Film Review: Tracks (12A) (Australia 2013) (Director: John Curran),  The Filmhouse Cinema Screen One, Edinburgh, Sunday 28.04.2014, 20:40

This is based on the true story of Robyn Davidson's mid 1970's trek across Australia's desert (over 1,700 Miles) aided by her black dog (Diggidy) and four camels. 

The lead role is performed by Mia Wasikowska, which to be frank is why I went to see the film. Thankfully by the end of the film I did not feel mealy to be a slave to my attractions as I genuinely found the film to be very engaging. The scenery is gorgeous and the film has a nice pace. 

The film has a good balance between portraying Robyn alone on her journey and showing the times she had to compromise by meeting at intervals with a photographer from National Geographic who had sponsored the trek. There is a passage where is accompanied by an 'elder' so she would be able to make a shorter journey through sacred lands. This did not appear to be portrayed as a compromise.  

It was clear to my how much the film had engaged me when I felt a sadness in response to Robyn's pet dog having to be shot as it had accidentally consumed some poison. Any one who knows me knows I am not a fan of dogs and their passing in a film does not usually stir me in any way. 

The film felt old fashioned, satisfying and also informative. A very pleasant couple of hours.   

Rating: 09/10.

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Addendum:

I did ponder whether to note this next bit as what I am about to note is solely a personal response to the film. I decided to note the following as 'personal responses' are exactly what my reviews are:

I find Miss Wasikowska not unpleasing on the eye. Also I like people who can display a lack of vanity and allow what naturally occurs with bodies, i.e. I enjoy that rare sight of a hairy-pitted lady. The film teases by firstly showing the character having hairy legs during the trek, as to be expected and entirely appropriate given the circumstances. Later there is a scene which shows Mia's character as having substantial armpit bush. When this occurs (I feel tragic revealing this) I was aware of having to prevent myself from making an audible sound. I find the image beautiful, yet finding it beautiful also has a tragic element to it. Tragic, as at least a measure of the beauty seen in it is due to exotic nature of this within western society. I seriously do not feel this should be a rare sight in the western world. If I had any say in the matter I would like for the reverse of what is current to be the case, i.e. hairy armpits the norm, and shaved to be the exotic. 

- There is a serious point to this. This is very un-Hollywood. I feel it is important that there are visual examples for people, particularly young ladies, as to what a young beautiful body naturally looks like when it's not been extensively preened. I feel it is great that here is recognisable actress in a portrayal of a character that presents a riposte to the artificial yet mass-media proliferated western notions or ideas of beauty. All examples like this assist to move away from society where we have such high levels of body dimorphism, as these examples make it explicit that the 'norm' is only that and there are so many other ways to be. I was delighted on a personal aesthetic level and a political level that this was in the film.         

Film Review: Stoker (18), (U.K./U.S.A. 2013) (Director: Park Chan-Wook), Friday 01.03.2013 20:45 & Sunday 03.03.2013 15:40, The Cameo Cinema, Screen One, Edinburgh, & Monday 29.04.2013 20:30 Filmhouse Screen One

As soon as I heard of this film I was intrigued due to it having been made by Chan-Wook Park, the director behind the fantastic 'Old Boy' (2003), though I was also equally put of by it featuring Nicole Kidman, an actress I usually take every precaution to avoid. Having heard some positive crits, I decided to give it a go. 

There are big twists central to the story, so I'll to not say too much in regard to the plot, as to not risk giving away the twists. The film concerns corrosive family secrets, mental illness, sexual awakening and how people are always more than what we know of them. Nicole Kidman's character, the widow, appears pleasingly (in my eyes) dumb by the end. Matthew Goode (recently in BBC2's Dancing On The Edge) is very good as the cold sociopathic uncle Charlie, who the other family members know very little about. 

The central character, the daughter India, is played by Mia Wasikowska. Her performance is extremely impressive, displaying restraint around the judging family and greater extremes elsewhere as a balancing release, while at times appearing to be unsure as to who she sees herself to be. Her manner of holding herself, her movement and what she does with her eyes I found to be quite sharp yet vulnerable and sensual. There are scenes including where she brushes her mother's hair, where she subtly portrays the pleasure of awakening awareness of sex and sexuality, in a manner that I found to be quickening. There is also a 'piano duet' which is particularly well performed and which lingers on the difficulty of restraint when first becoming familiar with arousal.  

The film is stylish and beautiful throughout, with scenes that are surprising as to what is visually focused upon, while bringing out the striking in the mundane. The film has noir elements, there are aspects where it is not clear as to how aware some characters are as to what is going on and therefore how complicit they may be.  

While Old Boy left with a sense of the desperateness of revenge and the restorative power of acceptance, Stoker leaves with a sense of empowerment and chilling nihilistic dislocation.

There are elements such as the arousal created by someone coming to rescue that results in murder, that could be labeled grubby, perverse and that dreaded term 'dark'. I think it could equally been seen as having a refreshing lack of saccharine dusting, and as a legitimate addressing of emotional reactions that are all to possible in real life.

I experienced this as a very satisfying watch of which I could find no fault and which has left elements strongly lingering. I would recommend to others who don't need films to have nice sweet resolutions, though I am clear that this will not appeal to the masses. I was captivated enough that I went to see it twice in three days. Easily the best fictional film of the year to date. (Not even Ms. Kidman could ruin this this one.)

Upon seeing for a third time, I was struck by the plethora of subtleties, an attention to detail & the exquisite imagery and framing throughout; a masterpiece.   

Rating: 10/10.