REVIEW: An Unassuming Monster Works His Gruesome Magic in Compelling Snowtown Murders

With his round, bearded face and gentle voice, John Bunting (Daniel Henshall) is an unassuming monster - it takes a while to spot the terrible danger within him. In Justin Kurzel'sThe Snowtown Murders, based on an actual series of gruesome crimes that took place in South Australia in the mid '90s, he's the deceptive mastermind behind a string of serial killings, the leader of a group initially, at least in their own heads, bound together by a desire to enact vigilante justice. The Snowtown Murders is the latest and bleakest in a string of Australian crime films showing flashes ofvirtuosotalent, and has more than a little in common withDavid Michd's 2010 hit Animal Kingdom, including a near-feral group of characters and a teenage boy whose eyes are the windows through which we see terrible things. ButJamie Vlassakis (Lucas Pittaway) isn't just a witness, he's an eventual participant, andThe Snowtown Murdersbuilds into a multipronged horror effort in which the torture and murder on-screen are matched by the psychologically convincing disintegration of a previously sympathetic protagonist. Snowtown, which is located betweenAdelaide and Perth, is portrayed in the film as a shabby suburb, its downtrodden ugliness in contrast to the giant sky and empty landscapes outside that the camera occasionally pulls back to appreciate.Elizabeth (Louise Harris) is dating a guy who lives across the way, and leaves her boys, including Jamie, in his care. He uses theopportunityto take photos of them in their underwear, a request to which they acquiesce with a defeated air that becomes the film's overarching sentiment. He's out on bail in a day. Later, another character is raped by someone in his own family: He struggles, but eventually surrenders, lying still like the runt of a litter being forced to submit, the camera observing dispassionately from a distance as it happens.The residents of Snowtown seem to have accepted victimhood as their due, which is why John's arrival is so initially welcome - he's willing to fight back, even if it's against the law, and he's charismatic and funny and able to manipulate the welling rage just underneath the benumbed expressions of his followers. John inveigles his wayinto Elizabeth's life romantically, and works a different sort of seduction onJamie, whose hunger for a father figure is almost a physical manifestation. Signs that something's not quite right with John surface slowly - he chops up kangaroos to toss on the doorstep ofElizabeth's pedophilic ex, and later pressures Jamie into shooting his dog as proof of his ability to stand up for himself. The Snowtown Murdersinternalizes the themes about dominance and survival thatAnimal Kingdom has to make explicit - the only way to see John's serial killing team is as a predatory pack over which he holds complete sway, their actions motivated by self-importance, by a need to belong, by fear and, eventually, enjoyment. John initially cloaks his actions as justice, primarily against molesters of children - the neighborhood enjoys gathering around a table to smoke and drink and talk about what they'd do to anyone they caught messing with their offspring, the imagining of violence a dizzying pleasure."It's not fucking mean if you kick the shit out of some diseased prick," John points out. "He fucking deserves it. It's an Australian fucking tradition." But the killings expand from pedophiles to anyone John deems unworthy - the obese, the drug-addicted, the weak, the unmissable, and John brings Jamie into the fold, forcing the knowledge of what's happening onto him, certain he'll participate. ("I'm only looking after you, mate," he tells the boy after revealing to him that he's murdered one of his friends.) One of the film's best, most difficult scenes finds Jamie watching as someone is chained to the bathtub, walking away, returning to see him get tortured, and going outside to sit as kids ride by on bikes. There's nothing physically holding him there, but he can't and won't intervene or run for help, and so instead he gives in, buying into the illusion of power in what's really just more powerlessness. The intentional unpleasantness of The Snowtown Murdersisn't just due to its violence, but its harsh assessment of human nature, of how its characters' unhappiness grows though they continue on the path they've chosen, too forceless to remedy the situation. The film is unflinching, but doesn't sensationalize its content, which makes it all the more disturbing. In the blue-tinged world it portrays - wood-paneled roomsfilled with cigarette smoke, decrepit couches on lawns and porches, a land of dead ends - it's the dreadful normalizing of its crimes that's haunting, the way they go undiscussed even as they grow and pull in everyone around, either as victim, victimizer or accomplice, helpless in the face of a soft-spoken psychopath. Follow Alison Willmore on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter.

Spirit Awards: Weinstein Company Near-Sweep: The Artist, Michelle Williams, Jean Dujardin, Michel Hazanavicius, Guillaume Schiffman

BREAKING… Refresh for latest… SANTA MONICA The Artist won 4 awards and The Weinstein Company swept 5 at today’s 2012 Film Independent Spirit Awards.Hosted bySeth Rogen, the 27th annual awards ceremony took placeduring aluncheon in a tent on the beach in Santa Monica.The Spirit Awards celebrate artist-driven filmmaking and recognizes the best achievements of todays independent filmmakers. This year the weather was cooperating: sunny and warm as the looky-loos lined up on the sand to snapa picture andgrab a handshake from their favorite stars arriving in afleet of black limos and cars. Seth Rogen opened the show by continuing the Spirit Awards’ long tradition ofprovocative standup,saying: “I have no fucking clue why were in a tent right now. There are previously existing structures where we could have done [the awards].You know you are at a class awars showif they have porto-potty.”… He notes how he’s “hosted a few Seders” before this. I dont know what the opposite of selling out is, but I want that to happen.” He tells the audience, “Im committed to watching all your movies. I made it through the first 5 minutes of every single one of them. Some start out slow, pretty fuckin slow. [He draws that out so its funnier.) ... Rogen lampoons Spirits for giving awards for Tallest Horse, Prettiest Pig"... He calls Spirits "the only awards show that is completely inconsequential. Nothing will come of this, absolutely nothing. It wont help you get paid any more. If anything, it proves youll work for nothing." Of all the four seasons there's no season like awards season. Without awards season we wouldn't know what a horriblle bigot Brett Ratner is." ... "At the Grammys you can beat your girlfriend and they'll ask you to perform. Twice."... Rogen took the piss out of George Clooney and also made fun of The Artist: "Didn't we learn anything from Roberto Bernini?" ... "Michael Fassbender's dick almost got the role of the knob in Albert Nobbs." Rogen went on to compliment his dick... "Great year, I just learned there was another Olsen. The best one. Where were they keeping her?" During the Spirit Awards show, Patricia Clarkson led a toast to the memory of independent film executive Bingham Ray who passed away at the most recent Sundance Film Festival: In January, we lost Bingham Ray. He was an independent film. He was gutsy, ingenious, a little out of focus, heartbreaking, unforgettable, and way too many curse words for PG-13. Please join me in a toast for this man that we loved very much. To Bingham. Thank you, Bingham. Wish you were here. Cheers, thank you. 2012 Film Independent Spirit Award Winners BEST FEATURE The Artist - Producer: Thomas Langmann Langmann onstagetalked about how hard it is getting film financing, thengave special thanks to Cannes Film Festival chief Thierry Fremauxand The Weinstein Co's Harvey Weinstein. Backstage, Langmann was at first asked a question in French, drawing howls of protest from the English-speaking press. But the accommodating producer joked, I dont speak French,then immediately translated the question:It's about Harvey Weinstein, what is most important about him. [It is] his weight, he said, to laughter. I mean, hes big. And this is the end of our American career. He went on to praise Weinsteins tenacity in getting the movie made.”He came. He flew. We were totally unknown, and he went to see a movie that was silent and black and white.Our stars were not known here. He thought there was something that made it worth flying to come to see the movie. And he did, and here we are today. I have nothing bad to say. He called having this movie recognizeda tribute to Hollywood cinema,a dream come true. When director Michel Hazanavicius arrivedbackstage to join Langmann and actors James Cromwell and Penelope Ann Miller, Langmann deferred to the director. This is Mr. Magic, he said. SaidHazanavicius, There is no recipe to build magic, and credited luck and hiring talented people.He joked about the demands of constantly appearing atawards showsthis season. Its not the worst job you can find.People say you are nice guy, you are talented, you have a very charming French accent.And we have the police come to escort us from the airport. That was great! The director said he’s feeling a little stage fright for tomorrows Oscars. I can’t say Im super cool.But today -this is important too. This means a lot because it is a small movie, its not expensive, we did it with small money, and its black and white and silent.” But, with another apparent wink to Weinstein,”Small money, but his money,” the director added. BEST DIRECTOR Michel Hazanavicius – The Artist The Artist filmmakers just landedfrom the French Casar Awards and drovehere with a police escort (your tax dollars at work), according to Hazanavicius in his acceptance speech: “We just arrived from France five minutes ago. We came from the airport with a police escort so it was like a theme from Drive. As for independent film, you’re never really independent because you always need somebody.” BEST SCREENPLAY Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash – The Descendants BEST FIRST FEATURE (given to the director and producer) Margin Call – Director: J.C. Chandor; Producers: Robert Ogden Barnum, Michael Benaroya, Neal Dodson, Joe Jenckes, Corey Moosa, Zachary Quinto Chandor said backstage: “There was a tremendous concern inbringing this property to the screen and in shopping this around we could notfind the money to do it.There was trepidation about it.” Chandor noted that Quinto helped get his friends to take roles.”Castingwas always a big moving puzzle.But one by one, it came together.” Quinto said backstage: “The thing that actors respond to is material.When I read the script, it was unequivocally clear that I wanted to get behindthis project.J.C.’s affability, his ability to articulate his point of viewput actors at ease and disarmed them.I think all the credit goes back to J.C.Everyone signed on because of him and his screenplay. I just had to twist somearms.” Quinto said he’sproducing Chandor’s follow-up which is goinginto pre-productionsoon. BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY Will Reiser – 50/50 Reiser onstage said he “had to give credit where credit is due — to cancer”. (At 24, Reiser was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. Six years later, he got a clean bill of health andwrote afilm comedy based on his cancer experiences.) The best part of winning, Reiser said backstage, was being part of a “prestigious list of names, writers who have been major influences. To be listed amongst those names is really special. I had no idea how much the movie would connect with people, because it was so personal to me and the guys, Seth and Evan.” He was affected by “how it has really touched people and connected with people, especially people who have been affected by cancer who can really relate to it.”He added that winning an Indie award was especially gratifying because in commercial film there “is less and less room for films like these.” And if you thought cancer was funny, Reiser says his next project is a comedy about Alzheimer’s disease based on a vacation he took with his grandmother who was in the early stages of the disease. He and grandma mistakenly ended up at a Jamaican couples resort. “And I lost her,” Reiser said. JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD Given to the writer,directo, and producer of the best feature made for under $500,000 Pariah Writer/Director: Dee Rees; Producer: Nekisa Cooper Rees said onstage: “Anytime we can have two whiskies before noon is alright…” “Pariah is a film about identity,” said director and writer Dee Rees backstage. “It’s a universal concept that everyone can relate to.I only referenced one other film in making this, and it was Paris Is Burning. The filmmakers of that movie thrust you in, exploring their world. We trusted the audience and didn’t want to overexplain.This award is meaningful to me because Cassavetes is one of my favorite directors.” Producer Nekisa Cooper said backstage:”You make a film for a half a million dollars and you’re always a winner.It took a village to make this film –IFP, Sundance Institute, Spike Lee. Our D.P. built lights to try to figure out ways to make shots better.We shot in 18 days, and we had a creative and technical crew. Our production designer transformed a 4-story brownstone into 10 different locations.”Cooper gave this advise towannabe filmmakers: “Find a good producer. Someone who’ll support a good vision around your film.” Presented by Anne Heche who reminded the audience, “There’s no such thing as a small film. Just a cheap film.” BEST FEMALE LEAD Michelle Williams – My Week With Marilyn Williams said onstage: “I came here to the Spirits for the first time 10 years ago and I wore my own clothesback then, they were not very good, and cut my ownhair,not so good.But I still remember the feeling that in this room, unlike others, that was OK. Because this was a room full of misfits, outlaws, loners, dreamers, mumblers, dropouts, just like me. Thank you for supporting me and welcoming me and making me feel at home in this room and this community. All the way back then, and now, when the only thing that I own that I am wearing is my dignity.” Backstage, Williams said that her friends think, “She’s the Susan Lucci of the Indie Spirit Awards” after not winning for nominated roles in Brokeback Mountain, Land Of Plenty, Wendy And Lucy, and Blue Valentine. About each film, she said, “I’m lucky to work with better and better people.” (She did share an ensemble award for 2008′s Synecdoche, NY.) Aboutportraying Marilyn Monroe, “Sometimes I can’t believe I did this role. I had to remove the fact that shewas an icon and put that out of my mind. I tried to think of her as an ordinary girl, which is how she wanted to be remembered. There wasn’t one pathway to her. The only way for me into her was time, so much time, and letting Marilyn dictate and letting the information about her take shape, rather than me controlling it. The most challenging thing in prepping a role like this is going through whatevermoments you’re facing at the time.” Does Williams feel sexier after playing the bombshell? “No, not really,” Williams deadpanned. BEST MALE LEAD Jean Dujardin – The Artist Dujardin was not here to accept, apparently because the plane carrying The Artist‘s talent and filmmakers coming into Los Angeles from the Cesar Awards in Paris hasn’t yet landed. Penelope Ann Miller accepted for Dujardin. Dujardin’s brother Marc Dujardin was supposed to accept for him but couldn’t be found. (“Perhaps he’s out having a cigarette” the person who came to accept said…) BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE Shailene Woodley – The Descendants Woodley said onstage: “To Fox Searchlight, Alexander Payne, and everyone in this film. They taught me to be a better human bein. I know that sounds so cheesy, but it’s true!” Backstage, the young actress who also stars in ABC Family’s The Secret Life Of The American Teenager, said she was shocked to win today over Oscar favorite Octavia Spencer — apparently not realizing that Spencer wasn’t nominated for a Spirit Award because The Help was ineligible. “She is such a nice woman, I definitely didn’t expect it,” Woodley said.”Im so grateful. I dont know if surprise is the right word. I think gratitude says it all.The role transformed me as a human being. I was surrounded by gentle kind grateful souls. Being on the film and experiencing it at 18 was kind of a catalyst for me as I was coming into my own.”As for herSecret Life colleagues, “Everyone is super stoked for me, it’s a beautiful supportive family.” She has no more movies in store and plans to continue to concentrate on the TV show, she said. BEST SUPPORTING MALE Christopher Plummer – Beginners Plummer said onstage: It’s taken me the longest time to realize the Spirit AwArds has nothing to do with booze. Pity really… I raise my glass to the dear Michael Mills who’s given me an extraordinary gift. Also to Ewan McGregor, that scene-stealing swine… Taking the microphone backstage, Plummer joked to a reporter motioning to him “What is it, do you want me to come sit down besides you?!” Despite all the notoriety this season for his role of Hal Fields in The Beginners, Plummer mentioned his role of Captain Von Trapp from The Sound of Music – something he rarely talks about.”My old persona seems to chase me around every year. Every generation of child has to go through Sound of Music. However, this film Beginners hasn’t been seen by a tremendous amount of people.By winning, I hope it helps this amazing film be seen again. I know it’s on DVD, but hopefully they’ll reissue it.” As far as what’s next, Plummer is going to do an HBOproject. “I’m going to croak any minute, so I have to keep going.” On how Plummer prepared for his Beginners role of an older man who comes out of the closet later in life, Plummer joked, “The whole crew was gay!…Actually, the director wrote a role with so much affection. I took the role because it was so human.”He had plenty of praise for his canine co-star in Beginners. “I think our Cosmo was much more human than Uggie from The Artist. That Uggie is just a trickster.” Later onstage, Goran Visnjic, who played Christopher Plummer’s young lover in Beginners, said: “I never thought I would get to work with the amazing Christopher Plummer, much less make out with him.” BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY Guillaume Schiffman – The Artist Schiffman was on that plane carrying The Artist‘s talent and filmmakers coming into Los Angeles from the Cesar Awards in Paris and which hasn’t yet landed. Penelope Ann Miller accepted for him. BEST DOCUMENTARY(given to the director and producer) The Interrupters – Director/Producer: Steve James Producer: Alex Kotlowitz James already received a special distinction trophy for 1994′s Hoop Dreams. He said backstage: “This award means a lot for a film like this because it’s about urban violence in Chicago, and for this film to culminate with an award it means a lot.” The Interrupters tells the story of three community activists inChicago and the violencethat impacted the city. “Wherever you live, there are people trying to deal with this issue. The film was inspired by an article my producer Alex Kotlowitz wrote in The NY Times magazine,” explained James. “As far as being a filmmaker in Chicago, it’s a great place to be. When I went to Sundance, I was always asked if I was from Los Angeles or NY. Chicago is a great filmmaking and documentary community and all the filmmakers are close knit. We pull for each other. It’s the quintessential American city where you can tell every story.” James said he and Koslowitz plan to work together again, with an eye on feature collaborations. BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM (given to the director) A Separation(Iran) – Director: Asghar Farhadi Onstage in Farsi, Farhadi said: “These must be independent awards because I’ve never received an award in a tent by the beach…” PIAGET PRODUCERSAWARD (honors emerging producers who,despite highly limited resources demonstrate the creativity, tenacity, andvision required to produce quality, independent films.Includes $25,000 unrestricted grant.) Sophia Lin – Take Shelter SOMEONE TO WATCHAWARD (recognizestalented filmmakerof singular visionwho hasnot yet received appropriate recognition.Includes$25,000 unrestricted grant) Mark Jackson – Without TRUER THAN FICTIONAWARD(presented to an emergingdirector of non-fiction features who has not yet received significantrecognition.Includes$25,000 unrestricted grant.) Heather Courtney – Where Soldiers Come From ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD(given to one films director, casting director, and its ensemble cast) Margin Call Director: J.C. Chandor; Casting Director: Tiffany Little Canfield,Bernard Telsey; Ensemble Cast: Penn Badgley, Simon Baker, PaulBettany, Jeremy Irons, Mary McDonnell, Demi Moore, Zachary Quinto, KevinSpacey, Stanley Tucci Zachary Quinto accepted the award and said onstage. “As an actor in this film, I have great memories. As a producer, every day was abig fucking nightmare. Like having two Oscar winners and their schedules.I will take these lessons less happily with me but with a lot of newknowledge.” (Deadline contributors: Brian Brooks, Anthony D’Alessandro, Diane Haithman)

And Today For Any Sensitive Message from Tyler Perry About Loss, Mourning, and...

"Ill bare this short and sweet since it is been a tough 12 days for me personally, using what could have been my moms 67th birthday eventually and also the awful news about Whitney the following. I cant even consider it... well discuss that another time, but for the time being Among the finest to be certain youre thinking about visiting the cinemas to determine Good Deeds a few days ago.Inch [TylerPerry.com]

2013 SAG Honours being held on Jan. 27

The Screen Stars Guild Honours has selected Jan. 27 due to its 2013 occasions. The large event will probably be held at its usual venue, the La Shrine Exposition Concentrate on a Sunday. Screen Stars Guild Honours Committee Chair JoBeth Williams made the announcement Thursday. This Year's 18th annual Honours happened on Jan. 29 -- furthermore a Sunday. Next year's show will probably be simulcast survive TNT and also the best spinner's. This Year's simulcast was up 3% this year, getting an overall total audience more than 5.2 million audiences. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

WB, Logan cut loose from 'Samurai' suit

A federal judge has nixed Warner Bros. and scribe John Logan from the suit that stated the script for 2005 pic 'The Last Samurai' was stolen from two authors.A federal court judge has ignored Warner Bros. and film writer John Logan from the suit declaring the script for "The Final Samurai" was lifted in the work of two scribes, Aaron Benay and Matthew Benay.But U.S. District Judge Philip S. Gutierrez also ruled Tuesday the Benays' breach of implied-in-fact contract claim against producers Bedford Falls, Edward Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz could proceed,The lawsuit -- that has pulled on for a long time -- is possibly noticably for that sudden appearance this past year of the anonymous letter with three attached e-mails, a document which was delivered to both sides' legal teams and which bolstered the Benays' claims from the extent that producers examined their script. Warner Bros. searched for to prove the new stash of documents would be a hoax, employing a specialist who came to the conclusion that handwriting located on the script pages and Zwick's signature on the fax cover sheet were robotically replicated from documents created throughout discovery. Amongst other things, the expert also discovered that three emails were erroneously placed "Off-shore Standard Time" rather than "Off-shore Daylight Time."Gutierrez declined an attempt to sanction the Benays. ruling that Warner Bros. along with other accused "make an inadequate showing of culpability for Litigants or their counsel to warrant sanctions."He didn't elaborate on one of the most bizarre twists from the situation: The Warner Bros. legal team, brought by Serta Petrocelli, required DNA examples of the Benays for just about any trace that will connect these to the mysterious documents. Their attorney, John Marder, objected that his DNA also was collected without his understanding once the Benays gave their samples. "They were products allegedly provided by the accused as snacks throughout a depositing, while holding the key intent of collecting my DNA unlawfully," Marder authored inside a declaration towards the court recently.Gutierrez granted Warner Bros. and Logan's motion for summary judgment while he came to the conclusion the Benays had unsuccessful to exhibit "privity," or the studio and film writer weren't area of the implied-in-fact contract.The government court initially ignored the situation in 2008, however the Benays become a huge hit towards the ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which declined their copyright violation claim but stated their breach of implied-in-fact contract suit could proceed. Contact Ted Manley at ted.manley@variety.com

BET Green-Lights Drama from The Game Creators

Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil BET has given the green light to Single Black Female, a drama from The Game creators Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil, Deadline reports. The project is about the personal and professional life of an Atlanta-based talk show host. The series, written by Brock Akil, is part of the Akils' deal with the network that includes a series and several pilot commitments. Check out more of today's news Brock Akil most recently wrote and Akil directed the remake of the film Sparkle, which will feature Whitney Houston in her final role. It's slated for an August release.

Lionsgate reviews small reduction in Q4

Falling lacking Wall Street estimations, Lionsgate has reported a simplified quarterly lack of $1.7 million, or perhaps a cent a share, because of its third quarter ended 12 ,. 31, in comparison having a $six million loss for that year-ago period. The analyst consensus have been for any profit of 9 cents a share. Lionsgate launched the income report -- its first since its $412.5 million utilized buyout of Summit Entertainment -- following the marketplaces closed Thursday. Shares fell 21 cents to $10.80 in afterhours buying and selling. Shares remain up a lot more than 20% because the Summit deal was introduced Jan. 13. Revenues were $323 million, lower 24% because of Lionsgate delivering no films throughout the quarter in comparison with three around-ago period. Experts had expected revenues in the future in at $359 million. "We'd no wide theatrical releases within the quarter, but we received solid contributions from your other operating divisions and the other strong performance by Epix," stated Boss Jon Feltheimer. The combo of Lionsgate-Summit combo includes Hollywood's greatest independent film galleries, outlined by Summit's "Twilight" franchise and Lionsgate's approaching "The Hunger Games." The offer motivated several experts to enhance their rankings and cost targets. Feltheimer stated the organization was "very excited" concerning the possibilities produced through the Summit deal. "The Feb 11 home theatre discharge of 'Twilight Saga Breaking Beginning 1,' the March 23 theatrical discharge of 'Hunger Games' and also the November 16 theatrical discharge of 'Twilight Saga Breaking Beginning 2' lead a powerful combined slate that people believe will enable us to provide elevated consistency, profitability and cost to the investors," he added. Movie revenue fell 29% to $233.3 million and residential entertainment revenue from both movies and television revenues rejected to $162.9 million with Lionsgate observing the decrease was attributable mainly to the effectiveness of year-ago game titles. Lionsgate's shot entertainment backlog arrived at an archive $607.5 million on 12 ,. 31, the 5th consecutive quarter of elevated backlog. The figure signifies the quantity of future revenue not recorded from contracts for that certification of films and television product General and administrative expenses totalled $35.8 million, basically unchanged in the prior year. Lionsgate stated transaction costs connected using the Summit acquisition and increases in share-based compensation connected using the elevated stock cost offset cutbacks in costs associated with ending its lengthy fight with Carl Icahn as well as an 8% decline in other outlays. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com