Mini Reviews
Subdivision (out Aug 20) is a fair dinkum Aussie film centering on a young builder (Ash Bradnam) living in Hervey Bay and his attempts to prove his worth to his tough father (Gary Sweet). The character development is underdone but the film has a nice balance of comedy and drama. Get off your ass and support Australia cinema! Grade: B+.
G.I. Joe: The Rise Of The Cobra (out now) is, without a doubt, the worst film of 2009. Nothing more can be said. Grade: Pointless.
The Ugly Truth (out Aug 6) is a little racier than I thought but it's still a formulaic romantic comedy designed to make women feel better about the male race. Is this film realistic? Not in the slightest. Grade: C+.
Beautiful Kate (out Aug 6) is another Australian film - there have been a lot of them lately. Maybe I wasn't in the mood but I couldn't "get into" this flick. It's a depressing tale about a family dredging up their long buried secrets. I've seen this type of movie too many times before. Grade: C+.
Cedar Boys (out now) is an Aussie film which centres on three young Lebanese guys living in Sydney who become drug dealers... with nasty consequences. It's rough around the edges but not too bad. Grade: B.
Balibo (out Aug 13) is an Australian film about the disappearance of five journalists in East Timor in 1975. A fellow colleague (Anthony LaPaglia) goes in to investigate but winds up in just as much danger. It leaves a few too many questions unanswered but it builds to a powerful finale that will leave the audience in a hushed state. Grade: A-.
My Sister's Keeper (out Jul 30) is heavy going. During the closing credits, the lady sitting next to me apologised for all her tears. Even my eyes were moist. It's the tale of a brave teenager battling cancer and the different ways in which her family tries to help. It's a little too manipulative at times but I liked the story and its characters. Sofia Vassilieva is remarkable. An Oscar nom? Grade: A-.
Red Cliff (out now) is a Chinese flick from director John Woo (Face/Off). Set in the year 208 A.D., a power hungry leader declares war on two southern kingdoms and sends in an army of 300,000 men to defeat them. The action scenes are overdone (special effects are obvious) but I liked the story and the creative ways in which each side tried to obtain the upper hand. Grade: B+.
Drag Me To Hell (out Jul 23) is the best horror film I've seen in some time. It's about a bank loan officer who is left with a nasty curse after rejecting a mortgage extension application by a hideous old woman. I've gotta try that with my own bank. Anyway, this film has moments to make you jump, squirm and laugh. Great entertainment. Grade: A-.
My Friends My Love (out now) is a strange French comedy (I think it was a comedy) about two divorced guys who move into together with their children. It's a quirky "odd couple" type storyline that has a few unexpected laughs but nothing too profound. Grade: B.
The Escapist (out now) tries to be stylish but it's not as good as I'd hoped. Starring the underrated Brian Cox, it's just a ho-hum prison break movie that is a little too hard to believe. Grade: B-.
