Despite the lack of films I want to see at the cinema this week I've actually seen three excellent films within the last 48 hours. So prepare yourself for a triple-review!
Firstly, sent to me by LoveFilm this week - Battle Royale. I added it to my rental list because I kept seeing references to it in Empire but I really didn't expect that I would enjoy it that much - so it took me a few days to get round to seeing it. However, I was completely blown away by it and enjoyed it a hell of a lot more than I thought. Despite the fact that it's a pretty scary scenario, and contains its fair share of japanese uber-gore, the story is really interesting and you actually care about the characters. The premise is that in a dystopian future teenagers have become more rebellious and dangerous and the government decide to teach them a lesson ('scuse the pun) by choosing a class of 15 year olds each year to take part in 'Battle Royale'. The kids are taken to a deserted island, guarded by a military force, and are told they have three days to kill each other, and the last man standing is the winner. Each one is given a kitbag containing food, water, and a 'mystery weapon', they also have an electronic collar which monitors their heartbeat, and can also explode, killing them instantly, if they are in a 'danger zone' or if there is more than one teenager left at the end of the three days. As they are let loose onto the island alliances form, old slights are avenged, and our heroes - Shuya and Noriko - fight against the odds to escape together.
This is the first Asian film I've seen that is set in a (almost) contemporary world and, perhaps unsurprisingly, it is a world away from the 'wushu' and period films that I've seen before. Battle Royale is set in a world you can imagine inhabiting. The setting looks modern and the context is immediately familiar - unemployment is rising, school-attendance is falling, kids are getting out of control and teachers fear being attacked in their own classroom. The kids themselves are brilliant, with some cracking acting going on. I was delighted to spot Kill Bill's Chiaka Kuriyama as athletic student Takako Chigusa, but was particularly impressed by Aki Maeda, Tatsuya Fujiwara and Taro Mamamoto as the three main characters. They all look amazing too - like anime characters come to life. The fights are pretty impressive too, with some excellent choreography and blocking. The gore didn't bother me at all as it's all so cartoon-like, and if you've seen any violence of this type in other Japanese films (or Kill Bill) then you won't turn a hair. Despite being presented as a gore-fest I enjoyed this one for its clever plot, magnetic characters, and the relationships presented between the school-kids. Watch it. Watch it now.
Friday night's treat was '2 Days in Paris', courtesy of Lindsey, who came round for a film evening with a couple of other friends. It was a resounding success and had us all in stitches at the antics of the starring couple - Marion (played by writer and director Julie Delpy) and Jack (played by the oddly attractive Adam Goldberg). Marion is French and Jack American, and they are stopping in Paris for two days on the way back from a trip to Italy, in order for Jack to meet Marion's family. There relationship seems to be stable and successful until Jack starts meeting all of Marion's old flames, seemingly Paris is filled with them. He begins to be paranoid that Marion is, or has been, cheating on him with one of these many paramours.
This film is a complete delight, not least for the fact that it presents a realistic relationship. I adored Adam Goldberg as Jack, and was equally impressed with Delpy as Marion (though I found her character less likable). The film is very french, without being too whimsical, in its humour and presentation of the French characters' attitudes to relationships. It's truly hilarious, especially at the beginning when Jack has to cope with Marion's idiosyncratic family, and the revelation that they have all seen a very personal (and nude) photograph taken of him by Marion (this is when he starts to mistrust her :) I also now want a cat called Jean-Luc as he completely steals every scene he's in! Oh, and I must also mention a brilliant cameo by Daniel Bruhl as 'the fairy', so funny :)
Finally, last night, at The Phoenix, we went to see 'Låt den rätte komma in' (Let The Right One In) - a deliciously creepy Swedish film about a young vampire called Eli. Although, in fact, the really creepy kid is the human one - Oskar. Oskar is bullied at school and lives with his mother, who is divorced from his much-loved father. He is obviously a troubled kid and carries round a knife, as well as keeping a scrap-book of storied about murder, cut from the newspaper. Eli moves into the apartment next to Oskar's, with her human caretaker Håkan. Eli and Oskar meet in the apartment courtyard and become friends after Oskar lends Eli his Rubiks Cube.
I've heard quite a bit about this film and decided to see it, despite not being a fan of horror films, because I had heard that it presented a 'realistic' take on vampires. Having seen it I can confirm that it's pretty much the 'anti-Twilight' in that it's a lot grimmer, and more pessimistic, with Eli being a lot more disturbing than the vampires that inhabit Stephenie Meyer's world. I wouldn't want to see it again but I'm glad I've seen it once. The way it presents many aspects of vampire lore is certainly interesting and I also enjoyed the additional vampire characteristics that Alfredson and Lindqvist have invented. Lina Leandersson is fascinating as Eli, by turns scary and beguiling, and it is easy to see why Oskar becomes intrigued by her. It's not explicitly terrifying, it's just very bleak and rather creepy to watch, and I've found it stays with you past the end of the credits. If you like clever horror films, or have an interest in vampires then I would recommend a watch. My only caution is to beware the scene with the cats, which is simply ridiculous and contains some very suspect CG.
Comments