Posted Sunday 20 April 2008
- Before the Devil Knows You're Dead - bleak and dark film about a pair of brothers, hopeless loser Hank (Ethan Hawke) and scheming Andy (Philip Seymour Hoffman), who get together to rob their parents jewellery store, starting of a sequence of disastrous events. Featuring murder, drug-abuse, infidelity and torn apart families, it's not an easy film to watch. Basically it is a story about how easily things can get out of hand, particularly when people are not brave enough to stand up and face their mistakes. 7/10
- Paris - the lead actor in this film is a friend of a friend, so it felt a bit more personal. Anyway, he's been diagnosed with a heart condition and has perhaps only months to live. All around people have their stories unfolding, and in this way it could have turned into a disaster like Crash, but thankfully did not turn into a moralistic and judgemental mess. From the story of Benoit in Northern Africa, to Caroline, the market worker in a man's world, to Pierre's sister who feels old and past it there was resonance with each character. Not a perfect film, but pretty decent. 7/10
- The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford - a really long (153min), but really good film, starring Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck. Jesse James is a charismatic and increasingly wayward criminal, while Robert Ford is best described as a "fan-boy", who has worshipped James since he was twelve. The characterisations are great, and it didn't feel like it was too long, just about right. There's a good interview with Casey Affleck here at smh.com.au