Before I Go To Sleep

An excellent Drama/Mystery/Thriller starring Nicole Kidman and Colin Firth written and directed by English Rowan Joffe. I found this film to be thought-provoking and quite effective in affecting the audience. Beautiful pacing and even more lovely cinematography. Traumatic truths are revealed and it keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. Certainly the challenging and full-of-depth characters I’d love to have the opportunity to bite in to. 

The strategy of repetition worked well here in this film because it allowed us to identify better with the frightening turmoil of our main character. Even towards the end of the film we feel insecure and vulnerable and just the sheer thought of what our main character ‘Christine’ played by Kidman is going through brings unsettling emotions forward. 

Memory is a personal topic for us all and the filmmaker manages to capture this chilling phenomena in the most spine-tingling and intriguing way. The circumstances are dark but all eventually comes into the light. 

Good for the Soul

**Sad movies always makes me cry...

The Paperboy

Another John Cusack film back-to-back for me and joining in on the film-fun was English David Oyelowo whom you may recall from 'Jack Reacher', porcelain and extra-fun character Charlotte Bless played by Aussie' Nicole Kidman, ever-southern yet outstanding performance by Mathew McConaughey and the handsome "High-school dancer" now "swimmer" and 'The Paper Boy' Zac Efron. And how can we forget our narrator and voice of reason - a natural in front of the camera, 'singer-turned actress' Macy Gray.

This 2012 American-thriller written by Pete Dexter who won an award for his 1991 novel turned movie 'Paris Trout' and known for other beloved works like 'Michael' starring John Travolta, had his story adapted into screenplay by Lee Daniels who also directed this film. Lee Daniels who is known for producing gritty and disturbing films like 'Monster's Ball' starring Halle Berry and 'Precious' starring Gabourney Sidibe pivoting both actress' into Academy Award nominations and hall of fame, intended to do just that for this steamy and equally alarming story.

My favourite part of this film were the camera-angles which were fluid and propped in the most natural and un-natural of positions, it made for it's viewers feeling even closer to the characters and what was going on in the story. I felt the acting was strong aside from the occasional smirks shown by Efron (but who could blame him because of the very many not-intended yet comical parts in this film). The story was far-fetched and utterly abominable but believable characters, and behaviour of people living in Florida during that time, and probably a little still today.

Rated R for some of the most nauseating sexual content, violence and language, it's not a film for family-fun. With a budget of $12 million USD and not making much back at the box-office and notwithstanding it's dismal and simple ambitions, it still has all the makings of Academy Award nominations. 

Trespass

This is just another classic example that goes to show, that $35 million USD, can gross only $24,094 and be pulled from the cinema in only 10 days; and that Oscar-winner actors and even an award-winning director cannot make a bad story sensational. I was never really a fan of Nicholas Cage, but I'm sorry to say, that despite Joel Shumacher's direction, and Aussie Nicole Kidman's competence, this film still didn't have a chance.

2011's crime-drama-thriller 'Trespass' had all the makings of excellence, except a meritorious tale; written by Karl Gajdusek, it lacked sensibility and believable desperation. It was almost comical to see how the group of villains were the least of team-players and the many instances of pre posterous interruptions that took place time and time again. Liana Liberato is making waves with her young career and plays 'Avery Miller' quite cannily like that of her 'mother' played by Nicole Kidman. Without them, the film would seem utterly un-exciting or transformed into a proper comedy.

I also felt that the soundtrack wasn't as jolting or inspiring as it could have been, as often times music assists in delivering brilliance. Rated R for violence, terror, adult language and some drug use; this film may be a good example of 'what not to do' until you have a solid story.

Fur

This 2006 mystery-drama-biography starring Aussie Academy Award Winner Nicole Kidman and superbly talented Academy Award nominee Robert Downey Junior proved to be quite aesthetically pleasing yet tremendously peculiar. Set in 1958 before ‘Diane Arbus’ (played by Kidman) was divorced, writers Erin Cressida Wilson and Patricia Bosworth collaborated in creating an imaginative biography of what this famous American photographer’s life must have been like. Director Steven Shainberg made sure that in this snippet of inspiration of what jolted Arbus’ photography career unfolded with style, grace and unhurried departures.

Certainly one of the most valued and uncommon American photographers of the twentieth century, any audience would find the little exposed about ‘Diane Arbus’ life fascinating. There was a lot of suppressed sexuality, freakishness and irresponsible behavior portrayed by our main character, and I was a bit disappointed with the way the writers and director chose to tell their story. Although this character had concealed longing and dreams of expressing herself in different ways; because she gave little regard or genuine love to her family it made her come across as a proper sociopath. I wished the film-maker would focus more on what actually took place in her life; and in turn try to piece to together her sadness and demise that ultimately ended in suicide.

Winner of one award and no nominations, and with an estimated budget of $16 million USD and a flat return of $2 million USD worldwide it is true to say it isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Crammed with nudity, even in the film’s very first scenes and plenty of indecent sensual delight – I wouldn’t recommend for a younger audience. 

With an ‘Alice in Wonderland’ sort of effect, lovely colours, wonderful slow moving, close shots and the journey of a lonely, aggravated yet budding artist it was an exceptional visual experience. Phenomenal acting by Kidman, Downey and Ty Burrell, but when it came to the actual story, I sadly was unimpressed.

Rabbit Hole

This 2010 film was based on a play written by David Lindsay-Abaire and directed by John Cameron Mitchell, starring Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart. I loved the clever concept of parallel universes/dimensions and the strength of the reality presented throughout the film. It was mostly heavy-drama with pockets of laughter filtered in, but for the most part it is serious content.

Spectacular cinematography, slow but easy pace and plenty of shouting and crying is displayed between the families as well as the married couple, between Becca and Howie, played by Kidman and Eckhart respectfully. Although there was excellent acting and visible seamlessness in the film’s production, I found it a bit difficult to connect fully to the character’s pain. I liked the fact that there was a scene of the day the accident happened with close shots in slow motion, but I feel that if the director decided to invest more time with showing the relationship lost between the parents and child, the audience would be that much closer to relating to the immense loss at hand.

I found the title perfect in a sense because when people think of rabbits, they think of furry, happy little creatures that pounce around and eat carrots. They may also think that they reproduce quite quickly too. But one never thinks that sometimes, rabbits want to hide away in small holes in the ground and let time pass by. And also that it isn’t easy as it seems to just start fresh and reproduce or forget when you’re just not able to. In order for the rabbit to be happy once more, they need time to hide away, to mourn, to heal, and to just sometimes be in a dark hole and not know exactly what’s coming next.