Rampart was clearly meant to be some sort of mouldbreaking neo-realist down-and-dirty way of dramatising a bit of one of the USA's most infamous policing scandals and Woody Harrelson, in main role, is impressively horrible (racist, grandstanding, lying liar with livid red face and sweats of a serial drunk and bully). But it's just not a very good film ... no real suspense, no real social investigation, just lots of moody arthouse mooning around and cracking up in seedy motel rooms. Was v disappointed in this one, i was expecting it to be lots better.
Carancho (means 'vulture') - another "life is really bloody depressing" crime movie, but from Argentina ... delving into the subculture of fraudulent car-accident claims and the risks people run to set up / claim from fake or orchestrated crashes. Ricardo DArin (of Nine Queens etc) is really good in it; lead actress isn't bad either but I think her and the director (Trapero) are sort of making the same Argy crime caper over and over again. Although it's a good one. would recommend it to anyone who doesn't mind reading subtitles ....despite yet another blatant rip from AMORES PERROS at the end.
The Housemaid (from South Korea) - absolutely bonkers and the best of the three by miles - a lurid, overdone, melodramatic, vicious, biting, blazing class-war satire about a young woman pulled into the machinations and agendas of a hyper-rich (and possibly criminal) S Korean family. The sexual politics might be dubious (did she set out to seduce the 'young master' or did he more-or-less rape her? Not at all clear from the mise en scene...) but the class politics are blatant and inescapable. It looks amazing and there are some terrific character-actor performances as well. Apparently this is an inferior remake of a 60s cult classic ... but given that I don't know where to get hold of the original I'll never know. Anyone who knows it - can you tell me more about the original film? Anyone who doesn't - rent the 2011 version - it's top.