General Articles
Film Reviews
Tanya Leslie reviews a selection of films. Here are her first six for the Riviera Woman.
by Juan José Campanella
This award-winning thriller from Argentina keeps you on tenterhooks for close to two hours. Summing up the action is tricky as it spans over twenty-five years, alternating present and past moments with remarkable skill. In 1999, recently-retired police inspector Benjamín Esposito starts work on a novel about an unsolved rape and murder case to which he was assigned back in 1974 and which has haunted him all these years. This book is a pretext for evoking a complex but fascinating criminal investigation that ends with a twist. The movie features a subplot focusing on the ambiguous relationship between Esposito and his alluring supervisor Irene. Although El Secreto de Sus Ojos is not basically a political vehicle, Juan José Campanella condemns his country's administration and the rampant corruption that flourished under Juan Perón. Seasoned actor Ricardo Darín comes across as a thoughtful, dedicated officer and Irene's character is played by Soledad Villamil, who picked up the prestigious Goya award for Best New Actress. The movie won an Oscar as Best Foreign Language Film together with a host of other international prizes. And, in my view, it deserves every single one of them.....
by Antonio Naharro and Alvaro Pastor
The main character in this Spanish feature is a university Bachelor in his mid-thirties with Down syndrome who has just landed a job in the Department of Social Services. Despite his condition, Daniel is a bright, sensitive fellow with a positive outlook and a dry sense of humour. When asked if a former girlfriend was “like him”, he riposts mischievously, “you mean, recently graduated?”. This remark sets the tone of the film. Yo, También, a collaborative effort signed by Antonio Naharro and Alvaro Pastor, is an edifying tale about our attitude to abnormality and our basic need for love and affection. The Seville-based movie charts the rocky friendship between Daniel and his female colleague Laura, an attractive, independent woman whose loose morals conceal a painful past that has left her emotionally scarred. It also focuses on a weekly dance workshop for young Down sufferers. The scenes where teenagers use body language to express their inner feelings are truly arresting. Without ever lapsing into propagandism, the story explores human relationships and gently denounces the social prejudice relating to disability. Pablo Pineda and Lola Dueñas, fittingly cast in the lead roles, were awarded the Silver Shell by the San Sebastian Festival jury for their excellent acting. Even the coarse, grainy images and the hand-held camera cannot detract from the poignancy of this simple narrative that pays tribute to those “with a difference”.
by Mathieu Amalric
This new road movie about a troupe of American artistes touring the French coast is an exhilarating cinematic experience. Joachim Zand is a failed French TV producer who moves to the States after fleeing family, friends and associates. A few years later, he returns to his homeland with a racy New Burlesque revue that brings the house down wherever it goes. We follow the five strippers, all professional performers, as well as their assistant and second-rate impresario on their peregrinations from port to port, sharing their daily life: seedy hotel bars, last-minute adjustments in dressing-rooms, endless train journeys.... Director Amalric doubles up as Joachim Zand and delivers a neat performance. Little is said about his past life or his reasons for leaving France. Instead, the movie centres on his desperate efforts to find a concert hall in Paris... to no avail. On Tour is permeated with a strong feeling of tenderness that binds all the characters together. The expression on Zand's face as he watches the show from the wings speaks volumes about his love for the girls. Conversely, their motherly curves and protective manner offer the comfort he seeks in the midst of his embattled life. I strongly suggest that you rush out to see this engaging production which I am sure will impress even the most hardened critic.
by Stephen Frears
Has Stephen Frears lost his touch ? It certainly looks like it. Despite glowing reviews in most French newspapers, I was somewhat disappointed by his latest production. A peaceful hamlet nestled in Dorset's rolling countryside is the backdrop to Tamara Drewe, a comedy based on Posy Simmonds' eponymous comic strip. More specifically, the plot revolves around Stonefield, a literary retreat for aspiring writers run by a famous crime novelist and his wife. After a successful nose job and a few years' experience as a columnist for The Independent, voluptuous Tamara returns to her hometown to sell the family cottage and start work on her first novel. Needless to say, her arrival in sleepy Ewedown causes havoc among the male population and triggers a series of amusing events that form the core of the film. On the whole, the cast deliver an honest performance and cannot be faulted. However, I found the characters far too stereotyped, verging on clichés: the narcissistic best-selling author who cheats on his wife, the American scholar struggling with a study of Thomas Hardy, the patient, long-suffering housewife who channels her frustration into homemade pastries, Tamara's dishy teenage lover, now working as a farmhand at Stonefield. The most refreshing contributions are probably those made by Casey and Jody, two bored schoolgirls who thrive on celebrity gossip and have a serious crush on Tamara's new rock star boyfriend. Admittedly, Frears' latest feature has a certain bucolic charm and could be seen as a mild caricature of the literary profession. For the French, it undoubtedly bears the hallmark of “British humour” but, for natives like us, I'm afraid it doesn't quite make the grade.
by Jonathan Lynn
This delightful remake of the 1993 French movie Cible Emouvante definitely made my day. Professional hitman Victor Maynard, a worthy successor to his father, has earned himself a reputation as the most discreet and efficient killer in the business. In his mid-fifties, he leads a solitary existence punctuated by weekend visits to an overpowering mother. His routine is upset when he repeatedly misses his latest target, a female crook who has pulled off a fake Rembrandt deal. Won over by her quirky charm, he foregoes the assignment and ends up protecting her from his main rival. During a shooting in an underground car park, they pick up a young man whom Victor takes on as an apprentice. The unlikely trio then move to his secluded family house outside London in order to keep a low profile. I know, the storyline sounds far-fetched and a touch contrived but somehow it works. Bill Nighy is highly convincing as the icy, steely-nerved murderer who has repressed emotion and sexual desire all his life. The “target” is played by Emily Blunt, whose carefree attitude and sultry sex-appeal work wonders on screen. The only letdown is Rupert Grint, better known as Ron in the legendary Harry Potter saga. His immature delivery and lack of credibility contrast sharply with Guillaume Depardieu's moving performance in the original film. This said, in my humble opinion, Wild Target is an enjoyable piece of entertainment that is certainly worth seeing.
by Michael Patrick King
Words fail me to describe the mediocrity of this Hollywood production that brings shame on the American film industry. Whilst the first movie proved to be a diverting if somewhat frivolous adaptation of the popular TV series, the sequel is an unqualified disaster. Vulgar sets and costumes, a shallow plot and superficial dialogues combine to make it one of the worst motion pictures of the year. As for the famous quartet, their performance is unanimously poor - shrill voices, forced laughter and exaggerated acting – with no redeeming features. Faced with such a sorry display of incompetence, the only possible option is..... abstinence!