Gnomeo & Juliet

The plays of William Shakespeare have been made into many films. None so much as Romeo And Juliet. I don't think it has been filmed in such a unique way.

This is one of those films that could have gone badly. But luckily the film makers have managed to one of the most delightful films. I think because it was made by an English company they have more respect for the source material. It could be said that this is like an English version of 'Toy Story', where we get to imagine what inanimate objects get up to when we are not looking. Being a kids film though you do not get the full story and they have sweetened it some what. Which is fine as they have not changed it too much. There are also many references to other Shakespeare plays for adults to look out for. The film is still very funny with many clever and witty lines. The animation has a nice playful quality and has some wonderfully staged action sequences.

James McAvoy and Emily Blunt have the type of voices that are excellent for animation. Not distinctive enough that it takes you out of the film and make you imagine who the voice is. They have a nice relaxed tone that gives a natural performance to their roles. I see Jason Statham gets stereotyped even in animated films. But Matt Lucas by far and away gives the best performance in his role as Benny.

If you still don't go see animated films because they look too kidsy then get over yourself and go see this wonderful film.

Rabbit Hole

John Cameron Mitchel is a very quirky director. He now teams up with Nicole Kidman to make a very normal film.

Grief is a subject in film that needs a very careful hand to be able to pull it off. The audience knows that they are in for a hard experience and it can sometimes come across as cliched and maudlin. A film maker must deftly balance the sad moments so it does not become too much for the audience. Luckily James and his writers have been able to inject wonderful moments of humour into this story of a couple struggling with the death of their child. It never feels out of place. It happens at times when it is needed to alleviate the sentiment. I was moved by this film more so that I expected. I've had some personal experience with a similar situation in my family and so seeing a couple dealing with their grief in this way was especially poignant for me. Thank god for credits because after the film had finished I needed time before I could leave the cinema. It is not often that I have such a deeply emotional response to a film. There was however one moment that had a huge emotional impact and that was the artwork for the comic book that's in the film. The final picture of the rabbit/worm holes was one of the most beautiful pieces of artwork I've ever seen. I was so surprised at how it made me feel.

Nicole Kidman gets a lot of criticism for being so cold and unemotional in her film which I agree with to a certain extent. She usually plays that kind of character and usually someone rich and posh. However here she plays someone more real and her performance brings that out. You feel she is a real person, an average person that we could all meet in our daily lives. Many have said it before and it is so true that this is by far and away Nicole's best performance ever. Equally brilliant though is Aaron Eckhart. I think Nicole has over shadowed him because Aaron is such a brilliant actor that we take him for granted. However Nicole could not have been as good as she was if not for Aaron's support. Dianne Wiest is in that situation too. She is as usual so brilliant here.

By far and away the best film I've seen this year. I cannot recommend this film highly enough. Go see that Nicole Kidman can act.

Hereafter

Much like his contemporary Woody Allen, Clint Eastwood is an older director who is not letting age slow him down and seems to be churning out a film a year.

Clint Eastwood is such an icon of film making. He has not only proven himself to be one of the best actors we have seen but he is also a brilliant director. It seems over the years he has been getting better and better. However he sometimes does not hit the mark. As I said Clint is a brilliant film maker but I just think that he was the wrong person to direct this film. Clint has a very old fashioned approach to the way he directs and this can be quite refreshing in this slick modern era, but I think that the slick modern approach was what this film needed. When you have films that have separate stories with a tenuous link it can be a problem where the stories don't quite mesh. They move at a slow pace and I got the feeling that they would have been better served if they were their own separate films. It is supposed to be about people who are affected by death but I did not get much of an emotional connection in that area.

Matt Damon is another one who is churning out a lot of films at the moment. By next week he will be in four films in release. In this one he gives a nice understated performance. Cecile DeFrance is good but I did not feel she emoted her problem of having had a near death experience. Frankie and George McLaren do an excellent job as the twins. I think kids can get a lot more sympathy than adults in these situations.

Not one of Clint's best films. A dreary look at death that would have been better served by having the stories only given a little screen time.

How Do You Know

When he is not producing and offering advice on 'The Simpsons' film maker James L. Brooks writes and directs movies.

James' previous films have been very highly respected and admired. However lately he has not been getting that respect. I think he has lost a lot of his shine. As most of you know I'm a big fan of romantic comedies and usually give them a lot more leeway than other styles of films. But I could not do that here. There is not much by way of plot and boils down to a woman not being able to decide which man she wants to be with. The problem with that is one of the guys is a real asshole and the other is nice. Normally in these situations the asshole guy is not an asshole in front of the girl but he is in this film. Matty (Owen Wilson) is a really selfish guy and I don't know why Lisa (Reese Witherspoon) is with him. He keeps doing really stupid things but she keeps going back to him. This then makes her seem like an idiot for being with him. Especially when she has such a nice guy like George (Paul Rudd) as a friend. For a comedy the film is not very funny either. I hardly raised a smile at all. I also hated some of the cinematography in the film. There were a couple of scenes which had these unnecessary closeups which got in really close to the actors face and was very off putting.

Ever since she won her Oscar, Reese Witherspoon has not done many films and the ones she has done have not been that great. I think she can be such a nice bubbly sort of girl in most romantic comedies but here she is very drab and lifeless. Owen Wilson does well as the unlikeable character. We are suppose to find his antics funny but I found it dumb. Paul Rudd is by far and away the best thing in the film. He is excellent as he raises above the dull cast he has to work with. Jack Nicholson makes a nice appearance in a small role.

A dull and very lifeless comedy that has so many dumb characters that you cannot care much about them.

127 Hours

Director Danny Boyle turns to a fascinating true story in this follow up to his Oscar winning hit 'Slumdog Millionaire'.

When films are made out of true stories it is always interesting when we already know the ending. It is especially interesting for this story. A big deal has been made about the ending to this film and its graphic nature. I went in expecting the worst but came out rather disappointed. I did not feel that it was a grizzly at I was expecting. I have seen far worse in other films. Usually with things like that I have to close my eyes but this time I didn't. As for the rest of the film, it is another excellent achievement by Danny Boyle. The person(s) trapped on their own is an idea that has been used a bit lately and how you can make that concept interesting and entertaining is a big deal. Danny has chosen to not just make it about Aron trapped on his own in a crevice. While that is a large part of it, there is also some insights into his psyche and what he is going through as he is trapped. The video diary he kept would have helped this. We learn about this man and what drove him to be as reckless as he is portrayed in the film. Which is why we see such a major change in his personality by the end.

James Franco is such a versatile actor. He seems to be able to do almost anything. He is such a charismatic actor that you can't help but like him in whatever role he does. This charisma is necessary for a role like this as you have to remain interested in this man's journey as he remains stuck in the one spot. James gives a riveting performance that you can't wait to see how he comes to the hardest decision he ever had to make.

I think that you have to be pretty sensitive to find the ending as disturbing as you might expect. Despite that you get taken on a fascinating journey of a man trapped in a difficult position.

The Next Three Days

It does not happen very often that we get a remake of an unsuccessful film but it had happened now with this remake of the French film 'Pour Elle'.

Ever since he won his Oscar for 'Crash' Paul Haggis has not had much success. Although he is quite well respected none of the films he has directed have had financial success. I found the premise of this film an interesting one and could have made a really good film but is not told in a good way. The main problem is that it stretches the lines of credibility a bit. I found it a little hard to believe that John would not investigate the murder his wife is accused of a bit more before resorting to trying to break her out of prison. Maybe the police overlooked something. Breaking his wife out of prison seems like a very drastic and more risky move than investigating the murder. When you add in the fact that he has a child as well it makes the situation seem all the more stupid. If you can get over that issue then this is a pretty good thriller. The only other disappointing thing is that the trailer reveals far too much about the story.

Russell Crowe can be an excellent actor. Normally he plays great big grand heroes. Here he must play an average guy. Sometimes actors have such a huge presence that you don't see them as average people. Russell though has done a good job here. I thought he was excellent in this film despite all the story problems I had. Elizabeth Banks normally does comedy films so it was nice to see her do something dramatic. I think she handles it quite well and I'm sure we can get to see her stretch her acting muscles a lot more.

If you don't watch the trailer and can get over a few of the plot credibility then this is quite a good thriller. Russell Crowe also gives an excellent performance.

The Graduate

The Chauvel Cinema is once again playing some old classics. I'm ashamed to say that this is one classic I've never seen before.
This is one of those films that has been referenced and sent up in many films and TV series I've seen. While I knew of the references I never knew their context. So it was good to see it for that reason. It is also a film that is so highly respected as one of the best comedies ever written that I had to see it for that reason. I'm also pleased that I got to see it on the big screen as was intended rather than at home. I'm glad to say that film did live up to my expectations. I sometimes find that older films are so revered that you had to have watched it at the time of initial release but his film holds up very well. The story is very funny and could have been set at any time. The dialogue is full of really clever and witty dialogue. The characters are quite funny too and they are very believable. I really liked the soundtrack too with Paul Simon's songs. My only complaint would be that the same songs are used too often. I would have liked a few more different songs.
Lately we have not seen much of Dustin Hoffman so it is great to see some of his earlier work. He is so perfect as the nervous young man struggling to find his way in the world. Dustin is hilarious and very endearing. I've mostly known Anne Bancroft as the wife of one of my favourite comedians Mel Brooks. But I do know she is a remarkable actress in her own right. Which this film proves. She is so cool and sophisticated as the older woman Mrs. Robinson that seduces a younger man. You know that she is more than just a bored housewife who needs a thrill that her husband is not providing. I think the chase she has to make to get Ben.
One of those classic films that stands the test of time. Clever witty and containing some hilarious performances.

The Fighter

Over the years we have had many films about boxers. They are all usually inspiring films about someone coming from lower socioeconomically class rising to become a hero. This film is no different.

It is interesting how most films about boxing and boxers are all essentially the same. Someone struggles though various personal issues to achieve their goal of having a chance to fight someone to win a title. This film is no different. However what does distinguish this film a bit is there is more focus on the personal issues. For a film called 'The Fighter' there is very little fighting. Usually the fighter has to go through several lesser fights to prove himself good enough to fight in the main event. But Micky Ward seems to be having too much going on in his family life to be able to fight. It is amazing the struggles people have to go through when their families mess things up for them. On the one hand they feel an obligation to let their family support them like they have but when that family stuff things up the person has to decide what is best and maybe that is letting their family go. Micky comes from a very dysfunctional family who are very overly protective. Especially his sisters in a hilarious scene when they confront his girlfriend Charlene. This makes the film stand out from other boxing films as it creates a more interesting story outside the ring.

The opening scene of this film perfectly captures the acting dynamic of its leads. The film opens with Micky and his brother Dicky talking to camera for the documentary that is being made about them. Micky just sits there while Dicky moves around all jumpy. This is what it is like for Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale. Mark is nice and stoic in his role where as Christian Bale is more showy and flashy. I really admire Mark for letting this happen. More people are going to notice Christian over Mark. Both are excellent in their own way. Amy Adams is also very good in a more trashy role than she is used to. Melissa Leo I think takes the award for trashiness though. She is excellent as Mark and Dicky's very overly protective mother.

I think that while Christian Bale is excellent in this film his Oscar win will be more as a mark of respect than anything. It is still an excellent film that is very different to many of the other boxing films out there.

True Grit

The western is a genre that we have not seen much of lately. Much like musicals they are only made if there is one successful one first. Thankfully the brilliant film makers Joel and Ethan Coen have made a hugely successful western.

I think that you have to consider the western as a very delicate thing. It is a genre that needs to be made by a very skilled film maker(s). It can easily be stuffed up. Luckily the Coen brothers decided to make a western. I watched the previous version of this story made in 1969 with John Wayne and was amazed at how similar it was to the new version the Coens have made. Granted they have adapted the same book but they look like almost identical films. Even some of the characters look the same. The one major difference though is the focus of the story. Being John Wayne, the previous film was more focused on him and his story. But the story is more about the young girl Mattie Ross. It is a very simple story and the Coen's have told it in a simple way with no big embellishments. You just know you are in the hands of skilled film makers who know what they are doing. Their films have an air of dignity about them.

I'm probably going to cop some criticism for this but the only slightly, and I mean slightly, disappointing thing about this film is the casting of Jeff Bridges. Don't get me wrong he is brilliant in this film and very much like John Wayne. But I do think his casting is a little bit obvious. Considering he has worked with the Coens before they naturally use him again and he is perfect for the role but you kind of expected him to be cast. Matt Damon is perfectly cast though. You barely recognise him as he rarely has a mustache but he is also excellent as the cocky Texas Ranger. Josh Brolin is excellent too. He has only a few scenes but he makes good use of them. The real revelation though is young Hailee Steinfeld. With the story being about her character she has to carry most of the film and she does a brilliant job of it. She is an amazing young actress that I'm sure we'll see more of in the future.

The western is back. We have a couple of other western type films coming out this year so hopefully if they are successful too we will see more of them in the future. In the meantime go see this excellent film and see how it is supposed to be done.

Morning Glory

In Australia the biggest battle being fought on TV is the one being played out in morning television. So it is fascinating to get a film about one shows battle for ratings.
One of the great things about this film is the sense of authenticity that Aline Brosh McKeena's script brings to the film. You really feel like this is how a TV show is run. It also shows that the style and tone of morning shows is something that is very universal. This show 'Daybreak' looks exactly like the shows we have here in Australia. There are several stunts performed by their 'wacky weatherman' that I'm sure have been done by ours here. It is this authenticity that makes the film really funny. I was quite surprised at how much I enjoyed this film. The characters, even the not so nice ones, are really charming and the story is very inspiring. The humour comes from very believable situations that ring true.
This would have to be one of the more perfectly cast films I've seen in a long while. Rachel McAdams is so charming and delightful in this film. But also brings a great deal of dignity to her character. It could so easily have been played a bit more ditsy. Diane Keaton once again proves that she has not lost any of her comedic skills. Her character could have come across as a real bitch but Diane manages to make her objections reasonable. Patrick Wilson does a very good job as the token love interest. The real revelation though is Harrison Ford. I think with his lack of decent film work lately we can forget how wonderful Harrison can be. He is by far and away the funniest thing in the film, proving that he is very versatile as an actor. He is perfectly cast as the grumpy old seasoned reporter forced to lower himself for money.
Worth seeing not only for being a very funny film with an interesting look at morning television but also for those who may have forgotten the brilliance that is Harrison Ford.

Burlesque

Or should this be called 'Diva'? The old diva becomes mentor to the new diva.

Most films when they play tribute to other films, it is trying to emulate, does so in a way that is not so obvious. But this film unashamedly rips off so many other films that there does not appear to be one original idea in it. They say that there are no new ideas in film today and this one certainly proves it. There is nothing fresh about this film. Which would be fine if they weren't so obvious about it. But despite all this familiarity the film has a certain charm which you can't help but like. I probably should not say this but I think it is one of the gayest films I've ever seen. In this instance gay means homosexual. There are so many gay cliches that I can't see many straight men seeing this film unless they are forced to.

The two leads do excellent performances because they are basically playing themselves. I've always liked Cher and wished we could see her more often as she can be an excellent actress when given good material. However sadly she has chosen not to grow old gracefully. This is probably a good debut for Christina Aguilera because she is not required to stretch her acting skills that far. Essentially playing someone like herself. Which she's good at. The 'referencing' of other films also extends to the support cast. Not only have they taken the main plot from 'The Devil Wears Prada' but they have Stanley Tucci play the same character. Alan Cumming is there from the stage version of 'Cabaret'. Cam Gigandet does a nice job of being lovely eye candy. Kristen Bell is the only one who gets a decent part to play and as usual does a good job of it.

A film that screams gay. I can see this as being a good test for men to see if they are gay.

The Green Hornet

We have been inundated lately with superheroes based on characters from comic books. So it is refreshing to get one that originated as a radio series.
To say this film is a mess would be an understatement. I don't know if it has anything to do with the fact that it went through many different permeations with the various directors that came and went. There is also the high expectations you have because of the talent involved. Michel Gondry has made films which are visually interesting and a bit (or in some cases a lot) quirky. Which is not what you get here. Whether there was too much studio influence or it came from his star/writer. The film gets off to a bad start with one of the most cliched and corny scenes I've seen in a long time. Then it does not improve much from from there. Michel can direct action scenes quite well which is probably the only good aspect.
The other problem is the casting. While Seth Rogen is a good choice for the role of Britt Reid, I think the fact that he has written the character to be so much like him is not good and conflicts with the tone of the film. I found him to be really irritating and annoying. Heaven forbid he should write himself a role where he has to do some proper acting. Which brings me to Jay Chou. As Kato I do not know what he sees in Britt Reid, except perhaps the fact that he has money to let him do his inventions. Otherwise I do not know why Kato follows Britt. I get the feeling he only did the film to raise his international profile. Then I think Cameron Diaz only did the film to have the chance to work with Michel Gondry. Her role is very sexist and not the type you expect her to do. Christoph Waltz disappoints as well. He seems to want to perpetuate the stereotype he started in 'Inglourious Basterds'.
A major disappointment for all concerned. Some good action scenes but comes across as a bit of a mess.

The Dilemma

Director Ron Howard has been away from his comedy roots for a while but now gladly returns.

The premise of this film is an interesting one. The more interesting thing is how they are going to be able to sustain it for a whole movie. Basically Ronnie has to tell his friend Nick that his wife is cheating on him. But thankfully writer Allen Loeb has come up with some good obstacles to keep Ronnie from telling Nick the news. While the comedy is not of the 'laugh out loud' variety I still found it very funny. I think the problem is the tone of the comedy. The premise is more suited to something farcical and a bit sillier. Where Ronnie gets caught in outrageous situations. However Ron and his team have played it in a more straight comedy way, which while funny, does not take full advantage of the situation.

Vince Vaughn is not a terribly subtle actor and your enjoyment of his films largely depends on how much you like him. Plus he plays the same sort of character in all his films. For me it depends on his characters motives. In this film he is playing a more sympathetic and nicer character who is just trying to do the right thing but keeps getting into more trouble. So while his shtick does get a bit irritating I quite liked his performance. Kevin James is another actor who is very hit and miss. I find him more 'hit' when he is not working with Adam Sandler. He is quite good here but sadly leaves more of the funnier stuff to Vince. Winona Ryder is having a nice resurgence in her career lately. She is quite good as the bitch in this role. Sadly Jennifer Connelly gets the rough end of the stick and has very little to do, except react to Vince's stunts.

Not the greatest of comedies as you may come to expect from Ron Howard. But you will get a few good laughs out of it.

Sanctum

It is not often that Australia gets some patronage from a big time film director. But 'King Of The World' James Cameron has decided to lend a helping hand to his Aussie adventure story.

It seems that James Cameron's influence on the film extends to not only letting us use his groundbreaking 3D technology but also his skill as a film writer. The first 20 minutes of the the film is quite excruciating and awful. We learn about the characters and they fit pretty much the mould of all disaster films. They also speak some of the most corny and cliched dialogue you are ever likely to hear. It is not until they get trapped in the cave that the story takes off. Mostly because the characters are at the mercy of the elements so they have less of a chance of being themselves. Which after how they are established at the beginning you wouldn't want to spend time with them. It is an excellent story of endurance and the courage these people had to survive. The 3D helps adds a certain amount of extra claustrophobia of the situation. These people had to crawl through some pretty tight spots in places you would never get me into. This helps make the film just that little bit more thrilling. The only other problem is that the deaths are quite predictable as well. You know the death list from quite an early stage.

Richard Roxburgh is one of Australia's best actors who does not seem to have cracked the big time in Hollywood like some of his pals. He proves here that he can handle the action hero role really well. He is by far and away the best performance in the film. As the token Hollywood actor in the film, Ioan Gruffudd is your stock standard rich guy who take unnecessary risks. I think Ioan deserves better as he has proven in earlier roles. I can see this as the being the film to get Rhys Wakefield noticed in Hollywood. He proves he can be a young action hero successfully. I was in hysterics over a cameo appearance by an Aussie comedian at the beginning of the film.

If you can get through the cliched and corny opening then you are in for a really exciting thrill ride with this action/adventure film. Make sure you see it in 3D for that little bit of added effect.