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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 03 January 2008

Dave (Lee) is a wannabe songwriter who just can’t come up with a hit.  To make matters worse, he’s just lost his regular day job as an advertising consultant.  Did I also mention that Dave recently got dumped by his girlfriend because he wasn’t ready to settle down and start a family?  You should be getting the picture that Dave is down on his luck and due for a life change.

That’s where Alvin, Simon and Theodore come in.  Three talking chipmunks find their way into Dave’s house.  He finds them rummaging through his pantries and leaving a large mess.  He’s just about to get rid of them when he realises… they can talk!  He shakes his head of a little but it doesn’t change anything.  It’s not a dream.

When Dave hears Alvin, Simon and Theodore’s high pitched singing voices, it gives him an idea.  With his lyrics and their unique vocal cords, he might be able to come up with a new sound that will revolutionise the music industry.  They could be the first animals to make a hit record.

Dave’s judgement is right and soon enough, Alvin & The Chipmunks are sitting atop the music charts.  It’s not all smooth sailing though.  The Chipmunks are looking for a father figure but Dave’s still not sure he’s ready for such a commitment.  Further, a high profile music executive (Cross) is looking to take control of the band and milk as much money from them as possible.

The idea of Alvin & The Chipmunks was created by Ross Bagdasrian in 1958.  Many “chipmunk” albums have been released over the years for better or worse.  There have also been many animated television shows and movies based around them.  Now, we’ve got a live action movie (well, the chipmunks are computer generated).

Alvin & The Chipmunks is a fun family movie which is pretty easy to follow.  Its strong showing at the box-office shows that its been very popular with kids.  I don’t think its anything special but I guess it’s because I’m not in the target demographic.  There were plenty of laughs in my cinema so I’m strongly recommending this for parents looking to entertain their kids over the school holidays.

Details

Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 26 December 2007

I haven’t dished out an A+ grading in 15 months.  The streak is now over thanks to the arrival of Juno.  Half way through, I knew that this witty black comedy was the best thing I’d seen in a long time.

As the title suggests, it all revolves around Juno MacGuff (Page).  She’s a 16-year-old high school student who has found out that she’s pregnant.  It’s not good news for Juno as a baby is the last thing she wants.  The father is a shy kid from school by the name of Paulie Bleeker (Cera).  They’ve been good friends for a long time.  A night of foolish experimentation has seen them end up in this position.

After giving it some thought, Juno decides against having an abortion.  She tells a good friend that she “could like have this baby and give it to someone who like totally needs it”.  Juno starts flipping through the newspaper (yep, there are ads for prospective parents) and finds the photo of a happy, young couple who are looking to adopt.

Before going to visit them, it’s time to break the news to her parents first (Simmons and Janney).  They’re stunned by the news but don’t “fly off the handle” like you’d expect.  They want to help Juno deal with her situation as best as possible.  Her dad goes with her to meet Mark (Bateman) and Vanessa (Garner), the couple she found in the newspaper.  They’re not quite what Juno expected but she’s more than happy to give them her baby.  The legal paperwork is prepared and the wheels are in motion…

Juno takes a few interesting twists and turns which I’ll allow you to discover for yourself.  It has been incredibly well written by 29-year-old Diablo Cody.  I’m impressed that someone so young has managed to get a screenplay off the ground.  Her success is well deserved though and the fact that the film was made is a testament to her initial script.  It’s intelligent and insightful.

The director is 30-year-old Jason Reitman who made another great black comedy in 2005, Thank You For Smoking.  Reitman is the son of Ivan Reitman, the man behind such great films as Stripes and Ghost Busters).  I guess comedy is in their blood.

Between them, Cody and Reitman have made one hell of a movie.  There’s a perfect balance of funny moments and serious moments.  They have told Juno’s story in a charming, likeable manner.  Every character is memorable and they all have their own quirks and insecurities.  Not a single scene is wasted.

The star of the film is 20-year-old Ellen Page (Hard Candy).  She’s certain to earn an Academy Award nomination for best actress.  I loved her openness and the emotionless, sarcastic manner with which she delivers so many of her lines.  It brought back memories of Thora Birch in Ghost World (a favourite black comedy of mine).  There’s more to Page’s character however and she becomes somewhat uncertain of herself in the lead up to the film’s finale.  Juno is a great character and Page has nailed the role.

My appreciation for this movie is shared by many others.  When it premiered at the 2007 Toronto Film Festival (the most important festival in the world), it finished 2^nd in the audience vote.  The buzz from Toronto has seen the film grow in stature and there’s a possibility it could earn a best picture nomination at the upcoming Oscars.  It was made for a mere $2.5m and has become this year’s “little film that could”.  My favourite critic, Roger Ebert, has honoured it by naming it his best of 2007.

In this review, I’ve mentioned the age of the writer, director and lead actor.  They’re all younger than me (I’m 30).  Have I missed my opportunity to make it in Hollywood?  Or are Cody, Reitman and Page just incredibly talented craftspeople ahead of their time?  I think it’s the later.

Details

Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 03 January 2008

I’m not really sure how much of the film’s plot I should reveal.  For once, the marketing team have gotten it right and not given the entire story away in the film’s trailer.  I’ll therefore make my overview rather vague…

It is the year 2012 and Robert Neville (Smith) is the only man living in New York City.  The entire population has been wiped out.  How did this happen?  Why is he the only survivor?  Is there hope for the human race?  These questions will be answered but not all at once.  You’ll have to be patient…

During the day, Robert roams around the city.  He broadcasts a radio message in the hope that someone is listening.  He goes down to his local video store to find something to watch.  He hits golf balls down the city streets.

On sunset, Robert’s relaxed demeanour changes.  He retreats to his house and covers the doors and windows with thick metal coverings.  He will anxiously listen to the strange noises outside and wait for the sun to rise.

This concept is very similar to the Danny Boyle movie, 28 Days Later (released in 2002).  In that film, a young man (played by Cillian Murphy) woke up in a London hospital after having been in a coma for some time.  On walking out into the streets, he found that everything was deserted.  He would spend his time trying to figure out what had transpired and whether any other humans were alive.

I like the idea of both films and it’s an interesting concept.  In I Am Legend, director Francis Lawrence (Constantine) has used special effects to create an amazing setting.  It’s scary to see New York City look the way that it does.  The billboards are torn and faded, the buildings look run-down and grass is growing everywhere.  It’s now a ghost town that was once home to around 10 million people.

I also wish to praise the way in which the story is told.  Instead of giving us the answers all at once, we learn more about the situation and the troubles which Robert faces as the film progresses.  The best scene is one where he looks for his lost dog in the darkened corridors of a bank.  You’ll feel like you’re in Robert’s shoes – timidly stepping around every corner whilst nervously flashing your torch in every direction.  There’s something that he sees that gave me quite a fright.

The film does have its fair share of weaknesses.  For starters, there’s not enough action.  Too much time is spent trying to illustrate Robert’s fragile mental state.  With no human contact in 3 years, we see Robert talking to himself, to his dog and even to mannequins in a store.  I was saying to myself in the cinema “yeah, I get the point, he’s going crazy, can we get to the part where something starts to happen?”  I’ve also got a few concerns about the finale which seemed rushed and “convenient”.  It can’t have been that easy.

I’m not a big Will Smith fan (I think I say that in every Will Smith film I review) and I’m not convinced he’s the ideal person for this role.  Still, I can’t deny the fact that he’s a massive drawcard.  I Am Legend took in $76m in its first three days when it opened last month in the U.S.  This makes it one of the biggest openings of all time.  Not bad for a film with only one major actor in it.  In the eyes of Warners Bros. Pictures (who financed the film), he is indeed a “legend”.

Details

Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 24 December 2007

I like the idea for this movie.  Animation meets reality.  Giselle (Adams) has just met the man of her dreams, Prince Edward (Marsden), in an animated fantasy land known as Andalasia.  They share a kiss and she realises that he is her one true love.  They are to be married the next day.

This doesn’t sit well with Edward’s mother, Queen Narissa (Sarandon).  She’s not prepared to give up her crown to the bubbly Giselle.  Using her powerful magic, she throws Giselle down a wishing well.  It transports her into the real human world.  Giselle pops out from under a manhole cover and finds herself in the centre of New York City.

Wearing a crown and a huge white wedding dress, Giselle’s appearance makes an impression.  She stands out like a sore thumb.  People look at her like she’s some weirdo.  It gets even worse when she starts asking for directions back to the castle.  Giselle is in way over her head.

A twist of fate will see her fall into the arms of a lawyer named Robert (Dempsey).  He too is confused by her story but feels a little sympathetic.  With some encouragement from his young daughter, Nancy (Menzel), Robert lets Giselle stay the night at his apartment.  The next morning, he tries to help Giselle find a way home.

It’s a little more complicated than that.  On learning that this bride-to-be had fallen down the well, Prince Edward (Marsden) took the plunge.  He too is now in the human world and is looking to rescue Giselle.  To ensure that this doesn’t happen, the Queen has sent one of her loyal henchman (Spall) to get to her first.  The plan is to get Giselle to eat a poison apple.

Enchanted has a lot to offer.  When I saw the trailer, it came across as G-rated family flick which was targeted at young kids.  Whilst that statement is true (in hindsight), I think this film will appeal to romantics of any age.  I don’t want to give too much away in this regard but the response from some of the female audience members at my screening told me that their hearts had been won over.

The key to the whole movie is the performance of Amy Adams as Giselle.  She’s terrific!  Her naive innocence makes her both funny and likeable.  Some have been tipping that a second Oscar nomination (following her 2006 nom for Junebug) is just around the corner.  Just as good is Patrick Dempsey as Robert.  His performance is a lot more subdued but it’s just what is required.  He’s just an ordinary guy trying to make sense of a very strange situation.

Whilst I think the script could have been a little tighter (there were a few too many plot holes for me), Enchanted is a light-hearted adventure receiving a well timed release over the Christmas break.  I think you’re going to like it.

Details

Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 28 December 2007

3:10 To Yuma is the first new release “western” I’ve seen in a long time and it’s a damn good one.  Fans of the genre won’t want to miss it.  When you realise that a film of this quality, it makes you wonder why we don’t see more westerns in today’s cinemas.

Ben Wade (Crowe) is a notorious outlaw who is wanted by the authorities.  He and his large posse have robbed many establishments over the years.  He’s been caught before but he always finds a way to escape.

After robbing a stage coach just outside of the town of Bisbee, Wade and his crew slip quietly into town.  They split the money between them and celebrate with a few drinks.  Just as he is about to leave, Wade is spotted and arrested by the sheriff.  Wade doesn’t seem too concerned – it’s as if he’s looking forward the challenge of escaping once again.

It’s decided by the sheriff that Wade will be transported to the jail in Yuma where he will be tried and hopefully hanged.  There’s a train (with a special prisoner section) that leaves every day from the town of Contention at 3:10pm.  It’s a long horse ride to Contention however.  The sheriff is worried that Wade’s posse will intercept them en route and rescue their leader.

Dan Evans (Bale) is a farmer struggling to make ends meet.  He’s overdue on his land repayments and is about to be kicked off the property.  Desperate for money, he accepts an offer to help escort Wade to Contention.  He knows it will be dangerous but the $200 fee is too tempting.  Around six people start out as part of the escort but not all will make it…

3:10 To Yuma is the complete package.  It’s got action, drama, comedy and suspense.  It’s a great way to spend two hours.  The tension keeps building and you know there’s going to be a big climax to finish the movie off.  The setting is terrific too – director James Mangold (Walk The Line) takes up back to a very interesting time in American history.  It’s fun watching them all try to shoot each other with bullets with their ancient pistols.  I don’t know how any of them could shoot straight back then.

Russell Crowe and Christian Bale are two of the best actors going around today and they’re great in this movie.  They can play any role and they prove that here.  The other standout in the cast is Ben Foster (X-Men: The Last Stand) who plays a man in Wade’s crew.  His crazy look and creepy voice make him an intimidating individual.

Load your guns, saddle up and prepare for an adventure.