I have just walked out of To The Wonder. My stomach just can’t take that much sugar. To be fair, I haven’t seen Badlands – but to date the only thing about Terrence Malick that impresses me is that he wrote Dirty Harry, and even then it was only the rough uncredited first draft. That […]
Category Archives: Film Reviews
June
24
A Scanner Darkly – Richard Linklater and the separation of left and right brain. (film review)
posted by lisathatcher
A Scanner Darkly is easily one of Linklaters best films, and one of the best science fiction films I’ve ever seen. I haven’t read any Phillip K Dick novels or short stories, but according to my reading around, A Scanner Darkly was what he considered to be his best and the work his had been […]
June
24
The Unlikely Maestro – Australian’s win the 2013 Tropfest in New York Competition
posted by lisathatcher
Have a look at this lovely film. Tristan Klein and Nick Baker are $20,000 richer today and are looking forward to a “week of meetings’ with notable executives and producers in Los Angeles, courtesy of the Motion Picture Association” – which is part of the prize. In front of a New York audience of more […]
June
24
Dazed and Confused – Richard Linklater and the horrors of teenage life. (Film Review)
posted by lisathatcher
If I ever say these were the best years of my life, remind me to kill myself. – Dazed and Confused As far as I can tell we’re pretty much done with teen nostalgia. This is partly due to films like Richard Linklaters Dazed and Confused, overdone now-a-days but important and poignant in its day; […]
June
22
Satelite Boy – Catriona McKenzie brings the land to our laps. (Film Review)
posted by lisathatcher
A strange thing happened in Sydney a few years back. A surprisingly gentle wind lifted the orange dust that coats the outback and carried it in an enormous cloud and dumped it on the city. We woke to a strange apocalyptic world where the sky was orange, the sun a muted red ball and all […]
June
18
Sydney Film Festival Round up – 60 film filled years!
posted by lisathatcher
At the suggestion of my good friend Chris over at moviesandsongs365, I thought I’d give a small closing post regarding my Sydney Film Festival experience. I still have reviews to post – a few feature films, the Paradise trilogy, and I’d like to say something about the high quality short films that I saw – […]
June
16
Antichrist – Lars Von Trier and extreme grief. (Film Review)
posted by lisathatcher
It’s difficult with Lars Von Trier. A part of me wants to adore him, but a part of me knows he panders to women, so another part of me looks upon that with suspicion. But not as much as I look with suspicion on men who hate his films – or women who passionately adore […]
June
15
Nerve – Sebastien Guy at the very start of something. (Sydney Film Festival Film Review)
posted by lisathatcher
Nerve is currently showing at the Sydney Film Festival. You can grab your tickets here. Nerve was filmed in fourteen days, which is quite remarkable given it’s real problem is pacing and script. It’s a rather beautiful film, but the writing kills it which means it’s unlikely to find any sort of mainstream release. It’s […]
June
15
Upstream Color – Shane Carruth asks who are we when “it” takes over? (Sydney FF Film Review)
posted by lisathatcher
Upstream Color is currently showing at the Sydney Film Festival. You can get your tickets here. I haven’t seen Shane Carruth’s Primer as yet, but its high on my must see list after watching Upstream Color. This is a film right up my alley – challenging, complex, obtuse and arty. Carruth is a fiercely intelligent […]
June
15
The Bling Ring – Sophia Coppola and the cult of celebrity. (SFF Film Review)
posted by lisathatcher
“At her lawyer’s office, a week before her arraignment, Neiers denied any involvement in the burglaries. “I’m a firm believer in Karma,” she said, “and I think this situation was attracted into my life because it was supposed to be a huge learning lesson for me to grow and expand as a spiritual human being. […]
Lisa Thatcher 