Oh The Shame!

Shame
2011
Directed by Steve McQueen
Full production details on imdb

minigraph:

a subtle and understated tale of modern isolation and need. beautifully atmospheric tragedy with perfect, sorrowful score.

McQueen's second feature as writer director is an intense and atmospheric tale of isolation. An adult tale in more than one sense it is a window into a rare intersection of the lives of estranged brother and sister Brandon (Michael Fassbender) and Sissy (Carey Mulligan). Both lost and alone, their lives teeter on the edge of sanity, both with needs and cravings, struggling to maintain normal human relations.

Whatever happened to Fay Wray?

King Kong
1933
Directed by Merian C Cooper and Ernest B Schoesdsack

Full production details on imdb

minigraph: State of the art 1933 epic. Soulful animation & classic adventure. Will charm even those reticent to suspend their disbelief.

Scala Forever is a film festival taking place across London from the 13th August to the 2nd October, a festival completely dedicated to celebrating the Scala cinema, Kings Cross, which dished up art house, cult, exploitation, B movies and international fare from 1981 to 1993.

The festival has films, panels, double bills and all nighters inspired by Scala and, as per its mission statement 'celebrating the current repertory film scene in London.' It is masterminded from the Roxy Bar and Screen on Borough high street, which, as one of 27 venues involved is the stage for the opening night.

Black Swan

It is easy to be snobby about Darren Aronofsky's recent mainstream offering Black Swan. Particularly in comparison to his earlier works - it doesn't have the edginess of π or the daring desparation of Requiem for a Dream. It's about ballet dancers. Competitive, bulemic girls. Creepy coreographers. Stereotpyes, or at least exaggerations, for which it has rightly received criticsm from the dance community.


The dance communtiy has also praised it. It was possible such a film could alienate the very world it attempts to portray, and there was some scepticism at the casting of an actress to play the role of a ballerina. Keen to allay any fears, the production saw Natalie Portman spend half a year training as a dancer, and she received praise for her performance, both as an actor and as a dancer. The supporting cast were less than impressive when it came to dancing, but Black Swan is a film, not a ballet, and acting is the skill required. Dancing is secondary. If you want fantastic dancing, go and see Swan Lake.

"It's a sign of a good film when you can't wait for it to end..."

Originally said in sarcasm, the title of this post rings painfully true with one of the three shorts I saw at this month's Duke Mitchell.