Crisp Criticism - "The Rover", "Enemy", "Tim's Vermeer"

by

Julien Faddoul

The Rover

Years after a horrific global collapse, an Australian drifter and a wounded American pursue a sadistic band of thieves in the lawless wasteland of Australia.

Howlingly ridiculous mood-piece that is stultifying with its ideas, tone and performances. It is another in the long list of post-modern Australian films that feels the country can’t progress past its criminal origins.

d – David Michod

w – David Michod, Joel Edgerton

ph – Natasha Braier

pd – Josephine Ford

m – Antony Partos

ed – Peter Sciberras

cos – Cappi Ireland

p – David Michod, David Linde, Liz Watts

Cast: Guy Pearce, Robert Pattinson, Scott McNairy, Gillian Jones, David Field, Tawanda Manyimo, Anthony Hayes

Enemy **

A glum, disinterested College Professor watches a movie and discovers one of its actors is his exact double.

Haunting, Kubrickesque cinematic puzzle about repeating mistakes and commitment fears with a reticent pace and a spooky ending. Fairly silly stuff, but it’s immaculately composed.

d – Denis Villeneuve

w – Javier Gullón   (Based on the Novel by José Saramago)

ph – Nicolas Bolduc

pd – Patrice Vermette

m – Danny Bensi, Saunder Jurriaans

ed – Matthew Hannam

cos – Renée April

p – M.A. Faura, Niv Fichman

Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Melanie Laurent, Sarah Gadon, Isabella Rossellini, Joshua Pearce

  

Tim’s Vermeer *

Inventor Tim Jenison seeks to understand the painting techniques used by the great Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer.

Ultimately glib documentary on the art and repetition of fine-tuning.

d – Teller

ph – Shane F. Kelly

m – Conrad Pope

ed – Patrick Sheffield

p – Penn Jillette, Farley Ziegler

Cast: Tim Jenison, Martin Mull, Penn Jillette, Teller, David Hockney, Colin Blakemore, Philip Steadman