Gomorrah

Criterion keeps educating me, keeps expanding my film knowledge, reaching around the globe. This time it has taken me to Naples, Italy. The year is 2008. The fictional film is based on the nonfiction book by Roberto Saviano about the crime mafia of the region known as The Camorra. When I hear Italian "mafia" I think of films like The Godfather, Goodfellas, and The Untouchables. I think of men in suits, smoking cigars, and fancy cars. I think, Robert De Niro. Gomorrah isn't like that at all and De Niro is nowhere in sight. This is a grittier, Boyz N the (Italian) Hood style film. It was like Andrea Arnold or Sean Baker were asked to make an Italian mob movie - let me film-nerd translate that for you: What you get feels like a documentary style feature with its focus being on working class people and low level gangsters, in some cases, kids desiring to work for thugs. With a runtime of 137 minutes, director Matteo Garrone has made a big sweeping film with multiple overlapping story lines. One of which is about two adolescent young men who find a stockpile of mob guns. These two run around quoting Scarface, shooting off machine guns in their underpants by the edge of a shallow river - it's a crazy scene. Another story line follows a tailor who secretly sneaks off to help a rival Chinese company with their clothing - Italian fashion is cutthroat. This movie is shocking, riveting, and unforgettable. If you are looking for a contemporary crime drama with people in underpants, you could watch Joaquin Phoenix in Joker or you could watch Gomorrah. I would choose the latter, if you know what's good for you. Streaming on the Criterion channel or go rent it from Movies 'N Stuff here in Ottawa. 

The Ugly Stepsister

Last year my favourite film was The Substance. If you haven't seen it, you really should. If you were to take it and mash it together with Cinderella, you would have The Ugly Stepsister. This Norwegian horror comedy is something I wasn't expecting and didn't know I needed until I watched it. Quite frankly, I find it wild that it actually exists. I don't like period pieces - frilly lace, candelabras, and horse-drawn carriages usually are not my cup of tea. It's got to be pretty darn good to get my attention and The Ugly Stepsister is just that. First off, it's gorgeous - the costumes, the sets, the lighting. It feels like money, time and a lot of care went into it. Secondly, it's bananas - a body horror version of Cinderella. Seriously. And then, thirdly, Lea Myren . She plays Elvira, one of the stepsisters of Cinderella (known as Agnes in the film and played by Thea Sofie Loch Næss). Lea Myren is absolutely fantastic as the jealous, bug-eyed, will-do-anything (and I mean anything) character trying to beautify herself in order to win the hand of Prince Charming. I wish she would be nominated for some best actress awards, but sadly I think Hollywood Cinderellas will cause her to be overlooked. Like The Substance, this film is not for the squeamish - there is a lot of disturbing, gross, and very dark humour here. I loved it. Let writer/director Emilie Blichfeldt be your sick and twisted fairy godmother and catch it streaming on Shudder (or hopefully you can find a copy at Movies 'N Stuff here in Ottawa). Do it, before you turn into a pumpkin.      

The Stringer: The Man Who Took the Photo

So one of my favourite films this year is Weapons. If you have seen it or even seen the poster for it, you will see children running with their arms out, like the napalm girl in the famous 1972 Vietnam war photograph credited to photojournalist, Nick Út. Weapons writer/director, Zach Cregger based his children's unique running style on that famous photograph. That photo won Nick Út the Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography and the World Press Photo of the Year in 1973. The photo made Nick Út an international star. This photo has been attributed, partially, with ending the war in Vietnam. So for 52 years, this was the story. Then Carl Robinson showed up. His story changes everything. Not the power of the image - that remains intact. It's who took the picture. Robinson, who was working with the Associated Press (AP) at the time in 1972, was told by his boss, to change the name on the napalm girl photo from the stringer (a low level paid Vietnamese contract photojournalist) Nguyễn Thành Nghệ to Nick Út. Robinson did what he was told but it haunted him, especially since Nick Út received and took all the credit for the photo. This documentary reminded me of  Batman & Bill, which is about Bill Finger, the co-creator of Batman, and one might argue, the main creator of Batman. Bob Kane took all the credit and Bill Finger died alone and penniless. Bill Finger is now listed in the credits of all DC Batman related movies and comics. I hope that Nguyễn Thành Nghệ, because of this documentary, The Stringer, will be given his proper acknowledgement. Catch this fascinating documentary streaming now on Netflix.