Reviews

Being a fan of both If.... and Brittania Hospital, I had been wanting to catch this film for a while, until I got my chance yesterday. And it was not a disappointment. O Lucky Man! is simply one vast, weird, intelligent and funny movie. It provides some great food for thought on survival-of-the-fittest style capitalism, through Mick Travis's increasingly unexpected adventures. Not to mention his use and subsequent abuse by the ruling class.

If you know the other two films in the trilogy, it becomes much fun to see other faces from If.... and Brittania Hospital pop-up along the line....especially since many of them are playing multiple roles!!! (eg Graham Crowden, Peter Jeffery, Mona Washburn etc etc) - in this instance, spare a thought for the actor Brian Pettifer, who plays wimpy, dorky young men (known as 'Biles') over the three films. Poor guy. And while not in the the other two movies, Helen Mirren appears here and is excellent as usual.

Check it out. Despite it's running time, this is not a movie which has any dull moments. Ever.

Fantastic Russian 'coming of age' film. A young girl is teased by her classmates (giving her the nickname 'Chuchelo', or 'Scarecrow') and she deals with it on her intelligence and wit. While this may sound grim (it is set in '80's Russia, after all), it is at times funny, weird and massively enjoyable. Very superior to many more popular American teenage films, is much more realistic and the script and acting sharper. A highly underrated gem - just try and find it!

Fun fight flick containing some of the most hilariously inept Kung-Fu ever shot to celluloid. The plot is pretty feeble, too. Yet, the film never takes itself too seriously, and sends itself up on a regular basis. From the Kung-Fu bikini girls and Kung-Fu used car salesmen, to Cameron Mitchell's role as the misplaced baddie, to the over-the-top car stunts, not to mention the strange plot twists, Kill Squad is a winner. The Vietnam flashback sequence is a must-see for its sheer ineptitude. And did that electronic porn-flick style muzak!!

A winner. 9 out of 10. They don't make 'em like this anymore.

This film is an indispensable piece of Kiwiana. While the humour has certainly dated, it's still heaps of fun....and an excellent example of the road movie genre. Good for including many different locations in New Zealand, too. Was (and possibly still is) very popular in its native land.

Bad Blood is the true story of West Coast (New Zealand) Eric Stanley Graham who, during the 1940's shot dead several people in the small village of Kowhitirangi, and sparked NZ's biggest manhunt in history. The film is both atmospheric and disturbing, and is well focussed on Graham and his family, and their gradual alienation from the small community. The bush setting only amplifies this claustrophobia. Both well acted and scripted, Bad Blood is worth more than a look.

One of my favourite war movies, the Dirty Dozen is action packed, funny, bleak and cool. Lee Marvin turns in a classic gritty performance, as do Bronson, Cassavettes, Sutherland and Savalas (among others) as the coolest looking rat-pack of soldiers in cinema history. Essential action viewing.

The Storekeeper is a highly underrated short from South Africa that I was lucky enough to catch at the NZ film festival this year. Superbly and simply directed without dialogue, it is a powerful and intense anti-violence statement and a minor masterpiece. Catch it if you can.

A real hoot of a horror film. Rented by friends early this year while we were going through a phase of this kind of stuff. Basically another z-grade slasher flick - stoopid, illogical plot, and cheesy special effects - but, I like this sort of stuff (why?????) Best part of this film: Billy yelling his tagline 'PUNISH! PUNISH!' every time he's on the rampage.

Supremely trashy 'disco vampire' film. Worth watching for Nai Bonet's bathroom scene - UNBELIEVABLE! Since she wrote this one, it's narcissism of the highest order. You won't believe your eyes!!! Also worth watching for that great disco band.

Terrible, pretentious, talky documentary on French cinema in which Godard and chums hang out in various cafes and restaurants, arrogantly turn their backs on the audience, and then talk among themselves for ages. The version I saw was not subtitled, which didn't help 'cos I don't speak French; I took this a sign of arrogance since all of the other 'foreign' documentaries in the Century of Cinema series I have seen ARE subtitled. Why not this one?

I was initially excited about seeing a documentary on French cinema, looking forward to seeing plenty of clips from all sorts of films, and interesting comments and discussions from various people 'in-the-know'. But this is a major letdown.

In my opinion, the very worst of the BFI Century of Cinema series.

Huge, exhaustive and passionate summary of American cinema as seen through the eyes of Martin Scorcese. Needless to say, there is never a dull moment in all of its 4 hour running time. Many genres, periods and directors are all examined, discussed more from the perspective of cinephile rather than contemporary director. For anyone even remotely interested in American films, or cinema in general. A masterpiece, and the best of the BFI's Century of Cinema series.

This is one film that unfortunately seems to be doomed to obscurity. However, it is a goodie, albeit a nasty one. Poor Candy is kidnapped by three losers, who are involved with incest, drugs, murder, rape, and now kidnapping! This film is very lurid and sleazy (as many 'gone' '70's films were), yet has a great plot involving a number of fun twists, and is well acted. Parts of the film are clear precursors to Tarantino (ie Reservoir Dogs), and David Lynch (the idea of the family being the source of anxiety and horror). Little Sean's mother could have easily fitted into 'Twin Peaks'. Worth hunting this one out.

Excellent, funny and revealing documentary about Lars Von Trier, who is far from chilly under interview. Plenty of rare footage, fascinating comments from various colleagues and actors (especially from Von Trier's producer, as well as from Katrin Cartlidge and Ernst-Hugo Jaregard), and generous clips from many related films make this recommended viewing for both Von Trier fans and those who are just curious.

There's been a spate of relationship based films out of New Zealand over the last few years; unfortunately, this is not one of the better ones. The narrative seems to have no real drive or spark to it - a fading 70's singer (Rena Owen) returns to New Zealand after a small-time singer career in America, hooks up with an old friend (the dreaded Simon Prast), who happens to be in a relationship with an angsty, drunken, awful young man (Dean O'Gorman), who writes lyrics for Hawthorne's and Brunning's band. But big deal! Much of the acting in this film is pretty terrible, too (with the exception of Nancy Brunning - good as usual, and Sophia Hawthorne, who is plenty fun, gorgeous and energetic). Rena Owen is pretty average, which is something I've never seen before. But in all, the characters are pretty hard-to-believe, and there is the usual dose of corn and cheese which has become a bit too common in NZ cinema. And Prast's performance is DREADFUL!

I went to see this film with my partner - she disliked it a whole lot more than what I did, and used words like '...waste of money...could have given it to some other filmmaker...'. All of which, I think, is pretty fair.

I have kind of a love/hate relationship with this show - sometimes it is gripping, funny and touches on various social issues pretty well, and other times the story and the characters are so stoopid I want to scream! I've been watching it off and on since the beginning of 1992, there's been times when I can't miss a single episode, other times when I couldn't care less. Shortland St does pretty good villains, though - the characters of Mckenzie Choat, Oscar Henry, Greg Feeney and Aleesha Cook (among others) are all unforgettable!

In 1981, the New Zealand government invited the South African rugby team to tour New Zealand. This effectively split the country in half. Patu! is the story of the protest movement, HART (halt all racist tours). This documentary shows footage of protester meetings, rugby games and various beatings meted out to protesters from police. Patu! is powerfully directed by Merata Miti, and is one of the most convincing anti-racism statements I've seen yet. Check it out, if you can.

Part two in an unofficial trilogy, preceded by Kingi's Story (1982 - TVM) and followed by Mark II (1987 - TVM). This bunch of films are all characterised by attempts to portray real-life troubles of young, urbanised Maori. Kingpin chronicles various power struggles, among the teenage inmates of a boys borstal/reform school, as well as the various personal difficulties and their attempts to try and reform. This film is pretty obscure, but worth checking out if you can find it on video; the narrative is strong, and the climax tough and exciting. Plenty of great breakdancing scenes, too.

A bizarre, captivating and truly excellent piece of New Zealand gothic. In suburban New Zealand, a woman finishes the washing up and discovers some strange little hairs in her sink. She pulls and pulls and something flies out of the pipes. And it grows....and grows....Kitchen Sink is a dark comment on suburban neurosis, as well as an excellent critique of horror films and the 'woman in peril' genre. Filmed in black and white, viewers may be reminded to some degree of Eraserhead. A little masterpiece.