To Helen back
Sometimes it takes another couple of viewings to recognise just how great a quiet original can be. Written and directed by Christine Molloy and Joe Lawler, Helen is the mesmerising tale of an orphan girl who probes her own identity when she is used as a stand-in during a police reconstruction of a murder, and it is nothing less than one of the best films of the year.
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Comment number 1.
At 8th Sep 2009, Nick Savvides wrote:Dr K.
I usually respect your opinion and I completely agree with you on the subject that Let The Right One in is probably the best film of this year if not of the decade thus far.
I think when I wrote on your blog it was because I had recently seen the film and had such an averse reaction to it at first. I think what put me off was that I found the filmmakers to be really pretentious about their work during the Q and A afterwards and it put me off the film slightly as believing it to had this air of authority and pretentiousness about it that put me off slightly.
But then in the months following I went home and started thinking about the film and for some reason I couldn't stop thinking about it.
While I wouldn't say that it is one of the best films of the year I will definitely watch the film again. I think it is one of those films that needs to be watched more than once in order to be fully appreciated because even though I disagreed with you on this point, i pretty much tend to agree with you on most other things. Except for your review of The Ruins. That film was terrible. And I cannot ever forgive you for your review of The Boat That Rocked.
But a word of warning Dr K. Don't ever say that my opinion is wrong ever again, it is always right unless I say otherwise.
Glad we cleared that up.
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Comment number 2.
At 8th Sep 2009, Nick Savvides wrote:Don't get me wrong. I hated wolverine.
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Comment number 3.
At 8th Sep 2009, EstonianFilmFan wrote:Fine, Doc, I'll go and buy the DVD if they have it here, but just don't quit.
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Comment number 4.
At 8th Sep 2009, Dominic Barlow wrote:Here's the thing: if I go out of my way to get my hands on the DVD - something relatively tricky, down here in Australia - where do I stop? How many other artsy "little gem" movies will I be just as obliged to hunt down and watch? I say this because one glance at any other critic's recommendations says to me that there must be dozens upon dozens of situations like these throughout the last hundred years.
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Comment number 5.
At 8th Sep 2009, Frank Foley wrote:Well yes Dr Mark,
you are always right, except of course in the case of 'Mama Mia', a bridge too far I feel.
But 'Helen' is a return to form for you, your passion at being correct is always refreshing.
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Comment number 6.
At 8th Sep 2009, ian wrote:i know this doesn't relate to the video above but among us hardcore exorcist fans i believe you got to see the captain howdy test footage and a portion was used at the beginning of your exorcist documentary, what are your memories of this footage and would you consider sharing them? Perhaps one day this might appear on a future release of the film, satisfying many fans.
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Comment number 7.
At 8th Sep 2009, Yorkshire Mouth wrote:Doc, any idea if this will be coming to Blu-ray Disc? If it is I'd rather wait a month or two, than buy the DVD now and have to double dip later.
Steve W
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Comment number 8.
At 8th Sep 2009, OllieSim wrote:Dr K,
I saw the film at the cinema and as you said, I was impressed, but I wasn't quite sure. From what I could see it did allude to such films such as Mulholland Drive and most of all Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me.
To convince me, this film is one that (a cliché, I know) has to be seen again and again. I do agree that if there was any film that really caught me off guard this year, Helen is probably it.
I'd say that and Sleep Furiously are small gems that are worth a second life.
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Comment number 9.
At 8th Sep 2009, somebodyatthedoor wrote:I am interested in seeing this film but i have heard that some of the acting in it is terrible and I think that would ruin it for me.
Oh and by the way, I have not seen the exorcist and if you do quit your job I will make sure I never watch it. Thus will you have caused another human being to have missed out on possibly the greatest cinematic experience of their lives :)
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Comment number 10.
At 8th Sep 2009, zampano wrote:I was slightly let down by Let the Right One In, I was expecting too much
Here's my top ten so far:
Inglourious Basterds
Synecdoche New York
The Class
The Hurt Locker
Moon
Slumdog Millionaire
The Wrestler
Anvil the Story of Anvil
Gran Torino
Drag Me To Hell
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Comment number 11.
At 8th Sep 2009, Dave B wrote:So what are the other 8 films then?
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Comment number 12.
At 8th Sep 2009, walk_through_walls wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 13.
At 8th Sep 2009, archimp20 wrote:There is something more wholesome in disscussing the greatest films, rather than compiling a list of absolute rubbish to off Dr. K.
You keep remining us how loudly we are responing to your cinematic ultimatum, it was YOU who said it in the first place. While I admire a fello in black sticking to his guns, you can't blame us for our enthusiastc euthanasia. You know how passionate we get..
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Comment number 14.
At 8th Sep 2009, junkiecosmonaut wrote:i am really looking forward to this film
you mention it alongside 'the passenger'-one of the finest films of the 1970's also may is suggest 'the conversation'?
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Comment number 15.
At 8th Sep 2009, rendevousooh wrote:As they'd say in 'The Wire' I feel you Mark, if you pardon the implication.
Wise words doc. And I for one am with you. There are way too many bad movies made. The few great ones should be praised and cherished.
Helen and Let The Right One In are two fine films, almost as good as they get. I'd also put District 9 on this list. A film that can be reviewed with one word = 'breathtaking'.
Re
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Comment number 16.
At 8th Sep 2009, Reshfer wrote:Great Doc. You put your money on the table, but did you put your hand in your pocket to support the work which you laud so much?
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Comment number 17.
At 9th Sep 2009, krn wrote:I wish i could of seen this film at my cinema like i wish i had done with so many other films... but my local cinema is the most pathetic thing EVER. It never screened Helen.
Now that may not surprise you but it also didn't screen Hurt Locker which i was just gagging to see as well. And this has been going on for some time now too, to such extremes as not screening There Will Be Blood, which turned out to be one of my favorite films since i first saw 2001 A Space Odyssey or The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
VERY annoying...
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Comment number 18.
At 9th Sep 2009, Michael Laing wrote:Good to hear positivity again about films. Unfortunately none of these kind of films get shown at my local cinema. No Moon, No Let The Right One In. Just endless boring dross. Oh darn I have turned negative again.
One interesting aspect though is would I go and see something like Helon in the cinema, I would have to say probably not, now does that make me a hypocrite?
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Comment number 19.
At 9th Sep 2009, VictorVictory wrote:Easy to miss these hidden little gems, thanks for the heads-up, I'll def seek out "Helen".
savvifilm: easy for movies to be tainted by Q and A with pretentious film-makers. I certainly had that experience with Sokurov and "Russian Ark" at the LFF, although this merely confirmed my opinion that the movie was a steaming pile of ...
And Mark, what's your opinion on "Noise", an Aussie flick from 2007?, i guess you never reviewed it due to the lack of a UK release (?), but it is a fine movie and well worth checking out.
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Comment number 20.
At 9th Sep 2009, armadilloslim wrote:Off topic i know but having just seen ice age 3, i was wondering whether the death of narrative cinema has something to do with the fact that it was plainly ready edited for commercial breaks, action sequence, walk a bit, action sequence? don't know whether the directors of ice age 3 came from telly but it would explain the structure.
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Comment number 21.
At 9th Sep 2009, Will Chadwick wrote:Why not be optimistic and instead of telling us your worst films of the year so far, you mentioned Helen and Let the Right One In were in the top 5. So good Doctor, what are the top 5 films of the year so far.
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Comment number 22.
At 9th Sep 2009, nexkez6 wrote:Thanks for bringing this film back into my mind. I remember reading about it in sight and sound a while back....the same one i think with your good self praising Let the right one in......but didnt get to see it. For me it got lost not due to the release of Wolverine but due to the horror genre rising again with Let the right one in, Martyrs etc.
I never even saw a trailer for Helen and your blog is the first time i have seen a clip from the film. Will check out the dvd on your recommendation.
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Comment number 23.
At 10th Sep 2009, Ian Schultz wrote:I was greatly angered by your comments about John Carpenter's "They Live!", it's not a remake of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" at all, their isn't really any Alien invasion (they are already here!), they don't turn people into alien creatures.
"They Live!" is by far the best film John Carpenter ever made and will ever make, it's probably the best political satire since "Network", it completely summed up the greed of upper class of the 80s and has the best fight scene in cinematic history.
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Comment number 24.
At 10th Sep 2009, streetrw wrote:I have today added Helen to my rental queue, purely on this recommendation. How long it may take to come through, however, is anybody's guess....
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Comment number 25.
At 10th Sep 2009, junkiecosmonaut wrote:ian schultz
'they live' has the best fight sequence ever between keith david and roddy piper
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Comment number 26.
At 11th Sep 2009, vanfilm wrote:Thank you for this recommendation I will put it on my to view when it eventually becomes available on DVD on Canada list. I heard a comment on a recent film review show regarding romantic comedies "written by a woman as they all seem be" or words to that effect. It stuck in my mind because I am wondering if it was meant to be sarcastic. I tend to loathe romantic comedies and I wholeheatedly agree that taking a sexist premise like the one in The Proposal and making the object of patronization male instead of female is not progress. In thinking about why I have such an antipathy towards most Romantic Comedies and I think its because I find them quite mean spirited. The male characters tend to have as much depth as a handbag and serve to give the female lead something to do. Likewise the Ugly Truth trailer just makes me cringe. The thing that intrigued me about 500 days of summer is that it takes a more male POV that could have been really interesting but it lost me with its selfconscious oddnes. Wondering if you can recommend a really good modern romcon or even just a flat out romance that isn't cringeworthy. Perhaps its just a 40 something thing where dark and cynical is more appealing and I will just have to learn to grit my teeth when my friends want a "chick flick" night.
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Comment number 27.
At 12th Sep 2009, titch_nesw wrote:Dr K,
Thank you.
I feel that most people seem to think that a critics role, may it be film, food or art, is to mock and insult the bad examples of their respective areas of expertise. Whilst this can be entertaining and I do believe that a certain Mr. Bay deserves everything you have to say about him and more I believe this is not the way to go.
On your recommendation I bought Helen online and opened it the moment it hit the doormat. I was enthralled from the start, it was so atmospheric and engrossing that I was close to being late for work. THAT is why I don't think you should quit, I missed this film at my local cinema and it would have passed me by had you not mentioned it and that would have been a shame. Whilst I have not seen bridewars (and shan't), it is my opinion that alerting me to this gem of a film is more crucial than telling me about the latest hideous release from the hollywood blockbuster machine.
Thank you once more.
ps. let the right one in, also seen by your recommendation, is my favourite film of the year too and another good example of my point
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Comment number 28.
At 12th Sep 2009, _sancho_panza_ wrote:Like Lynch you say?!!
I shall buy that DVD!
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Comment number 29.
At 14th Sep 2009, LiesInc wrote:This is one of many films I never got a chance to see at my local cinema that only shows the popular blockbusters . A while ago I remember you asking people to mail in if they had a good art-house / independent cinema . Did anything ever come of that because I'm getting fed up of having to wait 'till films like this come out on DVD .
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Comment number 30.
At 16th Sep 2009, jim mccart wrote:My money is on "The Road" to be the best film of the year.Please treat it carefully Doc.
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Comment number 31.
At 21st Sep 2009, faust-arp wrote:Bought the DVD on your endorsement and enjoyed it very much.
There was certainly something Lynchian about the composition. I would not be surprised if the final shot – dark green bushes on a deep black backdrop – was a direct homage, for it resembles identically a painting (of his) that he describes in his short films DVD. And as an inversion of the brightly-lit-leaves-over-blue-sky motif, it made for a fascinatingly bleak ending.
Reading reviews/comments, it seems that some found it laboriously esoteric on the whole. As with Lynch, I felt that a certain degree of projection was half the point – the narrative, after all, was driven by the subtlest of identity hijacks, and its titular character embodied an uncertainty plainly relatable to anyone who might ever have considered their own ipseity (though commendably without feeling too broadly drawn).
The direction at times unhinged me – actors began their lines at awkward points; others appeared to act quite irregularly physically (the bereaved parents seemed oddly estranged). I'm not sure I fully understand the approach after just one viewing, but as you say, it does rather jar with the crisp, deliberate cinematography – a sort of menacing friction, adding to the overall sense of alienation.
It's certainly something I'll revisit, and something I found hugely interesting, so thanks a lot for the recommendation (and yeah, I should confess to looking up 'ipseity' – it was just too appropriate not to use).
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Comment number 32.
At 21st Sep 2009, junkiecosmonaut wrote:i was looking forward to this film and finally after viewing it on dvd i was'nt disapointed
brilliant
this film serves the fact that british/irish films are not getting a deserved crack at an audience in this country
cinemas should have to keep a screen open to british films
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Comment number 33.
At 1st Oct 2009, Daniel wrote:It takes more than a few long shots of people looking thoughtfully into the sunset and a bit of twinkly music to be deep and meaningful. It also takes more than setting part of the narrative in some woods to be like David Lynch’s Twin Peaks. When you watch a David Lynch film you are never bored, a lot of the time you are confused and intrigued, but never bored. Helen, on the other hand is boring from the outset, I can’t believe it’s only 1 hour and 15 minutes long, it felt like much longer. The majority of scenes were dreadfully, needlessly and pointlessly long and drawn out. In a way Lynch films do this, such as the espresso scene in Mulholland Drive, however they are interesting, funny, absurd, dark and disturbing. Finally, Lynch films always use brilliant actors who deliver mesmerising performances. Helen, on the other hand, uses actors that would be hard pushed to get in the local school play. There have been far better performances in excellent British films recently, such as Shifty and Fish Tank, that it seems pointless wasting your time watching Helen. Thanks for wasting my time Dr K!
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Comment number 34.
At 6th Oct 2009, jeremy_ahn_pimp-poet wrote:Helene Cardona is not only a poetess, she was that naked chick in Lawrence Kasdan's Mumford.
Helene Cardona... i tapped that mouth.
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Comment number 35.
At 18th Oct 2009, Jezebel_Hunter wrote:I watched Helen last night.
And I'm certan I'm insane, but it reminded me of Brick.
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