BY STEVEN ARMOUR
Animal Kingdom:
An explosive, distinctive sort of gangster piece, Animal Kingdom depicts the malevolent underworld of drugs and crime in Melbourne. When oddly despondent Joshua’s mum dies of an overdose he is taken in by his seemingly sweet grandmother (an Oscar nominated Jacki Weaver) and the rest of his estranged, but welcoming family (including a terrifyingly brooding Ben Mendelsohn). However after advice from a good-natured police officer (Guy Pearce), who is genuinely concerned for the boy, Joshua soon comes to realise just how unwholesome his family really are, and just how far they are willing to go to protect themselves. Fans of the genre should consider this haunting, grubby crime drama unmissable.
Blue Valentine:
For those who have been in love – only for it all to fall apart – Blue Valentine is guaranteed to stir up those old conflicting emotions. Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams star as a couple of down-and-outers, dissatisfied with their current lives, until they meet one another and feel that all too rare spark. The film is certainly not a conventional, romanticised tale of love and happiness, but instead offers up something much more confrontational and piercing in its authenticity. Gosling and Williams make for a compelling pair, with electric chemistry that devastates us, as well as brings a smile to our faces.
Chloe:
Convinced that her husband (Liam Neeson) is indulging himself in extramarital dalliances, Dr. Catherine Stewart (
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href=”http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000194/”>Julianne Moore) employs the services of an angelic young escort (Amanda Seyfried) to tempt him, and see if he does indeed stray. Things are not what they seem though, as character motivations keep us guessing until the shocking final act. Chloe is a film bathed in sensuality, aided by luscious cinematography and a moody soundtrack, and is well worth a watch to see Seyfried’s best performance to date, as well as one of Moore’s most underrated.
Life During Wartime:
Todd Solondz has always been a master of making his audiences uncomfortable, and his recast semi-sequel to the hilariously dark, disturbing Happiness (1998) is no exception. Featuring an inspired ensemble cast (Ciaran Hinds, Allison Janney, Charlotte Rampling) all on their gloomiest form, Life During Wartime explores the unfortunate, lonely lives of its characters as they struggle to connect with one another. Not an easy watch, as to be expected from Solondz’s films, this is a peculiar character study elevated by a witty, sardonic script.
Rabbit Hole:
In case anyone needed a reminder that Nicole Kidman is still one of the greatest actresses of our time, Rabbit Hole provides all the reassurance one could ever need. Along with solid support from Aaron Eckhart, the two play a couple whose life is still in disarray after the recent, sudden death of their young child. Taking an honest, often tragic look at an all too real situation, the film never insults its audience by manipulating us with contrived, forced scenes in which the aim is to make us cry, but rather presents us with a matter-of-fact, cathartic examination of such easily exploitative subject matter.
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