Splice - out now - 100 word review

100 word review time for Vincenzo Natali's (Cube) 'Splice'.

Sarah Polley and Adrien Brody are cool/geek scientists. She wants a kid, he doesn't. They 'splice' their genetic monstrous creation with human DNA making 'Dren' (nerd backwards) a weird girl thing with bird/serpent/spider stuff in there. Polley has weird mother-daughter relationship going on, Brody isn't so sure - um, till he has sex with it (pretty hilarious in a deeply wrong way) that is and it all goes pear shaped.

Basically a cautionary 'fear of science' B-movie with a budget, there are nods to the Frankenstein story and other creature features and it's a decent laugh but no more than that. A Saturday night movie for sci-fi/horror fans...

The Secret in Their Eyes (El Secreto de Sus Ojos) - Out Aug 13

Richly deserving of this year’s best foreign language Oscar, this superlative and impeccably crafted Argentinean trawl through the human condition draws its audience in and never lets go until the closing frame. Like a classic novel, it encompasses many disparate subjects – love and evil, the passing of time, loneliness and desire; and yet has the resonance of truth that all great works share and has the finesse to bring everything together in one literate and compelling whole.

The story stretches across twenty five years as newly retired criminal court employee Benjamin Esposito (Ricardo Darin) decides to write a novel based around a tragic case of rape and murder that he was once assigned to. Switching between the older Esposito’s growing obsession with the un-concluded investigation as well as his unrequited love for his younger, beautiful and socially elevated ex-boss (Soledad Villamil) and the case itself, the movie’s sophisticated script artfully goes from noir-style creepiness to love story to out and out horror within its packed running time. But there are no easy answers and it would be a disservice to the mastery of the writing, acting and production on display to try and pigeonhole a single scene or character.

A truly wonderful cinematic experience.

Ssssh Boom - 6 August, Dalston, London

I'm reading a long prose poem/monologue (with music!)at Ssssh Boom at the Nave between Dalston and Islington on Friday 6 August.
Yeah, I know it's a long way off but it promises to be quite a night. The venue is fantasticly unusual and there is a lot of talent on show from poets, dancers, musicians and all round creative types.
Tickets are on sale here :


www.wegottickets.com/event/85939

Tetro - out 23 June

Coppola takes a break from making wine to return to similar territory to 2005’s Youth Without Youth directing and writing this mesmerising, highly literate tale of familial secrets and lies.

Tetro follows 17 year old Bennie ‘s search for his older brother Tetro in Argentina’s capital. Once there, the two siblings confront shared histories and deceits, while each pursuing their own agendas.

Perfectly cast Vincent Gallo exudes broken down, beatnik charm as the eponymous blocked writer, while newcomer Alden Ehrenreich nearly steals the show as his younger brother, fuelled by confused desires and destructive rivalries. Maribel Verdu adds class to the supporting roles as Tetro’s former psychotherapist turned common law wife Miranda. Her subtle, understated performance as a wise and emotionally mature woman who just happens to be in love is the kind of female character that Hollywood rarely portrays – it’s a well written part and Verdu makes the most of it.

The city of Buenos Aries is an important character in itself. Its bohemian cafes and bars take on an almost mythical aspect with the intense black and white cinematography, while flashbacks are brought forth in phantasmagoric colour and brief dance sequences (calling to mind The Red Shoes). It’s ‘artsy’ approach fits in well with the beatnik ambience; jazz scores filter through the theatrical conversations and the whole film has a dreamlike quality, with everything being expressed in an extremely stylised way.

No doubt many would fault some of these techniques as pretension – they should, however, be seen as a continuation of Coppola’s stunning 1970’s output, where he invented new rules and discarded old ones. And while Tetro does not quite reach the heights of The Conversation or The Godfather’s (1&2) it is an intriguing, intelligent film and the best thing Coppola’s been involved with for many long years.

A startling reminder of how film can transport an audience, Tetro is the work of a true master rediscovering his muse.


This review also appears here: http://www.dontpaniconline.com/magazine/film/tetro2

Resurrecting the Street Walker - Out on DVD June 28

A wonderfully smart horror film, writer Ozgur Uyanik’s debut takes a clinical look at video nasty conventions and twists them into something entertainingly dark and new.

Following an aspiring filmmaker and runner - mockumentary style - who discovers an unfinished 80’s slasher flick and vows to complete it, Street Walker keeps the audience guessing throughout.

A pacey, intelligent script featuring plenty of playful snipes at the British film industry make this little gem equally accessible to fans of original cinema and hardcore horror geeks alike. Definitely worth seeking out and an encouraging nod that, yes, intelligent, challenging horror movies can be made on a micro budget in Britain !