Film Review: The Martian 2D (12A) (U.S.A. 2015) (Director: Ridley Scott), The Dominion, Screen One, Edinburgh, Sunday 04.10.2015, 17:00

This is the latest si-fi offering from Ridley Scott. When I was initially aware of it I was not keen from the information I had to go on. As the publicity crept-up I became more intrigued and had a mate ask if I was interested in seeing it, hence going yesterday. 

It was refreshing to have a space film that was not solely ponderously serious. I don't know enough of the science to know where all of the plot holes were. I understand that it is regarded to have made a good effort in regard to the science element, though there were still some aspects I could tell to be fairly ludicrous though they did not jar in terms of conveying the story. Visually it is very engaging and I found it to be an enjoyable watch, though I would not personally go as far as to suggest excellence. A good, fairly engaging watch which did not just feel like fluffy pop-corn. 

Rating: 08/10.       

Film Review: Hard to be a God (18) (Russia 2013) (Director: Aleksey German) (Russian with English Subtitles), Filmhouse, Screen Three, Edinburgh, Saturday 03.10.2015, 13:30

This is a film of epic proportions. From conception to completion the film took fifty years. The film is just shy of three hours though as with any very good film of epic length it is very well paced and never drags. The film essentially concerns a group of Russian scientists travelling to the planet Arkanar, which is still going through a period that we would understand as being medieval. The visitors are meant to be detached observers, though it's Hard to be a God...

The film starts on the alien world and has an unrelenting though steady momentum from start to finish. The films environment is stunningly realised and benefits greatly from the tactile black and white presentation. Most frames a crammed full of squalid, torturous, deformed and grotesque details, drenched in all manner of fluids. There have been entirely justified comparisons to the art of Hieronymus Bosch, and I think this is particularly apt when considering the Hell panel of his triptych 'The Garden of Earthly Delights' (1500). 

This is a film that rewards playing close attention, and it may be hard to follow if you don't. There are also parts of absurd humour which in ways reminded me of both the works of Monty Python, and Vivian Stanshall in the film version of 'Sir Henry at Rawlinson End' (1980). 

Some may find the film a bit grim, though the entire experience is so complete that it truly feels immersive. This is a film which will in no way appeal to a large audience, though there is no question that this is a cracking masterpiece.      

Rating: 10/10.   

Film Review: Mistress America (15), (U.S.A. 2015) (Director: Noah Baumbach), Tuesday 08.09.2013 14:30, Filmhouse, Screen One, Edinburgh

This is a new film by the writer/director, Noah Baumbach, and star, Greta Gerwig, of the excellent 'Frances Ha' (2012). This is a subtle comedy of manners, where the main protagonist for most of the film appears to be a very unsubtle self-obsessed narcissist. The joy of the film is in the attention given to fine details that are brought to life by fine performances, particularly by Gerwig (Brooke), and Lola Kirke (Tracy) who is expected to become Brooke's sister via an up-coming marriage. 

I would say that the film is very good, though I still prefer 'Frances Ha'. The reasoning for this is very simple. Frances Ha's main character was an agendaless naive innocent who was just trying to find some semblance of a way to be. There was no bitterness, resentment, competitiveness or sense-of-entitlement which sadly dog a lot of Brook's actions and expressions. Obviously there is more to Brooke, and I would say that the reason I stuck with this fundamentally largely objectionable character was due to the quality of the portrayal. 

Although the film was very engaging, I cannot consider Brooke to be endearing in the way Frances was. That pretty much sums it up; two very good films, one has a central character who could be considered charming and the other has a central character who I would want to run away from. 

Rating: 09/10.         

Live Performance Review: Laura Marling, Saturday 05.09.2015 19:00, The Forum, Kentish Town, London

THIS IS NOT A REVIEW. FOR REASONING AS TO WHY, SEE THE ENTRY FOR LAURA'S GLASGOW CONCERT ON 25.04.2015.

I indulged myself with the treat of going to this with the reasoning of it being a way of marking a major development in my life. 

This was a special one-off concert which is not part of the touring schedule for most recent album, 'Short Movie' (2015). Due to this I was expecting something a bit different and I was not disappointed. I was in the middle of the front row being treated to a selection drawing from all five of her albums, plus a cover of a Dolly Parton song. 

The performance also included a couple of songs I was keen to hear live though had not heard her perform before, namely 'Once' ('Once I Was An Eagle' 2013) and 'My Manic And I' ('Alas I Cannot Swim' 2008). She was also reworking older songs such as 'Devil's Spoke' ('I Speak Because I Can') in forms I had not heard before, though which worked well and had clearly been carefully considered. 

There was also older songs presented in familiar form such as 'Goodbye England (Covered in Snow)' & 'What He Wrote' (Both from 'I Speak Because I Can' 2010). From what I recall, these songs have been played at most of the performances I have seen her do. I know that 'Goodbye... is one of her favourites which I find very pleasing, though 'What He... is one of my favourites and always beautiful to hear. 

The crowd were crazily enthusiastic and parts of the concert were like a mass sing-along, which was lovely to be a part of. The venue was not particularly big, I would estimate about halfway between the size of the Picturehouse (which used to be in Lothian Road in Edinburgh) and the Academy in Glasgow. A good size of room for harnessing the enthusiasm of her devoted followers. 

So my favourite living musician has again put on a great show. That's now nine times I have seen her perform and I have never yet been disappointed. I now look forward with anticipation and intrigue for her next Long Player. Fabby. 

Film Review: 52 Tuesdays (15) (Australia 2013) (Director: Sophie Hyde), Filmhouse, Screen Two, Edinburgh, Friday 21.08.2015, 20:15

This is by the same director who made 'Life in Movement' (2011), the excellent documentary about the choreographer Tanja Liedtue. Though I only became aware of this fact after I became interested in seeing this film due to it's personal relevance to my life. 

52 Tuesdays focuses upon a mother transitioning to be male and how this impacts on his teenage daughter. The title refers to their agreement to meet every Tuesday throughout the first year of the transition, while the daughter stays with her father. 

I will get my one tiny quibble out the way, it did feel ever so slightly long. Having said this I felt it was a beautifully acted, balanced and considered film. If people find it difficult to define what exploitative is, they should watch this and then consider what would be the polar opposite to it, and they would be on the money. I feel quite overwhelmed that there is such a positive though complex portrayal of this nature publicly available. 

I found the film very moving, though as I said at the start, I have to acknowledge how personal this is to me. Having said this, I would find it hard to imagine any decent person seeing this as anything other than a profoundly humane and engaging film. For the average punter I would still give this ten out of ten, though due to how affecting I found it, I don't feel I can give it a rating reflecting my feelings towards this. In a completely different way, I see this as being just as important a film as my favourite film of last year ('Ida' 2013). 

I'm sat feeling and thinking I should try to say more. I don't feel I really can without getting silly, I think this is more of a reflection of how positively affected I am by this. Thank you Sophie Hyde and everyone who worked on this.   

Film Review: The Diary of a Teenage Girl (18) (U.S.A. 2015) (Director: Marielle Heller), Filmhouse, Screen Two, Edinburgh, Thursday 20.08.2015, 20:45

The film is set in 1976 San Francisco, a time oft referred to as sexually permissive. British actress Bel Powley plays the teenager of the title, Mini, who at the age of 15 is going through her period of sexual awakening. Kristen Wiig plays her hedonistic flake of a mother and Alexander Skarsgard plays her mother's highly dodgy boyfriend. 

I felt that the film did a good job of capturing the nievity and sweet innocence of a child at this stage of adolescence, without falling into the typical American trap of having to make it overly sweet and mawkishly sentimental. It was also refreshing in that the only character who appears to do any learning is Mini who appears to learn from her various experimenting (and to an extent betrayals) in terms of sex (with males and females) and drugs. By the end of the film Mini is more self-assured and is no longer desperately reliant upon the displays of interest from others. 

The film has some very frank and funny passages without becoming overly explicit. I don't really understand why this needed to have an 18 certificate, as I don't feel it contains anything that a 15 year old would not be able to handle, and there may even be some 15 year old's who would benefit from seeing this. 

A very enjoyable watch and recommended, particularly for the younger viewer. 

Rating: 08/10.  

Film Review: A Girl At My Door (18) (South Korea 2014) (Director: July Jung) (Korean with English Subtitles), Filmhouse, Screen Two, Edinburgh, Thursday 20.08.2015, 18:10

This is a rarity from South Korea, being a film by a female director that also contains elements about homosexuality. The film begins with  a female police chief arriving at a new post in a remote fishing village. The film contains themes regarding child abuse and how communities make allowances for this sort of thing, alcoholism and the manipulative prejudice directed towards someone for what could be seen as the merest public display of sexually transgressive behaviour. The film also has plot development hinge on the community assuming that if someone is homosexual then any interest they show in trying to assist someone who is younger than them and of the same sex must be sexually based. 

I felt that the film managed a very fine balance of these differing elements. I also felt that the film did a fine job of capturing the sorts of maladaptive behaviour that can be displayed by someone who has experienced verbal, physical and possibly sexual abuse for a very long time. 

The subject matters I felt to be sensitively handled and the film never veered into gratuitous sensationalising. The film also left me as a viewer with many elements to ponder. A fine piece of film making and highly recommended. 

Rating: 10/10.