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joeldodd
Reviews
Caught (2017)
Creep Factor 10+
If you want a movie that explains everything explicitly, this is not for you. The plot takes you through the course of a single day that, for the English couple, gets progressively worse.
There are many metaphors at work here, but Cian Barry and April Pearson take creepiness to new heights - whether it is his turn as Bryan Ferry's psycho idiot brother or Pearson's disintegrating zombie - and their naivety about the human world is at odds with what we expect. This is seen in Crow and Sumner's 1972 vintage couple, who frame the events and their visitors in the context of what real people, in the real world would expect. They do not confuse a fictional world of zombies and alien invasions with reality so, if you are used to seeing movie characters default to "aliens, of course!" or "Zombies, what was I thinking?" then this is not for you. You are expected to do some thinking and speculation of your own.
Claire in Motion (2016)
A sensitive view of neglected relationships
This is a very thoughtful story that some people may have difficulty coping with, as it has no special effects, no major reveal or build to a climax that answers all questions. No, this is not like that. It is a study of human experience, a section of the lives of a wife and son left behind by the disappearance of the husband/father. As she encounters strangers who knew her missing husband, she comes to realise how much she did not know about the one man whom she was supposedly closest to. People have their secrets, sometimes purposefully hidden, sometimes open to those who can see them but unknown to those who have lost their focus. On the whole the characters were believable, although a couple were clearly under- developed devices to help the story along. The photography was well executed, despite the frequent lens flare, and the use of lighting and variable exposure levels were a subtle enhancement of the woman waking slowly to the harsh reality of abandonment. Yes, the execution is flawed in places, but the movie flowed along well enough. There are a few levels that can be unpacked in the story and how the characters interact, but if you prefer facile, strictly linear formulaic movies with action, body counts, CGI etc, then this is not for you. If you appreciate a "slice of life" approach with sensitivity to shifting emotions and neglected relationships, then this is worth a watch.
Outlaws and Angels (2016)
Classic homage to Peckinpah with real issues
If you are oblivious of the heritage of westerns as a genre, then many aspects of this movie may not be relevant. If you try to avoid real issues around domestic violence and "Christian" role models molesting their daughters, then you will find this movie confrontational. That said, the plot is well-crafted, the acting is excellent and the themes that the movie deals with, while unpalatable to some, are very real in our communities, and always have been - just not talked about openly. Family secrets, closets of skeletons. This story is about a young woman who sees a chance to escape from her less than ideal family life, and exploits the opportunity. Yes, the movie does have a few weak points, but they do not detract from the strengths of the cast and direction. Scenes of violence are reproductions of the classic Peckinpah style, and remain in context of a thread of dark humour running through the movie that surfaces most frequently in the development of the outlaws' personalities. I rate it 10 not as a perfect movie, but one that is well crafted and holds a mirror to the false morality of families who mask their abusive relationships with a veneer of respectability. If you give credence to those who rated it less than 3, you should see more classic westerns (sixties to eighties), research rates of incest and domestic violence, and read "Tess of the D'urbervilles" - not a western, but a classic of social mores and what a woman can do to escape social judgment. As a comparison, Francesca Eastwood made a better western than her brother Scott. She has truly earned her Eastwood stripes.
The Inhabitants (2015)
A realistic sleeper
The story develops through regularly-placed reveals of clues and information about the history of the house, but with the absence of direct explanation, so often expected by on-demand viewers the viewer is expected to think, to ask questions and to construct their own ideas about the house and its inhabitants - are they protecting the owners, the house, or their survival? How reciprocal is the relationship between the inhabitants and the owners of the house? The soundtrack is minimalist, although the "spirit presence" chords are overly repetitive. It is hard to find anything truly original, as there are only so many rearrangements of plot details and stories. What we found refreshing was the realistic pace - passage of time, how the characters pass their time is more realistic than many movies. Face it, regular life is mundane and we have our daily routines. It is this aspect that the film captures and that some, who want a succession of revelatory thrills and shocks will sorely miss. Yes, the plot is derivative, but the style is subtle. If you expect CGI gore-flecked action go somewhere else. If you want a more nuanced, human-paced chill, this is worth a view.