Blog Archives

Headshot (2012)

(from , dir: )
Posted on June 3, 2012 by Elizabeth Kerr
Headshot

Headshot screens at the Sydney Film Festival on June 13 & 14. Check the festival schedule for times.

Pen-ek Ratanaruang has always been a bit of a philosopher. When he burst onto the scene with the high octane comedy of errors crime caper 6ixtynin9 it looked like he was setting himself up to be the next Tarantino/Rodriguez/Park-type urban thriller auteur. That didn’t happen. Last Life in the Universe and Invisible Waves and Nymph happened, and it looked like he was … (read more)

Comments Off on Headshot (2012)

Invisible Waves (2005)

(from , dir: )
Posted on December 16, 2007 by James

The second collaboration between Pen-ek Ratanaruang, cinematographer Chris Doyle, script writer Prabda Yoon and actor Tadanobu Asano after Last Life in the Universe is in my opinion an even better work, regardless of its technical faults, jarring changes in plot direction and stilted performances.

Simply as an extremely raw mood piece with astonishingly drawn out sequences devoid of elaborate fantasy, Invisible Waves was for me thoroughly captivating. When I think of it now, some months after viewing it for the … (read more)

Comments Off on Invisible Waves (2005)

Last Life in the Universe (2003)

(from , dir: )
Posted on March 4, 2007 by Alison

Last Life In The Universe has so many things going for it. For starters, it’s directed by Pen-ek Ratanaruang, who made the glorious Monrak Transistor. Although this film had a very different feel, simplicity in place of energy, it’s still made by a talented director who’s capable of making it work well.

Then there’s the cinematographer: it’s hard to find better than Chris Doyle. I imagine that people must be queueing up to use the services of this rather … (read more)

Comments Off on Last Life in the Universe (2003)

6IXTYNIN9 (1999)

(from , dir: )
Posted on November 25, 2005 by Jason

Certainly an interesting film to come from Thailand’s leading director Pen-ek Ratanaruang, however in saying that, a film like this is not uncommon for him. In fact, 6ixtynin9’s story is a precursor of things to come later in Pen-ek’s career, particular in terms of genre and story.

6ixtynin9 makes amusing use of genre; this film seems to sit somewhere between a dark comedy, a drama and a gangster flick. With influences coming from each genre, I find it praiseworthy … (read more)

Comments Off on 6IXTYNIN9 (1999)

Mon-Rak Transistor (2000)

(from , dir: )
Posted on October 29, 2005 by Alison

Where on earth can I start with this film? I could start with the beginning of the movie: I’ve seen a lot of common narrative devices used to introduce us to the characters, but I’ve never seen one like this. Perhaps I should explain…

The film begins inside what seems to be a police station cell area. The out-of-focus camera shows only blurred figures, as one of the police takes a call on his phone. It seems he and his … (read more)

Comments Off on Mon-Rak Transistor (2000)