hursthurst-hurst
This a rare little film i picked up from my DVD shop on the recommendation of a girlfriend who saw it at the NZ International film Festival and couldn't stop raving about itI'd heard complaints and negative responses to it as well, it definitely seems to polariseIn terms of performance it was very strong especially for a New Zealand filmAnd I thought the script was brilliantHowever I found the shifts in tone a little strange at times especially the humour and irony but enjoyed and went with it nevertheless and I feel in the long run that it helped balance a grim journeyIts unfortunate that this film didn't get a cinema release, maybe its too dark? Pushes too many buttons?I don't know and can only speculate as in terms of quality it is a much stronger film than most of the NZ features to play in cinemas here in the last ten years or soIts a real shame as its a potentially great platform to stimulate discussion around some tough issuesAnd this country needs to face up to these issues that are ripe in our so called paradise, our little 'godzone'i'm interested to now what others think nowspecial - tears and hope
gca28
This could've been a good movie. The ideas are there, it's just the execution that's abysmal. Everything about it seemed clumsy and unmotivated, especially the "horrible crime" that came out of nowhere and left an incredibly sour taste in my mouth.The main character seems very stereotypical, reminding me of the amazingly lame drug education dramas that would be put on at high school. He uses forced lingo and is generally unconvincing. As for his crime, he seems too nervous when making the break in to have the capacity to commit it, let alone commit it so quickly.Perhaps if some real effort had been put into character development there may have been something interesting here, but instead it remains an incompetent, shallow grab at edginess.
fiercedragons
A SONG OF GOOD is a small low budget digital film from New Zealand that probably wont see the light of day in the UK but this is a deeply moving powerful story that deserves to be seen. It is the story of a young man struggling for redemption in a society that couldn't care less.I was really surprised how moved I was by the main character Gary's plight especially after the disgusting senseless crime he commits but I was with him the whole way and that is a major achievement. I was especially touched by Gary's relationship with his nephew, Laughlin?...The performances and direction are all round great and the touches of dry black humour and irony throughout where a surprise considering the tone and situation but still strangely worked somehow.And i really liked the use of sound design.I will remember some of the images and moments for some time to come I think.
thewilberforces-1
I like Gregory Kings Films. I saw his first feature film (Christmas) a while ago, and because of that made sure i saw his new one at Rotterdam. Both films are about the seedier "real' side of life. The banal underbelly.New Zealand looks like an interesting place - this film is as far away from the Lord Of The Rings stuff as you could imagine.It's a very gritty movie, and seeing that poster image brings it all back. Very haunting. I won't forget it in a hurry.
AD
