Highly regarded for his unique sense of humour director, Aki Kaurismaki (Lights In The Dusk, The Man Without A Past) you always know you are in for something special when you sit down to watch one of his films. This time around Kaurismaki not only delivers that humour but has also served up a film with real heart in the form of a great little filmed called Le Havre.

The film tells the story of Marcel Marx (Andre Wilms – Ameicano, La Travesee) an elderly shoe-shiner that lives on the poorer side of the French city of Le Havre. He makes a modest living that is just enough to keep himself, his wife Arletty (Kati Outinen – Backwood Philosopher, The House Of Branching Love) and dog alive.

However the softer side of Marcel is revealed when a container load of illegal immigrants is discovered at the wharves. As the Police raid the container one immigrant, a young boy named Idrissa (Blondin Miguel – newcomer) escapes. Marcel befriends the young boy and takes him into his home and as Arletty discovers she is dying Marcel (with the help of his community) decides to see that Idrissa makes it to London to be with his mother and isn’t caught by highly-respected Police Detective, Monet (Jean-Pierre Darroussin – De Bon Matin, The Well Digger’s Daughter).

With his traditional witty script at hand Kaurismaki creates unique characters that make Le Havre a must see. You instantly fall for Marcel despite the fact that he has faults and it is certain that some people will be dabbing at their eyes when they hear that Arletty is terminally ill.

But the power in this film is that Kaurismaki brings across a strong message of community without really trying and through characters that at times have you laughing out loud. Kaurismaki also remembers a forgotten art in scriptwriting, and that is the beauty of a scene that truly tests a character, and without spoiling anything lets say that certainly happens for Monet.

While Andre Wilms really does a great job in the lead role he is overshadowed by Jean-Pierre Darroussin who is unforgettable in the role of Monet, one of the most interesting characters to grace our screens over the last few years. Darroussin finds the right mix of humour and drama to make Monet such a walking cliché that it makes him even more memorable.

Le Havre really is great film that raises some very important questions. This little gem just reminds all of us what a special filmmaker in Kaurismaki. A sensational little drama with just a hint of comedy… this is one of the surprise hits of the year.

Year: 2012

Director: Aki Kaurismaki

Stars: Andre Wilms, Kati Outinen, Jean-Pierre Darroussin, Blondin Miguel

Classification: PG

Runtime: 90 mins

Rating:

Dave Griffiths

To some a film about two of the most influential men in the world of psychology may seem like a snooze-fest but such is the power of the screening writing of A Dangerous Method it is guaranteed to be the one of the best films of the year.

Based on John Kerr’s novel and Christopher Hampton’s play A Dangerous Method begins with the ‘troubled’ Sabina Spielrein (Keira Knightley – London Boulevard, Last Night) who is sent to Dr Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender – Haywire, Shame) so the cause of her problems can be identified.

At the same time Jung starts a close friendship with the man he idolizes, Sigmund Freud (Viggo Mortensen – The Road, Good) and while the two men’s beliefs sometimes clash it is obvious that they respect one another.

However soon Jung’s life and his relationship with his wife, Emma (Sarah Gadon – World Without End, Dream House) is thrown into turmoil when a patient referred to him by Freud, Otto Gross (Vincent Cassel – The Monk, Our Day Will Come) encourages him to begin a sexual relationship with the now cured Sabina.

Director, David Cronenbeg (Eastern Promises, A History Of Violence) does a fine job making sure A Dangerous Method stays on the path of being a serious biographical film and not turning it into borderline porn. Sure he explores the relationship between Sabina and Jung and throws in a couple of erotic scenes but he never loses control of the film at hand.

The real power in this film comes from the screenplay which is written by the same man that adapted the novel into a play, Christopher Hampton (Chei, Antonement). Hampton’ script delivers some powerful dialogue that guarantees the audience won’t lose their concentration even in some of the in-depth conversations between Jung and Freud… and you may even learn something.

Aside from a little overacting from Knightley early on A Dangerous Method is made even stronger by some amazing acting performances. Fassbender and Mortensen are terrific in their roles and deserve high praise for some of the scenes they share together.

A Dangerous Method is a biographical film made into something special by a brilliantly written script and two lead actors that really step up to the plate. A powerful drama that will leave you spellbound.

Year: 2012

Director: David Cronenberg

Stars: Keira Knightley, Michael Fassbender, Viggo Mortensen, Vincent Cassel, Sarah Gadon

Classification: MA

Runtime: 99 mins

Rating:

Dave Griffiths

Goodbye First Love could have been a good film, certainly the idea is there but a poor script by director/writer, Mia Hansen-Love (Father Of My Children, Tout Est Pardonne) lets it down, a shame considering her last effort, Father Of My Children, was such a great film.

The story begins with Camille (Lola Creton – En Ville, Bluebeard), a gifted high school student who has fallen madly in love with the older Sullivan (Sebastian Urzendowsky – The Way Back, Schurkenstuck). But Sullivan is more interested in a trip to South America than he is his relationship so a hurt Camille is left shattered.

Years later the story picks up with Sullivan back in France but now Camille is at university and begins a relationship with her lecturer, Lorenz (Magne-Havard Brekke – L’enfant d’en haut, Father Of My Children) despite the fact that she is obviously still in love with Sullivan.

There are two main faults that really drag down Goodbye First Love. Firstly the script takes a hell of a long time to get nowhere in particular. Hansen-Love has thought too much like a director while she has been writing the script and as a result you have long scenes of ‘nothing’ that really don’t move the story along, in fact all they really do is bog it down.

Secondly not ageing the characters becomes a real problem for the audience. It is unrealistic to think that Camille at 15 is going to look the same as when she is 23, and while she does change her haircut for a short while, for most of the film it is hard to work out exactly how old she is, it may be a small complaint but films really shouldn’t have anything that can distract the audience from their task at hand…watching the film!

Having said that though the film can boast some wonderful acting. Lola Creton is an absolute sensation, to the point that you’ll be counting down the days until her next film hits the screens. She is also well supported by Sebastian Urzendowsky, who has a relaxed stage presence that most Hollywood actors would kill for.

Goodbye First Love is a slow ride for its audience and I think even serious fans of French cinema may find it a bit of a grind.

Year: 2012

Director: Mia Hansen-Love

Stars: Lola Creton, Sebastian Urzendowsky, Magne-Harvard Brekke

Classification: CTC

Runtime: 110 mins

Rating:

Dave Griffiths

Move over Snowtown and Animal Kingdom a new Aussie film has just blown you out of the water. Wish You Were Here is one of the finest Aussie movies to surface in a long time, it is nearly impossible to fault and is five stars all the way.

For Alice Flannery (Felicity Price – TV’S Rescue Special Ops & My Place), her husband Dave (Joel Edgerton – The Thing, Warrior), her sister Steph (Teresa Palmer – Take Me Home Tonight, I Am Number Four) and Steph’s boyfriend Jeremy (Antony Starr – Bliss, TV’S Rush) a trip to Cambodia seems like a fun week in paradise.

But then the unthinkable happens. After a party in a small coastal town one night Jeremy goes missing and the others are forced to return to Australia without him. Soon it is revealed that some of the remaining three have secrets about that night and with a Federal Police Officer, Jon Canane (Nicholas Cassim – Dealing With Destiny, TV’S At Home With Julia) sniffing around it’s obvious even more dark secrets will soon surface.

Director/screenwriter Kieran Darcy-Smith (The Island, Bloodlock) has delivered an absolute blinder of a film, a thriller that has all the elements of a European thriller and leaves you breathless throughout. Darcy-Smith teases the audience giving us titbits of what happened in Cambodia but never lets you fully know what happened until he is ready for the big reveal… and there is no way that you can pick what is going to happen. And yes there are a few times where you’ll jump.

Darcy-Smith has also created some terrific characters. You instantly care for Alice and hate the situation that she finds herself in. At times you will grow suspicious of (and maybe even hate) Dave but by the end of the film you’ll be loving him as well… such is the power of the writing in the screenplay. As far as thrillers go this script nails it to a tee.

Acting wise Edgerton and Price are brilliant. Price really shows that she deserves to be included amongst Australia’s top actors with a performance that should guarantee a few award wins. The same has to be said about Edgerton. Sometimes it feels that Australians take him for granted but here he shows that he is not just one of the best actors on our show but one of the best actors in the world at the moment. His performance is guaranteed to take you on a journey.

Wish You Were Here is not a film for the faint hearted. It will stir up emotions and takes the audience into some dark places, but at the end of the day this is a fine thriller that is at the top of its game. If you love a good dramatic film that keeps you guessing then you simply have to see Wish You Were Here. Five stars all the way!!!

Year: 2012

Director: Kieran Darcy-Smith

Stars: Felicity Price, Joel Edgerton, Teresa Palmer, Antony Starr, Nicholas Cassim

Classification: CTC

Runtime: 100 mins

Rating:

Dave Griffiths

Call it slow, call it a talk-fest, call it what you will but Margin Call is the Wall Street of the new generation, this is a film written about events that are happening right now, and it is so well written that it just has to be one of the films of the year.

The film is set in a respected financial firm and begins with a massive amount of downsizing. Juniors in the company, Peter Sullivan (Zachary Quinto – What’s Your Number?, Girl Walks Into A Bar) and Seth Bregman (Penn Badgley – Easy A, The Stepfather) watch as many of their colleagues, including their boss, Eric Dale (Stanley Tucci – The Hunger Games, Captain America: The First Avenger) make the long walk down the corridor.

However just as he is leaving Eric tells Peter he was running some risk assessments and that he should take a look at them. Peter does and what he discovers sends a ripple effect through out the company’s hierarchy, including Sarah Robertson (Demi Moore – Another Happy Day, Bunraku), Will Emerson (Paul Bettany – Priest, The Tourist), Sam Rogers (Kevin Spacey – Inseparable, Horrible Bosses) and Jared Cohen (Simon Baker – The Killer Inside Me, Women In Trouble) until it is finally time to call in the big boss, John Tuld (Jeremy Irons – The Words, Eco-Hollywood). Now decisions have to be made and they may not all be legal or ethical.

Director/screenwriter, J.C. Chandor (Despacito) has created what is close to being the perfect screenplay. This film packs a punch not through action but with dialogue that should be a lesson for any screenwriter and how to write. You are easily drawn in because even though the topic at hand is finance Chandor explains it in such a way that even an idiot could work out what is happening.

Add that to the fact that Chandor knows how to draw suspense out of even the slightest scene and you can see why this film works so well. Even the fact that Chandor has Eric disappear for so long sucks the audience into thinking that he has done the stereotype and topped himself.

Chandor’s cast also well and truly comes to the party. There is not a weak performance to be seen but Tucci and Bettany are standouts while Quinto really announces himself as an actor who is able to step-up when he is required. To his credit he is never overshadowed by his much more experience co-stars. Chandor also takes some risks in casting the likes of Demi Moore… but to his credit it pays off.

Margin Call deserves to be a sleeper hit. The fact that it centres around the world of finance may scare off some people, but it shouldn’t. This is a sensational film that is accessible to all… the fact it is made of one of the best ensemble casts assembled in years and a one of the best screenplays you are ever likely to come across is just a plus. One of the films of the year!

 Year: 2012

Director: J.C. Chandor

Stars: Kevin Spacey, Paul Bettany, Jeremy Irons, Zachary Quinto, Penn Badgley, Simon Baker, Demi Moore, Stanley Tucci

Classification: MA15+

Runtime: 107 mins

Rating:

Dave Griffiths

When you throw together some of the finest actors to grace our screen over the last 50 years and then add a script that is designed to tug at the heartstrings of its audience then you are certainly going to get something special…the result here is The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel a film that works on all levels.

Based on a novel by Deborah Moggach the film follows a group of retirees who all arrive in India for different reasons. Muriel (Maggie Smith – Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows Part 2, Gnomeo & Juliet) is a racist who has been forced to travel to India for medical treatment. Graham (Tom Wilkinson – The Samaritan, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol) is in search of a lost love. Madge (Celia Imrie – Acts Of Godfrey, Hacks) is searching for new love. Douglas (Bill Nighy – Wrath Of The Titans, Arthur Christmas) and his wife of 39 years Jean (Penelope Wilton – TV’S Downton Abbey & Masterpiece Theatre) are searching for somewhere they can afford to live after their daughter has ‘used up’ their money. While Evelyn (Judi Dench – J. Edgar, My Week With Marilyn) wants to be able to stand on her own two feet for the first day.

They all flock to ‘The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’ that is run by the dreamer, Sonny (Dev Patel – The Last Airbender, Slumdog Millionaire) however the hotel looks nothing like its pictures in the brochure.

Director, John Madden (The Debt, Killshot) has done something really special with this film… he has made a movie that actually stands for something. The films message is clear… if society could outsource the elderly we would, but we forget that they are people with feelings and still have a lot to give. Madden makes sure the message is at the forefront of this film but never rams it down the throats of his audience… and as a result he has created a brilliant film.

The screenplay allows you to feel for all the characters at hand, although is let down a little by the fact that Sonny is almost made into a comedic cliche. But the best part of the scripts even allow you feel for some of the, well lets just say, not-so-nice characters. Together with the way that Madden has captured India on film and you are really onto something special.

As you would expect that acting here is top notch however it is Maggie Smith and Judi Dench that steal the show. Their performances are a notch above outstanding and yes their portrayals of their characters could actually reduce you to tears at times.

This is a film that is designed to wake-up emotions in its audience and it is does its job remarkably well. With interesting characters and filmed beautifully this is one film that you don’t want to miss.

Year: 2012

Director: John Madden

Stars: Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy, Judi Dench, Tom Wilkinson, Dev Patel, Penelope Wilton, Celia Imrie

Classification: PG

Runtime: 123 mins

Rating:

Dave Griffiths

Should we be scared off by the fact that The Rum Diary did so poorly at the U.S. box office? Surely that makes it a terrible film… right? Wrong! We’ll probably never know why even the presence of the great Johnny Depp (21 Jump Street, Rango) couldn’t inspire Americans to want to view it in the cinema, but the one thing The Rum Diary ain’t is a poor film.

Depp plays plays Kemp a hard-drinking journalist that is so short of job prospects that he takes up a position at a besieged paper in San Juan, Puerto Rico. And while he might be living in paradise his life is anything but.

His hot-headed editor, Lotterman (Richard Jenkins – Friends With Benefits, Hall Pass) forces him to give up drinking. Then there is the fact that he has fallen head-over-heels in love with the beautiful, Chenault (Amber Heard – Drive Angry, The Ward) who is dating the extremely rich, Sanderson (Aaron Eckhart – World Invasion: Battle L.A., Rabbit Hole) who is cashing in on the fact that 1960s Puerto Rico is underdeveloped.

The one thing Kemp does enjoy though is getting to work with characters like Sala (Michael Rispoli – The Reunion, Union Square) and Moberg (Giovanni Ribisi – Contraband, Avatar), and he feels this is the perfect environment for him to finally find his writer’s voice.

Director/screenwriter, Bruce Robinson (Jennifer Eight, How To Get Ahead In Advertising) has done a wonderful job converting Hunter S. Thompson’s to the big screen. And while the film largely works you should be warned that there are few scenes (such as the drug taking scene) that seem largely out of place.

The key to The Rum Diary working is the characters. Characters such as Kemp, Sala and Moberg are some of the strangest characters to ever grace the big screen, yet you instantly love them… and that is saying something considering one is a virtual walking zombie who loves listening to Hitler’s speeches on vinyl. And that is why the film works… you want to see these characters achieve their goals.

Depp, Ribisi and Rispoli are all sensational and Eckhart seems to lap up the role of getting to play the greedy bad guy. Also announcing herself is Amber Heard who has to do more than just look pretty this time around. To her credit she shows that there is a ton of acting ability under that beautiful exterior.

The Rum Diary is a little strange in parts but ultimately it mixes just the right amount of comedy and drama to make it something special… this is a film that has all the markings of becoming a cult classic.

Year: 2012

Director: Bruce Robinson

Stars: Johnny Depp, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Rispoli, Amber Heard, Richard Jenkins, Giovanni Ribisi

Classification: M

Runtime: 119 mins

Rating:

Dave Griffiths

Early One Morning has an opening that will stay with you for a long, long time. It has the power to shock and captivate you, and is one of those openings that makes you want to sit through the whole film so you can work out what the hell just happened.

The film opens with Paul Wertret (Jean-Pierre Darroussin – Le Harve, The Snows Of Kilimanjaro) getting ready for work… nothing out of the ordinary there. He brushes his teeth, kisses his wife goodbye and then catches the bus to his workplace the International Credit and Trade Bank.

It is there where his day takes a dramatic turn. Paul pulls out a gun and shoots two of his bosses before causally sitting down in his office as if nothing has happened. The rest of the film then explores what leads Paul to commit this horrific act.

Director, Jean-Marc Moutout (The Feelings Factory, Work Hard Play Hard) certainly doesn’t hold back with Early One Morning. The film delves into some hard-hitting topics such as workplace bullying, depression and even the world financial crisis, and Moutout makes sure that his audience witnesses the lot.

His work is made easier by a screenplay of which the screenwriters should be proud of. The audience witnesses Paul shoot dead his colleagues yet as the film play out you find yourself feeling sorry for him and even seeing him as the victim. Most screenwriters could only dream of being able to do that… and in fact most would have portrayed Paul as some kind of monster.

Also crucial to the film working is the acting performance of Jean-Pierre Darroussin and luckily he is well and truly up to it. His performance is nothing short of sensational and if this had been an American film you feel that perhaps there would have been a fair bit of Oscar talk surrounding his work.

Early One Morning may be slow in parts but it is guaranteed that you will sit through those parts in a bid to see what ultimately happens. A good little drama that will have you totally captivated.

Year: 2011

Director: Jean-Marc Moutout

Stars: Jean-Pierre Darroussin

Classification: MA15+

Runtime: 91 mins

Rating:

Early One Morning is screening in the 2012 Alliance Francaise French Film Festival which is being held in Sydney (6-25 March), Melbourne (7-25 March), Brisbane (14 March-1 April), Canberra (14 March – 1 April), Adelaide (20 March-8 April), Perth (21 March-9 April)

Dave Griffiths

A Little Bit Of Heaven should not be written off as yet another unfunny Kate Hudson (Something Borrowed, The Killer Inside Me) rom com… it is anything but. Occasionally Ms. Hudson chooses films with great scripts (think Almost Famous), this is one of those times.

Hudson plays Marley Corbett a successful business woman who is still hurt from the poisonous relationship between her father, Jack (Treat Williams – TV’S Law & Order: Special Victims Unit & Against The Wall) and Beverly (Kathy Bates – Midnight In Paris, You May Not Kiss TheBride), as a result while she will let a man share her bed she won’t let them share her life.

Marley is happy with her life and enjoys spending time with friends such as Sarah (Lucy Punch – Bad Teacher, A Good Old Fashioned Orgy) and Peter (Romany Malco – TV’S Unsupervised & The Good Wife) but all that changes when she learns from Dr. Julian Goldstein (Casa de mi Padre, The Loneliest Planet) that she has cancer.

A meeting with God (Whoopi Goldberg – For Colored Girls, Toy Story 3) reveals that Marley is going to die no matter what miracle cure her other doctor, Dr. Sanders (Alan Dale – The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Happy New Year) comes up with. It is time to prepare herself, her parents and her family for the worst.

Aside from the scenes with Whoopi Goldberg being incredibly cheesy screenwriter Gren Wells (2001 MTV Awards) has actually created a good script that seems to bring together a perfect mix of comedy and drama. That added to some nice touches from director, Nicole Kassell (TV’S The Killing & The Closer) makes for a film that at times can genuinely tug at the heart strings as it explores some deep issues.

A Little Bit Of Heaven sits Kate Hudson nearly back to her best. She can’t just laugh her way through this film and she handles the mix of comedy and drama really well. It is obvious that some of the scenes in the film would emotionally affect her but she handles them well and as a result the audience feels a real sorrow for Marley.

Hudson is also well supported by Gael Garcia Bernal who is a surprise choice for a romantic lead in a Hollywood film, but pulls it off remarkably well. Bernal has genuine talent and it is great to see a leading romantic lead actually have the ability to act and not just look pretty throughout the film.

A Little Bit Of Heaven is a pleasant surprise that does have the power to move it’s audience. Give it a chance and you certainly won’t be disappointed.

Year: 2012

Director: Nicole Kassell

Stars: Kate Hudson, Gael Garcia Bernal, Lucy Punch, Kathy Bates, Whoopi Goldberg, Romany Malco, Treat Williams, Alan Dale

Classification: M

Runtime: 100 mins

Rating:

Dave Griffiths

The Source could well be one of the big surprise hits of the 2012. This French drama (with a mix of music) manages to portray a powerful message while remaining light enough to make sure people of all ages will enjoy it… just don’t make the mistake of thinking it is a comedy like people are saying.

The film begins with a young pregnant woman falling on the difficult walk that the woman of this Moroccan village must endure each time they want to get water. Her fall causes her to miscarriage and this infuriates Leila (Leila Bekhti – Une Vie Meilleure, Itineraire Bis) who has seen it happen to many women since she arrived in the village.

Leila demands that the men of the village do something about running water being brought to the village, but at first the other women in the village point out that she is a Muslim woman and should keep her place. However spurred on by one of the older women of the village, Vieux Fusil (Biyouna – Holiday, La Planque) and her husband, Sami (Saleh Bakri – The Time That Remains, Laila’s Birthday) Leila proposes that the women have a ‘love strike’ until something is done.

Director, Radu Mihaileanu (The Concert, Live And Become) really does not hold back with The Source. At time this film is unrelenting, especially when the audience is forced to endure hearing or seeing a woman being beaten because she is refusing to have sex with husband as part of the love strike. Mihaileanu manages to make some very strong comments about the way a woman is treated in a Muslim village, but he does it such as way that it becomes educational (while remaining entertaining) without looking like a blatant attack.

Together with the screenwriters Mihaileanu has created a film that seems to mash genres together remarkably well without a hint of jarring. As a result The Source can at times mix some humorous lines during a confronting scene and then have the characters break out into song the next moment… and to say Mihaileanu knows how to direct a musical is an understatement. The musical sequences of this film are a must see.

Also announcing herself with this film is Leila Bekhti who puts in a heart felt performance that will be long remembered. It just seems a shame that her name didn’t seem to be raised at Oscar time because it certainly should have been.

The Source is a stunning film that is a must see for lovers of serious film. While beautiful music and scenes of suspense and pure drama don’t sound like they should mix, they do here, and the film works perfectly. A must see for 2012.

Year: 2012

Director: Radu Mihaileanu

Stars: Leila Bekhti, Biyouna, Saleh Bakri

Classification: CTC

Runtime: 135 mins

Rating:

Dave Griffiths