Mini Reviews
I Am Eleven (out now) is a simple documentary where Australian director Genevieve Bailey has travelling the world and interviewed a group of 11-year-olds about almost everything. It's an interesting idea but you wouldn't say there are any mind blowing revelations. Grade: B.
Magic Mike (out Jul 26) centres on a star male stripper who is trying to make something more meaningful with his life. Sadly, the film doesn't work. The first hour is drawn out with stripping, stripping and more stripping. A story tries to develop in the final hour but it's rushed and I didn't care for the characters. Grade: C+.
The Dark Knight Rises (out Jul 19) has a convoluted plot and struggles to justify its key themes but it’s still worth a look as an epic action flick. I’d be careful not to set your expectations too high. Great to see the addition of Anne Hathaway and Joseph Gordon-Levitt to the cast. Grade: B.
The Door (out Jul 19) was awful. It stars Helen Mirren as a grumpy maid who lives a secretive, reclusive life. This is a boring story with horrendous supporting performances and bizarre flashback sequences. One of the year's worst. Grade: C-.
Margaret (out Jul 12) was shot back in 2005 and has been plagued with problems in the editing room but the end result is well worth it. It features a great central performance from Anna Paquin as a 17 y/o who witnesses a fatal bus accident and tries to find a way of clearing her conscience. An absorbing character study. Grade: A-.
Not Suitable For Children (out Jul 12) is an Australian film about a guy (Ryan Kwanten) who desperately wants to father a child when he learns he has testicular cancer and will have his ball removed in a few weeks. I’m sure people will see this because of Kwanten but Sarah Snook steals the film as his flatmate. A shame that so much of this film is hard to believe. Grade: B-.
Hysteria (out Jul 12) is a safe comedy set in the late 19th Century and centres on the man responsible for creating the vibrator (yes, that's right). The writers have tried a little too hard to make this a "feel good" flick but the charm of Hugh Dancy and Maggie Gyllenhaal will win the hearts of many. Grade: B.
The Three Stooges (out now) isn't a total write-off (as the trailer might suggest) but it's not a film I'd be getting too excited about either. You'll laugh at this assortment of moronic characters (particularly Larry David dressed as a nun) but the repetitive jokes get tired quickly. Grade: C+.
Katy Perry: Part Of Me (out now) was enjoyable. She's a talented artist and it's great to follow her adventures around the world in this documentary. The film feels a little too "nice" at times and it skirts the reasons behind her failed marriage to Russell Brand but for the most part, this is entertaining and easy to watch. Grade: B.
Ted (out Jul 5) works as a low-brow comedy. It's from the mind of Seth MacFarlane (Family Guy) and centres on a thirty-something guy and his foul-mouthed teddy bear. The overall story is weak but it's worth seeing for all the great one-liners and the way it mocks a few big-name celebrities. Grade: B+.
The Amazing Spider-Man (out Jul 2) left me with mixed feelings. Liked Andrew Garfield and his "ordinary guy" persona. Loved his interplay with the charming Emma Stone (who can do no wrong). On the flip side, the storyline is messy and there's a weak villain. Still not sure why series needed a reboot so soon... but still worth a look. Grade: B.
