Film Review - Patterson (2016)

Adam Driver Unravels The 'Dark Side' To Protect A Child In Hungry Hearts

Before he heads to a Galaxy far far away Adam Driver has a small matter of an indie Psychological Thriller Hungry Hearts where he'll explore a different 'dark side'. The film is set for a limited release next month IFC Films have released the official trailer reveals a father love to protect his child from his wife's paranoia.


Hungry Hearts tales the story of New York City newlyweds Jude (Adam Driver) and Mina (I Am Love's Alba Rohrwacher) have a seemingly perfect relationship. But things take an unsettling turn with the birth of their son. Convinced that the baby must be kept free of all contaminants, Mina develops fanatical obsessions with veganism, cleanliness, and purity that may kill the child unless Jude can stop her. With stunning performances from Driver and Rohrwacher, this intense psychological drama suggests that sometimes a parent’s love can be the scariest thing of all.

Since it's world premiere at Toronto Film Festival last year the film has been getting some good reviews that good luck followed it to London too. Whilst some are promoting this as a romantic drama however it's more a thriller with dark and sinister undertones, them been the mental health of Rohrwacher's character. It's good to see a film underline the awareness of first time mums and how sometimes under the joy of been a mother for first times we forget the question "how are you mum?".

Hungry Hearts gets an US 5th June limited/VOD release, co-starring Jake Weber, Roberta Maxwell, and David Aaron Baker.

Film Review - Tracks (2013)

EIFF 2013 - Frances Ha Review

Rating:
15
Release:
21-22 June (EIFF) 26th July 2013 (UK Cinema)
Director:
Noah Baumbach
Stars:
Greta Gerwig,
Mickey Sumner,
Adam Driver

Chances are the most charming film you will see at this year's Edinburgh International Film Festival is Noah Baumbach's Frances Ha. The feature sees him team up with Greta Gerwig in what serves as a love letter to New York and an amusing glimpse at the crossroads in life that many twentysomethings will undoubtedly find themselves at.

Frances is an amusingly awkward young woman (who her friend dubs 'undateable') drifting between her student-like lifestyle and ever approaching adult responsibilities.

Baumbatch's feature has a real sense of authenticity and addresses issues that many young people will undoubtedly feel after moving on from years of studying. We see Frances' best friend move into a serious relationship, her struggle to make her career as a dancer work out, and her failure to connect with adults. These are showcased through Gerwig and Baumbatch's smart screenplay and Gerwig's immediately likeable and rich performance. Whilst it does have a tendency to drift Frances Ha ultimately works because Frances is a character that simply finds herself drifting through life.

There's a great self-awareness to Frances Ha - it is clear that she is incredibly awkward (hilariously showcased on one scene where she attempts to play fights with someone who does not get her) - yet this is what makes her such a fascinating and undeniably watchable protagonist. There is something admirable about such a lost and aimless character in today's nine-to-five society, but she is also one driven by fun and expression. Gerwig packs her performance with a slight sensitivity and manages to craft a sense of sympathy in a role that may have lacked it in an another actor's hands.

The setting of New York and black and white style immediately echoes the charm of Woody Allen's earlier features, whilst Baumbach appears inspired from the likes of the French New Wave to Lena Dunham's Girls. Baumbach's soft, intimate direction crafts a delicate sense of breezy light-heartedness which makes Frances Ha a very absorbing watch.

Frances Ha's charming aesthetic and amusing yet sympathetic narrative and characters results in a stellar concoction, perfectly channelled through Gerwig's pitch perfect leading performance. Frances Ha is a film viewers will be unlikely to forget.

★★★★☆

Andrew McArthur

Dance Your Sorrows Away In First Trailer for Noah Baumbach's Frances Ha

 If you look back at American independent films over the last 20 years or so there's always going to be a few  directors names who will always pop due to their distinctive style, vision of film making; Wes Anderson, Jim Jarmusch and you have to also say Noah Baumbach. Since Summer 2012 on the festival circuit Baumbach's Frances Ha has been gathering some critical acclaim on it's travels and now it's time for the film to go theatrical and tonight we have the film's first trailer.

Frances Ha  sees Baumbach co-write the film with the film's main star Greta Gerwig who plays Frances a young New York woman who yearns to get more from life and relationships. Apart from the classic Modern  Love by David Bowie the film is delivered in black and white  to me is quint essential American independent. Frances Ha proves once again Greta Gerwig qualities in indie films rather than mainstream (Arthur remake) and Baumbach certainly knows how to get the best out of his leading lady lady. Visually this reminds me of Woody Allen's Manhattan with the tone and dialogue of Len Dunham's Girls, Frances Ha maybe sliding into that 20 something in crisis type film which we've seen a millions times but Noah Baumbach seems to deliver something more engaging and panache.

No word on a UK release so the film may creep into some UK based film festivals this year, Frances Ha will get a 17th May U.S limited release. The film co-stars Mickey Sumner, Adam Driver, Michael Zegen and Patrick Heusinger.



source:The Playlist