The Moon of Liberty

Australia

Starring - Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, David Wenham, Brian Brown, Jack Thompson, Brandon Walters

Directed by Baz Luhrmann

A soft romance with a hard edge as it's set in the midst of World War 2, takes us Down Under as we follow English Aristocrat Lady Sarah Ashley travelling to Australia. After thinking she would not be there for long, she finds herself teaming up with the local herd drover (Hugh Jackman) and an affection for half-caste boy Nullah (Bradon Walters) the leads her to stick around and fight for 'Faraway Downs' to stop corparate baron Mr Carney from sweeping up a monopoly on all profitable land across Australia.

The story relating to Nullah also adds in dose of race to the issue. As white domanance attempts to sweep all Aborigional children into the 'Christian mission' to segreagate non-whites in the region and destroy local aborigional culture. In addition Nullah's greandfather known as 'King George' is falsely accused of the death of Sarah Ashley's husband, but who can prove it, and can the wise old aborigional man with an instinct for survival be caught anyway.

The film covers a multitude of plotlines covering romance, war, race, a battle for the future of society, along with underlying links to the story of the Wizard of Oz after Lady Ashley sings Nullah some of the songs of the story, which adds a fairyale element in a similar way to a film like 'The Orphange.' The chesmitry between Jackman, Kidman and Walters brings you right into their story as they battle with all the issues the period in Australian History would bring.

This is a love it or hate it film with little middle ground. For me it was beautifully Written, acted with wonderful backdrops and directed in a way that brought a serious of plotlines together in a way much more engagingly than something like 'No Country for old Men.' It could have unravelled tryign to do to many things at once, but it didn't. It also did not hide from the harsh realities of World War 2, yet managed to keep the balance of the emotional elements of the story firmly to the forefront.

MOON OF LIBERTY VERDICT - RATING 'A' - A beautiful film with so many aspects pulled together so well. The acting, and msot importantly the directing, was the key, a triumph for Baz Luhrmann above all.

Rocknrolla

Starring - Gerrard Butler, Tom Wilkinson, Thandie Newton, Karel Roden, Chris Bridges, Mark Strong, Toby Kebbel

Directed by Guy Ritchie

A fantastic cast should make for a good gangster film, which is exactly what we get. Lenny Cole (Tom Wilkinson) is the leader of the gang, practically having the whole of London in his pocket. His assistant One-Two (Gerrard Butler) is a key part of the gang. He and a number of colleagues have spent time inside however, while Lenny does not seem to worry too much, he pretty much owns the place afterall.

When Lenny gets chance to strike a land deal with a rich Russian which would strengthen his position even further, he thinks all is going well. To celebrate however, the Russian lends Lenny his 'lucky' painting. Not so lucky for Lenny, it goes missing, when our new Russian friend wants it back when complications with the deal are found, it elads Lenny to his rock star son Johnny (Toby Kebbel) who he denounced years ago, and was written off as dead due to a boat accident that never actually happened.

To throw  another apnner in the works, the Russians business associate Stella (Thandie Newton) likes to play a bit more dangerously than a women of her demeanour should. She fancies making some money and enlists the help of Micky and Archie, both who have had dealings with the crooked side of Lenny Cole themselves. They scupper the deal with a covert operation to ensure the transfer of money never occurs. Stella's interventions, The unwanted son who loves art and is smarter than his father thinks, a Russian frutrated by the problems with the deal and who wants his painting back soon and the discovery by One Two of exactly how he and his friends were put away in jail, create a coctail of problems for old Lenny, does he have enough to survive it all and come out on top yet again or will there be the emergence of a new Rocknrolla in town?

The film has lots of action, a number of cleverly intertwined plots which come together nicely to create a stroy full of twists and turns. Wilkinson as ever delivers as Lenny, and Toby Kebbel does a great job as the son Johnny, a part that appears to be a bit part to start with and gradually builds up. Thandie Newton adds much glamour putting herself in a postion that she really shouldn't be, but that makes it all the more exciting.

MOON OF LIBERTY VERDICT - RATING 'B+' - Fast and furious, lots of action and twists that will keep you guessing until the final moments. Give it a go.

Death Race

Starring - Jason Statham, Joan Allen, Ian McShane, Tyrese Gibson, Natalie Martinez

Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson

A bizarre yet wonderfully put together creation, Death Race is all about a far fetched vision of the future. The US economy has collapsed, and private companies have taken over prisons. One such leading businesswoman, Hennessey (Joan Allen) has created the 'Death Race.' A car race to the death which has become and online phenomonon. A prisoner must win 5 races to gain his freedom, and people can pay online to watch from whatever vantage point they wish.

Jenen Ames (Jason Statham) is a family man trying to do the best he can in the difficult circumstances. However, when his wife dies and he is framed for murder, he finds himself sentenced to Hennessey's prison. Frankenstein, one of the key player sin the Death race died in the previous race. He wears a mask however, so anyone can play his role. The public are told Frankenstien did not die but was just seriously injured. Ames is given the chance to become Frankenstien for the big return. Ames had preivous racing experience, he realises he has been set up, but agrees to play the role of Franknstein, whose big return is a huge money spinner for Hennessey.

With the help of coach (Ian McShane) he must go head to head with Machine Gun Joe (Tyrese Gibson), Pachenko (Max Ryan) and a number of others. He realises Pachenko is his wife's killer. Through three stages Ames must survive and win the race to gain his freedom, with the odds stacked against him and Hennessey doing everything to try and stop him, he finds an unlikely ally to make a bid for freedom, someone he has more in coomon with than they both realise at the beginning.

This film has a wealth of action, car chases, violence, twists and turns. Greta one liners along the way too. Allen does a great job as the cold, sexy yet ruthless prison owner, McShane does a fine turn as the wise head being Ames bid for freedom. The story is simple, the idea not immersed in detail. If you can handle the obvious violence, it's fun and does not take itself too seriously. It delivers all the action it promises. A well put together effort in a totally unrealsitic environment.

MOON OF LIBERTY VERDICT - RATING 'B+' - A very enjoyable couple of hours of escapism. Helped along by Allen's deliciously horrid portrayal of an irresistable woman you still want to see get what's coming to her.

 

The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas

Starring - Asa Butterfield, David Thewlis, Vera Farmiga, Jack Scanlon, Amber Beattie

Directed by Mark Herman

Through primarily the eyes of Bruno, (Asa Butterfield) an 8 year old boy who is the son of a Nazi soldier who has just been promoted, we are taken on a spine chilling journey into the life of a family seeing things through the Nazi point of view. The family move away from Berlin to the countryside on the back of the promotion which hugely upsets Bruno.

On arrival Bruno, interesting in exploring and adventure just like many an 8 year old, is keen to explore the new place. He finds what he thinks is a farm but cannot understand why they are wearing pyjamas. His father Ralf (David Thewlis) and mother Elsa (Vera Farmiga) try and and keep him away from what is going on. As his interest grows however, his father decides to hire a school tutor for him and his siater Gretel (Amber Beattie)

The tutor gives them history books full of hatred towards the Jewish people. Gretel buys the properganda, beginiing to put tributes to Hitler and the Nazi ideas up on her wall, she becomes a true believer in the Nazi ideals, much to her mother's concern. Bruno finds the history initially boring, until he realises that the Jews he is supposed to hate, are the nice people wearing pyjamas he comes across each day.

Evetually he explores the back garden despite him being told this is out of bounds. He finds a fence which he believes is the farm and meets a young boy named Schmall (Jack Scanlon) They are the same age and become friends. In a session with the tutor, he is told hwoever there are no 'nice Jews.' His sister later then explains it is not a farm, but a work camp to keep the Jews away from us, work in their words 'much needed to make the Fatherland a better place.'

Bruno however maintains his friendship with Schmall. A series of meetings between the across the fence has Bruno in confusion, on one hand being told all Jews are evil, on the other experiencing something completely different for himself. The meetings end in a dramtic finale when Bruno considers digging under the fence to go to the other side of it and see it for himself.

There is no attempt to put on German accents in this film. It is a Nazi family, but English actors are used with English accents of the sort that could be the portryal of a typical English middle class family, It gives the whole thing a normal feel to the English viewer and a very real insight into what life would have been like for English families if the Nazi philosphy had been adopted here. The ending is a shocker, and yet exceptionally well presented as the reality of the affects of everything that everyone involved had been trying to do had had on this one little boy who just wanted to play, explore, and would have been better off naive to the reality of what was going on around him.

The acting is first rate, Amber Beattie as Gretel does a particularly fine job in what must have been one difficult role, playing the young girl who had bought the Nazi line to the point of fantacisim, just like a football fan or fan of a rock group or something like it. Bringing a reality and normality to the family that can engender sympathy coupled with the true horror of what they had been forced to stand for in the heart of the Nazi battle to eliminate all Jews. For anyone interested in the reality of the Nazi mindset, or the diverse effect propergander can have on children, this is a must see film. Not for the feint of heart, or if you want an easy uplifting experience for your night out however.

MOON OF LIBERTY VERDICT - Rating 'A' - Real, gritty, and a family from the Nazi point of view, through the eyes of a normal, innocent eight year old boy with a ruthless yet brilliant conculsion. Go see it.

The Duchess

Starring - Kiera Knightley, Ralph Finnes, Domonic Cooper, Hayley Atwell, Charlotte Rampling

Directed by Saul Dibb

In a film that demonstrates yet again that nobody does period drama films like Kiera Knightley, she playes the Duchess of Devonshire, her marraige to the Duke (Ralph Finnes) is a sham purely to provide the Duke, himself the heir the the British thrown, a male aire for the future. The duchess struggles as she finds her husband does not seem to have much interest in anything beyond providing a male aire to the thrown.

The duchess finds a freinds in Lady Elizabeth Foster, after a woman on woman encounter where Foster shows the duchess that private matter can be about more that child creation, the freindship is shattered when the duchess finds the duke has taken Lady Foster for himself as her mistress. This leads the duchess to respond by formaing a relationship with the man she truely loves, new Parilamenatary MP and possible future Prime Minister, Charles Grey (Domonic Cooper) When the Duke finds out, he forces the duchess to make a series of heart breaking decisions which would define the future for her and the children she dearly loves.

This films best quality is the acting. Knightley is typcially brilliant in playing the woman trying to find herself in a male dominated world, espcially within the Royal Family. Finnes does a great job playing the cold, dull and at times nasty role of the Duke. Hayley Atwell as Lady Foster plays a fine supporting role too, and Charlotte Rampling who playes the duchess' mother, comes across as the throughly dislikeable, selfish character she is supposed to depict.

By contrast to the fine top rate acting, the film fell flat at times. It felt as though something was missing, a true spark that would take the film to another level. The ending fely rushed and unfinished too. That indefinable X-Factor which turns a very good film like this into an excellent one was just for whatever reason not quite there. There is an 'Is that it?' feeling at the end of it all. The quality of the cast does however, still make this worth seeing. And it is still a very good film as a result.

THE MOON OF LIBERTY VERDICT - Rating 'B+' - Great acting, but leaves you with a sense of dissappointment that it could and should have been even better.

The Orphanage

Starring - Belen Rueda, Fernando Cayo, Roger Princep, Geraldine Chaplin

Directed by Juan Antonio Bayona

To start a run of films I need to catch up on, I begin with this fairy tale meets supernatrual horror from Spain. Belen Rueda plays Laura, who has just bought with her husband Carlos (Fernando Cayo) the place where she grew up, a disused orphanage that she intends to restore to its original purpose by turning the place back into an orphanage that she intends to run, a dream of hers. She also has a son called Simon who is HIV positive and adopted, a fact that Simon, aged 7 at this point is unaware of.

At first it seems Simon has a wild imagination. He devlops a sense that he has 5 'imaginary friends' living in the house. Laura and Carlos assume the young boy just has a typical childs imagination. Simon also goes off to play in a cave where he meets another seemingly imaginary friend. However the more time passes strangethings happen within the house that suggest to Laura that their may be more reality to Simon's imagination than meets the eye.

When Simon goes missing it is assumed he has been kidknapped by a strange lady seen earlier in the film, When Laura witnesses her death in a chance meeting, revelations about the history of what went on in the Orphanage, coupled with drawings of Simon's 'imaginary friends' that match the history of the place, Laura heads to the world of the super natrual for help. This begins a journey which leads her face to face with the ghosts of the past which inhabit the Orphanage. Will she find Simon? Are the ghosts of her old friends in the house? Will she survive the journey to the other side?

The context of this film is virtually unique. It combines references to Peter Pan, old fairy tales, and hankering after childhood. It also explores the supernatrual, life after death, and the very essence of death itself. It has dark twists and spine chilling moments worthy of the darkest horror films. A series of combinations this film delivers spectaculuarly well and avoids the trap of becoming convoluted by so many angles like for example 'No Country For Old Men' did by being a fast paced film with new information constantly coming at you. It's was also all helped by the brilliant emotional depth of Rueda's performance as Laura, she throws herself into every aspect of her characters contridictory and complex mindset with enormous passion and emotional energy.

Combine all that with a story that will have you on the edge of your seat, as you are never quite sure where this is going next. The revelations come thick and fast, some of the Spanish backdrops for the film also add t the mysery and suspense, carefully chosen for exactly that reason, in that regard the director got it absolutely right. There are parallels with another Spannish film, 'Pans Labyrinth.' This however has more depth and in my view is even better. Forget the fact this is subtitled and foreign, see this if you can, I don't think there will ever be a film made quite like it again.

THE MOON OF LIBERTY VERDICT - Rating 'A' - A unique mix of fairy tale, suspence and horror. The finest foreign language film I have ever seen. Belen Rueda's performance is also simply stunning.

 A Little later than planned, sorry, here are the winners 

Best Supporting Actor

Phillip Seymour-Hoffman (Charlie Wilson's War)

Ryan Gosling (Fracture)

Chris Cooper (The Kingdom)

Tom Wilkinson (Michael Clayton)

Jake Gyllenhall (Rendition)

And the winner is ... Tom Wilkinson (Michael Clayton) - A tight one between him and Seymour-Hoffman, but Wilkinson's powerful portrayal of a man who on one hand was losing the plot and on the other was fighting for something worthwhile edged it.

Best Supporting Actress

Joan Allen (The Bourne Ultimatum)

Amy Adams (Charlie Wilson's War)

Alison Janney (Juno)

Jessica Garner (Juno)

Tilda Swinton (Michael Clayton)

And the winner is ... Amy Adams (Charlie Wilson's War) - To play a quietly powerful foil to the confident character of someone like Tom Hanks with such charisma is a tough thing to do, Adams did, this gave it an extra dimension from the rest.

Best Director

Joe Wright (Atonement)

Mike Nichols (Charlie Wilson's War)

Peter Berg (The Kingdom)

Tony Gilroy (Michael Clayton)

Tim Burton (Sweeney Todd)

And the winner is ... Tim Burton (Sweeney Todd) - A Clear winner, Burton knew exactly how he wanted this to feel, look, sound and flow. He delivered. In terms of a directors vision, this film is a masterpiece.

Best Entertainment Film

The Golden Compass

Harry Potter & The Order of the Phoenix

Pirates of the Carribean - At World's End

Ratatouille

Transformers

And the winner is ... Ratatouille - Pirates was the only other serious contender, Ratatouille had something speicla however, a simple story making a star of an animated rat who wants to be a chef, sounds rediculous, it was fantastic however, and a worthy winner.

Best Lead Actor

Jamie Foxx (The Kingdom)

Tom Cruise (Lions For Lambs)

George Clooney (Michael Clayton)

Johnny Depp (Sweeney Todd)

Daniel Day-Lewis (There Will Be Blood)

And the winner is ... Jamie Foxx (The Kingdom) - A powerful display of courage and leadership, a performance that brought the reality of leading a team in a place like Saudi Arabia to life. The type of leadership you would want in that situation, Foxx made this truely believable.

Best Lead Actress

Kiera Knightley (Atonement)

Julia Roberts (Charlie Wilson's War)

Ellen Page (Juno)

Meryl Streep (Lions For Lambs)

Helena Bonham-Carter (Sweeney Todd)

And the winner is ... Kiera Knightley (Atonement) - From a fun loving youngster, to the realities of having the man she loved torn away by a combination of war and injustice. The great emotional depth of this performance stands out in a very strong category this year. 

Best Film

Atonement

Charlie Wilson's War

The Kingdom

Rendition

Sweeney Todd

And the winner is ... Charlie Wilson's War - Tough to call between the great acting performances of this and the wonderful flow of Sweeney Todd. Charlie Wilson's War edged it, a film of balance, that brough the poltical reality of Washington and the delicate global alliences around the world to life, mainly through the great acting and screenwriting of Aaron Sorkin. This is my film of the year.

If this blog is still here next year, I will do more of the same again.

OK, here we go with this years nominees for my own film awards of 2007/08

Best Supporting Actor

Phillip Seymour-Hoffman (Charlie Wilson's War)

Ryan Gosling (Fracture)

Chris Cooper (The Kingdom)

Tom Wilkinson (Michael Clayton)

Jake Gyllenhall (Rendition)

Moon of Liberty award notes - Gyllenhall is nominated for the 2nd time in this category, he was for 'Brokeback Mountain' two years ago. Wilkinson was nominated for Best Actor 2 years ago for 'The Exocism of Emily Rose.' Neither won though, and the rest are first time nominees, so a first time winner is guaranteed.

Best Supporting Actress

Joan Allen (The Bourne Ultimatum)

Amy Adams (Charlie Wilson's War)

Alison Janney (Juno)

Jessica Garner (Juno)

Tilda Swinton (Michael Clayton)

Moon of Liberty award notes - Alison Janney is part of a strong showing of the TV's 'The West Wing' in this years awards, with a number of nominations also going to Charlie Wilson's War, of which the screenplay was by West Wing creator Aaron Sorkin. Juno is the first film to get two nominations in the same category. Swinton has her first solo nomination, she starred in 'The Chronicals of Narnia' the winner of the Entertainment category two years ago.

Best Director

Joe Wright (Atonement)

Mike Nichols (Charlie Wilson's War)

Peter Berg (The Kingdom)

Tony Gilroy (Michael Clayton)

Tim Burton (Sweeney Todd)

Moon of Liberty award notes - All first time nominees for the main director category. Burton has directed two Entertainment category nominees in 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' and 'The Corpse Bride.' His films yet to have a win to their name.

Best Entertainment Film

The Golden Compass

Harry Potter & The Order of the Phoenix

Pirates of the Carribean - At World's End

Ratatouille

Transformers

Moon of Liberty award notes - Knightley and Depp who will be nominated in other categories get another nomination of sorts for Pirates of the Carribean. The Harry Potter team follow up their nomination for the Goblet of Fire two years ago with another one, in the chinese year of the Rat, there is no keeping down that rat-chef either.

Best Lead Actor

Jamie Foxx (The Kingdom)

Tom Cruise (Lions For Lambs)

George Clooney (Michael Clayton)

Johnny Depp (Sweeney Todd)

Daniel Day-Lewis (There Will Be Blood)

Moon of Liberty award notes - All first time nominees in the individual category. Depp, like Tim Burton, has been involved in entertainment category nominees before, and has another this year for Pirates of the Carribean. Tom Hanks narrowly missed out on a nomination in this category for Charlie Wilson's War, ensuring no film has still been able to sweep nominations in all the big six categories.

Best Lead Actress

Kiera Knightley (Atonement)

Julia Roberts (Charlie Wilson's War)

Ellen Page (Juno)

Meryl Streep (Lions For Lambs)

Helena Bonham-Carter (Sweeney Todd)

Moon of Liberty award notes - Bonham-Carter joins Depp and Burton moving from the entertainment catogories into the main categories. Knightley gets her second shot at this category, having been nominated for Pride and Prejudice two years ago. The rest are first time nominees.

Best Film

Atonement

Charlie Wilson's War

The Kingdom

Rendition

Sweeney Todd

Moon of Liberty award notes - Unlike the OSCAR's, the political films are in the running in my awards this year. Charlie Wilson's War leads the way with 5 nominations, Michale Clayton, which just missed out on a best film nomination, has 4 along with The Kingdom and Sweeney Todd.

The Winners will be up on here on Sunday.

 

The Oscars Aftermath

Last week I gave some predicitions on the OSCAR's, see below, Just to gloat a little, of the seven predicitions I gave, six of them were correct. In the case of Best Film, sadly, as I would have loved to have been wrong. The Love it or hate it Cohen Brothers film 'No Country for Old Men' took out the best film category, with the Cohen Brothers winning best Director, and Barnden for the supporting actor.

The European theme was continued in the other acting categories to. Marion Coutillard did, as I also predicted, win best actress for 'Le Vie On Rose.' The one I got wrong created some British cheer, Tilda Swinton won the best Supporting Actress for 'Michael Clayton.' A fine performance it was too. Daniel Day Lewis took home best Actor in the most predictable category of the night.

The more technical categories were shared around, 'The Bourne Ultimatum' got three awards including sound editing and sound mixing. 'Atonement' got the award for best score, ensuring it has an OSCAR to it's name. 'Sweeney Todd' took out best art direction, 'Juno' took original screenplay while 'The Golden Compass' took best visual effects. This ensured no cleen sweep for any one film.

My final prediciton also came true, the brilliant 'Ratatouille' took the animated film prize, in the chinese year of the rat, who would have thought a film about a rat chef would win an OSCAR.

Two defining elements of this years award stood out, first, apart from the Cohen brothers, where were the Americans on their own show? You can understand Europeans doing well at the Golden Globes or the BAFTA's, but this is America's own academy. The acting categories were won by Europeans without exception, most of the technical awards were taken by crews that were primarily British. 'Ratatouille' was made by American's, but it was about a French rat set in Paris. Maybe a suggestion that great film making is happening well away from Hollywood, even the Cohen's are from the industrial north of Minnesota, well away from the Hollyood set.

Secondly this year was a year the usually activist left-wing minds of the academy took a step away from politics. The political films of the year like, 'Charlie Wilson's War', 'The Kingdom' and 'Rendition' were a mile away from the awards, going instead for dark movies like 'No Country For Old Men' and 'There Will be Blood.' Maybe the Clinton-Obama spat has devided Hollywood Democrats and they don't want to be seen taking sides by making politics an issue this year. I doubt this phenomonon will last.

Overall it was a good show, Jon Stewart did a good job of hosting, but few surprises, Swinton apart, in the major awards.

(This site's award nominations will be up on Friday night/Saturday morning, with the winners up on Sunday. Stay tuned for the third annual Moon Of Libert Film Awards)

There Will Be Blood

Starring - Daniel Day Lewis, Paul Dano, Kevin O'Conner, Dillon Freasier, Mary Elizabeth Barrett,

Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson

Oil, Capitalism and religion, big subjects come together in a rare Daniel Day-Lewis film as he takes on the lead role of Daniel Plainview, an oil man who will stop at nothing to own the land and be the biggest tycoon of them all. When he is tipped off by a young man named Paul as to where a large new oil reserve is, he finds himself trying to convince the local community welded together by a local church headed by Paul's brother Ely (Paul Dano) who seems very sceptical of the motives of Plainview, who treats with contempt and then ditches his deaf son, has utter contempt for the local church, and gradually becomes more and more ruthless.

The movie has some of the  most annoying sound effects, at key points a sound that feels like a swarm of noisy wasps at times ensures we lose the tension of the moment as you can't get away from the irritating sound. Much of the film has no acting at all, using the deafness of the son as an excuse for long periods of action but no words. When the acting did take place, Daniel Day-Lewis did a fine job, but was the only performance of note, Dano is annoying as the church leader to the point where at the points you are supposed to feel sympathy for him at the hands of the ruthless Plainview, you just don't.

All the characters have their serious flaws and the film leaves no stone unturned in exposing them. It seems to be a commentary on how money and relgion both corrupt the mind and does a fairly good job of giving a negative picture of both. The problem with that is it leaves nothing positive as a counterbalance, leaving a feeling of nothing left. The endgame game further confirms this when Plainview's apprent reconciliation with his son takes a further dark twist, and the cold-blooded finale with the church leader in a posh bowling alley, well acted though it was, exposes all the negative themes of the film, that human beings are not very nice, the religion is a farce, and that money can corrupt even the supposedly most god-fearing mind.

THE MOON OF LIBERTY VERDICT - RATING 'B' - A dark film without light, if there is any good in the world, you wouldn't know it watching this. Daniel Day-Lewis is very good though, and the final scene, while fairly depressing, is well done.

The 80th Academy Award's go ahead in one week's time, writers strike averted and all. It promises however to be a night of very few surpises in the main categories, as most seem locked.

Personally I would love to see an upset in the Best Film category as I don't believe 'No Country For Old Men' deserves to win. However, it almost certainly will, 'It Will Be Blood appears to be it's only challenger, a film not on general release inthe UK until next week, thus I cannot really comment on it's merits (review will be here as soon as possible). The outsider is the well put together 'Juno' but the race appears to be between the first two. The problem is those not keen on 'No Country' will split between the other two, meaning while No Country is clearly a love it or hate it film, those who love it should have enough votes to carry the day. It's dual directors, the Cohen brothers, will also win best director, they have no serious challenger.

In the acting stakes Daniel Day Lewis has won at the Golden Globes, the Screen Acor's Gulid award and the BAFTA's. so he should take out the best actor. Javier Barnden for No COuntry is in a similar position for supporting actor, and will take it out, much as I would one of the (imo) superior performances of Tom Wilkinson in 'Michael Clayton' or Phillip Seymour Hoffman in 'Charlie Wilson's War' to take it, Barnden appears a lock for this one.

On the feamle side, the supporting actress seems to have been taken over by Cate Blanchett, ironcically for playing a man, namely Bob Dillon for 'I'm Not There.' British hopes in this category lie with Tilda Swinton for 'Michael Clayton.' But I expect Blanchett to take it.

The best actress is a facinating race. The bookies favourite is Julie Christie for 'Away From Her.' A film I have to confess not to have seen. However, the Goldon Globe and BAFTA winner was Marion Coultillard for 'Le Vie On Rose.' A French actress in a french film, many are not convinced a foreign language film can be successful in the big categories, Coutillard may change that tonight and score something of an upset. The dark horse is Ellen Page for 'Juno.' I'm going for the French girl however to buck the trend.

The other one to watch is best Animated film. They have come up with a more interesting threesom of nominations than the BAFTA's did. 'Ratatouille' won the BAFTA, and should win the OSCAR too, but instead of playing safe in it's opposition going for big name let downs as the BAFTA's did in nominating 'The Simpson's Movies' and 'Shrek the Third,' the OSCAR's have gone for the lovely tale of the Surfer penguin from Shiverpool in 'Surf's Up', and a facinating French animation about an Iranian family called 'Pesepolis.' I think the French film to win is unlikely, so it will be the Rat against the Penguin, In the chinese year of the rat, I'll take the rat to win.

See how wrong I am next week,should be a good show.

 

And finally for tonight's reviews, a mix of the serious and comedic

Juno

Starring - Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jason Bateman, Jennifer Garner, Allison Janney, JK Simmons

Directed by Jason Reitman

Juno (Ellen Page) is a smart young girl with a reasoanbly streetwise attitude. When she decides to sleep with Bleeker (Michael Cera) she falls into every young girl's nightmare trap of pregnancy. Thankfully she gets more backing than she expects from her dad (JK Simmons) and stepmum (Allison Janney) when she rejects abortion and decides to have the baby and look for adoptive parents.

In the local paper they find Vanessa (Jennifer Garner) and Mark. (Jason Bateman) They appear probably a little posh for Juno's taste but they seem to be willing to give the baby a good home in any case so despite her personal msigivings she is happy have have them as the parents. Through the period she strikes up a friendship with Mark, who is into similar music, plays a guitar, into horro films like her. They get on very well to the point where she begins to see more of Mark when Vanessa is no home. At firs Juno thinks Mark is cool while Vanessa seems quite a cold, uptight person.

This all changes when Mark suddenly announces he is going to divorce Vanessa and he is not ready to have the baby. This upsets Juno who wanted the baby to have a real close family, however Mark has gone cold on the baby idea and after a showdown with a distraught Vanessa he decides to go ahead with he divorce, leaving some tough decisions all round. Juno finds that in reality, Vanessa is the one she has more in common with despite Vanessa's weaknesses.

The film is quirkly made and despite the serious subject matter, has a good amount of humour to lighten the load. One citricism I have is there was a fair bit of uneccersary swearing which for me did not add much. Despite this the film is a pleasent watch with a few gentle twists along the way as circumstances continually change, both in Juno's relationships with Bleeker, the adpotive parents and her own parents.

Page leads the way with a strong mix of seriousness and well delivered comedy, Janney is a tour de force in deomonstrating her characters committment to her step-daughter and Garner superbly desplays the emotions and strnghts and weaknesses of a women desperate yet terrified to become a first time mother.

There are a few clever imagery nods to one of Page's previous performances. The relationship with Mark has undertones of the sexual tension which touches close to the little girl-grown man scenario she found herself in in the spine chilling 'Hard Candy.' On finding she was preganant, she also put her head playfully in a noose, bringing memories of the ending to the self same film.

THE MOON OF LIBERTY VERDICT - RATING 'B+' - A very well done peice mixing the serious issue of adoption and relationship break down with a touch of comedy. Some smart imagery, good entertainment, well worth seeing.

Here is number three. The (imo only) completely overated favourite for Best Film at the OSCARS.

No Country For Old Men

Starring - Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Barden, Josh Brolin, Kelly McDonald, Woody Harrelson

Directed by Joel Cohen & Ethen Cohen

When Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin) picks up a suitcase full of money, little does he know he will be hunted down for it by a range of individuals, particularly the twisted killer Anton Chigurh. (Javier Barnden) Also on the case is small town cop Tom Bell (Tommy Lee Jones) who seems to be of the view everything was better and less violent in the 'good old days.'

Chigurh is a mysterious killer who on occasion gives his potential victim a coin flip chance to stay alive, as we observe through one service station scene he does not kill the person if they win the coin flip. He tries to chase down Moss as Bell tries to chase him down. At one stage we also get the intervention of Carson Wells (Harrelson) who tries to get Moss's daughter out of the way (Kelly McDonald) but Wells, who you at first feel may be a signifcant character, meet Chigurh and dies so quickly I was unsure of what the true point of him being there was.

The film is slow for the most part, it takes a while to get going and on occasion you think it does, it gets dragged down in a series of conveluted sub-plots, like the sotry of the cop, what the CIA are doing to try and help, The pointless Wells interlude. If it had been more of the chase between Moss and Chiguh this may have been better, but it tried to be too clever and failed as a result.

There is plenty of violence for those who like that and it seems clear from trying to bring all th angles they did in they tried to make this film this years 'The Departed' which brilliantly brought together a series of angles on the same set of circumtances. This is no Departed, the performances do not hold anywhere like the interest, I found myself bored through most of the film and dissappointed as the film went off on pointless tangents everytime it seemed to pick up a little.

For me the only performance of note was that of Barnden as the killer, but half way through the film they decided to get to to talk and have a personality of a sort, killing the mystery which was one of the positives of the first part of the film. The ending is also very poor, Overall this was a huge dissappointment.

THE MOON OF LIBERTY VERDICT - RATING 'D' - Very little to save this film, parts of Barnden's performance perhaps, but slow, dull, a very weak ending, some pointless characters that could have made an impact. Apparently this may win best film at the OSCAR's, I have no idea why, it won't be in my award nominations later this month.

Second up, the one man crusade against the Red Army.

Charlie Wilson's War

Starring - Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Phillip Seymour-Hoffman, Amy Adams, Shiri Appleby

Directed by Mike Nichols

Said to be based on true events, Charley Wilson (Tom Hanks) holds the easiest congressional district in the US house of representatives. His Texas base is made up of small towns who don't want very much, just governemnt to leave them alone. This gives him plenty of time to indulge in things most politicians would get slaughtered for.

Aided by his more intelligent than he thinks advised, Bonnie Bach (Amy Adams) and an office of very attractive if not hugely intelligent young ladies, Wilson's main interest is international issues. He likes to keep on top of what is going on, especially as the Soviet Army are about to begin an assault on Afghanistan.

He finds the effort to help the Afghans amounts to a miniscule $5 million dollars. He also finds that Joanne Herring, one of his biggest donors, is passionate about this subject. To him she intrugues as she is attractive, and annoys him with some her her political views such as religion, which he has no interest in. However he needs her donations so he agrees to take up the challenge of trying to increase the money to help the Afghans. With the help of CIA agent gust (Seymour-Hoffman) he goes around the US political scene, and into the heart of the middle east, to form bizarre coalitions which help turn small time afghan fighters into a force tot ake on the red-army.

The film proves Aaron Sorkin, the creator of the brilliant US political series 'The West Wing' can also do serious screenplay for the big screen. It's political content takes on some of the lazy arguments of the current 'War on Terror' debate from both sides and provides an alternative view of what went on in the 1980's, and what is happening now.

Two two huge plusses of the film are it is very real on a political level, fort his Sorkin has to take huge credit, and it has simply great acting creating great characters you can engage with. Hanks creats a likeable rogue, Seymour-Hoffman puts in a fantastic performance as a long-standing, passionate but frustrated CIA agent. On the female side two very different performances, Julia Roberts plays a very in your face, sexy and confident character, while Adams interplay with Hanks, and the quiet power her character exherts over Wilson without him knowing it is a joy. To play a shy, quiet yet powerful character like that with such charisma is a very difficult thing to do on screen, Adams truely did so.

THE MOON OF LIBERTY VERDICT - RATING 'A' - Politically powerful and well argued, and great acting across the board. A fine mix of the serious and the entertaining, I highly recommend it.

It's OSCAR night this time next week, so here come 5 back to back posts, four film reviews, and an OSCAR preview.

Sweeney Todd - The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Starring - Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham-Carter, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall, Sacha Baron-Cohen

Directed by Tim Burton

As Benjamin Barker (Sweeny Todd) returns to London from a spell in prison, sentenced unjustly by Judge Turpin. (Alan Rickman) He takes on the new persona of Sweeney Todd. He then meets pie shop owner Mrs Lovett (Helena Bonham-Carter), after taking on one of her 'Worst pies in London,' He tells how he vows revenge on the judge who falsely imprisoned him, purely becuase he fell in love with the lady the judge wanted for himself.

The sub-plot is Tobias, who was on the boat with Todd on the way back to London, who falls for what seems to be the judges daughter through a window, as she is not allowed out due to the judge keeping her under watch. It is then revealed Barker his love had a baby before the imprisonment, so it is Barker's/Todd's daughter he has fallen for.

Todd strikes a deal with Mrs Lovett that he will set up shop as a barber (for that is what he did before the imprisonment) and slit the throats of his customers, Lovett could then use the meat to considerably improve her pies. Eventually events transpire that Todd gets the chance to get revenge on the judge in the chair, he also finds Lovett lied in telling him about the death of his wife, these events lead to a bloody but fitting conclusion.

The whole set-up of the films looks beautiful, it moves with ease at a nice pace. The whole thing is put together brilliantly and the genius of Burton is there for all to see. The interplay between Depp and Bonham-Carter as at times spellbinding. Depp creates a murderer who at times you actually feel like he has a point, twisted yet brilliant. The musical style also works well while not being over done.

The story creates nice sub-plots and amusing bit part characters to add to the drama, like the Baron-Cohen interlude pertending to be an Italian barber, and the nosey old lady who tries to warn people who wont listen something bad is going on in the place. From start to finish this is simply a first rate film.

THE MOON OF LIBERTY VERDICT - RATING 'A' - A magical piece of cinema with quality acting and brilliant artistic attention to detail. 

Firstly sorry to anyone who reads this for being lazy and not updating for a while.

We are at OSCAR and BAFTA time, so not to be outdone, over the next few weeks I will be doing my own film awards, the winners will almost certainly bare no resemblence to the real awards, but I don't really care.

There will be awards for lead actor and actress, supporting actor and actress, best director, best film and best entertainment films for films of a more light-hearted nature, animimations, comedies, rom-coms, loose children's book adaptations ect. Films in the entertainment category can be in the main categories if I consider them good enough.

This will be the third year I have put my own awards together. So just for the records, the current role of honour before I started this blog for the previous two years reads as follows.

Best Film 

2005-06 - The Constant Gardener

2006-07 - The Prestige

Best Entertainment Film

2005-06 - The Chronicals of Narnia, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe

2006-07 - Eragon

Best Lead Actor

2005-06 - Russell Crowe (The Cinderella Man)

2006-07 - Christian Bale (The Prestige)

Best Lead Actress

2005-06 - Risse Witherspoon (Walk The Line)

2006-07 - Dame Judy Dench (Notes On A Scandal)

Best Supporting Actor

2005-06 - Paul Giamatti (The Cinderella Man)

2006-07 - Paul Bettney (The De Vinci Code)

Best Supporting Actress

2005-06 - Rachel Weisz (The Constant Gardener)

2006-07 - Cate Blanchett (Notes On A Scandal)

Best Director

2005-06 - Ron Howard (The Cinderella Man)

2006-07 - Andrew Davies (The Guardian)

The nominations, 5 in each category, will be put on here on the 1st March, and the winners of the year most important awards (just kidding) will be on here on the 8th March. 

Hitman (2007)

Starring - Timothy Olyphant, Oleg Kurylenko, Dougray Scott, Michael Offei

Directed by - Xavier Gens

I was looking forward to this film as the last computor game to film adaptation I saw, Silent Hill, was a film a really enjoyed. Timothy Olyphant plays a hitman known just as 'Hitman 47' as he came from a background of trained killers, given numbers but not names. He kidnaps, then forms a twisted relationship with Nika (Oleg Kurylenko.) Sadly, like the film as a whole, this relationship does not spark at all.

The other part fo the story is two British detectives from Interpol investigating the attemtped assassination of the Russian President. With Hitman 47 involved, these stories intertwine to create a series of action series. Michael Offai playing Jenkins, the sidekick to Mike Whitter (Dougray Scott) was one bright spark in an otherwise dull movie, full of acting performances that at no point stirred the emotion, or any reason to care about the characters in question.

The plotline was at time convuleted and confusing, trying to do too many things at once. But the heart of the failure of this film was the Hitman himself. If at any point I found myself caring about the fate, journey or role of this character, the film may have taken off, but I didn't, and as a result the entire film felt like a pointless excersice as a result.

This film is a short, 93 minutes. If you see this I fear you will be thankful for that, I certainly was. It was a very long 93 minutes and I'm not sure I could have sat through any more. Sadly this opportunity for a series of unknown actors to step up and make a name for themselves failed on every single count. The film did have some fine choice of settings, but made nothing of them. I've never played the game Hitman, but I would be surprised if even it's own fans wil be impressed by this movie.

MOON OF LIBERT VERDICT - RATING 'D+' - A tedious film that may make others think seriously about if a game can really make a good film before producing such an adaptation in future.

The Golden Compass (2007)

Starring - Dakota Blue Richard, Nicole Kidman, Eva Green, Daniel Craig, Ben Walker

Directed by - Chris Weitz

It's almost Christmas so it must be time for a good fantasy entertainment film. The Golden Compass does the job almost perfectly. The film combining the introduction of a new child starlet in Dakota blue Richard playing Lyra, As well as the in-demand Casino Royale duo of Daniel Craig and Eva Green, with Nicole Kidman thrown in, create a fine cast to take us on a wonderful ride. Even Ian McKellam and Lovejoy himslef, Ian McShane, join in the fun as the voices behind two talking polar bears, or Ice bears as we should call them in this film.

The story is based in a universe paralell to Earth. Where as on Eartht he human soul lives in the body, in this world the soul lives alongside you in the form of an animal. Young Lyra is a rebellious young thing with an ever changing soul to match, children's souls can change as they have not 'settled' This is due to the mysterious phenomonon called 'dust' that the ruling Magisterium do not want people to find out about, but Lord Asrael (Daniel Craig) fights the establishment going to the mysterious North to try and learn more about dust and it's relation to souls and other worlds. Lyra is curious too, to the dismay of her teachers at college.

After being kidnapped and the escaping from Mrs Coulter (Nicole Kidman) who is working for the magisterium, Lyra is protected by the seafearign Gyptions, friends of Lord Asreal. Before she left college she was given a Golden Compass which allows her to see 'The truth.' She goes on a journey befreinding an Ice bear and an astronaught, in this world known as an aironought, as well as a withc (Eva Green) who makes it clear she is on the girls side. Along the way she learns how to read the compass, is able to use it to allow her Polar bear friend avenge his enemies and restore his pride, and finds herself on a journey to the North to give Asrael the compass, as she believes it will help him, and her learn more about dust.

This part of the story comes to a head when she finds a lab the magisterium are using to try and destroy children's souls. She orchastrates a rebellion that looks doomed to failure before she finds her new friends are on hand to join the fight, as well as the help of the compass.

The great cast allows this to move along at a good pace, well acted and a good fun movie. It has many comparisons with Narnia, It's Asrael not Aslan, the polar bear instead of the lion, a paralell universe devided by dust rather than a wardrobe. A little girl hero playing the lead. The similarities are great. The ending was well understated, making it quite clear this is a trilogy and there is plenty more to come. Overall it did not quite have Narnia's depth, but it is still a fine film which sets up the next stage nicely, I for one look forward to the next one.

THE MOON OF LIBERTY VERDICT - RATING 'B' - A very enjoyable fantasy film that is well worth seeing, hopefully they will learn from this first effort to make the remaining parts of the series even better, if so, the second film could be something special.

 

 

Rendition (2007)

Starring - Risse Witherspoon, Jake Gyllenhall, Omar Metwally, Alan Arkin, Merryll Streep

Directed by - Gavin Hood

If you want a spine-chilling critique of US Governemnt policy, forget Michael Moore's over the top Liberal rants, forget the wars on Iraq or Afghanistan, watch this film instead. It in clear terms demonstrates the errors of Rendition, apolciy where suspected terrorists are shipped out of the country and sent somehere where the normal laws of justice are rendered irrelevant.

This film runs two plots concurrently. on one hand there is Anwar, an Egyptian who had lived in the US for over 20 years, suspected of having terrorist links, he is arrested but knowing the evidence against him is flimsy, in order to detain him he is sent to a brutal prison abroad. His treatment is 'observed' by Douglas (Jake Gyllenhall), a man who has taken over the role after his colleague was killed by a suicide bombing that takes place at the start of the film. Anwar's treatment, Douglas' battle doing his duty dispite having deep misgivings about what is going on, and Anwar's pregant wife (Risee Witherspoon) who is desperately trying to find out from politicans who are closing all doors to the truth are the first part of the plot that unfolds, lead by Miss Whitman. (Merryl Streep)

The second part of the plot is based in the middle-east. Linked with the rest as a result of Abasi, father of the family featured is the lead interrigator of Anwar once he arrives. On the home front he is trying to deal with his wayward daughter who has fallen in love with, against her fathers will, a man who is a part of a terrorist cell, willing to use suicide bombings to further their aims. When the two stories come together, a series of issues combine to create indirect consequences for all involved.

The acting on behalf of the lead male characters is very powerful, especially Gyllenahll who displays huge emotional depth in the development of his observer role, while maintaing his frail humanity, as he also makes a few mistakes along the way. Streep and Witherspoon do fall a little flat however, meaning the part of the story set in America was the the weaker link of the film. There are so many messages about what Rendition creates, about how it can actally cost and not always save lives and how it can direct resources into the wrong areas with desperate consequences. It is not one sided however, the terrorist cells depicted in the film are not held back, their poisoness ideology is shown in it's full twisted glory some the scenes of local leaders making powerful speeches and to young, impressionable men about martyrdom and destroying all 'infidels' meaning any non-muslim as they see it created a powerful reminder of what the west is up against, and why a policy like rendition can play right into the hands of the extreams.

This is a hugely powerful film overall, well worth going to see. So many messages, so many clever, subtle points, so many wonderful links to the jigsaw. A long hard look at the weaknesses of all sides of the argument, and a far better analysis of where the west have got it wrong than any march about Iraq. When the rules of justice are disregarded, bad things happen, watch this film and you may just find out why.

MOON OF LIBERTY VERDICT - Rating 'A' - A very special film on so many levels, had it not been for the weakensses of the female performances in the part set in the US, this would have been in my elite band of A+ films.

Stardust (2007)

Starring - Charlie Cox, Claire Danes, Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sienna Miller,

Directed By - Matthew Vaughn

Billed as the fairytale that wont behave, not quite sure about that, their is an old fashioned feel about this film which leads it to be very some, on occasion too well, behaved. A fun film with many flaws too, Stardust will be a film that is a question of taste.

The plot does have an old fairytale feel. A wall divides England and Stormhold. Whena young mand crosses the wall and has a liaison with a lady on the other side, it produces a son, Triston. Triston is brought up in England until he is older, we then flash forward to Triston pusuing his love, Victoria (Sienna Miller) who is cold and shows little interest, but agrees to marry him if he crosses the wall and brings back the jewel from the star they see cross the wall for her birthday.

This leads Triston (Charlie Cox) to Stormhold. The star turns out to be a beautiful woman (Claire Danes) called Yvaine. The search for the start is joined by the son of the king of Stormhold, Septimus (Mark Stong) who needs the star to become the new king as his father is on his deathbed. Just to add to the mayhem, a witch named Lamia (Michelle Pfieffer) is also after the star as if she cuts the heart out of the start she will obtain eternal youth.

So a three way race for the star, and in Triston's case to get it back to the other side of the wall is on. However, during the journey he realises his true love is actually Yvaine and not Victoira who is only interested in material things. The end game produces a startling revelation reagrding the true aire of Stormhold that changes the situation completely, and gives Triston the chance of true happyness by staying on the Stormhold side of the wall, if the others don't take the star first of course.

This is all very nice and lovely, and a perfect date movie. We also got an amusing interlude by Robert De Niro playing the at first glance tough but in reality not, Captain Shakespeare of the ship that sails the skys. Ricky Gervais also makes an appearence pretty much playing himself. It's a nice, heart warming fairy tale of the days of old, nothing uniquely special about it and the relationship between Danes and Cox does not really spark, although Cox does a good job playing the gallant young man. I enjoyed Mark Storng's performance as Prince Septimus, Pfieffer was less convincing.

Overall good fluffy stuff, nothing special, but a nice film for a nice night out.

MOON OF LIBERTY VERDICT - RATING 'B'  - A 'B' rating on the A+ to F scale means good, and that sums this up perfectly. Lovers of fantasy, adventure type films may rate it more highly, if you want a more seriously acted film, stay away.