Radio Bikini(1988)Bikini Atoll is a small, lost paradise in the waters of the South Pacific. In 1946, the island would be the site of the 20th century’s most horrible arsenal on display, sadly procured by our own country. Operation Crossroads was conducted by the U.S. Navy as an experiment to study the repercussions of a nuclear attack. Bikini Atoll was used as the base for the tests, driving the aborigines from their homes while service men and women could reside there during the length of the mission. “Radio Bikini” is a documentary of the events; a compilation of stock footage intertwined with testimonials by Bikini native Kilon Bauno and Navy veteran John Smitherman.
“Radio Bikini ” is perhaps a biased account of the controversial operation, one that places the American government as a self-righteous power that toys with the lives of its soldiers. While historians could debate the consequences or justification for such tests (and the film could be accused of lacking counterpoints), we were disturbed by the surreal nature of career documentarian Robert Stone’s first feature.
Bronson(2008)Bitter Balcony has found an actor we can rally around and his name is: Ben Affleck!!! A shrewd master of disguise, superbly emotive, and with loads of screen presence to spare, Affleck’s thespian gifts make us spill a tear and dry it with a gentle touch of a silk handkerchief...
…OK, now that we did our best Ben Lyons impersonation, we can actually herald talent. Right now we are showing cinematic props for the chameleon-like Tom Hardy. His popularity has grown since his impressive performance as a clever forger in “Inception.” Hardy is on the brink of stardom, and with the Max Rockatansky role he inherited from Mel Gibson; soon the young Englishman will join previous imports such as Clive Owen and Daniel Craig in ranks of Jolly Cool. And, like Owen’s poker face in “Croupier” and Craig’s wits in “Layer Cake,” Hardy has his own buried treasure in 2008’s “Bronson.”
Triangle (2009)
It’s hard to write about "The Triangle" without ruining it – so this will be vague and short.
The premise: Jess (Melissa George), Tommy and friends get together on a small yacht for a day at sea. Jess arrives on the dock with something, possibly serious, going on in her world, but chooses to go on the trip anyway. After a nap, she wakes to try to enjoy the day with Tommy and his friends, but a freak storm overturns their yacht. While adrift they are crossed by a ship that appears to be deserted. With little choice, they board and find that there's someone aboard ship and this someone begins to dispatch them one by one. Jess must do what she can to survive and help her friends the best she can. But there is something more she must find: a secret terror lying in the shadows.
Tres días (Before the Fall)
Picture Max Cady lurking underneath the meteorite from “Armageddon” and you get “Tres días” (re-titled in English as “Before the Fall”). “Tres días” is an entertaining thrill ride by Spanish director F. Javier Gutiérrez. Set in the remote town of Laguna , the story centers on Alejandro (Víctor Clavijo), a young handyman. Alejandro is resentfully living in the shadow of his older brother Tomas, who saved Laguna from serial killer Lucio (Eduard Fernández).
For most of Bitter Balcony’s readers hearing about "Ponyo" might not be exactly what they are hoping to read. However, I was impressed this heartwarming and highly creative Miyazaki film captures and expressively displays the joyful essence of youthful imagination.
Sure, it made it to the big screen. I saw the poster and I admit, I quickly forgot about the film.
Getting a moment to sit down and dedicate time towards watching a “kids movie” is time that is hard to come by. However if you enjoyed "My Neighbor Totoro" you will find that "Ponyo" and her cute habits are a great compliment to that sort of experience.
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US title: Castaway on the Moon (2009) Korean title: Kimssi pyoryugi (2009) "Castaway on the Moon" begins with a man on the phone who finds out just how hopelessly in debt he is – and he leaps to his fate. But instead of the usual death-by-jumping, the man who leaped is now a castaway on a small island in the center of a large city. The premise sounds absurd, but it is handled in such a way that you actually accept that Min-hee Hong** is stuck on this island. He tries swimming away. He tries getting attention. He calls for help. But slowly, he warms up to the idea of living away from civilization and goes all Tom Hanks on the tiny island. |
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Underrated films presents: Primer (2004)
There are movies that entertain with action, some that entertain with comedy, and there is the rare movie that makes you think. Yes, there are some of us who find the act of thinking entertaining. We’re the ones who find pop-culture movies about lame vampires in love with personality-less high school chicks unbearable. People who watch explosion after explosion while special effects cover every inch of the screen are a little boring. “Primer” is that rare movie that entertains while it makes you think – and does so without gimmicks or a multi-trillion dollar budget. More inside! |
