> Apron Strings
Director: Sima Urale
Starring: Laila Rouass, Scott Wills, Jennifer Ludlam, Nathan Whitaker, Leela Patel, Jodie Rimmer
Rating: M
4 stars (out of 5)
Review by Mark Orton
For her debut feature-length drama, Samoan-born Sima Urale introduces us to two quite diverse Kiwi families in Apron Strings (Dunedin International Film Festival).
Contemporary urban dynamics are critiqued via Pakeha and Sikh identity, a positive sign that we can breathe life into celluloid, free from jokes fuelled on cultural cringe.
Apron Strings takes emotive and complex notions of identity, and distills them into a lyrical tale centred on food.
As families struggle to cope with challenges to their stubborn ideology, Urale ratchets up the tension to an uncomfortable place, before hitting a release valve to expel vital vignettes of human empathy.
Beautifully shot, with fantastic set direction, Apron Strings renders a portrait of South Auckland seldom seen in local productions.
It's also kind of refreshing to see a New Zealand film that doesn't look like a Shortland Street after-party.
Best thing: Characterisation and performance of white middle-class family.
Worst thing: Staged television studio set-ups for cooking show sequence.
See it with: Some onion bhajis and a chicken korma.
> Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Director: Nicholas Stoller
Starring: Jason Segel, Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Russell Brand, Bill Hader, Liz Cackowski, Paul Rudd, Jack McBrayer, Jonah Hill
Rating: (R16)
4 stars (out of 5)
There is something disturbing about how other people's pain can be so hilarious.
As much as it messes with my self-image, I can not deny that the more Peter (Jason Segel), the lead character in Forgetting Sarah Marshall (Rialto and Hoyts), wallowed in his emotional bereavement, the more heartily I laughed.
Television composer Peter has been dating hot actress Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell) for five and a-half years and he thinks things are going well. Then one day Sarah pops around to deliver the killer line: "As you know, I love you very much".
Peter may be emotionally clueless but he immediately realises she is dumping him.
In a vain effort to stop the inevitable he refuses to get dressed, forcing her to give the bad news to a sobbing naked man.
If that tickles your funny bone, Forgetting Sarah Marshall is the romantic comedy for you. In an effort to get over it, Peter takes a holiday in Hawaii and bumps into Sarah and her new boyfriend Aldous Snow (Russell Brand), a smug British rock star.
Things are looking dire for Peter except that the girl behind reception, Rachel (Mila Kunis), is cool and seems to like him.
Best thing: Brand's smarmy rock star, who gets all of the best lines and a ridiculous message song We've Got To Do Something.
Worse thing: Loses steam and reverts to the standard romantic comedy format.
See it with: Your ID. That R16 is not just for show.
