jamesbernasconi1995 Reviews

Corpus Christi (2019)

A heavy exploration into forgiveness and redemption

[9/10 · 23 October 2020]

I think this is my favourite film of the year so far. If you're after something that taps into fundamental questions about how human beings deal with morality and existence, do yourself and everyone you know a favour and go see this film.

'Corpus Christi' reminded me a lot of John Micheal Mcdonagh's 'Calvary'. Not just because it's about a priest (or a pretend one I should say) but mostly because it really dives into the contemporary dilemma the church faces in maintaining its influence in a changing world. Modernity had stripped is of so many valuable virtues, which have left so many of us aimless and hopeless. The raw consequences of this are well and truly depicted in this film.

In a simplistic sense, it is ultimately about seeking and promoting redemption and forgiveness in a world littered with judgement and short-sightedness. Like only a handful of films before it, it manages ti tell the story of a person who is, on paper alone, the definition of pure deviance, but manages to get the full confronting and difficult story across.

This is a powerful prejudice-shattering piece of art that shook me and threw into a new state of mind. It is cinema at its best.

Black Water: Abyss (2020)

A Croc(k) of Hits and Near Misses

[5/10 · 12 August 2020]

When you go to see a film like this, you are an idiot if you are expecting fireworks, but it is nice to see something that exceeds your expectations from time to time.

I saw this film because I am currently working a personal project involving jungles and elusive animals, and I had an affinity for movies like 'Rogue' and 'Black Water' when I was young.

There is a bit of repetitive camera work in the opening scenes (lots of talking heads in particular), which kind of gives off a bit of a free-to-air TV show vibe. But that isn't something to get upset about given that we're talking about a partly government-funded joint released mid-pandemic.

As the story got going, I was glad to see some inventive choices taken. This is despite the film having a claustrophobic simple setting and few characters with which to play. Going underwater in anticipation of the scares was a clever move and I loved when the crocodile's teeth became gradually visible through the murky water.

I also wanted to mention, if I may, that I felt for the director on this one. No one grows up wanting to make a low-budget cash grab, a sequel to a film no one saw ten plus years ago. Something like this would tear you in half I presume. On one hand there are some cool ideas to play with, some creative uses of light to try out etc., but at the end of the day you are (probably) being paid to shoot a big croc munch on a bunch of people. Props go to the creatives behind this one. I had my eyes open for interesting filmmaking and I left the theatre satisfied.