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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 07 November 2004

Cole Porter was a brilliant songwriter and composer.  He first rose to prominence in the 1930s and his Broadway hits included The Gay Divorce, Anything Goes and Leave It To Me.  One of his last shows is one many will remember - Kiss Me, Kate in 1948.

De-Lovely is the story of Porter’s life but it is told in a rather unique way.  We are introduced to an aged Cole Porter (played by Kevin Kline) sitting with a friend (Pryce) in an empty theatre.  From there, they both look back at his life with Porter offering commentary.  Porter’s famous songs help tell the story and so you could call this part-drama, part-musical.  A few artists of note appear in the film and lend their voices in the performance of Porter’s songs.  Robbie Williams, Elvis Costello, Alanis Morissette, Caroline O’Connor, Cheryl Crow and Natalie Cole are amongst them.

The story focuses on Porter’s relationship with wife Linda (Judd).  The two married in 1919 and Cole loved Linda but his success and his wealth gave him the ability to explore another love in his life – men.  He developed relationships with male performers and frequently attended gay clubs.  His wife knew of this and was happy for him to explore these “interests” but they soon dominated their relationship and Cole seldom spent time at home.

The songs and music of De-Lovely are great but the story is lacking.  I confess to being touched by the teary-eyed conclusion but the screenplay lacks depth.  Too much time is spent exploring Cole’s relationship with men and I would have rather seen a greater focus on his actual talent.  Each to their own though as many others may prefer the approach taken by writer Jay Cocks.

I enjoyed the performances of Kevin Kline and Ashley Judd.  It’s great to see Judd showcasing her talent rather than having it go to waste in some cheap crime thriller.  I don’t know if either will find themselves in contention for any year-end awards but the make-up artists sure will.  With the film spread over several decades, they age Kline and Judd beautifully.  Kline is almost unrecognisable by the end but yep, that is him under all that make-up.

Premiering at the lucrative Cannes Film Festival and debuting here in Brisbane as part of the Brisbane International Film Festival, De-Lovely is a classy film for lovers of great music.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 02 November 2004

I am struggling to find the right words in which to phrase this review.  In My Father’s Den steps into that realm of filmmaking where even the best adjectives don’t do it justice.  The intricate characters are movingly real and the plot unfolds like a classic novel.  Like any good book, you’ll find yourself transfixed.

Paul Prior (MacFadyen) is an award winning photographer who has travelled the world and gained notoriety.  Hearing news that his father has passed away, Paul has returned to his childhood home in a small New Zealand town for the funeral.  Intending only to stay a few days, he soon finds himself accepting the position as a fill-in teacher at the high school where he once studied.  The longer he stays, the more he remembers of an upbringing long forgotten.

Befriending Paul is a girl her final year of school.  Celia (Barclay) dreams of becoming a writer and is drawn to Paul’s travel stories and adventures.  Paul is reluctant to reciprocate attention of a naive teenage girl but after reading some of her works, he realises she is immensely talented.  The two spend more time together with Paul fostering Celia and helping to develop her ability as a writer.  Her thoughts have Paul realising that he was once very similar to young Celia.

The film enters a much more intriguing, darker chapter in its second act.  The easy-going friendship between these two people will be upset by townspeople of both the present and the past.  By the end of it all, Paul Prior will be a changed man.

In My Father’s Den is drama at its very best.  At a time in which Australian cinema is floundering, New Zealand filmmakers are providing a showcase for the world to enjoy.  At this year’s lucrative Toronto Film Festival, In My Father’s Den was awarded the top prize by the international critics who praised it for its “emotional maturity, striking performances and visual grace.”

Giving an incredibly profound performance is Emily Barclay, a student from Auckland University.  Her sudden notoriety will surely draw parallels with fellow New Zealander Keisha Castle-Hughes (who earned an Oscar nomination for last year’s Whale Rider).  Barclay was in Brisbane last Wednesday for the film’s Queensland premiere and I’m disappointed I didn’t get a chance to meet an actress who I believe has a strong future.

Overshadowing all of the great performances though is the precision of the story.  In adapting the novel by author Maurice Gee, writer-director Brad McGann inter-laces the current day narrative with flashbacks of Paul’s past.  The emotional climax is expertly written and the film finishes on a beautifully poignant note.  Too often I am critical of film’s which drag once the finale has been reached.  Here we have an example of a perfect ending.

There’s a common perception that over the past few years, films have gotten worse and worse.  I believe in this but only so far as it applies to the rubbish emanating from Hollywood.  The lack of blockbuster quality has driven the public away from the usual hype and instead towards smaller films in more boutique theatres.  In My Father’s Den fits this bill and adjectives aside, this is one of the year’s must see films.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 07 November 2004

As the most expensive Chinese film ever made, Hero was released in Asia back in December 2002.  Inspired by its success, Miramax Films acquired the rights to distribute it in America but held off releasing it until August 2004.  After topping the U.S. box-office in its first week, international markets are now capitalising on Hero’s success and after two years of waiting, it now is being shown in Australia cinemas.

China has an amazing history which we aren’t often exposed to on a big screen.  We continually see tales set in medieval times, American civil war times and World War II times but we don’t often look much further.  Set over 2,000 years ago, Hero is the story of a man who wants to unite the Six Kingdoms of China who are currently at war.  This nameless warrior (Li) has arrived at the doorstep of the King of Qin (Chen) and begins to tell the story of how he has slain the King’s three main enemies, Broken Sword (Chiu Wai), Flying Snow (Cheung) and Sky (Yen).

I can’t say I fully understood all of this intricate story but the film deserves full marks for its visuals.  Director Yimou Zhang uses a beautiful range of colours and crafts some incredible martial arts sequences.  I don’t know if it’s any better than the already successful Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon but suffice to say that if you enjoyed Tiger, you’re likely to enjoy this too.

I’m not often one to comment on sound effects but they are amazing.  One particular scene comes to mind where the Nameless warrior fights Broken Sword on the top of the lake.  We not only hear the “ching” of the sword, but also the gentle “splash” of the water below.  Throw in a haunting melody from Academy Award winning composer Dun Tan and you have one incredible action sequence.

Hero is a film of elegance and a great tribute to China’s history.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 28 October 2004

Richard Condon’s novel was first adapted to a cinematic form in 1962.  Directed by the late John Frankenheimer, The Manchurian Candidate starred Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, Janet Leigh and Angela Lansbury.  The film was a success and has aged well over time.  In 1998, the American Film Institute ranked the film 67^th in a list of the greatest films of all time.  Even the public on the Internet Movie Database have it ranked in the top 100.

It’s unlikely that any remake will eclipse its predecessor, so why do filmmakers persist in reviving such classic films?  Surely it must boil down to the heart of any film – its story.  The tale of The Manchurian Candidate is as relevant today as it was 40 years ago, perhaps even more so!  Now, we find it told once again on the big screen and a new audience can leave the theatre thinking and wondering…

It’s been 13 years since Captain Ben Marco (Washington) fought in Operation Desert Storm.  In a night-time gun battle with Iraqi soldiers, Ben was knocked unconscious and the troop was saved by the heroic actions of soldier Raymond Shaw (Schreiber), the son of a leading business tycoon.  Since the events of 1991, Ben has been plagued by a reoccurring dream – one in which he is being brainwashed by staff at an Iraqi medical facility.  Psychiatrists have diagnosed him with a stress disorder but in the back of his mind, Ben’s always believed there’s a reason behind these hallucinations.

Two separate events reignite Ben’s interest in his beliefs.  Speaking at a public engagement, he runs into a soldier who served under him that fateful night in Iraq, Al Melvin (Wright).  In reminiscing, Al speaks of having the same dreams and this unexpected information reignites Ben’s search for the truth.  Not long after, Ben stumbles across vision of Raymond Shaw on television.  Thanks to the support of his political mother, Eleanor Shaw (Streep), the war hero Shaw has secured the Democratic ticket to run for Vice President in the upcoming U.S. elections.  Ben heads to New York to congratulate Raymond but also wants to ask of his own recollection of the events in Iraq…

It may not be the most believable story but the top-notch cast and crew make me want to believe in it.  Academy Award winning director Jonathan Demme (Silence Of The Lambs) has created a sly thriller which keeps you on your toes.  Without revealing too much, this look at corruption in politics of particular interest when you consider the controversy that has engulfed current U.S. President, George W. Bush.  It may not be as controversial as a Bulworth or a Wag The Dog but there’s still food for thought.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 04 November 2004

I’d review this film but thanks to some mysterious space aliens, I’ve forgotten it already.