Summary Review:
Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky is a beautifully filmed work of art, with fine cinematography and design, but a faltering pace that shudders to a disappointing halt.

Synopsis:
This week’s hottest release is Harry Potter 7.1, which I’ve already reviewed, and I haven’t reviewed a nouveau film in ages, so here goes Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky.

In 1913, couturiere Coco Chanel (Anna Mouglalis) attends the first performance of The Rite of Spring, a ballet composed by Igor Stravinsky (Mads Mikkelsen). Today, Stravinsky is credited as one of the most important revolutionaries in modern ballet, but at the time the rhythmic dissonance of his music caused a riot in the theatre.

Despite the public reaction to Stravinsky’s ballet, Chanel is impressed by Igor and when they are introduced 7 years later in 1920, these two forward-thinkers are immediately attracted to each other.

Chanel’s business has become extremely successful over the years, but she is grieving the loss of her lover, Arthur “Boy” Capel, who died in a car crash. Chanel invites Stravinsky and his family to move into her villa outside of Paris, ostensibly to create an inspiring environment for his composing.

Chanel and Stravinsky begin a love affair that stimulates both their creativity – Stravinsky composing with clarity and passion, while Chanel gets breakthrough with the perfume she’s been struggling to create (incidentally the iconic Chanel No.5).

Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky begins with a bang as the film opens with the riot at the premiere of Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, after the elegantly stirring opening credits are screened over a background of monochromatic kaleidoscopes.

But as it progresses, the film loses its momentum and neither the soundtrack comprised of Stravinsky’s own dramatic music, nor the fine costume and set design can save Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky from stuttering to a flaccid ending.

Director: Jan Kounen Screenplay: Carlo de Boutiny, Jan Kounen, based on the novel Coco & Igor by Chris Greenhalgh Cast: Mads Mikkelsen, Anna Mouglalis, Elena Morozova, Natacha Lindinger Time: 118min Age Restriction: 16SN

Genre:
Drama/Romance

This exclusive review was made possible by Ster Kinekor cinemas in conjunction with 2oceansvibe.com

Summary Review:
With its acute, barbed humour, swift pace and riveting storyline, The Social Network is an entertaining film of genius, deception and betrayal that should be watched by every one of Facebook’s 500 million users.

Synopsis:
The Social Network surprised me in every way. It was funny, intriguing, gripping and revealing.

When I first heard that they were making a movie about Facebook, I had a hard time believing that anyone could make it interesting enough to watch. Obviously I didn’t know everything there is to the Facebook story – at least not as its depicted in The Social Network.

Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) is a brilliant, geeky undergrad at Harvard University, who becomes an overnight sensation when a site he built after being dumped by his girlfriend got 22 000 hits in a matter of hours.

This brings him to the attention of the Winklevoss (Armie Hammer) twins, who want to start an exclusive dating site for varsity students.

But Mark uses their idea as inspiration for a site that has much greater potential for growth and success.

As Mark’s site becomes more popular, everyone involved along the way feels left out and mistreated.

Facebook has always seemed like a light, positive, friendly place to me and, by association, the people who created it have always had my goodwill. But The Social Network is a window into the dark dealings that have gone on behind it and has robbed me of my naïve ideal.

The Social Network features intuitive acting, an excellent script and taut direction, resulting in a fluid, gripping film that is darkly ironic and subtly sad.

There is a bit of techie jargon that programmers and developers will love, but I recommend that all 500 million Facebook users watch this movie, as you will surely feel connected to the story and will be 100% entertained.

Director: David Fincher Screenplay: Aaron Sorkin, based on The Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Brenda Song Time: 121min

Genre:
Comedy/Drama

No, I did not review Eclipse this weekend. If you’re a fan of The Twilight Saga, you’re going to watch Eclipse regardless of what my review says.  So today there’s something a little different for your attention.

The Maid Review

Director: Sebastián Silva Screenplay: Pedro Peirano, Sebastián Silva Cast: Catalina Saavedra, Claudia Celedón, Mariana Loyola, Agustín Silva Time: 95min Age Restriction: 16SNL

Genre:
Dramedy

Summary Review:
The Maid is an award-winning Chilean film about the dangers of isolation and living your life through the achievements of others.

Synopsis:
Raquel (Catalina Saavedra) has been a maid for the Valdes family for 20 years. Although it would seem as though she is part of the family, in reality there has always been the differentiation between the employers and their help.

As a consequence of this emotional exclusion, Raquel has become a rigid and mean-spirited sort of robot, who has buried all the hopes and dreams of her youth. So she works, never changing her facial expression or conversing about anything that does not have to do with her direct duties and responsibilities as a maid.

Raquel no longer puts much effort into her appearance, wearing her uniform as a suit of armour; and she has suppressed the desires for her own family by regarding the Valdes children as her own.

As she gets older, however, the burden of working for such a large family and its huge house becomes too much for Raquel to manage and Mrs. Valdes (Claudia Celedón) hires a series of maids to assist her. But Raquel sees this as a personal insult and makes it unbearable for the new maids to cope.

That is, until Lucy arrives – a secure and compassionate girl whose warmth thaws Raquel’s frozen humanity and brings her back to life.

The Maid is a touching, but hard, look at the dangers of loneliness and suppressing one’s personality, along with the dreams and desires of the heart.

Despite its roughness, The Maid is also filled with a wry, sardonic sense of humour that makes it a rueful pleasure to watch.

Special Note:

I love watching foreign-language films, because they are usually so different from what we’re used to seeing. The filmmakers’ perspective are fully original, the structure and flow of the films are so creative and the stories are fascinating.

If you’ve never watched a foreign-language film before, try out The Maid or give yourself a treat and watch Broken Embraces, Pedro Almodóvar’s latest film starring Penélope Cruz, to see how exotic and complex these films really can be.

Director: Rodrigo Garcia Screenplay: Rodrigo Garcia Cast: Annette Bening, Naomi Watts, Kerry Washington, Jimmy Smits, Samuel L. Jackson Time: 125min Age Restriction: 16SLV

Genre:
Drama

Summary Review:
Mother & Child is a powerful, but sentimental women’s film about the relationships between mothers and daughters, with memorable performances and haunting stories.

Synopsis:
When Karen (Annette Bening) was fourteen she had a baby and gave it up for adoption. She is now a care nurse, living with her invalid mother and has never married or had other children.

Elizabeth (Naomi Watts) is a successful attorney who has never met her biological mother and seems to have no interest in finding her. Lucy (Kerry Washington) is unable to give her husband a child of their own and is anxious to adopt a baby.

These women have never met, but they are all connected through the same adoption agency and Mother & Child follows the personal journeys that carry them closer towards each other.

Mother & Child has a cast of skilled actors, with Annette Bening and Naomi Watts giving outstanding performances. It is filled with odd characters that will keep you gasping at the inappropriate things they say and do out of sheer awkwardness.

The story and cinematography makes Mother & Child feel like a TV series, but it will shock you into laughter and the women’s stark stories will keep you weepy throughout.

Mother & Child is very much a women’s film and most men will find it emotionally bewildering. If that’s you, go check out Mel Gibson in Edge of Darkness, but if you’re in the mood for a film with deep human insight, Mother & Child is the film for you.

Director: Tom Vaughan Screenplay: Robert Nelson Jacobs, based on the book by Geeta Anand Cast: Brendan Fraser, Harrison Ford, Keri Russel Time: 103min Age Restriction: 10LM

Genre:
Drama

Summary Review:
Extraordinary Measures is a moving film about the love of parents and a fight against scepticism and a fatal disease.

Synopsis:
Brendan Fraser plays John Crowley, the father of two girls suffering from the fatal Pompe disease, or acid maltase deficiency, which damages nerve and muscle cells throughout one’s body.

He cannot accept that daughters are going to die and tracks down Robert Stonehill, a research scientist (played with fierce authority by Harrison Ford) who is convinced he has found a way to manage the disease.

Together they fearlessly defy all obstacles to put Stonehill’s theories to the test.

Extraordinary Measures is based on a true story and although it is very American in its tone and styling, its universal message of a parent’s desperate love will move any viewer.

Its heartfelt performances and taut atmosphere makes Extraordinary Measures a powerful movie.

Director: Louis Leterrier Screenplay: Lawrence Kasdan, Travis Beacham, Phil Hay, Matt Manfredi Cast: Sam Worthington, Gemma Arterton, Mads Mikkelson, Alexa Davalos Time: 106min Age Restriction: 13V

Genre:
Action/Drama

Summary Review:
Clash of the Titans is a standard epic film, filled with mythology, symbolism – action-packed and expectedly entertaining.

Synopsis:
Sam Worthington is rapidly establishing himself as the leading man of 3D cinema. After starring in the record-breaking and much-celebrated Avatar, he now plays the lead role of Perseus in Clash of the Titans.

Perseus, the half-man, half-god son of Zeus (Liam Neeson), swears revenge on Hades (Ralph Fiennes) for the murder of his earthly family. When the people of Argos rebel against the gods, Zeus allows Hades to unleash pain and suffering on all mankind, in a bid to regain their devotion and worship. As the son of a god, Perseus is the only one who can defeat the Kraken, the most terrible of beasts.

His journey of stepping up, becoming a man and fulfilling his potential is depicted in Clash of the Titans. You’re right, it’s a concept we’ve seen before, but the CGI effects in this film are on a whole other level. I’d recommend seeing it in 2D, though – you’ll save money and won’t miss out on much, as the 3D effects were only added to the film after its production, whereas most 3D films are shot with special cameras from the beginning.

Unlike most other epic films, Clash of the Titans is kept to a reasonable running time of only 106 minutes (as opposed to Troy and Alexander that ran over 3 hours long). The story proceeds swiftly and the scenes are kept succinct and to the point. Romance is also kept to a minimum.

In short, although Clash of the Titans holds no surprises, it’s fairly entertaining for a boys’ night out. Ladies might prefer to check out my review of Leap Year, though.