Mini Reviews
Mini Review - Fire of Love
Fire of Love (out Aug 25) is a documentary pulled together using archival footage that chronicles the lives of two renowned French volcanologists. Thought this would be more interesting than it actually was but it's repetitive in places with the risk v. reward messaging. Grade: B-.
Mini Review - Hit the Road
Hit the Road (out Aug 25) is an Iranian drama about an arguing family going on a lengthy road trip. Strong performances, moving themes. Grade: B+.
Mini Review - Everybody's Oma
Everybody's Oma (out Aug 11) is an Australian documentary about a filmmaker who chronicles his mother's growing struggles with Alzheimer's Disease. This is a big-hearted movie with a loveable title character. Makes you think a lot about this debilitating disease and the support required to cope with it. Grade: A-.
Mini Review - Bosch & Rockit
Bosch & Rockit (out Aug 18) is an Australian father and son tale set in the late 1990s. Newcomer Rasmus King plays Rockit – a surf-loving teenager trying to find his place in the world while Luke Hemsworth plays Bosch – a single dad who wants to be there for his son but keeps making mistakes. It's a little clunky and formulaic in places but it’s still a worthy story bolstered by great performances. King is an actor to watch going forward. Grade: B+.
Mini Review - Girl at the Window
Girl at the Window (out Aug 18) is a dreadful horror-thriller about a young woman who thinks her next-door neighbour is a serial killer. One of the worst scripts I've seen in a long while. Grade: C-.
Mini Review - Good Luck to You, Leo Grande
Good Luck to You, Leo Grande (out Aug 18) is an interesting, progressive character study that offers up material we don’t usually see on the big screen. It’ll provide great talking points with family/friends and is not to be missed. It's the tale of 60-something-year-old Nancy (Emma Thompson) who, having had a disappointing sex life with her late husband, hires a young escort to fulfil her needs. Grade: A.
Mini Review - Nope
Nope (out Aug 11) marks the third film of writer-director Jordan Peele (Get Out, Us) and it’s his most obscure yet. Some weird stuff goes on at a remote ranch and a group of strangers, led by two siblings, come together to get to the bottom of it. I’m split down the middle. It’s the kind of movie where you’re never bored but you’re also never fully buying into events as they unfold. Maybe multiple viewings are required? Grade: B.
Mini Review - The Princess
The Princess (out Aug 11) is a documentary that covers the life of Diana from her engagement to Prince Charles in 1981 through to her death in 1997. There's no current day interviews, recreated scenes, or narration. It relies solely on archival footage to tell its story. It's nicely put together but it offers nothing we didn't already know about the subject. Grade: B-.
Mini Review - 6 Festivals
6 Festivals (out Aug 11) has a few too many subplots but it's still an enjoyable Australia drama about three teenagers visiting a series of big musical festivals across the country. The actors are likeable and there are plenty of cool music cameos to appeal to local audiences. Grade: B+.
Mini Review - Bullet Train
Bullet Train (out Aug 4) is set on the famous train from Tokyo to Kyoto. On board is the son of a famous crime lord, a locked briefcase containing $10 million, and a bunch of experienced assassins with missions to complete. The colourful train, hip soundtrack and famous actors provide a “gloss” that mask its flaws and unoriginality. A friend summed it up best – “if this was on Netflix and starred a bunch of nobodies, it would be terrible.” Grade: C+.
Mini Review - Juniper
Juniper (out Aug 4) is a New Zealand film that fits nicely into the genre I call “two people reluctantly coming together and unexpectedly helping each other out.” A rugby-loving teenager is forced to bond with his alcoholic, insult-loving grandmother. Charlotte Rampling is terrific as is newcomer George Ferrier. Grade: B+.