6/27/2013

Confine: Interview with Director Tobias Tobbell

Tobias Tobbell

The Squeerelist - Your heroine and her nemesis compile quite a few textbook disorders from agoraphobia to psychopathy or hoarding… What inspired you to display such conditions?
Tobias Tobbell -  The disorders explored in the film evolved for different reasons. The agoraphobia developed out of the nature of the story itself. As I worked on the character’s history – being a naturally introverted person forced to go on show around the world as a model – it seemed Pippa would be almost keen to say goodbye to the world the moment she had the chance (driven further by her scarring after a career based on looks). I’ve been curious about obsessive-complusive behavior since studying pyschology, and it felt like a natural progression to have a person as anxious as Pippa to focus this into something specific, her need for order in her tiny world. The sociopathic element, Kayleigh, I suppose is a little more typical of screwed up ‘bad guys’ in film – though I was also finding ways to connect the two characters so that fell into place fairly easily. 

How much of yourself can we find in your characters and/or stories?
That depends on the story, but I certainly and consciously try to move away from anything to do with me or my life. I write escapism stories for the most part. However, I’d probably describe myself as fairly shy (particularly when I started the Confine script nearly 10 years ago), though this is a long way from agoraphobia I can empathise pretty easily.

Movies shamefully lack women in the lead even though the trend tends to evolve. Your movie, Confine,  features 2 female main characters. You wrote the screenplay over 8 years. Did you have women in mind from the start or was it a later revelation?
The two main characters were both female from the very beginning, although I wasn’t as conscious of how unusual it was to write with 2 female leads at the time. The plays I wrote before tended to feature an equal balance of sexes. I think I’m a little better at writing female characters so that’s how it started off with the film scripts. It’s certainly not an exclusive thing, but there’s such a wealth of incredible actresses out there and they’re just not being given as many meaty leading roles as actors are. Added to that the strange misrepresentation of female vs male leads and I’m now making more of a point of it (if it seems appropriate for the story).

Your next project will also focus on strong female protagonists. Can you tell us more about it?
The next project, a sci-fi thriller called The Last Planet, has just six characters. Three girls and three guys. It’s another very isolated world but for very different reasons. It’s set mostly on a small research station on another planet. It essentially revolves around a heist but told from the point of view of the characters trying to prevent it. The setting is an icey environment, similar to The Thing, though we’re mostly inside the small, rig-like interior. I love submarine films like Crimson Tide, Das Boot, Red October, so I’ll be looking to create that close, tense atmosphere they’re great for.

Why do you care so much about strong leading women?
I come from a family with some very strong, motivated women. Plus, through school, university and my professional life I regularly encounter as many exciting, damaged, fascinating, inspiring and/or headstrong girls as I do guys. It seems crazy to me that films just don’t seem to represent woman in the world the same way I’ve experienced through-out my life. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of really interesting female characters in film, but take anyone’s top 50 films and I’d be surprised if even 10 of those feature female leads. Maybe I feel a bit embarrassed that my favourite medium still isn’t as open-minded as I’d like it to be and I’ve chosen this issue to focus on?

What kind of director are you: do you give your actors free rein to improvisation? Or are you more anal when it comes to what’s on the screenplay?
I’d like to say the former. The pragmatic side of my brain tells me there probably isn’t really the time for improvisation on set. Until I’m more confident in myself I’d worry that if we didn’t at least shoot everything in the script (before improvisations) we may run into problems in the edit. On the other hand dialogue is the weakest area of my writing, and given my background in theatre, I should try to allow more time for improvisation on set. I feel the same about the cinematography. I’m the kind of director to go in fully storyboarded. But as I grow in experience and confidence I’d like to experiment more on set.

Eben Bolter (Director of Photography) and you did an impressive job with Confine’s cinematography. You said beauty was a must in the making of your movie.  From your perspective, what’s the share of content (a good plot) and form (good cinematography) that makes a good movie?
Bottom line it has to be the story that comes first. I’m very driven by production design and cinematography, but if I find that I’m having to chose to focus on performances/story or the visuals, in the end it’ll have to be the story that take precedent. I just hope we’re working on a script so strong it kind of takes care of itself. Theoretically the script is complete long before I start working on production so they shouldn’t have to clash too much.

Would you like to share any valuable tips or advice with aspiring filmmakers?
I’m learning so much everyday (in the lead up to the release of Confine) I kind of have loads of tips I’d love to share. Here’re a few : experiment on zero budget shorts (find a camera, edit yourself) – learn your craft before taking other people’s money to make your films. When you’re ready, make sure the script is really bloody good, find as many industry professionals to feedback and take it on, try not to be defensive about it too (I still get defensive, but usually wake up the next morning taking the feedback more seriously). Finally, and this is a really big one if you’re making a feature film, think about your audience and think about how you’re going to reach them – both on a story level, and on a marketing level. There are hundreds of films made every year and there’s no guarantee yours will be picked up. If you pitch your film to a distributor along with behind the scenes videos, smart virals shot on set, pre-recorded cast interviews or ‘shout-outs’ for all sorts of TV channels etc, clever marketing ploys that don’t cost anything extra, and you show that you understand your target audience, you’ll really stand a much better chance of getting your film out there.


Find out more about Confine at http://www.confinemovie.com/

Confine (2013)



Too Scared To Stay, Too Scarred To Leave




In theaters, on DVD and On Demand from July 1st, 2013


While watching Confine, I couldn't help but think of three movies: La Piel Que Habito (The Skin I Live In) by Almodóvar, Death and the Maiden by Polanski, and Funny Games by Haneke. The result is something totally different from those films, but Confine has a certain flair that reminded me of a sort of combination of the three. Take Almodóvar's scarred heroine, put her in a closed Polanski universe and bring in Haneke's mental cases and you might have an idea of what Confine is about. Pippa is a former model who has suffered from agoraphobia since she was disfigured in a car crash. As a result, she hasn't left her apartment in 4 years. Kayleigh breaks in to find a temporary hideout. Pippa is soon taken hostage by the charismatic and manipulative thief. Tobias Tobbell, the director, traps us behind closed doors for a one-nighter. But not the kind that precedes your walk of shame. No, the kind that keeps you hanging on for more. More independent movies. More original plots. And last but not least: more female leads. Confine pleasantly stages 2 female characters taking control of the story. Those characters cover quite a few textbook disorders: psychopathy, hoarding, you name it... The movie also deals with the mental consequences of beauty loss. The plot was clever enough to surprise me at times and this isn't an easy task. With the help of a little dose of Stockholm syndrome, Pippa and Kayleigh develop a complex relationship overnight. The cinematography is impressive for a micro-budget movie. Confine is very luminous which makes it slightly less claustrophobic than what you might expect. The controlled blurredness of some shots is exquisitely artistic. The cast features Alfie Allen in a supporting role and relative newcomers in the lead. Eliza Bennett's interpretation of the megalomaniac thief is quite a success. Daisy Lowe scores a nice first role for a career start although she still has to perfect the art of acting. If anyone could be a Meryl Streep from the get-go, there would probably be a method published by now. So don't give up! In fact I'd like to see what the whole crew has to offer on their next projects. I sure hope they'll keep on making independent films.

1 reason to watch: celebrate girl power and indie filmmaking!





Find out more about Confine at http://www.confinemovie.com/



6/25/2013

Life Or Something Like It (2002)



Define Flop




Life Or Something Like It looks like a B movie, doesn't it? Lanie Kerrigan is a successful TV reporter who leads a life she defines as perfect: good job, famous baseball player as a fiancé, great body... When she interviews a street prophet (Tony Shaloub) who tells her she is going to die in a week, she starts wondering if her happiness is just an illusion. Even though the movie features a respectable cast with Angelina Jolie in the lead, the characters are somewhat dull. The plot is pretty basic and leads to a predictable but good moral. Jolie scores the worst haircut of her acting career and her performance is slightly out of tune. I guess you can't always be on top of your game. This movie is probably not the grand following Jolie was expecting hardly 3 years after winning the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for Girl, Interrupted. Despite those bad moves, the 40-million-dollar budget paid for a decent editing and nice cinematography. The sense of humor is all right and the rock-flirting-with-punk soundtrack makes the picture a bit spicier. I can still enjoy this film even if it's not a must-see. 

1 reason to watch it: the editing and cinematography are surprisingly nice
1 reason NOT to watch it: the worst haircut of Jolie's acting career


(I cannot find a decent trailer but you can find it on the imdb page)

6/24/2013

Hollywoo (2011)


Foresti Goes to Hollywoo



Jennifer Marshall is Hollywood's It Girl starring in the over-publicized TV show L.A. Couples. Jeanne is her French dubbing artist whose career depends on Marshall's fame. When Jennifer decides to retire after her co-star and boyfriend cheats on her, Jeanne feels like her own career is over. She flies to LA to meet Jennifer and try to make her reconsider... It's a funny and fresh movie displaying the views of the French on Hollywood and its excessive way of life. The main actors are very popular French comedians (Florence Foresti & Jamel Debbouze) and I think you'll find this movie funny if you already know Foresti's work. It may not be a good movie for someone who is not into contemporary French culture. The cast is very eclectic and you'll find American, French, Canadian actors and more. Hollywoo may not end up in my Top 10 Comedies but I spent an enjoyable moment watching it. You should definitely give it a try and share your opinion with me!


1 reason to watch: if you have any interest in French comedians




6/19/2013

Brokeback Mountain (2005)


Summer of '63




It was the summer of '63, Wyoming. Jack Twist and Ennis Del Mar are hired to herd sheep on Brokeback Mountain. They get to know each other in the middle of nowhere and their friendship soon blossoms into feelings they cannot deny. When they part ways due to the ending season, what seemed to be a summer fling actually turns out to be a lifelong passionate love story. Brokeback Mountain tells Ennis and Jack's secret relationship over almost 2 decades. This masterpiece is a love manifesto avoiding clichés. Its focus is the struggle to live with yourself when society doesn't accept who you are and dictates who you should or shouldn't love. The fight against self-hatred and prejudice are also central topics of the storyline. Ang Lee majestically directs one of the most beautiful love stories ever told on the silver screen. He succeeds where others have failed: he delivers a dynamic movie out of a plot that could have been slow. Lee certainly is an actor's director. The cast he's chosen to prove this point radiates with truth. The late Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal in the leading roles praise tolerance with their magnificent interpretation. You can also enjoy the performance of a plethora of good supporting actors: Michelle Williams, Kate Mara, Anne Hathaway, Anna Faris... The fabulous country original score is soothing and echoes in the splendid hills of Wyoming. The sound of the resonator guitar transports you to those quiet great outdoors. I can only hope the blatant moral of this picture will stick to your shoes forever. Brokeback Mountain highlights the cruelty of mankind towards difference. There is a paradoxical challenge enlightened by this tale: whether you embrace or hide who you are, you will have to pay the price. Let's hope Brokeback Mountain, a figurative mountain of New Queer Cinema, helps people not to ever have to pay the price again.

1 reason to watch: BM will be a wakening whether or not it's about your own situation. You are concerned. We all are.




6/18/2013

The Big Lebowski (1998)


The Dude Abides



Jeff 'The Dude' Lebowski  is a professional slacker and amateur bowler who spends his days drinking White Russians dressed in a robe and plastic sandals. Two thugs break into his apartment and beat him up to get his money. They soon realize they got the wrong Jeffrey Lebowski. His Dudeness then decides to meet this millionaire Lebowski to get compensation for his damaged rug that was peed on during the incident. After the Big Lebowski's trophy wife is kidnapped, The Dude is in charge of delivering the ransom to get her back. The Big Lebowski marks a high point in The Coen brothers' career. They created an icon of the 90s with The Dude. He became a god-like figure for many. A guy adored by a generation thanks to his unique philosophy and style. I don't think The Dude could have been interpreted by a better actor than Jeff Bridges. He rocks the laidback attitude with a disconcerting comfort. Not to mention that his hair is so sleek, I'm hypnotized by it. The Bridges/Goodman/Buscemi trio is hilarious and the additional characters portrayed by talented actors like Julianne Moore, or Philip Seymour Hoffman are the cherries on top of this psychedelic cake. The Big Lebowski is one quotable masterpiece punctuated with bizarre dreamy scenes specific to the Coen bros. I don't know what they are on when they write their screenplays but I sure want some. The soundtrack, featuring Bob Dylan and other rock gems, partners with the weird screenplay to make you feel high as a kite. The plot suddenly becomes secondary and my main pleasure is to watch Jeff Bridges evolve in The Dude's colorful pants side by side with the wrathful veteran mastered by John Goodman. The characters and situations crack me up because they're all so incredible. The story is narrated by a cowboy, the villains are German nihilists, and John Turturro, who appears only for a few seconds on screen, is a bowler/sex-offender named Jesus. If that isn't random brilliance, I don't know what is.

1 reason to watch: indulge in enjoying TBL dude-style with a guilt-free White Russian (or 9)




6/16/2013

Another Day In Paradise (1998)


Sex, Drugs & Rythm N' Blues



This Larry Clark drama plunges you into the miserable life of junkie Bobbie. After a minor vending-machine robbery gone bad, Bobbie gets fixed up by the infamous thief Mel. The latter decides to hire the kid to nail one last deal that should set them up for life. Mel and his girlfriend Sid become the mentors of Bobbie and his girlfriend Rosie. Neither the characters nor the audience escape unhurt from this funky adventure. Another Day In Paradise is an ironic title for a movie fueled with violence, abuse, and misery. The frantic angles and camera movements used by Clark perfectly depict this atmosphere. The somewhat cheerful R'n'B soundtrack sweetens the painful road trip of our 'heroes' and contrasts with the pitiful path they've chosen. I follow those basket cases taking desperate measures with a certain sorrow but never do I root for them as they've burried themselves in this mess of a situation. This film is an efficient tale on how drugs can make you reach a point of no return and how everything from there is a downhill race to a filthy abyss. Another Day in Paradise seems so real, it makes me feel uneasy and almost sick. I would not recommend it if you don't feel alright because it will mess you up. Vincent Kartheiser in the lead role faultlessly pierces the screen with such a seedy and sore character. The sordid sexuality of our teenagers is only matched by the destructive relationship between James Woods (Mel) and Melanie Griffith (Sid). Woods as the manifest unstable and alcoholic crime king delivers an irreproachable interpretation. Another Day In Paradise is one of these movies that makes you feel glad your only drug consumption is your daily 3-cup-o'-joe intake and your occasional carbs overload.

1 reason to watch: it makes you feel good about yourself . It also makes you want to never do drugs. And never have sex again (this one might not be a valuable reason).



6/14/2013

Animal Kingdom (2010)


The Godmother



The captivating plot of Animal Kingdom follows the disintegration of an Australian crime family. Josh (James Frecheville) moves in with his grandma after his mother dies from a heroin overdose. He soon becomes trapped in a vicious spiral rooted in his family's business. The story is set in Melbourne and is inspired by the infamous Pettingill family. Cold-blooded murders, hypocrisy, drugs and more... This movie gives me everything I need to feed my sick curiosity. From the flawless cast, I'd like to specifically mention Jacki Weaver who is sublime and ferociously sweet as The Godmother. Weaver collected another Academy Award nomination for this role. James Frecheville, the introverted pawn of the story, is a true revelation. Proof is that he went on to act side by side with Robin Wright and Naomi Watts in Two Mothers. This is a sensational directorial debut for David Michôd. It usually takes a lot to surprise me but I didn't see the end coming. My heart literally jumped in my chest. I always appreciate a story like Animal Kingdom because it's what real life is about. The Codys are obviously not your typical family but the darkness, judgments and lies they deal with define the average family routine.

1 reason to watch: just watch it, mate!



6/13/2013

L'Arnacoeur (Heartbreaker - 2010)


Licence to Love



Alex, his sister and brother-in-law break up couples for a living. Their only rule is to operate only if the girl to save is unhappy whether she knows it or not. When Alex is hired to break up Juliette and Jonathan who apparently love each other, he has no choice but to accept in order to pay back his debt. He only has 10 days to break them up before their wedding. L'Arnacoeur is an entertaining movie. But it's a rom com so you obviously know from the start what will happen. There is no twist or surprise but I find it quite entertaining. It is not the plot of the decade but the cast meets my expectations. Hollywood blockbusters have nothing on this French production. It keeps its promise. I think it's a challenge to get an arthouse rom com if you also want to rock the box office. As an indie-enthusiast, I'd rather pick the underground love story nobody knows over the popular sparkly one. But L'Arnacoeur committed to selling tickets. It features 2 popular and glamorous French actors (Romain Duris & Vanessa Paradis), funny supporting roles, and displays over-the-top luxury: the perfect cocktail to attract crowds to the movies.

1 reason to watch: the Dirty Dancing trump that Alex whips out




6/12/2013

Wild Things (1998)


Wild Thing, You Make My Heart Sing



This thriller has been one of my favorite movies as long as I can remember. As a kid, this was my go-to flick on any given Sunday. I know this is not a film for children, but what can I say... I was already unusual. A high school guidance counselor (Matt Dillon) is accused of rape by 2 of his students (Denise Richards & Neve Campbell)... The twisted storyline is set in the dreamy Floridian surroundings. For those who haven't been to Florida, it makes you want to discover this bit of paradise. For those who have, it just really makes you miss it. The lascivious original score smells like the Everglades and releases an intriguing scent wherever it infiltrates. Wild Things takes you out on a yacht, or makes you visit the gators (this film seriously makes me think of a typical Florida tourism brochure). The end will blow you away for sure. The cast is eclectic and brilliant (Kevin Bacon is an incredible dirty cop and the 2 main female leads are gorgeous and dangerously manipulative). The sex scenes are audacious and necessary to the plot. The film mixes humor (you can't escape it with Bill Murray in the cast) and seriousness which makes it a perfect combo. Wild Things is a great thriller, a sexy 90s classic!

1 reason to watch: the scene with Denise washing Matt's car to Lauren Christy's song I Want What I Want


I think the trailer spoils the movie... My advice: skip it and watch the movie instead!

6/11/2013

Birdy (1984)


"Birds of the Same Feather Flock with Each Other"



I had great expectations for this Alan Parker movie that I have been meaning to watch for years. In my opinion, it is a classic that everybody should watch once but I also have mixed feelings about it. The plot is fairly simple. When 2 childhood friends come back from Vietnam among the casualties, one has lost it, the other is disfigured and will try to connect to his friend and bring him back from the crazies. In terms of harsh topics, Birdy is no testing ground for Parker. With this movie, the director deals with post-war mental and physical trauma as well as the struggle to fit in as a high schooler. On one hand, the combination of the Peter Gabriel-made soundtrack and the flying camera shots really convinced me. On the other, I thought it beats around the bush for quite a while. Nicolas Cage's monologues are a bit sketchy even though his overall performance is good. Matthew Modine makes a convincing quiet and deranged bird-lover. As I'm no war-movie enthusiast, I appreciate the fact that Birdy only shows a few war scenes. The plot is largely based on childhood flashbacks. Birdy is a good movie and I get satisfaction and personal pride to have watched it. 

1 reason to watch: very few war scenes




6/09/2013

Death Becomes Her (1992)


Fallen Living Deads




You can easily guess that a comedy from the 90s directed by Robert Zemeckis (the man behind Back to the Future and Who Framed Roger Rabbit? among others) and starring Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn, and Bruce Willis in a sick threesome is terrific! I approve the whole package from the old special effects to the amusing sarcasm. The plot deals with the merciless quest to eternal youth, the end of an actress' reign, plastic surgery tyranny and standradized beauty. In other words, current topics that never grow old. Despite its timeless theme, the storyline is very original. Long-time rivals (Streep and Hawn) have always tried to outdo each other until Madeline (Streep) finds out about an immortality treatment... I like how self-mockery steers the screenplay and how the two main actresses take great delight in underscoring the ridicule of their characters' obsession. No need to tell you that the cast is flawless. Hawn plays her obsessive part so well she scares the crap out of me. Streep rocks it all, as always. And even though she is my grandma's doppelganger (which makes it both awkward and fascinating to watch her movies), she makes me laugh until I choke. Death Becomes Her is one frantic comedy that can always cheer you up!

1 reason to watch: the special effects from the 90s (Streep's dislocated neck and Hawn's stomach hole, specifically)



6/07/2013

Wild Child (2008)


Cliché-Stuffed Useless Flick



Wild Child is a useless teen flick displaying cliché after cliché on California girls, Great Britain, and high school. The only reason you would watch it is if you have a thing for young girls in uniform. Otherwise, move along! I had no idea what it was about when I hit the play button. I knew Juno Temple was in the cast so I thought it was a token of quality. When I read 'Juno Temple', I automatically think 'indie, witty, instant classic'... Wild Child is one of the first movies she acted in, hence the bad role. But we all gotta start somewhere, right? I guess I should have found the poster first, I wouldn't have watched this. This movie is a typical teenage story where the shallow hero becomes selfless and her nemesis loses a blank battle. It's obviously aimed at pleasing the majority of teenagers but even as far as I can remember I've always hated those movies. If you want a good teen movie, you might as well try the classic Mean Girls (OK, both posters are similar but believe me, Mean Girls is a blast! And you can enjoy one of the last movies where Lindsay Lohan still looked like Lindsay Lohan). I find Wild Child boring. I expected everything on screen to happen. There is no surprise or twist in the plot. It's not terrible per se, it's just meaningless.

1 reason NOT to watch: Wild Child is a useless teen flick like you've seen 100 times.