Dwecember 2016 book and film review part 3

FILMS, Contd

WHERE TO INVADE NEXT (Docu) D- Michael Moore. (2014) In which noted rare avis American leftie Michael Moore suggests a couple of other countries the U.S might invade and carry off some of their ideas to adopt as their own. Finland, for example, where the pupils do no, that's right, no homework but still manage to achieve higher educational standards than the U.S., or France, where no convenience food at all is served in their schools, but rather a varied and delicious menu where several types of fine cheese are on offer (the pupil's favourite is Camembert, apparently) and many other dishes that would do justice to your average Michelin starred restaurant, or Italy, which has more public holidays than any other European country, and far more than the U.S., as well as a far more generous maternity leave provision, yet still manages to provide a high standard of living for its citizens.
           Then there's Tunisia, where women hold more positions of authority than in most European countries, and far more than America, despite it being an Islamic country. And that shows that it isn't Islam that's to blame for the gross abuses against women found in KSA and other Gulf states, but the way its precepts are applied by its imams. Meanwhile, the most advanced country in the world, allegedly, falls far behind so many other countries in many of the markers for civilisation. Any comment Mr Trump?

JACKPOT (2011) D- Magnus Martens. A pool of Norwegians wins the lottery jackpot but that's only the start of their problems. They claim the money, then fall out over how the money should be carved up, so proceed to carving each other up instead. The body count gradually rises in this hilarious but blood soaked black comedy. Highly entertaining, though not for their faint hearted.

THE SEA INSIDE (2004) D- Alejandro Amenabar. A highly intelligent man does a very stupid thing: dives into a rock pool just as a wave causes the water level to drop. He breaks his neck and becomes a tetra-plegic. He copes for a while; he is still able to communicate normally, though all his basic needs must be provided by helpers. Slowly he forms the idea that death would be preferable to the life he is forced to live, and goes through the court system to fight for the right to end his life. But this is Spain, a catholic country, and no way are the courts going to allow him to do away with himself. It's not your life to take, the church says, it's God's, and only he can take it back. But our hero (very well played by Javier Bardem) is not the kind to give up easily...
            A really excellent film, beautifully put together and strong acting all round. Not easy to watch, but tremendously rewarding.

MIDNIGHT SPECIAL (2016) D- Geoff Nicholls. A young lad has extraordinary powers which have been noticed by a religious cult who have abducted him. His parents would have him home again, and mount a mission to get him out of their clutches. But there is an agenda here's far higher than all this. Our boy can see into another dimension, where aliens live. And he wants to explore that world...
             A strange and fascinating movie, with elements of  The Sixth Sense, as well as a bit of Firestarter, this I thought was one of the more thoughtful sci-fi movies I've seen this year. Recommended