Geraldine Hickey "Plucky" - MICF

My dad once said of a relative of ours, "if he were any more laid back he'd be dead" - a description that reminds me a bit of Geraldine Hickey, whose show Plucky was bloody good fun.

Geraldine's laconic style is a real pleasure to watch and her wit is sharp. This show is full of wry and hilarious observations about fears that many of us have in life making the show full of really relatable stuff.

Her material about the range of ways people feel about being naked had the crowd killing themselves laughing in that 'eek that's me' kind of way. Same goes for her observations about group holidays and the need for a leader to make the plans, which had the blogger cackling but squirming with 'eek that's DEFINITELY me' discomfort. It was in sharing stories about her father's diagnosis with dementia though, that Geraldine showed just how deft she is at balancing the serious with the funny.

Unfortunately the rooms at the Imperial Hotel where she is performing have paper thin walls which means sound bleeds in from surrounding rooms where concurrent performances are taking place. Geraldine has been around the block enough times to know she needed to call it out and did. On a practical note, if you plan to see her, wear warm clothes because the room is arctic cold!

I loved Geraldine's show - get along and see it to support a really witty woman who has nailed it with this show. Details here https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2018/shows/geraldine-hickey-plucky

ADDED 5-4-18: The Herald Sun has given Geraldine's show 4 stars. You can read their review here.

Murphy McLachlan "McLachlan O'Clocklan" - MICF

Murphy McLachlan is an up & coming Melbourne-based comedian who delivered a pretty good show to a pretty empty room.

I don't envy up & comers. I mean, stand-up comedy would be incredibly hard at the best of times, let alone in a room with only a dozen or so people in the audience. It's like when you see a comedy film and you laugh more when you're in a cinema packed with lots of other people laughing than you would at home by yourself. Murphy didn't get the benefit of a big group boosting each other's reactions, which were generally positive in his show.

He had 10-15 minutes (a large proportion of a 40 minute show) of material on Looney Tunes which was a risk that didn't really pay off. I chuckled at a few things based on vague childhood memories but I just didn't know the source material well enough to get on board. There was a mixed reaction amongst the small crowd which did seem to contain a few LT fans but not enough for it to ever really take off.

Murphy's delivery was confident and polished and he does have some genuinely funny gags in his show drawing on topics such as his daggy dad, free chocolate at work (he has a 9-5 job) and Australianisms. It's early in the festival so he might take the opportunity to sharpen it across the next three weeks or so. That and bigger crowds who egg each other on to laugh more heartily will help boost his shows, I think.

On a practical note, he has the misfortune of performing in a room which seems to have paper thin walls which bleed terribly. Hearing people roar laughing from adjoining rooms wasn't a great backdrop for his performance. Investing in an easel to hold up some illustrations dotted throughout the show would be wise, too.

I reckon Murphy has good foundations to build something really great, even if that's not quite what we get from this show. If you're up for a cheap and cheerful chancer, give Murphy a go!

Details here https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2018/shows/mclachlan-oclocklan

Joel Creasey "Blonde Bombshell" - MICF

If you have even a passing knowledge of Joel Creasey, I reckon this show will live up to your expectations. He's cutting, unkind a times and very, very funny.

He draws material from his career in showbiz, giving insights into life behind the scenes of the Mardi Gras (he co-hosted SBS's coverage) where he met Cher - his impersonation of her is hilarious. I have no idea if it's accurate, but it's hilarious! There's also some great material based on his trip to Kiev to co-host the Australian coverage of Eurovision with Myf Warhurst which draws plenty of laughs.

Former stars of Australian Idol don't escape his attention and they provide plenty of fodder, that's for sure. There's the low-hanging fruit presented by Paulini but there's others who have gotten up to stuff I had no idea about and it's pure gold in Joel's capable hands. From a little further up the showbiz chain, Nicole Kidman also gets a quick swipe that made me laugh way louder than anyone else in the crowd, embarrassingly!

Joel weaves funny interactions he has with haters on social media throughout the show to great effect. He knows he's delivered some brutal zingers so why not recycle them here for a fresh, live audience? Clever.

So if you like your comedy with loud (literally - they have the mic on the 'deafen' setting, I think), cutting pizzazz, Joel's your guy.

Get the details on his shows during the Melbourne International Comedy Festival here. It runs 28 March - 22 April.

Wil Anderson "Wilegal" - MICF

This is a guy who is at the top of his game. Wilegal is hilarious!

Wil Anderson's show this year fills in the gaps between the bits and pieces we heard through the media about him getting arrested following an 'incident' on a plane to Wagga Wagga. I knew that was the bones of the show but I confess I wondered how it would fill a whole hour. (More, as it turns out - good value show!)

The answer is that Wil masterfully weaves the details of the incidents through other stories and tangents about pets, family and KFC to name a few. His material about injuries and getting older was sadly right in my hitting zone! Honestly, this show is a charming masterclass in storytelling that just delivers laugh after laugh after laugh.

The only downside for me was absolutely nothing to do with Wil - some pretty poor crowd behaviour. Seriously, if you're at a show just be quiet and don't use your phone, it's not that hard!

There's a reason Wil fills big theatres doing stand-up, is on our TVs and radios and has a huge following for his four (!) podcasts (my fav here) and Wilegal showcases it beautifully. Go and see this show if you just want to sit back and let someone in complete control take you on a hilarious ride!

His shows typically sell out I think so get onto this one quickly. The Festival runs 28 March - 22 April. Details here.

MICF 2018 begins!

The Melbourne International Comedy Festival has officially started for 2018. What a brilliant time to be in this cracking city!

I've had a few people ask me for recommendations of which acts to book tickets for and since I haven't seen a single show yet, I'm afraid I can't give you any intel on 2018 shows.

However what I can do at this juncture is tell you about some comics who I rate based on past shows, podcast appearances and the like and try to give a shout out to some great women especially. These are all Aussies as I don't have much intel on international acts. So here goes!...

• Anne Edmonds
• Celia Paquola
• Mel Buttle
• Alice Fraser
• Rhys Nicholson
• Becky Lucas
• Nath Valvo
• Damien Power
• Geraldine Hickey

The Herald Sun has already posted this preview/mini review of a gala special so it's also worth a read if you're looking for recommendations - http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/comedy-festival/lano-woodley-david-odoherty-and-fiona-oloughlin-open-micf-with-comedy-allstars-supershow/news-story/c10b509083e1ea6506a5463ea7fcb051

Before I do start blogging about 2018 shows I see, I also want to take this opportunity to remind readers about the principles I use when blogging. Firstly, I'm not a critic. Critiquing the arts is in itself an artform and I don't profess to be an professional. This blog gives you my opinion on the shows (and movies) I see but I also canvass other opinions if they're available in the public domain, especially if I think mine isn't the commonly held view. If I don't like a show but everyone else seems to be laughing, or critics are saying it's great, I'll tell you that and vice versa if it's a show I do like but others don't seem to agree. I try to be fair and I think that's the fair thing to do.

We're so lucky to have this festival in Melbourne - just get out and see something! Details on shows, bookings etc here https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2018

LOVE, SIMON - film

Love, Simon is based on a young adult novel but if you're a not-so-young* adult, do not let that put you off. This film is so great!

17 year old Simon is grappling with the fact he's gay. He doesn't know who to tell or how to tell them but in an online school forum he and another male student who hasn't told anyone he is gay either chat anonymously about their shared experiences. It's way more charming than I have made that sound! I won't spoil the plot and frankly you don't need to know any more anyway.

Simon's family are pretty lovely and well-adjusted. Mum (Jennifer Garner) is a sympathetic psychologist and Dad (Josh Duhamel... HOT as hell*) is a bit rough around the edges but generally a kind father. They both give great performances and so does Tony Hale, the slightly unhinged deputy principal of Simon's school. He brings the LOLZ which won't surprise you if you're familiar with his other work such as Veep and Arrested Development.

I literally laughed and cried when I watched this film. It's completely charming and lovely and I would very happily recommend it for anyone from teenagers to, well, dead I guess. Enjoy!

In cinemas 29 March. Trailer here.

* You know you're getting old when you're getting your feathers up over the DAD in the film. (And I saw this film and had this realisation on the same day a younger colleague told me she wouldn't know the tune of You're The Voice by John Farnham! Might as well start shopping for coffins at Costco!)

GAME NIGHT - film

I'm up for any film with Jason Bateman at the helm. Hello, Game Night!

Bateman is middle class nice guy Max, with Rachel McAdams as his wife Annie. The recently married couple host regular game nights with their friends and occasional attendee Brooks, Max's successful brother played by Kyle Chandler.

Brooks makes an appearance at game night, announcing that he wants them to do a special real life adventure game night like a murder mystery party on steroids where 'you don't know what's real and what's not'. Winner takes his new beautiful red Corvette.

I won't go into detail of the madness that ensues (think home invasions, car chases, guns etc) but there was certainly some good laughs. In my case I was reminded of the power of seeing a film with a crowd - there weren't many people in my session and they weren't laughing much so I was very self-conscious when I did which probably made me laugh less than I otherwise would have.

For me personally, it's not a film I'd rush out for at $21 a pop but definitely one you could happily watch with a partner or friends at home on a lazy Saturday night.

It's had some complimentary reviews to be fair - three stars (about what I'd give it) from Leigh Paatsch from News Ltd and four from Sandra Hall from Fairfax.

Game Night is in cinemas now. Trailer here.

BLOCKERS - film

Blockers is a US comedy with a coming-of-age kind of vibe but in a crass and trashy way, rather than that charming way of, say, Juno or Ladybird.

The film follows the attempts of three parents, Lisa (Leslie Mann), Mitchell (John Cena - an underestimated actor in my view) and Hunter (Ike Barinholtz) to 'c**k block' their three daughters who are hurtling towards prom night with plans to lose their virginity. Cue slapstick gags involving alcohol, genitalia etc.

I had seen the trailer a few times before I saw this film and figured it probably wasn't for me. In light of that, I put a caveat on my invitation to a friend to come along to the preview with me. "It looks s**t" or something along those lines, if memory serves. It was actually so bad that I leaned over to her during the film and said "I'm so sorry".  She didn't like it either.*

To be fair, there was definitely some laughs - I'm not too proud to admit I don't mind slapstick. But the story was just so lame, it was hard to go with it. There's no issues with the performances of the three main parents or the three daughters, all unfamiliar faces.

I guess the only other thing I could muster in its defense is that the three teenage girls are all portrayed as powerful, with a significant degree of control over their bodies and decisions.

I've wondered if it's just that I'm not in the target audience but I suspect there's too much emphasis on the annoying parents for this to be popular with teenagers and too much bodily fluid-based 'humour' for it to appeal to parents.

Maybe when it pops up on Netflix if you fall into one of those categories...? I certainly wouldn't pay $21 to see it at a cinema.

Here's a complimentary (3 stars) review from The Guardian if you want to know more about the film from someone who enjoyed it more than me.

Blockers is in cinemas from 29 March. Trailer here.

*Regular readers will know I don't use a star system but I often ask people I take along to previews how many stars they'd give a film out of five to help me understand how much they enjoyed it. In this case I said I'd give it about 2 and my friend said it'd only be 1 or 1.5 for her. So, y'know, we both thought it was really ordinary.

THE DEATH OF STALIN - film

This political satire comedy is directed and co-written by Armando Iannucci and stars Steve Buscemi, Jeffrey Tambor, Michael Palin and Jason Isaacs. The film is based on a French novel about the power struggles that followed the death of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin in 1953. I am now going to divide you, dear readers, into two categories. If you have no idea who Armando Iannucci is, head to section A and if you know and love him head to section B.

A. Iannucci is a Scottish writer, director and satirist with a cult following due to TV shows Veep and The Thick Of It and the character Alan Partridge. He brings this cutting satire to The Death of Stalin which is very, very funny. It's eccentric so if your taste is pretty mainstream you might find it a bit odd but if you've got an open mind and don't mind verging into highbrow-meets-slapstick, give this one a go.

B. Iannucci does not disappoint! All the things you love about his work are here; brutal one-liners, beautifully executed slapstick and punchy, clever dialogue. Get yourself to a cinema!

If you want to read a proper review with more details of the plot, check out this complimentary review in The New York Times.

In cinemas 29 March. Trailer here.

THE BBQ - film

It really pains me to be unkind to Australian films, even really bad ones. So of The BBQ, starring Shane Jacobson, Magda Szubanski, Julia Zemiro and, inexplicably, Manu Feildel, I will just say this...

Avoid.

1.5 stars from the Herald Sun, one star from The Guardian and two from the Sydney Morning Herald.

In cinemas now. Trailer here.

FINDING YOUR FEET - film

*wakes up groggily*

SORRY WHAT? I WAS ASLEEP BECAUSE THIS FILM WAS SO BORING.

To be fair, Finding Your Feet is not aimed at my age group. It's a story of 70-somethings finding their feet as life changes. Specifically, lead character Sandra whose husband has left her for another woman.

I wondered to myself whether my parents would like it - as 70-somethings they're presumably in the target audience. Ummm, nope. I reckon they'd find this dull too. Even a great cast (think Timothy Spall, Joanna Lumley and a host of others with very familiar  and talented faces with unfamiliar names) can't save this.

To be fair, the film isn't terrible, it's just a bit dull and not the kind of thing I'd dish out $20+ to see at the cinema.

I reckon this 2.5 star review in Fairfax press is fair, if you want to read more.

Trailer here. In cinemas now.

PHANTOM THREAD - film

What a pretentious, boring snooze-fest. I mean, sure, it's nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars but what would the Academy know?!

You know how sometimes everyone seems to love something and you just don't get it? That's me and Phantom Thread.

This is a drama set in the London fashion world in the 1950s. Daniel Day Lewis (supposedly in his last role ever) plays renowned dressmaker Reynolds Woodcock. He's a very complex person. The kind of person I suspect fashion-types would think is a creative genius but that normal* people like me think is an insufferable wanker.

Reynolds meets an unassuming young woman Alma who becomes his muse/assistant/model and they wind up in a deeply messed up relationship. I mean, what man doesn't dream of a lover who would poison him to the point he's so sick he needs her but doesn't die? Twice!

I really can't summon the interest to say much more about the film but in the interests of fairness, I'll offer this... the buddy I saw it with liked it, saying she'd give it 3.5-4 stars. She loved the soundtrack and cinematography and I have to agree with the latter, representing about the only compliment I can offer. Phantom Thread is visually beautiful. Here's a five star review in The Guardian if you'd like to read more, of a slightly different tone.

Trailer here. In cinemas Thursday 1 February.

*debatable, sure.

I, TONYA - film

I, Tonya has been promoted heaps here in Australia so it's been hard to miss. But in case you're living under a rock, this is based on the true story of US figure skater Tonya Harding.

I think this film's fantastic & I really enjoyed it. Australian Margot Robbie stars as Tonya and I mean stars! She's up for Best Actress at the Oscars for this role and Allison Janney, who plays Tonya's mum LaVona, is up for Best Supporting Actress. I wouldn't be surprised if the latter takes the win as she is brilliant in this playing a really brutal character who pushed Tonya really hard and made few friends along the way.

The film does examine Tonya's childhood to help set the scene but most of it is set in the 1990s when Tonya was battling to be the world's best figure skater, including beating her great rival Nancy Kerrigan. If you're about 30+ you may recall 'the incident', when Tonya's ex-husband conspired to injure Kerrigan. The case resulted in international headlines and career-ending consequences for Harding. The film is sympathetic to Harding but also not hugely flattering - I think it strikes a good balance that seems fair.

I thought this film was terrific and would happily recommend it. I feel compelled to tell you that the person I saw it with found the violence a bit much (it is definitely peppered with lots of violence), to the point it would mean she's not inclined to recommend it. Didn't hate it, just wouldn't recommend you rush out for it.

I reckon this 3.5 star review in the Sydney Morning Herald is fair, if you'd like to read more.

Trailer here. In cinemas now.

MOLLY'S GAME - film

I really enjoyed Molly's Game a lot. It's an action-packed drama based on a true story starring Jessica Chastain as Molly Bloom, an ambitious woman who winds up running very high stakes poker games in Los Angeles and later New York.

Molly gets herself into legal trouble which is not entirely surprising giving the amounts of money and types of people involved in the poker. Enter Idris Elba as Molly's lawyer Charlie Jaffey. These two bounce of each other in a fabulous way and their scenes together are great to watch.

There's some flashbacks to Molly's former life as an Olympic skier and we discover her relationship with her father (Kevin Costner) has had a big impact on her. My one criticism of this film is that the complexity of this past combined with the dramas caused by the poker gig are all tied up in a very quick and relatively tidy way which was a bit hard to run with for me.

Regular readers may have noticed I don't talk much about the directors of the films I blog about but in the case of Molly's Game, it's worth noting in setting the scene as many of you would be familiar with his television work.

The director (and author of the screenplay) of Molly's Game is none other than Aaron Sorkin, the brains behind the hit TV series The West Wing and indeed the writer of seasons 1-4. If you've seen that or any of his other work you will know he writes rapid-fire dialogue and Molly's Game is no exception. The Sorkin thing is also evident in the length of the film... two hours and 20 minutes! GAH! But to be fair, it's pacey and I didn't feel that length as much as I typically do with a film that long.

Here's a 4.5 star review from The Guardian and a 3.5 star review in The Daily Review if you want to read more. If I were to give it a rating myself I'd say it's right in the middle of those at 4 for me.

Trailer here. In cinemas 1 February but I gather there's some advance screenings if you're keen.

THE POST - film

The Post is a political drama based on the true story of journalists from The Washington Post trying to break a massive story about the United States' political-military involvement in the Vietnam War.

Tom Hanks plays the editor Ben Bradlee and Meryl Streep the publisher and heiress Katharine Graham and I'm sure you won't be surprised to hear they both give great performances. Ben's team get access to some critical and compelling evidence but publishing it comes with the very real risk of Katharine losing the paper and much of her fortune, not to mention the fact Ben, Katharine and the journalists involved could wind up in the clink.

No more details... SPOILERS!

I really enjoyed The Post and would happily recommend it. I know some of my readers are, like me, media nerds and I reckon this cohort will especially love it. For a compelling second opinion, check out this four star review in Fairfax publications.

Trailer here. In cinemas now.

LADY BIRD - film

*swoon*

Gosh I loved this film. For quite a while following its US release, Lady Bird was "the best reviewed movie of all time" on Rotten Tomatoes, a film review aggregate website. Meaning no other film ever had received more universally positive reviews... high praise indeed! It also recently won Best Picture (musical or comedy) at the Golden Globes. No pressure!

Lady Bird is a 'coming of age' story about teenager Christine McPherson (Saoirse Ronan - winner of Best Actress (musical or comedy) at the Golden Globes for this performance), who is determined to be known by the nickname Lady Bird as she's becoming an adult and navigating the crap that comes with it.

Amongst other things, the film explores the complex relationship she has with her anxious mother Marion (Laurie Metcalf) and when they're together on screen, the dynamic between them is wonderful and coveys one of those relationships where the love runs deep but there's plenty of hate in there too. Their chemistry is great but even better, I reckon, is the chemistry between Lady Bird and her on and off bestie Julie, played spectacularly by Beanie Feldstein. Truly, their relationship is such a pleasure to watch and you come to realise that as boyfriends come and go (and they do in this), Julie is in it for the long haul 'cause she's just a great chick.

Lady Bird is at school, dreaming of going to a fancy college when she graduates. It seems pretty clear that's a pipe dream and her grades, let alone finances, won't quite get her there. But she dreams through the highs and lows of adolescence nonetheless.

This film is funny, real, sad and poignant. Highly recommend! Here's a four star review in The Washington Post if you want to read more.

Trailer here. In cinemas 15 February 2018.

THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI - film

This American drama with a slightly cumbersome name has just won Best Picture (drama) at the Golden Globes and I heartily endorse this! I haven't seen absolutely everything but I've seen plenty and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, is my favourite of this awards season.

Frances McDormand is a knock-out lead in this film as Mildred, the grieving mother of a young woman who was raped and killed. Frustrated by the lack of action on the case some seven months after her daughter's death, Mildred rents three billboards to send a message to her local community that will have fascinating flow-on effects.

Mildred has a real brutality and strength about her which seem to be sharpened by her anger. Frances McDormand is perfect in the role and took out Best Actress (drama) at the Golden Globes for her trouble.

Mildred's crusade against authority, including Chief Willoughby (Woody Harrelson) mentioned on the billboards, sets her on a collision course but there's so many unexpected twists and turns along the way that I never got comfortable watching this, I was constantly intrigued about what would happen next. Chief Willoughby is a great example of a character in this film who is full of surprises but so is fellow cop Jason Dixon who is played superbly* by Sam Rockwell who just won Best Supporting Actor (drama) at the Golden Globes.

It's not all serious drama though, there's actually some good chuckles in this film that help break up the otherwise serious nature of the story.

I reckon this four star review in News Ltd press is fair. Read it if you'd like to know more about the film but to be honest, I reckon this is actually one where it's good to go in not knowing much. I knew nothing about it when I saw it and was totally engrossed.

Trailer here. In cinemas now.

*You know when an actor is SO good at the role you just reckon that deep down they must actually be like that themselves? I mean, consider Michala Banas in Upper Middle Bogan. She does bogan SO well that I reckon she just must have bogan heritage! Same goes for Sam Rockwell as dumb cop Jason Dixon. It's just hard to imagine him as anything other than completely dopey in real life now!

CALL ME BY YOUR NAME - film

Call Me By Your Name is a drama/coming of age/love story set in 1983 that has been receiving rave reviews. It's one of those ones where everyone I know and respect who has seen it has loved it, setting me expectations sky high. There's also that Best Picture (drama) Golden Globe nomination to consider!

I did enjoy this - you'd be made of stone if you didn't - but I confess I wasn't as moved by the love story as I expected to be. I think that's likely a reflection of my expectations rather than the film, which is really lovely.

The film is told through the eyes of Elio Perlman (Timothée Chalamet), a 17 year old American who is spending the summer of 1983 in a 17th Century villa in northern Italy with his French mother and American father who is researching Greco-Roman archaeology.

Elio's father invites an American student working on his own doctorate, Oliver (Armie Hammer), to join the family for the summer to help with his research and a beautiful relationship develops between Oliver and Elio. Both are having relationships with women in town at the time but it's clear theirs is the relationship that holds to the most meaning for them. It's complex, as you can imagine, but it's navigated by the film makers in a sensitive way and Elio and particularly Oliver as the older of the two, tread oh so carefully while acknowledging their feelings.

As the film was nearing conclusion and I was feeling very aware and a little disappointed that I had not been as moved by it as I expected, Oliver's father delivers a monologue that really stepped things up a gear and brought a tear to my eye. It was affecting in a way I didn't expect and had hoped the rest of the film would be.

No spoilers here about how the relationship unfolds but this is one I'd happily recommend so see it and let me know what you reckon!

Here's a five star review from News Ltd and a three star review from Fairfax but for what it's worth, my own view is somewhere in the middle, settling around four stars if we were giving them out.

Trailer here. In cinemas now.

ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD - film

Like many films out at this time of year, All The Money In The World is a Golden Globe nominee which is of course the  sign of a great film. It's up for Best Director (Ridley Scott), Best Actress (Michelle Williams) and Best Supporting Actor (Christopher Plummer) but interestingly didn't get a nomination in the Best Film category.

All The Money In The World is loosely based on a true story set in the 1970s. J. Paul Getty (Plummer) is literally the world's richest man and his grandson Paul is kidnapped with a $17 million ransom being asked. The dodgy Italians who have kidnapped him aren't experts in the game but do enough to put Paul's life genuinely on the line. Paul's mum Gail (Williams), who married into the Getty family but is now divorced from Paul's addict, estranged father, is caught up in the complex negotiations between the kidnappers and J.P. Getty who appears steadfast in his determination to not pay the ransom. (He has 17 grand children and figures they'll all be kidnapped if he starts paying ransoms.)

Michelle Williams, Christopher Plummer and the young bloke who plays Paul (Charlie Plummer - no relation to Christopher) are all really terrific in this. Christopher was famously recruited to the role to replace Kevin Spacey, who had already filmed the whole thing when his sex abuse scandal hit the headlines.

So what did I think of the film? Cut to the chase, I hear your hollering!

I didn't love it. For me it's one of those ones where the pieces of the puzzle are there and you feel like you should like it and you just don't. It builds to a tense crescendo as you might expect but I didn't feel tense in a 'how will this story end?' kind of way, rather a 'I just want this film to be over' kind of way. I mean, of course it's not terrible, it just didn't do it for me. They didn't give me enough to like about the characters to care enough about how it ended.

For me personally, I enjoyed the performance of Mark Wahlberg who played an ex-CIA agent working for J.P. Getty to lead the negotiations with Gail. I reckon he's underestimated sometimes because of the beefcake thing but he's really very good. AND YES HE'S A HOT BEEFCAKE I AM ONLY HUMAN OK?!

Perhaps my feelings were impacted by the moronic bogan sitting next to me doing that annoying 'say what everyone's thinking' in full voice. For example, and I am not kidding, "Oh, don't trust that guy!" ... "As if she's gunna do that!" ... "What a dickhead!"... #ironic. Seriously folks, a cinema is not your lounge room. Shut up!

I reckon this 3.5 star review in News Ltd is fair.

Trailer here. In cinemas now.

THE GREATEST SHOWMAN - film

The Greatest Showman, starring Hugh Jackman as said showman, is a musical. So if you don't like musicals you won't like this. There's no two ways about it - not everyone is up for people breaking into song for an otherwise run of the mill conversation.

So you're still reading because you do indeed enjoy a musical. Or perhaps you can just tolerate them? That should be enough.

The Greatest Showman is based, I gather very loosely, on the true story of P.T. Barnum's (Jackman) creation of the Barnum & Baily Circus in the late 1800s. I knew absolutely nothing of P.T. Barnum's story so for me, I had nothing to base any assessment of accuracy on - it was just a story. He started a circus of "freaks" so in this case, a bearded lady, an albino, conjoined twins etc.

Barnum's wife Charity is played by Michelle Williams and they have two adorable daughters. The three of them go from very few material possessions to having everything when the circus becomes hugely successful. But of course that alone would be a bit dull, so 'our Hugh' gets a bit distracted by another artist he discovers - a beautiful Swedish singer. No more for fear of spoilers but I guess the point is, this is total cheesy fantasy stuff. If you can roll with the cheesiness, then I reckon you'll enjoy this toe-tapper. But if cheesy camp singin' and dancin' turns you off then this one will stretch the friendship.

Zac Efron plays Barnum's business partner and you know what? I reckon he's really terrific in this. I mean, he can sure sing but he can also dance and has the face of a damn angel. Same with Hugh but I've always been a fan so it wouldn't take much to convince me on that front.

It's directed by an Aussie making his debut - Michael Gracey. He features in this video about the audition of the bearded lady role which gave me a bit of a tingle. Look out for the piano player, whose enthusiasm is quite mesmerizing.

This film is getting mixed reviews. It's nominated for Best Picture (musical/comedy) at the Golden Globes so plenty of people are digging it but then there's this scathing rant from The Daily Review. To be fair, lots of the reviews are in the 3-4 star range (eg 3 from Leigh Paatsch in the Herald Sun) and I reckon that's fair but a little low for a GG nominee. I mean, it won't win, but still it's nominated.

Trailer here. In cinemas now.