Movie #153 Animal Kingdom *2010*

This is another film that I have already watched this year.  It was Day #18.  So I am going to give it the # Reasons treatment.

Reason 1.  Ben Mendelsohn as "Pope" and Jacki Weaver as "Mama Cody" are two horribly frightening yet mysterious characters.

Reason 2.  David Michod's direction is well paced.  It creates an atmosphere of chaos and uncertainty through slow tracking shots and hand-held scenes of potential madness.

Reason 3.  Stay on the forefront of the Australian film boom with the Aussie "Goodfellas".

Rating : ★★★1/2

Movie #127 Picnic at Hanging Rock *1975*

Rachel Roberts - Mrs. Appleyard
Margaret Nelson - Sara
Karen Robson - Irma
Jacki Weaver - Minnie
Peter Weir (Director)

Peter Weir has a style.  That is undeniable.  While watching Picnic at Hanging Rock I instantly started thinking about other films in that Weir style.  Of course the first thing to come to mind was another Weir film that I recently reviewed, Fearless (Movie #101).  But then it stuck me.  Richard Kelly's Donnie Darko I think was heavily inspired by the films of Mr Weir if not Hanging Rock in particular.

The dark ominous sound-scape, the hints of mysticism, the lucid camera work, the transgressive nature of the story.  It's all there in both films.  As I watched more of the movie even more films came to mind. I reviewed Suspira (Movie #82) a couple of months ago. Both of these movies conduct similar use of music and tone.  Both audible and visual tone.  I of course can't say that Argento was inspired by Hanging Rock, but it would be a great coincidence to see such similar shots and sounds in two films made only a few years apart.  The biggest difference is that Hanging Rock is a good movie!

The story behind Hanging Rock is one of a boarding school in Australia for girls.  They are being raised in a very prim and proper way.  This is the most British film I have ever seen made in and about Australia.  One day the class goes on a field trip to Hanging Rock.  Four students go off exploring and only 1 returns.  A teacher goes looking for the missing girls and she doesn't return.  The rest of the movie is a bout the impact this has on the school and the town near the tourist attraction.

Weir creates a supernatural melodrama with hanging rock.  His uses sounds and rumblings along with 360 degree camera movements to confuse and get his viewers as lost as the girls in the story.  But it is more than that.  He uses the fear of the unknown (both Hanging Rock and Australia as a whole) to and imply that perhaps there is something going on that is spiritual and maybe even sinister.  When the music evolves from a deep bass grumble, Zamphir and his pan flute is heard.  The pan flute has been used in many films to evoke a sense of the paranormal.

The performances are all good in the movie.  I enjoyed seeing Jacki Weaver in another film besides Animal Kingdom (Movie #18).  She is good in the role, but not used much.  The children actors are all sound and the head of the school is near sadistic.  She reminded me a lot of Nurse Ratched from One Flew Over the Cookoo's Nest.  I will throw out one more cinematic similarity.  Lars Von Trier's Anti-Christ has a lot of nature scenes that reminded me a lot of this film.  I think might have been lifted right off the screen.

Overall I enjoyed this movie quite a bit.  It is a little meandering and I can only watch Brit's for so long, but the end result is clearly a very inspirational movie that left me both entertained and engaged.  I give Picnic at Hanging Rock ★★★★.  This movie is available on Netfilx Watch Instant and on Blu Ray through The Criterion Collection.  Check out the Trailer Park to see for yourself.

Day #18 Animal Kingdom

Sorry about falling so far behind on here.  I was actually entering my last post at work during my lunch hour the other day.  I promise I have been keeping up with my 1 film a day, but finding the time to blog about them is becoming the challenge.  I want to completely express myself and my thoughts, feeling, and any trivia I have about the movies I watch and I don't feel like I have been able to do that so far.  Oh well, I am sure I will get better at it.  I am also going to try to compress the blogs some.  I still want to mix my reviews with what is happening with me personally.  I find that interaction fascinating.

Another thing I find fascinating is the Australian New Wave.  This is a group of film makers down below reinventing the art form and telling their stories in a very personal yet professional way.  The first film I saw of this new cinematic expression is The Square.  It is a 2008 film directed by Nash Edgerton.  The Edgerton boys are fore runners in the movement.  I won't talk about The Square now, because it is out on DVD now and I will purchase it soon.  Then I will re-watch it and blog about it at that time.

The movie that I watched the other night is called Animal Kingdom.  It is the story of a dysfunctional family (to say the least) that is involved in criminal activities.  The movies opens with a great shot of a young man,  Jay, on the couch watching a game show with his mother who seems as if she has faded to sleep.  I won't spoil anything but let's just say that isn't the case.  Anyway Jay later moves in with his grandmother, Janine (played to perfection by Jacki Weaver in what is in my top performances of the year so far).  Grandma appears to be a sweet older lady that has surrounded herself with her male children and grandchildren.  Even though when she demands a kiss from them it seems to last a little too long.  We later find out that grandma may not be so innocent.  Actually, she is never really played as innocent but we find out late in the film exactly how strong her arm is in the criminal underworld.

The rest of Jay relatives in the house consist of a drugged out paranoid uncle, "the professional" uncle of the group, an uncle that seems to just be along for the ride, and an uncle that has totally lost his mind.  The character name is "Pope" and he is played wonderfully by Ben Mendelson.

The script is tight, the performance are on the money, the camera work is fresh while still evoking the masters (Scorsese's influence can be seen all over this film)  A lot of people have been comparing this to Goodfellas.  I would say that the imprint is there but Animal Kingdom isn't as grandiose as Goodfellas.  And I mean that in a good way.  I don't think they were shooting for that and the style of the film really serves is story.  What else can you ask for from a "gangster picture".  I give this 3.5/5 stars.  For more information check out the link below for the trailer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5BsYRmMfus