HONEST FILM REVIEWS
DRAMA FILMS
POOR THINGS (USA 2023) Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos
Bagging star and producer Emma Stone an Oscar for her performance at the 2024 awards, Poor Things has certainly become the new marmite film for movie-goers with its bizarre Frankenstein-inspired tale, dark humour, and fantastical set pieces that sees Stone play Bella Baxter – a dead woman who was reanimated after having her unborn baby's brain transplanted in her. It's certainly not for everyone and will confuse the majority of its audience in its opening chapter – but there is definitely something that grabs you; intrigues you, and makes you want to know just what the feck is going on!
I went in blind to Yorgos Lanthimos' latest offering completely unaware of the storyline, sexual content, and dodgy accents – but I'd be lying if said I didn't like it. While I don't think it was worthy of a an Oscar win and strongly believe that had the very same work been delivered by an equally talented unknown cast, the film would have been completely shunned and panned, Poor Things was definitely a bizarrely enjoyable experience often coming across with the same amount of artistry and insanity as the finest works of Tim Burton or Terry Gilliam. Proving to be as equally twisted as his peers, Lanthimos delivers a witty, depraved, and original tale that's only really downfall for me was the casting of Mark Ruffalo – a man who clearly didn't know where his character was from, let alone deliver his lines clearly which made for a lot of confusing moments. Personally, I feel that someone such as Hugh Grant or Richard E. Grant would have been a much better choice in his place (both of whom could also deliver a proper English accent without effort).
While I may never return to Poor Things, I would recommend a viewing of it to all – if not to experience Willem Dafoe's great performance, the utterly wild sexual content, and gorgeous production design that makes the story of Bella Baxter's evolution an original and entertaining journey. Voyeuristic, yes. Hilarious, yes. Weird, absolutely. But there's so much more to it, such as seeing past the lab experiment to catch the real monsters of the piece, and ignoring the controversy to experience the adventure. You won't forget it... (4/5) George @invincibleasia
STRANGER IN MY OWN SKIN (UK 2023) Directed by Katia DeVidas
Released on most digital platforms, Blu-ray & DVD by Dazzler Media, Peter Doherty: Stranger In My Own Skin is an intimate, intriguing, and revealing insight to the troubled and controversial life of The Libertines frontman – someone I've generally never been a fan of, although have admittedly enjoyed numerous songs that he has put out over the years. With that said, I still felt the need to keep watching this new docu-film made by his wife, Katia DeVidas, which revealed quite the journey combined from over 200 hours of footage she had been shooting over a 10 year period (which probably would have made for a more interesting piece had it been a six-part series on Netflix)!
While it features some brutal scenes of Doherty's drug use, the addiction itself and fight to break it, including his unfortunate auctioning of guitars and artwork to fund his rehabilitation, and his unsettling state of life in general, the film tends to avoid numerous tabloid nightmares such as the death of Mark Blanco; a man who tragically died after falling from a balcony in East London during a party at a flat where Doherty himself attending. His rocky relationship with Amy Winehouse is also brushed over, as his current relationship with the director. While it most definitely feels like viewers are getting an all-access pass, one can't help but feel like there was so much more that really could have made this a 'must see' documentary, although I mean that respectively.
The life of a rock-n-roll star has long been the subject of myths, legends, and front page headlines, but Pete's is definitely one of the most unfortunate and darker tales I've ever seen. There's a weird likeability about him, often coming across like a blend of Russell Brand and Jack Whitehall, yet at the same time he proves to be equally disgusting, selfish, and lost – a broken genius of sorts who has, like many similar artists before him, fallen far to deep down the rabbit hole. It's a fascinating piece that reminds us all just how fragile we can be, with the evils of peer pressure, the highs of being a celebrity and the costs that come with it. Thankfully, the story does end on a positive note and the scene of Pete's parents joining him on stage to surprise him was especially touching. Stranger In My Own Skin won't be for everyone, but it definitely holds your attention and makes for an interesting, if not eye-opening, 90 minutes that will sit with you for some time. (3.7/5) George @invincibleasia
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PADRE PIO (USA 2022) Directed by Abel Ferrara
World War One has ended. Italian soldiers return home to find their villages broken by wealthy landowners forcing its people into poverty and sickness. A free election threatens to pull them apart while a young troubled priest, Padre Pio, fights to help them while dealing with his own inner demons. Based on the real life stories of Padre Pio himself, and the supposedly true event that caused the stigmata, Padre Pio isn't the kind of film you would want to watch should you need to lift your spirits. In fact, it's quite the opposite!
Directed by praised New York film-maker Abel Ferrara, the very same man behind hit films such as Driller Killer, King Of New York, and Bad Lieutenant, Padre Pio is a dark and intriguing film that got so deep it saw its leading man (the controversial Shia LaBeouf) convert to Catholicism after production. Shooting in and around the home and locations of where the real Pio had lived and walked – with Shia going as far as to sleep in the priest's real bedroom – rumour has it that Willem Dafoe himself suggested to Ferrara that Shia would be best for the role. Clearly engrossed in the story and character of Padre Pio, LaBeouf went on to do the project for free (granted he only flits in and out of the story for about 20 minutes of its running time), and while he does give a powerful performance for the most part, makes no attempt to disguise his American accent like most of his co-stars, which is quite unfortunate.
While I most certainly applaud the effort that went into the production itself, and Abel's decision to deliver it in somewhat of a docu-film style, it would only be fair to say that Padre Pio makes for a hard watch and won't be everyone's cup of tea. It's dark. It's slow. It's depressing. But it's also intense, modest, and clearly a labour of love for those involved. While it made a hugely positive splash during its festival run, it's fair to say that a commercial hit it is not! Still, for someone who has no idea who Padre Pio was, it kept my interest and let me see that LaBeouf can deliver when he has to. Out now across the UK & Ireland courtesy of Dazzler Media... (3/5) George @invincibleasia
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PATHS OF GLORY (USA 1957) Directed by Stanley Kubrick
(G) Stanley Kubrick's highly praised anti-war film from 1957 is delivered in a new stunning 4K restoration as a UHD release on February 26th, courtesy of Eureka Entertainment as part of their Masters Of Cinema series. The film was initially released on Blu-ray by them back in September 2016 (also carrying the same number of 155 from the series), with the new 4K release containing the very same special features as its previous release. These include an informative audio commentary with film scholar Adrian Martin, Interviews with Kubrick scholar Peter Kramer and filmmaker Richard Ayoade, and critic Richard Combs, as well as the original theatrical trailer along with an isolated music & effects track. As always, Eureka provides a wonderfully designed and healthy booklet to accompany the release – but its real highlight, of course, is the new 4K print which looks fantastic!
This was a first watch for me, although I had a few flashbacks of catching it as a kid on television. But for a dedicated first time viewing, Paths Of Glory proved to be an incredible watch. While it caused some controversy upon its release, and more-so with the French to the nature of its story that saw it banned both there and in Spain, its probably less offensive today although its message and significance is still pretty clear. Based on the novel of the same name by Henry Cobb, Kubrick delivers an almost perfect film with Kirk Douglas leading a stellar cast who provide great performances all round. While watching it, I had the impression that it would have made a fantastic stage play and have since learned that it did indeed have a very short run on Broadway back in 1935. Perhaps with today's budgets and theatrical ingenuity, Paths Of Glory would prove a much bigger success as a live show.
Regardless, this 4K UHD release has certainly given me the ultimate experience of this classic film and I'd highly recommend it. Paths Of Glory is powerful, atmospheric, and shocking, offering some emotional performances, fantastic set pieces on the front line, and stunning cinematography, which certainly comes across very clear on this release. It questions humanity and war, based on true events from WWI, that is a definite must see for any true cinephile... (4.5/5) George @invincibleasia
(A) Combining the harsh, brutallic and claustrophobic nature of trench warfare and shedding a light of higher societic negotiation, and opinion on valour, rank, status… Stanley Kubrick’s ant-war feature Paths of Glory showcases the utmost ridiculousness of the First World War, condemning the actions and the privileged notions taken by the higher ranking officers and their ability and downright mockery to waste the lives of thousands of men just to stroke their own ego and valour as they hide in luxurious comforts, whilst lesser-men do their fighting for them.
And, I think that is very poignant when watching Paths of Glory. Kubrick’s message of the film isn’t about the valour, adventure and great service for their country as many men were first led to believe when they intentionally signed up for war, during the Great War, it was a lie sold to them by men deeming it so, and retrospectively speaking audiences and people know and understand the repercussions of World War I , such as the PTSD, shell-shock and living conditions of trench-warfare… but back then the opinion of soldiers that were affected where considered cowardly and met punishment worse that what ‘the enemy’ could provide… abandonment by one’s own country!
Paths of Glory is still to this day a memorising feature that leaves audiences wishing they could look away but just can’t, and along with the visionary direction, grey narrative and bold, commanding performances by all involved, Paths of Glory is not a film should be experience, its a film that needs to be! (5/5) Adam @secondviewing
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THE IRON CLAW (USA 2023) Directed by Sean Durkin
The Iron Claw follows the story of the Von Erich brothers as they attempt to climb up the wrestling industry’s ladder, putting their bodies and lives on the line all in the name of entertainment and glory. A truly gut-punching feature The Iron Claw pulls no punches in showcasing both the shining lights of the industry, as well as physical and mental strain inflicted upon wrestlers, beyond the curtain. A modern classic is not a phrase that I would throw out randomly to any film, but I think that it is sensible to believe that The Iron Claw is just that! From the brotherly bond, friendship, love, triumph and tragedy that all pursues during the course of the film’s runtime, it doesn’t at all feel rushed, congested, overwhelming or forced, it the perfect blend between the overcoming joy and excitement of the sport combining to the brothers’ rise to the top, and the emotional thorn, ‘curse’ that follows the Von Erich family beyond their success. A fantastic tribute that is played beautifully by some of the most exciting up-and-coming actors in the industry. A must see on the big-screen! (5/5) Adam @secondviewing