Film Guide

We Live in Public is documentary filmmaking at its best: compelling subject matter combined with strong filmmaking in a way that keeps your brain chewing away for days on the rich thematic questions raised. Rising star Ondi Timoner brings to bear the same willingness to risk (time and resources, not to mention life and limb!) and sharp editorial eye that made her 2004 debut feature Dig! a documentary film of note. Seemingly able to navigate the slippery path between dry fact presentation and populist OTT emotional manipulation (see any works by Michael Moore), We Live in Public (hereafter: Public) serves up more spectacle than most fictional narrative films whilst addressing the issues that are engulfing the (online) world as I type. “Who the hell is Josh Harris!?” you might ask. A good question, and one that Public seeks to answer with some measure of success. Upon learning about the development of the internet cyber-prophet Harris very early recognised the central place it would take in our modern culture and this foreknowledge set his life’s course in motion. Always ahead of the curve in terms of humanity’s relationship with online technologies he has spent his life setting up a range of media/internet services and self proclaimed ‘art’ projects ranging from one of the world’s earliest virtual Television networks through to social experiments in human privacy.  Read the rest of this entry »

Female Agents is based on real life exploits of Female resistant fighters in France during World War 2. The movie centres around one mission which the British Special Operations Executive (SOE) takes control of. The SOE put together a group of women to partake in a dangerous mission, to rescue a British agent who has valuable information on the impending D-Day landings.

In essence, the entire Allied invasion hangs in the balance. If the Germans find out about D-Day, it will have to be called off, so this mission is conceivably one of the most important of the Second World War.

Of course as with most things in real life, nothing ever goes to plan and the women are forced to adapt to ever increasingly perilous situations that leave then (and us, the viewer) smarting at the chauvinistic attitudes of the SOE and their disposable approach to the female agents lives.  Read the rest of this entry »

Jonny Depp, Christian Bale, Tommy Guns, all guided by Michael Mann, the man who bought us Heat and Collateral, what’s not to like? Public Enemies covers the life of John Dillinger, one of Americas most notorious bank robbers.

Public Enemies opens with an Indiana prison escape, starkly lit and as with Michael Mann’s last few films, shot in Digital HD, giving it a slightly unnerving almost documentary effect. Johnny Depp’s Dillinger swiftly frees his gang and begins a crime spree that lands him national attention and elevates him to Robin Hood status among the general public.

The pressure mounts on the American government and police forces as Dillinger and his gang rob banks across state borders, embarrassing the authorities all the while endearing Dillinger to the people. In steps Melvin Pervis (Christian Bale) as an American Lawman and Special Agent of the newly formed FBI sent to bring him to justice. As all this is happening Dillinger falls for coat check girl Billie Frechette while the Feds are closing in.  Read the rest of this entry »

This is a tender and moving Japanese movie about loss, grief, caring, loving and acceptance.  It won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 2009 Oscars.

Diago has high hopes of travelling the world being a cellist in an orchestra.  His hopes are dashed when the orchestra he is playing in doesn’t draw audiences and is dissolved.  Disillusioned with his lack of success he parts with his cello and returns to his home town.

Mika his wife is accepting of his decision and appears to be happy to leave the city to go to live in the home Diago’s mother left him upon her death 2 years earlier.  Read the rest of this entry »