07/02/07 : The Shout

The Shout (1978)

This is probably one of the most 'British' films that I have ever seen. In terms of categorizing it into a 'genre' is a difficult task. I suppose that some would term it 'horror' but that’s in the same way as something like the wicker man (and were not talking Nicholas Cage version!). In some ways - its undeniably awful but in a strange way, its faults also make it compelling and essential viewing (at least once anyway!)

Alan Bates plays the world worst house guest (Crossley) who invites himself for dinner at an unsuspecting couples house played by John Hurt and Susannah York, and then just won't go.

Crossley reveals that he has spent 18 years living in the Australian outback and has become a master in the art of aboriginal magic! His best trick is a shout that kills anything within earshot. I liked the way that despite his years learning the secrets of these mystical people - crossley has decided to use his powers for nothing more imaginative than shagging women and getting a free meal.

There were plenty of good unintentional laughs to be had in this film - mainly at the eccentricities of the English and bates' generally inappropriate behaviour.

The main feature was followed by BIG FUN IN BIG TOWN (another Richie discovery) which is a Dutch documentary made in 1986 about the New York rap scene. I don’t know where Richie tracks down this stuff but (like the broken glass documentary) it was fantastic viewing and unique in capturing the feel of a new scene all those years ago. I felt honoured to be watching some of the pioneers caught on camera in the hey day.

Ends

31/01/07 : Grizzly Man

Internet Review : Timothy Treadwell spent thirteen summers in Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alaska. Over time, he believed he was trusted by the bears, who would allow him to approach them, and sometimes even touch them. Treadwell was repeatedly warned by park officials that his interaction with the bears was unsafe to both him and to the bears. "At best he's misguided," Deb Liggett, superintendent at Katmai and Lake Clark national parks, told the Anchorage Daily News in 2001. "At worst, he's dangerous. If Timothy models unsafe behavior, that ultimately puts bears and other visitors at risk." Treadwell filmed his exploits, and used the films to raise public awareness of the problems faced by bears in North America. In 2003, at the end of his thirteenth visit, he and his girlfriend, Amie Huguenard, were attacked, killed and eaten by a bear.

For Grizzly Man, Herzog used sequences extracted from over 100 hours of video footage shot by Treadwell during the last five years of his life, and conducted interviews with Treadwell's family and friends, as well as experts and authority figures. Herzog also narrates, and offers his own interpretations of the events. In his narration, he depicts Treadwell as a disturbed man who may have had a deathwish toward the end of his life, but also refuses to condemn him for this.

Lukes Review : This documentary style film certainly supports the old acolade 'theres nowt so queer as folk'. Despite the tragic story behind the film there were certain moments of 'spinal tapness' throughout. At times we questioned if it was real as some of the characters interviewed and comments that they made sounded just too good ( or bad ) to be true.

I thoroughly enjoyed this film.. perhaps more than some of the other film club members.
Im giving it a 9/10