2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY: Clubbing The Lower Animal
2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY: Clubbing The Lower Animal

Stanley Kubrick’s classic sci-fi epic, 2001: A Space Odyssey, is a fictional transcendence of classic Greek mythos through the ubiquity of the motion picture camera. As the film’s title suggests, this is Greek philosopher Homer’s The Odyssey told on the grandest of scales and sparing no expense that 20th Century cinema had to offer.

VIKTORIA: The Intersection Of History And Motherhood
VIKTORIA: The Intersection Of History And Motherhood

People often tend to demarcate their lives by coordinating them with macro-narratives. For instance, the segment of your life that took place during the George W. Bush administration, or the Vietnam war.

Jason Bourne
JASON BOURNE Trailer

The man with two gunshots wounds and no memory has come a long way since The Bourne Identity, which is what led star Matt Damon to back away from the series after three installments. When the fourth movie, a spin-off featuring a new character played by Jeremy Renner, stumbled with critics and audiences, the lucrative franchise suddenly needed a resurgence to maintain its commercial appeal. In a move that surely made distributor Universal Pictures very happy, two-time series director Paul Greengrass and Damon agreed to come back for another film, and the Renner sequel was bumped to make room for the returning duo.

Words vs. Moving Pictures, Vol. 2: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Words vs. Moving Pictures, Vol. 2: ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST

It’s been quite some time since my last volume of Words vs. Moving Pictures, in which I discussed Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird and compared it to the 1962 film. Since then, it has taken me a long time to try to find another book and subsequent movie adaptation that would be worthy of discussion.

The Family Fang
THE FAMILY FANG Trailer

Quirky family dramas are a dime a dozen, so in addition to handling complex relationships and a mixed tone, they must do something to distinguish themselves from the pack. Some projects respond by amping up the quirk while others go for a big emotional payoff. The best manage to do both, which is precisely what people praised the best-selling book that The Family Fang is based on (same name) for doing.

Originality: Reboots, Sequels and How They Affect Modern Cinema
Originality: Reboots, Sequels & How They Affect Modern Film

The ideology of originality in modern day cinema is a debate that is frequently discussed and examined, comparing it to what was considered the ‘Golden Age of Cinema’ in the 1900’s. Particularly regarded are the similar story lines and plots that are overused and are becoming somewhat identical, which can comprise of reboots of existing features, superheroes, etc. Along with the sheer amount of sequels that reoccur frequently even when audiences may not particularly want them, leading to them being ignored or neglected.

DESPITE THE FALLING SNOW: A Whole Lot Of Wasted Potential
DESPITE THE FALLING SNOW: A Whole Lot Of Wasted Potential

Despite The Falling Snow is a film by novelist and filmmaker Shamim Sharif. The film is based on her book of the same name and plays out over two time periods. In 1950’s Moscow Katya is a spy for the Americans and is encouraged to marry and steal secrets from the young politician Alex.

Equals
EQUALS Trailer

Equals feels so familiar because its setup has been in heavy use since the post-World War I era of science fiction. A totalitarian government that controls people’s emotions? That’s Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, George Lucas’s THX 1138, Kurt Wimmer’s Equilibrium, and a litany of other stories far too vast to name off.

The Secret History of North Korean Martial Arts Cinema
The Secret History of North Korean Martial Arts Cinema

The words “North Korean cinema” have traditionally invoked images of staid, humourless propaganda movies each more concerned with exalting the virtues of the nation’s glorious leaders than sculpting cohesive narratives. For those who have looked into the films emanating from the secretive Asian country it is possible to conclude that, in some instances, this description is rather unnervingly accurate. Many of these stereotypes exist for a reason.

THE BOY AND THE BEAST: The Power of a Well-Told Story

Bakemono no Ko, translated as Monster’s Child, is making its English run under the name The Boy and the Beast. It is a gorgeous-looking film, but what separates it from the rest of the disposable moving images we’ve been subjected to this year is the grace with which it tells its story. I have been to the theaters a lot this year, but I have only been brought to tears a few times.

Keanu
Movies Opening in Cinemas On April 29

Every Tuesday Film Inquiry publishes the movies that are opening in cinemas! This week: Keanu, Mother’s Day, Ratchet & Clank, Papa Hemingway in Cuba, The Man Who Knew Infinity, Viva & A Beautiful Planet.

JOE VS THE VOLCANO: Achieving A Heightened State Of Being
JOE VS THE VOLCANO: Achieving A Heightened State Of Being

Joe Versus the Volcano came out in 1990. It stars Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. It’s full of camp, love, adventure, musical montages, and over-the-top acting.

Can Film Influence Reality?

It may be fair to first point out that the question of this article has always been a conflicting issue that continuously floats around in the film industry. People often perceive the growing medium of cinema as a device for entertainment or as a brief, escapist distraction from society’s painful realities. This experience has impacted on how people think and behave within society, and Hollywood continue to question the extent to which films influence reality.

The Magnificent Seven
THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN Teaser Trailer

I have a sneaking suspicion that every actor wants to be in a western, but box office results prove that audiences don’t want to see all those westerns. Sure, slinging on a holster and leaning against a fence looks cool, as one of the promotional photos for The Magnificent Seven proves, but without some sort of twist, people are not buying tickets. True Grit (2010) and Django Unchained are perhaps the only pure westerns to crack $100 million at the U.

The Man Who Knew Infinity Giveaway
Giveaway: THE MAN WHO KNEW INFINITY + 6 DVDs (AU Only)

I’m very happy to announce that we get to give away a super awesome prize pack! Valued at AU$140, you can win an in-season double pass to The Man Who Knew Infinity starring Dev Patel and Jeremy Irons (opening in cinemas Australia-wide on May 5), as well as six DVDs:  I’m Not There, Love & Mercy, Nowhere Boy, Slumdog Millionaire, The Motorcycle Diaries and The World’s Fastest Indian.