Author: BRWC

On February 15th 2003 millions around the world flooded the streets in the largest peace protest for decades. They all took to the streets in opposition to the proposed war on Iraq, unfortunately the governments involved failed to listen and the war went ahead. Millions of people watched the bombs fall are felt cheated by their governments, leaders elected by the people and should have been operating in the interests of those same people.

Amir Amirani’s film chronicles the story of how the world rose up against the iraq war. Through the prism one of the most historic days of protest in recent memory, the film pieces together testimonials, archive footage and newly shot interviews to chronicle the lead up and aftermath of the Iraq war. It’s a powerful documentary that shows how old establishments were awakened to the power of global public opinion. There are a couple of times in this film that I was genuinely moved, the shots of major cities filled with people pleading to their leaders to see reason, the news footage of the first bombs falling on Baghdad which i remember watching myself back in 2003 and when in 2013 both the USA and UK governments finally took the opinions of their people into consideration.

This movie is very well put together and chronicles the story well, the story is of course biased in its view of the whole affair but it stands as a reflection of the way governments are changing, the process is slow and many people are still distrustful of the powers that are meant to be helping them. I will be the first person to say that I am not a politically minded person, I rarely get involved in such debates and I didn’t even take part in the recent election but this film is an entertaining and enlightening look at the events that lead super powers to think a little more carefully about their actions.

8/10

‘It’s a planet that has been hiding behind the sun, and now passes by us’

Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsborough, Alexander Skarsgård, Stellan Skarsgård, John Hurt, Kiefer Sutherland and Charlotte Rampling. Mainstream names make a unexpected but beautiful ensemble in this breathtaking masterpiece.

Lars Von Trier’s Melancholia (2011) follows the stormy relationship of two sisters, Justine (Dunst) and Claire (Gainsbourg), as what originally seems an idle threat of a new planet turns into possible impending disaster.  For an ‘end of the world’ film, this is a interesting new perspective. There is little panic, there isn’t a mass exodus, there is just the reality of the situation and the coping mechanisms we use as humans. This film is emotionally hypnotic, with the main fascination being Justine and how the planet’s arrival effects her behaviour.

The film is captivating on many levels. Wagner’s Tristen und Isolde weaves throughout the film, and the story flows along the suspensions of the melody, which commands the viewers, and compliments the unease of the characters and their final acceptance.  The casting is outstanding, with all performances being convincing. Dunst is brilliant as Justine who suffers from depression and goes through a break down after her wedding day ends negatively. The cinematography is also breathtaking, some of the scenes and images are imprinted permanently on my memory.

Melancholia is a stunning visual and emotional journey, give this film a chance.

This film does exactly what it says on the tin, it is the 2014 World Cup film of Brazil, utilising talking head interviews and fly-on-the-wall style techniques to build a profile of the latest Brazil squad, why winning the World Cup would mean so much to them and what it would mean to the nation.

Nothing ruins a documentary like speculation and A Nation Expects is built on it. This is how the team has been performing and this how well they could do. While it has the heart of a More Than a Game or Next Goal Wins, it’s a story without an ending which is something that can’t be solved. I bet we’ll win is not an ending.

The history is fascinating, about the 1950 World Cup and 2002 squad, but because this film is chiefly about the current squad it feels really dry and lifeless. As it’s all told through the eyes of the current squad it just muddies it and it becomes incidental. Instead of a look into the history of Brazilian football we have an 80 minute first hand account of how great Brazil are as a team. We all know.We all bloody know.

The biggest problem that faces this doc is it’s building towards something that hasn’t happened yet, and as such doesn’t really have a story to tell. It feels more like a feature length match pre amble, clogged with bland talking head interviews and clips of previous matches, but with no match to follow it. There are no real insightful or interesting revelations on offer. It doesn’t need to be probing or gritty, but this is a bit of a puff piece with questions asked like who’s the biggest joker in the squad. This isn’t to say that it isn’t interesting, but for what it is it’s stretched beyond belief at 80 minutes.

Having said all this, what is on offer is very well put together technically and I am well aware that I am not this film’s target audience. I don’t even care about the England squad at the best of times, let alone want to watch a documentary about them. This is a film aimed at people who have a connection to Brazilian football or those who so deeply love the sport that any kind of crumb of behind-the-scenes is enthralling.

There are flashes here and there of a good documentary within, but what we have in total is, for such a colourful and amazing story, utterly vanilla. Not a bad film, just very bland.

Out now on Blu-Ray and DVD

When Hugh and Laurie (Danielle Lilley & Brandon Kyle Peters) move into their new, isolated holiday home, they do what comes naturally; throw a party with their nearest and dearest. In a neighbouring, seemingly abandoned boarding school, however, something dark and murderous has been disturbed; The Blood Widow (Gabrielle Ann Henry).

I don’t know how else to begin other than to say I really didn’t like this. I don’t dislike it because it’s low-budget, I’m quite a big fan of films like Roman and even schlockier fare like Cradle of Fear. The problem here is that it is fundamentally indecisive, creating a huge problem with it’s tone.

It’s too serious to be fun, but too silly to be scary. It has no idea what to do with itself; is it a bit of fun like the Friday the 13^th films or is it trying to be deathly serious like The Devil’s Rejects? The ridiculous kills tell you one and the cinematography another.

Don’t get me wrong, the cinematography is actually quite good, but it’s grey tone is at a mismatch for the more ludicrous moments that are on offer. Am I supposed to enjoy the disembowelments and decapitations or are they supposed to be horrifying? This really killed it for me and I feel really sorry for the special effects team who’s great efforts, that could have been put to use for a really fun slasher, were wasted.

Even the eponymous Blood Widow has problems. While there is a flare to her design, we are supposed to be emotionally involved in her back story, engulfed in the mystery and the reasons that she kills. Unfortunately, there is just absolutely no reason to do so. This is a film that expects the audience to come along for the ride without putting in the effort to make that investment worth while.

If you take this serious identity crisis and smack in an underwhelming score, 2-dimensional characters and 0% investment material of any kind, it all makes for an utterly dull viewing experience. Had it either been really scary or really fun the smaller issues wouldn’t have been so blatant, but as it stands this is bottom of the bargain-bin slasher fare to be avoided.

Blood Widow is out on DVD in the USA June 3^rd