Film Review: Lawless

If you didn't catch the last effort that the partnership of screenwriter/musician Nick Cave and director John Hillcoat, 2005's The Proposition, rent/download/buy it RIGHT NOW.  Then report back.

I'll know if you didn't see it. 

Phew, now that you're versed in the violent western stylistic genre that Hillcoat/Cave bring to life, we can discuss Lawless.

I could give you a plot synopsis and origins of the movie (stolen from Wikipedia and IMDB) but I think you're better than that. And I think I'm better than that. You can find those details anywhere.


What you can't get anywhere, is Tom Hardy in a cardigan.

Is that a gun in your pocket or are you just happy to see me? Oh, just a gun? Right...

The styling in this movie was quite unusual, and I found myself obsessing over it while enjoying the tale of three gritty moonshiners. You aren't supposed to judge a book by its cover, but the image of a character can be as important as the words they're saying.

For starters, Guy Pearce as the bad guy. Bad guys are usually big, and tough and...

...dressed like a complete dandy while sipping tea on the deck.

The odd thing is, Pearce's OCD, snappily dressed law enforcer character was menacing. Anyone with the steady hand to shave themselves a part like that clearly has mental health issues. Although he wasn't as big as the three brothers, or dressed in gritty attire with a three-day growth and spitting tobacco like the rest of the town he was so creepy you just know you wouldn't want to run into him in a dark alley, or even a well-lit supermarket aisle surrounded by people. Whipping out that hanky to wipe his brow wouldn't seem like a terribly masculine habit, but the disgust that any kind of dirtiness evoked in him rang warning bells that this was a man that could not be trusted. An interesting idea about image and how the character beneath it is more than their looks.

Shia LeBeouf I have never taken seriously.

A-list actor or poor college student?



  But check out the hair in Lawless:




Excuse me ma'am, have you got any strong hold hair spray I can borrow?

That is one slick haircut. Greased back all  nice and smooth like. But does it look familiar?

Hey Shia!

Erghh. I'm so not talking to Miley since she copied my 'do.

Aside from cardigans and undercuts (the current hipster uniform of choice) there is an awful lot of violence. And while I was mildly disgusted, I found myself thinking that it wasn't as violent as it could have been. Being a Gen Y, movies have maybe robbed violence of its ability to frighten me, having been exposed to it so regularly. But violence played a part in this film. It was part of the business back then, as it still is now amongst organised crime (or so The Wire and The Sopranos tell me) so it was never gratuitous, even if it was confronting.

In summary, I really liked Lawless. Beautiful scenery, Tom Hardy, awesome score (provided by the always brilliant Cave and his partner in crime Warren Ellis) and dirty story about crime in historical America.

However, I think what I like about the film was how it looked and sounded. The story was a little predictable and the ending maybe a little too cliched. But it was a well acted exercise, especially with Hardy as ringleader Forrest and Pearce as the truly revolting law enforcer. I wasn't sure about LeBeouf going into the cinema, and coming out I think I was only slightly more convinced. I expected more from Lawless, but in comparison to the previews for the new Judge Dredd movie which made me laugh out loud, it's a solid piece of cinema that will take you back into a much-romanticised era in American history.

spiel featured on tumblr!

It's been a while between posts I'm afraid!

Blogging is a tough gig sometimes! (First world problems, hey?)

Friends of mine were lovely enough to feature me on their tumblr over the weekend.

Rachel and Jaimi-lee are Byron Bay dwellers and know style. They have started a tumblr to share with you all what inspires them to continue to evolve their own style and perhaps give the rest of us some ideas.

Amazing pics and style profiles feature regularly, and with both the girls coming from completely different angles with their personal style, they certainly share a love of fashion and the desire to forge their own style path to be true to themselves.

Check them out at http://rjstyleroom.tumblr.com/ and be sure to keep checking back!

Spiel x

Abbott + women = disaster?

You'd think one of the biggest news stories in Australia right now might be the High Court's decision that to hold a Tamil man in detention because he was assessed a security threat to Australia, but also a genuine refugee at the same time.

But no.

On Friday, this woman sparked a media storm when she came out in defence of her allegedly ''misogynistic'' husband.

This woman. 

Don't know who she is? Don't feel bad. I don't think anyone knew until yesterday when she was splashed all over the front pages of News Limited dailies.

She is Margie Abbott, wife of federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott. And she's a woman on a mission.

Yesterday Margie attended a lunch, where she sang her kind, loving husband's praises. She had also appeared on the Today Show with Tony where she stressed what a gentle man he was because he loved to watch Downton Abbey more than football.

WHAT?

This is news?

One TV news story said Tony Abbott was regularly portrayed as an 'áction man,' over footage of him shooting a gun and stepping out of the ocean in his budgies.

This guy.

WHAT?

Since when did shooting a gun for a media opportunity and swimming in the ocean make a man an alpha male? You didn't need to convince me that he loves Downton Abbey in order to believe he has a softer side.

Politically, all I see is soft!

When I hear from Tony Abbott, I tune out. All I hear is "Blah blah Julia, negativity, false promises, blah blah, negativity, rhetoric, blah blah'.

I don't believe Tony Abbott is in danger of losing the female voters through his perceived chauvinistic attitude. (For the record, he has publicly spoken against abortion and tried to use his power to veto the abortion drug RU-486's importation into Australia.)

I think his biggest problem is failing to appeal to anyone!

But Margie Abbott was wheeled out to play the spouse card (perhaps inspired by Ann Romney over in the US) in a move as discreet as a sledgehammer.

I agree with Nicola Roxon (famous T-Abb hater) when she told ABC's Insiders that Tony Abbott wasn't in the running for husband or father of the year, he was in the running to govern this nation.

And no amount of flowery speech, from probably the only woman who would have a good opinion of him if all other women detested him, will convince me of his ability.

He could be the nicest, most genuine, caring bloke on earth. This doesn't mean he is equal to the task of leading Australia.

I can rattle off all 50 American states in alphabetical order and once I helped an elderly woman reach for a packet of Weet-Bix.

Maybe I should do it.

Spiel x

PS. This post is dedicated to my friend Toby, who encouraged me to be less of a 'fence-sitter'. Hope you're happy!

Spiel says listen to... #1

Evening, ladies and gents.

Having already tackled meaty political issues and my first film review, it's time to indulge the aural senses.

At the moment it's hard for me to nail down exactly what genres are sending my endorphin levels through the roof, so I'm getting into a variety of styles that you might enjoy.

Non-negotiables are The Rubens with their debut self-titled record. MIND BLOWN. If they didn't win you over last year with the soulful 'Lay It Down' or masochistic-themed 'My Gun' then it's time you headed on over to the iTunes store, or ANY OTHER MEANS via which you download music (it's not for Spiel to judge, although remember these guys ARE Australian!).

Same deal with Two Door Cinema Club's sophomore album Beacon. They first came to my attention with the energetic 'I Can Talk' in 2010, and their follow up is a (very-cliched, I know) polished, slick and heartfelt collection of songs. Check out 'Next Year' or 'Sleep Alone'.

Take some time to check out any, or all of these great local acts.

And if you're not familiar with Johnny Cash: you're about to be!

God's Gonna Cut You Down has his signature driving urgency but the music video with all those famous faces is what really brings it home... enjoy!

Spiel x

Film Review: Ruby Sparks

There have been times where all of us wish things were different about our partner. Maybe we hope they dressed a little snazzier, paid more attention to us or unloaded the dishwasher more regularly. Sometimes we even wish for a partner when they are currently non-existent.

If you're like Calvin Weir-Fields, a neurotic writer who despises the notion of genius, in the new film Ruby Sparks, why not just write your dream girl into your life?

'Did you know your name is Ruby, AND you have red hair? Crazy!'

Terminally single Calvin (beautifully portrayed by Paul Dano) can't write a single word. His first book was a critical success but it's been ten years since then and his publishers are anxious for more.

When he dreams of a beautiful girl Ruby, he writes about her at the urging of his therapist. Ruby (real-life girlfriend of Dano, as well as writer of the screenplay, Zoe Kazan) becomes more than his muse when she shows up in his house.

Shocked at her sudden tangible arrival into his life, Calvin and his family, as well as Ruby who is at the mercy of Calvin's words adjust to life with the mysterious redhead.

Without giving the rest of the movie away, you can be sure that it is a challenging take on the idea of manipulating our partners to suit ourselves, as well as the notion that perception is real.

One heartbreaking scene shows us why control over our other-half is never an advisable, or worthy pursuit- it won't make you happy.

Dano and Kazan are electric together on screen, as you might expect from a real-life couple, and are well supported by Annette Bening and Antonio Banderas, as well as an energetically awkward cameo from Alia Shawkat as Calvin's groupie.

I enjoyed Ruby, but I found myself waiting for a twist that never came and the ending felt a little flat for a script that fearlessly delved into the sometimes difficult sharing of oneself with your partner. However, this is an impressive writing debut for Zoe Kazan who could be quite the double-threat in the future.

If you're looking for a more challenging offering during the school holidays then I definitely recommend Ruby Sparks, and I expect that we will see a lot more of the talented Zoe Kazan and Paul Dano.

Too PC? Or not too PC?

You'd be hard pressed to have not heard master of controversy Alan Jones' latest mishap.

If nothing else, the whole business has provided the photo of the week.

But just in case you live under a rock, or drank too hard this weekend, I can fill you in. Shock jock Jones made a crack about Julia Gillard at a Liberal-affiliated 'do. In short, Jonesy made a comment that Gillard's recently deceased Dad must have passed away from the shame of having such a daughter.

Yes, it's a rude comment. No, he probably shouldn't have said it at an official function.

Is it funny? I'll leave that to you.

And now his 2GB radio show's advertisers are pulling the plug, including Woolworths and Freedom.

Liberal frontbenchers at the event seem to have suffered collective amnesia and/or deafness: none of them can recall hearing the comments. How odd.

Unfortunately for Jones, they were recorded. So there's no denying it happened. And it should be noted, people were recorded laughing too. So someone found it funny.

So now we ask ourselves the question, amid universal condemnation of both his original comments, and criticism surrounding his 'inadequate' apology, how far is too far?

Have we all not made similar questionable comments amongst friends? Obviously there are few of us who have a captive audience in front of which we can insult public figures.

But are we too precious these days? We leap on people for making mistakes. Then we jump on them again when they apologise: it's always too little too late.

I don't like what he said either. But I know in my heart I have said similar things to friends, that I shouldn't have, for a laugh.

Do we really need to fall over ourselves to tweet our disgust and blog our hatred?

Are we taking everything too seriously?

I doubt Julia Gillard is crying herself to sleep over his comments. She probably has the sense to write them off as a crappy attempt at humour.

I don't want to give the impression I think we should go at each other in a no-rules fashion.

It's just in this era of 24/7 news and media saturation, how much is too much?

Food for thought.

Here's a different perspective from writer Anne Summers with a feminist slant.

Spiel x

Happy Birthday to Papa Spiel! Much love to you xxx