The 13TH Hall of Fame

This movie had been on my watchlist for quite a while. If I had those movies in order of priority, rather than watching them at random, The Hunt would have been near the top. Netflix mailed it out to me about 8 hours before I learned it was nominated, so obviously I was happy and it was the nomination I most looked forward to. I only knew the general synopsis, but I have noticed the praise it has received the last few years. I was not disappointed.

I don't know if courage is the right word, but I think a filmmaker needs a certain something to make a movie with this kind of subject matter. I think most of us have probably imagined what type of movie we'd make, and I doubt a story revolving around sexual abuse has crept into most of our minds. Most movies dealing with this subject matter are more graphic in some way, and it's a credit to the director for making such an upsetting movie without ever making it exploitive. Of course, this movie has an entirely different take than the usual.

The character of Lucas is introduced as a good man who's down on his luck a little bit. He's a likable guy, and it's nice to see things start to turn around for him until his world gets rocked out of the blue. When Lucas first gets accused, I kind of wondered how realistic his reaction was. My thought was that he'd be flipping out right away. I also wondered about the reactions of everyone else. Yet, there's no playbook for this kind of delicate situation. If you're being accused of something you didn't do, I think the normal reaction would be to attack your accuser. I think that changes dramatically when the accuser is an innocent child. As for the other adults, you have to take a child's word seriously, because if you don't, and you're wrong, it makes a horrible situation worse. It's just such a truly awful situation for everyone involved, and the story was handled masterfully and is so engrossing. Even the last scene, when everything has supposedly gone back to normal, you can sense the residual effects. Lucas will never forget what he had to endure, and the other people will always know what they did to him. Beyond that, I think it would be human nature for some of them to always have some doubt. In fact, I had at least a tiny bit of doubt about his innocence myself. I'm not exactly sure what the very last part with the shooter was meant to signify, or if it was real or imagined.

I've seen the name Mads Mikkelsen mentioned many times on this forum, but this was basically the first time I've seen him in anything. I've seen Casino Royale, but I hardly remember that movie much less his performance. He's an odd looking dude, and I can understand why he was chosen to play Hannibal in that TV series. He was perfectly suited to play Lucas and he was fantastic. In fact, the whole cast was excellent in a film that is reliant on it's performances. It was these performances, along with the story, that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout, and made this movie a new favorite for me.

I'd watched this about 4 months ago and thought I'd give it another go. The first time I thought it was good but flawed. The third act just doesn't seem in keeping with the rest of the film and at first I thought it may have even been a dream sequence. This means that I started questioning myself as to whether I was supposed to be believing the movie and how seriously I should be treating it. It does pull itself out of the bag though and manage overall to be a movie that doesn't disappear up it's own backside. Which is good because it is a fun filled, quirky feelgood ride and in the end I was able to set aside the "That would never happen" moments and enjoy this piece for what it was. Mortensen is as good as ever and some of the kids are good (some are slightly annoying).

As it happens I listened to a music podcast (before the HoF nominations were announced) that featured Director Matt Ross, so it was nice again to put references to the music into the film.

I could easily see why people would take this as being a faux hippy, sentimental, run of the mill family drama. But I liked it. 7/10

Forbidden Games

I didn't actually realize until i was about to watch this that it's my second Clement film; i watched Purple Noon for a Hall of Fame here actually, i like that quite alot, probably my favourite Tom Ripley film and i like all of them. Kind of had the wrong impression about this, not exactly but it did surprise me a little at the start. From looking through screenshots to find a poster i figured it would be a coming of age drama, it kind of was but i never even thought about it being war related for whatever reason. So the air attack scene at the start was a slight shock, great scene; very well shot and oddly not that sad more mundane/expected which set the tone. At this point war is so ingrained in these people that the only ones who try and save Paulette are her parents, and they walk by the bodies as if it is not out of the ordinary because it isn't, not to mention the mob 'look after your own' mentality with them flipping over the families car. Of course it is sad that a little girl has lost her parents but the scene isn't played this way, she seems more confused by the incident, shellshocked, picking up her dog and kind of wandering about until someone finally helps her after at least 5 have passed. I find that a very interesting way to treat something like that, personally i really can't think of anything i don't think like the way the scene plays out so that got me interested right away. Actually something that came to mind while reflecting on the scene now was in Ex Machina when There was alot of death being such a constant thing for these people that it was brushed over, i mean it kind of seems that she doesn't understand her parents are dead at this point but the first time she is asked about her parents from Michel she frankly tells him they are dead. And that's the scene she picks up her dead dog and briefly cries until he said he'll give her a new one, she literally happily skips away after he tells her that 30 seconds after crying about her dead dog. This did seem weird but was probably ingrained in alot of peoples attitudes then that you need to instantly move on as you are constantly in danger of dying too and waiting about moping will do no good. It does make you think that grieving is an expected thing today; someone is genuinely seen as weird if they don't take their time to be sad over a loved ones death and at least the characters in this film weren't granted that luxury. Another big part of it was the kids floating about doing their own thing while the family dealt with various troubles in the background, having accepted the way life is and trying to keep themselves entertained. Both child performances were great, particularly Brigette Fossey who was adorable and effectively conveyed everything the director was trying to get across.

Film looked gorgeous. There's something about beautiful landscapes like the countryside here, shot very well being blown up and rundown that makes it more powerful. Think it's being so used to already blown up houses, or tattered buildings, whatever in most war films that makes it that way. I know it shouldn't make a difference unless there's a larger concentration of people in one of those but i think it's a natural human instinct to be more shocked by nice areas being bombed than already worn down ones. There was loads of great shots, one part that got to me was the planes flying over at very close proximity during the scene we are first introduced to Michel. Being post-war born in a 1st world country these things just seem impossible, as if they never happen but they do still in the real world and the idea of that being reality to people in the 21st Century is depressing as hell; don't know why that part really hit that home but it did. Despite everything i'm saying i didn't actually find this sad as a whole, it's not really meant to be an outwardly sad film i don't think. It's the greater realities of these characters actions that are sad when you think about them. There was clearly buried sadness and trauma in Claudette from the start that obviously came out during her nightterrors and at the end. It made the end all the more effective because of this, particularly with her briefly changing her cries from Michel to her Mother who it has felt like she has completely forgotten about by this point.

Good nom Jeff. Really glad you picked it as it wasn't really on my radar. The Quiet Earth next for me.

@ScarletLion and @cricket - two great reviews.

My main complaint about this sci-fi film from the land of the hobbits is that it was just....well, boring to be quite honest. I know that's not a particularly in-depth assessment and may seem rather lazy but unfortunately it's the truth.

An individual finding themselves to be the sole survivor on Earth isn't a new concept; it's long been a favourite scenario of the science fiction genre, with Richard Matheson's “I Am Legend” perhaps the most famous example. It's always going to generate at least a modicum of interest, however it never amounted to anything more than that mere modicum for me. To me it felt like the film had that intriguing hook but went into production without knowing where to go with it and how to resolve it. We get some potential explanation in the form of mutterings about Project Flashlight but it's all kept frustratingly vague; perhaps to prevent us questioning the logic behind it. The sense of intrigue is strongest in the opening half hour when Hobson is on his own, exploring his desolate environment and quickly losing his marbles. Once the film's two additional characters come into the equation I found my interest beginning to wane; that's when we get Hobson's musings on what may have happened. It's also when a predictable and clumsy love triangle storyline comes into play.

The film was clearly made on a budget but to their credit the filmmakers are able to come up with some arresting and powerful images as Hobson explores his brave new world. The sight of him gunning down a statue of Jesus in a church was a particularly striking moment. And certainly not one I imagine you'd see had this been an American production. Geoff Murphy (director) and James Bartle (cinematographer) also deliver some odd and intriguing camera angles, especially during the opening act where Hobson's sanity begins to crumble, that catch the eye. In addition to its modest budget the cast aren't exactly the slickest of performers. Pete Smith as Maori survivor Api in particular felt quite cumbersome. Credit to Bruno Lawrence though for his efforts in the opening act. Holding the screen all on your own is a tough ask. And while he may not succeed to the levels of a Tom Hanks (Cast Away) or a Sam Rockwell (Moon) I think he makes a good fist of it.

And while I'm not really sure what to make of it in terms of the story the final scene provides quite a beautiful, haunting image.

PS - Was I the only one left peeved by the scene in which Hobson gives a balcony address to an assemblage of cardboard cutouts? Where the hell did he get them all?! I can perhaps imagine he looted a store that sold some of them. But Hitler?!!! Where the hell do you get a Hitler cutout?!

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@Camo Really great observational write-up. I'm glad you seemed to enjoy Forbidden Games. After I rewatch it, I'll likely do a more detailed analysis , but I definitely agree with you on the beauty of the film's cinematography and a great performance by Briggite Fossey.

I think I read somewhere that Clement originally looked for a 10-year old to play the role of Paulette, but ultimately decided to cast then 6-year old Fossey. It was because she could perfectly and almost robotically transfer the emotions to screen, which director wanted. Unlike her older peers ,who thought too much about it.

Also agree that film wasn't suppose to be sad. Despite dealing with such morbid themes, it never really stepped into morbid territory. It was definitely touching and poignant , with even quite a few comedic elements, but definitely never morbid.

Freaking finally @cricket!! Glad you liked it too.

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@cricket Always great to see someone discover a new favourite ! If you'd like to check out more of Mads's work, I suggest watching "After the Wedding " by a director Sussane Bier. It was nominated for the best foreign picture in 2007 and it features some really powerful performances. As a matter of fact I considered nominating it for this HoF.

After the Wedding ws great. So was Flame and Citron.

She was great, very natural.

I'm not sure I agree that the film isn't sad - I found the ending very sad.

Well, yeah. The ending was definitely heartbreaking.

I agree absolutely - there's so much death all the way through but everyone is so matter of fact about it as it's become normal to them. That's partly why the ending is so sad, that it's that loss that she finally feels and understands.

Sorry I haven't posted much in here as I'm very busy at this time of year with yard work. I've got Captain Fantastic on the way for the weekend and I should be able to see another in the meantime.

Saw that a few months back, GREAT movie!!!

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Brilliant. I watched it four times back to back. Makes me want to study Denmark's involvement in WWII. I studied Germany in the two wars and my teacher never touched on the Danish Resistance. That annoys me.

made me very curious as well. I had stumbled across a few resistance fighters films and that was suggested to me by someone here, shame on me for not knowing it. At the time I had watched another about a woman who was fighting Austrian officials about a national painting that was stolen from her family by the Germans of her aunt; called Woman in Gold with Helen Mirren which was quite wonderful.

I was a little bothered by that as well, but I liked the scene as a whole so I forgave it. It was one of the few scenes I genuinely did like, actually.

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The Quiet Earth

I struggle with sci-fi generally and sadly i struggled with this. I do like the idea, not that it's original; the very first episode of The Twilight Zone: Where is Everybody? as well as one of its most popular episodes Time Enough At Last are about last men on earth. Then there's the show Last Man On Earth (started after this obviously but i saw that first) which is closer to this since there's a few other survivors, don't think that matters though since there's so many different ways you can explore the concept. Regrettably i was mostly bored, i thought Bruno Lawrence gave a good performance i just wasn't that entertained by his antics. Just like if you actually were the last man on earth doing random stuff that you couldn't do with others around would get tedious and depressing after a while so it probably was pretty fitting that i thought this got pretty tedious. By the time Joanne came into it i was pretty put off so i don't think it elicited the sort of reaction it should have, i also think it was too low-key; we had a jokey moment then a dramatic hug then they were just sitting down talking normally. Don't know what i'm asking for exactly so it's probably not fair that i'm complaining about it but i did find it a little underwhelming either way. I think Api eventually created the right sort of dynamic but it was only for the last half hour; a little too late for it to turn into anything i liked all that much.

I kept thinking of the aforementioned Twilight Zone episodes while watching this despite the numerous differences. Where Is Everybody? displays a whole host of emotions; confusion, paranoia, fear, loneliness, etc very well; and Time Enough At Last had it's humour and irony as well as the fact that it wasn't all a last man on earth episode. Most importantly both have the fact that they are 20-30 minutes long, while the concept is full of potential ideas stretching it out to 90 minutes of a mainly empty earth setting isn't the easiest thing to get right and i personally don't think it pulls anything off as well as say the general mood in Where Is Everybody? or the twisted sense of humour in Time Enough At Last. Maybe it's not fair to compare them but it was what was going through my mind alot and i can't really help that.

Not a bad nom by any means Clazor just not my thing. Sorry. The Three Musketeers next for me.

At first, I was disappointed when Nightmare Alley left the carnival setting as I just find that lifestyle fascinating. The movie ended up not missing a beat and it comes full circle with a brilliant ending.