365 Days of Film pick #11
Utu
I have mixed feelings about this film.
While it does a great job highlighting a troubling era of colonialism in Aotearoa and the plight of the Māori people; I don’t find it particularly engaging.
It has some pretty footage of the Aotearoa landscape.
I feel that the score at most times is completely off. A gunfight will ensue between the British soldiers and Te Wheke’s rebels and it will play adventurous, triumphant music. In my opinion should’ve been dreadful and haunting music that instills anxiety on a feeling of victory when no one has won yet.
I do think Anzac Wallace does a great job as Te Wheke. His performance is definitely the highlight of the movie. I resonate with his deep desire to get revenge for his slaughtered family. Being able to play the sensitive and poetic man that also has a violent and powerful presence is quite remarkable.
Unfortunately this movie lost me about 2/3rds of the way in up until the last 10 minutes of Te Wheke’s trial and subsequent execution where Wiremu delivers a fantastic monologue.
It doesn’t help that I’m not particularly interested in late 19th century history. I rarely if ever find it engaging in film or television. The most I’ve ever been interested in that period is reading Ned Kelly’s biography.
It was also funny when that one guy whose wife was killed just kept adding barrels to his gun.
**CONCEPT
7/10
ACTING
7/10
PRODUCTION (SET DESIGN, COSTUMES, LIGHTING, SOUND DESIGN, MIXING ETC ETC)
6/10
EXECUTION OF THEMES
7/10
WRITING
7/10
VISUAL STORYTELLING
5/10
ENJOYMENT WHILE WATCHING
5/10
**
365 Days of Film pick #11
Utu
I have mixed feelings about this film.
While it does a great job highlighting a troubling era of colonialism in Aotearoa and the plight of the Māori people; I don’t find it particularly engaging.
It has some pretty footage of the Aotearoa landscape.
I feel that the score at most times is completely off. A gunfight will ensue between the British soldiers and Te Wheke’s rebels and it will play adventurous, triumphant music. In my opinion should’ve been dreadful and haunting music that instills anxiety on a feeling of victory when no one has won yet.
I do think Anzac Wallace does a great job as Te Wheke. His performance is definitely the highlight of the movie. I resonate with his deep desire to get revenge for his slaughtered family. Being able to play the sensitive and poetic man that also has a violent and powerful presence is quite remarkable.
Unfortunately this movie lost me about 2/3rds of the way in up until the last 10 minutes of Te Wheke’s trial and subsequent execution where Wiremu delivers a fantastic monologue.
It doesn’t help that I’m not particularly interested in late 19th century history. I rarely if ever find it engaging in film or television. The most I’ve ever been interested in that period is reading Ned Kelly’s biography.
It was also funny when that one guy whose wife was killed just kept adding barrels to his gun.
**CONCEPT
7/10
ACTING
7/10
PRODUCTION (SET DESIGN, COSTUMES, LIGHTING, SOUND DESIGN, MIXING ETC ETC)
6/10
EXECUTION OF THEMES
7/10
WRITING
7/10
VISUAL STORYTELLING
5/10
ENJOYMENT WHILE WATCHING
5/10
**
