Hard Candy

I realise I haven't posted in a while but you know, I haven't really had anything overly interesting to say since the visa fiasco. But on Wednesday I went to see Hard Candy and it would be remiss of me not to talk about what is easily the best film I have seen this year.

While the most uncomfortable cinematic viewing experience will always and forever be Spanking The Monkey, Hard Candy comes in a very close second. I knew the general gist of the film (teenager turns tables on suspected pedo), but I was not adequately prepared for just how intense, harsh and unforgiving it was going to be. Ellen Page was quite incredible as the teen. She struggled a little in the initial transition from cutesy to raging psychopath but once she hit her stride, there was no stopping her. Patrick Wilson made everyone forget he was in Phantom Of The Opera with his performance here, though he did remind us all that he was in Angels In America. He made his character, a possible pedo and murderer to boot, sympathetic and made you root for him, which is no easy task. The ending resolutely refuses to give any easy answers or explanations, preferring to leave its audience shaken. It's been a LONG time since a film was brave enough to do that. And I say brava.

In other news, the early reviews for Superman Returns have been the universal raves I was both hoping for and expecting. Hopefully when next Wednesday rolls around, the film starts smashing all the opening day records it possibly can and goes on to be the best reviewed AND most successful film of 2006. That would make me very happy.

As for the H-1 visa situation, there is still no firm word on when the Immigration bill is going to be read so at the moment I am just having to wait it out. I did some research and discovered that every other requested increase to the quota has been turned down so I am not that hopeful. I have formulated a good plan B though, which if you look at it from the right angles, the B could sort of stand for Blackmail. I'll reveal all when I have to, but not before........