PARTISAN - film

You know those films where it's really well done, it make you think and the performances are excellent and yet watching it made you feel all blergh? This is one of those.

Now, that can be a good thing. If your taste skews towards arthouse films and you don't mind watching something pretty challenging, I think you'll like this. However if you're someone who goes to the movies once or twice a year for a bit of light escapism, this is definitely not for you.

This is an Australian-made film with a Melburnian directing (Ariel Kleiman) but I doubt you'd guess that if you saw it not knowing. 

Set somewhere in war-ravaged Eastern Europe, it's the story of Gregori (Vincent Cassel), who is basically a creepy cult leader, and his mission to recruits kids and train them to become assassins. It's the kind of plot which, in the wrong hands, could go very wrong but it's handled delicately by Kleiman.

I wonder if Kleiman wrote it off as part of the mystery as to where this film is set but I did find it a bit jolting when the accents didn't seem to add up. For example, at least one of the kids had a pretty clear Australian accent and hearing it really distracted me and jolted me out of the story.

Australian critics are divided. Two stars here from Fairfax and four stars here from News Ltd.

Trailer here.

A ROYAL NIGHT OUT - film

A fictional-but-apparently-based-on-a-handful-of-actual-facts account of Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret hitting the town in London incognito during the Victory in Europe celebrations in 1945, this film is charming.

It's not going to win any awards for being groundbreaking but it's fun and lovely to watch. 

There's not a lot of reviews around to direct you to as it's only just released overseas. Coincidence that it coincides with the birth of Princess Charlotte? I think not! But ok, ok, it's actually more about the timing of the anniversary of VE day - 8 May.


Regular readers of this blog will know I'm not a fan of long films. 90-100 minutes is optimum, I say! This one comes in at 98 minutes, the perfect length for an inoffensive and fun flick like this.

Here is one review though from 'Screen Daily' if you want to read more about the story etc.

Trailer here.
 

PITCH PERFECT 2 - film

This film is damn good fun. If you liked the original Pitch Perfect, definitely get along to this one for more laughs.

The makers of this film know their audience and give them what they want. It helps to have seen the first film but this does stand alone just fine.

I laughed a lot, with Rebel Wilson's character 'Fat Amy' getting the lion's share of the gags. She delivers time and time again in this.

Trailer here.

And if you're not familiar with the Pitch Perfect phenomenon & want to know more, read up on it here.

THE AGE OF ADALINE - film

If I explained the implausible storyline of this film to you, I know with absolute certainty you'd say 'that's so dumb' so I'm not going to bother. 

Just know it somehow stars talented actors like Ellen Burstyn and Harrison Ford and yet it induced derisive laughs from the group I watched it with. Actual laughs, guys. And not in a good way.

If you are interested in how silly the story line is, I will break it down for you below.

MASSIVE SPOILER ALERTS TO FOLLOW DO NOT SAY YOU WEREN'T WARNED.

Woman (Blake Lively) with 6 year old child is in car accident.
Car accident causes woman to become 'ageless' meaning she will be 29 years old forever.
Woman moves towns and changes names regularly so as to not arouse suspicion.
Her child ages normally and grows into elderly wise woman with a 29 year old mother.
Elderly daughter convinces 29 year old mother to 'stop running' and find love.
29 year old mother meets a guy & falls in love.
29 year old mother meets said guy's parents.
Said guy's father recognises her as the love of his life from back when they were both young.
WHAT A COINCIDENCE, GUYS!
Said guy's father tries to make her come clean.
She runs away.
She has a car accident while running away.
Boyfriend finds her in car wreck.
At hospital, she wakes up and explains implausible situation to boyfriend BECAUSE SHE'S IN LOVE AND CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE.
She discovers the car accident somehow fixed the ageless problem.
YOU GUYS!
They live happily ever after.

Trailer here.

Melbourne International Comedy Festival

A quick look at the small list of comedians I've seen at the festival this year, if you're looking for a recommendation...

Brilliant/ loads of laughs / highly recommend:
Judith Lucy
Rhys Nicholson

Great / worth a look:
Justin Hamilton
Joel Creasey

Good potential / room for improvement / up & comers who will probably be on TV & radio in 5-10 years:
Dilruk Jayasinha
Becky Lucas (This show was only 40 minutes long & had a strangely abrupt ending & sombre tone.)

I found hilarious but suspect it's an acquired taste:
Karl Chandler

MANNY LEWIS - film

Oh boy.

It's usually actually a bit fun to blog about a film that's terrible but to be honest, it always hurts a little to do it to an Australian film.

This film is Australian. And it's pretty terrible.

Written by and starring comedian Carl Barron, you'd think there'd be a bunch of laughs but sadly, there's not much of that.

It's meant to be a "feel-good quest for love" for Barron's Manny Lewis but the character spends the vast majority of the film being depressed and you know what it's like to watch a film where the lead character is depressed? Depressing. And not very funny.

I'd tell you to give this a miss but I suspect this is the first you will have heard of it and given there was only four people in the session I was in on the weekend and it only came out a week ago, it'll be gone before you'd even thought seriously about seeing it. Another sad day for the Australian film industry.

If this film is in any way biographical, I think Barron ought to see a therapist instead of making a film next time he feels the urge.

Never one to mince words, News Ltd's Leigh Paatsch called it "one of the most truly terrible Australian films in living memory". 

Trailer here.

'71 - film

This is a drama about a British soldier caught behind enemy lines in Belfast in 1971, during what's known as 'the troubles' - the violent conflict in Northern Ireland.

The film is fantastic. The tension is just so real, I could feel it physically in my body as it built. The soldier is accidentally left behind by his unit when they're caught up in a riot and the story follows his dramatic attempt to escape to safety.

Highly recommend this one and for what it's worth, it doesn't skew particularly to either gender - a general crowd pleaser I think.

For more on the story, check out this four star review in The Guardian.

Trailer here.

TOP FIVE - film

I wanted to love this. I really did. A comedy written and directed by a world-famous comedian should be amazing, right?! (I'd also read this rave review in the LA Times so went in with really high expectations which seldom works out well...)

Alas, this film from Chris Rock, also starring Chris Rock, is a liked-but-not-loved kind of scenario for me.

He plays stand-up comedian Andre Allen in this film and Andre is trying to break the mould he finds himself in after appearing as Hammy the bear in a trilogy of action comedy movies. He's also in a loveless relationship with a reality TV star - think Kardashian.

It's hard to escape the fact that the storyline is just so predictable. I did laugh a bit (the scenes where Andre goes back to hang out with his family who don't cop his 'rich & famous guy' thing are very funny and Chris Rock/Andre Allen doing stand-up was also great) but nowhere near as much as I hoped I would in a film from someone with this comedy pedigree.

In the interests of fairness though, I present this very positive review in Rolling Stone magazine, also good if you'd like to read more on the story.

Here's the trailer.

SEVENTH SON - film

I'll declare from the outset that fantasy films aren't really my taste so Seventh Son, an 'epic fantasy' was always going to struggle to please me.

But to my mind even if you like fantasy, you won't like this pile of excrement. Honestly, I just found it a total bore.

It stars Jeff Bridges and Julianne Moore so I guess I hoped that even though it wasn't really my genre that it would still be ok. I mean, Julianne Moore just won the Oscar for best actress for crying out loud! Alas, she is let down by a terrible script. And as for Jeff Bridges, his character speaks like he has a mouth full of marbles, with an affectation fit for a leading man in a suburban theatre company Shakespeare production. (The kind of guy who can't quite work out why he isn't starring opposite Cate Blanchett in an Melbourne Theatre Company production... you know the type.)

Anyway, give this one a wide berth I reckon. DVD/digital at home, at best.

This review of it in Variety is pretty funny, if you're interested in reading more about the story and what a proper critic thinks. (eg. "Here, it’s downright uncomfortable to watch an actor as good as Bridges fumbling lame one-liners")

Trailer here.

PROJECT ALMANAC - film

 Knew nothing about this film when I walked in and quickly realised we would not get along.

Hand. Held. Camera.

I am a very light touch when it comes to motion sickness so this was a disaster for me. I really tried hard to stick it out FOR YOU GUYS. SEE WHAT I DO FOR YOU!?

But at the 50 minute mark, my stomach could take it no longer and I had to swiftly dash out the cinema. You can guess the rest, though I wouldn't recommend it.

The last time this happened to me was with the film Kenny. Urgh.

For what it's worth, the film is about three high school nerds, a cute sister and a hot popular girl from school who manage to invent a way to time travel. But (surprise!) they don't think through all the consequences of this. I wish I could tell you how that aspect of the film unfolds but I didn't return after my aforementioned exit. What I did get through I wasn't particularly impressed by, so if you're willing to take the word of someone who only got through 50 minutes of a movie, I'd say give this a miss.

Here's a two star review in the UK Telegraph for you if you want the full picture, more on the story etc. And trailer here.

FIFTY SHADES OF GREY - film

This film is based on the international best-selling book 'Fifty Shades of Grey' by author E.L James. (Note that I haven't read the book so this is just a regular film blog to me.)

If you've been living under a rock you might not know that the book is famous for some pretty raunchy s&m sex between main characters Christian Grey (young rich 'business man') and Anastasia Steele (young innocent English Lit student).

In the film adaptation we have Jamie Dornan as Christian and Dakota Johnson as Anastasia. Anastasia meets Christian and he gradually tries to compel her get involved in his s&m world. Both give an ok performance in a film I found to be total rubbish. 

Honestly, it was just tedious. Some of the dialogue, I gather taken directly from the book, just made me wonder how on earth it was so popular.

For example (FRUITY LANGUAGE WARNING):

Anastasia to Christian: "Are you going to make love to me now?"
Christian: "I don't make love, I fuck. Hard."

I actually heard someone in the cinema mutter "Oh please" at that bit.

OK that was me who muttered that.

The film is attracting some controversy as to whether it glamorizes domestic violence. Obviously that's not something that can be examined within the confines of my short 'cut to the chase' style, but if you do want to read more about that, try this article.

But quite apart from any of that, I think this is just a really ordinary film and I'd be disappointed if I'd paid $20 to see it. If you're looking for titillation it would be way too soft for you (it's not even R-rated, it's MA 15+) and if you're not into that you'd probably have no interest in the film anyway.


Fairfax film critic Phillipa Hawker didn't hate it as much as me, for the record. Here's her 3 star review if you're interested in that perspective and more on the story. The Today Show's Lisa Wilkinson hated it and gave it a big ol' serve on her show, which you can watch here.

Trailer here.

THE GAMBLER - film

Imagine a friend is a gambling addict and you have to watch them dig themselves deeper and deeper into debt and crisis, making bad decision after bad decision. That would be pretty awful to watch, wouldn't it?

Welcome to The Gambler.

Mark Wahlberg is our gambler and I never really became invested in him and his plight, nor the mediocre mini love story in this.

All in all, it was just pretty *meh* and definitely not worth laying down a lobster (and then some) to see at the cinema.

The one thing I did enjoy though is John Goodman as one of the blokes owed money. I'd forgotten how great that guy is. 

(Side note: thumbs down to any film maker who makes Mark Wahlberg look as unattractive as he does in this.)

Trailer here.

THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING - film

This is the story of famous theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking's life, based on a memoir by his ex-wife Jane. Hawking was diagnosed with motor neurone disease at the age of 21 and went on to defy expectation and make amazing discoveries in physics. (That's my layman's take on it but I'm not a a physicist so leave me alone, ok?!)


As you would imagine, the role of Hawking is challenging to play but actor Eddie Redmayne is amazing. He won the Best Actor Golden Globe and may well go on to win the Oscar also.

I personally found this film pleasant enough viewing but not amazing. Redmayne's performance aside, my friend I agreed that it was a bit dull. If the opportunity arises, sure, watch away, but I can't say I'd suggest rushing out for it. Especially during award season when the market is flooded with great films.

For more on the story, check out this three star review in The Telegraph (UK). Three stars sits about right with me - good but not great.

Trailer here.

WILD - film

 Reese Witherspoon takes the lead in this film based on a true story - Cheryl Strayed's account of her 1770 kilometer trek through American desert in 1995.

We jump from now, when she's actually trekking, to moments in the past that explain why she came to be on such a significant journey. Much of it goes back to the death of her 45 year old mother played by Laura Dern and where her grief takes her. (Hint - it ain't pretty.)

Witherspoon is nominated for the Best Actress Oscar for this film which speaks volumes. This is a huge role (she's in almost every scene) that really carries the entire film and she is excellent in it.

At first as we watched this young woman, so inadequately prepared for such a huge physical challenge, walking through the desert I was taken back to the Australian film Tracks in which Mia Wasikowska plays a woman trekking through the desert with a camel. Despite the critical acclaim I found that film a giant snooze fest so I was worried this would follow in a similar vein but there's plenty of action outside of the desert challenges to keep this one interesting.

This positive review in the LA Times captures it nicely, if you're keen to read more.

Trailer here.

STILL ALICE - film

In this film, Julianne Moore plays a 50 year old academic diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's Disease. She is brilliant in it and deservedly just won the Best Actress Golden Globe and is a got chance of winning the Oscar for same.

Her experience of the disease taking hold is a journey she goes on with her husband, played by Alec Baldwin, and her children, played by Kristen Stewart (who does sullen predictably well), Kate Bosworth and Hunter Parrish.

This film is spectacularly beautiful and I would highly recommend it but be prepared for an emotional experience. You will need tissues!

For more read this four star review from The Guardian... "An effortlessly excellent film about a difficult subject."

Trailer here.

ST VINCENT - film

Loved this! Bill Murray at his blistering best as grumpy, wacky old Vincent, neighbour to Melissa McCarthy's Maggie and her son Oliver.

Maggie and Oliver are new to the neighbourhood and circumstances see Vincent become unlikely babysitter to Oliver. Not surprisingly it's far from a usual babysitting arrangement but the two characters develop a lovely connection and get into a bit of mischief.

There's also more to it including a role for Naomi Watts (for which she was expected by some to get a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination but was 'snubbed') but you don't need the details, just go and see it!

Highly recommend this one.

Here's a positive review (surprisingly only matched with 3.5 stars) from News Ltd's Leigh Paatsch if you want more and here's a trailer.

BIRDMAN - film

As with many films out at this time of year, Birdman is nominated for a bunch of Oscars which is of course a sign of good quality. 

(You know a film distribution company thinks they have a hit on their hands when a film like this, which is an arthousey one, is on at Hoyts Greensborough. Greensborough! The only thing stranger than that programming decision is the fact that there was four other people in the cinema in my session!)

But I'll be honest. I didn't love it.

I get why the critics love it (eg this gushing review in Variety) and I agree that the performances in it are amazing. Michael Keaton is brilliant in the lead role and Emma Stone playing his daughter also impresses. Zach Galifianakis, Naomi Watts and Ed Norton - all excellent.

I think the people who will enjoy this are people who don't just dig mainstream, people who like their films to make them think a little. If you like your movies pretty mainstream and you're just at the movies for some mindless entertainment in a rare two hour break from the kids, I think you could be disappointed by this.

Birdman is anything but mindless. It's about an actor Riggan Thomas (Keaton) who is trying to reinvigorate his career after playing iconic superhero 'Birdman' in a series of films many years ago. He's doing that by staging his own adaptation of a Raymond Carver short story 'What We Talk About When We Talk About Love' - directing and starring, no less.

If I could watch any of the 'Best Picture' Oscar nominated films again, I'd watch Whiplash and The Imitation Game again before this.

Give this Fairfax 5 star review a read if you're thinking about seeing it I reckon. It'll give you a helpful idea of the story before going in.

Trailer here. Now showing.

UNBROKEN - film

This WWII drama, directed by Angelina Jolie, is based on the true story of Olympic runner-turned US Air Force bombardier Louis Zamperini. His story is a remarkable one (der - Lush Lips Ange wouldn't have made a film about him if it wasn't!) and this film captures it in a deeply compelling way.

The parts of the film (the majority of it) that capture Louie's time stranded at sea (his plane is struck down over the Pacific) with two other soldiers and his subsequent time in a Japanese POW camp are so unrelenting that it was almost painful to watch. A sign that the story is being executed well, to be sure. It's not easy to watch in that regard but it really is an amazing story and I would happily recommend seeing this one.

For more detail on the story, check out this 3.5 star review in Rolling Stone magazine.

Trailer here. Opens 15 January.

THE HOBBIT: The Battle of the Five Armies - film

I'll open this with a frank confession. This is the third part in a series of three 'The Hobbit' films and I haven't seen the first two parts. I was preparing to be bored and confused when I watched this installment and you know what? I was confused but not at all bored! It's a drama-filled visual feast! 'The Hobbit' is a book by JRR Tolkien who also wrote 'The Lord of the Rings'. The events of 'The Hobbit' precede those of 'The Lord of the Rings'.

To be fair to the film, I took along my 15 year old nephew James who is a big fan and had seen the first two installments. I handed the blogging reigns to him and here's what he said:

"I thought the movie was a great wrap up to the three 'The Hobbit' movies. I loved the way it was presented and I especially loved the use of digital effects. Although there was something that bothered me a bit with the movie... at times it simply has too much going on. The original 'The Lord of the Rings' had two different story lines going for most of the three movies. This gave an interesting range of perspectives but at a point in this final 'The Hobbit' movie there was simply too much going on and I was just getting confused. Apart from that small issue I really enjoyed the movie. I think it was an excellent end to the 'The Hobbit' trilogy and unlike most other prequels, it linked incredibly smoothly into the first 'The Lord of the Rings'. I would highly recommend this movie to anyone who likes a bit of action and fantasy."

I guess this can all be summarized as, if you liked 'The Lord of the Rings' and the first two installments of 'The Hobbit', you will probably really like this but probably will see it regardless of the reviews. If you haven't seen any of them, don't know anything about the story etc, you will be mighty confused jumping on the bandwagon at this point but entertained nonetheless! 

It's getting mixed reviews. Here's a great one from The Wall Street Journal and here's a pretty bad one from The Atlantic.

Trailer here.

Opens in cinemas on Boxing Day.

THE IMITATION GAME - film

Loved this!

It's based on a true story about Alan Turing (played to perfection by the brilliant Benedict Cumberbatch), a mathematician who invented the first ever 'computer' during WWII to crack the Nazi's naval code to help win the war.

Keira Knightley is also in this (playing one of the other cryptologists working with Turing, the only female) and despite my general ambivalence towards her, she keeps being great in great movies like this one so I'm slowly coming around on her!

The story delicately navigates the issues of Turing's personal life too - he was gay which was, at that time, illegal.

Lots of films skew to a particular group - women will like XYZ film more than men, young people will like XYZ film more than older people, but this is universally likeable to my mind. I really can't think of a group who wouldn't enjoy it. (Ummm, maybe young bogans who find films like 'Fat Pizza' funny, but they're not likely to be reading this totes high brow blog, ok?!) 

There's a bit of Oscar buzz around this film. I'd love to see Cumberbatch get a gong for it, he really is fabulous in this.

For more on the film, try this 'B+' review in US magazine Entertainment Weekly. 

It opens in cinemas on 1 January. Trailer here.