Ain't Them Bodies Saints!!!!

Ain't Them Bodies Saints.

When you watch a film and all of you senses are heightened be it visually, from the sounds and the whole image and feel of the storyline you know your onto something special. This latest film from writer director David Lowery really is something to admire, sit back in awe and get fully transported back to the mid south of America. 

A story of love as Ruth Guthrie (Rooney Mara) and Bob Muldoon (Casey Affleck) rob a local shop their soon on the run from the police and end up in a Bonnie and Clyde style gun fight cornered in an abandon house. As Ruth shoots and injures local cop Patrick Wheeler (Ben Foster) Bob decides to give himself up and take the blame for shooting the cop, thrown into prison he's forced away from his love and un-born child. 

With Ruth spared jail, sent back home and setup in her own house by Skerritt (Keith Carradine) she lives a simple lifestyle with her new born daughter. As news arrives to her that Bob has escaped from jail she is soon questioned by Patrick about his whereabouts and whether she has hears from him at all. Soon enough gangsters and the police are looking for Bob and he is forced to go on the run, fend for himself and also try to contact Ruth and see his daughter for the first time as well.

Bob is determined to win back Ruth and stick to his promise that he would find her and they could live happily ever after. Obviously he has alot going against him with Skerritt telling him to leave Ruth alone and leave town and not come back he has more enemies then friends. Ruth of course strikes up a friendship with Patrick and has some soul searching to do, does she start a new life with Patrick or does she stick with her promise to Bob. 

The film visually is stunning, some Malickesque images are their to be seen but don't linger on screen for too long and cut away quite quickly. I have to mention Bradford Young's cinematography as it is spectacular, using old style cameras it has that grainy dark feel to it which gives that gloom type of feel that is needed for this at times dark style film. Sound is used to not just bring in music but also sound effects with the sound of crickets and bugs heightened it transports you into the heart of the mid south. 

All actors have their time on screen and are allowed to shine and let their characters grow and flourish on screen. Mara plays Ruth with a melancholic and confused demeanour and at times you do feel for her, Affleck plays a quiet yet confident character who deep down knows he's a weak and beaten man. Foster is a nice addition as Patrick as he brings in a more confident and solid male figure into Ruth's life which she really needs. 

A really impressive film that takes you back to the 70's style western era with some strong visual images that really pop out on the screen. With the combination of background sound, a great soundtrack and some impressive performances it is a impressive film and no doubt a stepping stone for greater things for writer/director David Lowery.

9/10.

Side Effects!!!!

Side Effects.

From what is to be Steven Soderbergh's last full length directoral film 'Side Effects' is a film which tackles the subject of what happens when people are put on various medications and what it can lead too in life.

The film starts out with the character of Emily Taylor (Rooney Mara) who awaits the release of her husband Martin Taylor (Channing Tatum) from prison. Soon enough the day comes around and she couldn't be any more happier but underneath it all she's depressed and can't cope. After an incident in a parking lot where Emily is hospitalised she is sent to see a psychiatrist, Dr. Jonathan  Banks (Jude Law) where she is prescribed a course of drugs to settle her mind, help her sleep and handle her anxiety. 

As Emily takes more and more different drugs with different "side effects" she starts losing it, as Dr. Banks consults and speaks to Emily's old psychiatrist Dr. Victoria Siebert (Catherine Zeta-Jones) he decides to give her a new pharmaceutical drug called Ablixa. With Emily now more active and happier she looks in control, little does she know of how much an effect the new drug is having and Emily's life suddenly spirals out of control.

Without giving too much away Dr. Banks investigates Emily's deterioration and what went wrong in her life. Was it the drug he gave her?, was it all Emily's fault? or was it a culmination of the wrong drug at the wrong time?.

The hows and whys of what happens next in the film is for you to find out for yourself. It is a great twist and turn, suspense filled, thriller that certainly had me guessing what would happen next only to be the total opposite of what I had guessed. It is a smart film that is cleverly thought out and will have you scratching your head even to the very end when the credits role.

Of course this is Rooney Mara's first lead role since her appearance in 'The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo' she plays a depressed Emily with such fragility and vulnerability that you almost think to yourself your watching a real person breakdown on screen. It has to be said that the film is pretty much Jude Law's as he plays Dr. Banks with such intelligence and charm. He holds things together at the start and slowly loses everything but soon enough he comes back up to be the shining light at the end. Catherine Zeta-Jones gives a strong, powerful performance as a stern but at times naive psychiatrist, Channing Tatum stands as the hulking husband to the demure Mara and brings an air of strength and safety to Emily's crumbling world.

Overall 'Side Effects' is a great suspense filled thriller film, a film certainly for the older adults as the twist and turns of the films narrative could be seen as a bit much for a younger audience. With the surprises coming thick and fast during the film it has you on edge and has you guessing which I love as I like a film that challenges me mentally. 

As this is Soderbergh's last feature film that we know of as we lose him to theatre and the TV world of HBO this is a fine film to finish your movie career off with.

8/10.