Please go to our new site for the latest info
http://reelsatwehl-filmsociety.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Thursday 9th September 2010
6.30pm doors open for pre-screening drinks and nibbles
7pm film screens
Our next screening is ‘Brick Lane’ based on a book by Mon
ica Ali. The book was controversial to some Bangladeshis living in London and then the making of the film added fuel to the fire with a group of local Bangladeshis threatening to disrupt the filming and burn the book. The filming then took place elsewhere but not before Germaine Greer weighed in and then Salman Rushdie retaliated to Germaine’s comments.
ica Ali. The book was controversial to some Bangladeshis living in London and then the making of the film added fuel to the fire with a group of local Bangladeshis threatening to disrupt the filming and burn the book. The filming then took place elsewhere but not before Germaine Greer weighed in and then Salman Rushdie retaliated to Germaine’s comments. Read more about this on the Sydney Morning Herald’s archives http://www.smh.com.au/news/film-reviews/brick-lane/2008/03/20/1205602528332.html
Synopsis
At the tender age of seventeen, Nazneen's life is turned upside down. After an arranged marriage to an older man, she exchanges her Bangladeshi village home for a block of flats in London's East End. In this new world, pining for her home and her sister, she struggles to make sense of her existence - and to do her duty to her husband. A man of inflated ideas (and stomach), he sorely tests her compliance.
Told from birth that she must not fight her fate, Nazneen submits, devoting her life to raising her family and slapping down her demons of discontent. Until the day that Karim, a hot-headed local man, bursts into her life.
Against a background of escalating racial tension, they embark on an affair that finally forces Nazneen to take control of her life. Set in multicultural Britain, Brick Lane is a truly contemporary story of love, cultural difference, and ultimately, the strength of the human spirit.
Told from birth that she must not fight her fate, Nazneen submits, devoting her life to raising her family and slapping down her demons of discontent. Until the day that Karim, a hot-headed local man, bursts into her life.
Against a background of escalating racial tension, they embark on an affair that finally forces Nazneen to take control of her life. Set in multicultural Britain, Brick Lane is a truly contemporary story of love, cultural difference, and ultimately, the strength of the human spirit.**** "I thought I knew how this would end, but I was wrong."
SYDNEY MORNING HERALD***1/2 "... beautiful... an accomplished feature"
Margaret Pomeranz, AT THE MOVIES
Rated M 101 minutes UK English language
Heckle & Jeckle's squawk on 'Bliss'
"Bliss" was not quite blissful, perhaps if it had finished 30 minutes earlier it may have been. That, however, is one opinion, which may not reflect the Reels members, as Bliss received 4 stars in the starbox rating a little bird told me.
What was interesting was the reaction to many of our members after the screening, ‘what was so confronting?’ When it was first released in the 1980s Bliss had people walking out of cinemas, received an R rating and major distributors refused to screen the film. It then became an art-house classic.
We viewers in 2010 didn’t find Bliss confronting at all – well I can’t speak for all the audience – only about a dozen with whom I managed to have a chat. So much in the film was intimated, as opposed to being shown in great detail and today seems rather tame. One of our members thought that Harry was at heart a decent man, who was sucked into the vortex of vacuous human endeavours but then manged to escape the confines of concrete jungles and office cells.
What hasn’t changed over the years are the elements of the story about the human condition – greed, relationships, love, hate, seeking for true meaning of life, destruction of our environment, redemption.
Seeing the movie again after all those years has, however, made me want to go out and re-read the novel.
That's the squawk for now. Original squawkers will be back soon with their entertaining reviews.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Next screening "Bliss - the Director's Cut" & our AGM
'Bliss - the Director's Cut' will be the film for our next Reels event, Thursday 29th July.
'
Bliss - the Director's Cut'
Thursday 29th July 2010
Annual General Meeting- prior to the screening we will hold our AGM. All roles on the committee will be vacated and the current committee is welcoming new members. We especially need help with the promotions,
setup, setdown.
AGM 5.30pm Thursday 29th July 2010 at Wehl Street Theatre.
'
Bliss - the Director's Cut'Thursday 29th July 2010
6.30pm pre-screening wine
7.00pm film commences
"Bliss" has been re-released with the Director's Cut. This coincides with Bliss the opera, that has been playing in Australia and has now ventured overseas.
Synopsis
7.00pm film commences
"Bliss" has been re-released with the Director's Cut. This coincides with Bliss the opera, that has been playing in Australia and has now ventured overseas.
Synopsis
Bliss is the acclaimed movie based on Peter Carey's award-winning novel, Bliss, and the debut film of celebrated director Ray Lawrence (Lantana, Jindabyne)
Following a four-minute death from a heart attack, Harry Joy (Barry Otto) returns to life finding the certainties of his former existence have entirely vanished. The world he previously knew, which saw him drifting amiably through life as a successful advertising executive, has become a literal living Hell. His wife Bettina (Lynette Curran) is in a sordid affair with Harry's business partner (Jeff Truman) and his teenage son (Miles Buchanan) engages in an incestuous relationship with his sister (Gia Carides) - exchanging drugs for sex with her... All around him people are dying of cancer and Harry's advertising agency has taken to promoting carcinogenic products.
Harry is convinced he actually is living in Hell and befriends an angel in the form of ex-prostitute Honey Barbara (Helen Jones) to return him to happiness.
History
Following a four-minute death from a heart attack, Harry Joy (Barry Otto) returns to life finding the certainties of his former existence have entirely vanished. The world he previously knew, which saw him drifting amiably through life as a successful advertising executive, has become a literal living Hell. His wife Bettina (Lynette Curran) is in a sordid affair with Harry's business partner (Jeff Truman) and his teenage son (Miles Buchanan) engages in an incestuous relationship with his sister (Gia Carides) - exchanging drugs for sex with her... All around him people are dying of cancer and Harry's advertising agency has taken to promoting carcinogenic products.
Harry is convinced he actually is living in Hell and befriends an angel in the form of ex-prostitute Honey Barbara (Helen Jones) to return him to happiness.
History
To say it was ahead of its time is an understatement – the boldness of its metaphors and the sharpness of its satire were too much for many people in 1985. Indeed, the film was almost stillborn after 400 people walked out during its first screening at the Cannes Film Festival (another 1,600 stayed). No Australian distributor would touch it, especially once it received an ‘R’ classification, because of the depiction of incest between Harry’s children, David and Lucy (Gia Carides). The classification was overturned on appeal and the film eventually opened in the smallest cinema in Sydney, a former newsreel theatre with 130 seats. A couple of glowing reviews helped it to find an audience that kept growing. When the film won the AFI Awards for Best Picture, Best Direction and Best Adapted Screenplay for 1985, Bliss had become an art-house hit. It played for six months in Sydney and around the country.
(source http://aso.gov.au/titles/features/bliss/notes/)
Trailers & further information
The film http://aso.gov.au/titles/features/bliss/
The opera http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2009/s2781757.htm
(source http://aso.gov.au/titles/features/bliss/notes/)
Trailers & further information
The film http://aso.gov.au/titles/features/bliss/
The opera http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2009/s2781757.htm
Heckle & Jeckle's squawk on 'Cold Souls'
HELLO FROM HECKLE AND JECKLE
Well, we really liked last night's weird film. 4 stars from both of us.
It took us a while to work out what was going on - was it of the old genre of the cold war, spies and espionage or was it about people smuggling? However, as it rolled on the penny dropped and we found ourselves very engrossed in the adventures of Paul (no snores from Jeckle this time) and his abandoned soul. What an imaginative and strange story.
Well, we really liked last night's weird film. 4 stars from both of us.
It took us a while to work out what was going on - was it of the old genre of the cold war, spies and espionage or was it about people smuggling? However, as it rolled on the penny dropped and we found ourselves very engrossed in the adventures of Paul (no snores from Jeckle this time) and his abandoned soul. What an imaginative and strange story.
To us, Paul was a very likeable character and his facial expressions were marvellous. In fact we liked all the characters except for the Russian "boss" (can't remember his name).
We decided that the moral of the story is to be comfortable with and accept yourself, no matter what your short comings.
Good choice committee. Thank you.
SQUWARK !!
POST SCRIPT
It was great that people hung around afterwards. The film had a lot of people nattering in the foyer, so Heckle hopped around surreptitiously and did some eavesdropping. The most interesting comment overheard was that this film about souls did not mention religion once. Excellent observation.
SQUWARK !!
POST SCRIPT
It was great that people hung around afterwards. The film had a lot of people nattering in the foyer, so Heckle hopped around surreptitiously and did some eavesdropping. The most interesting comment overheard was that this film about souls did not mention religion once. Excellent observation.
Heckle also reports that the latest Nova film seen is, I Am Love. In a word - Divine ! The great news is that the committee is negotiating for us to see it, so I will say no more at this stage.
Over and Out for sure this time.
SQUAWK !!
SQUAWK !!
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Next screening "Cold Souls" [USA/Russia]
"Cold Souls" screens Thursday 8th July 2010
6.30pmpre-screening drinks and nibbles
7pmfilm screens
**** Margaret ***.5 David from ABC's At the Movies
"Much of cinema is so predictable these days. COLD SOULS isn’t." Margaret Pomeranz
Paul is an actor who feels bogged down by his participation in a production of Chekov's play, Vanya.
A soul searching comedy, from the hustle and bustle of New York City to the snow-bound streets of Moscow, Cold Souls is a surreal comedy in the vein of Being John Malkovich. Paul Giamatti stars as Paul Giamatti, an actor agonizing over his interpretation of the famously difficult role of Chekhov's Uncle Vanya in a new Broadway production.
Paralyzed by anxiety, he stumbles upon a solution via an article in the New Yorker about a high-tech company that promises to alleviate suffering by extracting the soul. Giamatti engages their services, but finds to his horror that his soul has the size and shape of a chickpea… But when he finds his life without a soul, well, soulless, Giamatti decides he wants his soul back—only to discover that it has been stolen by a mysterious soul-trafficking mule for re-introduction into an aspiring Russian soap starlet.
Giamatti is joined by David Strathairn ( Good Night and Good Luck ), Emily Watson ( Punch Drunk Love ) and Six Feet Under ’s Lauren Ambrose in this mind-bending response to bigger, better, shinier American consumerism—a dazzlingly inventive comedy which walks a tightrope between humour and gravity, reality and fantasy. {Synopsis courtesy Madman}
Classification M
Genre Comedy Drama
101 minute
Director: Sophie Barthes
Lead actor: Paul Giamatti
Cast: David Strathairn, Dina Korzun, Emily Watson, Katheryn Winnick, Lauren Ambrose
Trailer
http://www.madman.com.au/actions/video.do?method=view&videoId=1688
6.30pmpre-screening drinks and nibbles
7pmfilm screens
**** Margaret ***.5 David from ABC's At the Movies
"Much of cinema is so predictable these days. COLD SOULS isn’t." Margaret Pomeranz
Paul is an actor who feels bogged down by his participation in a production of Chekov's play, Vanya.
A soul searching comedy, from the hustle and bustle of New York City to the snow-bound streets of Moscow, Cold Souls is a surreal comedy in the vein of Being John Malkovich. Paul Giamatti stars as Paul Giamatti, an actor agonizing over his interpretation of the famously difficult role of Chekhov's Uncle Vanya in a new Broadway production.
Paralyzed by anxiety, he stumbles upon a solution via an article in the New Yorker about a high-tech company that promises to alleviate suffering by extracting the soul. Giamatti engages their services, but finds to his horror that his soul has the size and shape of a chickpea… But when he finds his life without a soul, well, soulless, Giamatti decides he wants his soul back—only to discover that it has been stolen by a mysterious soul-trafficking mule for re-introduction into an aspiring Russian soap starlet.
Giamatti is joined by David Strathairn ( Good Night and Good Luck ), Emily Watson ( Punch Drunk Love ) and Six Feet Under ’s Lauren Ambrose in this mind-bending response to bigger, better, shinier American consumerism—a dazzlingly inventive comedy which walks a tightrope between humour and gravity, reality and fantasy. {Synopsis courtesy Madman}
Classification M
Genre Comedy Drama
101 minute
Director: Sophie Barthes
Lead actor: Paul Giamatti
Cast: David Strathairn, Dina Korzun, Emily Watson, Katheryn Winnick, Lauren Ambrose
Trailer
http://www.madman.com.au/actions/video.do?method=view&videoId=1688
Margaret & David’s review
http://www.abc.net.au/atthemovies/txt/s2738624.htm
A squawk from Heckle & Jeckle re My Tehran for Sale
A SQUAWK FROM HECKLE AND JECKLE
We have been very remiss lately with handing in our reviews. We have a good excuse though. We went on a 5 week holiday, then poor old Heckle got the flu, along with half the population of Mount Gambier. Anyway we are back on track now. It is so good to see that the audience numbers are pretty consistent despite the chilly weather.
My Tehran for sale was deserving of 3 1/2 stars in my estimation (Heckle's opinion only). Being one of those "dreadful, bleeding heart" refugee sympathisers, I found the familiar storyline heartbreaking and depressing, but the characters were endearing, especially Marzieh, the young woman seeking asylum. She was wonderfully stoic and dogged in her determination to escape to a life free of the danger of the vengeful men in her family. At times there were some rather long drawn out parts of the story, which seemed unneccessary, but I thought it was well done. Congratulations team on a good choice.
A short footnote here. Once again during a recent jaunt to Adelaide to see our brilliant children, we made it to another film at the Nova to see The White Ribbon. This was as excellent as Margaret and David have reported. A very grim story with sinister undertones of malevolence in the children and adults of a small German village. Filmed in black and white, the story was set during the period just before the first world war.
This is nothing to do with films, but we also went to see Big Mother, the newly acquired exhibit at the Art Gallery. It is absolutely amazing in that it is so incredibly lifelike. We loved it. It stirred all sorts of emmotions though - a degree of horror, affection and empathy but also for me a very deep sadness for some reason. Anyway go and see it.
We have been very remiss lately with handing in our reviews. We have a good excuse though. We went on a 5 week holiday, then poor old Heckle got the flu, along with half the population of Mount Gambier. Anyway we are back on track now. It is so good to see that the audience numbers are pretty consistent despite the chilly weather.
My Tehran for sale was deserving of 3 1/2 stars in my estimation (Heckle's opinion only). Being one of those "dreadful, bleeding heart" refugee sympathisers, I found the familiar storyline heartbreaking and depressing, but the characters were endearing, especially Marzieh, the young woman seeking asylum. She was wonderfully stoic and dogged in her determination to escape to a life free of the danger of the vengeful men in her family. At times there were some rather long drawn out parts of the story, which seemed unneccessary, but I thought it was well done. Congratulations team on a good choice.
A short footnote here. Once again during a recent jaunt to Adelaide to see our brilliant children, we made it to another film at the Nova to see The White Ribbon. This was as excellent as Margaret and David have reported. A very grim story with sinister undertones of malevolence in the children and adults of a small German village. Filmed in black and white, the story was set during the period just before the first world war.
This is nothing to do with films, but we also went to see Big Mother, the newly acquired exhibit at the Art Gallery. It is absolutely amazing in that it is so incredibly lifelike. We loved it. It stirred all sorts of emmotions though - a degree of horror, affection and empathy but also for me a very deep sadness for some reason. Anyway go and see it.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
My Tehran for Sale
“A brave and absorbing film ... unique. I want to see it again” Evan Williams, The Australian
4 stars, “…an ode to a city under cultural siege” Margaret Pomeranz, At the Movies
4 stars, “…an ode to a city under cultural siege” Margaret Pomeranz, At the Movies
Marzieh is a young female actress living in Tehran. The authorities ban her theatre work and, like all young people in Iran, she is forced to lead a secret life in order to express herself artistically.
At an underground rave, she meets Iranian born Saman, now an Australian citizen, who offers her a way out of her country and the possibility of living without fear.
Shot entirely on location in Tehran, MY TEHRAN FOR SALE tells the story of modern day Iranian youth struggling for cultural freedom. It brings to the screen never before seen images of modern urban Iran, and reveals how young Iranian people live behind closed doors.
MY TEHRAN FOR SALE is the first Iranian/Australian feature film collaboration and is the directorial debut of contemporary poet Granaz Moussavi.
At an underground rave, she meets Iranian born Saman, now an Australian citizen, who offers her a way out of her country and the possibility of living without fear.
Shot entirely on location in Tehran, MY TEHRAN FOR SALE tells the story of modern day Iranian youth struggling for cultural freedom. It brings to the screen never before seen images of modern urban Iran, and reveals how young Iranian people live behind closed doors.
MY TEHRAN FOR SALE is the first Iranian/Australian feature film collaboration and is the directorial debut of contemporary poet Granaz Moussavi.
Writer-director Granaz Moussavi is an established Iranian poet with several volumes of published verse. Migrating to Australia in 1997 with her family at the age of 22, she went on to graduate in filmmaking and editing. With this debut feature she returns to her native Tehran, employing former friends as lead actors and imbuing her fact-based tale with an angry personal intensity.
Strikingly attractive, if unrelentingly mournful, Marzieh Vafamehr dominates the screen as a dedicated fringe actress (also named Marzieh) who sees a rare opportunity to escape the state’s persecution of her art when she meets Saman (Chegini) at an illegal after-hours disco. He’s a tall, dark Iranian who, through his family’s emigration, now has Australian citizenship.The disco is raided by an outraged militia: “Do you think this is Europe?” one cries, lashing out. Marzieh and Saman start a relationship, become engaged and she begins the lengthy and often corrupt process of applying for a visa to enter the Australian ‘paradise’ that Saman talks about.
97 mins
Rated M
Iranian with English subtitles
Trailers
Trailers
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Next screening 'Brides' from Greece, Thursday 14th April
'BRIDES'
Thursday 15th April
6.30pm pre-screening complimentary glass of wine
7.00pm screening of 'Brides'
Greek with English subtitles
Executive producer Martin Scorsese
**** Margaret Pomeranz ***1/2 David StrattonSYNOPSIS
"……A FASCINATING STORY OF DESPERATE CIRCUMSTANCES AND UNREQUITED LOVE." Jaimie Leonarder, THE MOVIE SHOW
American photojournalist Norman Harris (Damian Lewis) is about to return home to his wife in Detroit, disillusioned with work and life after having his images of the Greece-Turkey war rejected for being "too artistic".
Meanwhile in Samothrace, Greece, a young seamstress called Niki Douka (Victoria Haralabidou) is preparing her bags for Chicago where she is to marry a tailor she's never met. Norman and Niki find themselves on the same ship bound for America.
Norman is travelling first class. Niki is in third class, sharing the cramped space with seven hundred mail order brides from every corner of Greece, Turkey, Russia and Armenia. In heir suitcases each bride carries a photo of her prospective groom and a wedding gown. Sleazy bridal "agent" Karaboulat (Steven Berkoff) is official chaperone or the Russian brides, but he has a secret and sinister agenda for some of his charges...
While the other first class passengers drink and dance the night away, Norman worries about the plight of the brides. But it's the spirited Niki who really catches his eye, his feelings for her are deeper than anything he's ever felt before.
Trailer and review
http://www.abc.net.au/atthemovies/txt/s1469467.htm
Rated PG
Star Box results for Piccolo Italian Film Festival
Lessons on Chocolate - awarded 3 stars by the majority of members and their guests
** 28%
*** 46%
*** 12%
***** 14%
Caravaggio - nearly half the audience awarded 4 stars
* 2%
** 20%
*** 27%
**** 49%
***** 2%
** 28%*** 46%
*** 12%
***** 14%
Caravaggio - nearly half the audience awarded 4 stars
* 2%** 20%
*** 27%
**** 49%
***** 2%
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Next Screening "Piccolo Italian Film Festival" 4 March 2010
We will start a bit earlier so we don't run too late screening these 2 feature films in our little Italian film festival.
Come along to either one or both of the films.
6pm "Lessons in Chocolate" (Lezioni di Cioccolato)
7.45pm Intermission – Italian flavoured supper (gold coin donation for the supper in place of the pre-screening nibbles would be greatly appreciated thanks)
7.45pm Intermission – Italian flavoured supper (gold coin donation for the supper in place of the pre-screening nibbles would be greatly appreciated thanks)
8.15pm "Caravaggio"
end 10.30pm
6pm Lessons In Chocolate (90 mins)
Lezioni di Cioccolato
Director: Claudio Cupellini
end 10.30pm
6pm Lessons In Chocolate (90 mins)Lezioni di Cioccolato
Director: Claudio Cupellini
Cast: Luca Argentero, Violante Placido, Neri Marcorè, Hassan Shapi, Josefia Forlì, Monica Scattini, Francesco Pannofino, Ivano Marescotti
Winner of Best Comedy and Best Actress (Violante Placido) at the 2007 Monte Carlo Comedy Film Festival, "Lessons in Chocolate" is a fresh and delightful comedy where humour and pathos are mixed in the right proportions.
Mattia (Luca Argentero), a building contractor in Perugia on a promising career path, is about to close the biggest deal of his professional life, when his illegally-hired worker Kamal (Hassani Shapi) is badly injured when he falls off some scaffolding. Kamal threatens to sue him unless... Mattia takes his place in an advanced chocolate making course! Kamal had came to Italy from his native Egypt to realize his dream of opening his own pastry shop, needing a diploma to do so, and now Mattia has no choice but to take Kamal’s place in the school and pretend to be him. But there, Mattia meets the model student Cecilia (Placido), who for her part, is anything but indifferent to his charm…
Among laughs, misunderstandings and mouth-watering recipes, Mattia will discover a way to bring his and Kamal's disparate cultures together while finding love and life at the same time.
2007 98' Digital 18+
8.15pm Caravaggio (130mins)
Mattia (Luca Argentero), a building contractor in Perugia on a promising career path, is about to close the biggest deal of his professional life, when his illegally-hired worker Kamal (Hassani Shapi) is badly injured when he falls off some scaffolding. Kamal threatens to sue him unless... Mattia takes his place in an advanced chocolate making course! Kamal had came to Italy from his native Egypt to realize his dream of opening his own pastry shop, needing a diploma to do so, and now Mattia has no choice but to take Kamal’s place in the school and pretend to be him. But there, Mattia meets the model student Cecilia (Placido), who for her part, is anything but indifferent to his charm…
Among laughs, misunderstandings and mouth-watering recipes, Mattia will discover a way to bring his and Kamal's disparate cultures together while finding love and life at the same time.
2007 98' Digital 18+
8.15pm Caravaggio (130mins) Director: Angelo Longoni
Cast: Alessio Boni, Paolo Briguglia, Elena Sofia Ricci, Jordi Mollà, Claire Kleim, Benjamin Sadler, Paolo Giovannucci
Trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faNrm0oFxmk
The 17th century Italian artist Michelangelo Caravaggio (Nigel Terry) lies dying in poverty; he remembers his vibrant life, first as a youth, ...
Trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faNrm0oFxmk
The 17th century Italian artist Michelangelo Caravaggio (Nigel Terry) lies dying in poverty; he remembers his vibrant life, first as a youth, ...
CARAVAGGIO is a mesmerizing and beguiling biopic about the master Renaissance painter that captures the man as well as his work.
Alessio Boni plays Michelangelo “Michele” Merisi, born into a humble family in the town of Caravaggio (from which the future artist would derive his professional moniker). Cursed with a violent temper, Michele becomes as well known for his brawling as for his art, frequenting the seamier side of Rome and using its prostitutes and thieves as models, even for his religious paintings. Eventually, his art creates a fervent group of admirers, while his personal life establishes an equally dedicated battery of enemies…
Director Angelo Longoni (Have No Fear, IFF2005) sets up a complex and revealing interplay between the artist and his era, ably assisted by three–time Oscar-winning cinematographer Vittorio Storaro (Apocalypse Now), Boni gives a great, full-bodied performance as the street fighter and father of one of the most remarkable bodies of work in the entire artistic canon.
Alessio Boni plays Michelangelo “Michele” Merisi, born into a humble family in the town of Caravaggio (from which the future artist would derive his professional moniker). Cursed with a violent temper, Michele becomes as well known for his brawling as for his art, frequenting the seamier side of Rome and using its prostitutes and thieves as models, even for his religious paintings. Eventually, his art creates a fervent group of admirers, while his personal life establishes an equally dedicated battery of enemies…
Director Angelo Longoni (Have No Fear, IFF2005) sets up a complex and revealing interplay between the artist and his era, ably assisted by three–time Oscar-winning cinematographer Vittorio Storaro (Apocalypse Now), Boni gives a great, full-bodied performance as the street fighter and father of one of the most remarkable bodies of work in the entire artistic canon.
2006 130' 35mm 18+
Star Box rating for "How much do you love me?
Reels members and guests voted with our new Star Box to rate "How much do you love me?", which screened on Sunday 14th February 2010.
Results
Results
* = 2 ** = 5 *** = 38 **** = 24 ***** = 5
Sunday, January 31, 2010
"How much do you love me?
Love is a big subject and on Valentine's Day Reels @ Wehl brings you a film about love but not love in a conventional sense. If you are in-love, out of love, single, happily married, happily divorced or you just love going to the movies, this is the film for you.
"How much do you love me?" is a French/Italian movie Combien tu gagnes? (France) Per sesso o per amore? (Italy) starring Monica Belluci and Gerard Depardieu and directed by Bertrand Blier
**** stars Margaret ***.5 David
Rated MA, duration 95 minutes, genre comedy
Sunday 14th February
"How much do you love me?" is a French/Italian movie Combien tu gagnes? (France) Per sesso o per amore? (Italy) starring Monica Belluci and Gerard Depardieu and directed by Bertrand Blier
**** stars Margaret ***.5 David
Rated MA, duration 95 minutes, genre comedy
Sunday 14th February
2.45pm for a glass of champagne.
Film commencing 3.15pm
SYNOPSIS
Controversial French writer and director, Bertrand Biler brings us the highly provocative How Much Do You Love Me? an intensely seductive story about beauty, sex and love.
Balding, elfin-eared Francois (Bernard Campan) enters a hooker-in-the-window joint in Paris' Pigalle district to meet the woman who has become his sexual obsession the voluptuous, fur coat wearing Daniela (Monica Bellucci). Her services can be had for 150 euros and an overpriced bottle of champagne. Francois doesn't balk at the cost. Instead, he reveals that he has just won a fortune in France's lotto and will give her 100,000 euros a month to live with him until the money runs out. Daniela accepts and appears to cheerfully transform herself into the domestic housewife of every man's dreams. But Francois has a heart condition and Daniela's unnerving gangster boyfriend Charly (Gerard Depardieu) isn't about to let her go. The fact that Daniela is a sex worker implies that any man with the necessary cash can have her. But even though Francois can pay to touch her, can he get under her skin?
Trailer and review http://www.abc.net.au/atthemovies/txt/s1608292.htm
Subtitled in English
Friday, January 8, 2010
Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis
Welcome to the Sticks (literally, Welcome to the Land of the Ch’tis)
Thursday 21st January 2010
6.30pm pre-screening drink and nibbles
7.00pm film screens
With 20.2 million viewers, it is the most successful French film in in the history of French cinema and surpassing the previous record set by Hollywood blockbuster “Titanic”
Synopsis
Post office manager Philippe Abrams (Kad Merad) and his wife Julie (Zoé Félix) love the sunny South of France. But when Philippe gets caught trying to cheat his way into a transfer to a Riviera resort, the punishment could not be worse. Philippe must pay for his sins by spending three years at a post office in the dreaded Nord Pas de Calais, France's northernmost region, reputed for its heavy industry and cool climate. Leaving Julie and their son Raphael behind and braving the chilly North alone, Philippe soon finds himself having quite a good time with the friendly, fun-loving Northerners. He comes to appreciate the local cuisine and even learns to get by in ch'ti, their incomprehensible patois. But should he let on to the unbelieving Julie? Depressive by nature, she's never been happier than in her new role as the supportive wife of a man battling with adversity, it's a tricky call...
Source: Dendy Cinemas http://www.dendy.com.au/moviedetail.asp?Mov_ID=M1583
The inhabitants of this lost region are termed the Ch'tis in recognition of two key features of the Picarde patois. French 's' sounds become 'ch', and personal pronouns such as 'toi' and 'moi' become 'ti' and 'mi'. The blizzard of misunderstandings in which these and other dialectical oddities entrap Philippe constitute one of the most elaborate, protracted and relentlessly side-splitting linguistic adventures ever attempted on-screen.
Source: Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2008/jul/21/french.cinema
Welcome to the Sticks (literally, Welcome to the Land of the Ch’tis)
Thursday 21st January 2010
6.30pm pre-screening drink and nibbles
7.00pm film screens
With 20.2 million viewers, it is the most successful French film in in the history of French cinema and surpassing the previous record set by Hollywood blockbuster “Titanic”
SynopsisPost office manager Philippe Abrams (Kad Merad) and his wife Julie (Zoé Félix) love the sunny South of France. But when Philippe gets caught trying to cheat his way into a transfer to a Riviera resort, the punishment could not be worse. Philippe must pay for his sins by spending three years at a post office in the dreaded Nord Pas de Calais, France's northernmost region, reputed for its heavy industry and cool climate. Leaving Julie and their son Raphael behind and braving the chilly North alone, Philippe soon finds himself having quite a good time with the friendly, fun-loving Northerners. He comes to appreciate the local cuisine and even learns to get by in ch'ti, their incomprehensible patois. But should he let on to the unbelieving Julie? Depressive by nature, she's never been happier than in her new role as the supportive wife of a man battling with adversity, it's a tricky call...
Source: Dendy Cinemas http://www.dendy.com.au/moviedetail.asp?Mov_ID=M1583
The inhabitants of this lost region are termed the Ch'tis in recognition of two key features of the Picarde patois. French 's' sounds become 'ch', and personal pronouns such as 'toi' and 'moi' become 'ti' and 'mi'. The blizzard of misunderstandings in which these and other dialectical oddities entrap Philippe constitute one of the most elaborate, protracted and relentlessly side-splitting linguistic adventures ever attempted on-screen.
Source: Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2008/jul/21/french.cinema
Politics of the film
- In May 2008, the film became the object of controversial remarks by Jean-Marie Le Pen, leader of the Front National political party. Le Pen, who claimed to have disliked the film, argued that the people of Nord-Pas-de-Calais do not look like the two main characters of the movie. He then added that "this is normal, since both of them are Arabs."
The film was also criticized for its filming location. The movie was filmed in Bergues where the locals speak both patois Ch'timi (a derivative of Picard) and French Flemish (a dialect of Dutch). This angered some advocates[who?] of the Dutch dialect who are struggling to keep the language alive.
While trying to promote the Northern dialect of French and fighting clichés, the film also shocked Occitans as Midi French people are not only portrayed as narrow-minded and prejudiced but worse still, none of the actors (mostly Parisians) have the typical Southern accent apart from a gendarme and a senile madman.[citation needed]- Line Renaud's 'Ch'ti' accent was also criticized by some Northerners as not being authentic. Line Renaud was born in Pont-de-Nieppe near Armentières.
Source Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bienvenue_chez_les_Ch
Trailers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErkEkhYvZ38
http://www.abc.net.au/atthemovies/txt/s2361573.htm
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Next screening "Wake in Fright" Thursday 10th December 2009
6.30pm pre-screening drink
7.00pm film screens commences
Rated M
****1/2 David Stratton **** Margaret Pomeranz 7.9/10 IMDB
"The best and most terrifying film about Australia in existence" - Nick Cave
We are very pleased to announce the Australian classic and now Cannes' classic, "Wake in Fright" will be screened.
This year Wake in Fright was inaugurated into the Cannes' Film Festival Classics after originally being nominated for the 1971 Cannes 'Grand Prix du Festival International du Film' (now know as Palme d'Or/Golden Palm). The film disappeared and it was the then editor of the film who traced the negatives to a vault in America. He found them a couple of days before they were due to be destroyed. There's a story in itself ....
7.00pm film screens commences
Rated M
****1/2 David Stratton **** Margaret Pomeranz 7.9/10 IMDB
"The best and most terrifying film about Australia in existence" - Nick Cave
We are very pleased to announce the Australian classic and now Cannes' classic, "Wake in Fright" will be screened.
This year Wake in Fright was inaugurated into the Cannes' Film Festival Classics after originally being nominated for the 1971 Cannes 'Grand Prix du Festival International du Film' (now know as Palme d'Or/Golden Palm). The film disappeared and it was the then editor of the film who traced the negatives to a vault in America. He found them a couple of days before they were due to be destroyed. There's a story in itself ....
Brutal, uncompromising and stunning WAKE IN FRIGHT tells is the story of a young
teacher, John Grant, who arrives in a rough outback mining town planning to stay
overnight before catching the plane to Sydney. But, on this one hot night in
Bundanyabba, Grant decides to go into a smoky, crowded pub...
However, one night stretches to five, in which he discovers gambling, ruins himself
financially and plunges headlong toward his own destruction.
When the alcohol-induced mist lifts, the educated John Grant is no more. Instead there is a self-loathing man in a desolate wasteland, dirty, red-eyed, sitting against a
tree and looking at a rifle with one bullet left...
There is no Australian film quite like WAKE IN FRIGHT. Nominated for the Golden Palm at the Cannes Film Festival in 1971 and still as raw and fresh today as it was then, rediscover this lost cinematic masterpiece as it screens for the first time in
nearly 40 years. (courtesy http://www.wakeinfright.com/ and refer this website for history and more information)
Wake in Fright was shot in Broken Hill and Sydney at Ajax Studios, Bondi. The film is produced by George Willoughby, Bill Harmon and Howard G. Barnes, directed by Ted Kotcheff and starring British actors Donald Pleasence, Gary Bond and Sylvia Kay, and Australian star Chips Rafferty (in his last feature film). Other cast members include a young Jack Thompson in his first feature film role, Al Thomas, Peter Whittle and John Meillon. More info on our blog site, including the history of finding the film.
LINKS
http://www.abc.net.au/atthemovies/txt/s2590361.htm
Wake in Fright interview with Director Ted Kotcheff http://www.abc.net.au/atthemovies/txt/s2598365.htm
Rated M
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Next Screening "There will be Blood" Thursday 19th November 2009
6.30pm pre-screening drink
7.00pm film screens commences
***** David Stratton ****1/2 Margaret Pomeranz 8.2/10 IMDB 113,655 voters
A sprawling epic of family, faith, power and oil. There will be Blood is set on the incindenary frontier of California's turn-of-the century petroleum boom.The story chronicles the life of Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis), who transforms himself from a down-and-out silver miner raising a son on his own to a self-made tycoon.
Reviews and trailers
http://www.therewillbeblood.com/
http://www.abc.net.au/atthemovies/txt/s2143983.htm
Awards
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0469494/awards
RATED M
7.00pm film screens commences
***** David Stratton ****1/2 Margaret Pomeranz 8.2/10 IMDB 113,655 voters
A sprawling epic of family, faith, power and oil. There will be Blood is set on the incindenary frontier of California's turn-of-the century petroleum boom.The story chronicles the life of Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis), who transforms himself from a down-and-out silver miner raising a son on his own to a self-made tycoon.
Reviews and trailers
http://www.therewillbeblood.com/
http://www.abc.net.au/atthemovies/txt/s2143983.htm
Awards
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0469494/awards
RATED M
Monday, August 10, 2009
Next screening "Milk" Thursday 17 Sept 2009
6.30pm pre-screening drink
7.00pm film commences
***** David ****1/2 Margaret ABC’s ‘At the Movies’
Academy Award Winner Sean Penn – Best Actor
"Milk" - Never Blend In
The story of California’s first openly gay elected official, Harvey Milk, who was assassinated in 1978.
In 1977, Harvey Milk was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, becoming the first openly gay man to be voted into major public office in America. His victory was not just a victory for gay rights; he forged coalitions across the political spectrum. From senior citizens to union workers, Harvey Milk changed the very nature of what it means to be a fighter for human rights and became, before his untimely death in 1978, a hero for all Americans.
Academy Award winner Sean Penn stars as Harvey Milk under the direction of Academy Award nominee Gus Van Sant filmed on location in San Francisco from an original screenplay by Dustin Lance Black and produced by Academy Award winners Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen.
The film charts the last eight years of Harvey Milk’s life.
Above synposis courtesy Film in Focus - to continue reading more go to their website
http://www.filminfocus.com/focusfeatures/film/milk/synopsis
Trailer and review http://www.abc.net.au/atthemovies/txt/s2425401.htm
More info on Film in Focus
http://www.filminfocus.com/focusfeatures/film/milk/?flashsection=videos
Rated M
7.00pm film commences
***** David ****1/2 Margaret ABC’s ‘At the Movies’
Academy Award Winner Sean Penn – Best Actor
"Milk" - Never Blend In
The story of California’s first openly gay elected official, Harvey Milk, who was assassinated in 1978.
In 1977, Harvey Milk was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, becoming the first openly gay man to be voted into major public office in America. His victory was not just a victory for gay rights; he forged coalitions across the political spectrum. From senior citizens to union workers, Harvey Milk changed the very nature of what it means to be a fighter for human rights and became, before his untimely death in 1978, a hero for all Americans.
Academy Award winner Sean Penn stars as Harvey Milk under the direction of Academy Award nominee Gus Van Sant filmed on location in San Francisco from an original screenplay by Dustin Lance Black and produced by Academy Award winners Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen.
The film charts the last eight years of Harvey Milk’s life.
Above synposis courtesy Film in Focus - to continue reading more go to their website
http://www.filminfocus.com/focusfeatures/film/milk/synopsis
Trailer and review http://www.abc.net.au/atthemovies/txt/s2425401.htm
More info on Film in Focus
http://www.filminfocus.com/focusfeatures/film/milk/?flashsection=videos
Rated M
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Heckle 'n Jeckle review of "Band's Visit"
Hello Film Buffs
Poor Jeckle was ill so it's down to Heckle to go it alone with thoughts about The Band's Visit. It took a little while for me to "get into" this film but once there I was hooked. It was a simple story about a situation which occurs all the time - two disparate groups of people accidentally thrown together. The relationship between some of the band members and their hosts, during their short time together brought some of their life choices to the fore with varying degrees of regret. However their self discovery left me feeling that all would be well for them. The film was both poignant and funny. The band members were rediculous, but dignified - very likeable. I loved the bleak, but beautiful landscape, contrasting with the blue uniforms. It was a 3 1/2 star rating for me.
Goodbye Lenin - seen by Heckle and Jeckle at the Nova - but we'll be there with bells on to see it again. Don't miss it!! Once again a sad but funny film. It's about a loving family protecting their dying mother from the truth about the fact that Lenin is no longer.
Poor Jeckle was ill so it's down to Heckle to go it alone with thoughts about The Band's Visit. It took a little while for me to "get into" this film but once there I was hooked. It was a simple story about a situation which occurs all the time - two disparate groups of people accidentally thrown together. The relationship between some of the band members and their hosts, during their short time together brought some of their life choices to the fore with varying degrees of regret. However their self discovery left me feeling that all would be well for them. The film was both poignant and funny. The band members were rediculous, but dignified - very likeable. I loved the bleak, but beautiful landscape, contrasting with the blue uniforms. It was a 3 1/2 star rating for me.
Goodbye Lenin - seen by Heckle and Jeckle at the Nova - but we'll be there with bells on to see it again. Don't miss it!! Once again a sad but funny film. It's about a loving family protecting their dying mother from the truth about the fact that Lenin is no longer.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Next screening "Good Bye Lenin!" Thursday 23 July 2009
"This Award-winning and audience-pleasing film - it stunned the box office in Germany - has impressive performances and a lovely premise."Margaret Pomeranz, The Movie Show
**** David Stratton, The Movie Show
"one of the most original and brilliant films this year." The Observer/BBC
"A heart-warming German blockbuster, Good Bye, Lenin!, dominated the European Film Awards, taking six top prizes at the 16th annual competition" Sydney Morning Herald
Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJb4efZcFUM
Synopsis (courtesy Madman films)
The German Democratic Republic lives on -- in 79 square meters!
The year is 1989 and East and West Germany are still divided. Alex (Daniel Bruhl) and his sister Ariane (Maria Simon) live in East Germany with their single mother, Christiane (Katrin Sass) who is a staunch Socialist. When Alex's mother witnesses his arrest on a protest march, she suffers a heart attack and falls into a coma for eight months, just enough time for the Berlin wall to come tumbling down along with all of East Germany's ideals.When Chrisiane wakes up - things have changed. The doctors warn Alex that any shock could bring on a fatal heart attack, so Alex devises a plan to convince his mother that her beloved Communism has not been overthrown but is in fact triumphing over Capitalism. Alex sets out to recreate every detail of the old East inside the four walls of their tiny council flat. What begins as a little white lie, soon turns into a major deception with hilarious consequences.
Rated M
In German with English subtitles
Director: Wolfgang Becker
Cast: Daniel Brühl, Katrin Sas, Chulpan Khamatova, Chulpan Khamatova, Chulpan Khamatova
Trivia from IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0301357/trivia
Reminder - our AGM is just before the film at 5.30pm
**** David Stratton, The Movie Show
"one of the most original and brilliant films this year." The Observer/BBC
"A heart-warming German blockbuster, Good Bye, Lenin!, dominated the European Film Awards, taking six top prizes at the 16th annual competition" Sydney Morning Herald
Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJb4efZcFUM
Synopsis (courtesy Madman films)
The German Democratic Republic lives on -- in 79 square meters!
The year is 1989 and East and West Germany are still divided. Alex (Daniel Bruhl) and his sister Ariane (Maria Simon) live in East Germany with their single mother, Christiane (Katrin Sass) who is a staunch Socialist. When Alex's mother witnesses his arrest on a protest march, she suffers a heart attack and falls into a coma for eight months, just enough time for the Berlin wall to come tumbling down along with all of East Germany's ideals.When Chrisiane wakes up - things have changed. The doctors warn Alex that any shock could bring on a fatal heart attack, so Alex devises a plan to convince his mother that her beloved Communism has not been overthrown but is in fact triumphing over Capitalism. Alex sets out to recreate every detail of the old East inside the four walls of their tiny council flat. What begins as a little white lie, soon turns into a major deception with hilarious consequences.
Rated M
In German with English subtitles
Director: Wolfgang Becker
Cast: Daniel Brühl, Katrin Sas, Chulpan Khamatova, Chulpan Khamatova, Chulpan Khamatova
Trivia from IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0301357/trivia
Reminder - our AGM is just before the film at 5.30pm
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Next screening “Bikur Ha-Tizmoret (The Band’s Visit)” from Israel
Thursday 25th June 2009
6.30pm pre-screening drink
7.00pm film commences
*****1/2 David **** Margaret
"I'm giving it four and a half. I love this film" David Stratton
A Egyptian police band arrives in Israel to perform at the Arab Arts Cultural Centre, only to find themselves in the wrong town...
The eight members of the Alexandria Ceremonial Police Band, led by Toofik, (SASSON GABAI), arrive at an airport in Israel and find no-one is there to meet them.They are here to play at the Arab Culture Centre in a provincial town, but the town they arrive at, by bus, is the wrong one – a dot in the desert where culture of any kind is non-existent. However there IS Dina, (RONIT ELKABETZ), who runs a local café.Dina invites Toofik and Khaled, (SALEH BAKRI), who is a bit of a ladies’ man, to stay at her place; the others find friendly locals who accommodate them. (courtesy ABC 'At the Movie's review)
Rated M
Written (in Arabic, English and Hebrew, with English subtitles) and directed by Eran Kolirin;
Filmed at Yeruham, Negev Desert, Israel
Trailer and ABC's At The Movies review http://www.abc.net.au/atthemovies/txt/s2265615.htm
Director’s interview
http://www.abc.net.au/atthemovies/txt/s2265627.htm
6.30pm pre-screening drink
7.00pm film commences
*****1/2 David **** Margaret
"I'm giving it four and a half. I love this film" David Stratton
A Egyptian police band arrives in Israel to perform at the Arab Arts Cultural Centre, only to find themselves in the wrong town...
The eight members of the Alexandria Ceremonial Police Band, led by Toofik, (SASSON GABAI), arrive at an airport in Israel and find no-one is there to meet them.They are here to play at the Arab Culture Centre in a provincial town, but the town they arrive at, by bus, is the wrong one – a dot in the desert where culture of any kind is non-existent. However there IS Dina, (RONIT ELKABETZ), who runs a local café.Dina invites Toofik and Khaled, (SALEH BAKRI), who is a bit of a ladies’ man, to stay at her place; the others find friendly locals who accommodate them. (courtesy ABC 'At the Movie's review)
Rated M
Written (in Arabic, English and Hebrew, with English subtitles) and directed by Eran Kolirin;
Filmed at Yeruham, Negev Desert, Israel
Trailer and ABC's At The Movies review http://www.abc.net.au/atthemovies/txt/s2265615.htm
Director’s interview
http://www.abc.net.au/atthemovies/txt/s2265627.htm
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