Mini Review - Street Fighter
Street Fighter (out Oct 15) is trying to put a colourful, funny, homoerotic spin on the video game from which it's based. This reboot marks an improvement on the 1994 version, but the humour doesn't always land (based on reactions ay my preview screening) and the story needed more oomph. Grade: B-.
Mini Review - La bola negra
La bola negra (out Oct 15) is likely to find its way onto many 10 lists this year… my own included. It's a beautiful, ambitious epic spanning multiple locations and timeframes. It revolves around the stories of three gay men battling internal demons (and I'm greatly oversimplifying to avoid spoilers). The music and production design add more weight to the film’s artistic brilliance. Grade: A.
Mini Review - Sense and Sensibility
Sense and Sensibility (out Oct 15) is a wonderful adaptation of Jane Austen's famed work. Those who have read the book or seen the Oscar-nominated 1995 movie will know what to expect… but it doesn’t make this film any less entertaining or delightful. Will put a smile on your face! Grade: A-.
Mini Review - Jebediah: Are We Ok?
Jebediah: Are We Ok? (out Oct 15) is a documentary that chronicles the behind-the-scenes dramas of the Perth-based band over the past three decades. It's very open with its depiction of drugs, alcohol, mental health, and work-life balance. I knew nothing about them previously but found it interesting. Grade: B+.
Mini Review - Other Mommy
Other Mommy (out Oct 8) is a limp horror-thriller about a 7-year-old girl who must deal with a demonic presence which takes the form of people she knows. I like the fact it gets to the action quickly... but the characters and their subsequent choices are poorly conceived. Grade: C.
Mini Review - Lomu
Lomu is for rugby fans and is an interesting documentary that looks at the on-field achievements of New Zealand rugby star Jonah Lomu… and the battles he faced off the field. Nicely put together with a good mix of archival footage and interviews. Grade: B+.
Mini Review -The Social Reckoning
The Social Reckoning (out Oct 8) is not a bad film... but it also feels rather pointless. It's not offering any new perspectives on the perils of social media which have been debated at length over the past decade. A missed opportunity? Grade: B-.
Mini Review - Digger
Digger (out Oct 1) isn’t perfect but it’s still one of this year’s “nuttiest” films. It’s a film with something to say about the environment, wealth, politics, power, art, humour, and parody. I’m also a fan of the general insanity, often illogical, that infuses each scene. Tom Cruise plays an insanely wealthy businessman whose negligence kick stars an environmental disaster. Grade: B+.