Hey folks, Harry here... Sounds like they've been showing some good stuff up at the Edinburgh Film Festival in... um.. Edinburgh, like duh... Anyways, I'm dying to check out DARK WATER, THE IDOL and MY LITTLE EYE. I've heard really good word about all three of those films for quite some time now. I think it is time that I check em out!
Hi there,
Don't usually write in but I'm at the Edinburgh Film Festival at the moment and had a few films I felt I needed to comment on:
First up the good:
Two of the best films shown so far were seriously creepy Japanese horror title Dark Water and French-language drama The Idol (L'Idole).
DARK WATER
Dark Water will appeal to any fans of cult classic Ring and Hong Kong film The Eye. Without giving anything important away it is about a mother who splits from her husband and while battling for custody of her daughter moves into an apartment block where she experiences disturbing visions which may be her own paranoia or something more sinister. This film is expertly played. The dreary atmosphere set up by the constant rainfall, muted colours and dark lighting makes for a particularly spooky atmosphere. It also refrains from going down a daft "oh come on!" route as so many horror films do and doesn't obey any of the so-called "rules" of the genre concerning people's fates etc. See this if you dare, but try because its fantastic.
THE IDOL
The Idol is a fascinating concept as it is made by an Australian director (Samantha Lang) and stars two US actors (James Hong - who apparently didn't speak a word of French when he was cast - and Leelee Sobieski) and is made in France in French. The story is a beautiful drama of two outsiders who become neighbours in a French apartment block and are brought together by their loneliness. They strike up a grandfather-granddaughter sort of relationship that reminds you of that in Three Colours: Red. However here it is the old man who is the sweet, kindly character and the young girl who is difficult and cruel (the opposite to TC:R).
Hong is a revelation in a rare leading role in a language he is not familiar with. He gives a wonderfully measured performance as the venerable wise old Chinese man that is the hinge on which the film swings. Equally good is Sobieski who after a slew of dire formulaic US thrillers (The Glass House anyone!) has found a film that really shows the talent she obviously possesses. She starts off all wry smiles and smouldering eyes but soon is showing a tragic side that is truly sympathetic. The film as a whole (with the exception of the lovely but slightly out of place Woody Allenesque jazz score) works on all levels delivering both a heartrending tragic story in which you really feel connected to the leads as well as spot on moments of humour that do not detract at all from the story. Overall it is a well paced drama that everyone should see and James Hong should receive great plaudits for - I'm starting the best actor campaign here. One particularly stunning and powerful dream sequence will stay with you for a long time after.
MY LITTLE EYE
Have to say by the way I completely agree with the other AICN scooper on My Little Eye. Strong horror/thriller that should be seen.
However, the bad:
REVENGER'S TRAGEDY
For the love of God avoid Alex Cox's pretentious and overwrought Revenger's Tragedy like the proverbial plague. With the exception of Christopher Eccleston the acting is abyssmal. I think Eddie Izzard is great in stand up but will someone please stop him trying to act. I say trying because he unequivocally can not act. Sorry Eddie, you just can't.
Some Cox fans out there will probably try to convince you that this is another "masterpiece" that I just didn't understand - well if that's so then we live in a frightening world where experimentation = masterpiece. I don't have a problem with flashy style and psychedelic imagery but here they just make no sense and add nothing to the story. In fact they are just annoying. It is like Cox has been let loose in a candy store and grabbed everything he can, stuffed it all in his mouth and promptly vomited. Revenger's Tragedy is that vomit - art to some, a big messy pile of stinking revoltion to others! Extreme: yes. Disturbing: no, unless being irritated by pointless camera trickery and plastic props disturbs you. Good: you must be kidding. See it if you want, perhaps you feel you owe Cox for the splendid Repo Man and others but I've warned you and you can't say I didn't.
Call me,
Jack Be Quick
