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LIMITS OF CONTROL
This film has been received around the world with mixed reviews,
something it would seem that writer/director Jim Jarmusch prefers.
Without having previously experienced the films of Jarmusch, one could
easily reject this film as being a pointless series of dull shots lacking
coherent narrative.
However, this is not a film that can be viewed in the usual way; rather
the film needs to be approached with an open mind. It may help when
you consider Jarmusch’s approach to reading reviews –
“…If I got universally positive reaction, I’d be horrified…I love negative
reviews – I find them interesting. It must be someone very far from my
aesthetic, so I want to see how they see things.”
THE GODFATHER
Winner of three Oscars including Best Picture, Francis Ford
Coppola’s 1972 masterpiece The Godfather is a film about a
New York Mafia family, the Corleone’s starring Marlon Brando
and Al Pacino. The film begins in the summer of 1945 during
the wedding of Don Corleone’s daughter. The film takes us
through the transition from one ageing legendary Don, to his
WW2 hero son, Michael Corleone.
The film came as a welcome shift from the ‘Gangster’ movies
of the 30’s and 40’s, when classics like Little Caesar,
Scarface and White Heat focused more on the individual’s
rise to glory through violence and capitalism. The Godfather
on the other hand looks to the loyalties and strength of the
family as its driving focus. It can be argued that the film has
its fair share of blood and violence, but the balance in terms of
screen time is tipped towards the family and the importance of
a hearty meal. Not hard to the director's attraction to the story
when you consider Coppola’s decision to fly in vast amounts of
pasta during the filming of Apocalypse Now.
PONYO
Winning 6 awards including Best Animation and Best Film Score,
Ponyo is the 2008 release from Studio Ghibli director Hanyao
Miyazaki. This is a story about a little Goldfish princess who goes on
an adventure and when she gets a taste for human life, nothing can
stop her from her destiny.
This is the 17th feature from Miyazaki as director and he returns with
his trademark animation style along with his mixture of reality and
fantasy. This is a magical story of a princess named PONYO who is
saved by a 5 year old boy SOSUKE. They instantly develop a bond as
SOSUKE takes care of her, and when PONYO’S father the Great
Wizard of the Sea summons her back, her unstoppable desire to
become human causes a threat to the balance of the planet.
NOWHERE BOY
Winning Best Supporting Actress for Anne Marie Duff’s portrayal of
John Lennon’s mother, and nominated for a further 6 awards,
Nowhere Boy has been a success for first time feature director and
artist Sam Taylor Wood.
This film chronicles Lennon’s life as a young boy caught between his
irresponsible mother and his strict aunt. Although we do see the birth
of the Beatles, the focus and interest of the film is the emotional torture
Lennon went through during his teens in his personal life. We see a
side to Lennon that may contrast our perception of him as a peace
loving artist. On the contrary Lennon is portrayed as a cocky, brash
and dangerously dark character, a darkness that makes him all the
more intriguing. Lennon is played with confidence by actor Aaron
Johnson in his 10th film outing, and his experience and skills as an
actor seem to have reached a high point within this role. His brash
delivery of sarcastic jibes is done to perfection, and when scenes call
for more personal heartfelt emotional delivery he does this with a
gripping truth.
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