WE THE ANIMALS
Jeremiah Zagar’s beautiful, lyrical film was recently screened at the BFI Flare Film Festival. The imaginative screenplay written by Dan Kitrosser and Zagar is based on Justin Torres’ novel which tells the story of three brothers living with their parents in a rural New York hometown. They spend their carefree days playing in the nearby forest and river until the two older boys Manny and Joel begin to grow apart from the more sensitive younger brother Jonah. Their parents share a loving but volatile relationship which has a deep impact on Jonah’s development as a young adolescent…
It is a terrific coming-of age story which highlights the confusion of growing up especially when it comes to defining one’s sexuality. Evan Rosado is a real find as Jonah, the young protagonist, who begins to create an imaginary world of his own especially after he experiences his first sexual awakening. His luminous face conveys beautifully his inner thoughts and solitude. Raul Castillo is also excellent as the fiery and unpredictable father, a role model for Jonah’s two older brothers.
Zak Mulligan’s superb cinematography is perfectly complimented by the sharp editing and Zagar’s assured direction, whose past experience as a documentary filmmaker is put to great effect here. An instant modern classic!
SOMETIMES ALWAYS NEVER
An impressive feature film debut from Carl Hunter, who brings to life Frank Cottrell Boyce’s eloquent script with imagination and style.
The story of Alan (Bill Nighy), an elegant tailor still searching for his missing son Michael who vanished years earlier after he stormed out over a game of Scrabble. Alan is now struggling to re-build his relationship with his younger son Peter (Sam Riley) but first he needs to identify a body…
The film boasts superb cinematography by Richard Stoddard, whose perfectly framed compositions are beautifully complimented by bizarre designs.
The acting is strong – Nighy is at his eccentric best while the lovely Jenny Agutter makes a fine contribution as Margaret, the woman Alan befriends at the mortuary.
THE HUMMINGBIRD PROJECT
This financial thriller written and directed by Canadian Kim Nguyen follows the story of New York cousins Vincent (Jesse Eisenberg) and Anton (Alexander Skarsgard), two high-frequency traders who dream big against their old boss Eva Torres’ (Salam Hayek) wishes. They want to build a fiber-optic cable line between Kansas and New Jersey…
Eisenberg is at his element as the wheeler dealer behind this operation while Skarsgard is unrecognisable as the nerdy man with the brains to carry out the plan. It is well directed by it is difficult to care much about these unlikable people in a mostly confusing plot and a rather dull subject.
EATING ANIMALS
Christopher Quinn’s urgent documentary examines the devastating effects of “factory farming” not only on the life and abuse of the animals but also on the environment. It is produced by Natalie Portman who also lends her voice to this passionate project based on Jonathan Saffran Foer’s book. “Factory farming “began in the United States in the early 20th before people like Colonel Harland Sanders popularized chicken in the fast food industry in the early fifties with his KFC franchise. But for the last 40 years this kind of farming has gone totally out of control and Quinn like in the best conspiracy thriller genre sets out to expose the abuse.
It is not an easy watch but essential!
O LUCKY MAN!
A special screening of Lindsay Anderson’s masterly 1973 classic at the splendid Regent Street Cinema in order to mark the 25th anniversary since his untimely death. It is the second part of Anderson’s landmark trilogy scripted by David Sherwin and starring Malcolm McDowell as Mick Travis.
The trilogy that began with IF…. and concluded with BRITANNIA HOSPITA follows an ambitious Travis as he travels across Britain trying to make it big as a coffee salesman.
A compelling allegory on life in a capitalist society and one of the cinematic events of this year and beyond!
FIVE SEASONS: THE GARDENS OF PIET OUDOLF
“I put my plants on stage and let them perform,” the celebrated Dutch landscape designer Piet Oudolf proudly claims to Thomas Piper, the maker of this appealing documentary.
Oudolf is one of the most innovative artists in his field for the last 50 years responsible for New York’s High Line and many other urban spaces. As the title suggests we follow his works through the seasons whether it is in the States of his own garden in Holland.
A mesmerising film worth discovering!
LIAM GALLAGHER: AS IT WAS
This engaging documentary follows Liam Gallagher, the former Oasis rock star, as he attempts to make a solo comeback. There is no denying about his public swearing and the open wounds still fresh following the breakup of Oasis and the falling out with his brother Noel with whom he hasn’t spoken for years. But the emphasis is on the upcoming concert and Liam is prepared to exorcise his past demons and deliver…
You don’t have to be a rock fan to enjoy this fascinating film!
George Savvides
