THE FIGHTER

Rated: MA
Duration: 116 mins
Genre: Biography, Drama, Sport
Director: David O'Russell (Three Kings 1999, I Love the Huckabees 2004, Soldiers Pay 2004, Nailed 2011.  Once again only a handful chosen among many more.) 

 

I challenge anyone to go watch this film and not want to box later, or skip or just take steroids.  Not taking anything away from Mark Wahlberg it is Christian Bale’s film. He doesn’t do things by halves and once again he has shed the kilos and made himself look truly like a man on the edge of existence.

For those of you that don’t know, The Fighter is based on the true story of Micky Ward a fighter who could never break the big time and the family that relied on him for their livelihood.

Christian Bale who has been nominated for an academy award in a supporting role plays Micky’s Brother, Dicky, who was once a fighter also but life’s temptations got the better of him.

The mum is played by Melissa Leo, (TV: Homicide: Life on the Street, Film: 21 Grams and Frozen River) and although l did not recognise her in this particular role, (l did realise who she was after researching for this blog) is amazing.

All the hype you may have heard is all true.  Go see.

BOY

Rating: M

Duration: 87 mins

Genre: Drama, Family, Humour

Director: Taika Waititi (Eagle Vs Shark 2007) Boy was nominated for a Grand Jury prize at the Sundance Film festival.  He didn't get it though Animal Kingdom won.

I was meant to watch this NZ film on the rooftop cinema situated on the top of Curtain House in the city on the 13^th of January with about 7 of my friends. However Mother Nature had other ideas and that was the week of the heavy rain that went for 4 days non-stop only to stop on the 14^th!!!!!!!!

Forging ahead l made a friend of mine take the DVD out and made her watch it with me (thanks Robyn).

Set in 1984, it tells the story of brothers Boy (played by James Rolleston) and Rocky (Te Aho Eketone-Whitu) and how they cope with the absence of their father who is in Jail.  The eldest boy 'Boy' has imagined this idealistic view of his dad while the younger brother, Rocky doesn’t really remember him at all and finds his return somewhat disconcerting. The dad, Taika Waititi, who not only directed but also wrote the screenplay, has returned from his stint in jail with only one mission in mind and while the mission looks hopeful, so does the mood, however things don’t go according to plan and the mood turns sour.

This is a lovely film and the performances from the boys, in particular Rocky,  beautiful.

Add it to your DVD list.

Sarah's Key (Original Title 'Her Name was Sarah')

Rating: M
Duration: 111 mins
Genre: Drama, Family
Director: Gilles Paquet Brenner (The Pretty Things 2001, Walled In 2009. l have only mentioned two in a long list.)


No film about the Holocust is going to be uplifting, Sarah's Key is no different.  The film tells the story of the torture the French jews were subjected too in July of 1942 not by the Germans but by their own people.


Kristen Scott Thomas has made a few french Films of late 'Leaving' and 'l've Loved You So Long' (add that to your DVD list) and her versatility as an actor shines once again in Sarah's Key.  Her French husbands family own an apartment in a suburb of France and they are due to move in after some renovations are done.  However the apartments renovations will not hide what is behind the walls.


As an audience you go on a journey with 'Julia' as she starts to unravel a mystery she had no idea was right on her doorstep.


This is not an easy film to watch but remember you only have to watch.  However if it's an uplifting and a happy sensation you want to feel after a movie, don't go see this one.