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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 03 June 2009

Set in the year 2018, Terminator: Salvation paints a bleak future for the human race.  Robotic creatures, which were initially created to serve mankind, have turned against us.  They are systematically destroying all humans to prevent us from destroying the planet.  I guess we should have done something about global warming a little sooner.

A small number of survivors remain and a resistance is being led by John Connor (Bale).  They are trying to infiltrate the robot headquarters and find a way of shutting them down.  It won’t be easy however.  These robots are intelligent creatures with an ability to detect and track human movement.

It’s not well explained in this film but I should mention that John Connor has knowledge of the future.  There are certain things he must do to ensure the survival of our species.  Two people are key to his mission.  The first is a teenager named Kyle Reese (Yelchin).  Kyle is John’s father… in the future that is.  John needs to make sure that Kyle survives as he will become an important member of the resistance.

The second is a rather unusual being named Marcus Wright (Worthington).  Wright was sentenced to death in 2003 and donated his body to science.  He has since come back to life in a new body – one that is part human, part robot.  Which side of the fence does he sit?  Is he loyal to the humans or the robots?  Can he be trusted?

I’d call this film a “mixed bag”.  There are some good qualities and some bad qualities.  As much I hate the self-indulgent name which the director has given himself, McG, I think he’s done a good job putting together the action sequences.  They’re laden with special effects but it all looks great on a big screen.  There are plenty of close shaves, freaky looking machines and big explosions to satisfy action enthusiasts.  The sound effects are also cool – particularly the strange noises made by the robots.

In contrast, I didn’t think too highly of the storyline.  There isn’t a lot of substance or character development – it’s just people running around trying to escape the robots.  I usually like Christian Bale but I wasn’t a fan of his performance here.  I think he’s too serious and I didn’t care a great deal for his character.  Anton Yelchin is more likeable as Kyle Reese.  Yelchin is on a roll having appeared in the much loved Star Trek (released only a month ago).

The early box-office numbers from the States have been so-so and I don’t think Terminator: Salvation is resonating with audiences as well as other blockbusters have been in recent weeks.  I’d much rather watch Arnie and the earlier Terminator flicks.  More fun, more excitement.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 23 May 2009

Australian cinema has gone through highs and lows over the past decade but I can think of at least one person who is steering it on the right path. Her name is Sarah Watt. Her first feature film, Look Both Ways, was released in 2005 and was well received by almost everyone. It won the Australian Film Institute Award for best film, it received notable prizes at lucrative film festivals around the world and it featured in my top 10 list for year (just had to throw that in).

My Year Without Sex is her latest effort and it comes with the heavy burden of public expectation. I’ve already heard many people make comparisons with Look Both Ways and the general consensus is that this is film is “good… but not as good”. Whilst I’d agree with that statement, I don’t want to see any cinemagoers brushing it aside. It’s very entertaining and without question, one of the better Aussie films of the last year.

Natalie (Horler) and Ross (Day) are a married couple living in Melbourne with two children – 12-year-old Louis (Segat) and 7-year-old Ruby (Bradley). You’d call them the quintessential middle class Australian family. They go about their hectic routines on a daily basis and find just enough to time to spend together.

Everything changes when Natalie collapses and is diagnosed with a brain aneurysm. After an emergency operation and a few weeks in hospital, she returns home and is forced to adjust her lifestyle. As per the doctor’s instructions, she has to cut back on any strenuous activity until fully recovered. Yes, that includes sex.

Following this introduction, the film chronicles a year in the life of this Australian family. It is split into 12 chapters – each beginning with some funny pictures and a teasing title. There are plenty of ups and there are plenty of downs. What I liked most about the script is that doesn’t go overboard with drama – it merely presents day-to-day dilemmas that we can relate to. Many of them come with laughs.

Sacha Horler (Soft Fruit) and Matt Day (Kiss Or Kill) have been well cast in the leading roles. They come across as ordinary people – a little daggy but warm-hearted. I also liked some of the smaller details that Watt has included in the film. 12-year-old Louis is a mad keen Western Bulldogs supporter and this is clearly evident from the way he dresses and the posters in his room. Little things like this give the film a more honest, realistic feel.

It’s not easy securing the funding to make a film here in Australia but something tells me that the talented Sarah Watt will be making great movies for many years to come.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 31 May 2009

The romantic comedy genre has been on life support for many years.  There have been occasional glimpses of hope but my long-term prognosis was clouded with negativity and pessimism.  Its heartbeat was a little fainter with each passing day.  I didn’t think it was going to make it.

Just when all hope seemed lost… along came writers John Hamburg and Larry Levin with a cure.  Instead of sticking with familiar treatments, they have taken the genre, flipped it on its head and given it a good shake.  It was a risky move but it has done the trick. 

Metaphors aside, this is a really good movie.  Most romantic comedies end with the boy getting the girl (or vice versa).  This will starts out in reverse.  Paul (Rudd) asks Zooey (Jones) to marry him and she says “yes”.  They’ve only been dating for eight months but both are ready for a life long commitment.

Their wedding preparations hit a major snag when discussing the best man.  Most guys would have several alternatives which they’d weigh up before reaching a conclusion.  Unfortunately for Peter, he has no true friends of the male variety.  You wouldn’t call him a “ladies man” but he definitely gets along better with girls than with guys.

So what does his fiancé suggest?  Zooey tells Peter to get out there and meet some guys.  He needs to go out with colleagues after work.  He needs to go out drinking in bars.  Hopefully, he’ll meet that special someone who can be his best man.

Peter works as a real estate agent and whilst at an open house, he meets Sydney Fife (Segel).  Sydney isn’t there to buy the house.  He sees it as opportunity to pick up divorcees and eat some free sandwiches.  The two share an interesting conversation and Sydney gives Peter his business card.  Could this be the one?

Paul Rudd (Role Models) and Jason Segel (Forgetting Sarah Marshall) make this screenplay work.  It’s the best performance I’ve seen from Rudd.  He’s a nice guy but he has a knack for coming across awkwardly.  When finishing a conversation, he tries to throw in a cool-sounding reference but he always mucks it up.  There’s also a great scene where he’s sitting at his desk agonising about whether to give Sydney a call.  How can he ring this guy and ask him out for a drink without sounding like a weirdo?

Because this is a rather original film, I was never quite sure how it was going to end.  That’s a rare occurrence when watching a romantic comedy and it’s another reason why you need to see this film.  There a couple of nice twists which you may not see coming.  Also, there are plenty of laughs from the supporting players including Andy Samberg (Hot Rod) and Jon Favreau (Swingers).

On leaving the cinema, the first thing I said was “I loved it, man”.  I think you will too.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 20 May 2009

Lesbian Vampire Killers has a catchy title and an equally attractive poster. That said, it’s not as juicy as the title suggests. It reminded me of Shaun Of The Dead – the key difference being that this English comedy spoofs vampires instead of zombies. It’s not as funny either. Stars James Corden and Mathew Horne have a long way to go to live up the comedic stylings of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost.

Many years ago, a small English village was subjected to a nasty curse. Each girl is transformed into a lesbian vampire on their 18^th birthday. You’d think that everyone would have left but for whatever reason, a few resident have hung around.

Jimmy (Horne) and Fletch (Corden) are two young, horny guys who have stumbled through town on a hiking expedition. When they walk into the town’s only bar, every person within stops and stares. They realise that these two fools will be fresh meat for the lesbian vampires. They point them in the direction of a special holiday cottage and send them on their way… expecting to never see them again.

The film had potential but I think it could have been better written. I chuckled a few times but many of the jokes fell flat. It wasn’t edgy enough and there definitely wasn’t enough material to make it last 90 minutes. I was tiring at the half way mark and this lacklustre review is reflective of that.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 25 May 2009