X-MEN: APOCALYPSE - film

Disclaimer: I've never seen an X-Men film before. Well if I have I don't remember it. I really don't think I have.

I figured there was a good chance that seeing a film that's ninth in a series without seeing installments one - eight would leave me utterly confused and whilst there was definitely some things that were lost of me (perhaps because of that, perhaps because of my intellectual shortcomings) I actually enjoyed this more than I expected to!

If you're an X-Men purist / Marvel comics fan, I'm sure my thoughts will not much of much interest to you, but for the rest of you, all you need to know is that this is an action, action, action superhero crazy silly fantasy movie with a cast full of hotties.

The critics are divided. One and a half stars here from Sydney Morning Herald and a more generous three stars here from The Guardian. (When three stars is the more generous review, you know we're not talking brilliant stuff.)

Trailer here. In cinemas now.

WHISKY TANGO FOXTROT - film

Loosely based on a novel by a US war zone correspondent, this film stars Tina Fey as said correspondent Kim Baker who escapes her mundane journalism job in the States to take up a TV reporter gig in Afghanistan.

I'm a big fan of Fey and frankly I'd watch her read the dictionary, but this film is only good and not great.

Whisky Tango Foxtrot doesn't know if it's a comedy or a drama and this confusion means it never quite lands well in either camp. There's a few moments that I think are meant to be poignant but some people in the preview I was at laughed. The jaunty soundtrack also contributes to the uncertainty.

It also stars Martin Freeman and Margot Robbie as other journalists in the 'Kabubble' - what they call the expat bubble they inhabit in Kabul. Margot Robbie plays a British TV journalist and I don't know why they didn't just make her Australian since she didn't really nail the accent.

Billy Bob Thornton is perfect as a US military commander, Aussie Stephen Peakcocke is good as a security hunk but in a curious piece of casting American actor Christopher Abbott, best known from playing Marnie's boyfriend in the first season or two of the TV show Girls, plays Fahim, Kim's Afghani fixer. It's not that his performance was bad, just that I kept being distracted by what a strange choice it was.

More on the story in this three and a half star review in the Sydney Morning Herald.

Trailer here. In cinemas now.

BAD NEIGHBOURS 2 - film

This comedy starring Seth Rogan, Zac Efron, Rose Byrne and Chloe Grace Moretz is pretty funny but...

It's a big but...

The storyline is so lame. Like, really terrible.

So if you're after a mindless laugh with absolutely no intellectual stimulation, then sure, go see this. But don't say you weren't warned!

Smaller roles performed by Billy Eichner and Ike Barinholtz help with the LOLZ, I'm a fan of them both.

More on the story in this two star review in The Guardian.

Trailer here. In cinemas now.

FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS - film

Starring Meryl Streep in the title role, Florence Foster Jenkins is the story of a wealthy American woman who dreams of being an opera singer, and indeed is an opera singer, despite having a very ordinary voice.

I didn't realise until the end of this film that it's actually based on a true story. I can see why someone saw fit to take the story to film... it's charming and funny!

It also stars Hugh Grant as her husband (more to this than meets the eye, of course) and Simon Helberg who many will know for his long-term role as Howard Wolowitz in TV's The Big Bang Theory. (Don't pretend you haven't seen any TBBT, you big ol' comedy snob!) His comic chops are well utilised here as he plays her pianist who fears damaging his reputation by working with her but is lured by the regular coin.

Though not five-star-amazing, this is three-stars-good-fun for mine, so check it out if you're looking for something to catch at the cinema.

More on the story in this three star review in The Guardian.

In cinemas Thursday 5 May. Trailer here.

A MONTH OF SUNDAYS - film

Regular readers of this blog will know that it pains me to sink the boots into an Australian film. But alas, here we are.

A Month Of Sundays stars Anthony LaPaglia as a sad and grumpy real estate agent in Adelaide.

You know what happens when you watch someone be sad and grumpy for 109 minutes? You get sad and grumpy.

Even the glorious Julia Blake, whose face you will recognise from every second film and TV show in Australia in the last forty years, can't save this. She, like LaPaglia, is of course a brilliant actor, but her character just brings more SAD! Giggles from John Clarke's character and warmth from Justine Clarke's also weren't enough to help.

I suspect it's a film that intellectual types will happily deconstruct as they sit in their Carlton townhouses eating goats curd and Maggie Beer quince paste, but I don't think this film has mainstream appeal. I'm sure it has merit in some ways, but I just didn't enjoy watching it.

Neither did the bloke near me in the cinema who said at the end, "That was pretty dull. I could have been watching AFL 360!"

It pains me to say this of a local film, but I just didn't enjoy it enough to recommend you hand over a lobster to see it.

Two stars from The Guardian Australia here & that's in keeping with what I reckon.

Trailer here. In cinemas 28 April.

THE BOSS - film

The Boss stars and is co-written by the fabulous Melissa McCarthy, a comic actress who many know from her hilarious performance in the hit comedy film Bridesmaids.

This is funny, but it ain't no Bridesmaids.

McCarthy stars as a wealthy entrepreneur who suddenly loses her fortune and leans on her assistant, a kind single mother (Kristen Bell), to keep her going. But this entrepeneur isn't taking this loss lying down and comes up with a new idea to get rich.

Her nemesis is played by Peter Dinklage who flounders a bit with the fairly blunt script.

Speaking of the script, I doubt this is McCarthy's best work and it certainly won't win any awards but this film is certainly not devoid of laughs. I'd say The Boss is for you if you just want a bit of a mindless chuckle.

Fairfax critic Jake Wilson gave it 2.5 stars which is pretty fair I think. News Ltd critic Leigh Paatsch, on the other hand, gave it 1.5 stars. Tough!

Trailer here. In cinemas now.

Melbourne International Comedy Festival - part 3

RHYS NICHOLSON - Easily my favourite show of the festival so far. Just rapid-fire laugh after laugh after laugh from this Sydney-based comic. Crappy venue (Roxanne, tucked in near Chinatown) but that doesn't detract from what a brilliant show this is. Highly recommend! Herald Sun's Mikey Cahill gave it 4.5 stars, to add weight to my claim!

DAMIEN POWER - I've heard a bit of hype about Brisbane-based Damien during previous festivals and was determined to catch him this time round. There was certainly plenty of laughs but said hype did mean my expectations were really high and this show didn't quite get there for me. It's an interesting style, some really blokey quite bogan stuff which seemed to be well-received but then some stuff on Karl Marx and Pompeii just didn't land, which he acknowledged in the show in a way that was funnier than the material. Interestingly, Mikey Cahill from Herald Sun gave this show 4.5 stars too. We'll have to agree to disagree on this one, more like a 3 star show for me.

WIDE OPEN SKY - film

This Aussie doco is about a children's choir in a remote regional area corner of Australia.

It is so beautiful! Honestly, I laughed and cried and really enjoyed this. The project leader and choir master Michelle is an incredible woman who hits the road each year to audition kids in isolated areas, most of them in families where money is tight including some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families. They eventually come together for a choir camp and concert which is just so uplifting.

There's loads of passionate and interesting kids involved but to mention just one, we have Mack from Lightning Ridge who loves to dance and sing unlike most of the other boys at school who love to play rugby. At one point, reflecting on his experience in the choir, Mack says something like "You think you've got to lie to have friends but the choir means you can connect with other people like you"... cue tears!

The choir is obviously hugely significant for these kids and it made me so happy that opportunities like this exist for these kids and that I had the opportunity to enjoy this story.

In cinemas from 14 April. (Limited release, look for it at arthouse joints.) Trailer here.

WHERE TO INVADE NEXT - film

The latest doco from Michael Moore (the man behind films such as Farenheit 9/11 and Bowling for Columbine), this film looks at a bunch of different issues such as work, education, social equality and more.

Moore travels to numerous countries to look at what they do well and how it compares to USA. (The overall tone being, 'there's lots of stuff we do poorly back home') It paints an interesting picture and certainly one that reveals the US to not be quite the paradise some think it to be. For example, it opens with an interview with two Italians who outline their holiday and salary entitlements & it's unbelievable how generous it is! He tells them that there is no legislated holidays for US workers and they are horrified. In fact, I suspect they don't believe him.

The things other countries are doing are interesting in some cases but I'll be totally honest - I actually fell asleep briefly in this film! I'd like to be able to mount a defense of it and say I do that all the time and it was unrelated to the content but that would be a lie. I never fall asleep in cinemas! And I hadn't had a particularly long day. This film is too long and too woe-is-us for me. Not without any joy, but not something I'd suggest you rush out and see.

A 3.5 star review in the Fairfax press here. In cinemas 7 April. Trailer here.

Melbourne International Comedy Festival - part 2

BRIDGET EVERETT - Known to some Australians as Amy Schumer's bestie (she appears regularly on Amy's TV show, films and photos on social media), this US cabaret comic was, well, I'm actually not even sure how to explain it. It was shocking (as in, I was shocked, not that it was terrible), bold, R-rated, terrifying and hilarious. I honestly spent a large portion of the show with my hand over my face in that "oh my God, is this really happening?" kind of way. Definitely not for the faint-hearted but if you can cope with FULL ON material (much of it in song - she has an incredible voice - and nudity, she could well be for you. Unfortunately I only caught her at the end of her run at MICF (last show Sunday 3 April) so there's no point recommending it to you. Instead, if you're curious, check her out on YouTube here. (This is a portion of the same show she did in Melbourne.)

ANNE EDMONDS - This Melbourne-based comic is hilarious and I loved this show. Most of the material is easy for punters to relate to and just damn good fun. I really laughed out loud a lot and would definitely recommend this show.

MEL BUTTLE - Some of you may know this comic from Brisbane as co-host of The Great Australian Bake Off on Foxtel recently but she's been on the stand-up scene in Australia for many years now. The crowd was a little tough the night I saw her (there was one woman in the audience who was laughing noticeably loudly & she admonished the rest of us for not being more like her at one stage) but there was still plenty of laughs in this show. Mel has spoken about her eccentric parents in many shows previously and this year is no exception and this stuff really made me laugh a lot.

Melbourne International Comedy Festival - part one

DILRUK JAYASINHA - Born and raised in Sri Lanka, Dilruk (pictured above) moved to Australia to study accounting at uni many years ago. He's abandoned the trade and is now working as a stand-up comic. I saw Dilruk last year and he was good but this year he's great! The additional year of experience has made a huge difference. I really laughed a lot, often as his expense, which will make sense if you see the show. (Word of warning if you plan to see this one... the room gets pretty stuffy!)

GERALDINE HICKEY: This Australian comic has a laconic style that is really endearing. The theme of the show is lotto but it strays a long way from that. Who cares though, I got a lot of laughs out of this. Happily recommend!

KARL CHANDLER: Another local comic, Karl does one liners with a unique added degree of difficulty - in each show he invites another comic in to be a professional heckler! The night I was there it was Danny McGinlay and together they were hilarious! The one liner style is not for everyone, but I really loved this. (Word of warning if you plan to go to Karl's show... dress light, the room is like a freakin' sauna.)

BECKY LUCAS - I saw Becky do her first MICF show last year and felt like she had a hell of a lot of potential. She's used the year wisely and has obviously done a lot of flying time on stage. It shows. She has a lovely charming style and I did laugh quite a bit. In five years time, this comic will be filling huge rooms, I reckon.

MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING 2 - film

Toula (Nia Vardalos) and Ian (John Corbett), whose marriage was the basis of the original My Big Fat Greek Wedding film from 2002, now have a teenage daughter in the mix of their wide web of annoying relatives as they prepare for the wedding of Toula's parents.

That's right, they aren't technically married! What fun! Oh boy.

Seriously though, this film is good enough fun. It's not going to win any awards for the story or performances but if you enjoyed the first one and would like to see more of the same, I think this one will give you what you want. (Be warned - like in the original, ethnic stereotypes & cheap gags abound.)

A two star review here from the Sydney Morning Herald if you want to know more.

Trailer here. In cinemas now.

EYE IN THE SKY - film

Starring Helen Mirren and Alan Rickman (vale) in his last film, Eye In The Sky is a UK drama/thriller.

Mirren and Rickman (both excellent... surprise!) are high ranking members of the military working on a drone strike on terrorists in Kenya. It's fascinating watching how they weigh up the many factors that circulate a very delicate situation. I know, I know, it's fiction... but I'm going to assume there's some realism about it!

And when I say delicate, it's really, really delicate for reasons I won't give spoilers on!

I really, really liked this film and would happily recommend it, especially for people looking for a film that doesn't skew strongly to females or males. It's a general crowd-pleaser I think, though not a particularly cheerful one.

A four star review in The Guardian here, if you want to know more.

Trailer here. In cinemas from 24 March.

THE SECRET RIVER - theatre

The Secret River is a Sydney Theatre Company production currently on in Melbourne.

Adapted for the stage from the book of the same name by Australian author Kate Grenville, this is the story of a convict and his family arriving in NSW from London in the early 1800s and the ensuing clash with the local Aboriginal community over the land.

It is incredible & you should beg, borrow or steal to get yourself a ticket.

I cannot do justice to how well done this is. I laughed, cried and was incredibly moved. Same goes for the rest of the theatre full of people I think, as evidenced by the standing ovation. It also gave me a better insight into this time in Australia's history than anything I've ever read or seen.

The performances are all excellent, including from the children in the cast, and a special mention to the incredible musician who does a lot with a little on stage to provide a haunting soundtrack. There were moments that made the hair on my arms stand on end, not least the final act of the 2 hours and 50 minute performance.

It's only on 10-19 March in Melbourne so get in quickly & try to get a ticket.

For more details on the story & this production, check out this five star review in The Age and this five star review in the Herald Sun. Yes, two five star reviews. It's not cheap (my ticket was $108) but if you can afford it, don't miss this!

THE WILL TO FLY - film

This documentary follows the story of Australian aerial skiier Lydia Lassila.

It's pretty incredible. I went in not knowing what to expect and was surprised by just how emotionally engaged I was by the end. There were tears*!

At the beginning we learn about how Lydia and other young Aussies (including my old school friend, Liz Gardner!) even become involved in a sport as unique as aerial skiing and then the focus moved away from Lydia and onto the Australian aerial skiing scene. There was some really interesting insights here from Jacqui Cooper, Alisa Camplin, Kirstie Marshall and others.

I have followed the aerial skiing at the Winter Olympics a little over the years (mainly to cheer on Liz!) but it was a blessing that I forgot what had happened, as the thrills and (horrifying at times) spills of preparation for competition were quite gripping. I was totally engaged with Lydia's story and my God I was rooting for her to win!

It's fitting really to be writing this on International Women's Day, as Lydia is a remarkable role model for young women with obstacles to face on the way to achieving their dreams. For example, given Australia's climate, much of Lydia's training was done on a wooden ramp, landing into water. I mean, imagine asking an AFL player to do a large portion of their training on snow! OK so it's a terrible analogy, but you get my point.

What these women do with their bodies while flying through the air is incredible in any case, but without ideal facilities and sufficient funding, frankly it's a miracle they're still in one piece, let alone winning medals!

This film is definitely best seen on the big screen, so get along to see it while it's in cinemas! Go!

A four star review in the Fairfax press here.  Trailer here. In cinemas from Thursday 10 March.

* I am a notoriously light touch, but still!

A BIGGER SPLASH - film

This arthouse film starring Tilda Swinton, Ralph Fiennes, Dakota Johnson and Matthias Schoenaerts felt longer than its actual running time of two hours. About two thirds of the way in I was thinking, ok, something interesting needs to happen very soon!

Swinton is an ageing Bowie-type rock star who is taking a break in the Mediterranean to recover her voice, Schoenaerts her boyfriend with his own demons to run away from. Fiennes is her former producer and lover, who comes to visit their beautiful holiday locale with his daughter, played by Johnson. Or is she his daughter?

My need for something interesting to happen was indeed satisfied which certainly helped reignite my interest in the story and its characters but ultimately I didn't love this. Definitely didn't hate it, but can't say I'd recommend you rush out for it. If you have arthouse-y taste, you will probably like it more than a once-or-twice-a-year-blockbuster-watching punter.

A three star review from The Daily Mail here.

Trailer here. In cinemas 24 March.

THE DAUGHTER - film

Inspired by a play called The Wild Duck by Henrik Ibsen, The Daughter stars big Australian names Geoffrey Rush, Miranda Otto and Sam Neill as well as younger Aussie actors Ewen Leslie and Odessa Young and American Paul Schneider. They all give brilliant performances.

This film is incredible.

Based in a regional NSW town whose economy is sustained by the local mill run by Rush's character Henry Neilson, there's something very authentic about this film. I completely bought the relationships, the tensions, the love, the complexities.

Henry's estranged son Christian (Schneider) returns to town for his father's wedding to a much younger woman. Old local connections are re-established and friendships rekindled, including Christian with his childhood friend Oliver (Ewen Leslie). Oliver's teenage daughter Hedvig is 'The Daughter', played by Odessa Young, so you know she's central to the story.

I went into this film knowing nothing of the story and I found it gripping and haunting, so I'll leave it at that as far as the plot. When I say haunting, I do mean it. I thought about this film for many hours after it finished.

I wholeheartedly agree with this four star review in The Guardian, if you do want further reading. Definitely recommend this one.

Trailer here. In cinemas 17 March.

HAIL, CAESAR! - film

I liked this new film from the Coen brothers starring George Clooney, Josh Brolin, Scarlett Johansson, Tilda Swinton and Channing Tatum but I wouldn't say I loved it.

The brains behind films such as Fargo, No Country For Old Men and Inside Llewyn Davis have turned their hand to a fun and kooky look behind the scenes at the Hollywood film industry in the 1950s here.

I caught this one with a friend and she said "I liked it... however if there was supposed to be an underlying message I missed it". Same here but I'm not sure there is one, I tend to think it's just light and fun.

I particularly enjoyed the work of Channing Tatum, who gets to camp it up as a sailor and dance like a demon!

Here's a four star review in the Fairfax press and a 3.5 one in News Ltd which is probably about right for mine.

Trailer here. In cinemas now.

ROOM - film

This Oscars Best Picture nominee is so great!

The two leads, Brie Larson as Joy and Jacob Tremblay as Joy's 5 year old son Jack, are both excellent but full credit to young Tremblay who gives the best performance from a child actor I have ever seen. Truly, he's incredible.

Joy and Jack are trapped in a room and the circumstances behind this trapping, and indeed Jack's arrival in the world, become clear but I won't spoil them. Their captor Nick is a regular visitor, bringing supplies and unwanted attention.

Brie Larson won the Best Actress in a Drama at the Golden Globes and I reckon she's a very good shot at the Best Actress Oscar too.

Room is gripping in exactly the right way. It shifts gears at exactly the right moments when you are starting to wonder how much longer situation X, Y or Z can last.

If you're thinking that a film about two people trapped in a room sounds a tad grim, you're right in a sense but don't underestimate the potential for this to end in an uplifting way.

A five star review here from The Guardian if you want to read more but warning - it contains far more on the plot than this blog post.

Trailer here. In cinemas now.

45 Years - film

I found this film boring and pretentious.

Unsurprisingly Charlotte Rampling gives an amazing performance but for me it couldn't save 45 Years and make it enjoyable. Now, I know a film doesn't have to be enjoyable to be good but frankly, I like them to be enjoyable!

Charlotte and Tom Courtenay are Kate and Geoff Mercer, a couple approaching their 45th wedding anniversary. Just in case you see it, which I can't say I'd recommend, I won't spoil it but the gist is that a previous partner of Tom comes to be a significant weight on the shoulders of their relationship.

Since I saw 45 Years I've read a bunch of reviews of it and by and large they don't agree with me. For example, 5 stars here from The Telegraph UK. This 3.5 star review in the Fairfax press in Australia is a little less complimentary.

It's only 95 minutes long but felt a lot longer to me. As the woman next to me said when she left the cinema, "How miserable!" (Her husband slept through a lot of it.)

Trailer here. In cinemas now.