Author: Alex Cole

David Kane Garcia hour long documentary takes us into a very real world of S&M. A world made popular by the sensation that is E.L. James’s novel 50 Shades of Grey.

Through a sequence of interviews with a select group of participants we’re taken through the very real experiences, the practices and the fetishes that make up their unique world and a life lived through S&M.

Whilst the title is somewhat misleading, with many of the interviews involving men; what is clear is that at its heart this is a more personal than factual documentary with a range of individual experiences. Each participant has a unique perspective on S&M and Real Women Confess intends to make clear the individual and personal nature of the ‘world’ they describe.

It becomes clear early on that there is no such thing as a shared experience, unless experienced in the same room and whilst it is interesting to go through a series of confessions it actually did more to prevent the film from building any kind of structure or conclusion. I felt no more open to or understanding of their world than I did before; it felt more like a series of sex tales that were interesting, but nothing that impacted on my own life whatsoever.

What could be a really entertaining documentary, with a unique insight into something not often experienced therefore ends up being a rather dim affair. There is little change of pace, scenery or interest and it loses its appeal quickly. Cut scenes of people not having sex in between tiresome interviews neither gives us a view of what’s being discussed, or increases the entertainment value. Their only evident purpose is to make the whole feature feel like a cheesy soft core title of little value or relevance. A documentary into a sordid world of sex and violence should struggle to become dull, but 50 Shades of Grey: Real Women does a spectacular job of achieving it.

I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone unless they had a particular interest in 50 shades or S&M. For the most part it only served to make the world seem more exclusive and hidden, despite its intentions to open it up. It has no real unique value, and only 1 participant really gave enough of an insight into themselves to be of any interest.

Matt Poitras’ feature length documentary To Go Viking follows a Texas branch of the Jomsburg Elag group of Viking battle re-enactors through their life, training and battle as they prepare for the ultimate test at the 17^th Slav and Viking festival in Wolin.

Primarily focussing on Clinton Dale, a member of the Texas Elag; To Go Viking takes us across Europe and introduces us to key members of this exclusive society that has its own rites, ceremony and traditions. We’re taken deep into their world, shown how they battle, how they build their armour and how they live their lives. We see them as real people and not just Vikings; shown how they balance it with their lives at home and how they manage to live a ‘true’ Viking lifestyle. All too often documentaries focus on only one aspect and ignore the stories behind the people; but with great transition and editing To Go Viking avoids this pitfall and creates a really entertaining spectacle.

To Go Viking is an incredibly well put together piece with a great balance between action and interview .Enough time is dedicated to each individual to get to know them without boring the audience with needless detail. It’s a surprisingly difficult balance to get; but with an interesting subject matter and a great selection of people, Matt Poitras has found this balance seamlessly. He’s created an intelligent piece that gives the viewer a real understanding of what’s going on without losing their attention and much of this is down to the enthusiasm exhumed by the members of the Jomsburg Elag.

The lack of a narration may seem strange at first, but as the documentary goes on the subjects themselves do a fantastic job of telling their own story and provide the main bulk of the entertainment. Much of the success of this documentary and why I loved it is down to the people that are documented. They’re inviting, real, honest and from all over the world. There are no egos, no pretentious characters and no sense that this is an exclusive world from which we, the viewer, are exempt. Quite the opposite. To Go Viking feels not only like we’re watching Clinton Dale on his journey to Wolin, but that we are experiencing the same journey with him and that is truly a rare thing.

A great watch for  fans of documentaries and not just those interested in Nordic culture. It’s one I’d recommend watching on a quiet Sunday afternoon and maybe a horn of ale!

Sometimes when you’re looking for a great film you have to take a chance. With no research, chosen on a plot summary, peculiar title and innuendo filled cover art, Shinobu Yaguchi’s Wood Job! has become not only one of my favourite films of 2014, but it’s found a place in my all-time list.

Before I go on I need to clarify that my all-time list is not a list of the greatest movies ever made. Nor is it a list of the greatest achievements in cinematography, acting performances or script writing. These are my favourites, the films I can watch over and over again and never lose faith that they’ll make me laugh, cry and jump, but mostly they make me smile. I say this, because Wood Job! is not an Oscar winner, but that isn’t always a BAD thing. Slammed by Guardian critics at Cannes as being aimed at kids and receiving little European attention since, Wood Job! is a simple mix of heart-warming story with a predictable plot and laugh out loud physical comedy…and it is fantastic!

Wood Job! tells the story of Yuki Harano (Shota Sometani), a recently graduated high school who after failing to get into college is inspired by a beautiful woman on a flyer to enter a forestry training programmed in a small mountain town. A tale of personal growth and love we see this city slicker go from failure to hero with a thousand laughs along the way.

What is great about Wood Job! is its simplicity, the characters are likeable, the plot simple and the jokes are funny. After you put this film on its time to turn your brain off, your heart on and laugh. The characters are simple but played to perfection, I have to real credit to Hideaki Ito for his performance of Yoki Lida’s instructor and landlord who through his portrayal of a stupid but loveable tough-man puts a shine on the whole film. It’s true success however, came in that it had that feel good factor that leaves you feeling anything is possible and maybe I can achieve my dreams and life IS worth living. That’s what puts a film on my list and Wood Job! has it in abundance.

Similar to A Story of Yonosuke, fans of Japanese comedy, comedy in general and for people who enjoy being happy this film is a must see. For me…Wood Job! is a revelation. Sorry Guardian.

Al Pacino’s re-imagining of Oscar Wilde’s classic bible tale Salomé is innovative, powerful and an incredible watch’ bringing theatre to the home Salomé is an extension of a growing trend of broadcasting stage shows into cinemas but with the unique addition of extra ‘film only’ footage to aid the transition from stage to DVD.

Salomé tells the tale of fictional events between King Herod (Al Pacino), Salomé (Princess of Judea), Jokanaan/John The Baptist (Kevin Anderson), Herodias (Roxanne Hart) and the palace guards as they play out their characters journey to insanity, driven by power, love and lust culminating in a disturbing end. Presented as a combination of stage performances and studio additions Salomé is low key in terms of set, budget and production but has a story filled with intrigue, lust and betrayal that will keep you hooked for the full 90 minutes.

Salome’s real strength is in the power of the performances. Jessica Chastain is a standout star. A bold choice by Al Pacino to cast a relatively unknown star paid off dividends. Her performance as Salomé, Princess of Judea, portraying of a character twisted by unrequited love whilst having to endure the endless lust of King Herod is astounding, and for me, one of the cinematic performances of 2014. Al Pacino gives an equally great performance as King Herod and is supported by a spectacular cast whose delivery and timing are par excellence helping to make Salomé a feature worth watching.

Whilst the notion of a play on film may put off some viewers, if you can push past this and the period script you’ll find something that won’t but be able to brag about watching to anyone who’ll listen.

**Salomé also comes with an accompanying documentary Wild Salome. Whilst the insight into rehearsals and filming adds something to the overall project and mystery of the play-to-cinema formula; it becomes a self-aggrandising mess that even includes the ‘infallible’ word of literary expert Bono. If you’re interested in making of documentary or a fan of Pacino it’s worth watching, but otherwise it’s something I’d avoid.

Tristan Ofield’s hour long documentary Operation Oman tells the largely untold story of three British soldiers who took part in one of the most successful counter insurgency campaigns fought in the middle east as part of the Sultan’s forces during the 1970’s.Tracing the story of this counter insurgency; Major Nicholas Ofield retraces his steps as he tells us a tale of battle, strife and the fear of death.

The film is well edited, well narrated by Al Gregg and well presented. The return to Oman by Nick Ofield itself is intriguing and inspiring; but the flow of the film is stuttered by this battle between personal and factual and it never quite reveals itself.

What begins as an excited deluge into a ‘secret war’ supported behind the curtains by British forces sadly never lives up to the hype, tapering off into a rather personal tale no doubt exaggerated by the writer and director being personally linked to events. This wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing, but the film is advertised, and in fact begins, as a historical documentary aiming to reveal to secrets of a unknown war in Oman but finishes as more a personal insight lacking any real detail, facts or impact.

At the films conclusion I was left knowing very little more than I did at the start of the feature and I didn’t feel as if I could know go and brag to my friends about a secret war only knew about. I was in fact more confsed and lost than I was before. The audience isn’t made aware of the soldiers rank until the very close of the film and it focuses so heavily on one individual that the role of countless local soldiers and those from other nations are lost almost entirely. Tristan Ofield, the film’s director and son of Major Nick Ofield has been quoted to say ‘This is basically my dad’s account…but when I got back I started making something a little bit more serious’. Operation Oman could have done better remaining his Dad’s film; perhaps then it would have the consistency and clarity that this film needed.

I fully support this films intention and its aim to open up a previous unpublicised counter insurgency supported by British troops, but I was left disappointed in its level of detail and its inability to focus on either the personal or the factual.