GamerTab
That was an excellent one.
Freaktana
A Major Disappointment
Fleur
Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.
fitch1970-695-315390
I'm not one of those people who likes any and every movie they watch. This movie is unlike any other I have seen, and the characters, while depressed and full of psychological issues, are relatable and likable. The story is unusual and touches on many real subjects people deal with daily. Great cinematography.
sgcim
Although listed as a horror/thriller, this is more in the vein of dramas such as "Images" by Robert Altman and "Repulsion' by Polanski. Great performances by the three leads, excellent direction, writing and cinematography make this more of an art film than the usual stuff found on Netflix. Also noteworthy is an excellent score that knows when to slip into and out of tonality, to represent the inner world of the main character. I found myself also thinking of "Let's Scare Jessica To Death" with both the performance of the lead, and the use of eerie, overlapping voices to represent the madness she was slipping into. A good representation of the inner world of bi-polar/schizophrenia without resorting to Hollywood clichés.
Snaggletooth .
From early 2014 my film of the year has remained Under The Skin by Jonathan Glazer, a very polarizing film, and one that caught many by surprise, I didn't really expect anything else to come along this year (particularly so late) but just last night I caught Comforting Skin, a film that burrows into your brain like a psyche eating maggot.To begin with, I'm not really sure what has been going on with this movie, it's dated 2011 here but apart from a few festivals it looks as if it hasn't been given a wide release until now. I had seen the trailer quite some time ago however and it certainly looked of some interest. I love films that sit just on the edge of the horror/ thriller genre, and Comforting Skin seemed to offer that.The film is a tale of Koffie, a girl who's had a distinct lack of emotional involvement (which she craves intensely) but who's also had some serious psychological problems in the past. Struggling to keep a brave face on her situation, she one day decides to get a tattoo, which quickly becomes the catalyst for her mental demise.I just want to say (and I hope some don't take this as a spoiler) that this is not a film about a talking tattoo (I'm sure most will work that out pretty quickly though) rather it's a symbol of the spinning disintegration of a woman's sanity. A woman who had been cutting herself before this to feel something, but with the tattoo she begins to feel much more. Victoria Bidewells performance here is nothing short of Oscar worthy, I could barely take my eyes off her during the entire run time of the film, such a brave (there are many nude scenes) and harrowing display she gives as a person falling apart at the seams. From her early, and cheery persona, right through to the point where she's snapping her teeth like an animal in some late night cafe, she's simply brilliant as a girl who's lost the plot. That's not to say she's the only one however, as we soon learn that every character in the film has problems all of their own. From her housemate Nathan (who we never really find out what's wrong with him, but likely it's a list of hidden phobias) to her friend Synthia, a far too old party girl thinking she still has it in the club's. These people live in a sour, depressive state, but none moreso than Koffie.To say any more would spoil the film for you, but the choice of Victoria Bidewell to play Koffie was inspired. This wasn't a role for some blonde bimbo, as that would have taken away from the earthy feel of the film, rather a real looking girl with real looking troubles was ideally required. Ironically though, Bidewell actually looks quite beautiful in all of her many displayed personas. Which might not even have been intended (or was that just me?)So 2014 has now brought two brave female roles in two quite leftfield movies. Scarlett Johansson disturbed many of her fans with her alien adventures in Scotland several months ago, and I bought that as soon as it came out on bluray, it's effect was so strong. I will now be on the hunt for Comforting Skin also, and look forward to seeing it again.
James O'Sullivan
I really like this film and I'll tell you why. When seeing Canadian films we tend to see the dark and quiet and its almost like a European film but you can't quite put your finger on it. Oh yes, its Canadian. But Comforting Skin is different in a way that we haven't seen a film like this in a while. It is a strange yet familiar coming of age film, meaning out of young middle 20's. You know, the time of moving away from the chaos of poor judgement and freedom and into adulthood. The point where you are suddenly awake. Its not your typical Canadian film or film at all and that is why its so refreshing. The acting is great. Tygh Runyan and Jane Sowerby do a good job at carrying the story and you never know whose perspective the story its being told from. However, Victoria Bidwell gives an exceptional and under-rated performance as Koffie, the distraught young lady who becomes obsessed with her imaginary or non-imaginary friend that is a the weaving tattoo that has come to life on her body. Franson writes and directs in such a way that you'll root for Koffie and you'll hate her and them and then there are redeeming traits from them that will bring you back to really empathizing for all of them.This film will keep you guessing and will linger in your mind for days after. Those ones are the best.
