Late Night with the Devil

So very nearly good.

Jack Delroy has his own Late Night Show in the seventies, but just can't compete with Johnny Carson. After some upsetting personal issues, he has a big Halloween show planned. First a mentalist, then a skeptic, then an interview with a dark demon from the demon dimension. I'm sure nothing can possibly go wrong.

I did go into this with some expectations, especially thinking back to Ghostwatch. I was expecting a slow build over time, and we kinda get it, and while there might be some easter eggs hinting at later events, I was looking out for them and didn't see anything. There is the big climactic moment... and then it continues for another beat, and that was rather a let down. In Ghostwatch, we got the climax, everyone went "AAAAGH!" and it ended. In this, we get the climax, and then everyone goes "AAAAAA... *checks watch* AAAAA... takes breath... AAAAAGH!" and things are revealed that were quite obvious and it just goes on too long.

David Dastmalchian, a "that guy!" actor, does a great job as Jack, and other actors are good too. There is very much the aesthetic of 70s live tv late night show, although some of the effects are a bit too modern looking. In general it's well done.

So yeah, so close, but let down at the end. And I need to watch Ghostwatch again...

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#Manhole

There's a man. There's a hole. There's a holeman.

The night before his wedding, Shunsuke has a bit of a celebration with his colleagues... and wakes up down a hole. He isn't doing well, and no-one is returning his calls except for one old girlfriend, who is rather reluctant. Fortunately, he has the internet to help him, and that's never gone wrong before. People are on it, and clearly he will now be safe, no need to watch more.

This is largely a one hander with all the attention on Yûto Nakajima and at best his phone connection to the outside world. We get a few flashbacks and flashsides, but otherwise we are down in this underground room, Which gets very unpleasant indeed.

Described simply (on IMDB) as "A situational thriller depicting the struggle of a man who fell into a manhole." this is indeed quite the thriller, and has some very good beats to the action.

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Nam June Paik: Moon Is the Oldest TV

If it's on TV, it might be real right?

Have you heard of Nam June Paik? Do you want to know about Nam June Paik? Then this is the documentary for you. He was a Korean that left Korea when he could. He learnt classical music, was going to be a pianist, then encountered John Cage and had his eyes opened. Then he saw TV and thought about what he could do with that. Which was a lot, and not what people expected.

There's outsider art, there's avant garde... and this is a perfect representation of that. Someone who did things differently, mixed media in unusual ways, and caused people to go "...what?"... but also hook into it. (I was quite taken with the moments we saw of Experiments With David Atwood.)

This is one of those situations where I wouldn't have known anything about him, but good documentary is a great way into it. And I now know a little something. Score!

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How to Blow Up a Pipeline

Yep, that indeed one way to do it.

This movie follows a group of disaffected youths, who are pissed off that there is so much going wrong with the world, that they decide to make a statement. By, as you might be able to guess, blowing up a pipeline. We flash back to get brief moments of their lives as we see what lead them (individually) to this, and we also see some of the consequences.

I did think this was going to be a documentary, but that is more because I didn't fully read the description. Although it is based on a book, and I have no idea if the book is more factual or is this narrative? [IMDB says that the book is non-fiction and this movie is a narrative adaptation.] But you can easily identify with them of doing something is better than doing nothing... although I am personally far too lazy to do something like this.

This is well put together, and decently acted. Will it inspire others to follow in their footsteps? ... I can't entirely argue against that.

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Brainwashed: Sex-Camera-Power

Male Gaze? You're looking at it!

Nina Menkes takes us through a look at various movies and how, basically, they depict women, and not in a good way. There are more than enough examples of how women are treated as an object and how this leaks though to how people have internalized viewing women this way and how this is nearly the default movie experience. People (in particular female directors) are particularly aware of this, but trying to do something about it is hard when it's still a man's club out there.

This is definitely an adult movie, we get rather graphic full frontals, of women. Of young women. Of girls, really. But this is what we have over the years, this was just the way things were done. Yes it is rather uncomfortable, but that's somewhat the point in that these days, we do recognise it as uncomfortable (unlike back when it was filmed).

I don't have much more to say about this other than... we should do better. And this is a good documentary to open your eyes to us needing to do this.

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Close to Vemeer

This is a Vemeer... or is it?

The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam wants to set up an exhibition of Vemeer paintings, and so we follow them as they set about collecting some. They visit a few museums and we watch as they look at paintings, we are introduced to them, learn about them, and discuss them. In particular, there are a few paintings where the questions is: is this a Vemeer? Some say yes, some say no.

When they discussed how Vemeer painted, I was reminded of Tim's Vemeer, in which we see Tim Jenison replicate Vemeer's style. While this doesn't mention that venture, we get a repeat of a lot of how Vemeer made his pictures and how he saw his images, namely camera obscura on transparent paper. And a lot of corners of a room.

A lot of said about his particulars in how he painted faces (green undertones) and the folds of clothes, which led people to confidently claim yes or no. But there is debate, and amusingly one museum is titled with having "3 or 4 Vemeers", depending on who you ask.

We see the exhibition being set up, but not the full exhibition itself. But hey, it does make one want to visit an art gallery some time...

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Doing the French Dispatch

This movie is so Wes Anderson it's painful!

Journalists write for the French Dispatch, and this is three stories from those journalists. One about a painter, one about a chef and one about a revolutionary. But there's more to each story and you get wrapped up and carried away in each story.

This is, I have to say, EXCEPTIONALLY shot. Every frame a picture indeed. Wes Anderson knows what he is doing, and the screen is his canvas. Every shot perfectly framed, exquisitely composed and finely crafted.

And the story is all right. Certainly I can't say I brought into everything doing on, but I didn't mind as I was swept along at every moment. And an amazing cast of actors. Although hey, if I was asked "do you want to be in a Wes Anderson movie," I would say yes no matter how small the part. (And some actors are only on screen for moments.)

Certainly a feast for the eyes. I missed it during the festival, and definitely glad I caught up with it.

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The Truffle Hunters

Time to hunt up some truffles!

This is a relaxed documentary where we follow some elderly truffle hunters. Like, they are quite old. But they are still spritely enough to trample around the forest with their dogs and dig up some truffles. Which are then passed on to someone else who then sells them on to other people. It's quite a thing.

While we do follow men with dogs, we also get their thoughts. People are just coming in rampantly to get truffles, and truffles in general are harder to find these days (doesn't surprise me as truffles get hunted to extinction). I can't say it seems to be a luxurious life they live, but they seem happy enough.

And there are a LOT of people who sniff truffles, and we see them sniffing them. I have no idea what they smell like, but that does seem to be the quality people go for the most. (Although we are in Italy, and people smoke a LOT, so I wonder how well they can smell them... or are they smelling truffles because that's the only thing with a powerful enough aroma to get through the lack of smell they have?)

It's a nice documentary, easy pace, and enjoyable fun watch.

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'Til Kingdom Come

Oh good, a documentary about the wonderful combination of religion and politics...

The Christians in small towns America gather together funds and send them to Jews in Israel... which sounds good? And hey, some of them need support. However, ask why: namely because Jews being in Jerusalem is a key feature of the return of Christ, which leads to Armageddon... which is a good thing (to them). Uh...

This movie shows that off pretty well. While the Christians are all "hey, Israel is important, let's give them support," the Jews are "hang on...". But the evangelicals hold a lot of power and sway with the government (this is filmed during the previous US president's term), and that government was more than willing to feed into it, especially willing to move the embassy and everything.

(Which isn't to say I'm expecting the current US president to be much better about this, he's just as Christian as the ones who did this.)

This is a creepy movie, and a lot of things make you go "are you hearing what you are saying?" But for them, it's a feature, not a bug!

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Cryptozoo

Animated movie time... but this definitely is not a kids cartoon.

After experiencing a Baku as a child Joan grew up with the idea of protecting the cryptids. We follow her and Phoebe as they track down the Baku, all for the Cryptozoo, a zoo where people can get to see cryptids and more than a little exploitative. However, Nicholas is also after them, as they make great weapons to sell to the military. Unfortunately, there's been an incident back at the zoo, and when they get back all heck has broken out...

Given that this has people having full on sex, yeah, this isn't for kids... that said, there's no real need for that, so it easily could not have had that if they wanted the movie a bit more available. And there are some big names associated with this, so easily could have gotten attention: Lake Bell, Michael Cera, and Peter Stomare.

Nor is the message ultimately that deep. Not that it's a bad message, and its certainly a colourful movie, but one that could have done better.

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I'm Your Man

It's time for one woman and her robot.

In a new experiment, people are partenered up with robots, and one woman reluctantly gets her own robot. However, she has trouble seeing it as anything other than a robot, which kinda impinges on connecting with him. The robot is designed to be everything she needs... although the thing she really needs is happiness.

You won't be shocked by the plot, this movie still works really well for all that. Maren Eggbert and Dan Stevens are great as leads. (Note, this is a German movie, and Dan Stevens is an English actor... although he speaks flawless German, although they do explain why he has an English accent despite being a robot.)

Just a basic story about being human and connecting, and it's great!

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The Emperor's Naked Army Marches On

Oh, a documentary from 1987 from Japan! Although not a fun one.

Kenzo Okuzaki is a 62-year-old WW2 veteran and one particular event during the war he is aware of is the death of two Japanese soldiers. However, that doesn't sit right with him, and his religious views, so although the crime doesn't hold up any long under law, God's law demands the people responsible face up to the truth, that of murder. And so we follow him as he tracks down people, trying to get some sort of justice.

This is a while ago (even from the point of view of the documentary at the time) so he is talking to people who at best vaguely remember, and most often pass the buck of "it wasn't me, I didn't know about it at the time, I only just got there, I was just following orders".

However, this documentary is two hours long, and it is too long. This may reflect my Western sensibilities in how long it takes to get things to happen, but it does feel like there is stuff that easily could be cut out. I was also surprised about how much people let cameras in to film them.

An interesting documentary, but could be revised for current viewing habits.

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Escape from Mogadishu

A Korean Film, with a definitely different take than what you'd get from an American film.

South Korea and North Korea both have embassies in Somalia... and then it's the 1990s and a war breaks out between the military and the civilians. They get caught up in it, and eventually make the move to get out. Unfortunately, North Koreans are having a bit of a problem and they end up at the South Korean embassy, but even they can't all last long there. But is there a way any of them can get out, let alone both?

Neither of them are having a good time, and when they are forced together, tensions are very high, and not just because of the war in the city. This is a great movie and the character actors do fantastic jobs. By the end, while the authorities of North Korea can jump in the deepest pits, you really are sided with them all to get out alive.

(Conversely, if this was an American movie, no doubt this would have been American Troops criss-crossing the city, shooting everyone, and no-one would be likeable as they bravely deign to acknowledge the city as they casually leave everyone else behind.)

But yeah, we get a more intimate movie with this (than America) and I enjoyed this a lot.

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Savage

It's a New Zealand movie! From back in 2001... which contains the quote "This is America, you can't just shoot everyone!"

A young couple (very loosely in a relationship) drive around, and occasionally pick up hitchhikers for fun. But when they pick a cowboy, they also pick up his troubles, which includes a Maori drug lord and some skinheads. She wanted fun, but what will she have to do to earn the right to wear snakeskin?

This has a great lead performance by Melanie Lynskey...and about the only other person you might recognise is a younger Taika Waititi. That said, there are solid performances all around, and even the skinheads get something of an arc (even if they are still skinheads and get what's coming to them).

I'm not sure if this a classic NZ movie, but glad I saw it. It's really good!

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Sisters with Transistors

A documentary about early female pioneers in the electronica music industry? Don't mind if I do!

As it says above, this is about the female makers of electronic music, from back in the 50s, 60s and 70s. We hear from (and about) names like Suzanne Ciani, Elaine Radigue, Laurie Spiegel and Delia Derbyshire amongst others. We also hear plenty of their music, which basically is the entire backing track of this movie.

(And yes, of course they mention the Doctor Who theme.)

Given the range of music, it's not surprising that while I liked some, other music not so much. When even the subtitles say "drone" you know you are in for a tough listen. But hey, they were popular (in so far as they can be popular and still not well known, which is the point of the documentary) so it's not my tastes that mean anything.

If this sounds anywhere near your interests, give it a watch!

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Preparations to Be Together for an Unknown Period of Time

Certainly one of the longest titles for a movie!

Marta leaves America for Budapest, to meet up with a man she met at a medical conference. However, when she tracks him down, he doesn't know her. Oops! However, she decides to stay around, takes a job that's rather beneath her skills, all to track the guy down. Yep, she's basically stalking him, but it's a good thing. In the mean time she sort of hooks up with the son of a patient, and then when she does get her man, it's not easy going.

Especially as she isn't the most reliable of narrators. We find out (she talks to a therapist, and this is one of the few movies where that's a good thing) that she has a tendency to make things up and later believe they are real. So how was this first meeting really? And when she is with the chap later, is she really, or is it in her mind?

I'm sure the ending isn't as ambiguous as how I read it, but after that set up, how could I not? Not to mention it ends on an image that might mean something, but I could easily have missed it.

But my main take away from this movie... dang, director Lili Horvat really likes a close up! Back that camera off!

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The Killing of Two Lovers

It's a character piece about a man trying to get back with his family.

That man we see in the first shot is trying to shoot his (separated from) wife and her new lover. From there, he tries to get through the days while he can't really be with his children and his wife is with someone else, and his teenage daughter having her own problems with the family having issues...

To be honest, I'm not sure why this made my short list, but there we are. My main issue is that... I don't like the lead character. He's not a great guy, so him getting back with the wife and the family isn't something I'm rooting for. Which is the basic thesis of the movie, so...

Maybe I should refine my selections better...

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All Light, Everywhere

What we have here is a documentary about the camera, about what it sees, about what it doesn't see. And it's something else.

Take a good look at cameras. In particular, spend a long time looking at police bodycameras, where they are made, how the police are told to use them... but then make everything artier. Artier... ARTIER... now really JUMP up your own butt with pretentiousness... there you go, there's the movie we have!

This has some interesting points to make, about how we look at the world. The body camera sees what the observer sees, but not what the observer does. Technology isn't seamless, images can't get everything. Our own eyes have blindspots, and so do our cameras.

But that's not enough for this movie. We need to see beyond what the camera is pointed at. We need to see the camera itself. We see the documentary makers. We have a voice over tell us things. We have (sometimes) separate captions telling us things.

We get auteur up in this!

And we also get nearly two hours of this. It is a LOT. Myself, I would like this to be made in a more straightforward way, but this method may appeal to someone.

(All this, and nothing about Deep Fakes...)

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Riders of Justice

Hey, a Mads Mikkelsen movie!

A train accident is just an accident.. or is it? One person who was on the train can't stop thinking about it, and finds proof that it was an assassination attempt, and talks to the (military) husband of a woman who died, and they end up doing something about that against the people they find behind it. However, it escalates quickly, and goes in ways you wouldn't expect.

There are some very different performances, from Mads, who gets to do a range of different things, to the "geeks" to his daughter played by Andrea Heick Gadeberg. Despite the action moments of this film, this is more of a character piece as we see people reacting to events and find someone to blame.

That said, it felt a bit slow to me, just reveling in some of the weirder moments as if to go "hey, how about this then?" So... two hours is a bit long for my patience, but that doesn't make it a bad watch.

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Notturno

Documentary time (one of many), about living in the war torn Middle East.

As the line above says, this is about people living in war torn countries. I'm not saying they are living a joyous life, but they are surviving. We see a fair few different people, including patients at a hospital putting on a play about staying strong, and kids telling stories of being under ISIS.

Not a fun movie, but a rather stark portrayal of life. But while this is a crappy time for many, people are getting by, day-by-day. Some are doing better than others. This is like some places in that the people on the low rung are just doing their things and trying to get by, but a lot of other places don't have constant war and imminent death hanging over their heads.

Life endures. It's a shit hand, but life endures.

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