Films 2009

Memories of Matsuko - who is Matsuko and what memories are these? Mitsuko was a born optimist, a fervent believer in human goodness. The memories, therefore, are inevitably sad as she discovers the yellow brick road to be tough haul. We discover Matsuko through her brother's quest when he hears of her death (she left home some fifteen years ago). Porn star, convict, hairdresser - these are all part of a less than glittering cv. This could easily have been an unremitting 2 hours of grimness and probably would have been were this film British. But director Tetsuya Nakashima throws everything into this including the kitchen sink (see pic) just as he did with his similarly surreal Kamikaze Girls. The result leaves you reeling as you run the gamut of emotions as the heroine's fate unravels.


Five Minutes of Heaven is ninety minutes of pure tension as Liam Neeson and James Nesbitt battle it out through Northern Ireland's Truth and Reconciliation program. The protagonists are based on real characters from the 'troubles' in the 70s, and both co-operated on the script, though separately for reasons which will become clear. They are almost brought together by a TV program on the subject - a bitter and satirical subplot on the vaccousness of television emerges here. Neeson and Nesbitt are terrific with the former's guilt but inner calm being counterpointed by the latter's ferocious quest for revenge. It's all held together and given a cinematic quality by the direction of Oliver Hirchbiegel, who also made the excellent Downfall.

JCVD - Jean Claude Van Damme in brilliant film shock! Who'd have guessed it? Certainly not JC if you have ask him, at least if this semi autobiographical gem is to be believed. JC plays himself, some would so he always plays himself but in this film he really does. Returning to his Belgian home after a custody battle where his film's are object of the court's derision, he quickly finds himself caught up in a 'hostage situation'. There's much banter about his image as the criminals discuss what to do about their celebrity hostage. The film loses its way a little here, but comes back strongly with a five minute monologue to camera by JC in which he dissects his his life and career. Despite its shaky moments this is one of the best films I've seen this year.


Slumdog Millionaire - Its got oscars and BAFTAs a-plenty but now it gets the ultimate accolade: the Baba seal of approval.

Films 2008 Best Of

It was pretty grim year for cinema with few films finding critical favour, a situation not helped by the collapse of Tartan who were responsible for distributing Asia's best - a gap that has still not been plugged. I was out of the country for about half the year, only fitting then that I have a top 5 rather than a top 10. And so, for your consideration...

Lonesome Jim - comedies about depression are rare things but then so are good American films these days. This is neither blockbuster, obviously, or whiney US indie. It's a film by all round good guy Steve Buscemi. Casey Affleck stars as the eponymous Jim whose sometime girlfriend is played by Liv Tyler. Jim doesn't exactly ooze confidence as this question to his girl illustrates: "There's so many fun and cheery people in the world. Don't you think you'd be better off with one of them?"

Oddball characters abound in the small town setting, in a way that recalls Jonathan Demme's films of the 70s. This almost certainly didn't come to a cinema near you and probably never will. Teach the marketing jerks a lesson and seek this out by any means possible.


Caramel - wonderful female ensemble piece from the Lebanon set a Beirut beauty parlour. It's funny, heart-warming without ever being cheesy and very, very sexy.





The Edge of Heaven is another powerful Turkish/German co production from Fatih Akim. Although lacking the intensity of his previous film Head On, this tale of a Turk searching for the
daughter of a prostitute is father took a shine to, still packs a punch and another great soundtrack.

Shotgun Stories got very positive reviews, though it didn't greatly trouble the box office scorers. A shame as it's one of the best American films of the year.

Beautifully shot in a small town in Indiana it tells of a simmering feud between two families. The brooding menace and outright hate is tangible as it moves towards a powerful climax.


In Search of a Midnight Kiss is an American indie film. Think, a guy with a (shaky) camera telling a story about his mumbling friends in some dire American town. This is beautifully shot in LA in glistening b&w and there's nary a mumble within earshot. The main characters are well drawn and believable and the premise hinted at in the title is captivating. It's far from perfect but its charm edges it through some of the more dodgy moments.