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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 27 June 2005

Some stories do not age well.  In 1968, we were first introduced to Herbie in The Love Bug.  Sequels followed in 1974 and 1977.   They epitomise Disney’s definition of “family entertainment” and I dare you to find a more G-rated flick.  Today though, kids (and adults) want more.  We want films more films like The Incredibles!

As the film begins, Herbie can be found at the scrap yard, destined for destruction.  With all his successes, I’m not sure how he got here but let’s skip the reality check.  Anyway, a young college graduate named Maggie (Lohan) picks the rusted Volkswagon bug to be a cheap car to get her through the summer.

Lo and behold, Maggie also happens to be a wanna-be racing car driver and is the daughter of Ray Peyton (Keaton), the owner of NASCAR racing team.  When the speedy Herbie helps her defeat star driver Trip Murphy (Dillon) in a one-on-one competition, the spotlight falls on Maggie and the wheels are set in motion.  Oh and yes, there’s a love interest – an old school friend named Kevin (Long), who pops into Maggie’s life unexpectedly as a valuable mechanic.

This is weak, weak, weak material.  The only thing holding it all together is a thin slip of film.  The story ain’t doing anything to help.  After a drawn-out introduction which reintroduces to Herbie, we float for another half-hour watching Maggie trip over her own heels.  Something finally happens at the very end but the climactic race is sheer nonsense.  Kids over the age of 8 will not be entertained.

The most interesting thing I can tell you about this film is the reaction it received from test audiences in America.  Parents believed that Ms Lohan was showing way too much cleavage for a Disney film!  Computer technicians then digitally reduced her breast size and raised the neckline on a few of her tops.  You just have to laugh.

Before I depart though, can someone explain something for me?  Herbie has a love-interest this time – a yellow Beetle.  What is it that two cars do for “fun”?

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 15 June 2005

Samuel Bicke (Penn) is a simple but troubled man who can’t find the life he is searching for.  His wife Marie (Watts) left him and took custody of their three children.  Sam has the deluded belief that he will be able to patch things up with Marie but her actions suggest otherwise.  His persistence is only pushing Marie further away.

Sam’s also struggling to make the most of his new job as an office furniture salesman.  He doesn’t belong there and the idea of lying to customers to make a sale is something that doesn’t sit well with him.  His boss (Thompson) is also frustrated by Sam’s inability to put his strict morals aside and make a sale.

Determined to do things his own way, Sam tries to go into business with a friend (Cheadle) selling tyres.  He applies for a bank loan to get things started but it’s going to be at least six weeks before the loan application can be processed.  It’s an eternity for Sam who needs the money now.  He no longer has the patience to put up with his current job and the continual rejections from his wife.  Something has to give… and it does.

The Assassination Of Richard Nixon reminded me very much of Falling Down with Michael Douglas.  It’s the story of a man who is acting outside the parameters of normality but doesn’t understand the consequences of his actions.  In the leading role, Sean Penn’s performance is superb and despite his character’s wrong actions, you will feel sympathetic and understanding of the forces which drive him.  Australian is well represented with Naomi Watts and a great showing from Jack Thompson (who I haven’t on the big screen much of late).

There’s an interesting quib about The Assassination of Richard Nixon at the Internet Movie Database website.  The film was initially conceived as a work of fiction but whilst researching, they learned that a similar situation had once occurred.  The final product is a compelling movie which mixes both truth and fiction.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 21 June 2005

He isn’t as well known as William Shakespeare but the writings of Oscar Wilde are just as good, if not better.  Over 100 films have been made from his plays and novels.  There was even a film made about the man himself – 1997’s Wilde starring Stephen Fry and Jude Law.  Oscar Wilde works you may be familiar with include The Importance Of Being Earnest, The Picture Of Dorian Gray and An Ideal Husband.

A Good Woman is an adaptation of Wilde’s novel, Lady Windermere’s Fan.  If I was a devoted Oscar Wilde fan, I would have read this novel many times and seen a few of the cinematic adaptations.  I would then be more critical of the film and looking much closely at its faithfulness to the novel.

Not having read the book has worked to my advantage in seeing this film.  From a first timer’s perspective, it’s a witty story filled with hilariously intelligent dialogue.  Wilde knows so much about the relationships of men and women and can phrase things in a way that can only leave you with a smile on your face.  I could see Woody Allen writing similar material if he was around 150 years ago.

Mrs. Erlynne (Hunt) is a mysterious seductress who has been spending a great deal of time with a married man, Robert Windermere (Umbers).  The townspeople have noticed the gossip is spreading like wildfire.  Robert’s young wife (Johansson) is oblivious however and believes her relationship with her husband to be one of complete truth.  It all climaxes with a lavish party thrown in honour of Lady Windermere’s birthday where many secrets are revealed.  There are uproarious misinterpretations, comical coincidences and a finale which brings everything back into balance.

We haven’t seen much of Helen Hunt on the big screen since winning an Oscar in 1998 for As Good As It Gets.  Believe it or not, she’s appeared in just 5 films on the big screen in the last 7 years.  I’m not sure why but it’s good to see her back.  I enjoyed her performance along with those of co-stars Scarlett Johansson (Lost In Translation) and Tom Wilkinson (In The Bedroom).  Wilkinson is particularly sharp.

As you can tell though, the writing is what I enjoyed most about A Good Woman.  If you share my tastes, you’re sure to find the film a treat.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 14 June 2005

Each year, there’s always some hyped-up television show that grabs a big audience in its first season.  This year’s examples would have to be Lost and Desperate Housewives.  People make sure they’re home so they never miss an episode.

As the show ages though, the writers start running out of ideas and the audience dries up.  It becomes one of those shows you’ll watch if there’s nothing else on.  It’s unlikely though because you’ve probably transfixed by the latest sitcom / reality show emanating from the States.

I use this analogy because it best sums up my feelings regarding computer animated movies.  I’ve said this before but when the concept was fresh and new, there were some really great animated flicks.  I speak of films such as Toy Story, Toy Story 2, Antz, Chicken Run and A Bug’s Life.

Nowadays, the well has dried up.  Talented computer technicians are working overtime to churn them out but the writers have gone on permanent vacation.  What’s annoying is that I understand why they have become so slack.  Just let me humour you for a moment…

Every school holidays there is usually one big animated blockbuster.  If kids are old enough to understand, they’ll see one of the ten thousand television advertisements and nag their parents to take them.  If they’re not old enough, the parents will see these same ads and take the kids along to get them out of the house.  My point is that it doesn’t make a difference whether the film’s any good or not.  The kids are going to roll up and down the aisle (as they did in my cinema) or yell a lot.  The adults will try to keep the kids under the control or otherwise sit there looking disinterested.

Now I could review this from the point of view of a 6-year-old.  If so, I’d be saying “yaaaaaay” and spilling coke and popcorn all over the place whilst constantly kicking the seat in front of me.  Unfortunately for us all, my brain is more developed.  What I see on screen is a very limited screenplay.  It’s a 15 minute concept which Dreamworks have foolishly tried to extend into a full length motion picture.

The flimsy premise is that four animals at New York’s Central Park Zoo try to escape.  They are a lion (Stiller), a zebra (Rock), a giraffe (Schwimmer) and a hippo (Smith).  They are captured and shipped off to Africa.  Their boat though is hijacked by a quartet of killer penguins and they end up being washed up on a strange beach.  After a short freak out, they befriend an army of lemurs, do some bonding and live happily ever after.  I’m sure there’s a message in there somewhere too.  The only time I laughed was the short scene where the penguins arrive at Antarctica.

With the exception of The Incredibles, the focus of animation is now marketing over substance.  Kids may be still having a good time but there’s less and less intelligent humour for adults.  We deserve better.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 19 June 2005

I happily thought I’d seen the last of the Batman movies after the release of 1997’s Batman & Robin.  With Arnold Schwarzenegger, George Clooney, Chris O’Donnell, Uma Thurman and Alicia Silverstone, it was a truly pathetic movie.  Hands up anyone who liked this?  Hands up anyone who can actually remember what it was about?

I was sceptical about a new Batman movie but not any more!  Batman Begins is on a par with the new Spider Man series as the best comic book movie of the past 10 years.  There are a number of reasons why this is the case so it’s time to give them their fair dues…

Christian Bale.  He’s one of those brilliant actors who keeps slipping under the radar.  I will not forget him when it comes time to publish a new list of my favourite actors.  His performance as a 13-year-old in Steven Spielberg’s Empire Of The Sun remains one of the finest acting jobs ever by a child.  His signature role to date would have to be as Patrick Bateman in American Psycho.  Bale’s performance in Batman Begins is brilliant.  He’s dark and void of emotion.  And I love the slow, deliberate way in which he delivers his dialogue – it seems so humorously blasé.

The supporting cast.  I defy you to find a bigger name supporting cast in a 2005 release.  Gary Oldman plays a rare good-guy.  Liam Neeson plays a rare bad-guy.  It’s great when you see top-name actors tackle a role that contradicts what you’d usually expect from them.  Recent Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman (Million Dollar Baby) is also in the mix along with two top British actors – Tom Wilkinson (In The Bedroom) and one of the best actors under 30 going around today, Cillian Murphy (28 Days Later).   The pick of the bunch though is Michael Caine who exudes class at all times.  Every single line he has is a gem.

Christopher Nolan.  You may not know the writer-director by name but you will know him by reputation.  Nolan has only made two major films and I’ve considered both worth of an A grade.  First was 2000’s Memento with Guy Pearce (considered the 22^nd greatest film of all time according to the Internet Movie Database) and 2002’ Insomnia with Al Pacino and Robin Williams.  The 35-year-old Nolan is a true original and all of this films take you on an unexpected journey.

I haven’t spoken much of the story but you should know what to expect.  Our caped crusader battles to save the citizens of Gotham City from an evil villain.  What might catch you off guard is the story’s depth.  The opening hour looks at how Batman came to be and the second hour shows what Batman is capable of.  It’s a great balance of drama and action that stays true to the essence of the comic book.  Aside from an unnecessary scene at the very end there is thankfully no reference to any of the other four mainstream Batman flicks.

There hasn’t been a lot of publicity for the film which may have contributed to my liking for it – sometimes the best movies are those you enjoy without expectation.  The media seems to be focusing more on the love interests of Katie Holmes-Cruise, who plays a small part in the film.  Well, I send my congratulations to Ms Holmes on her recent engagement to Tom Cruise.  I hope it helps her land more roles because her performance here isn’t going to.  Her over-the-top innocence and annoying voice keeps the film from reaching near-perfection.