Byzantium (2012) - FilmReview

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Article author: Alwyn Ash

"My story can never be told. I write it over and over, wherever we find shelter. I write of what I cannot speak: the truth. I write all I know of it, then I throw that pages to the wind. Maybe the birds can read it."

I have been a fan of Saoirse Ronan's work for about two years, after seeing the Irish actress in 2009 fantasy "The Lovely Bones". Since then I have enjoyed further performances from her in "Hanna" (2011) and "The Host" (2013), and so "Byzantium" is one of those movies that excites. Directed by Neil Jordan and written by Moira Buffini, the tale also stars Gemma Arterton and Jonny Lee Miller. It is a British-Irish affair focusing on mother and daughter Clara (Arterton) and Eleanor (Ronan), both vampires who have accompanied time through the ages. Based on the stage play "A Vampire Story" (Buffini's creation), this feature explores vampires for the modern age, no longer grotesque fanged parasites but people with a burdened past, and feelings. Eleanor has a story to tell, one too impossible to share, and so she writes it, never likely to free herself of the hardship.

There has been a surge in vampire offerings of late, in both film and print; there are likely to be some people who are tired of this phenomenon. However, I always welcome fresh takes on the vampire legend, and "Byzantium" does just that. Forget fangs, these vampires pierce their victims with a sharp fingernail, which can extend and retract in the same way as their toothed-cousins. It is clear that Eleanor is just a young girl (well, perhaps in body but not in mind) who longs for some kind of normality. Her companion, Clara, is the more dangerous of the two, a predator who's morals leaked away the day she was first inducted into prostitution, during the Napoleonic Wars - we get to see both their backstories. It is clear that Clara is determined to keep their whereabouts a secret at all times, from who we discover further into the story. And she has reason to be vigilant. Arterton's character is a survivor: selfish, cold-hearted... though her protectiveness over Eleanor redeems any negative qualities she possesses.

Irish filmmaker Jordan revisits the world of vampirism after his successful adaptation of Anne Rice's "Interview with the Vampire", released in 1994 and starring Tom Cruise as the vampire Lestat de Lioncourt. His collaberation with English-born Producer Stephen Woolley is legendary, both having worked on "Byzantium" and "Interview with the Vampire", along with other works including "Mona Lisa" (1986), "High Spirits" (1988), "The Crying Game" (1992) and "Michael Collins" (1996). It is a union that works well.

The introduction of an island that gives birth to vampires, and the guardians who protect its secrets, is intriguing, a step away from the more familiar making of a vampire process. Eleanor's own transformation is, of course, Clara's doing, but in a bid to save the young girl's life from venereal disease following rape at the hands of a vengeful Captain Ruthven (Jonny Lee Miller). This is what ultimately leads the two of them to go on the run: breaking the code of the vampire brethren for a second time - the first being Clara's own unsanctioned transformation! The island is sacred, and their disregard for ancient protocol a disgrace to all who uphold the legacy. Such a crime is punishable by death.

Actor Daniel Mays ("Made in Dagenham", "Saddam's Tribe", "Mrs Biggs") plays the role of Noel, owner of the once thriving but now forgotten Byzantium Hotel. Of course, being a loner, he is the perfect candidate for Clara's plans, who seduces him before moving in and converting the hotel into a brothel. Eleanor, in the meantime, befriends Frank (portrayed by American Caleb Landry Jones), a young waiter who she encounters at a restaurant where she plays a piano; they establish an instant bond. As the story progresses we learn of Frank's own personal destiny and feel for the two love birds as fate steps in to keep them apart, including Clara's inability to trust any outsider for fear of discovery. This paranoia also includes Noel, dare he become a threat in any way to the continued survival of these two timeless creatures. You do feel Clara's darkness, and know only too well that, unlike her daughter, she is a natural cold-blooded killer - the thought that she will only take out "pimps" and "johns" (clients of prostitutes) doesn't totally convince...

Having read a little about "Byzantium", I am surprised that gaining financial support can be difficult for a film whose leads are female, as gender inequality still plays a major role in decision-making. When asked, even Arterton agrees, "Yes, it's true. Very much so, unless you get someone properly famous in the lead role. We are talking very, very famous." Renowned actress or not, the film industry needs to do more to let some great cinematic experiences through: it is by no means a mistake that Sigourney Weaver, then relatively unknown, had been cast in "Alien" (1979) to influence an otherwise male-dominated genre - and Ronan's own performance in "Hanna" is nothing short of brilliant - proof that it is a script, and not female actors, that should be judged for finance backing.

If there are any negatives about "Byzantium" then it is the male characters of the piece - neither are established properly, or their relationships with either Clara or Eleanor explored efficiently. Perhaps, if Jordan had produced a love story, and examined the true destructiveness of a Human's relationship with a vampire... In the end, this is a tale of mother and daughter, lone travelers through time, restless for a place to remain without constant vigilance. For the latter their existence is a burden, secrets that must be shared but can never be, yearning for some kind of connection with anyone other than her mother, whose dominance makes any "normality" seem impossible.

What this feature shares with its predecessor "Interview With A Vampire" are the beautifully-shot flashback sequences for the two protagonists, as "Byzantium" steps back 200 years. If I am to be honest, this is where the movie works best. Though not a regular tale of vampirism, this fresh approach does take a look at what it is to be immortal Humans on the run, constantly unable to put down roots. Without the "vampire" tag, they are serial killers. And even with it, they are still more Human than any vampire in cinematic history...

Purchase Byzantium from the Store:
DVD - Blu-ray - Running time: 118 minutes

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Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012) - FilmReview

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Article author: Alwyn Ash

Is director Timur Bekmambetov's blockbuster a fangtastic adventure or just a stake through the heart?

There have been mixed reviews for "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" since its theatre release, with critics calling it "uptight and dreary" (Christy Lemire, Associated Press) and unfulfilling. To some extent I can understand these criticisms. However, having sat through a viewing, my opinions are firmly in the positive...

First off, the title says it all, no suspense or sleight of hand, just a fun film exploring what if one of the most famous men in American history had a secret life that focused on the supernatural. So often we are used to the scandal and affairs of politicians, those indiscreet moments that a politician would rather forget. So how intriguing, then, that Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, is explored as a vampire hunter, stalking the streets at night assassinating the undead. Based on a novel of the same name by author Seth Grahame-Smith, with a sreenplay by Grahame-Smith and Simon Kinberg, we first encounter a young Abraham living with his parents. Even in these early years he is a strong and determined boy, prepared to stand up for what he believes in. Sadly though, this resolute personality later indirectly leads to the tragic death of his mother - to a vampire. This, ultimately, takes Abraham on a journey that will eventually lead to campaign, war, and the extinction of slavery.

This "mishmash" works well for the most part, its atmospheric scenes and plot perfectly balanced by the direction and acting. Previous attempts at this kind of fantasy horror have always been let down by attempt at humour, so it is a welcome change that Bekmambetov's movie leans more toward the serious, even if the subject matter and title suggest otherwise. Indeed, this could have been a camp, lighthearted affair, with enough one-liners to fill Queen Akasha's tomb ("The Vampire Chronicles" reference). However, when I think of what a mess Stephen Sommers made of the 2004 vampire feature "Van Helsing", I am thankful for small mercies!

Casting is excellent, with Benjamin Walker wonderfully versatile as the Older Abraham Lincoln - actor Lux Haney-Jardine, too, is a treasure as Young Abraham. Also cast is Dominic Cooper as Henry Sturges, Abraham's mentor. Mary Elizabeth Winstead, as the beautiful Mary Ann Todd (and later Lincoln's wife) never fails to light up the screen, whether she is dancing, visiting Abraham in jail, or simply confronting vampires.

Much of the film focuses on Abraham's training, his acquiring of newly-found skills to aid him in his fight against vampires (whose identity Henry advises him off via secret mail), and the Civil War which later erupts, tearing the United States apart and forcing families to fight one another, as the Union (federal government of the United States) and Confederate forces engage in bloodshed. It is interesting how, finding a path along the political circle, this future president puts away his silver tools and instead embraces the power of words, learning to be a strategist and diplomat first.

An idealist perhaps, but in this reality vampires still lurk in the shadows, preparing for a day when the world will be theirs to master over. Not only does Abraham and wife Mary suffer tragic loss after the horrifying cruelty of female vampire Vadoma (portrayed by model and actress Erin Wasson), but the undead are also persuaded to assist the Confederate in fighting the North on the battlefield - leading to the quite obvious Union losses on a large scale. This is the moment when you know Abraham must fight using his knowledge of the supernatural once more - words are no longer sufficient to protect the lives of his men. It also means that the president must, once more, take to battle in person...

This is where the action explodes, with a spectacularly-directed sequence of events on board a transport train delivering silver weapons to Union soldiers facing incredible slaughter at the hands of vampires. It is clear that the success of Abraham's campaign rests on the safe arrival of these new weapons. I applaud the movie's focus on slavery and exploitation, highlighting the Underground Railroad, and even its attempts at not shying away from showing the horror that war brings upon its victims. I did, however, feel a little uncomfortable at moments during the graphic scenes of conflict - though this film is a mix of fact and fiction, I couldn't help but feel sadness for those whose lives had truly been lost in this terrible civil war. It was just a momentary discomfort, but one I found difficult to observe...

"Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" might not be a classic, but it does have classic moments. I would have to say that, after one hour and forty-five minutes of axe-wielding, love, and warfare, there was plenty to satisfy this vampire fan. Negative reviews should certainly be taken with a pinch of salt. Decide for yourself.

Purchase Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter from the Store:
DVD Blu-ray - Running time: 105 minutes

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The Impossible (2012) - FilmReview

Article author: Alwyn Ash


When a family is torn apart, courage must take over...

I don't often allow myself to watch highly emotionally-charged true-life movies, simply because I find such a thing impossible, being a very sensitive and emotional person myself. And so opening up to these kind of experiences is both physically and, yes, emotionally tiring. However, when I heard of The Impossible - and knowing that the feature starred Naomi Watts - I just had to see what the fuss was all about. I certainly had no idea that the film focused on the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami until I read the synopsis. What I discovered was a powerful and captivating tale chronicling disaster, bravery and humanity at its finest.

Based on Spanish physician María Belón and her family's experiences during and following the tragic events, Watts is cast as "English" physician Maria Bennet (temporary retired from practice), who travels with her husband Henry (Ewan McGregor) and three children Lucas (Tom Holland), Tomas (Samuel Joslin), and Simon (Oakley Pendergrast) to Khao Lak, Thailand, for the Christmas holidays. The fun isn't to last long. This beautiful paradise becomes the scene of mayhem when a flood hits, indiscriminately taking lives and destroying homes. The horrifying event is well realised, with effects that easily call up memories of those news broadcasts we had watched with deep sympathy and sadness for both the Indian Ocean and similar tsunami victims. Not one scene is taken for granted, or wasted.

In the wake of this mass destruction, the film focuses on both Maria and her eldest son Lucas, who are both swept away by the flood but manage to find one another; the former severely injured. It has to be said that both actors do a wonderful job, and it is easy to feel for them - separated from Henry and the other two children, whose fate remains a mystery at this time, mother and son at least have each other. In a lovely scene, they are soon joined by a toddler named Daniel, who is found alone and in wreckage.

There had been criticism regarding the movie's "whitewashing", casting "white" actors to make ethnic characters "more appealing to the white", with the main issue being that a white Western family gets caught up in a tsunami instead of a true reflection of the Spanish family whose experiences this feature is based on. I disagree, however. There is no sign that Spanish director Juan Antonio Bayona or writer Sergio G. Sánchez are purposefully engaging in such an act - the casting of Watts and McGregor is a wise one as they are clearly capable of delivering a performance that is needed for such demanding roles (how would Penélope Cruz have fared as María Belón, I wonder?). Even the young cast is exceptional, not once failing to embrace the script with true purpose. "Lo Imposible" is a Spanish production and, thankfully, overall response for the film has been positive.

The Impossible solidly hammers home the true nature of such a disaster, using authentic locations and focusing solely on the Human need for hope, bravery and compassion. Though their homes and lives have been wrecked, the Thai people work tirelessly in a bid to help tsunami victims (both local and tourists). They are the true heroes in this magnificent true-life tale that shines throughout...

Even when it is revealed that Maria, Lucas and Henry have survived the initial flood, it is clear that Maria isn't out of the woods yet - her injuries are extensive and surgery is required. Henry, too, is in search of his family, not knowing whether they are alive or dead. And there is plenty to admire about this movie, especially when Lucas leaves his mother's bedside to help others in the hospital, even reuniting a father and son in one touching scene. In another, Henry encounters a group of people - one of them, a German man named Karl Schweber (Sönke Möhring) permits the Scottish husband to use his cellphone, which leads to a rather emotional call home.

Whatever your own thoughts on the "whitewash", there is no denying that this feature is a total assault on the senses, an honest account of tragedy, loss and survival regardless of race, a heartbreaking walk through events when a tsunami injects terror into a delicate community. This is indeed one movie with fine performances from all involved, and a respectful account of the horrific tsunami that occurred on Sunday 26th December 2004, killing over 230,000 people. It is a firm reminder that we are fragile in nature, and that nothing is ever certain.

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