Lot 47 Danielle Cormack struggles to
stay afloat in a pool of milk in "The Price of Milk."
“The Price of Milk” Starring Danielle
Cormack and Karl Urban Directed by Harry Sinclair
Traditional fairy tales often conjure up images of glass
slippers, poisoned apples and enchanted kingdoms. The tales are
expected to begin with a “once upon a time” and end
with a “and they lived happily ever after.” In
“The Price of Milk,” the traditional elements that
bring two lovers together to live in eternal bliss are given a
modern yet original edge by writer-director Harry Sinclair.
Forgoing the enchanted kingdom, Sinclair sets his film in the
green, rolling pastures of a New Zealand dairy farm. Amid 117 cows,
an agoraphobic dog and a little house nestled in the valley,
Lucinda (Danielle Cormack) and Rob (Karl Urban) live a storybook
romance. However, once Lucinda believes that the first blush of
love is beginning to fade, she desperately tries to rekindle the
passion that has been missing from their relationship. The result
is an ever-increasing web of deceit and a string of bizarre games
that she uses not only to test her lover, but also to revive what
she perceives to be a relationship nearing its last breath. The
story is further complicated with the strange disappearance of a
quilt, an entire herd of cattle and a suitcase full of baby shoes.
Additionally, an enigmatic old Maori woman, who can never seem to
get warm, controls the fate of those around her and embodies a role
that is, at once, a diluted form of witch and fairy godmother.
Cemented with strong acting by Cormack and Urban, as well as a
startling array of colorful images, the film immediately grabs the
audience as they follow the couple’s trials and the
recoveries of the things they had been missing. A strong supporting
cast including Rangi Motu (Auntie) and Willa O’Neill
(Drosophilia) reinforces the film with unique interpretations of
carefully wrought and complicated characters. The film is a fairy
tale depicting love as a flower that dramatically begins to wilt.
Only with careful action will the flower revive. Despite the
film’s engaging originality, however, the audience is beset
with the difficulty of keeping in mind that the film itself is not
a story intending to moralize. Viewers must take the fairy tale for
what it is worth ““ a tale of two lovers and their struggle
for a “happily ever after” ending. Along with the love
story, Sinclair also reveals snippets of a commentary on
individuality in a social setting, best exemplified when Rob forces
his agoraphobic dog to face his fear and remarks that looking out
at the world, and being an individual in society “isn’t
so bad after all.” Upon watching the film, moviegoers may
leave slightly exhausted and puzzled following the roller-coaster
love story and the bizarre nature of the ensuing events. Viewers,
however, may also come away with the sense that all that is lost
may still be regained and that “happily ever after”
endings are still best.
Kristen Lara Rating: 5
“Pollock” Starring Ed Harris and Marcia Gay
Harden Directed by Ed Harris
Greenwich Village wasn’t built in a day. Nevertheless, Ed
Harris brings to life the eccentric flare of the New York art
community and its members in his new film “Pollock.”
The movie chronicles the rise of abstract painter Jackson Pollock
in the1940s up until his fatal car crash. In addition to directing
the film, Harris takes on the title role of the painter who would
ultimately change the path of modern art. “I’m just
painting,” Pollock says in the film. Harris has an organic
connection with his character that becomes evident when he takes
hold of the paintbrush. Scenes of Pollock in front of large blank
canvasses radiate with a kinetic energy as he vividly applies the
paint to his masterpiece. The film also paints a darker portrait of
the artist, as the animated painter begins a downward spiral as a
self-destructive alcoholic. At the heart of the movie is a bitingly
honest portrayal of Pollock’s tragic relationship with wife
Lee Krasner (Marcia Gay Harden). At times, the harsh scenes of
domestic turmoil are too brutal to watch. Harden’s
multi-faceted portrayal of Krasner reveals the duality of her
ill-fated marriage. While often hideous, her relationship with
Pollock in the movie is painfully selfless and sincere. Amy Madigan
is a spirited addition to the cast, with her rousing portrayal of
heiress and art patron Peggy Guggenheim. While revealing the man
behind the radical artwork, the movie also gives insight into an
intriguing period in American history. In addition to the cast of
legendary artists represented in the film, the movie pays careful
attention to historical detail. Replications of the period’s
art and costumes are essential to setting the film’s
historical backdrop. The film integrates the sights and sounds of
Pollock’s surrounding environment, from the wild jazz music
of the era to an especially eccentric dress with a bright lobster
worn by Guggenheim. Overall, the film brings the life and times of
Jackson Pollock to moviegoers with honest characters and an
authentic recreation of their community.
Emilia Hwang Rating: 8