Funny Games
by One third of a brilliant film, this thriller begins by creating stifling tension. A wealthy family arrive at their holiday home, then two youths invade and their model manners and speech provide a stark and disjointing contrast to their increasingly violent actions. The motivations and intentions of the youths remain unknown. As they act without emotion, their unexplained and extreme politeness adds to the terror. The tension is then ruined as the director attempts to make a political point about violence in cinema, and once the film becomes a farce, empathy for the characters is lost. The ease with which director Michael Haneke creates a top-quality thriller then destroys it is infuriating. But it has created debate, which was perhaps the point, and means the film is worth seeing just to make up your own mind.
Tagged: movie thriller
Also by XAVIER TOBY
Australian movie A Few Best Men
With all the gross out jokes and silliness of the common comedy romp, you’d think making them would be easy. Well, it’s not. It’s actually really difficult. Writing a joke is one of the hardest tasks anyone can undertake. Read more
Melancholia: a film by Lars von Trier
I wish there were a lot more of the types of films made by Lars von Trier. Each is very different but still distinctly von Trier, and each is superb. Melancholia is the follow up to the wonderfully confronting Antichrist. This is all about the end of the world, and told with an honesty and pacing that is probably much closer to the actual end of the world than all the Hollywood crap would have you believe. Read more
We Need To Talk About Kevin: based on Lionel Shriver’s novel
A delightful uncomfortable film, told from the point of view of a broken woman. Kevin’s just not right, and that’s obvious from the outset as mother Eva battles to bring him up in a world where the onus is put squarely back on the mother. The intensity is poured on throughout, as tragedy seems imminent. Read more
YOU'RE SAYING (1)
HAVE YOUR SAY
Having been at the vanguard of Bristol’s graffiti scene for some time now, Sickboy has just released his first solo show, Stay Free, in London. The concept is a good one, although slightly reminiscent of his contemporary, Banksy. He’s transformed a Victorian Grade II listed building in East London into a ’3D creative playground, a la a Charlie and The Chocolate Factory’. What’s more, there’s a golden ticket up for grabs. 1000 keys will be released to visitors, and the person whose key fits the lock will become the new owner of the Factory.
Remember those days when eating candy bars meant nothing more than stuffing your face with delectable, delightful chocolate? No guilt; no shame. Just innocent childhood adoration. Well, those days are gone, and we have the evidence to prove it. [via College Humor] Read more
The Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project involved fourteen countries around the world filling crates with the best of their local nightlife and exchanging their country’s crate with another. We were there all the way, following Australia’s involvement. And the final stage, with Brazil and Australia swapping crates, was a beauty! As this video attests.
Ais Design Studio in Cyprus are responsible for the interior of Hollywood Bar in Larnaka. Amongst the glossy surfaces, with their minimal colour palette, you’ll notice Andreas Achniotis Perales’s trademark X in his custom designed wallpaper and lights. Read more
Google recently demonstrated their ability to predict flu outbreaks across America weeks in advance of the outbreaks themselves. It would seem that they are more than just a pretty search engine. And as if that wasn’t enough, they’ve now teamed up with Life Magazine, what was the cornerstone of photojournalism for the Twentieth Century, to digitize 95 per cent of their image bank that never saw the light of day. Now millions of photos stretching from the 1750s to the present day are available on Google Images at the click of a button. Read more
I adore the band Health and am left fascinated by this glamorously bouncy We Are Water remix by Canadian duo Azari & III, who have taken it to outer house-space. It’s pure 80s late night disco at its finest. Ghost Buster meets Short Circuit, anyone?
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It’s so easy to lose water bottles, but if you have one as nice as these KOR Vida ‘hydration vessels,’ you might be extra vigilant about not leaving it at yoga or the co-op check-out counter.
WE'RE POSTING / SOME OF THE BEST
How ’bout this Jose Manuel Hortelano-Pi guy, huh? Quite the illustrator, yessiree Bob. From Spain, too. Spain is great! Read more
A little infectious lollipop rock anyone? Feel free to embarrass yourself singing along at the stoplight. If the other drivers give you that look, roll down the windows and spread the love.
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Christoph Niemann illustrates a nightmare flight
New York Times illustrator Christoph Niemann has created a brilliant visual diary outlining the peril and pitfalls that beset the everyday passenger based on his recent experience flying from New York to his home town of Berlin. Read more
Here are a couple awesome pieces by Matt Leines that were recently on display in the Doubting Thomases exhibit at Nudashank gallery in Baltimore. Gives me ideas for Halloween. Read more
Baltimore Mural by Josh Van Horne
My friend Josh Van Horne, a local Baltimore artist, did this amazing mural in our neighborhood that depicts the history of this warehouse-laden area.
Made from 100 percent organic cotton and eco-friendly, this super soft tee celebrates a sinister world of kaleidoscopic colours and ripples of psychedelia, of serenading Queens, of dancing flamingos, of unimaginable euphoria. It’s all the work of Sydney label, Das Monk and it’s available through the Lost At E Minor online store for just US$40. Now, there’s one hell of a Christmas present, even if we do say so ourselves!
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Jamie said | 7 August, 2008
This is a great movie and I highly recommend it. I haven’t seen the original, but it hasn’t been that easy to find around here.