Mini Review - Careless
Careless (out Dec 4) is a great documentary about the aged care sector in Australia - highlighting both the good and bad. It features some wonderful interviewees and, through their stories, you're asked to reflect on growing old and what help we should expect from society. So many angles to explore! Grade: A-.
Mini Review - Eternity
Eternity (out Dec 4) is a playful, entertaining ride centred on a thought-provoking situation. A woman has passed away after a long, rich, fulfilling life and must decide which of her two deceased husbands she wants to spend eternity with. It’s a fun riff on the traditional romantic comedy genre with great supporting characters. Grade: B+.
Mini Review - A Little Women's Christmas
A Little Women's Christmas (out Dec 4) is a modern-day remake of the classic novel. Much has been changed, and this adaptation was way too schmaltzy and cheesy for me. Clichés galore! Grade: C.
Mini Review - Nuremberg
Nuremberg (out Dec 4) is centred around the Nuremberg trials which put Nazi leaders on trial in the aftermath of World War II. The material never gels. The dialogue is silly, Russell Crowe makes Hermann Göring looks like a cheesy action movie villain, and odd subplots (an interlude with the pope?!?) are a distraction. Grade: C+.
Mini Review - Twiggy
Twiggy (out Dec 4) is an interesting documentary about the English supermodel who rose to fame in the 1960s and sustained a diverse career. Features great interviews and clips. Grade: B+.
Mini Review - Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (out Nov 27) is too long but, thanks to its fun performances, there's enough to justify a watch. Daniel Craig reprises his role as Benoit Blanc, a private investigator trying to understand a complicated murder. Grade: B.
Mini Review - Zootopia 2
Zootopia 2 (out Nov 27) proves this franchise will not be a "one-hit wonder". It's a fun, meaningful animated feature with a great central mystery, memorable characters (loved Ke Huy Quan as the snake), well-intentioned messages, and a sufficient dose of emotion. Grade: A-.
Mini Review - Dead of Winter
Dead of Winter (out Nov 27) is contrived but, as a fan of Emma Thompson, it's nice to see her as a quasi-action hero. She plays a widowed woman who reluctantly finds herself rescuing a kidnapped girl from a remote, snow-covered cabin. Grade: B-.