Changeling (2008): review: 7.5/10

 *

A single mother`s chid disappears. The L.A.P.D. return the wrong child, then, when the mother protests, put her in an asylum. She is helped by  an evangelical preacher, who is campaigning against political corruption in Los Angeles. Her child is discovered to have been abducted among many other boys, and subsequently murdered.

The complexities of the plot are deftly handled, and Eastwood maintains tension throughout, though the film does sustain the goodies versus baddies characterisation that invariably drives his work.

Cherry Blossoms (2008): review: 9.5/10

An elderly German couple travel to visit their children, from whom they have grown distant.

The  film starts off satirically, with scenes illustrating quite starkly the generational gap, and the resentments of their children who respond gracelessly to their parents' presence. It also wittily illustrates the barreness of the husband's life attitudes.

From this point, the film takes a surprising turn, taking us to Japan.

It is impossible for me to describe much more without spoiling enjoyment of the film: let me conclude simply that the director and actors succeed in transforming the tone of the film from a social satire into something altogether more sophisticated: a meditation on grief and death and Japan.

Departures (2008): review: 7/10

A 'cellist's orchestra is dissolved: he goes with his girlfriend to live in the house of his deceased mother: he finds work as an assistant to a funeral director.

Apart from making him quite nauseus this seems to cause his superficial girlfriend considerable distress.

This is rather long, but well made, lending interesting insights into Japanese culture.

Strictly Sexual (2008): review: 7.5/10

In L.A., a wealthy aspiring screenwriter and her fashion designer friend meet two unemployed builders, whom they install in the pool house for the express purposes of conducting a purely sexual relationship.

Smoothly made, with good acting and often very funny, the film gleefully describes friendship and gender stereotypes.

Chelsea on the Rocks (2008): review: unfinished film

Length of film: 88 minutes
Length tolerated before switch off: 23 minutes
Percentage suffered: 20.24%

This is a documentary about the New York's Chelsea Hotel and the people who lived there.

Reason for switch off: Just being famous doesn't make someone interesting. The film offers no insights into the creativity of anyone and, more importantly, fails to tell a story, so the interviews conducted are dislocated and boring.

The Great Buck Howard (2008): review: 6/10

Against the wishes of is father, a young mans drops out of law school, seeking to become a writer. To earn some money in the meantime, he takes a job as assistant to "mentalist" showman  Buck Howard, who is attempting to revive his career.

The film parallels the career beginnings of the young man with the older, and the plot is handled deftly. The acting is generally good and the film is never dull.

But there is something unimaginative about the direction, so that the film considerably lacks the atmosphere and passionate engagement that the story and characters deserve.

Waltz With Bashir (2008): review: 8/10

An animated film focussing on an ex-serviceman of the Israeli Defence Force who is puzzed by his recurring dreams of dogs. Wishing to recall his experiences of the Lebanese Civil War he visits his comrades of the time and events leading to the Sabra and Shatila Massacre

The cartoon style is effective at conveying the sense of dream and memory recall, and the it is moving to see the protagonist study himself: the film explores mainly the memory of war, different attitudes to soldiering, to guilt, to trauma.

As a study of the massacre itself, and of specific historical events, however, it is insufficient: but to say that is perhaps to criticise it on the wrong terms.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): review: 7.5/10

A foundling, born with the bodily condition of an old man, becomes physically younger as the years pass. He is captivated by a dancer.

This is an elegantly filmed fable with striking effects and much to divert, but little depth, reminiscent of Forest Gump in it's large scale and ingenuity.

The Burning Plain (2008): review: 2.5/10

In New Mexico and Oregon, hanky panky between Mexicans and Americans leads to all sorts of complications.

A film sunk with sincerity: it drags despite good acting. It also has a fussy plot.

Here is an example of how political correctness can afflict an art form: the aim is to teach, not to divert or suprise. Such films are always humourless because the merchants of p.c know that nothing is so threatenening to their moralistic universe as the spontanity of laughter.

 At times this film approached misery porn.

Hunger (2008): review: 7.5/10

In Northern Ireland's H-block prison Bobby Sands, having smeared excrement all over his walls, and refusing to wash, starves himself to death, thereby leaving the moral nullity of the IRA and its servants in no doubt.

Powerful film with strong, disturbing images, but which answers few questions.

Frozen River (2008): review: 8/10

In New York state near the Canadian border, a poor white woman and a poor Mohawk woman's paths cross over the matter of a stolen car.

The film is bleakly interesting as a study of poverty and race relations between Native Americans and whites: it is difficult to enjoy, though it is expertly made.

Rachel Getting Married (2008): review: 8/10

A troubled woman goes from her rehab clinic to participate as a bridesmaid at the wedding of her sister, where she manages to annoy almost everyone.

Shot in pseudo-documentary big brother style, the film includes some dull passages, which help increase it's realism. The film largely concerns the nastiness of women.

The acting is excellent, so much so that the result is sometimes almost embarassing to watch.

Choke (2008): review: 2/10

An actor on a colonial heritage visitor centre is addicted to sex. He attempts to find out who his real father is by visiting his demented mother in a mental institution: she is relucatant to help him.

Although the film has flashes of comic excellence, it lacks a core and meanders hopelessly.

Man on Wire (2008): review- 9/10

Documentary about a high wire walker and how, with the help of his team, he crosses the gap between the twin towers, New York.

A wonderful film about enthusiasm and triumph.

How to Lose Friends and Alienate People (2008): review- 5/10

An irreverent English journalist gains employment in a New York magazine.

Rapid, silly, and enjoyable film, but which lacks the satirical bite that is required to make it the intelligent farce that Toby Young's book deserves. This is, I think, because satrire needs more true anger behind it to succeed.

The Hurt Locker (2008): review- 8.5/10

The story of three members of a bomb disposal team in Iraq and the tensions arising from their work and their relations.

The film conveys intelligently certain masculine, soldierly attitudes; stoicism, valour, cheerfulness, camraderie, efficiency and aggression: the acting is univerally excellent.

The description of the situation in Iraq is also supurb, full of tension- showing the sense of ambiguity, of uncertainty and strain and the difficulty in defining the enemy.

The film is only let down by the scenes set in the USA, where the lead character's personality bent is given a pat "explanation".

In Bruges (2008): review- 7/10

Two Irish contract killers are sent to Bruges, where they stay in a hotel, awaiting further instructions from their chief

The film begins as a comic double act- later more characters become involved: a love interest, a dwarf and other hoodlums.

It is often very funny: there are appropriately weird "Belgian" elements and is often beautifully shot.

However, the film suffers from an awkwardness of tempo, suffering from occasional languors.

Il y a longtemps que je t'aime / I've loved you so long (2008): review- 2/10

A murderess returns from prison to live with her sister and become rehabilllitated into French middle-class provincial life.

It features all the cliches of "serious" cinema and is ponderous and dull beyond words.

Crips and Bloods: Made in America (2008): review- 6/10

In LA, revolting thugs kill each other, usually using guns.

This, in itself, is certainly a good thing: it's hard to be upset about the gang wars- they are highly localised,and the people involved aren't really very nice. Indeed, it's a pity they don't kill each other more as then the rest of society wouldnt have to pay the cost of incarcerating them.

Lively documentary providing some interesting insights into the history of black LA, and interviews with gang members who speak a sort of English. I fear the film skirts some issues about moral breakdown within black communities, advancing the rise of gangs as necessary response to their situation.

A Complete History of my Sexual Failures (2008): review- 8/10

Doleful comedy in which a film-maker attempts to visit his innumerable exes in London and Scotland to discover why his relationships are so unsuccessful.

Very entertaining, the film serves well as a satire on independent film-making.