Hey folks, Harry here. Well overseas in Venice at the Venice Film Festival we get this look at HOLY SMOKE from Smokey. She seems to have absolutely loved this film, which shouldn't come as a surprise given Campion's history, which is fantastic. Well I now really look forward to this film....
Hi Harry
Here's a look at the world premiere of Jane Campion's new film "Holy Smoke". starring Kate Winslet, Harvey Kietel. worth noticing is also a small part for Pam Grier.
It's my first time writing to you because living in Denmark there's not many chances of attending world premieres or sneak previews.
As a big Kate Winslet fan since I first saw her in Peter Jackson's "Heavenly Creatures" in 1995, I have followed her projects with excitement. And when she's doing a movie for the director of one of my all time favorite films; "The Piano", then I can't afford to miss it. "Holy Smoke" went into production in July 1998 in Australia and since then I have been waiting for this day to arrive. It was supposed to premiere at Cannes but they hold it back for a few months to put a finishing touch on it. And I have to say that whatever they have done since May it was definitely worth the wait.
The film opens to the tunes of Neil Diamond's "Holly Holy" and we meet Ruth (Winslet), a 20 year old Australian woman. She's on a journey in India where she decides to stay with a cult and it's charismatic guru. That's not good news to her family back in Sydney and they make up a story about her father's health so she has to return home. Back in Australia P.J Waters (Keitel) is waiting for her. He's a professional "cultbuster" and he and Ruth's family have arranged a three day de-programming in the outbacks of Australia. But this will be the most difficult task yet for tough guy Waters. Ruth learnt something from her time in India and she starts to de-program the de-programmer ! The more time they spend with each other the more Waters is dragged into Ruth's world of spirituallity and most important of all; sexuality. He is obsessed with the way she is able to manipulate him and the further he abandons his reason for being there the closer he get's to an explosive end.
There's no doubt in my mind. "Holy Smoke" is a masterpiece in every way. With an atmosphere close to style of "The Piano". The only problem is that sometimes you feel like; where are we going ?. Starting with the spiritual travel across India and goes into the family problems both P.J and Ruth have. To their intriguing days in the outbacks. But in the end it all falls into place and you will see that this movie is not just a movie. It's a work of art.
I see no reason why this film shouldn't be nominated for a bunch of Oscars and the likes of "The Green Mile" and "American Beauty" has to be really, really special to beat this one for the top award. Winslet should have won the Oscar for her performance in "Sense and Sensibility". Deserved to be nominated for the overlooked "Jude", and was kind of lucky to be nominated for "Titanic". But if she doesn't win it this time, I will loose all the respect I have left for that big monster of a show they like to call The Academy Awards.
Smokey
