A gang of young eastern European men and boys hang around the Gare du Nord in Paris looking for marks; seemingly acting as prostitutes there is more to their designs on the clients than getting a few euros for sex. Daniel (Olivier Rabourdin) is a lonely businessman who takes a shine to Marek (Kirill Emelyanov) but his initial plan gets twisted and it has life changing consequences for them both.
romance
Playing it Cool
Commissioned to write a rom-com screenplay our leading man finds himself in a sticky situation, what’s that? He’s never been in love? (and he’s like mid 30s…) Narrator (Chris Evans) then goes out and meets and falls for Her (Michelle Monaghan). And gets really scared and stuff about it all especially as she already has a boyfriend (who we decide is a baddie because he is played by a Brit – big clue he is not the man for her).
Romance
I haven’t read 50 Shades (“housewives favourite” acclaim put me right off) or watched Nymphomaniac (promotional “money shots” of its stars made me retch) nor do I watch actual porn. It was with some trepidation therefore that I approached Romance; a film from 1999 that apparently was a giant shocker to the censors due to its alleged blurring of the lines between traditional film and porn. Continue reading
The Word
Lila (Eliza Rycembel) is a schoolgirl in love; but her boyfriend Janek (Mateusz Wieclawek) has betrayed her with another girl. Seeking revenge Lila puts in motion a chain of events that cannot be stopped leading to terrifying consequences. Continue reading
Obvious Child
Donna (Jenny Slate) is a late 20s stand-up comic with a day job in a bookstore, the film begins with her boyfriend dumping her in the toilets of the bar she does her routines in. As part of her recovery she at some point does the natural thing; gets drunk with a nice looking bloke (Max played with wry face pulling by Jake Lacey) and has a one night stand. Continue reading
Amat Escalante the writer and director of Heli
Amat Escalante the writer and director of Heli (released May 23rd) managed to find some time in his hectic promotion schedule to speak to me about his latest project.
Amat, since you finished the film (Heli) how many times have you watched it?
Completely from beginning to end, maybe 2 or 3 times
Are there any scenes you find difficult to watch?
For me it is very personal why I wouldn’t like to watch a scene; usually because it doesn’t come out how I wanted, maybe I wasn’t able to achieve something or I saw some defect. Continue reading
The Quick by Lauren Owen
Without giving too much away this modern gothic pays homage to the great canon that came before it. Set in an imagined underground culture of Victorian London there is a definite steampunk feel to this tale. Continue reading
The Spectacular Now OST
The Spectacular Now is about Sutter Keely (Miles Teller), a high school senior and effortless charmer, and of how he unexpectedly falls in love with “the good girl” Aimee Finecky (Shailene Woodley). Written by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber (500 Days of Summer) it is described as “a vivid, three-dimensional portrait of youth confronting the thrilling and perilous business od modern love and adulthood” – whimsy in other words. Continue reading
Silver Linings Playbook OST
With an original score by Danny Elfman this film is being tipped for all sorts of gongs. Elfman’s contribution on this album is worthy and fitting for a film with a theme of romance and mental health issues – or as the yanks like to call it “kookiness”. Continue reading
Smells like old bittersweet eggnog – Lovely Still
This film is a small affair with some great actors. It’s unusual as having the main characters in this love story as a couple who have had free bus passes for quite some time. But the way their love develops with all its little hiccups and misunderstandings and excitement could be played at any age. Continue reading
siren lane 