Films in 100: Cosmopolis (2012)

Cosmopolis (2012, David Cronenberg)

Starring: Robert Pattinson, Sarah Gadon, Paul Giamatti, Juliette Binoche, Samantha Morton, Jay Baruchel, Kevin Durand and Emily Hampshire.

A fantastic, timely dissection of the consumerist society in which we live. The film charts Eric Packer as he makes his way across Manhattan to get a haircut. The casting of Robert Pattinson is genius, with delicious irony in the line “talent is erotic when it is wasted,” clearly comparing his frozen performances in the Twilight films and his revelatory performance here. Pattinson and the other cast are wonderful. The cold, stilted dialogue, confined space and framing provide a theatrical feel, claiming the audience and making them feel gloriously uncomfortable. This film is brilliant, but is too inaccessible to get the consideration and recognition it deserves. 

5/5

Films in 100: Pitch Perfect (2012)

Pitch Perfect (Jason Moore, 2012)

Starring: Anna Kendrick, Brittany Snow, Skylar Astin,  Rebel Wilson, Anna Camp and Ben Platt.

The similarities to Glee are clear; it's a musical comedy, it shows the rise of an unpopular group of misfits to success and an alumni from the original broadway cast of Spring Awakening is in one of the main roles (Astin). The dialogue is often quick witted but sometimes falls flat with Rebel Wilson improvising to provide the majority of the laughs. The generic romance at the centre of the narrative is sweet but nothing new, with the mashups so “mashed” that it is difficult to shake them out like a polaroid picture. Less Pitch Perfect more pitch predictable.

3/5

Films in 100: Beasts Of The Southern Wild (2012)

Beasts Of The Southern Wild (Benh Zeitlin, 2012)

Starring: Quvenzhane Wallis and Dwight Henry.
 

Beautiful story of wonder and belonging. Fantastical in a very real setting with relatable images of the post Hurricane Katrina South. The film follows six year old Hushpuppy as she must face the melting icecaps flooding the only home she has ever known and the failing health of her father, with bravery and courage. There are wonderful performances from the two leads, who are not professional actors providing an authenticity that may not have been achieved otherwise. Shot beautifully, great soundtrack and screenplay, with a heartbreaking finale. A true marvel.

5/5

Films in 100: Black Rock (2012)

Black Rock (Katie Aselton, 2012)

Starring: Katie Aselton, Lake Bell, Kate Bosworth, Will Bouvier, Jay Paulson and Anslem Richardson.

A horror, which sees three friends hunted by some bat shit crazy soldiers on a remote island. Some of the film seemed quite amusing, but only in the sense of how contrived the convention following was. The film reaches its peak when the two lead female character's clothes become drenched, which leads to them taking them all off if they have any hope ofsurvival. They then spend about fifteen minutes (a night in the narrative) wondering around naked and cold, only to put on their clothes in the morning which seem to have magically dried. Really? I am not even going to begin to make a feminist reading of this film. Terrible.

1/5