Reviews
Love The Beast
- Details
- Written by Matthew Toomey
| Directed by: | Eric Bana |
| Released: | March 12, 2009 |
| Grade: | A- |
I know next-to-nothing about cars. When someone tells me that they’ve bought a new car, I always ask about it to be polite. "Ah cool, what kind of car is it?" I’ll nod and pretend to know what he or she is talking about. The truth, of course, is that I’m completely clueless.
Love The Beast is a documentary from Eric Bana which covers a wide territory. I guess you could say the focus is on Bana and his love of motor racing. In the film, you see him compete in the 2007 Targa Tasmania – a 5 day rally across the Apple Isle.
We all know about Eric Bana the movie star but not many know about Eric Bana the car enthusiast. He talks in the film with popular television personality Dr. Phil McGraw about his passion for the sport and how it’s great to have an interest outside of work. It’s certainly a theory I subscribe to given my love for him (which sadly provides no form of income whatsoever).
The "beast" referred to in the title is Bana’s Ford GT Falcon Coupe (I had to look that up). They’ve been together for 25 years. So why hang on to a car for so long? Wouldn’t it be better to upgrade to a new and better model? These questions are asked and comedian Jay Leno, a car lover himself, offers some humorous insights. I’m not saying that I now have a newfound love for my own Holden Commodore, but I now have an appreciation for those who shower their beloved cars with affection.
Just as interesting are the glimpses we see of Bana’s more public life. A few days after competing in the Targa Tasmania, we see him attend a movie premiere in New York with Drew Barrymore and Robert Duvall. It’s pretty clear what Bana would rather be doing. Many of us dream about being movie stars but you get the feeling that this guy would rather be back home with his mates working on his trusty "beast".
I’m sure this film will appeal to car aficionados but as someone who is the exact opposite, I can say that I still found it both enlightening and amusing.
Watchmen
- Details
- Written by Matthew Toomey
| Directed by: | Zack Snyder |
| Written by: | David Hayter, Alex Tse |
| Starring: | Malin Akerman, Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode, Jackie Earle Haley, Patrick Wilson, Carla Gugino |
| Released: | March 5, 2009 |
| Grade: | B |
There’s no doubting that Watchmen will attract a cult-like following when released in cinemas. It started its life in 1986 when first published as a 12 book comic series. It was later released in its entirety as a graphic novel. At the preview screening I attended, you could sense the anticipation from the young audience. They’d been waiting for this for a long time.
The story is set in 1985 in a fictitious world where Richard Nixon is still President of the United States. There is much tension between the U.S. and the Soviet Union and many people believe that a nuclear war is imminent. The "Doomsday Clock" has been set at 5 minutes to midnight.
The person thought to be able to save the day is a superhero named Dr. Manhattan (Crudup). He has incredible strength and also the ability to transport himself anywhere at any time. He developed these powers after a botched science experiment when he was younger.
There are a few other superheros looking to play their part in saving the world. Some are open about their identity but others prefer to keep quiet. Not everyone sees them in a positive light. When an ageing superhero known as The Comedian is killed in brutal fashion, Rorschach (Haley) suspects that someone is out to eliminate them. Who is it and what is their motive?
There were two obvious points that stuck me when I saw this film. Firstly, it’s very violent. There are some quite gruesome sequences actually that involve blood, guts and other disgusting matter. It’s rated MA in Australia and is not for the faint of heart. Secondly, it’s long. It clocks in at a whopping 163 minutes which is lengthy considering it’s based on a comic book.
As for my specific thoughts on the film, I certainly wasn’t blown away. The story drags at times and I did wish they could speed it up. I can’t believe I’m saying this but there was almost too much character development and not enough action. The dialogue is a little dreary at times also.
Turning my attention to the positives, I enjoyed the look of the movie and the messages explored within the ending. There’s some food for thought. Jackie Earle Haley gives the best performance as Rorschach. His raspy voice makes him perfect to provide the film’s narration.
I’m interested to see how this film performs at the box-office. Will it only attract those fans of the graphic novel? Or will others be lured in based on the trailer and word-of-mouth? We’ll find out soon enough.
Zack And Miri Make A Porno
- Details
- Written by Matthew Toomey
| Directed by: | Kevin Smith |
| Written by: | Kevin Smith |
| Starring: | Elizabeth Banks, Seth Rogen, Craig Robinson, Jason Mewes, Traci Lords, Jeff Anderson |
| Released: | February 19, 2009 |
| Grade: | B+ |
The title of this film is self explanatory. The fact that it is R-rated should also tell you a little bit more. Zack & Miri Make A Porno is the latest creation from Kevin Smith, the guy responsible for cult classics such as Clerks, Chasing Amy and Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back.
The reason that Zack and Miri have found themselves making their own porno is because they have no cash. Their overdue on their rent payments and both the water and electricity have been cut off. They’re desperate. The pair come up with the idea after meeting gay porn star Brandon St. Randy (an hilarious cameo from Justin Long) at a high school reunion.
They assemble a small cast and end up shooting it at a Starbucks-life coffee shop where Zack works. Everyone’s excited and everyone’s hoping to make some money. There’s a catch however. Zack and Miri have been long-time friends and both are worried about their looming scene together. Can they sleep together for the purposes of the movie and still maintain their plutonic friendship?
This film won’t suit everyone’s tastes but fans of previous Kevin Smith flicks will probably get a few kicks out of it. Almost every joke involves sex and/or nudity. There’s a particular moment near the end of the film involving the cameraman that will leave you feeling sick and laughing hysterically. That’s not easy to do.
Lead stars Elizabeth Banks and Seth Rogen also make a fun couple. They work well off each other and I enjoyed listening to their light-hearted discussions. What I’m trying to say is that there’s a half-interesting story going on amongst the toilet-humour. Craig Robinson is the best of the supporting cast. He plays an under-the-thumb husband who has secretly put the funds to make the movie.
I can’t say too much more (in case little kiddies are reading this review) but if you’re over the age of 18 and don’t mind some low-brow comedy, you’re likely to lap this up.
The Secret Life Of Bees
- Details
- Written by Matthew Toomey
| Directed by: | Gina Prince-Bythewood |
| Written by: | Gina Prince-Bythewood |
| Starring: | Dakota Fanning, Queen Latifah, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, Sophie Okonedo, Paul Bettany |
| Released: | March 5, 2009 |
| Grade: | B |
I saw 220 movies last year. Did I want to see them all? The answer is obviously, no. We all have different tastes and I admit that there are some films that just don’t appeal to me. There’s also the fact that sometimes I’m just not in the mood. I’m often tired and/or distracted.
So why do I it? I don’t know really. What’s the term they use to describe people like me – obsessive compulsive? If a film has been released, I feel strangely compelled to see it. As my job is to be a film critic, I like to have an answer for people if they ask me about a certain film. If I were to skip an occasional movie, I’d feel a little incomplete.
I have now written two paragraphs about myself and zero paragraphs about The Secret Life Of Bees. If you’ve caught on, you’ll understand my reasoning. This is one of those movies that I was describing above. I sat in the movie theatre in a state of ambivalence. I was looking at my watch every ten minutes and had other things on my mind.
Now, this really isn’t fair to the filmmakers, is it? If I just sit here and talk about myself and say nothing about the movie. I should do the right thing and talk about the story and then throw in a few pieces of trivia that I found off the internet from a Google search. Then again, if I’m being true to myself… and the two people who will read this review, I should just admit that I couldn’t care less and move on.
I could then use my time to talk about something else. I could stick to movies and have a carefree chat about something topical like the Oscars or the ever increasing candy bar prices at Birch, Carroll & Coyle Cinemas. Maybe I could go completely off the wall. I could have a discussion about the meaning of life. I could even speculate about what awaits in the afterlife.
And let’s be honest. If I were to debate the merits of the major religions, you have to admit that it’d be more interesting that my standard review of The Secret Life Of Bees. A discussion about L. Ron Hubbard and the Church of Scientology would leave more of an impact that having me assess the acting performance of Dakota Fanning.
In turns out that I’m going to do nothing at all. I’ve reached my 400 word quota which means I no longer have to sit at my computer. I can post this up on my website, send it out with my Film Pie newsletter and then find something or someone to amuse me.
If you are interested in this film by the way, you’ll find heaps of information and other reviews on the interweb. Such is the wonder of technology. And to those people who "Googled" the movie and came up with this pathetic review, I sincerely apologise. Click search and try again.
The Reader
- Details
- Written by Matthew Toomey
| Directed by: | Stephen Daldry |
| Written by: | David Hare |
| Starring: | Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes, David Kross, Lena Olin, Bruno Ganz |
| Released: | February 19, 2009 |
| Grade: | A |
When the Academy Award nominations were announced last month, The Reader caught many tipsters off guard. It picked up five nominations including a slot in the best picture category. It also earned Stephen Daldry (Billy Elliot, The Hours) his third nomination for best director. That’s pretty impressive when you consider that he’s only made three feature films in his entire life. Has that ever been achieved before?
There film has attracted criticism from those who believe it’s "just another holocaust movie." I have to disagree. There isn’t a single scene set during World War II. Whilst references are made to what happened at Auschwitz, this is ultimately a story about two people who struggle to be honest with each other. Are there certain things which are best kept hidden?
Michael Berg (Cross) and Hanna Schmitz (Winslet) first meet on the streets of Berlin in 1958. He is a 15 year old boy. She is a 36 year old woman. Each afternoon, he would come to her house for two reasons. The first is the most obvious and doesn’t require explanation. The second reason is that Hanna loved to be read to. They would lie in bed and Michael would read from the classic books that he was studying in school.
After several months, it all came to an abrupt end. Michael came by Hanna’s house to find it empty. She had gone. It was difficult to come to grips with. He was a love-struck teenager and his first true love had vanished without explanation.
The film then moves 8 years into the future where the two would be reunited. Now studying law at university, Michael sees Hanna on trial for her crimes during World War II. It turns out that Hanna was a guard at a Nazi concentration camp. She was one of six women responsible for guarding a church which accidentally caught fire. By not opening the locked doors, over 300 Jewish women died as a result. One of the few survivors had written a book which implicated Hanna Schmitz.
This is all news to Michael who now must battle his personal feelings for Hanna with this newly discovered information. It forces him to think about the Nazi war trials and whether they do provide justice. With so many people involved in the atrocities that took place, is it fair to single a select few out and punish them for their deeds?
As I’ve already alluded to, there are a few things to think about in The Reader. I know that some are outraged by the fact that it tries to make you sympathise with a Nazi solider. I didn’t really see it that way. I enjoyed it more for the exploration of the relationship between Michael and Hanna. These are two people who are inexplicably drawn to each other despite their differing ages and backgrounds. They try to fight their feelings but it’s a struggle to do so.
Terrific performances are turned in by Kate Winslet and David Kross in the leading roles. Ralph Fiennes plays the older version of Michael who pops in and out of the story, as it is told in flashback form. Bruno Ganz (who played Hitler in Downfall) also makes a great cameo.
Based on the novel by Bernhard Schlink, The Reader is moving drama which I look forward to seeing for a second time.
The Combination
- Details
- Written by Matthew Toomey
| Directed by: | David Field |
| Written by: | George Basha |
| Starring: | George Basha, Firass Dirani, Doris Younane, Clare Bowen, Michael Denkha |
| Released: | February 26, 2009 |
| Grade: | B |
The Combination is set in Sydney and centres on two Lebanese brothers. John (Basha) has just been released after a two year stint in jail. The time he spent locked away had a profound impact. He’s now returned to live with his mother (Younane) and he wants to rebuild his life. He’s got a new girlfriend (Bowen) and he’s got a part-time job at a small boxing centre.
John’s biggest concern is his youngest brother, Charlie (Dirani). Over the past two years, Charlie has fallen in with the wrong crowd at school and has been caught up in a gang war. To make matters worse, he’s recently become a drug dealer. John doesn’t want Charlie to make the same mistakes that he did. He needs to find away to get through to him and set him on the right path.
This is a nice story. It highlights the importance of one’s family and how far we’re prepared to go to look after our own. It also looks at the drivers behind much of the racial tension in some Australian communities. There’s a brief clip shown of the 2005 riots in Cronulla that reminds us that this story is closer to home than you might think.
Writer George Basha, who also plays John, drew on his own experiences to help create the story. He changed his own lifestyle after seeing one of his best friends set on fire by an underworld figure for an unpaid debt. By chance, his script found its way into the hands of actor David Field (Gettin’ Square, Unfinished Sky) who agreed to make his directorial debut. It’s worth pointing out that it took six years to secure the funding to make the movie. It’s not an easy business.
We’re almost two full months into the 2009 calendar year and this is the first Aussie film to be released. The Combination isn’t going to set the local box-office on fire but I hope the film does find an audience. It’s a decent movie made on a shoe-string budget and it’s better than at least half of the films currently showing in cinemas. Give it a chance.