Kinds of Kindness

Yorgos Lanthimos has followed up his brilliant masterpiece, "Poor Things" with, "Kinds of Kindness." Emma Stone, Margaret Qualley, and Willem Dafoe have come along for the ride. Jesse Plemons has joined in Lanthimos's brand of fun - let me tell you, it's a squirting sulphuric-acid, clown-flower brand of fun. "Kinds of Kindness" tells three separate tales with the same cast playing different characters. The first story revolves around a man, Robert (Plemons) in the employment of his controlling employer Raymond (Dafoe). Every action Robert makes, from what he wears, to when he should fuck, is dictated by Raymond. Then Robert is let go and the real fun begins. The second tale revolves around an "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" type scenario between a married couple (Stone and Plemons); a "Twilight Zone" gross out. The third installment might be the most interesting and completely weird. A couple from a bizarre water cult are looking for a twin who has the power to raise the dead. This one felt like Lanthimos was invoking the powers of David Lynch - Emma Stone driving like a maniac in a purple sports car and performing a wild and wacky dance. It's bananas. I can understand how some people might see the whole film as pretentious and strange without purpose. I will say this: the film is close to three hours and I was never bored for a minute - time flew by. It is likely to be the most interesting film you will see this year. Catch this one now in theatres.     

The Rover

On my recent film-nerd camping weekend, two of my good friends and myself watched, "The Rover." This 2014 Australian film by director David Michôd is gripping stuff. Its another post apocalyptic film set down under. Part "The Road," part "Mad Max," and part 1971 Australian film, "Wake in Fright." However "The Rover" is original enough to be well worth your time. It's a gorgeous looking film and the two lead performances by Guy Pearce (who I love even if he finds himself in something lousy) and Robert Pattinson (who has kept making smart choices, interesting choices, post "Twilight" (so has Kristen Stewart!)) are both fabulous in this. The story revolves around Eric (Pearce) wanting to get his stolen car back with an unconventional sidekick (Pattinson). The first ten minutes of the film has a wonderful way of tying two intersecting story lines - it will grip you and get you into the dusty car, which is "The Rover." It's a ride you will want to take. Catch it on streaming services or if you are in Ottawa, go rent it from Movies 'N Stuff.

The Bikeriders

Tom Hardy plays his character, Johnny like he was Marlon Brando in, "The Wild One." A kind of nonchalant, "Hey, don't fucking worry about it" emanates from his slouched posture. I read Tom Wolfe's "The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test" when I was in high school. It was the first time I had discovered the world of the Hell's Angels motorcycle club: the Merry Prankers bringing Acid to the world of outlaw bikers. I followed it up with Hunter Thompson's "Hell's Angels." Real life Hell's Angel, Sonny Barger, is featured in both texts. His likeness shows up in this film as Funny Sonny, played by bike riding, "The Walking Dead's" own,  Norman Reedus. Michael Shannon even has a small role as a biker with some, perhaps, mental health issues. But its stars,  Austin Butler (my favourite "Elvis") and his wife, Kathy, played by Jodie Comer are really something fine. Butler has youth and charm and swagger. And Comer, well she seems to be channeling Winona Ryder - and I mean this in the best possible way. Not a whole lot happens in "The Bikeriders" but it has a "Goodfellas" quality to it, and it kept me glued to it. These were the bikers from the books I read. They seemed like the real deal. Go take a ride and catch this bad ass movie in theatres now. 

Stalker

When I first heard about Andrei Tarkovsky, it was in the context of his film "Solaris" (1972). Somebody (I don't recall who) said, "Do you know there is a Russian film which is the equivalent to Stanley Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey?" Back in the early 1990s, there was no streaming. DVDs weren't even a thing! Films such as "Solaris" were not commonplace. I managed to find a two-cassette VHS package of the 166 minutes film for sale at HVM - it might have been Music World. Regardless, I bought it immediately. I watched this masterpiece with awe and reverence. It was remade by Steven Soderbergh in 2002 - not as good as the original - sorry Steven. For whatever reason, it never occurred to me to seek out other films by Tarkovsky. Seems like I was foolish. Which brings me to my friend Peter, owner of Movies 'N' Stuff. When he said on his Criterion Closet Video, he would pick Tarkovsky's "Stalker" over "Solaris" I was like, "What? He made more than one great film?" Tarkovsky has made many. "Stalker" is a science fiction film about three men going into the Zone, a forbidden place, walled off and which must be snuck into. The men are looking for The Room, which will grant their deepest desires. It's a slow and meditative film filled with poetry and existential contemplation. It's also a masterclass lesson on how to create tension in a scene out of nothing. Alex Garland's fabulous film, "Annihilation" I think owes a debt to "Stalker." This 2 hour and 42 minute slow moving Russian film flew by for me. Equally as good as "Solaris" and if you are a film lover, you need to watch it. Find it on the Criterion channel or if you are in Ottawa, rent it at Movies 'n Stuff | (moviesnstuff.com).

The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something has Passed

Slow. Hilarious. Brave. Bold. Deadpan. Joanna Arnow. She is a name to remember. She is the editor, writer, director and star of her wonderfully oddball comedy, "The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed." Arnow stars as Ann, a woman who works a boring office job and squeezes prepacked curry from a bag to microwave for her lunch. She is also a kind of submissive sex addict, letting herself be controlled by various male Masters. From dull office job, to bizarre sexual encounters, these sections of her life are spliced with inane encounters with her parents and her sister (who might be going through a separation). There is a scene where Ann's mother tells her she should pack a banana for the trip home - it felt so honest and funny. Joanna Arnow plays eveything deadpan and for the most part, that's what makes it so funny. I'm sure this film is destined for the Closet over at Criterion. It's arty, strange, and Arnow has no problem showing herself off in the nudy-patootie. I loved this quirky little film. Catch it at a rep theatre, streaming, or at your local video store - in Ottawa, that would be Movies 'N' Stuff. 

In a Violent Nature

If Terrence Malick made a “Friday the 13th” movie, I suspect it would look an awful lot like “In a Violent Nature.” If you are unfamiliar with Malick’s work, he makes slow and arty films; some might say, cerebral films. They are for contemplation. This Canadian horror film gives you plenty of time to think about what horrific act is coming next. It begins with teenagers (of course teenagers!) bringing our monster, Johnny (instead of Jason) to life by nabbing a gold locket his mamma gave him - he's a momma's boy, like  Voorhees. He is also a child who suffered a cruel death and thus, as horror movie mythology goes, has grown into a monster which kills indiscriminately. Once he crawls out of the swampy ground and into the light of the forest, Johnny's bodily state of decay lies around "Friday the 13th VI - Jason Lives:" his clothes are tattered and wounds and sores scar his hulking frame and grotesque head. He slow-motions his way about the forest like the Terminator, killing everyone in his path. Often ridiculous but then again, often riveting, disturbing, and rather gross. I loved it all. I found myself captivated by the last ten minutes. In theatres now.