Jim Jarmusch’s meditative and moody offbeat vampire flick Only Lovers Left Alive had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival last year. It was a fitting place for the American director to unleash his latest film; he’s been a festival favourite for years. Nominated for the Palm d’Or six times, Jarmsch has won the Grand Jury Prize as well as a variety of other awards over the years. Only Lovers Left Alive screened in competition, and since then has been wooing festival audiences around the world. It’s my first pick of the week.
Jim Jarmusch’s meditative and moody offbeat vampire flick Only Lovers Left Alive had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival last year. It was a fitting place for the American director to unleash his latest film; he’s been a festival favourite for years. Nominated for the Palm d’Or six times, Jarmsch has won the Grand Jury Prize as well as a variety of other awards over the years. Only Lovers Left Alive screened in competition, and since then has been wooing festival audiences around the world. It’s my first pick of the week.
Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)
Directed by: Jim Jarmusch
Starring: Tilda Swinton, Tom Hiddleston, John Hurt & Mia Wasikowska
Screening: Rialto Selection, Saturday 8th November, 8.30pm
If you’re thinking vampire movies are a bit 2009, then bear in mind Jarmusch had been sitting on his vampire themed idea for over seven years before he was able to finance it and bring it to the big screen. Thank goodness for perseverance, Only Lovers Left Alive might just be the coolest and funniest vampire flick you’ve seen in a long time. You’ll also get a taste of Jarmusch’s rock band that contributes to the soundtrack. The film stars Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston as a couple of vampire lovers who discuss culture and art and how underrated it is, as well as dealing with their relationship that’s a couple of hundred years old. It’s the first time Jarmusch has shot a film on a digital camera, and as you’d expect, he handles the medium brilliantly.
We Are Legion: The Story of the Hacktivists (2012)
Starring: Anon2World, Anonyops and Julian Assange
Directed by: Brian Knappenberger
Screening: Rialto Documentary, Thursday 27th November, 8.30pm
I’m not sure what’s more disturbing; that this documentary is largely told from the perspective of the hactivists that make up the Anonymous organization with little debate around the issues raised, or that this organization responsible for demanding freedom of information and global justice online, was created by a bunch of online pranksters that liked watching cat videos. Either way, this entertaining and compelling film takes you chronologically through the creation and evolution of this online activist group and how it come to weld, unexpectedly, so much power today.
Frozen (2010)
Starring: Shawn Ashmore, Kevin Zegers and Emma Bell
Directed by: Adam Green
Screening: Rialto Incredibly Strange, Friday 28th November, 8.30pm
I’ve never twilight skied, and I never will after watching this gruesome film by American director Adam Green (Hatchet, Spiral). This Frozen couldn’t be more different from Disney’s as we follow three snowboarders, Parker, Joe and Dan who are stranded on a chairlift over night. As it starts to snow, and with the realization the mountain won’t open again until the following weekend, these three college students realise someone is going to have to jump. Turns out getting off the chairlift is only their first problem, then they have to get off the mountain too. I don’t think even Bear Grylls could survive this situation. This is car crash filmmaking – it’s awkward and gruesome to watch but you can’t help yourself.