question: "are they actors playing a role or real people?" Like other multiple characters films I've seen that are connected by interlocking stories brought together by fate (such as Crash and Magnolia) Pieces is compelling and emotionally riveting. To walk in the shoes of someone with lived mental health challenges for just 90 minutes, was for me life-changing.
Quite simply, it's a titanic and outstanding achievement. And as a bonus, I don't think Perth has ever looked so damn good. So contemporary and gloriously urbane. Like it had dropped its Hicksville persona and pulled on its big city pants. I know that was not the point of the picture but I think it's done a well-needed job of that, without detracting one iota from the picture's intent. And it made me proud. (By the way, I've got the same feedback from friends over east who've seen the film, so it's doing a top secondary job for Tourism).
My money is on a triumph at the AACTAs. Well bloody done Martin. Hat's off to Perth.
VAUGHAN SUTHERLAND.