Mixed bag

A mixed bag from the video store.



Cemetery Junction

One from my beloved "English movies" genre. This movie is written by the genius team of Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. It slots into the "Shirley Valentine", "Billy Elliot", "Brassed Off" and "Full Monty" category in portraying the not-to-be-underestimated hopelessness of small town England, this time in the early 1970s. Maybe it is still like that today - learned depression in unattractive towns that are there to support the dying industries of mining and manufacturing. The difficulty of escaping the horror of not only insular but intensely local mindsets, where the town has been good enough for generations of the family, so should be good enough for the current crop of young adults. The English were once known as explorers and adventurers, they discovered and colonised half the globe. Looks like all those ones left, and the remainder missed out on the outward-looking gene. I think they all went to New Zealand and Australia (voluntarily or not) - those guys travel a LOT.

Back to the movie. Gervais has a role as the querulous father of our go-getting main character. Merchant has a tiny (well not physically) but funny role, just a line really. Most of the actors are relative unknowns, ie not big stars, and they do a wonderful job. Look out for Snork's bizarre self-designed tattoo, and his creditable Slade performance. Ask yourself - does your husband say thank you when you give him a cup of tea? I liked this movie, but then I have a positive prejudice towards English movies. It's small, it's subtle and it is satisfying. The characters are totally recognisable. Contemporary music and fashion sets the scene and once again I noticed the lighting. I liked it but I'm accustomed to English movies. It may be too subtle for those used to larger-than-life cinematic endeavours. Not a James Cameron sort of thing.




Next

Nicholas Cage as a magician who can see two minutes into his own future. Somehow he can run various scenarios and chose the right course of action. That's a bit bizarre and can be confusing. Julianne Moore, a cop with imagination, believes in his talent and forces him to find out where a nuclear bomb is hidden. Meanwhile he is shacked up at the Grand Canyon with a very unwise and gullible Jessica Biel. Nice scenery, good use of music, interesting effects. A good story, but Cage doesn't change his facial expression and once again, is not believable as a magical person. Maybe I should change my attitude and view his acting as subtle, but then I might have to do the same with Helen Hunt. Worth watching.



Priscilla Queen of the Desert

What can I say - an Aussie icon. Like English movies, Australian productions have a feel, an attitude, and most of them are pretty good. Did anyone see "Don's Party"?This one feels a little like the wonderful "Muriel's Wedding" with obligatory Abba. Priscilla has made it to the stage. It's about trannies going to perform a drag show in the outback, travelling in a bus which they name Priscilla. Fantastic performances from Stamp, Weaving and Pearce (what a hunk - remember him from Neighbours, I think he was Mrs Mangel's nephew) as the drag queens. A good show all round. Great costumes, incongruous against the harsh scenery, and a nice story.



I think summer is over. It is still warm but not overwhelmingly so. It's a little sad. Now we have the winter to look forward to. We are thinking of moving to somewhere that the winters are less harsh. Unfortunately it is a place where the summers are even hotter!