Old: Time Masters (1982)
Director: René Laloux
French Animation wizard Rene Laloux’s first feature the wondrously curious
Fantastic Planet (1973) opted to reflect the face of humanities future with that
of its savage past, such regression is absent in this superb follow-up which is a fusion of
parable and paradox, fable and fairy tale in the incredibly imaginative world
of the Time Masters.
The Magical journey begins with a 7 year old boy named Piel
who at one point lived a sheltered existence with his parents on the distant
planet of Perdide as the only human presence, however his parents are killed
leaving him to traverse the near barren world alone with his innocence and
salvation acting as both his biggest hope and greatest danger. Peridide
proceeds to offer an Alice
Piel’s salvation rests in the hands of an incongruous bunch,
Jaffar is the friend of his father tasked with his rescue, aboard his ship is a
cruel Prince Matton and a loving Princess Belle (both operating in exile aboard Jaffar's ship), a wise old man with
knowledge of the planetary system and a pair of telepathic aliens. The dynamics
among crew lead them into harms way in particular a haunted planet inhabited by
faceless angels, a form of religious symbolism detailing the contradiction of spiritual
identity and conformity.
With its eclectic approach to style, tone and narrative Time
Masters is an enigmatically elusive experience which will provide plenty of
need as well as reward for repeat viewings; puns aside a timeless piece of
animation.
9/10
New: Enough Said (2013)
Director: Nicole Holofcener
Stars: Julia Louis-Dreyfus and James Gandolfini
The late James Gandolfini in one of his last roles before
his passing will go down as one of his best, casting aside the tough wise guy
aura with which we have become accustomed to. In his portrayal of Albert , Gandolfini finds a seldom seen openness and subsequent vulnerability which
affords him a magnetism with both the audience and their sympathies.
Providing the Ying to Albert’s Yang is an inspired piece of
casting with Julia-Louis Dreyfus whose petite feminine grace is juxtaposed by
the oafish qualities of her would be love interest. Dreyfus effortlessly
transitions from her familiar domain of the small screen, bringing with her
Elaine from Seinfeld’s propensity for physical humour; few could make dragging
a masseuse bed up a set of stairs look so arduously funny.
Director Nicole Holofcener works wonders in delivering this
40-something centric naturalistic love story, capturing the essence of a
blossoming mature love which pierces the exterior and finds a level of depth that
enables our damaged divorcée couple to successfully search and find a mutually
slow developing attraction.
It wouldn't be a romantic comedy without the misunderstandings
and misjudgments which don’t require detailing here, but with the
help of its subplots Enough Said looks into the challenges of finding love later on in life and how relationships of the past leave lasting legacies; some good some bad.
8/10
8/10
