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Lemon Arts - Movie Reviews, Murwillumbah (2026)

26/09/2020

Movie review - The Translators 2019 - France
Showing at the Palace cinema as part of IFFF French Film Festival.

It’s been quite a while since I was inspired to review a movie. I’m not sure what it was that touched me about this French language delight. The only real typically French aspect to the film is that it is in French language and subtitled. Perhaps it’s the subject matter of the film (about a best-selling trilogy of novels and the love of literature) that lends itself to what felt to me like a musical expression of the language. Compared to the recent film Tenet whose dialogue, frustratingly (for such a complex plot) was barely audible throughout the film, the French dialogue literally sang to me throughout the film. But that’s where any typical French-ness ended for me. This movie itself could have been made in Hollywood and while that often might be a criticism from my lips, in this case it simply refers to the very contemporary feel of the piece. It’s basically a modern who-dunnit with a diverse cast of characters translating the final novel of the aforementioned trilogy under severe scrutiny in a high security bunker.

The characters are interesting and several share a semi-fanatical love of the writers work which elicits many a poetic shared moment from the characters. The plot unfolds over time with enough surprises to keep you guessing and interested although I would mark down the final-reveal as somewhat unlikely – but that’s just my opinion (like most of this review ).

Overall I found the characters believable, the plot and the pace engaging without being overdone. There was a nice mix of pathos and threat and the tempo of drama was sustained without leaning too hard on violence. This was somewhat like a thriller but without the on edge stress. In this way I found it a rewarding and dare-I-say-it, a warming film despite it’s dramatic content.

Not the very best film of the year but a very good 4 stars and likely to leave you with a happy sense of enjoyment that often follows a decent European film. Egad! What a subjective generalisation!

22/10/2019

Movie Review - "Once Upon A Time In Hollywood" - Quentin Tarantino

"A rewarding story for those capable of delaying the demand for immediate gratification"

Ok. Is there anyone whose "next movie" is more anticipated than Quentin Tarantino? Love him or hate him he delivers pretty consistently popular films at the box office, with lifelong global sales of USD1.85 Billion thus far. Phew. That's a lot of movie moola.

And "Once Upon a Time...." has delivered at $366M at the time of writing. But audience reviews are divided. It seems like there is a bunch of Tarantino fans who feel pi**ed off or just hate it.

So what's up with the "haters" of "Once Upon A Time..."?

This is a different Tarantino movie and yet it has many of the hallmarks of classic Tarantino. As always, Tarantino is focussed on great story-telling but this story requires some patience. He has great star-presence in Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio. His characters are well-defined and multi-dimensional (ie they are neither totally good nor bad - they are flawed humans). There is a mix of pathos, comedy and eventually a short burst of high drama. And there is violence of course (wouldn't be a Quentin without it!). But this is perhaps is where the film differs from its predecessors.

Unlike most of his previous offerings, the vast majority of this film is devoid of adrenaline pumping threat & violence. The story lopes along for the best part of 2hr & 40minutes and this seems to be what is driving some Tarantino fans to tears saying (mostly) how "boring or pointless" it is. Quite a few said "worst movie ever". However most other viewers rate it 5 stars. So opinion is divided.

I won't bore you with my opinion. I'll just say I really, really liked it. I watched this so-called "boring" movie twice in a week and was just as delighted the second-time over.

So here's the deal - will you like the movie?
If you are looking for action/violence/constant stimulation, you will possibly hate the movie too. If you want a fast-paced movie this is not it. If you suffer attention deficit, bring a Gameboy.

However, if you like good story-telling and if you are patient enough to allow a story to ripen and age like red wine, then you may appreciate this full-bodied classic. There is plenty to like about this movie, from the colourful settings of 1969 Hollywood, complete with famous faces, classic cars and hippy-chic fashion to a hilarious Bruce Lee fight and a short-lived yet spectacularly violent "happy-ending".

Along the way there are various stories that build and wind together to create a very satisfying journey towards the aforementioned spectacular ending. Stories like good red wine, take time to mature and it's the time Tarantino takes to develop the story that really sets it apart from many of his previous offerings. Having said that, there isn't any deep message to this movie. It's pure entertainment and just good storytelling.

Co-leads Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio are still at the top of their game as they effortlessly carry the movie with understated, satisfying and enjoyable performances.

Spoiler Alert - if you are like me and don't like extreme violence there is a 10 second piece in the last 5 minutes you may want to close your eyes for. Don't worry - you will know which bit I mean. It's self evident.

But don't let that stop you from watching a well-crafted film and enjoyable story from a mature filmmaker.

**** 4.2 stars. "A pleasing visual feast, a rewarding story and a crackerjack ending. Bravo Mr Tarantino."

19/10/2019

Movie review - Portrait of a Lady on Fire - 4.2 stars

Tonight I saw a classically French film as part of the Byron Film Festival. Another beautiful interruption to the fast pace of modern high-tech society set in the 18th Century Brittany (France).

I am no lover of period drama (in fact I often detest it) but I am left with a lingering felt impression and richness after watching this engaging, relational drama. There is a natural depth to the engagement between the 2 female lead characters (and the close-enough to all-female cast) who grace the screen with a natural poise and elegance that left me wondering - was the 18th century really like this? Of course there were no mobile phones, and life, as full as it was for most of the character's working lives, moves at a pace almost unrecognisable to this dweller of the modern age. This in itself was almost reason enough to go see this movie (if you can find a screening).

Will you like this film since I haven't told you the plot? Let me say there is a painter, a love affair and a progressive bent to a period piece that is completely believable (at least to myself). So I'm not giving the specifics away.

The piece itself presented as an interestingly researched and presented period piece without the sense of any predictable stereotypical roles. As in many European films there is plenty of space for feeling in the understated script and performances and I was reminded somewhat of the pace and ambience of "The Girl with the Pearl Earring".

All in all a thoughtful, beautifully paced film, with a simple premise but enough plot diversity to keep the viewer on the edge of the seat waiting to see what unfolds next.

This film has no violence whatsoever - something I always find refreshing as a reminder that the modern cult of entertainment-violence only thrives in an environment starved of presence, human dignity and intelligence.

Come soak in this lovely, warm French bath of engaged characters, minimalistic script, carefully curated sets, brooding passion and refreshing natural seascapes. What more could you want on a Saturday evening bar a nice white or a red? Now there is an idea......

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19/10/2019

Joker - Movie review - 5 stars.
Great moments in art are few and far between; epecially given the diet of drivel, gratuitous violence and often meaningless entertainment Hollywood typically serves up.

Joker is none of this. It is a milestone. Forget criticisms of sick, twisted violence. All violence is contextualised in a deliberate, deep and moving narrative.

Not a superhero in sight.

This is a movie about the human condition.
IMO a masterpiece.

I never thought anyone could top Heath Ledger - but this could be it. However they are completely different movies

Joker is a nuanced, slow-burn, characterisation of one slice of human suffering. For me it was deeply rich and satisfying. Its definitely not a superhero movie. It's an art piece. An unfolding story delivered through Joaquin Phoenix's brilliant body characterisation. And like many great art pieces it seems to be touching a nerve and dividing opinion.
But the movie itself is an archetypal and personal story rather than cultural and political mouthpiece. The truth is art is not always comfortable for everybody and hence it seems lots of people don't like or really get this movie.

Current hysteria in the US surrounding Joker says more about smouldering fears and unresolved tension in American society than the movie itself. Great art holds up the mirror so the viewer can see their own light and shadows reflected back. But despite what Mike Moore says, it's not a movie about the state of America. It's the story of one man and because of that it speaks to many. It's art for God's sake!

This will be a favourite in film studies for generation to come.

Joker is firstly a great story and piece of art. And secondly a deep examination of one man's inner journey which would be described by many as "dark". But I'm left with richness rather than darkness having watched it.

Prediction- Joaquin Phoenix. Best Actor

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