Mr. Pip (2012)

Memorable, crazy movie

Absolutely the worst movie.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

The island is most know for its beaches, and the exotic fantasy are created in the minds of most who don't actually live on an island. The sea which brought us together is what keeps us apart. The life of the islander is a contradiction, sometimes its a prison sentence , and other times its sunshine, and beaches in paradise . This film is a touching story about survival and it shared the reality of the island, its people and their relation with the rest of the world.

Mr. Pip (2012)Wow, did I want to like this movie. It was different at the outset and it had a great leading man, the lead from the t.v. show "House," Hugh Laurie. It was set in Papua New Guinea where a village of locals was terrorized by an outside military group. The white man in the midst of these very dark-skinned natives is part of the outer conflict by his difference, but really Lauries plays an insider, too, and hence some of the interest.On top of this is the cool plot idea, which eventually becomes a contrivance, based on the Dickens novel "Great Expectations." In fact, the leading character of that book, Pip, becomes an unwitting character here. It's subtle and often touching and sometimes brilliant.But it's also uneven, and preys upon the audience for sympathy, which is a deal- breaker for me. There are times when the movie is unsually brutal, and though I don't doubt the brutality of militias in the fringes of the world, it doesn't make a movie, at least not as a centerpiece.It's true, the plot continues—it moves from continent to continent, and the leading character (not Laurie) is now a young girl from the tribe on this island who befriended her white tutor. And it's always interesting, though a bit forced. There are times when the conflicts are about conflict. And there are tender, intimate insights into cross-cultural issues. And not only the English white world versus the tribal world of New Guinea, but also the traditional culture vs. the new Western-influenced world that was so often militarized and corrupt.I think some people will be blown away by all of this. I'm looking at it with a bit of a distance, thinking of it as a movie, regardless of its emotional impact. And it really is a bit sloppy and indulgent. But give it a shot. It's different, and that's a winning trump card.

I have to say at the beginning of this that I was unable to understand some of the dialog and lost parts of the story at times. And I must also say that when it became apparent that we were witnessing the exact same scenarios that we see played out in our evening news coverages of how bullies with weapons can do whatever they want to do I became less interested. (And, the careless and unintelligently provocative behavior by Mr Watts in the face of mindless malevolence seemed more aimed toward "point making" than realism and sense. But that is my POV.)I do suppose that makes me rather superficial. And I do wonder if the way we might actually stop the many injustices wrought by visceral, knee-jerk, gun-toting, undereducated and over-stimulated para-military types is by watching their acts of desensitizing brutalities. But no, I think we then become part of their sickness. There is a part of me that disagrees with my squeamishness. I remember seeing a movie called Africa Addio when I was young. I was a senior in High School and some friends and I went to a drive-in to see this along with Mondo Cane. Mondo Cano (World gone to the dogs) was moving. Africa Addio was nightmarish. Human beings were cold and cruel, and it was real. It was a documentary. We saw things that were removed from our evening news programs. I have to mention how riveting the presence of Xzannjah Matsi as Matilda is in this film. We see more in the goings on by watching her face than if we turned the camera around and watched for ourselves. And she did not use histrionics to display her thoughts and feelings. Her eyes absorbed the scenes and we felt the atrocities like a blow to the most vulnerable parts of ourselves. Hugh Laurie was excellent as well. Healesville Joel as Matilda's mother Dolores pulled my emotions in several directions. The actress was very powerful. Early on in the story Dolores expresses the idea that a belief in a structured theology is necessary in order to know right from wrong. And she implies that to see evil as a metaphor also evil. Kind of puts the act of thinking into an impossible position to exist or function at all. Superstition and fear seem to rule her reasoning mind. We find later that she is a woman of tremendous courage. Both she, Tom Watts and a little boy "poked the bear in the eye" and the lives of others lost the daily benefit of their presence. Probably a greater loss than the impact of their sacrifice.I won't speak more of this movie. It is probably better rated at 8 than the 5 I gave it. I have to rate as I feel after I see a film. I recommend this movie but I think we need to be careful of damaging our view of mankind too much. That is the game of those who want us to play out their sad, sick scenarios of dehumanization. They want to enlist our interest and engage our fear.

In few words: food for thought! Shocked me in good and bad kinds too. As I watched I cried and laughed at the same time.A beautiful and sad story about both sides of humanity. Good persons with kindness and faith and fantasy, and bad ones with ignorance and malice and guns. Love versus hate. Like many countries in the World. But we need to believe in love. This movie what must see... must see with your loved ones and family and friends! Hugh Laurie was fantastic as always, and Xzannjah impressed me with her natural talent. and I think I want to read the book by Dickens' Great Expectations. Thank you very much for the creators of this movie miracle!