Total Recall (2012)

I started watching it with some apprehension as clearly the “original” version with Arnie has been one of my favourite films for a long long time.

Judging by the first 15 minutes of the film there were plenty of opportunities for comparison , and clearly I felt that Arnie and Sharon `s chemistry was way more pronounced that what Kate and Colin managed to achieve.

I managed to press on and I have to say it turned out to be rather good. Once I compartmentalised the two films and filed them into two entirely different categories , I was able to get into the rhythm of Total Recall.

Of course neither films are true to the Philip K. Dicks idea of a short story revolving around a man wanting the memories of a secret agent implanted into his brain who is secretly already a secret agent and already have saved the world of tiny mouse-sized aliens at the age 9.

Yeah, but don`t let that stop you from enjoying either adapted version as you please.

Just remember it is unlikely that they will be building “The Fall” anytime soon , due to some serious drilling issues and Australians should be safe from becoming colonised again.

 

The Voices

Ryan Reynolds plays a a rather cute, but lost schizophrenic, with some strong borderline tendencies, whilst attempting to date.

The lack of medication allows him to experience his illness in its full glory. Very cleverly written, it allows you to see into the private world of a mentally ill person, who is trying to function and fit into society.

Amazing amount of emotions will be stirred up in you , while watching the subject of his creepy crush accidentally die, and then omg, the bodies start rolling in.

Fun with an open mind.

The Whistleblower (2010)

Set around 1999 , after the Bosnian war. An american female police officer who lost custody of her daughter , takes a 6-months contract to be a United Nations peacekeeper in Europe.

While they try to reinstate some kind of a functioning state , she uncovers a massive sex trafficking gang operating within the war zone and starts to investigate.

Amazing film  about racism, sexism, war, mentality, and human behaviour featuring Rachel Weisz, as Kathryn Bolkovac.

Winner as the Seattle and Whistler International Film Festivals , this film is based on a true story and attempts to highlight issues with sex trafficking, integrity of organisations and how far they are willing to go to brush things under the carpet to preserve reputation.

Human trafficking is a 32 billion dollar industry per year worldwide ;27 million live in modern day slavery around the world as we speak , a million of these people are children , and 70 % of the total female population abused this way will end up (probably dead , if they are lucky) in the sex industry.

It is happening under our noses every day.

 

 

A girl like her

Excellent documentary-style film exploring high school bullying and its potential consequence : a teenage suicide.

Starts off a bit slow , but quickly explains the particular filming style. The acting is realistic, and the message is nothing short of a break-through : most bullies are  being bullied themselves and hurt, or possibly learnt it as a way of expressing frustration.

This could be a really good awareness film , and I would circulate it in schools.