Kath’s Reviews: Film and Television

Kia ora!  I’m Kath, one of the Community Librarians and I’m an avid film and television viewer.  I’m regularly diving deep into the excellent DVD collection we have at Wellington City Libraries, as well as content from Beamafilm and Kanopy — the two streaming platforms available to Wellington City Libraries customers.

In this series of posts, I’m hoping to share some of the gems I come across each month with Pōneke film and television enthusiasts! Some of those I’ve watched recently include:

DVD cover for Moonage DaydreamMoonage Daydream (DVD)
This gorgeous documentary is narrated by Bowie himself, taken from archival footage and recordings.  Covering his professional life from his early days as a teenage saxophone player through to his final magnificent work Black Star, released on his birthday in 2016, two days before he passed.  The viewer is given an insight into his life, philosophy and incredible artistic talent.  I’ve been a fan since my teenage years and had a good cry by the end, I only wish there would be more of his work come to light in the future.

Best bit: snippets of unseen interviews with Bowie himself.

DVD cover of The Lost CityThe Lost City (DVD)
A delightfully silly movie.  Think Romancing the Stone starring Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas, but a modern version.  Sandra Bullock is at her comedy best, and Channing Tatum is a perfect partner for this duo adventure-comedy.  I found myself absolutely guffawing with laughter in some parts and there’s just enough heart to the story to keep you invested.  Daniel Radcliffe has lots of fun chewing the scenery as the villain, and Brad Pitt has a cameo as the cheesiest character ever.

Best bit: Look for the wheelbarrow and Brad Pitt’s hair.

Ans WestraAns Westra (Ans Westra – Private Journeys / Public Signposts) (Beamafilm)
I actually watched this a few weeks ago, before the sad news of Ans Westra’s passing.  This one is available on both DVD and through Beamafilm.  Being relatively new to Aotearoa, I was not aware of Ans Westra’s work until recently.  On viewing her amazing photographs through Wellington City Recollect, I was curious to find out more about this talented photographer.  I found this short documentary fascinating and it’s chock full of her work, as well as stories about the controversies some of her photographs have stirred over the years.

DVD Cover for Nude TuesdayNude Tuesday: A Comedy in Gibberish (DVD)
Another fun, silly film, but one done very cleverly.  This New Zealand film was created with gibberish dialogue which was then subtitled by British comedian Julia Davis.  I’ll watch anything with Jemaine Clement in it, but I can assure you the whole cast does a fantastic job in this film.  Couple Bruno and Laura find themselves in a retreat to attempt to save their marriage, and of course the “guru” leading the retreat is Jemaine Clement as Bjorg.  Lots of laughs and a story that has heart.  I loved how beautifully the nude scenes were handled in this film, there was something magical about them after all the silliness of the first two thirds of the film.

Best Bit: ICY POOL!

DVD cover of Good Luck to You Leo GrandeGood Luck to You Leo Grande (DVD)
An intimate film that feels like a stage play.  Emma Thompson plays Nancy, a widowed school teacher who is looking for intimacy, adventure and sex.  She hires sex worker Leo Grande, whom she meets in a hotel room.  Nancy is nervous, but Leo knows how to put people at ease.  This film explores womanhood, pleasure, regret, secrets, family and  so much more.  Both Emma Thompson and Daryl McCormack give fantastic performances and it’s a refreshing perspective we don’t often see in film.

Best bit: How can anyone go past Emma Thompson?  She’s one of the best in the business!  Mind you, Daryl McCormack is talented and also very easy on the eyes.

DVD cover for Gloriavale: New Zealand's Secret CultGloriavale: New Zealand’s Secret Cult (DVD)
This is a sensitively made documentary into the Gloriavale community and how those in power have treated the vulnerable members of the sect.  Told from the perspective of those who have left the community and the people in the regular world who are supporting the leavers, this documentary film is bringing the injustices of the organisation into light.  It is compelling viewing and many of the participants are telling their stories for the first time.

DVD cover for Everything Everywhere All At OnceEverything Everywhere All at Once (DVD)
What can I say about this movie?  Let’s start with it being the best film I’ve seen in quite some years.  It’s currently sweeping all of the awards in Hollywood for it’s cast, directors and the film itself.  Beautifully acted, lots of twists and turns and what you think is an absurd storyline all comes together beautifully and breathlessly.  The entire cast is incredible, the martial arts scenes are mind blowing and there is a deep heart to the story.  Do not miss this film.

Best Bit: Ke Huy Quan’s fight scene with the bum bag.  Or perhaps Raccacoonie.  Or the googly eyes.  Or hotdog fingers.  Wait, maybe the fight with the tiny dog.  Oh don’t make me choose!

What have you been watching from our collection of late?  Recommend a documentary or film for us in the comments below.


 

 

Albums turning 30 in 2023

A set of key albums from the nineties turn thirty this year, and we have many you can borrow and listen to! Here’s a taste of what we have available at Wellington City Libraries (along with our reviews). This is by no means a definitive list, so feel free to use it as a jumping off point!

A quick note: these albums live in our off-site storage. To borrow them, reserve them for pick-up at your local branch — it’s as easy as that, and completely free!


In utero / Nirvana
In Utero is an album of two halves. Polished (relatively) pop songs such as “All Apologies” and “Heart-Shaped Box” sit alongside punk/thrash noise fests like “Scentless Apprentice”. Either way, Kurt Cobain’s song-writing remained as impressive as ever, making this a worthy follow-up to the era defining Nevermind. Sadly, this would be the last collection of original material Nirvana released before Cobain’s suicide in 1994.

Songs of faith and devotion / Depeche Mode
Among the acts influenced by the alternative rock explosion was synth-pop pioneers Depeche Mode, who adopted a much harder, guitar heavy sound for their eighth album. As per its title, Songs of Faith and Devotion drips with religious imagery, with tracks such as “Condemnation” and “Judas” sounding downright gospelly.

August and everything after [deluxe edition] / Counting Crows
The album where it all began for Counting Crows (still going strong thirty years later) is a supremely assured debut. The band’s jangly, rootsy sound provides the perfect backdrop for Adam Duritz’s sad, throaty whine and the massive hits it spawned —”Round Here”, and “Mr. Jones” still sound as fresh as they did in 1993.

Dusk / The The
Matt Johnson leaves the quirky synth-pop sound of his earlier albums completely behind for a set of hook-filled, blues-soaked rock. Featuring the guitar of Johnny Marr (formerly of the Smiths), Dusk takes us on a trawl through the psyches of the lost and lonely of London town. As always, Johnson’s lyrics inhabit his characters with uncanny skill and the band is tight and focused. Highlights include the grinding “Dogs of Lust” and the uplifting closer “Lonely Planet”.

Bat out of hell II : back into hell / Meat Loaf
Reuniting with songwriter Jim Steinman for the first time since 1981’s Dead Ringer, Meat Loaf produced a direct sequel to his classic first album. Despite being, on the face of it, hopelessly out of date in the grunge era, Bat Out of Hell II was a monster hit with songs such as “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)” and “Life is a Lemon and I Want My Money Back” being as epic as their titles.

Republic / New Order
New Order’s sole release of the nineties was made at a time of tremendous acrimony and financial pressure on all the members (the group would effectively disband following Republic and didn’t release another album until 2001’s Get Ready). Surprisingly though, it’s a catchy and cohesive set of songs with more of a pure pop vibe than previous efforts. Lead-off single “Regret” remains one of the defining songs of the decade and the rest of the record is right up there with it.

Amazon link for Together Alone by Crowded HouseTogether alone / Crowded House
For their fourth album Crowded House decamped to the remote Karekare Beach with producer Youth (formerly of Killing Joke). Together Alone is a heavier and stranger album than its predecessor but it’s another excellent set of Beatlesque guitar pop with a distinctively New Zealand flavour, especially on the Māori choir heard on the title track. Other highlights include opener “Kare Kare” and the single “Distant Sun”.

Black tie white noise [bonus CD + DVD] / Bowie, David
Inspired by his recent marriage to model Iman (the opening instrumental “The Wedding” is based on the very music they used for the occasion), David Bowie reunited with producer Nile Rodgers (producer of 1983’s Let’s Dance) and came up with his best record in years. A distinct RnB/funk flavour permeates the album, most notably on the title track and the skittering groove of “Jump They Say”. Although a success in the UK, the albums momentum in the US was halted by its stateside distributor going bankrupt. Consequently, Black Tie White Noise tends to get a bit overlooked these days. It’s long overdue for rediscovery.

World gone wrong / Dylan, Bob
Having spent the eighties releasing a series of albums best described as patchy (except for 1989’s great Oh Mercy), Bob Dylan returned to the music that inspired him in the first place. World Gone Wrong continues in the vein of its predecessor, 1992’s Good as I Been to You, consisting entirely of traditional folk and blues songs performed with solo acoustic guitar. The album has a raw, rough sound and the song selection leans towards the bleak, so this record may not be for everyone. Those who do take the plunge, however, will find a fascinating snapshot of a musician reconnecting with his roots, a journey that would culminate in the astonishing artistic rebirth of 1997’s Time Out of Mind.