Mini Reviews
Mini Review - A Cure for Wellness
A Cure For Wellness (out Mar 16) is a hot mess of a film. It's a great concept but it's disjointed and doesn't flow well (big gaps between certain scenes). Dane DeHaan plays a young corporate guy who travels to a strange "wellness centre" in Switzerland to meet with his boss. Grade: B.
Mini Review - Beauty and the Beast
Beauty and the Beast (out Mar 23) is a live action remake of the 1991 original. Staying faithful to the material, director Bill Condon has created an epic in terms of sets, costumes and visual effects. It's a little long but the many supporting characters fill the gaps nicely. Grade: A-.
Mini Review - The Eagle Huntress
The Eagle Huntress (out Mar 16) doesn't have a lot of material to work with but it's hard to dislike a feel good documentary about a 13-year-old from Mongolia who tries to beat her older, male counterparts in an eagle hunting competition. Grade: B.
Mini Review - Peppa Pig: My First Cinema Experience
Peppa Pig: My First Cinema Experience (out Mar 16) is clearly not targeted at me. That said, it's short, simple and sweet with a few jokes that adults will appreciate (especially a scene involving the Queen). While it will get kids up and about, the live action interactive scenes are less interesting. Grade: B-.
Mini Review - Loving
Loving (out Mar 16) is based a true story. A inter-racial couple (played by Joel Edgerton & Ruth Negga) fight to have their marriage recognised in the state of Virginia during the 1960s. Deliberately avoiding dramatic courtroom scenes, this is an affecting tale about two ordinary people who deeply love each other. Grade: A-.
Mini Review - The Salesman
The Salesman (out Mar 9) is from Iranian director Asghar Farhadi and is the story of a married couple who must deal with a traumatic event. Given it recently won the Oscar for best foreign language film, I thought there would be more to the story. Great performances though. Grade: B.
Mini Review - A Few Less Men
A Few Less Man (out Mar 9) is about as bad as comedy can get. Is there a single laugh in this? I don't think so. As a fan of the 2011 original, it's sad to these characters given nothing to work with. Grade: C-.
Mini Review - Kong: Skull Island
Kong: Skull Island (out Mar 9) has big creatures. A shame it can't offer big thrills and big laughs. The visual effects artists deserve praise but the screenplay in this reboot is disappointingly dull. The characters act in such a contrived, illogical manner. Samuel L. Jackson and John C. Reilly the only stand outs amongst the cast. Grade: C+.
Mini Review - David Stratton: A Cinematic Life
David Stratton: A Cinematic Life (out Mar 9) chronicles the life of Australia's most famous critic and looks at his favourite films. Directed by Sally Aitken, this documentary is clever in the way it links the plots of Australian movies with key parts of David's life. Grade: B.
Mini Review - Alone In Berlin
Alone in Berlin (out Mar 9) is the true story of two ordinary Germans who covertly tried to create anti-Hitler sentiment during World War II. It's an interesting story but what we see on screen is a touch bland and repetitive. Didn't hit the emotional notes I was expecting. Grade: B-.
Mini Review - Before I Fall
Before I Fall (out Mar 2) is a darker version of Groundhog Day. A girl finds herself stuck living the same day again and again. The early intrigue wears off in the second half and it becomes a simple, fairly formulaic thriller. Grade: B-.