Mini Reviews
Edge Of Darkness (out now) is a no go zone. The acting is poor and the storyline is even worse. Put simply - it's about a detective trying to find out who murdered his daughter. In the process, he uncovers a huge government conspiracy. Mel Gibson looks tired. Are his best days behind him? And what's with Ray Winstone's character? Just ludicrous. Grade: C.
Law Abiding Citizen (out now) scores 0.01% on the believability scale. A guy sees his wife and daughter killed and then 10 years later, plots revenge against not only the killers but the entire U.S. legal system. Who was I supposed to be cheering for here? The aggrieved father (Gerard Butler) or the prosecutor trying to stop him (Jamie Foxx)? A nasty film. Grade: C.
Precious: Based On The Novel Push By Sapphire (out Feb 4) is, funnily enough, based on the novel Push by Sapphire. It's a confronting story about an overweight teenager girl who has been raped by her father and abused by her mother. What hope does she have at a decent life? I had a few small concerns but it's still a very good film. Wonderful performances. Grade: A-.
Daybreakers (out Feb 4) is a new vampire flick shot here in Brisbane which stars Ethan Hawke, Claudia Karvan and Willem Dafoe. With few humans remaining, can the Blood Bank develop a substitute to satisfy the vampires' thirst before its too late? It's an ideal movie… for those who didn’t like Twilight. There’s no lovey-dovey romance here. It puts the “bite” back in vampire flicks! Grade: B+.
Invictus (out now) is the story of Nelson Mandela's quest to unite South Africa by winning in the 1995 World Cup. Like most sporting movies, this film has moments of inspiration. Cheering for the underdog is always something I love. That said, this is not a good movie. The dialogue is cheesy and there are a number of supporting characters and sub-plots that serve no purpose. A big let down. Grade: C+.
The Road (out Jan 28) is a bleak film set in a post-apocalyptic world where few humans remain. A father and his young son are trekking across the country in seach of food and a reason to live. It's a very well made film with some particular tense moments. Sadly, the ending is a disappointment and I'm not sure what message to take away from it. Grade: B+.
In The Loop (out Jan 21) is a satire about an English politician who foolishly makes a comment that war is "unforeseeable". It sets in motion a series of events that may lead to an invasion of the Middle East. The film goes overboard with its insulting one-liners and there isn't a single likeable character but it does raise some interesting questions about "behind the scenes" politics. Grade: B+.
The Vintner's Luck (out now) is the strange tale a man who is visited by an angel and then inspired to make great wine. There were glimpses of something interesting but I couldn't get caught up in the film's "spiritual" elements. A tough two hours. Grade: C+.
Tooth Fairy (out now) is about a hockey player past his prime who is transformed into the tooth fairy to teach him a thing or two about believing in things. It has a sweet molar... I mean... moral, but a few too many cavities for my liking (trust me, there are worse jokes). Grade: C+.
Nine (out Jan 21) is a musical based on 8½, Italian director Federico Fellini's highly acclaimed film from 1963. It's been amazingly directed by Rob Marshall (Chicago) and has a wonderful cast (with Marion Cotillard the stand out). Sadly, I didn't find the songs particularly memorable. I didn't feel the rush to stand up and sing (like in my other favourite musicals). Good but not great. Grade: B+.
Bran Nue Dae (out Jan 14) is an Australian musical about an Aboriginal teenager who runs away from his boarding school in Perth and goes on an adventurous road trip back to his home in Broome. It's good natured but I struggled to get past the lack of plot and mediocre direction. Grade: B-.
