Julia’s Eyes

Julia’s Eyes
(Los ojos de Julia)
Directed by Guillem Morales
Spain, 2010
Cornerhouse, 22 May 2011

One of the best horror/crime films you are likely to see this year, and an intriguing meditation on the act of seeing itself (& invisibility also, come to that).

Here we follow Julia, a woman who is gradually losing her sight, as she investigates the death of her twin sister, who suffered also from the same degenerative eye condition.  Just about everyone accepts that she killed herself, but Julia doesn’t believe it; the special bond between twins tells her that her sister was murdered.

You will be gripped and scared by this film, and you’ll also be subject to several gruesome incidents, one involving a needle approaching an eye… it was excruciating to see, truly.  For cinematic storytelling, the film could hardly have been bettered: there was suspense throughout and the momentum never slackened.  It is clear that the film as a whole owes a big debt to Peeping Tom and one key scene at the end was probably derived from Wait Until Dark; but no matter, those are good films to be influenced by.

Some wild ride is in prospect when you go to see this one.

Mr. Nice

Mr. Nice
Directed by Bernard Rose
UK, 2010
Cornerhouse, 10 October 2010

Still from Mr. Nice

An acceptable, although by no means earth-shattering biopic of Howard Marks, aka Mr. Nice.

Marks studied physics at Oxford, drifting into drug dealing shortly after graduation.  He couldn’t hack a proper job, apparently.

Rhys Ifans’ performance in the lead role is fine, but he’s not required to do too much.  Philip Glass’ score is edgily effective sometimes.  Frankly, it belongs in a better film.

The film is perfunctory and light, and we are offered Marks’ perspective only.  We are given no sense that his crimes have victims.  Nor that his trade involves violence and murder.  He is an hero fighting prohibition, battling against unfair drugs laws.

‘How can there be a war on drugs?’ Ifans’ incarnation of Marks asks at one point.  Well, because Americans love to wage war against nouns (plural, abstract, whatever) rather than nation states.  Some examples: crime, drugs, terror.  Next question.

Not a bad film, in truth, but I admired Rose’s The Kreutzer Sonata much more.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Directed by Niels Arden Oplev
Sweden, Denmark & Germany, 2009
Cornerhouse, 14 March 2010

Yes, this is a gripping crime film that delivers a lot of punch for your pound.  It begins as a missing person case, maybe a single murder, but quickly turns into an urgent hunt for a serial killer.

This kind of thing has been done before and done very well (e.g. The Silence of the Lambs) but there’s no doubt that The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a superior example of the genre.

Our (private) investigators this time out are Mikael (Michael Nyqvist) and Lisbeth (Noomi Rapace), respectively an investigative journalist and a hacker/internet researcher.  Our victims, as per usual (a fact that is curiously invisible and unchallenged within the genre), are young women.  As for our killer… well, a reviewer shouldn’t spoil a film.  Somehow, the unlikely partnership of Mikael and Lisbeth works well.

You should expect to see a handful of unpleasant scenes in this film, with the most disturbing scene involving rape and sadomasochism.

No, not an innovatory film but rather one that effectively and efficiently delivers more than its fair share of thrills; it hits hard.