Dr. Easy

Dr. Easy is a short film developed and financed by Film4 and produced by Ally Gipps for Warp Films. It was directed and written by Jason Groves, Chris Harding and Richard Kenworthy of Shynola. It stars Michael (Tom Hollander) alongside a robot with a medical degree, voiced by Geraldine James. A broken man in possession of a gun and unable to speak due to a severe wound to his mouth, Michael is surrounded by armed police. Can the robot save him? 

Film4 states that the short is based on Matthew De Abaitua's novel The Red Men, 'set against a pervasive and Orwellian vision of contemporary society: surveillance, automation, biotechnology, and their implications for our humanity'. Plans are in motion to create a longer feature of the novel: TheRedMenMovie.  

Dr. Easy gives little indication as to the circumstances leading to Michael's predicament, however it becomes clear that this is not the main subject of the film. To prove this, the robot seems disinterested of the causes, eager only to make sure that Michael receives appropriate medical attention for his injuries. More C3PO than R2-S2, the visually unisex robot has a soothing feminine voice, that is used to persistently reassure Michael while simultaneously profiling him for the police operatives. 

I won't give away the whole plot in case you were interested in having a look at the film, but it does leave you wondering about the suggestive name 'Easy'. It may be leading us to contemplate whether robot interception can be considered an efficient and 'easy' mode of dealing with threatening situations, or whether it is an inhumane method that is limited in physical and emotional capacities. Similarly, are humans able to empathise and respond to robots or would we merely dismiss them as processing data into false compassion? Ignoring costs and possible technological boundaries, could robot doctors truly be viable in a modern day society, potentially saving the lives of members of the armed forces? Personally, it appeared to me that Dr. Easy is genuinely concerned for Michael's well-being. While it may be programmed to follow a specific script or orders, the autonomous actions and speech of the robot indicate a personality. In addition it is really interesting that Michael himself is unable to verbally communicate, rendering him into a mechanical objects of sorts. He resorts to using his human essence: blood, in order to convey his thoughts. 

Do post any comments you have regarding the film or topics if you have seen anything related. The short can be watched here, with the provocative site title: 

www.created-to-help-you.com

I was also curious about the robot itself, speculating at first whether the production company had actually made use of a real-life physical robot. Not too much of a stretch considering all of the incredible developments in robot technology of late, particularly in Japan and Taiwan. Unfortunately this was not the case with the film, however the CGI work is still very impressive:

The Paperboy

Today I went to see The Paperboy. It wasn't my choice, but after hearing a couple of good reviews my company had decided that we should go see it, having fancied a change from the traditional churn of Hollywood blockbusters.

I was unaware of the film as I hadn't seen any adverts for it - and it seemed that most people hadn't either (or were choosing to ignore it), for the UK release date was only two weeks ago and already Empire cinema in Leicester square were placing us in their smallest screening room: a virtual attic with only 4 rows of seats. After watching the film, we weren't really surprised.

Shot in a cinéma vérité style, the plot of this film noir is as every bit grainy as the camera's picture quality. Based on a 1995 novel by American author Pete Dexter and directed by Lee Daniels, it stars Nicole Kidman as a 'blonde barbie doll', a deadly John Cusack, and Zac Efron and Matthew McConaughey as brothers, all living in a sweltering 1960s Florida. Despite the lack of publicity I'd seen, the film's cast alone should be bound to catch some attention I thought. However it may be the names alone that can hold on to said attention, at least for me, as the film is very slow-paced and it took patience in between the momentary Southern 'charms' and black humour to keep me sustained (not to mention I was unequipped with neither popcorn nor drink). 

Ward Jansen (McConaughey) and his uptight associate Yardley Acheman (David Oyelowo) are newspaper researchers investigating the case of Hillary van Wetter (Cusack), a prisoner on death row for the murder of a local asshole sheriff. From the start I'm not sure why exactly they're helping him, Wetter himself seems like an entirely disagreeable man perfectly capable of the murder, but I guess Acherman and Jansen are just trying to make a name for themselves in the printing press. Kidman plays Wetter's paramore Miss Charlotte Bless, a woman whose girlish manners do nothing to disguise her wild and unashamed sexuality. This is unleashed most fervently in the notable prison-visitation scene, a sort of humorous porno in which the camera boldly dives into Kidman's crotch as Bless aids Wetter and herself live up to his name, whilst neither the idle cast members nor the cinema audience know quite where to look.

I don't wish to give away too many annoying spoilers, so as a general summary the film overall just feels as though it takes place in an incessant pool of slow slime. The tedious and undesirable accumulation of full body sweat, everyday racism, rough sex, misogyny, urination, blood and guts, makes the filthy swamp itself appear as probably the purest aspect of the whole film's landscape. It simply makes you want to take a bath in all things clean, good and wholesome. 

Having dished the dirt though, I would say that Nicole Kidman does give a very sensual and skilled performance of her character which could be worth the watch. As does Macy Gray. The Paperboy also warmly invites its viewers to partake in the sexual objectification of the gorgeous Kidman and bulked-up Zac Efron (whose constant stripping to bare tighty-whites could be confused with a Calvin Klein ad). So there's a positive if you're into that kinda thing..

Kaboom!

Don't you love it when you stumble upon a film that you've never seen or perhaps even heard of before? Last night Film 4 decided to show this wacky number, and I have to say it's right up this Kat's alley. It's certainly a love it or loathe it kind of film, but have a look. Gregg Araki's Kaboom (2010) is abundant in 'WHAT THE F*CK' moments, but whether you appreciate those or not, you have to admire the highly stylized cinematography and gorgeous cast members - the likes of Thomas Dekker and Haley Bennett.

Warning: A sci-fi story revolving around a group of college students, so yes that means lots and lots of sex. Not one to watch with the rents nearby!

"Smith, college is just an intermission between high school and the rest of your life. Four years of having sex, making stupid mistakes, and experiencing stuff. It's a pit stop, not the second coming of the Messiah." - Stella