The Polar Express: Review of Snowpiercer

Snowpiercer

Director: Boon-Joon Ho

By Alex Watson

Everyone hates a morning commute to work on the train, we are all penned in like cattle and pay fares which are always steadily increasing. Well imagine if you will actually having to live on one! This week Korean director Boon Joon-Ho shows us a radical version of the future where such a life actually exists in his movie, Snowpiercer. After mass controversy about its US/Canadian release due to Harvey Weinstein insisting on constant edits, Joon-Ho’s vision has finally made it and the anticipation has been high. But will two hours stuck on a train really make for good viewing?

In the year 2031, the world has been a frozen wasteland due a horrific chemical experiment to stop Global Warming years before. The surviving humans are forced to live inside a large train called Snowpiercer. Each carriage is divided by class and ruled with an iron fist by President Mason (Tilda Swinton). The tail inhabitants led by Curtis (Chris Evans) and Edgar (Jamie Bell) are plotting a revolution to end the class rule and to do this, they will need to fight their way to the front and take the most sacred part- the engine!

Snowpiercer is a truly remarkable piece of work by Boon Joon-Ho and it has been worth every minute of its long delay. A visual masterpiece along with being an engaging thrill ride, early on the movie goes into overdrive and this exciting effect rarely drags. Despite the physical limitations, there are many heart stopping moments along the way and each carriage they make an assault on brings a newer and more dangerous challenge. such as the moment where our heroes stumble across an army of armed soldiers- cue bloody and limbs being shed as the cross a large bridge followed by a long black tunnel (also look out for the most bizarre New Year celebration you will ever see).

We are shown a future where hope is a dangerous thing and those who dare to dream are severely punished. There is an almost Stalinist type feel to early scenes where we the poor inhabitants crowded into cramp carriages living in squalid conditions. Class rule is one of the key elements of this movie and the message from Mason is “I belong to the front, you belong to the tail” Joon-Ho however doesn’t get lost in a political argument and instead gives us a simple but effective tale of people simply wanting to be free. The moment however, when the groups rescues junkie ‘Security Expert’ Namgoong Minsu (Song-Kang ho) this gives their effort massive (albeit drug related) shot in the arm.

Curtis is the default leader of the group but is nervous about doing so. But he beautifully sums up the struggles of the poor class in one wonderfully emotional monologue towards the films end and with one line “I know what people taste like and I know babies taste best.” suddenly his whole mentality devastatingly clicks into place. Such moments of simple humanity rarely exists in movies like these and this kind of thing elevates Snowpiercer above the norm.

Amidst the tension and continually building animosity between class, Joon-Ho finds moments of surreal yet hilarious humour. In one scene, our heroes visit a class room overseen by an overly peppy teacher (Alison Pill) who after showing a hammy propaganda film about unseen leader ‘Wilford’ she bursts into the zany sing-song ‘The Engine is Eternal’ which at the time will seem bizzare- but be prepared for a surprise afterwards!

But the real moment we are counting down to is the groups final confrontation with Wilford (Actor name to be withheld) and this doesn’t disappoint, because all the bitterness comes to fruition, particularly when we see just how his sacred engine is being run! But the end shot is the one that will stay with us as it suggests a beautiful new possibility for humanities future!

Chris Evans once more proves he is star material as Curtis, but this turn requires a lot more from his than usual and for once, Evans shows how diverse his range can be. This is one of the more emotionally complex performances he will show us and gives proof that this man is more than just Captain America. But its Tilda Swinton who perhaps steals the show as the Yorkshire accented leader Mason- almost unrecognizable underneath heavy make up- her buck toothed character is both gut wrenching but also great comic relief at the same point. 

Although it may have taken its time to reach North America, Snowpiercer is by far one of the most original and stunning concepts that 2014 will bring and offers a unique mix of playfulness, excitement and feeling. I have no doubt this will be among my top 10 list for the year! Just think about this movie on your next train commute.

Let’s Talk About Sex: Review of Nymphomaniac Volumes I & II

Nymphomaniac Volumes I & II

Director: Lars Von Trier

By Alex Watson

When a Lars Von Trier movie rolls into town, always expect and fear everything possible! Ever since the controversial poster campaign for his new movie Nymphomaniac Volumes I & II was unveiled, publicity hype went into overdrive and after star Shia LaBeouf’s bizarre paper wearing act at the Berlin Film Festival, curiosity has been heightened. No stranger to controversy, Lars Von Trier always excelled in offering raw and intense cinema and I was privileged last night to be a part of the nationwide ‘One Night Stand’ event last night at the Cornerhouse in Manchester where both films were screen back to back, which proved a lengthy marathon! Prepare for things to get very explicit here!

When Joe (Charlotte Gainsbourg) is found lying beaten in an alleyway by well read stranger Seligman (Stellan Skarsgard), she recounts to her the full story of her life- including details of her childhood, her many sexual encounters and their relevance to her life and her on/off relationship with childhood sweetheart Jerome (Shia LaBeouf).

So just how shocking is Nymphomaniac Volume 1 & 2? Well the answer to that question I cannot sum up in words, and this is one experience that people will need to face head on to really discover its content! Von Trier as normal pulls no punches when it comes to the films attitude about nudity and sex and the images displayed would make even the most seasoned porn viewer squirm- but then again you would feel offended if that man dared hold back on an audience, and the result is a movie that is unflinching, uncomfortable but nonetheless- brilliant!

Divided over two parts (with clever coming up segments in between) both movies are very different affairs and will quite likely send you head spinning in all directions! Volume one deals directly with actions of the younger Joe (Stacy Martin), and what shapes her  into the person who lies beaten in Seligman’s bed, including her early (and frequent) sexual experiences, which lead to an awkward and hilarious scenario involving ditched wife Mrs H (Uma Thurman). In this segment an early trauma in unveiled as we see the tragic passing of her beloved father (Christian Slater) and his descent into delirium which leads to Joe becoming closed emotionally! Volume one is by far the more light hearted stretch of Von Triers movie and has equally measured moments of joy, pain, humour and shocking images.

Volume two however, is a far more heavy handed affair and things descend into a dark spiral as time progresses as Joe enters a bizarre relationship with an unnamed Sadist (Jamie Bell) and discovers a way to use her powers of manipulation to use by becoming a shady debt collector for businessman L (Willem Dafoe) which becomes a roaring success- although gives way to one of the movies most unnerving sequences and she humiliates a collectee by stripping and exposing his deepest pleasure by making him get an erection. The images and content compared to the first volume are more likely to make people flinch in their seats, but the overall effect is a powerful one as Joe’s actions begin to develop consequences and also benefits from a jaw dropping last few seconds where events turn on their head!

As a protagonist, the self loathing Joe is a person we should truly dislike with great intensity due to her callous attitude towards sex and her ability to disrupt lives without a second thought. In the films early act we see her frequenting bedrooms and adding fuel to her addiction, as she maliciously denotes in one support group “I love my dark lust”, but as Nymphomaniac rolls along and Joe and Seligman joyful link their stories to a series of literary and religious topics, we see a glimmer of redemption appearing and a renewed hope for a life without sin!

Charlotte Gainsbourg excels as Joe and gives a performance of the highest quality which gives the movie its raw feel but she also is also capable of bringing a stirring feeling to events and through her softly spoken narration, our hearts both warm and shatter sharply! A regular Von Trier contributor, Gainsbourg is fast become of world cinema’s darlings and this film will not do her no harm! But its newcomer Stacy Martin, in a bold and breathtaking début performance who perhaps steals proceedings. The Anglo-Franco actress takes over the lions share of the first movie and demonstrates a great commitment to a role which requires more nude scenes than some will see in an entire career.

Stellan Skarsgard has a blast as the scholarly Seligman and he gleefully links Joe’s stories to his beloved books and listens to her dirty tales without so much as a batting an eyelid! Skarsgard brings the stabilizing force to the movie and gives Joe was she has never had- a friend! Shia LaBeouf proves movies weak link and is not helped by a funny accent that seems to fall somewhere between England, Australian and South Africa- his recent outlandish bag wearing antics have been more impressive than his performance here.

One of the more talked about pictures for 2014, Nymphomaniac Volumes I & II certainly has lived up to the hype and self proclaimed ‘Persona Non Grata’ Von Trier delivers us a movie that few of us will ever forget and experience that is horrifying, awkward, but yet- uplifting and beautiful! What will you think of next Lars?

Lost in a Haze: Review of Filth

Filth

Director: Jon S Baird

By Alex Watson

 

In the mid nineties Irving Welsh’s novel Trainspotting was adapted into an influential piece of British cinema by Danny Boyle and as a result it flew the flag for the ‘Cool Britannia’ but ever since then is writing has been mysteriously absent apart from some versions of his less successful works in the late 90s. But this year, Welsh’s influence is back on our screens as director Jon S Baird brings across a tale of a troubled soul looking for all the wrong answers in Filth.

Detective Sergeant Bruce Robertson (James McAvoy) is a copper with a loose set of moral values and alongside that has an addiction to cocaine and alcohol. Gunning for a promotion to Inspector, Robertson considers himself first in line for the job and after being chosen to head up an apparent racist murder, things seem set in place. But in the midst of his investigating, Bruce’s troubled mind takes a worrying turn into darker territory as he indulges his addiction more- he begins to crack as a result!

Filth is a welcome return of Welsh’s material to cinema and this is thanks to its memorable protagonist Bruce Robertson who is makes for an unlikely hero on screen. As a man he is a detestable tormenter due to his apparent mistrust and hatred for the human race and at any opportunity Bruce preys on weak minded and any others he considers lower than him. For this he skilfully manipulates his work colleagues such as Ray Lennox (Jamie Bell) and he his pathetic and gullible ‘best friend’ Clifford (Eddie Marsan) whom he makes perverted sex calls to his wife Bunty (Shirley Henderson) sounding like Frank Sidebottom!

All the way through we have to take Bruce at face value and even though his acts such as deliberately stealing a kids balloon and releasing it and paying an individual to make his colleague look homosexual (which incites one hell of an incident) we amazingly hope that this man will gain some kind of a conscience. But during his coke induced hallucinations- there is a window in his soul as he speaks to his shrink eccentric Dr Rossi (Jim Broadbent) and this could almost be seen as his confession of his crime and we begin to wonder just what has driven this man to become the mess we see before us, as Bruce says whilst coming down from a high “I used to be a good man”

The final act however is where Filth does lose a few brownie points a Bruce goes from being a casual abuser to a follow blown madman- Bruce’s grip over his people has slipped and he absolutely hates it, but in trying to reclaim it his actions become increasingly erratic and the tone of movie takes a gloomier and more psychedelic tone. But in doing this the final ‘big reveal’ will not satisfy everyone because although clever, it does disappoint us somewhat but nonetheless it keep us thinking!

James McAvoy feels born to play troubled copper DS Robertson and this role feels like the flipside of his role in Welcome to the Punch and as the antihero he gets a meaty role to sink his teeth into and his presence from the very get-go dominates the film. But around him is a fine supporting cast including film regular Eddie Marsan who is superb as his naive bestie Clifford who although is driven to the point of destruction by Bruce, never once clocks on to his schemes!

Jamie Bell, Gary Lewis and Shirley Henderson are all fine in their respective roles but its the bizarrely Australian accented Jim Broadbent as his Dr Rossi who stands out most as his presence both amazes and terrifies us at the same point as he gradually chips away at Bruce’s arm until his mind falls to pieces!

Filth proves there is life yet in the works of Irving Welsh and this film is probably as close as he has come to hitting mainstream cinema and Bruce Robertson will no doubt go down as the one of the more fascinating character pieces of this year if not the history of British cinema. Also if you ever wanted to kick the habit and keep your mind stable- this film will provided the key!