Talking Movies: The Whale, Moonage Daydream and Voyagers
Spling reviews The Whale, Moonage Daydream and Voyagers as broadcast on Talking Movies, Fine Music Radio. Listen to podcast.
TRANSCRIPT
Good morning – welcome to Talking Movies, I’m Spling…
This week, we’re talking about a psychological drama, a music documentary and a sci-fi thriller.
Starting off with a film now on circuit…
A reclusive, morbidly obese English teacher attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter.
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Stars: Brendan Fraser, Sadie Sink and Hong Chau
The Whale is based on the stage play by William D. Hunter, who adapted this for screen. Centred on a recluse and set in his home where visitors come and go, the focus is on characters, trying to create a sense of space to counter its claustrophobic setting. While constrained by its stage origins, it never stagnates under Aronofsky’s watch, using its ensemble to keep a healthy dose of conflict and momentum. Fraser transcends the prosthetics to deliver a deeply human, honest and tender turn, which coupled with his comeback story should earn him an Oscar. Supported by Hong Chau as a fiercely protective nurse and friend, Liz, as well as Sadie Sink as his estranged daughter, Ellie, the trio outshine the rest of the ensemble. A little shaggy as a screenplay, this character-driven psychological drama is an actor’s showcase. The Whale is a fascinating character portrait, housing many swirling themes bound to draw a range of emotions. Tapping into universal truths, there’s a sense of futility and melancholy beneath the surface as Charlie resigns himself to his fate, trying to placate Liz and reconnect with Ellie. It’s a challenging viewing experience, not offering any easy outs, capturing glimpses of light through humour and optimism in the face of human frailty.
A solid 7 on the splingometer!
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Moving on to a film now at the Labia Theatre…
A cinematic odyssey exploring David Bowie’s creative and musical journey.
Writer-Director: Brett Morgen
Morgen is the visionary director behind Cobain: Montage of Heck, a biographical music documentary about the late Nirvana frontman, Kurt Cobain. Inspired by Pink Floyd’s ‘The Wall’, it’s been Morgen’s ambition to create similarly eclectic depictions. What follows is a surreal, shapeshifting documentary and labyrinthine feature-length music video that attempts to capture the essence of the artist. A true creative whose life was given purpose by his perpetual search for deeper meaning through his art, Bowie’s surreal biography reflects his creative energy and ceaseless reinvention. From wardrobe and make-up to his on-the-road lifestyle, Moonage Daydream captures snippets of his life through interviews, photographs and footage. Live performances are re-invigorated, modernised by a rapid fire edit, incorporating sound effects and fragments of pop culture to reflect the zeitgeist. Much like Montage of Heck, this film goes to some intimate spaces, piecing together a scrapbook of personal history and giving it a psychedelic overlay. Moonage Daydream lives up to its title, pouring from one chapter into the next, transported by Bowie’s signature music and countercultural spunk. At times overwhelming owing to its multisensory overload, it’s not for everyone but remains captivating and enigmatic, a trippy ode to a rock star in a constant state of evolution who lived every moment.
An excellent 8 on the splingometer!
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And finally a sci-fi thriller on Showmax…
A crew of astronauts on a multi-generational mission are forced to confront their true nature.
Writer-Director: Neil Burger
Stars: Colin Farrell, Tye Sheridan and Lily-Rose Depp
Voyagers is essentially Lord of the Flies in space, taking William Golding’s classic narrative into a new environment. The spacecraft carries a crew who are undertaking an interplanetary journey that will see them pass the torch to their progeny. Raised to be comfortable living in isolated conditions, the young crew are given suppressants to keep them calm and out of trouble. When a Cain & Abel duo stop taking the sedative, they discover their true nature as urges arise and things spiral out of control. The sleek visuals of the spacecraft’s interiors create a clinical backdrop as factions arise from the chaos of a new order. While an accomplished filmmaker, Burger’s struggle is in translating the deep-seated themes about human nature. Being subdued at first, it’s difficult to gauge performances from a group who have led sheltered lives and learned everything about the real world from video footage. Trying to stay true to their back story, this buffer hurts the actual storytelling but does create a curious escalation as basic instincts emerge and morality is questioned. Perhaps a much darker rendition of Voyagers would have given it the grittiness and primal discord needed to rise above young adult constraints. While it doesn’t really break new ground and is blunted by a lightweight exploration, it remains entertaining, fierce and thought-provoking enough to tip a…
A satisfactory 6 on the splingometer!
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So just to wrap up…
THE WHALE… several excellent performances and powerful human themes compel this honest and fiercely tender character portrait… A solid 7!
MOONAGE DAYDREAM… a bold, enigmatic, mesmerising and surreal music documentary odyssey and ode to David Bowie’s art, music and life… An excellent 8!
VOYAGERS… a handsome cast and intriguing story compel this sleek, thought-provoking albeit lightweight Lord of the Flies reimagining… A satisfactory 6!
For more movie reviews and features visit splingmovies.com.
And remember, Don’t WING it, SPL!NG it!
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