MARKED MOVIES

Director: John Cameron Mitchell.
Screenplay: David Lindsay-Abaire.
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart, Dianne Wiest, Miles Teller, Tammy Blanchard, Sandra Oh, Giancarlo Esposito, Jon Tenney, Stephen Mailer, Mike Doyle.

Films with bleak subject matters tend not to be easy viewing but when they are infused with sterling actors, working from a Pulitzer prize winning play, it’s hard not to find something to enjoy.

Becca (Nicole Kidman) and Howie (Aaron Eckhart) lost their son eight months ago, when he was accidentally run over by a teenage driver (Miles Teller). They are struggling to cope and maintain their marriage, while their differing approaches to the tragedy threaten to tear them apart.

As we pick up the story of these two heartbroken parents in the aftermath of the accident, the cracks are already apparent. Grief is primarliy the focus here and it’s explored to a lenghty extent with each parent dealing with things in their own and very different way. It’s a tough subject matter that’s dealt with respectfully and gently, infused with a surprising amount of humour and skillfully manages to avoid cliche. There is nothing showy or extravagant. It’s just relies on the strength of it’s writing and solid acting, of which it has in abundance; both raw and emotive, Kidman and Eckhart deliver strong progressive characterisations and they are supported by the ever-reliable Dianne Wiest and one for the watching, newcomer Miles Teller. Kidman was the one that recieved a best actress Oscar nomination (and deservedly so) but it’s a film that no performance can be singled out. They are all equally brilliant. Despite the fanatastic cast though, the morbidity does become a bit of a slog. You soon realise that the grief will always be with them, there is no happy ending here, no sense of relief or satisfaction, only coping mechanisms, leaving you feeling as exhausted as the characters.

The tensions between Kidman and Eckhart are brilliantly observed and as a character piece it’s outstanding, just don’t expect to come out of it with a smile on your face.

Mark Walker

Director: Noah Baumbach.
Screenplay: Noah Baumbach.
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jack Black, John Turturro, Zane Pais, Ciaran Hinds, Flora Cross.

Nicole Kidman has fleshed out some excellent roles throughout her career in some great films, namely; “To Die For” “Dogville” and most recently “Rabbit Hole” but this is also one for her vintage collection of characters.

She plays moderately successful novelist Margot Zeller who has taken her son Claude (Zane Pais) to sister Pauline’s (Jennifer Jason Leigh), who’s about to marry drifting artist Malcolm (Jack Black). While relations appear cordial, it becomes clear, as the wedding looms, that Margot’s prime talent is for upsetting people.

This quirky heartfelt drama will certainly not appeal to everyone but if you appreciate sharp writing and realistic well drawn characters, then look no further. This is a film that has quality from all angles just coursing through it. Writer/Director Noah Baumbach’s attention to detail and ear for dialogue is just so sharp and natural and it’s perfectly delivered by an exceptionally good cast. I normally avoid the highly irritating Jack Black but have to admit he was excellently used. His comic ability has never been used as effectively as it is here but it’s the serious side to his character that is most appealing, of which he also delivers. Zane Pais is brilliant for such a young actor and I’m very surprised we haven’t seen more from him recently, but the acting plaudits must go to Kidman for her fabulous depiction of a bitter and thoughtless neurotic who causes harm to everyone around her. It stands as probably my favourite performance from her so far. She is simply superb as the beating heart behind a very disfunctional family.

Baumbach reminds me of a more serious Wes Anderson in his subtle yet very detailed writing and after seeing this and the class of “The Squid and The Whale”, I think I’ve found another director to keep a very close eye on. A real treat.

Mark Walker

Director: Aaron Schneider.
Screenplay: Chris Provenzano, C. Gaby Mitchell.
Starring: Robert Duvall, Bill Murray, Sissy Spacek, Lucas Black, Bill Cobbs, Scott Cooper, Gerald McRaney, Lori Beth Edgeman.

Duelling banjos and grown men squealing like pigs while being sodomised by… sorry, wrong film. This film is very far from John Boorman’s brutal and violent classic “Deliverance” and shouldn’t even be mentioned in the same light really, Backwoods southern characters is all they have in common and this is an altogether gentler depiction.

Felix ‘Bush’ Breazeale (Robert Duvall) is a hermit who has kept to himself for 40 years, causing much interest from the local townsfolk. Now in his twilight years, he decides to hold his funeral while he’s still alive so he can enjoy the experience and tell the locals a few things about his life and his shrouded past. When a massive crowd turns out on the day, he finds that he’s become a celebrity as a result.

It’s no surprise that first time director Aaron Schneider was once a cinematographer. He captures the wonderful southern setting’s time and place beautifully. Good use of slide guitar music to accompany also and a few fine actors thrown into the mix.
Duvall’s acting in the final act with the revelation to his character is powerhouse stuff, showing why he’s considered one the greats of the screen. Able support from Bill Murray and Lucas Black as Felix’s funeral directors and Sissy Spacek as his former lover also, but I still couldn’t help but feel that it was all a tad uneventful and whimsical. Everything and everyone looked the part but the whole wasn’t the sum of it’s parts and it left me feeling a little disappointed. Maybe our southern backwoods American friends should be stereotyped as violent inbred rapists, if only to provide a better quality of entertainment for our viewing pleasure.

Not a bad film. In fact, it’s really good at particular moments but it just comes across as pointless and lacks stimulus.

Mark Walker