Film Review: Remake, Remix, Rip-Off (Germany/Turkey 2014) (Director: Cem Kaya) (Turkish with English Subtitles), Cineworld, Screen Twelve, Edinburgh, Sunday 21.06.2015, 20:35 (Edinburgh International Film Festival 2015) (U.K. Premiere)

The advertising blurb for this film states that it is about 'Copy Culture and Turkish Pop Cinema'. Ostensibly it is, though pretty soon it becomes clear that the film has no real sense as to what it is trying to say or what it is focusing upon. 

There are several very funny clips of films that look awful in terms of visual quality (for example pinched Star Wars footage with some Turkish footage plonked on top) and where the same stories are being blatantly retread again and again. 

There are several amusing anecdotes as well, though there are passages that don't appear to add anything. Sadly the film dragged towards the end. The large font text on screen, there to help understand what the examples are that are being shown, sadly add to the confusion, as try to say too much in too many languages at once. 

Regrettably a film that should have offered some understanding as to why Turkey had this conveyor-belt of nonsense whilst at the same time producing reputable films, in my eyes waisted it's opportunity to be interesting. 

Sadly, just before the end of the film, there is a glimpse of the frustration felt by a 'director' who never got to make a proper film. This is far more the detail I would have liked the film to focus upon. Maybe this is a way of some mystique being kept. Possibly Turkish Pop Culture Cinema needs people to just accept without understanding the nitty-gritty. It is after all harder to laugh when you know the details that are lamentably pitiful and tragic. Sadly I don't feel I can recommend this even for those interested in the weirder elements of life. 

Rating: 04/10.        

Film Review: Amy (15) (U.K. 2015) (Director: Asif Kapadia), Filmhouse, Screen One, Edinburgh, Thursday 18.06.2015, 20:35 (Edinburgh International Film Festival 2015) (U.K. Premiere)

This documentary was helmed by the man behind 'Senna' (2010), and has a similar presentational style. All footage is archival and the detail is fresh and insightful, giving voice the childhood friends and others who had substantial relations with this bright and brassy musical voice. 

To consider how much this young lady was pushed into the spotlight and how relatively recently this was, the fact that this does not feel tired or rehashed, reflects on what must have been considerable care taken by those piecing this together.

I would pretty much take it as a given that any one going to see this will already be aware of the tragic nature to the ending of this tale and the film is suitably sombre in this regard. There are no great surprises in terms of story arc, the sustenance is in the details. Details such as she did not expect her sort of music to become huge in the way it did and she had a sense that she would not handle that level of fame. Sadly the film also shows that due to a mixture of nievity, ignorance and self-interest, a number of significant people around her could not consider her best interests at times when this is what she really needed.

I still find Amy's classic second and final album, 'Back to Black' (2006), difficult to listen to, knowing the spiral she entered and could not leave. The film has raised again my sense of voyeuristic discomfort at how life turned out for this young lady with such (mishandled) potential. Despite the film drawing me to this heavy area for my thoughts to dwell, I am very glad I saw the film and feel that it is much richer than I had anticipated. For those who found pleasure in her voice, although it is not happy experience, I recommend this film. 

Rating: 10/10. 

           

Live Performance Review: Chet Faker, Tuesday 09.06.2015, 19:00, O2 ABC, Glasgow

This was pretty much a punt. Colleagues had suggested it and it was not expensive, so I thought why not. The music had similarities to the likes of Massive Attack, generally had a nice groove and most of it was quite easy to loose yourself within. The music was mostly of a good standard while Chet was accompanied by other musicians on drums and guitars/keys, though when he was by himself he did become slightly overindulgent at times. At times it also appeared as though the vocal levels were swamped by the music levels, making the vocals hard to discern. The lighting was well controlled and used impressively to assist with conveying the tunes. Mr Chet did also have a bit of a 'white-sole boy' look about him both in dress and in movement, though also managed to not be annoying with this. There was also some nice (Aussie) banter especially when he asked the audience to not use there phones for the duration of a song. I have a sense that what I have written is a very mix bag, though I am very definite in saying that this was in all an enjoyable evening with some pleasant and pleasing tunes.

Rating: 06/10.         

Film Review: A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night (15) (U.S.A. 2014) (Director: Ana Lily Amirpour) (Persian with English Subtitles), Cameo Cinema, Screen One, Edinburgh, Saturday 23.05.2015, 13:40

This is a film which has been termed as an 'Iranian Vampire Western'. It was shot in California with money from the U.S.of A. by an Iranian woman who was raised in the U.K.. 

The film is set in 'Bad City' with the titular girl going out and about the city at night on her skateboard, shrouded in her hijab, sucking blood from locals. The film is beautiful to look at in striking monochrome and it has a very pleasing soundtrack. Sadly this is where the positives end. The story itself was very flimsy and this was most certainly a case of style over substance; by the end I was aware of thinking 'O was that it?'. Despite this I did enjoy the film though I would see no need to return for a second screening. The end result did not compare to the prospect of the premise. I would neither encourage or try to dissuade people from going to see this.   

Rating: 07/10. 

Live Performance Review: Derren Brown: Miracle, Wednesday 20.05.2015, 19:30, Edinburgh Playhouse, Edinburgh

This is the forth time I have seen the master perform live and he does request that his congregation don't spill the secrets of the show, and I wouldn't wish to let him down. 

Suffice to say the second half does delve into the miraculous. This performance had what I would consider to be the biggest 'what the f***' head-scratchers yet from any performance I had seen him do. There were also elements of the show that I consider overwhelming in terms of the profundity of what he conveys. There are nuggets of philosophy imparted which it would be beneficial for me and I suspect many attendees to hold onto. 

The terms 'awe' and 'awesome' strictly speaking should only be used with religious connotations. Since I don't believe in higher beings or 'gods', strictly speaking I should not use these terms. Having said this, within a secular context, there are things that he did that I would consider to be as 'awesome' as it is possible to be. 

Derren Brown is truly capable of so much more than magic or illusion. Seeing the evolution of this grand showman, confirms him to be just that. To anyone who has reservations about 'magic' shows, I encourage you to put this to the side and give him at least a shot. 

Earlier in the year, as part of my plans to scale back on expenditure, I thought to myself that this time being the forth time, would probably be plenty and would surely sate my appetite in this regard. 

I now sit here at my laptop thinking where can he possibly go next in terms of feats of wonder to dazzle his followers with. Given that he tends to come to town every couple of years, I don't feel it is too much to allow myself to add Mr. Brown to the hallowed list of now three artists who I would always try to catch on any new tour. He now has the privilege of sitting amongst the finest of company. 

A cracking evenings entertainment. 

Rating: 10/10.        

Film Review: Mala Mala (18) (Puerto Rico/U.S.A. 2014) (Directors: Antonio Santini & Dan Sickles) (Spanish & English with English Subtitles) (Scottish Premiere), Filmhouse, Screen Two, Edinburgh, Sunday 17.05.2015, 20:35

This is a documentary which follows 9 individuals who reside in Puerto Rico, all of whom identify as transgender in some way or other. It felt refreshing for such a subject area to be focused upon in this manner. 

In the initial section of the documentary it appeared as if the usual stereotypes regarding being trapped in performing drag-acts or as some part of the sex industry where the focus for the film makers. Though I am glad to say that the scope of the film broadened as it went on. 

The film showed mark contrast between people modifying themselves physically to achieve some sense of self-expression and examples where the process either had not gone well due to some back-street/illegal approach or it appearing as if the person had made the modifications for the benefit of others. The film in a gentle way also focused upon prejudice/persecution experienced in terms of normal opportunities within job markets and the ghettoisation of communities and creative self-expression. 

The film also showed that these strong characters are making very reasoned approaches to try to breach the ghettoisation and reach for normal visibility within their society and wider culture. 

I felt the film overall to be fairly well balanced. I appreciated the fact that they did not deny the difficult elements of life for these people, though they did not dwell on the negative either. I did feel though that if the film was slightly longer they could have had greater depth the their depictions of these characters. 

Overall I found the film well made and I have little criticism of it. One thing of note though , towards the end of the film there was a lot of focus, and quite rightly so, on how people who are transgender are so much more than their bodies/sex. This was then followed up by one of the characters dancing around in an overtly sexual manner while the end credits are shown, which felt a tad contradictory. A minor issue, in what was largely an enjoyable and engaging documentary. 

Rating: 09/10.             

Film Review: The Tribe (18) (Ukraine/Netherlands 2014) (Director: Miroslav Slaboshpitsky) (No Dialogue - in Ukrainian Sign Language without Subtitles), Filmhouse, Screen Three, Edinburgh, Saturday 16.05.2015, 20:35

The detail I read about this film before seeing it states that the story is told via Body Language and Ukrainian Sign Language. This sounded intriguing in itself and was the basis for my attending. The film is set in what appears to be a very poorly run residential school for people who are deaf. The characters seem to embrace a feral life and there is abuse within the setting that appears endemic. 

The film appears to very faithfully adhere to the strict requirements of 'Dogma '95'. There is a rawness and brutality to the tone throughout the film, along with a kinetic nature to much of it, which I found to strongly contribute to my experiencing a sense of entrancement. Due to having to focus so much on the visual side of what is presented, there are some scenes which I found to become too much. I was wincing and partially obscuring my view at a couple of points, which is very unusual for me. 

I would not call the film entertaining. I had a sense of it as a film to be endured. The film is by no means an easy watch and I would be vary cautious as to who I recommend to. Having said this, I feel it is only fair to also say that I am very glad I saw this, and that this is a very fresh though unusual film. This is easily the most engaging film I have seen so far this year and it has passages that I am sure will stay with me for some time to come. 

Rating: 10/10.