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| CHILLING: Joel Edgerton is Gordo, who haunts his old school friend in The Gift |
AS summer blockbusters dominate the multiplexes, smaller independent films have a David versus Goliath-style battle on their hands to get noticed.
THE GIFT (15,107mins) Director: Joel Edgerton Stars: Jason Bateman, Rebecca Hall, Joel Edgerton
As competing with Tom Cruise for audience attention is an impossible mission, the little guys need ingenious marketing to shine and that is exactly what STX Entertainment had to promote The Gift.
Written, directed and starring Australian– born Joel Edgerton, the film is about young couple Simon (Jason Bateman) and Robyn (Rebecca Hall) who move to Los Angeles because of his work and once there bump into Gordo (Edgerton) a lesser-known High School friend of Simon’s who, within a short time, is giving them gifts.
Of course a bottle of wine as a “thank you” for dinner is perfectly acceptable, but when fish suddenly show up in the garden pond, it starts to feel distinctly awkward, particularly as Gordo is intense, much less successful and, as earnest Robyn later discovers, a really big liar.
As for smooth, ambitious Simon, well, he barely remembered the guy or so we are lead to believe, but he wants Gordo out of the picture and out of the couple’s fabulous open plan home with floor to ceiling windows which are ideal for stalkers.
You probably think you know where the plot is going from here on in, but you don’t. Edgerton invites you down the well-trodden path of great 1990s thrillers like Unlawful Entry and Pacific Heights, but then takes an unexpected diversion.
To reveal more will spoil all the dark corners, unexpected doorbell rings and window surprises that await you.
The film has a European feel about it that makes it more edgy, chilling and well-worth seeing. STX Entertainment wanted everyone to know that and sent unnervingly personal gifts to prominent film critics and DJs after trawling their social media sites.
With a card signed by Gordo attached to each gift, movie marketing does not get much eerier, but when you are up against Goliath at the box-office...
MAX (12A, 111 mins) Director: Boaz Yakin Stars: Robbie Amell, Thomas Haden Church, Josh Wiggins
For some a film only needs a dog to get them interested and as one who cried for a week after the death of Skip in My Dog Skip, I am among them. This makes it hard for me to be anything but supportive of Boaz Yakin’s Max, which does a mediocre job at recognising the contribution of animals in wartime.
The film, aimed at the whole family but much too violent for youngsters, is about an Army dog in Afghanistan who is distraught when his handler Kyle (Robbie Amell) is killed in action.
As the Army has no time for pining pups, Max is given his marching orders and goes to live with Kyle’s bereaved parents and younger brother (Josh Wiggins) who is anti-military and pirates computer games as a hobby, which gets him into a lot of bother.
Naturally Carlos the Belgian Malinois steals the show in his debut film and he and the four dogs used deserve a round of appaws.
VERDICT:3/5
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| Al Pacino is mesmerising in Manglehorn |
MANGLEHORN (12A, 97mins) Director: David Gordon Green Stars: Al Pacino, Holly Hunter
David Gordon Green’s Manglehorn has the talent of Al Pacino and the longtime Awol Holly Hunter to deflect from Paul Logan’s seriously wanting script. Al plays a lovelorn Texan locksmith who still pines for the woman who left him and surrounds himself with her photos and return-to-sender mail.
Estranged from his son (Chris Messina), Al, aka Manglehorn, only has time for his cat until a kindly bank teller (Hunter) who also loves animals asks him out on a date.
Date-night is the best scene in the movie and Al is mesmerising, but he and Holly could have done so much more, had more been available. With Marshland, director and co-writer Alberto Rodriguez has given his excellent Spanish cast fascinating characters, a haunting location and a plot that envelops you.
VERDICT:2/5
MARSHLAND (15, 104mins) Director: Alberto Rodriguez Stars: Javier Gutierrez, Raul Arevalo
Set in the marshlands of Andalucía in 1980, detectives Juan (Javier Gutierrez) and Pedro (Raul Arevalo) are unlikely partners investigating the disappearance of two teenage girls.
Juan is a brazen drunkard who uses violence to get answers, while Pedro is the strong, silent type keen to get home for the birth of his baby. As they dig deeper, they learn of other girls who have gone missing and meet dubious characters who live in this rural wilderness.
With each new discovery, the film becomes more intriguing and doubts are raised about almost everyone, barring the director who has done a first-class job.
VERDICT:4/5
DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL (18, 102 mins) Director: Marielle Heller Stars: Bel Powley, Kristen Wiig, Alexander Skarsgard
This is also true of director Marielle Heller who made my favourite film of the week, The Diary Of A Teenage Girl. Bel Powley, last seen in A Royal Night Out, is superb as Minnie, a confused teen who foolishly loses her virginity to her mother’s boyfriend (Alexander Skarsgard) and falls in love with him.
Powley is a marvel and well-supported by the ace cast in a small film that deals with big issues about coming of age.
VERDICT:4/5
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