Film Review: Slow West (15) (U.K./New Zealand 2015) (Director: John McLean), Cameo Cinema, Screen One, Edinburgh, Sunday 05.07.2015, 18:15

This is the feature début of a former member of Edinburgh's The Beta Band. It is a Western, though everything I heard about the film beforehand lead me to understand it is not a typical Western, thankfully as I am not a big fan of the genre. The poster looks woozy and colourful and the lead looks rather effeminate. The basic premise is that a young man called Jay (Kodi Smit-McPhee) from Scotland travels to the United States of America seeking out his childhood love. Near the start of the film, he gets some company on his adventure, in the form of Michael Fassbender, whose purpose is unknown to Jay. 

There are nice bits of dialogue, particularly a phrase that stayed with me, which goes along the line of 'in a short while, this will be a long time ago'. Which struck me as encapsulating the way that humans reflect on time, how this is so disconnected to the greater scheme of things, and essentially reflects the transitory nature of everything. 

The lead was portrayed as a quiet, sensitive character, which I found very refreshing for a Western. The film was short, it did not drag, yet had a nice languid pace. The film had nice framing and use of light. The sound and music used was to a degree unusual, though was fitting to the general mood of the film and was pleasing on the ear. Although there are many things about this film that are praiseworthy, it did overall feel rather insubstantial. Over all a decent watch.

Rating: 08/10.          

Film Review: Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief (15) (U.S.A. 2015) (Director: Alex Gibney), Filmhouse, Screen Two, Edinburgh, Saturday 04.07.2015, 15:35

This is a documentary by the person who made the Oscar winning 'Taxi to the Dark Side' (2007) & 'The Armstrong Lie' (2013). 

I would say that this is a riveting watch as the film-maker presents what appears to be a very thorough and well researched case showing the Church of Scientology may be a glorified tax haven. Though there appears to be an even stronger case to say that those at the very top of this tree, subject at least some of those below them to physical abuse and there are testaments stating that the Church imposes or tries to impose divides between families. 

Most appalling are the testaments claiming that female members who have to have a 'top-up' of Scientology ways, are deprived of their liberty while having to go through this. - If they have young children, it is claimed that they are kept separate from their mothers during this, and there is a mother who speaks of finding her young baby neglected in a cot with their eyes covered in a mucus.

On a lighter note, there is footage of Mr. Thomas Cruise Mapother IV, speaking at events and on behalf of Scientology, which I feel shows that pretty much all of his mannerisms and gestures that you see in other interviews and in his limited range of acting, is directly and strongly influenced by this hooey. There is also a case presented that at one time Scientology lackeys had been instructed to find Mr. Thomas Cruise Mapother IV a new girlfriend. Footage is then shown of Mr. Thomas Cruise Mapother IV with this lady who I had never heard of before. On a sterner note there are voices in the film, that suggest that they think that it is Mr. Thomas Cruise Mapother IV, who is the one close to the top that should be taking an interest and a stand in regard to the allegations concerning abuse and accumulation of ridiculous wealth. 

The Catholic Church may still, though certainly used to encourage their congregations to not read to Bible themselves and to just accept what the priest spouts from the pulpit. The Church of Scientology apparently tell their followers not to Google Scientology. This should not be surprising, though I do feel that it is sad that in this age of free access to so much information, that there are still people in supposedly advanced nations who will voluntarily accept a curb on their liberty and ability to make informed choices. 

There is no fancy jumps or anything which stands out in any innovative manner regarding the actual presentation of the film, though it is a solid absorbing film. I fully understand if people feel 'well I already know they are weird' and who may therefore ignore the film, though I would say that it is always good to be clear as to exactly why something is not acceptable. This is not a film which needs to be seen at the cinema, though if you spot it in the television scheduling, give it a go.

Rating: 10/10.