subject: Reviews Of The Latest Movie Releases By The Arts Desk [print this page] In this weeks movie releases on The Arts Desk, weve got animation from the Middle East, a film of inaction from France and a double dose of Ryan Gosling.
First of this weeks film reviews is The Green Wave. Coming several years after Persepolis, the acclaimed animated film about the Iranian revolution, Jasper Rees noted that the premise behind this film is nothing new: Ali Samadi Ahadis part-animated documentary chronicles the state-sponsored brutality meted out to protesters in Tehran before and after 2009s rigged election. But, using the eye-witness testimonies of Mitra Khalatbari and Mehdi Mohseni both now in exile tweets, blogs and mobile-phone footage of the events, it still successfully manages to fill in those gaps left by the media coverage at the time. Alireza Darvish drawings have the look and feel of a graphic novel and powerfully convey both the beauty of the setting and the horror of what went on. The strongest moments, however, inevitably come from the clips of genuine film caught by those right there in the heart of the fray.
The first of this weeks Ryan Gosling vehicles was the film Drive from director Nicolas Winding Refn a prize-winner at Cannes and Nick Hasted could see why. Set in a noir-ish, B-movie-style LA setting and adapted from the crime novel by James Sallis, this brutal story follows the Driver, part-time Hollywood stuntman, part-time getaway-car driver and stock-car driver. We, like his love interest Irene (played by Carey Mulligan who, like everyone in the movie, is very well cast), are irresistibly drawn to him despite his impenetrable ice-cool faade and the wreckage that emerges when the blood begins to flow. Its a far cry from Goslings other offering this week, but this is the role that will cement his status as Hollywoods man of the moment. After a few unsatisfactory offerings of late, Drive is also the film that will put director Refn back on the map.
Matt Wolf, however, was less than impressed by the other of Ryan Goslings movie releases this week: Crazy, Stupid, Love. In this film Gosling plays a self-appointed playboy and sexual guru who makes it his pet project to teach Cal (Steve Carrell) whose wife of 25 years (Julianne Moore) is both having an affair and wanting a divorce - how to score with the ladies. The rather messy plot peppered with various bizarre pairings, illogical mishaps and unoriginal references is best not dwelt on. And to add to its list of offences, Marisa Tomei is woefully underused as the teacher who attracts Cals attentions. Thanks to his charming, mysterious presence, Gosling is indeed the best thing about the film.
In Stphane Brizs Mademoiselle Chambon ASH Smyth found disappointingly little substance. Touted as a modern-day Brief Encounter, the story takes place in smalltown France where a builder, Jean (Vincent Lindon) meets and falls for his sons school teacher, Miss Chambon (Sandrine Kiberlain) and that is more or less the entirety of the plot. There is a smidge of sympathy for the characters, a hint of tension and some flawless performances, but there is frustratingly little action or development, and the style of the piece cannot compensate for it. Add to that the intrusive, exaggerated sound effects and there was little pleasure to be had.
Meanwhile, reviewing this weeks DVD release, Ismene Brown was still enraptured by Wim Wenderss film Pina. Despite losing the glorious 3D element in DVD form, Wenderss intimate cinematic portrayal of choreographer Pina Baushs often unsettling ballet works was still a loving tribute, though of course not quite as good as the real thing.
