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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 10 August 2010

About half way through this film, I realised I had let my guard down.  I was having too much fun.  My critic’s hat had fallen off.  I wondered if I should be looking for flaws.  Were some jokes overdone?  Did they go too far with the fast-paced editing?  Who might not like a film such as this?

I quickly pushed those thoughts to the back of my mind.  This moment was not to be ruined.  Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World had tapped into my warped sense of humour and wasn’t letting go.  Laughing out loud and sitting in a packed cinema – it reminded me once again of why I love movies.

Many will already be familiar with the works of 36-year-old English director Edgar Wright.  He burst onto the scene with Shaun Of The Dead in 2004 and followed up with Hot Fuzz in 2007.  Both are spoof comedies and both developed a cult-like following.

With Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, Wright has taken on his most challenging assignment yet.  The film is based on the comic book series from Bryan Lee O’Malley which has a small, yet devoted fan base.  Wright’s dilemma is that he has to (1) satisfy the exceedingly high expectations of those who have read the books, whilst (2) making something commercial enough to lure the other 99.9% of the population.

Having left the cinema with a beaming smile on my face, I can safely declare that Wright had ticked both boxes.  I preface that comment by acknowledging that some will hate it.  There were a few walk-outs during the preview I attended.  I guess they weren’t amused by the funny video game references and Wright’s “attention-deficit” style of filmmaking (where a million things are happening at once).

As the title promises, the story centres on 23-year-old Scott Pilgrim.  He lives in a tiny apartment, he plays the guitar is a crummy band and he hasn’t had a girlfriend in over a year.  I realise Michael Cera (Superbad, Juno) has a very limited range as an actor but he’s the perfect person for this role.  With his breaking voice, awkward one-liners and dopey-looking facial expressions, Cera makes it look “cool” to be a “nerd”.

Scott’s eyes are transfixed on a girl by the name of Ramona Flowers (Winstead).  The only way he can win her heart is to defeat her seven evil “exes”.  They will each come after Scott and challenge him to a duel.  He must find their weaknesses, take them down and proceed to the next level.

If this sounds like an arcade game… then yes, you are right.  Please collect 1,000 bonus points.  Wright has used an arsenal of specials effects to construct a world which pays tribute to iconic video games.  You’ll realise this within seconds of seeing the Universal logo at the start.  It sets the tone for what is to follow – inspired visuals with creative editing.  The sound effects are great too.

I’ve already paid homage to Michael Cera but the whole cast is fantastic.  Kieran Culkin (Igby Goes Down) gets the most laughs as Scott’s gay flatmate.  Followers of Chris Evans, Brandon Routh and Jason Schwartzman will also have much to like. 

You should realise by now that this is MY kind of movie.  It’s cute, it’s funny and it’s original.  One of the year’s best!

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 02 August 2010

It’s been a very quiet movie-going year so far in Australia.  By my count, only 96 films had been released in Brisbane cinemas over the first six months of 2010.  That’s the lowest total since 2003.  I don’t know exactly why we have a shortfall of “releasable” movies.  Are there simply fewer movies because of the global financial crisis?  Maybe local cinemas are starting to steer clear of smaller films because of their low box-office?

Roadshow Films are trying to fill the void with a rather unorthodox release for The Special Relationship.  If it looks and feels like a telemovie… well… that’s because it is.  The film debuted in the United States on the small screen and a similar strategy is planned for the United Kingdom.  You can therefore cross it off your Oscar ballot and try at the Emmys instead.

The film sees Michael Sheen take on the role of Tony Blair for the third time.  He first played Blair in The Deal (a television movie from 2003) but he’s more widely remembered for playing the famed prime minister in The Queen.  Richard Loncraine’s film explores the “special relationship” which was shared between Prime Minister Blair and President Clinton during their years in office from 1997 to 2000.

This sounds like an intriguing film on paper.  For a point in time, these two men were the most powerful in the world.  They formed a close friendship but what was the reason behind it?  Could they relate to each other’s situation?  Or was it more of a political alliance?  If you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours…

Richard Loncraine’s film is more of a history lesson than a meaningful drama.  I felt it had been made for those without knowledge of the Clinton sex scandal and the war in Kosovo.  Too much time is wasted explaining these events through interviews and television clips.  I was also puzzled by the attention given to Cherie Blair and Hilary Clinton.  What we’re left with is a movie which only scrapes the surface.  It doesn’t dig deep enough into the mindsets of both Tony Blair and Bill Clinton.

The dialogue is also on the stiff side.  It lacks the energy that has earned screenwriter Peter Morgan a pair of Academy Award nominations (The Queen and Frost/Nixon).  Clinton and Bush are forever explaining their rationale to their wives and advisers but there are no major revelations.  It all plays out as you’d expect.  The Queen offered much more.

There’s a scene at the very end of the film where, for the first time, we see footage of the real Tony Blair alongside the newly elected George W. Bush.  It’s a great moment.  Blair doesn’t say much but you can sense the awkwardness of the situation.  Unfortunately, this glimpse of the real Blair was far more interesting than the clichéd version we saw throughout the film.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 05 August 2010

If you walk into your local bookstore, you’re likely to find a section filled with autobiographies.  There are many celebrities with many stories to tell.  Have you ever wondered about the obvious question?  Did they really write these books themselves?  Or was it all the work of a “ghost writer”?

It must be a strange profession.  A “ghost writer” will pour their heart and soul into something that they will receive zero credit for.  They have to become intimate with their subject and get inside their head.  They need to encapsulate the life of the person with just the right amount of flattery.  Above all else, they’ve got to craft something that’s worth reading.

As the title suggests, this film centres on a ghost writer.  He is played by Ewan McGregor and in a nice twist, the character doesn’t have a name.  He is known simply as “the ghost”.  He has been asked to write the memoirs of Adam Lang (Brosnan), a former British Prime Minister who now lives on a quiet island off the East Coast of the United States.

From the moment he becomes involved with the project, The Ghost realises that something is amiss.  He learns that he wasn’t the first choice for the job.  A previous writer had already started work on the book but died under strange circumstances.  He was taking the ferry to the mainland but somehow he fell overboard.  His body was found washed up on the beach.  Was it an accident or was foul play involved?

Things become more complicated when a major news story breaks.  Adam Lang has been accused by a former minister of authorising illegal torture against suspected terrorists whilst Prime Minister.  It’s grabbed the attention of the International Criminal Court who are now looking for evidence of these suspected war crimes.

The media are going crazy.  Lang’s keeping quiet.  He’s well out of his depth but The Ghost can’t help himself.  He takes advantage of his closeness to Lang and starts searching the truth.

The Ghost Writer is based on the novel by Robert Harris which was first published in 2007.  Harris has admitted that former British Prime Minister Tony Blair was his inspiration for the story.  I guess he wanted to explore the possibility of a modern day leader being made accountable for a war gone wrong (such as Iraq).  He’s wrapped up this idea inside an equally interesting tale about an inquisitive ghost writer.  It all adds up to a smart, well-written political thriller.

Pierce Brosnan is an ideal fit for the Adam Lang role – distinguished and intimidating.  Ewan McGregor is also good as The Ghost.  Kim Cattrall and the underrated Olivia Williams leave their mark in important supporting roles.  I admit there are a few weaknesses in the plot but the strength of the performances elevates this beyond your normal Hollywood fare.

The film was still in post production when director Roman Polanski (The Pianist) was arrested in Switzerland in September 2009.  Thankfully, he was able to complete the film (as he was only placed under house arrest).  We’re all entitled to our own opinions regarding his past but Polanski deserves credit as a filmmaker.  The Ghost Writer proves that he’s as good as ever at the age of 77.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 28 July 2010

Killers is (insert negative adjective here).  It’s been made solely for us to enjoy the beauty of Ashton Kutcher and Katherine Heigl.  That’s what it felt like.  We get to see his bulging abs while shirtless in a lift.  We get to see her bulging breasts while standing around in her underwear.  I only wish as much focus went into the script.

The film begins in Nice with Spencer (Kutcher) and Jen (Heigl) bumping into each other at a holiday resort.  Next thing you know… they’re married.  Three years have passed and all is blissfully well.  What Jen doesn’t know is that her husband is an ex assassin.  He killed bad guys for some secret government organisation.  Those days are behind him however.  Spencer has hung up his gun and now works in the construction industry.

Well, I guess I’m not quite correct when I say he “hung up his gun”.  Firstly, he actually has several guns.  Secondly, he didn’t really get rid of them – he’s just hidden them around the house in case of an emergency.

Lo and behold, that situation is about to present itself.  Spencer is approached by his ex-boss and he quickly learns there’s a $20m bounty on his head.  Everyone’s out to kill him – friends, neighbours and work colleagues.  It doesn’t make much sense to me but apparently all of these people have been stringing him along for years… just waiting for the right moment to pull the trigger.  What a waste of time and effort.

Jen freaks out of course but once she calms down, she finds herself caught up in the mayhem and trying to fend off her husband’s attackers.  There are the obligatory car chases, gun fights and furniture throwing.  If this whole concept sounds familiar, perhaps you saw Knight & Day with Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz a few weeks ago.

Australian Robert Luketic (Legally Blonde, The Ugly Truth) is the film’s director but he didn’t leave much of an impression on me.  There’s nothing special about the fight sequences and I didn’t believe for a second that Ashton Kutcher’s character could pull off some of his moves.  He’s just too goofy.

The film has one redeeming quality and that’s the performance of Catherine O’Hara as Jen’s mother.  She’s a humorous alcoholic and whilst the same joke is used again and again, she’s a lot funnier than Kutcher and Heigl.  That’s not just my opinion.  I base it on the audience’s reaction at the preview screening I attended. 

It’s trying to be funny and it’s trying to be cool but Killers doesn’t quite get there.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 04 August 2010

When I told people at work that I thought Step Up 3D “wasn’t too bad”, I received a few strange looks.  I can’t blame them.  I’d usually carve up such a film.  The plot is mindless and the dialogue is worse than an episode of The Bold & The Beautiful.  I don’t think it’ll be on the minds of Academy voters when filling out their ballot for best original screenplay.

It’s clear though that the filmmakers weren’t too concerned about the plot.  This is a 107 minute music video for those who love street dancing.  If that’s why you’re buying your ticket, you won’t be disappointed.  These dancers are very talented and you can sense the weeks of rehearsal time that have gone into each key scene.

I’ve been critical in recent months of 3D movies.  Too many studios seem to be “cashing in” on the 3D craze by adding the effects during post production.  Examples include Alice In Wonderland and Clash Of The Titans.  That’s not the case here.  Director John Chu has carefully planned each scene to milk all he can from the 3D format.  There’s a very cool scene involving a guy, a girl, an air vent and a slushie.

This will probably leave you cringing but I should spend one paragraph describing the storyline.  A guy named Luke (Malambri) owns an apartment which is home to a group of street dancers.  He’s behind on his mortgage payments and the bank is going to foreclose.  It turns out that the leader of a rival dance crew is first in line to buy it.  How can Luke get out of this situation?  He and his friends are going to win a huge street dancing contest with a $100,000 first prize.  They’ll be able to save the farm… I mean… the apartment!

I know it sounds bad but I still had fun.  It’s got creative dance moves, decent choreography and a solid soundtrack.  It didn’t inspire me to take up “krumping” but I was still impressed by what these dancers had to offer.