Nil by Mouth - Gary Oldman (1997)

I am not sure many people are aware that Gary Oldman has directed a film. A good one too.

Actors directing isn't always a good idea, especially because they often try to act in their own films. (I can't help thinking of Clint Eastwood). But in this case, it works very well, mainly because the story is very personal to Oldman: he wrote the film inspired in his own life and experiences living in South London. It is truly one of those films born from the exorcism of someone's demons - might explain why he didn't direct anything else again. There's also a compasionate, loving, way of seeing the story, Oldman isn't judgemental about violence, drug addiction, alcoholism... that's how the lives of these people are, it just happens like that even if they don't want to do it.

The story in Nil by Mouth is built through the characters, a very clever way to face a film if you're an actor directing for the first time. It seems most dialogues and situations were discovered during rehearsals, also the strong bond between characters and how familiar they are with each other can only be built this way. Even though the narrative doesn't develop like the usual storyline, there are key moments and there is what most people would call a conflict.

Of course the performances are the main strength of this film. They are all excellent and well chosen for their roles. But the cinematrography is very interesting too. It was made in 1997 so it has that Dogma influence, in this case it goes very well with the story, the restless camera, the raw use of light... it's not as stylish as bigger films but I think it's very well done. Mike Leigh meets Dogma 95.

Nil by Mouth

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy - Tomas Alfredson (2011)

Where to begin with Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy?

Gary Oldman. Who doesn't love Gary Oldman? Is there a film where his presence doesn't own everything?! Such a great actor, he can play Dracula, Beethoven or George Smiley and be each one of those and at the same time still be Gary Oldman. In this film he plays someone older than he is... and manages to get away with the ageing make-up (I think this is tricky for most actors). He carries the drama on his shoulder mostly because his character isn't just looking for a mole, he is also human and has weaknesses of his own.

(I don't believe in spoilers, but if anyone who does is reading this, perhaps skipping the following paragraph is a good idea)

Colin Firth. I have said this before, but he's too strong of a presence in any film to just play a supporting role. So from the moment he appears, I knew who he was and what was going to happen. He plays it well though... I think we get distracted until at a certain point we say "Aha! I knew it!". He's an actor who doesn't over do it, he's always in control of his character and all of himself.

/ end of "spoilers"

The Screenplay. How do you judge a good adaptation of a book? By not even noticing it was originally a book, especially if it is a famous book (and it had been done for television too). Tinker Tailor... doesn't really need any other explanation... nor gets into obsessive details the book reader will be waiting to find there. You just understand the rules of the world from the beginning and follow the story, because you engage with these characters who all have a story behind them. It's a thriller all along and it works wonderfully: well paced, the information is well administered.... unlike other adaptations like The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.

The visuals. The cinematography and art design are amazing. The camera is used to see through things, it's a spy story after all. It's a clever trick and it looks great too. The seventies are always classically stylish and the films looks just like that, everything is shiny and elegant (I've yet to see a dirty car from the seventies... dust just didn't exist back then). The only problem is the lovely Tom Hardy's hair. Something there didn't quite work, unlike Gary Oldman's ageing effect.

The music. I like the idea that Alberto Iglesias has an international career. He's done extensive work in Spanish cinema (mainly writing for Almodóvar) and I think he deserves to compose for all sorts of films. I like the work he did for Tinker Tailor... it's subtle, it goes well with the drama. At times, it's a bit too much music, but that's because I would have liked to listen to more of those lovely sounds.

The Sound. It is so good it made me want to cry. Little details, lots of clear crisp sounds that just set you in the drama and together with the characters. It's such a good film visually that I'm glad they made the effort to also take that level of work to the sound, it makes it a much better film.

Something strange. The lack of women characters. There's the Russian wife who suffers so she has an affair with a British spy. There's the cheating spy's wife (whose face we don't really see!). There's this lady who used to know too much but now is retired... So yes, it's mainly a boys film, perhaps the world of spies was all about boys? Anyway, it is still a good film.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

The White Diamond - Werner Herzog (2004)

I am not sure how he does it but Herzog does it over an over again. He's the master of documentaries.

If you analyse most of his documentaries he uses the same formula: find an interesting topic, find interesting characters, go to a unique location... oh and yes, you can't forget Herzog's madness and his Bavarian accent. You can say that's his secret and it works every single time.

The White Diamond begins with an engineer making a flying device. You find out early on that he has a haunting memory: it's not his first experiment, someone died trying to make a film and he is traumatised. But the story will unravel slowly, interestingly... only great story-telling can do that, and that is actually the secret Herzog has mastered.

The landscape is beautifully photographed and the sound is extremely well used. The sound of the canopy, the noise of the waterfall... when we finally hear the accident's story you can almost imagine it. The music is very well chosen and it's just go really well with the images.

I hope never stops making documentaries, I hope he never stops finding stories and characters that are as crazy as he is. ♥

La mujer sin piano - Javier Rebollo (2009)

There are films for everyone. There's an audience for everything. Those seems to be two of the most important laws in cinema.

There's a certain audience that likes the idea of "independent"* cinema.... meaning non-traditional, non-narrative, a bit pretentious too. This is a film for them.

We have a main character, she is very well played - the actress has a career as television comedian but here she manages to do very well in drama. It's not a performance problem. The film is about her.. the problem seems to be that we don't get to know a lot about her. Okay, she's fed up with her life, she wants something else... we don't know what or why. She just wanders around. She drinks cognac. There's nothing wrong with not telling everything. But you need to get the audience to empathise with her and really feel the way she is feeling and want to run away to. I think here is where it fails.

The photography/camera is very good. The lighting is very simple but very well done. Tidy. The movements are stylish, I'd call them meticulous to an immaculate level. 

Nice surprise** : the sound is also interesting. Lots of atmosphere sounds. Her character is mostly her heels. But she also comments she has a hearing problem... which isn't well used in the film. It could have been better. The music is well used... it represents her feelings, her drive, whatever it is that they are not telling us, the music gives us a hint. And it's used only for those moments. Good choice.

The ending... is the beginning of a new film, a more traditional film. Did I like La mujer sin piano? I didn't hate it but it isn't my kind of film. I like feeling together with the character, I wanted to cheer for her to do well. I didn't get involved in her story. You can do a non-narrative film an still convey emotions.


* I could start a rant about "independent" cinema, "independent" of what/whom... but I won't do it this time.
** Why should anyone be surprised to find good use of sound in a film?!

La mujer sin piano

The trailer. That's the film. That's all you get from it.