Another Year

Genre: psychological drama

With: Jim Broadbent (Tom Hepple), Ruth Sheen (Gerri Hepple), Lesley Manville (Mary), Oliver Maltman (Joe Hepple), Peter Wight (Ken), David Bradley (Ronnie Hepple)

Director: Mike Leigh

Release: 2010

Studio: Thin Man Films, Film4, Focus Features International et al.

Rating: 14A

MBiS score: 7.7/10

She’s a Puzzle All Right… and One Big Piece Is Missing

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Story-line: Tom Hepple, a geologist, and his wife Gerri, a psychologist, know how to keep busy even when they’re not at work. They can always spend time gardening, worrying about their son Joe or entertaining friends, especially Mary, Gerri’s co-worker at the community centre…

Pluses: Mike Leigh’s truthful and finely observed screenplay, precise and natural acting by Lesley Manville and cast, sober direction, a bittersweet tone that becomes darkly humorous in the final act.

Minuses: since the story depicts daily life over four seasons, ANOTHER YEAR is rather slow, action is minimal and some dialogues feel like idle chit-chat. Such shortcomings are compounded by an uninspired score.

Comments: Tom and Gerri may get top billing but it’s really Mary, a troubled soul and a more complex character, who supplies the drama and spices up the narrative. In these times when women are consistently underemployed or misrepresented in film, Mary’s presence alone makes this movie a work of value. ANOTHER YEAR may not be Mike Leigh’s best but, considering its good intentions, a minor Leigh is still worth more than many motion pictures out there.

MBiS

© 2016 – All rights reserved

Atanarjuat, la légende de l’homme rapide

English title: Atanarjuat, the Fast Runner

Genre: adventure drama in the wild

With: Natar Ungalaaq (Atanarjuat), Sylvia Ivalu (Atuat), Peter-Henry Arnatsiaq (Oki, chief Sauri’s son), Pakak Innuksuk (Amaqjuaq, Atanarjuat’s brother), Lucy Tulugarjuk (Puja, Oki’s sister), Eugene Ipkarnak (Sauri)

Director: Zacharias Kunuk       

Release: 2001

Studio: Igloolik Isuma Productions Inc., Aboriginal Peoples Television Network et al.

Rating: 14 A or R

MBiS score: 8.4/10

Sometimes You Should Fight, Sometimes You Should Run Away

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Story-line: in the Arctic, an unhealthy rivalry between members of a jinxed Inuit tribe gets even worse when a young woman promised to the chief’s son wants another man as her lifemate.

Pluses: superb scenes detailing traditional life in the Arctic (manual labour, hunting, igloo construction), a grandiose and riveting story based on a Northern legend, irreproachable acting, top-flight direction.

Minuses: the first half-hour may seem less interesting to us Southerners since it deals with Inuit customs and mythology but, once Atanarjuat and other characters have reached adulthood, the story takes off and doesn’t let up.  

Comments: though they worked in barren locations and with limited resources, Zacharias Kunuk and crew have achieved a miracle, a stunning film that was justifiably honoured at the Cannes Festival. For a visual and quasi-spiritual experience like no other, do see ATANARJUAT, THE FAST RUNNER.    

MBiS

© 2016 – All rights reserved

To Kill a Mockingbird

Genre: social drama (in black and white)

With: Gregory Peck (Atticus Finch), Phillip Alford (Jem), Mary Badham (Scout), Brock Peters (Tom Robinson)

Director: Robert Mulligan

Release: 1962

Studio: Universal International Pictures, Pakula-Mulligan, Brentwood Productions

Rating: PG

MBiS score: 8.4/10

A Lesson about Tolerance and Kangaroo Courts

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Story-line: in the Deep South during the Depression, a widowed lawyer tries to raise his children respectably while handling a racially-charged rape case.

Pluses: Horton Foote’s screenplay based on the celebrated Harper Lee novel, a strong cast anchored by Gregory Peck, quality direction. 

Minuses: none whatsoever.

Comments: even today, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD remains a classic film about good, evil, fear and misconceptions. As Atticus reminds his little Jem, ‟There's a lot of ugly things in this world, son. I wish I could keep 'em all away from you. That's never possible.”

MBiS

© 2016 – All rights reserved

Trainspotting

Genre: comedy drama  

With: Ewan McGregor (Mark Renton), Jonny Lee Miller (Sick Boy), Robert Carlyle (Begbie), Ewen Bremner (Spud Murphy), Kelly Macdonald (Diane), Kevin McKidd (Tommy), Susan Vidler (Allison), Peter Mullan (Swanney)

Director: Danny Boyle

Release: 1995

Studio: Channel Four Films, Figment Films, The Noel Gay Motion Picture Company

Rating: 16

MBiS score: 8.3/10

Getting High on Dope, Getting By on Hope

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Story-line: in contemporary Scotland, Renton and his misfit friends face a bleak future as they struggle with drugs, love interests and pressures to conform.

Pluses: excellent acting by Ewan McGregor (the likeable addict), Jonny Lee Miller (an untrustworthy pimp and dealer), Robert Carlyle (the dangerous one) and Ewen Bremner (a hapless, hopeless loser), hilarious dialogues and foul language, fast-paced action, editing and direction, John Hodge’s screenplay based on an Irvine Welsh novel and, of course, Renton’s encounter with the dirtiest toilet in Scotland.

Minuses: though it depicts several tragic events, the movie as a whole is no downer.

Comments: with TRAINSPOTTING, Danny Boyle has crafted a film as vibrant and entertaining as any in recent cinema. The movie’s ending will make you feel incredibly alive and very satisfied. As Renton eloquently puts it, ‟It's a shite state of affairs to be in, Tommy, and all the fresh air in the world won't make any fucking difference!” Enough said!

MBiS

© 2016 – All rights reserved

Corbeau (le)

Genre: mystery (in black and white)

With: Pierre Fresnay (Doctor Rémy Germain), Micheline Francey (Laura Vorzet), Pierre Larquey (Doctor Michel Vorzet, Laura’s husband), Héléna Manson (Marie Corbin)

Director: Henri-Georges Clouzot

Release: 1943

Studio: Continental Films

Rating: -

MBiS score: 8.4/10

A Pen Dipped in the Well of Revenge

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Story-line: a doctor newly settled in a French provincial town is the target of anonymous letters that ultimately distress many in the community.

Pluses: strong storytelling that keeps you on tenterhooks, tailored dialogues, shades of humour and cynicism.

Minuses: none whatsoever.

Comments: LE CORBEAU (which means ‟the Raven”) is the work of a formidable French director and an easy match for Hitchcock’s best. Although it was released seven decades ago while France was at war, this splendid film has aged gracefully and is still more intelligent than many of today’s high-gloss thrillers. No fooling!

MBiS

© 2016 – All rights reserved