Category: DVD & Digital
Reviews of the latest UK DVD & Digital releases.
DVD review: Maps to the Stars
In the film industry, when you make it, you generally go to Hollywood, and the famous hills have become synonymous with the silver screen stars. With fame and fortunes comes power which can bring out the very worst in those who absorb themselves in the glamorous entertainment business. Swinging a brutal bat at this world and those who inhabit it with a satirical study is daring director David Cronenberg. With a powerful cast including Julianne Moore, Robert Pattinson and Mia Wasikowska, ‘Maps to the Stars’ is a shocking piece of cinema that sinks its teeth into celeb culture and refuses to let go.
This jagged filmmaking takes the darkness of Bret Easton Ellis’ brat attack Less Than Zero into the 21st century in a way that Coppola’s Bling Ring couldn’t, every scene coated in a thick artificial gloss along with Bruce Wagner’s biting script that rips into the fragility of stardom. Failing actress Havana Segrand (Moore) represents the has-beens of Hollywood as she yearns for the opportunity to play her iconic dead mother on-screen, in a desperate attempt to use her family name to her benefit. A mess of a human being, her crazed lifestyle is disturbing but vital. She hires young Agatha Weiss (Wasikowska) as her personal assistant, a girl who has been quite literally scarred by her showbiz upbringing, with serious burns on her face, neck and arms. The other key player is Agatha’s brother Benjie (Evan Bird), a Bieber-esque rich kid whose moral compass is non-existent due to the material world he has been raised in. These horribly fascinating characters cross paths in an increasingly interesting narrative that joins dots into a warped image of celebrity.
There is very little innocence amongst the tortured souls portrayed, perhaps only Wasikowska’s character showing slight signs of having principles despite her unpredictably dangerous tendencies. She gives a note-perfect performance and every twisted layer of it is impactful. Equally as impressive is Julianne Moore as we’ve never seen her before. She is maniacal, lost in a bubble of Freudian trauma. Slightly underused is Robert Pattinson, who plays a wannabe screenwriter who chauffeurs the wealthy around in a stretch limousine. He is subdued but quietly effective, befriending Agatha and talking passionately about their aspirations. The supporting cast is made up of John Cusack and Olivia Williams who play Agatha and Benjie’s controlling parents, so absorbed in their glamorous careers that they’re more concerned with their tabloid reputations than their children or each other.
This is the first film of Canadian filmmaker’s that has been made in America, and down to the subject matter it couldn’t have really been filmed anywhere else. Cronenberg is a vicious vulture, preying on pop culture with oily streaks of jet-black humour. I imagine that after this deadly assault, it’ll be a while before he thinks about spreading his wings in Hollywood again, if ever. ‘Maps to the Stars’ can be a difficult watch, but it is engrossing and involving, shining the unflattering satirical spotlight directly above the unglamorous, turning the so-called American Dream into a self-obsessed nightmare.
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DVD review: Gone Girl
When best-selling novels are adapted for the big screen, it is fair to say that they are not always well received. Spending less time with the characters can affect how much investment and interest you have in them and sections can be added or taken away to aid the transition. It is important though that the essence of the story is maintained and having Gone Girl’s author Gillian Flynn on screenwriting duty for director David Fincher’s cinematic take on her mystery thriller certainly gives it authenticity. Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike star as the dysfunctional couple Nick and Amy Dunne who appear to have the perfect marriage. On their fifth wedding anniversary, Nick finds that there has been a disturbance at their home and his wife is nowhere to be seen. The search for Amy quickly escalates into a media circus and the finger of blame soon pivots to her doting husband.
It is tricky to discuss the plot in any real depth without giving anything away but the twisted narrative is definitely what makes it so enjoyable. Those that have read the book beforehand may feel it is less impactful because of this. The clever unreliable narrator technique is nicely implemented with the use of voiceover, and the tense score really adds weight to how perceptions are played with throughout. Fincher is no stranger to controversial subject matter and his style is a good match for the material. He earns the certification of the film with the darkness he is associated with. The complexity of the non-linear delivery is dealt with incredibly effectively as Nick and Amy’s relationship is picked apart through flashbacks. It is bold and intelligent and has dashes of spiky humour, despite dabbling into cliché now and then, particularly with the good cop bad cop detectives on the case.
Affleck and Pike more than do their bit to illustrate the highs and lows of married life. The former is charismatic yet brooding, and latter is everything you would want from a leading lady. They both appear so polished in what seems like an idyllic marriage from the outside looking in, yet have more sides to them than a dodecahedron. I would go as far to say that this is my favourite Ben Affleck performance and Pike is equally as impressive. As the plot thickens, key figures are introduced such as fast talking attorney Tanner Bolt (Tyler Perry) and Amy’s ex-boyfriend Desi (Neil Patrick Harris). Both are fresh ingredients to the flavoursome developments, offering intriguing angles and bringing out additional attributes of Nick and Amy. Carrie Coon is also very good as Nick’s twin sister and confidant.
A solid example of when a book to film jump really works, ‘Gone Girl’ excellently showcases how writer and director can collaborate to good effect and this will go down as one of David Fincher’s strong ones alongside Fight Club and Seven. Boasting a track record for sophisticated visuals this is noticeably less stylised than his norm, focussing directly on the substance. The muted colours make up the ideal canvas for this jolting psychological drama that really digs deep into the subject of marital happiness…or lack of it.
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DVD review: In Order of Disappearance (Kraftidioten)
It is a common occurrence in film for directors to go back to the same actor again and again if a fruitful working relationship is formed. Hans Petter Moland’s go-to guy is the acclaimed Swedish star Stellan Skarsgård and the Norwegian black comedy thriller ‘In Order of Disappearance’ marks their fourth collaboration. In the desolate mountains of Norway, Skarsgard stars as snow plough driver Nils Dickman; a well regarded decent citizen who is pushed to his limits following the murder of his son. The Nordic fjords and landscapes provide a breathtaking setting for a story that achieves a satisfying blend of violence and humour as a father hunts down justice, spilling rich red blood upon thick white snow.
The craft and creativity of Moland’s vision enhances the classic vengeance setup as he applies an inventive flair. The script is sharp, saying something about the current state of society in Norway, or in Europe as a whole, as well as including subtle jokes and culture references. The many deaths provide great physical humour as Nils mercilessly takes out members of the Oslo underworld The victims in the film, mostly undeserving of any sympathy whatsoever, have their deaths brilliantly noted by a still black frame with the departed’s name underneath their applicable religious symbol, marking each untimely demise with comic effect. At the heart of the film though, behind the stylish coating, is a very solid character study. Skarsgard gives a stellar performance depicting a man whose contentment with life is cruelly decimated.
The eccentric supporting characters enrich the plot, as a drug war ensues around Nils between the Oslo gang and a group of Serbians. Before long snow isn’t the only white substance on screen in abundance. The pony-tailed crime boss known as The Count, played by Pål Sverre Hagen, is an absurdly entertaining villain. Thinking the world owes him a favour, he whines and moans when things don’t go his way, and attends shady meetings armed with a revolver and a flat white. Veteran Swiss actor Bruno Ganz also appears as the amusing Serb leader Papa. Like an Eastern European Don Vito, his delivery his hoarse and his actions are deadly.
‘In Order of Disappearance’ is a visually stunning cinematic piece of work that refuses to be compartmentalised as it mixes genres comfortably and with glittering results. It works as both comedy and thriller, and the acoustic score even gives Western elements which is evident again in a gunfight finish. Scandinavian cinema continues to impress hugely and with the success the film has enjoyed on the festival circuit set to result in a nationwide release, it would be criminal to miss it.
Click here for my interview with director Hans Petter Moland
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DVD review: Life After Beth
The zombie genre is versatile and has many branches, and these can be twisted and pulled to form canvases for many types of film. Whether it’s horror, comedy or action, the undead can find their place. A popular slant of late is the zom-rom-com, which is where Jeff Baena’s debut feature ‘Life After Beth’ can sit comfortably. The eponymous Beth is played by US comedy actress Aubrey Plaza and the plot surrounds her death and the grief caused by it, both to her family and doting boyfriend Zach (Dane DeHaan), whose mourning is interrupted by her unexpected return. This modern take is lifted by some excellent performances, and is written and directed with care, focussing in on an amusingly doomed relationship as Zach now not only loves Beth, but is scared of her too.
Unlike other zombie movies in which victims seem to transform instantly into blood-thirsty monsters as soon as they’re infected, here our expectations are toyed with as we are presented with Beth’s slow transition from sweet girl-next door with a love for long walks to a gibbering maniacal mess. This drawn-out trajectory allows a steady establishment of setting and characters and we build a rapport with heart-broken teen Zach before his love-life takes a bizarre turn.
DeHaan and Plaza take their complicated roles in their stride, the former playing ‘the straight guy’ note perfect as the latter goes completely bonkers. Not known for humour, Dane DeHaan continues to impress and is surely set to become one of the most in-demand names in the industry. Plaza brings a consistent aura of unpredictability to her performance which is forever fascinating. The supporting cast provide a richness to the piece, in particular comedy veterans John C. Reilly and Cheryl Hines who are the protective parents of the piece, have the funniest lines of the lot.
In its progression, Baena bites off more than he chew so to speak, as when the proceedings inevitably descend into chaos, the originality begins to fade. The physical comedy used as the story develops does result in one or two big laughs but the indie spark fizzles out as the ridiculous verges on being a little too silly. ‘Life After Beth’ has a unique edginess in its field, and while the complexities of the characters are charming and interesting, overall it lacked the defibrillation required to really come to life.
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DVD review: Boyhood
The growing up process is, of course, universally familiar and we’re no stranger to watching characters age on screen. Whether it’s child actors transitioning to adulthood across many years on television or film franchises, or fictional characters lives developing through various actors, it is a progression that we are very used to. In a project that was filmed across a twelve year period, forward-thinking director Richard Linklater presents a coming-of-age story with unique scope. ‘Boyhood’ stars Ellar Coltrane as Mason Jr who starts the film a six-year-old boy riding around care-free on his bike, and ends an eighteen-year-old ready to start college. Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette play Mason’s parents and his older sister is portrayed by Lorelai Linklater, who is the daughter of the director. The film steadily follows Mason and his family’s growth, through their ups and downs, and revolutionises the art of storytelling in doing so.
DVD review: A Most Wanted Man
Earlier this year, the film world was hugely saddened by the tragic death of the award-winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman. His passing resulted in the heightened sense of anticipation around Anton Corbijn’s spy thriller ‘A Most Wanted Man’, the film to feature his last leading role. Adapted from the book by acclaimed espionage novelist John le Carré, the story centres around intelligence operative Günther Bachmann (Hoffman) and his efforts to track Issa Karpov (Grigoriy Dobrygin), a suspected Russian terrorist captured on Hamburg CCTV. The intricate plotting combined with Corbijn’s creative style makes for solid if unspectacular viewing, boosted by an awe-inspiring swan song from one of our most highly regarded performers.
DVD review: Lucy
In a summer full of blockbusters with brains, acclaimed director Luc Besson gives us ‘Lucy’, a sci-fi film that explores the maximum potential of the human psyche. Scarlett Johansson stars in the titular role, continuing her recent streak of forward-thinking performances. Set around the grubby Taiwanese underworld, Lucy finds herself in trouble with a local drug lord, and her bloodstream is subjected to a deadly amount of a synthetic substance which lets humans use more than the usual ten percent of their brain capacity. This leads her to track down scientist Professor Samuel Norman, played by Morgan Freeman, who has years of research dedicated to the topic. Will his wealth of knowledge be enough to save Lucy, or will the symptoms prove to be fatal?
DVD review: The Rover
Since his first feature Animal Kingdom was met with such critical acclaim five years ago, the Australian writer-director David Michôd’s follow up film has been hotly anticipated. He has kept mostly the same team around him and has again cast the experienced Guy Pearce in a central role, but will this equal another great picture? Titled ‘The Rover’, this western is set a decade into the aftermath of a global crisis in a post-apocalyptic outback. Pearce stars as Eric, a man of few words, filled with rage over the losses he has suffered. When his car is stolen by a gang of small-time crooks, he sets out to retrieve it and will stop at nothing until he gets back what is his. In his mission, he encounters an American simpleton called Rey (Robert Pattinson), who happens to be the younger brother of one of the criminals Eric is chasing. Together they pursue in this slow-burn thriller which is so full of style, it leaves little room for substance.
DVD review: The Guvnors
Putting aside the straight-to-DVD bargain bucket releases, we are occasionally reminded that the British crime genre can still throw out the odd cracker, and luckily with ‘The Guvnors’, written and directed by Gabe Turner, this is one of those times. When a gang of London council estate hoodies, led by Adam Shenko (Harley Sylvester), try to stamp their authority, or mark their turf if you will, they are fobbed off by remarks that they would never earn the same respect as ‘the Guvnors’; a legendary local football-hooligan squad. Threatened and irritated by the comparison, an open challenge is made to the cockney geezers, who appear to have put their violent pasts behind them, to find out who has the running of the town. Up steps former footsoldier Mitch (Doug Allen) to face off against the young team and settle the score for good.
Cinema Perspective 