Film Festivals 2005
Once again the wide world of cinema offers a cache of captivating films. From France the delightful 'Look at Me', Tony Gatlif's 'Exils' and horror/slasher 'The Ordeal'. 'Hotel Rwanda' and documentary 'Darwin's Nightmare' unlock some of Africa's darkest secrets while from Hong Kong came the diverse '2046' and Stephen Chow's comic tour de force 'Kung Fu Hustle'. From the US, Gregg Araki's disturbing 'Mysterious Skin', 'Birth' with Nicole Kidman and understated Southern pot-boiler 'Undertow'. Stand-out documentaries also included 'Wal-mart: The High Cost of Low Price', the incredible 'DiG!' and from North Korea a fascinating insight with 'A State of Mind'.
Bombon (2004)
7.1/10
Director: Carlos Sorin
Starring: Juan Villegas, Walter Donado, Gregorio the Dog
52-year-old Patagonian Juan 'Coco' Villegas has been a petrol attendant for 20 years when he suddenly finds himself unemployed. He does odd jobs and... Read more
Broadway: The Golden Age (2004)
8.4/10
Director: Rick McKay
Starring: Angela Lansbury, Chita Rivera, Ben Gazzara, Shirley MacLaine, Carol Burnett, Car...
Filmmaker Rick McKay's tribute to the Broadway legends of the past was made with no crew and no budget. With just his digital camera, McKay interview... Read more
Rize (2004)
7.1/10
Director: David LaChapelle
Starring: Tommy 'the Clown' Johnson
In 1992 L.A. was a powderkeg of racial tension that erupted following the Rodney King trial verdict. A man named Tommy Johnson though it was time for... Read more
Murderball (2004)
7.8/10
Director: Henry Alex Rubin, Dana Adam Shapiro
Starring: Joe Soares, Mark Zupan, Keith Cavill
Nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the 2005 Oscars, and a worldwide festival hit, 'Murderball' is an inspiring, testosterone-fuelled look at th... Read more
Me and You and Everyone We Know (2004)
7.3/10
Director: Miranda July
Starring: John Hawkes, Miranda July, Miles Thompson, Brandon Ratcliff, Carlie Westerman
Successfully cross-pollinating quirky rom-com with ensemble drama, performance artist Miranda July's debut feature navigates the tricky waters of inti... Read more
Darwin's Nightmare (2004)
7.6/10
Director: Hubert Sauper
Winner of the European Film Awards' Best Documentary and nominated for an Oscar this stunning film looks at the havoc wreaked on Tanzania's people and... Read more
The Ordeal ( aka Calvaire ) (2004)
Director: Fabrice Du Welz
Starring: Laurent Lucas, Jackie Berroyer, Philippe Nahon
This demented Belgian slasher thriller starts innocently enough with cabaret singer Marc (Laurent Lucas) having van trouble in the middle of nowhere.... Read more
Godzilla: Final Wars (2004)
6.5/10
Director: Ryuhei Kitamura
Starring: Masahiro Matsuoka, Rei Kikukawa, Kazuki Kitamura, Don Frye, Akira Takarada
Godzilla's 50th birthday sees him travelling the globe as evil aliens have landed with evil alien thoughts. Only Godzilla and the Earth Defence Force... Read more
Night Watch (2004)
6.5/10
Director: Timur Bekmambetov
Starring: Konstantin Khabensky, Vladimir Menshov, Valeri Zolotukhin, Mariya Poroshin
In 14th Century Russia two warring factions of vampires called a delicate truce. Overshadowing this peace is an ancient prophecy, one that foretells o... Read more
Mysterious Skin (2004)
7.7/10
Director: Gregg Araki
Starring: Bill Sage, Elisabeth Shue, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michelle Trachtenberg, Brady Co...
Based on Scott Heim's novel, Gregg Araki's powerful drama sees two young men uncover a shared secret from their past. Brian (Brady Corbet) was just e... Read more