Mini Reviews
Biutiful (out Mar 24) is the heart-breaking story of a man (Javier Bardem) who discovers he only has a few months to live. He wants to put all his affairs in order before he goes (including the future of his children) but he faces some unwanted hurdles. Nominated for best foreign language film at the Oscars, this is an emotional piece of cinema. Grade: A-.
Red Riding Hood (out Mar 24) has been trashed by most. I'm therefore classifying it as a "guilty pleasure". I realise it's not an award winning screenplay but I had fun with the premise and its characters. It's been nicely shot too. Grade: B.
Barney's Version (out Mar 24) is a simply told tale which chronicles the adventurous life of Barney Panofsky (played by Paul Giamatti). He got married three times, he produced a successful television show and he was accused of murder. It takes a while to warm up but I was moved by the final moments of this touching film. Grade: B+.
Griff The Invisible (out now) is about a shy guy who works in a call centre during the day and masquerades as a superhero by night. The film ventures into interesting territory but I hated the way it was put together. I couldn't "buy into" this fantasy and found the dialogue (particularly from the supporting cast) dreary and superficial. Grade: C.
Waiting For Superman (out Mar 24) is a documentary from Davis Guggenheim (An Inconvenient Truth) which shines the spotlight on the many flaws within the U.S. education system. I wished it had of focused more on superintendent Michelle Rhee and her fight against the unions (as opposed to the lottery stuff) but this is still persuasive and will generate debate. Grade: B+.
Limitless (out now) is about a guy who starts taking a special tablet that gives him access to 100% of his brain (as opposed to just 10%). Every part of his life improves dramatically but how long can he keep his special abilities a secret? This is an interesting premise and whilst a little more could have been made of the idea, it still held my attention. Ending a disappointment. Grade: B.
World Invasion: Battle LA (out Mar 17) is your standard alien invasion movie. The special effects artists have earned their cheque but I can't say the same for the writer. The characters are boring. You won't care for them at all. Aaron Eckhart is great in comedy (Thank You For Smoking) and great in drama (Rabbit Hole) but he cannot carry a sci-fi action flick. Grade: C.
The Reef (out Mar 17) is a low-budget Aussie thriller about a small group who find themselves stranded in the middle of the ocean after their boat capsizes. Do they stay and wait for help or should they try to swim for land? It's an interesting premise but this doesn't generate much tension. Grade: C+.
A Heartbeat Away (out Mar 17) was awful. It's like watching the pilot for a cheesy Aussie sitcom from the 90s that no TV network wanted to buy. I do feel bad when I slag Aussie films. It's like telling your best friend that they have bad BO. Hard to say but you have to do it for the greater good. Grade: C-.
Kiss Me Again (out now) is a well woven Italian drama which follows a group of people and their troubled relationships. It's a touch long but I think it does a nice job illustrating both the beauty and tragedy of love. Grade: B+.
The Company Men (out now) is about three guys who find their jobs in jeopardy in the wake of the global depression. It's a worthy topic to explore (showing the effect on them, their family) but this film doesn't dig deep enough. I didn't feel much sympathy for these guys. Grade: B.
