Melancholia

 Melancholia by name and absolutely melancholic by nature, the film is a beautiful examination of depression and of that one fate that befalls us all, death. While it is true to say that this is Lars Von Trier's disaster movie this is as far from a Roland Emmerich film as you are going to get. Melancholia opens with nearly 8 minutes of Wagner's Tristan and Isolde Prelude playing over highly stylised slow-motion shots based on famous art and still photography, cutting between shots of the films main players in striking poses and the planet Melancholia's collision with Earth from the vantage point of space.

Red State

 

Red State (2011) concerns the kidnapping of three high school kids by the religious sect ran by the Cooper family. The Cooper family are described early on as “the people even the Nazi's think are nut jobs”. The kids are taken to the Cooper family home, a heavily barracked church compound. Billed as the first Kevin Smith horror film, this is certainly a departure from his usual fare in many ways, especially aesthetically. Red State is shot on DV and the washed out, dark imagery is a notable contrast to the vibrant colour of many of his previous efforts (Clerks the obvious black and white exception). Smith even shows more comfort in moving his camera, a blistering chase scene through the churches compound during the mid point of the movie is thrilling, showing that Smith may be maturing in terms of his film-making technique. 

The Skin I Live In

 

 A few days ago I was lucky enough to catch Pedro Almodovar's new outing, The Skin I Live In. For me this is the best film of 2011 so far. A stylish, psycho sexual masterpiece, it is at once an exciting, shocking and very refreshing experience. Pedro's latest is a must see, I would strongly advise to see this in a theatre as this is a prime example of the type of work that cries out for a big screen viewing. The less you know going in the better, as Almodovar proves a master at revealing the films dark heart in the most thrilling fashion. To Whet your appetite read the following at http://thejustinsupremacy.blogspot.com/2011/09/groundbreaking-film-pedro-almodovars.html. Justin does a great job with this review in raising curiosity without giving away the films many secrets.