FILM PROFILES @laurahird.com
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MICHAEL HANEKE  Was first introduced to this brilliantly challenging, Austrian director's work through his chilling study of violence, 'Funny Games' in 1997. Have since hungrily awaited his subsequent films whilst plundering his back catalogue. The following are a few of my favourites. Click image for an interview with Haneke on the Sign and Sights website CACHE (Hidden) (2005) THE TIME OF THE WOLF (2003) THE PIANO TEACHER (2001) CODE UNKNOWN (2001) FUNNY GAMES (1998) Read about 'The Seventh Continent' - Haneke's debut film on the Strictly Film School website 'Supermodernity, Capital, and Narcissus: The French Connection to Michael Haneke's Benny's Video' on the Cinetex website
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GASPAR NOE
Argentine-born, French-based director and latest holder of the 'cinema�s latest enfant terrible' crown, Gaspar Noe's films are jet black provocations that make us question our own relationship to violence and abuse on a most basic level. To read Gerard Peary's interview with Gaspar Noe click title
Collection of erotic art films by Noe, Larry Clark, Marco Brambilla, Matthew Barney, Marina Abramovic, Richard Prince, Matthey Brambilla and Taylor Wood. In Noe's film 'Babysitter,' a woman has oral sex with a teddy bear while a youth copulates with an inflatabe doll. To visit the film's official website, click image Harrowing, brutally addictive film. A rape and its horrific aftermath told in reverse. One of the most haunting pieces of cinema I have ever seen. Click image to visit official website and view trailer of film, or to order on Amazon, click ">here
A middle-aged butcher, just released from prison tries in vain to salvage his hopeless life, hampered by an uncontrollable rage at the world. To read about the film on the Earthlink website, click image or to order on Amazon, click ">here
This 40 minutes prequel to 'Seul Contre Tous' follows the butcher character through his early life from 1965-79 to just after he is released from prison, when the second film starts. To read more about 'Carne' on the Io Film, website, click image
'Tunnel Visionary: Gaspar Noe's Brutal "Irreversible" by Erin Torneo' on Indiewire website View the trailer for, 'Irreversible' and visit the official website 'Noe Gasper - World: From Carne to Seul Contre Tous. Cine Carnet No 2' on Amazon Read interview with Gaspar Noe about 'Irreversible' on the Iofilm website Hilariously bad review of Seul Contre Tous by Nathan Shumate on Cold Fusion Video Reviews website 'Time Destroys Everything' - interview with Gaspar Noe and Monica Bellucci on the Cinemaspeak website Read my own review of 'Irreversible' on the Film Reviews section of this site "Violence is in Life." BBCi interview with Gaspar Noe
'Gaspar Noe Does it Backwards's - Inside Irreversible' by Holly Willis on RES website
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LARS VON TRIER
Unpredictable, wildly inventive Danish director, godfather of the DOGME school of film-making and director of the best (Breaking the Waves) and worst (Dancer in the Dark) films I have ever seen. To visit Lars Von Trier fansite, click image
A teenager in a nameless American town finds a gun and persuades other youngsters who roam the streets to join his newfound gang 'The Dandies'. To visit the film's official website, click image or to order the film on Amazon, click here
Nicole Kidman and Paul Bettany head a star-studded cast in Trier's vast, deliberately artificial critique of America's vaunted idealism. To view the trailer from the film on the TV Ropa official website, click image, to read Grady Harp's review of the film on The New Review section of this site, click here or to order the film on Amazon, click here
Like most of Trier's work, this is a real 'love it or hate it' film. I hated it, however I would say it needs to be seen to be believed. Bjork was fetted for her performance, however, the character she plays makes such unbelievably bad decisions, I just wanted to slap her. I love musicals, but the musical numbers in this left me nauseous. If you disagree, please let me know. Click image for official website, or to order on Amazon click ">here
A lonely female drifter becomes unintentionally involved with members of a commune who subvert the norms and conventions of middle-class society by exploring and releasing their 'inner idiots,' ie, they like to 'spazz out.' Powerful, refreshingly unconventional look at aggression, society and primitive sexuality. To read 'Artistic and intellectual confusion in Lars von Trier's The Idiots' on the World Socialist website, click image, or to order the film on Amazon click ">here Absolutely dazzling piece of film-making about the effect the marriage of naive local girl, Bess to a Danish oil rig worker has on the strict, brutal Wee Frees on a small Scottish Island in the 1970's. Relentless, emotionally manipulative, heartbreaking study of illness, love and small-mindedness with brilliant cast and wonderful 70's soundtrack. To read review of the film on Deep Focus website, click image, or to order the film on Amazon click here Dogme 95 Vow of Chastity on official DOGME website Profile and bibliography of Lars Von Trier on Senses of Cinema website
'Lars Von Trier: Interviews (Conversations with Filmmakers Series)' by Jan Lumholt on Amazon |
LARRY CLARK
Labelled as everything from a child pornographer to a visionary genius due to his uncompromising and disturbing ventures into the world of teenage sex and violence, Clark's intimate portraits of teenage angst can never be described as boring. Clark portrays the shocking without pretending to be shocked by it. Click image to view his official website
Instead of adhering to the norms of their South Central neighborhood, a group of skater boys opt to bus into Hollywood and Beverly Hills. To visit the film's official website, click image Dead-eyed but compassionate look at the misery of adolescence, seen through the eyes of the title character, filmed in semi docu-drama style. Despite roaring approval at international film festivals, the film is still currently banned all over the place. To read a review of the film on the Becks Incredible Film Fest website, click image or to order the film on Amazon click ">here Cold, dispassionate look into the lives of slacker teenagers, based on a real-life murder case. Bobby is a high school bully who beats up and humiliates his friend and rapes his girlfriend. The other kids finally have enough and decide to kill him. Captivating but hard to care about any of the characters. To read interview with Clark about 'Bully' on Salon.com website, click image, or to order on Amazon click here Clark's developing friendship with a gang of skateboarding youngsters led him to ask the then 19 year old Korine to write the screenplay for this sweatily intimate portrait of a young girl's life on the day she discovers she is HIV positive. To read Matt Stephens' intensive dissertation on 'Kids,' click image, or to order the film on Amazon click here
James Woods and Melanie Griffith play surrogate parents to a runaway teenager and his girlfriend who they recruit on a series of robberies and scams. Unusual take on 'families' with a bloody great soundtrack. To read 'Larry Clark Snaps Another Shot of "Paradise"' by A. G. Basoli on Indiewire website, click image, or to order the film on Amazon, click here
Scott Tobias interviews Larry Clark on the Onion AV Club website Watch the trailer for 'Ken Park' on the French Cinemovies website 'Teenage Lust' by Larry Clark in Pavement magazine 'Tulsa' by Larry Clark on Amazon Billy Childish on writing for Larry Clark on the BBCi website 'The Perfect Childhood' by Larry Clark on Amazon
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NEIL LaBUTE
I won tickets to see 'The Company of Men' when it first came out and haven't looked back since. Love Labute's moral and ethical dissections of the black underbelly of American life and sharp, cynical scripts. To read an interview with LaBute on Salon.com website, click image
LaBute's modern take on the Pygmalion story, with Rachel Weisz as an intellectual anarchist artist, seducing then seeking to improve geeky art gallery security guard, Paul Rudd. To read more about the film on CNN.com website,click image or to order the film on Amazon, click here
Stunning adaptation of A.S. Bayatt's novel. To read a review of the film on the Salon website, click image, or to order on Amazon, click here
After witnessing the murder (and horrific scalping) of her boyfriend by a couple of thugs he's double-crossed, Betty's (Zellweger) post traumatic stress manifests itself in her growing obsession with a doctor in a TV soap opera. Disturbing black comedy that swings from pathos to horror to sentiment with disconcerting ease. To read the screenplay of the film on Hundland website, click image, or to order on Amazon, click here
LaBute's captivating and voyeuristic critique of the superficiality of modern relationships is funny, shocking and unsettlingly honest. To read Anthony Kaufman's interview with LaBute about the film, click image, or to order on Amazon, click here
Two work colleagues hatch a plot to seduce, then dump a deaf woman who works beside them in a bid to "restore a little dignity" to their unsuccessful dealings with the opposite sex. Workplace bullying and manipulation put under the microscope by LaBute make for a wickedly engrossing film that really makes you cringe. For the official website of the film, click image, or to order the film on Amazon, click here Profile of LaBute on Filmbug website
'Who's Afraid of Neil LaBute' on Dallas Observer site THE NEW REVIEW Read a selection of reviews on The New Review section of the site  GENRE BENDINGA new section of the site where I talk about my top 10 films on various genres/subjects and invite you to nominate your own favourites. Current subject is Sexiest Film Moments |
