Cinema in Context

William, Jeremy and Max discuss Alien: Covenant (2017). Warning: Spoilers!

Oscar winners of the Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award: the first winner and the latest winner. Jeremy Downing, Max Tarrant and Sarah Watt discuss the films The Salesman (2016) and La Strada (1954). The discussion touches on the treatment of the women in the films and the meta quality of Federico Fellini. The connection between the theatrical in both films is discussed, with the travelling circus in La Strada and the play “Death of a Salesman” in The Salesman. Both films are working just beyond a Neo Realist style and melding it with more fantastical influenced genres. Both films also use children in interesting ways, physically wrap up the female characters in clothing, have a significant second man and reflect the sociopolitical contexts of their times.

Protagonists struggle with sanity. William Chen, Jeremy Downing and Max Tarrant discuss the films A Cure For Wellness (2016) and Repulsion (1965). The discussion focusses on protagonists that struggle with their sanity or their perception of sanity. The conversation touches on a number of different areas, starting off with a discussion around Roman Polanski’s cinematic work, how his films endure beyond their time and connections to other director’s works, such as David Lynch and Alfred Hitchcock. The discussion then focussed on the strong visual imagery in both films, including cracking walls, a candlestick, a bloody book, a photograph, an eye and eels! The conversation then delves into A Cure For Wellness and how the film goes for broke with its imagery, including the impressive cinematography and visual style. Gender politics and the Bechdel Test is brought up, but challenged by the messy management of topics in Wellness. Connections are made between the two films and Rosemary’s Baby (1968), Housebound (2014), The Shining (1980), The Ring (2002) and Split (2016).

Trainspotting times two. Jeremy Downing, Max Tarrant and Sarah Watt discuss the films T2: Trainspotting (2017) and Trainspotting (1996). The discussion touches on the films of Danny Boyle and his fall out with Ewan McGregor. The strength of T2 as a sequel, with themes of reconciliation and redemption, as well as the questioning of one’s past and how they have spent their time. Talk then continues into the uncomfortably of films dealing with drugs, but then Danny Boyle’s mastery in creating an enjoyable experience in both films. Respect is lavished on Danny Boyle, in creating both a brilliant first film and a creatively successful second film. Nostalgia is discussed and how it is intertwined into the second film, including shots from the first film and new footage of the characters’ childhoods. The talk touches on the strengths of Kelly McDonald and her character. Both films have fantastic cinematography and equally impressive soundtracks, which is identified and then develops into a discussion around the aesthetic style of Boyle. The second film introduces the history of the four male characters’ relationships, including their childhood connections, encouraging the audience to think about their own childhood connections. Chat continues to talk about connections with other films, including T2: Judgement Day (1991), A Clockwork Orange (1971) and Blade Runner (1982).

Musicals on film. William Chen, Jeremy Downing, Max Tarrant and Sarah Watt discuss the films La La Land (2016) and Singin’ In The Rain (1952). Both films are movie musicals about filmmaking. The discussion touches on the magic of musicals, while both films deconstructing the magic of cinema. Nostalgia for older cinema, in both films. The suspension of disbelief in musical films and the grey area between fantasy and reality. The Academy being behind the eight-ball and taking a year or so to catch up. The potential renaissance of musicals in Disney Animation Studio films, particularly Moana (2016). The message of La La Land is problematic, while the female representation of Singin’ In The Rain is equally problematic. The impressive technical achievements of both films. The strength of Jean Hagen in Singin’ In The Rain and her underrated performance as Lina Lamont. There is comedy in Singin’ In The Rain that has or hasn’t dated, while the Broadway Melody sequence being out of place.

Top 2016 films. In this double episode William Chen, Jeremy Downing, Max Tarrant and Sarah Watt share their top films for 2016.

Max’s picks:

1. The Salesman

2. The Lobster

3. Zootopia

4. Tickled

5. The Handmaiden

Wildcard: Eat That Question: Frank Zappa In His Own Words

William’s picks:

1. The Handmaiden

2. Hunt For the Wilderpeople

3. Kubo and the Two Strings

4. 10 Cloverfield Lane

5. Green Room

Wildcard: Gods of Egypt; League of Gods

Sarah’s picks:

1st equal: The Revenant; Green Room

3. Room

4. Zootopia

5. Doctor Strange

Wildcard: Train to Busan

Jeremy’s picks:

1. Finding Dory

2. The Hateful Eight

3. Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them

4. Hunt For the Wilderpeople

5. Zootopia

Wildcard: Poi E

Cinema in Context Film of the Year: Zootopia

First alien encounters. William Chen, Jeremy Downing and Max Tarrant discuss the films Arrival (2016) and Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977). Both films have the premise of human first contact with aliens. The discussion touches on connection between humanity’s fascination with aliens being metaphor for relationships. We also talk about the exploration of mental health issues in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Fantastic cinematography and lighting. The balance of having a lyrical pacing and mood, and keeping the plot interesting enough. The ‘idiot authority’ trope. Our excitement and fears around Blade Runner 2049 (2017). Comparing Arrival to Interstellar (2014) and Gravity (2013). The strength of Amy Adams’ performance. Alien fascination being a metaphor for distraction from relationships. Comparing Close Encounters of the Third Kind with Jaws (1975) and what Steven Spielberg is exploring with his early films. Enjoy!

Our discussion of these two Woody Allen films touches on Allen’s films touring around the world, female characters used as a trope to motivate the male characters, the laws of relationships in Allen’s films, bad use of voiceover, quantity producing quality, Allen’s storytelling style, the beautiful photography in both films, the complication of reading a film in a disconnected way from the director’s private life, our commitment as teachers to young people and how that impacts on our reading of the films, the different expectations of relationships from the 1970s to now, whether or not Allen’s characters are designed to be likeable, the manic-pixie-dream-girl trope, and the endings of both films. William Chen, Jeremy Downing, Max Tarrant and Sarah Watt discuss the films Café Society (2016) and Manhattan (1979).

Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss the films Captain Fantastic (2016) and A History of Violence (2005), two films that star Viggo Mortensen in unorthodox father roles. The discussion touches on the talents of Viggo Mortensen, the brilliant children actors in Captain Fantastic, what matters in raising children, the tension between discussing heavy issues and telling the audience what to think, David Cronenberg’s cinematic style, copycat musical scores, issues with temp track film scoring, the different music choices in Captain Fantastic, the struggle with sincerity in Captain Fantastic, the casting in both films, and the use of sex in film.

Sarah Watt, Max Tarrant, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss the films Ghostbusters (2016) and Ghostbusters (1984). The discussion touches on nostalgia, the strangeness of the original film, the baffling sexism the stars of the new film have been facing, the radicalisation of pop culture, Ghostbusters hate stepping into Gamer Gate territory, the new film’s meta quality of addressing the kick back towards the film, the logic of ghost busting, the influence of women collaborating in film, the over-analysis of female roles, who should feel entitled to ‘claim’ the film, and institutionalised sexism.