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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 20 December 2011

If I told you to go see a certain film without knowing anything about it, would you do it?  If the answer to that question is “yes” then you can finish reading at the end of this paragraph.  I caught The Skin I Live In at the closing night celebrations of the recent Brisbane International Film Festival and it simply blew me away!  I knew nothing about the storyline beforehand and I’ve come to the conclusion that’s the best way to see it (as is the case with so many movies).

If you remain unconvinced, I will reluctantly provide a few more details with the hope that it will whet your appetite.  The plot centres on a successful plastic surgeon named Robert Ledgard (Banderas) who is developing a new type of synthetic skin that does not burn.  He has successfully trialled it using mice and believes it can revolutionise the industry.  Some of his colleagues aren’t convinced however.  They’re unsure about its practicality and whether it could actually be used on human beings.

What they don’t know is that he is already several steps ahead.  Breaching numerous laws and ethical boundaries, Ledgard has set up an operating theatre in his own home and has been testing the skin on a young woman (Anaya).  She spends most of her life locked in a spacious room on the upper floor.  Ledgard uses video cameras attached to the walls to keep a close eye on her at all times.

Who is this woman?  Why has she agreed to be treated?  What is her relationship to Ledgard?  Why must she be kept in a locked room?  With the premise firmly established, these questions will be answered in the film’s gripping second half.

There are few international directors working today who have a reputation as strong as Spaniard Pedro Almodovar.  He already has two Academy Awards on his mantelpiece – best foreign language film in1999 for All About My Mother and best original screenplay in 2002 for Talk To Her.  He has developed a reputation for being a “women’s director” and his films often focus on strong female characters.  The Skin I Live In is another great example.  Antonio Banderas is great but it’s the performance of Elena Anaya (Talk To Her, Van Helsing) that will stick with you long after you’ve left the theatre.

I like Almodovar’s description of the film as being “a horror story without screams or frights”.  Again, I don't want to give too much away but this unsettling tale is told so beautifully, so precisely.  The actions of some characters will shock you but in the back of your mind, you’ll understand their motivations.  Things are never as simple as they appear.

The end of the year is upon us and I’ve already named my top 10 movies of 2011.  The Skin I Live In sits in 4^th place on that list – behind Another Year, 127 Hours and Senna.  It’s my pick of the Boxing Day releases in Australia and trust me, it’s a film you won’t forget for a long time.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 22 November 2011

I asked every member of my team at work and none of them had heard of The Inbetweeners.  How could this be?  I was shocked, horrified, disappointed!  For whatever reason, this fantastic British television show never quite took off here in Australia.

It can be best described as a “UK version of American Pie”.  It revolves around four horny teenagers who have completely hopeless when it comes to women.  They’re part of the not-so-popular group at school and they continually end up in embarrassing, cringe worthy situations.  It leaves me sitting on the couch laughing rather uncomfortably.

There’s more to this series though than simple toilet humour.  It’s the cracking dialogue, distinctive characters and realistic storylines that make The Inbetweeners so special.  I can guarantee that these four guys will remind you of people you already know.  Will (Bird) is intelligent but has no social skills whatsoever.  Simon (Thomas) falls in love too easily and is often taken advantage of.  Jay (Buckley) portrays himself as a “ladies man” but actually has no idea.  Neil (Harrison) seems to have the most success with the opposite sex and ironically, he tries the least.

Only 18 episodes of the television series have been made but it’s developed a huge following in the UK.  It picked up the audience award at the 2010 British Academy Awards and was nominated for best situation comedy – proof of its popularity amongst both the public and critics.

The real success however has come from this film.  The Inbetweeners Movie was released in Britain back in mid August and it spent 4 consecutive weeks atop the box-office – the longest streak since Avatar in early 2010.  The film has now reeled in 45 million pounds which it makes it the 25^th highest grossing film of all time in the United Kingdom.  Only the final Harry Potter movie has made more money this year.

So why has this movie been so popular?  I’m not going to answer that question for you.  Rather, I’d like to hope that you’ll see it for yourself.  The story sees Will, Simon, Jay and Neil finish their final year of school and go on a holiday together to Malia on the island of Crete.  It’s kind of like a “schoolies week” to them – their first chance to celebrate freedom from their teachers and their parents.  Things don’t quite go as planned however.  The hotel is a complete dump, they’re quickly running out of money and they’re still finding it hard to find get laid.

I realise I’m biased given my love for the show but I found this to be one of the funniest films I’ve seen all year.  It's faithful to the TV series and I can too easily relate to these four guys and their hilarious insecurities.  Writers Iain Morris and Damon Beesley deserve credit for their screenplay.  I was fascinated to learn that Morris came up with the idea for the show while he was exchange student at Corinda State High School (here in Brisbane) in the late 1980s.

The film won’t have the same box-office impact in Australia but I’ll be doing my best over the next few weeks to get people to see it.  Perhaps my team at work can be coerced into seeing it as a part of a “field trip”.  The British generally do it best when it comes to comedy and The Inbetweeners Movie is a perfect example.

You can read my interview with stars Simon Bird and Joe Thomas by clicking here.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 14 December 2011

The Women On The 6^th Floor is a nice, light-weight French romance set in the early 1960s.  Jean-Louis (Luchini) and his wife, Suzanne (Kiberlain), live in a spacious Parisian apartment in a well-to-do neighbourhood.  He makes a living as a financial planner and whilst she keeps herself busy with numerous social engagements.

So who is it that resides on the 6^th floor?  The film’s title refers to the small team of maids who service the apartment building and live in a cramped set of rooms on the top level.  It’s nothing flash but these women have transformed it into their own fun sanctuary.  None of the residents dare enter this “poor” part of the building and the maids are free to spend their spare time gossiping about the residents below.

The arrival of a new Spanish maid named Maria (Verbeke) sparks a curious sequence of events.  Jean-Louis develops a soft spot for Maria and the two frequently chat about her background and plans for the future.  In fact, Jean-Louis starts becoming friendly with all the maids!  He finds them more interesting and more energetic than his worrying wife and his stuffy work colleagues.

As you can imagine, this doesn’t sit too well with Suzanne.  She can’t understand why her husband is spending so much time with these lowly servants and why he is going out of his way to improve their living conditions.  It draws her to a false conclusion that threatens to undermine their marriage.

I wasn’t 100% sold on the ending but this is an enjoyable film that struck a cord with French audiences when it was released back in February.  It spent 7 weeks inside the top 10 spurred on by strong word of mouth.  It’s not hard to see why.  Fabrice Luchini (Potiche) is immensely likeable as the film’s shy leading man and the chatty maids have a humorous, cheeky disposition.

Writer-director Philippe Le Guay and co-writer Jerome Tonnerre also deserve praise for the way they have delicately balanced comedy with drama.  The story is never too heavy and it’s the kind of movie I’d recommend to a friend on a Sunday afternoon to put them in a good mood for the work week ahead.  Also worth a mention is Jorge Arriagada’s upbeat score which perfectly suits the film’s tone.

Sneaking into Australian cinemas just before the Boxing Day rush, The Women On The 6^th Floor is a movie you should make time for.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 19 November 2011

Featuring some of the sharpest dialogue of the year, The Ides Of March is an intelligent political drama that shines the spotlight on the ugly nature of politics.  For some, it’ll be an eye opener.  For the rest, it will reaffirm what they already think goes on “behind the scenes”.

Governor Mike Morris (Clooney) has his eyes on the Democratic nomination to become the next president of the United States.  He has a small army of support staff who are doing everything they can to raise funds, generate publicity and secure support.  Their eyes are currently focused on the key primary in Ohio where victory will almost certainly win Morris the nomination.

The two people pulling most of the strings are Morris’s two key campaign managers – Paul Zara (Hoffman) and Stephen Meyers (Gosling).  Paul is a seasoned veteran who’s been there before.  He knows who to trust and how to play the political game.  Stephen is a relative newcomer and he’s yet to shed his youthful optimism.  He has “drunk the Kool-Aid” and fervently believes that Morris is the perfect man to lead the United States into the future.

The screenplay’s focus is on Stephen’s character and we soon see his enthusiasm whittled away by a series of events.  He quickly realises that you often have to compromise your own beliefs and morals in pursuit of victory.

As an example, Governor Morris needs the public endorsement of a key senator (Wright) if he’s any chance of winning the Ohio primary.  However, the senator will only give his support if he’s promised the position of Secretary of State, a roll that most believe he is unsuitable for.  How far are they willing to budge?  Do the means justify the end?  Is it an inevitable part of the messy political process?

The Ides Of March features one of the strongest casts of the year and there are plenty of other characters I’m yet to mention.  Marisa Tomei plays a reporter for the New York Times who is being used to leak topical information.  Paul Giamatti is terrific as the campaign manager for a rival candidate and is looking to shift the momentum his way.

Evan Rachel Wood is also great as a young intern who becomes involved in a relationship with Stephen.  There’s a scene in a hotel bedroom that sums up Stephen in a nutshell.  The two are having sex but he still manages to keep a close eye on the television set in the corner to hear the day’s latest political news – emphasising his devotion to his work and showing where his heart truly lies.

George Clooney is the finest actor working in Hollywood today.  If you look at all the roles that he’s chosen over the past decade, he’s hardly put a foot wrong.  The same could be said of his efforts in the director’s chair.  The Ides Of March marks his fourth feature film (my favourite being Good Night, And Good Luck) and it again shows his ability to tell a compelling story and extract top-notch performances from his actors.

Whilst I loved the cracking dialogue, I admit that some the pieces from this tale fit together too neatly.  I can’t say much more given the film’s key twists (which shouldn’t be spoiled) but I had trouble believing the actions of certain characters.  It felt like these actions were designed to reinforce the film’s political messages rather than providing a more realistic portrayal of what may happen in the circumstances.

The film has struggled a little at the box-office in the United States which emphasises the difficulty in selling political dramas to the mainstream public.  On its debut weekend, it pulled in $15m as compared to Hugh Jackman’s Real Steel which managed $35m.  I guess most people go to the movies for some fun escapism rather than reliving the political stories they see in the news each day.

I’d like to think there’s room in this world for both kinds of films and I’d strongly urge you to hand over a $10 donation and support The Ides Of March.  It has my endorsement!

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 08 December 2011

A suite of quality dramas being released in Australia over the next month in the lead up to next February’s Academy Awards – War Horse, The Iron Lady, Albert Nobbs, Melancholia, The Descendants and The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.

The release of Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol therefore comes at a perfect time.  It’s to cater for those who aren’t in the mood for a deep, heartfelt drama.  You can relax in your seat (hopefully with a bucket of popcorn in your hands) and enjoy some of the best action of the year.  There’s life in this series yet!

The far-fetched plot is nothing new.  It feels as if it’s been stolen from a James Bond flick.  Ethan Hunt (Cruise) and his new team are after a crazy Russian businessman named Kurt Hendricks (Nvqvist) who is out to destroy the world.  Hendricks is after three items – a nuclear weapon, launch codes and a satellite.  It’s the standard shopping list for any villain.

It’s going to be another challenging assignment but to make it even more difficult, Agent Hunt no longer has the backing of the Impossible Missions Force (IMF).  An explosion at the Kremlin was blamed on Hunt and the President has ordered that the entire IMF be shut down.  It’s now up to Hunt and his three-member team to catch Hendricks, clear their names and prevent a nuclear catastrophe.

The script won’t take home any awards but you won’t care once you’ve seen the unrelenting action sequences.  My eyes were glued to the screen and my heart rate definitely increased!  The film’s signature moment is midway through and features Tom Cruise scaling the world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa in Dubai, without any kind of harness.  It put my fear of heights to the test.

Director Brad Bird deserves praise for the way in which these scenes have been pulled together.  The camera angles are well chosen, they haven’t been over-edited, and the special effects are seamless.  It doesn’t have that “computer generated” feel that so many action films have today (such as Immortals or Transformers).  I’ve said it many times – the best way to create suspense in an action movie is to make the situations look real.  Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol does just that.

I admit to being a little surprised given Brad Bird’s career to date has revolved around animated films.  He was an executive consultant on The Simpsons throughout the 1990s before stepping up and directing two brilliant animated features – The Incredibles (2004) and Ratatouille (2007).  Both earned Bird an Academy Award.  This is the first time that Bird has directed a major live action movie and I’m now confident it won’t be the last.

Tom Cruise has been hit-and-miss over the past decade but this film should steer his career back on the right path.  His passionate, full-on persona suits the role of Ethan Hunt.  He also doesn’t look too bad for someone who turns 50 next year.  Simon Pegg (Shaun Of The Dead) provides the film’s comic relief as a smart-ass computer guru and Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker) is also good as an analyst who is reluctantly drawn into the mission.

Has there been a better action film this year?  I don’t think so.