WILD TALES : Sunday 21st June 2015.

'WILD TALES' is a Spanish & Argentinian collaboration released earlier this year and has been on a limited release in Australia for a few weeks now. Having seen the shorts I felt compelled to see this very black comedy film consisting six separate short stories that are linked only by the common theme running throughout. Directed by Damian Szifron this film cost US$3.5M to make and has so far grossed US$30M+ along the way picking up a swag of film awards and nominations - 23 and 42 respectively, including the Oscar nod for Best Foreign Language Film at this years ceremony.

Six films within a film then that are not linked, only by a common theme that connects them all. That theme is one of extreme acts of random violence, and what drives everyday individuals to conduct such acts. Whilst the subject matter is bleak, it is delivered in an intense, urgent, and at times comedic style that makes for compelling viewing and will leave you thinking about the characters, the situations they find themselves in and the actions they take as a result - often with dire consequences - well after the credits have rolled.

Those six subjects are 'Pasternak' - the first playing out in the opening sequence. Two passengers on a plane strike up a random conversation across the aisle from each other and as their conversation unfolds we learn they have a mutual acquaintance - Gabrielle Pasternak. One by one all passengers discover they are all linked in some way to Pasternak and so a state of mild panic breaks out at 30,000 feet, when the trolley dolly announces that Pasternak is the purser in the cockpit and he has locked the door as the plane nose dives towards a suburban house.

Then we have 'The Rats' - as a lone drivers pulls up to a road side diner late at night, wanting to eat. As the waitress takes his order she recognises him as a loan shark who ruined her family with tragic consequences. Telling the story to the cook back in the kitchen, the cook offers to put rat poison in the diners eggs and chips but the waitress declines the offer fearing the repercussions . . . but the cook does it anyway and he tucks in to his supper. Then the diners son arrives and tucks into some of the chips. As the waitress tries to retrieve the plate and prevent them from eating more, the diners gets aggravated and angry, and so the cooks stabs him multiple times with a Chef's Knife. The son looks on, and vomits!

Next up in 'The Strongest' set along a fairly deserted winding and beautiful mountain road. Behind the wheel of a new Audi Coupe is a corporate type approaching some local hillbilly driving a shit box who refuses to let the Audi pass. Eventually, the Audi squeezes by shouting abuse out of the window and giving the hillbilly the bird. Further down the road the Audi blows a tyre and pulling up to the side of the road the driver gets out to replace the tyre, as the hillbilly ambles by, reversing his car up right to the front of the Audi so that it cannot be driven away. Fearing the worst the Audi driver gets back into his car and engages the central locking. By now the hillbilly smashes the windscreen with the car jack and then takes a crap and a piss over the broken windshield. What follows is a tit for tat exchange of words and actions that results in one of the most real, raw, intense, urgent and immediate close quarter fight scenes that I have seen on screen for a very long time. The consequences of this do not end well for either, and for me, this segment was the highlight of the film.

'Little Bomb' comes next that sees an explosives demolition expert pushed to the edge as a result of a parking infringement in which his car is towed away from an unrestricted zone he believes. Seeking recompense from the towing company by way of a refund for the fine and payment in respect of his lost time, inconvenience that caused him to miss his daughters birthday, his crumbling marriage and the sheer injustice of it all that no one it seems is prepared to accept. Creating a storm that is captured on CCTV and then makes news headlines he is fired from his job, and going for an interview his car gets towed again. Knowing something about explosives he hatches a plan that will give him the revenge he is seeking on the towing company, and so engineers for his car to be towed once more.

'The Proposal' sees a BMW returning home early one morning with a broken grille and a dislodged and bloodied number plate. A young man was behind the wheel and we learn later in the day that a hit & run driver has killed a pregnant woman in the early hours of the morning - the husband swears revenge on live TV. Distraught, the grieving young man confesses to his father - a wealthy businessman, who immediately calls his lawyer. They hatch a plan convincing the long term family gardener to take the rap for the crime to save the son . . . in exchange for $500K and a likely sentence of just a few years. The prosecuting officer believes that things don't add up with the gardener, and so offers to cut a deal with the father and his lawyer . . . in exchange for a large sum of money. With the other parties all wanting more money because of the growing risk and the son then deciding to confess to the press, the father gets jack of it all and takes the money off the table. Some intense negotiations follow and as the gardener is bundled out to a waiting police car with his head covered the grieving husband awaits clutching a hammer.

Finally 'Until Death Do Us Part' rounds out this package and is the story of a woman scorned . . . on her wedding day. Celebrating with family and friends at the Reception the bride discovers that her new husband may have had some previous shenanigans with a very attractive work colleague who just happens to be a guest at the wedding. Not too impressed with this news the tensions in front of the gathered guests become more and more strained as the evening wears on resulting in a violent clash on the dance floor between new wife and former lover. Swearing to make her new husbands life a living hell for all eternity, it's get worse before it gets better - and better it does in a most public way!

This is a great film that I really enjoyed and could relate to in terms of the situations that led to the extreme acts that unfold on screen. Strong stories, believably acted, deftly Directed and delivered with irony and satire that lifts this film to another level still. Catch it soon - you won't be disappointed. 'Wild Tales' is another very sold offering in this years foreign language films released so far.









-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 28th May 2015.

Here in Australia we lurch into Winter this week with more excuses to beat the seasonal cold climactic conditions and venture inside to a warm dark place with a big silver screen, surround sound and escapist adventure on a grand scale. The week ahead offers no exception with more great offerings to tempt, tease and tantalise the filmic tastebuds, so don't be shy and get out there see a movie this week!

Speaking of which, we have five great offerings that take in another great theme park future adventure attraction adapted for the big screen and possibly hoping to emulate that Johnny Depp vehicle that has done so well over the years; then there is another natural disaster flick that has been done a hundred times before that sees death, destruction & danger writ large and one man only capable of saving the world . . . apparently; and a Spanish/Argentinian very black comedy offering that sees six unconnected stories linked only be acts of extreme violence and vengeance. Next up is an Aussie film of a determined damaged man, his Utopian commune, his child soldiers and his son through whose eyes we see the story unfold; and finally a case of life imitating art in small town France as an English couple roll into town whose lives seems to mirror those as written about by a an influential French writer in a certain novel 170 years before.

With a heck of a choice this week when you have been to see your movie choice, remember to drop us your views & opinions in the Comments section below this or any other post, and share your critique with the movie going world. Enjoy your film!

TOMORROWLAND (Rated PG) - this film is based on the Disney theme park future Utopian, innovative and optimistic land that first appeared in 1955 and over the years has been through several updated visions and still exists today as more & more Disney theme parks open around the world. The film, which has its inspiration from the attraction, is Directed, Produced and Written by Brad Bird utilising a budget of US$180M and is a Sci-Fi mystery action adventure. The roots of this tale begin in 1964 at The New York World's Fair where a young aspiring inventor meets a seasoned inventor pro who travel together through the 'It's a small world' attraction.

Years later in the present day young inventor Casey Newton (Britt Robertson) meets with that young inventor from back in 1964, Frank Walker (George Clooney) and together they embark on a dangerous journey to uncover the secrets of 'Tomorrowland' a place located somewhere between time and space but with a clock counting down on their future, and that of mankind. In the spirit of the late great Walt Disney this is a story for children of all ages with optimism, invention, adventure, hope and promise at its core that is writ large in this offering that surely would do the man proud for capturing all of those themes on which he built his global empire. Also starring Hugh Laurie and a cast of child acting talent as you would expect.

SAN ANDREAS (Rated M) - here we have another natural disaster action adventure film the like of which you have seen one hundred times before. What is different this time around - dunno really except it cost US$100M, was shot on Australia's Gold Coast and in Brisbane as well as LA, San Fran and Bakersfield, and features Dwayne Johnson and Kylie Minogue amongst others! Directed by Brad Peyton this is the story of a magnitude 9 earthquake along California's San Andreas fault line that sees the earth torn apart from under Los Angeles all the way to San Francisco. Needing to locate his estranged daughter search & rescue helicopter pilot Ray Gaines (Dwayne Johnson) and his ex-wife Emma (Carla Gugino) embark on a treacherous journey through the devastation to reach their daughter and escape to safety together with a few other misplaced refugees along the way no doubt. En route cities crumble, the earth will split open, fire & brimstone will spew forth, tidal waves will engulf cities, people will inevitably die by the thousands, after shocks will be felt on the east coast and the world will never be the same again - thanks God though for The Rock! Also starring Alexandra Daddario (as Blake - Ray's estranged daughter), Paul Giamatti, Ioan Gruffudd and our Kylie!

WILD TALES (Rated MA15+) - this Spanish/Argentian collaborated film is Directed by Damian Szifron and was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at this years Academy Awards. Made for just US$3.3M it has already grossed US$30M and is a bleak black comedy of six unconnected stories but connected by their themes of violence, vengeance, and what drives people to such extremes. With its story titles 'Pasternak', 'The Rats', 'The Strongest', 'Little Bomb', 'The Proposal' and 'Until Death Do Us Part' this film has already electrified audience and has picked up 23 award wins and 38 further nominations. Laugh, cry and be shocked by the range of raw emotions shown here as these characters are pushed to extremes of human behaviour.

PARTISAN (Rated MA15+) - this is an Australian film Written and Directed by Ariel Kleiman and filmed in Australia and in Georgia. It tells the story of Gregori (Vincent Cassel) who is the leader and founder of a Utopian commune that he has established behind high walls to help troubled woman whilst training an army of child soldiers, shielded from the evils of the outside world. This tale unfolds through the eyes of young Alexander (Jeremy Chabriel) - a child of Grigori's, bright, intelligent and brave. As Alexander knows very little of the outside world we learn on what he comes to discover as he is sent out with other children on assassination raids. With Gregori playing the father figure, the ruler, and the authoritarian he mentors all his children in the art of killings, survival and navigation techniques, but, as Alexander grows up and becomes more wise so he begins to question his fathers motives, intentions and decisions. A raw and emotional journey this film won the Cinematography Award at The Sundance Film Festival and was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize there too.

GEMMA BOVERY (Rated MA15+) - this French subtitled DramedyRom is Directed by Anne Fontaine and the Screenplay was Co-Written by her too and stars both French and English acting talent. Here, Martin Joubert (Fabrice Luchini) is a well-heeled Parisian who relocates to Normandy and settles into the peaceful tranquil village life as a baker. One fine day an English newlywed couple move into a neighbouring farm - Gemma and Charles Bovery (Gemma Arterton and Jason Flemyng respectively) and here Martin's idyllic life is turned upside down as he becomes acquainted with the young couple. Martin is an avid follower of the works of famed influential 19th century writer Gustave Flaubert who published 'Madame Bovary' in 1857. Now seemingly witnessing art imitating life in front of his very eyes, the actions of the heroine of that novel, also called Gemma Bovery, begin to mirror those of the woman before him. As his affections grow stronger for the woman, and as she gets sidetracked by other male interests, should he intervene as fact and fiction seem to be on a collision course, or should he stay away from the hand that fate may be about to deal him? You'll just have to see the movie for that answer!

Five new release movies that offer action, adventure, drama, comedy and romance this week and five very good reasons to get out to your local movie theatre. When you have enjoyed your film, share your thoughts, and then go do it again!

Movies - see as many as you can!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-