DVD and Movie Reviews
There are only so many long winter afternoons that can be devoted to watching the big men fly in service of one football code or another. So thank you, Network Video, for two inspired lists of movies to help pass those hours on the sofa, as featured in Your Life magazine, Winter 2008. ‘We can’t believe this beat that’ features flicks where the Oscars got it wrong, e.g. in 1993, when Tommy Lee Jones (The Fugitive) stole Best Supporting Actor from Leonardo DiCaprio (What’s eating Gilbert Grape). View and compare! Or head for ‘From dork to diva’ and enjoy actors from Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady to Nikki Blonsky and John Travolta in Hairspray doing the Cinderella act on screen.
A small gem
As witness to the success of recent Israeli film, The Band’s Visit, it often takes a small movie to tackle a big subject successfully. Human beings are driven by stories – and stories of how others navigate life’s challenges tend to satisfy us the most. So as we grow older, we start to wonder about how we will end our days – strong, independent, lucid and surrounded by a loving family or, perhaps, slightly lonely, or bitter, or melancholy. Adapted from a short story by Maeve Binchy, How about you tackles themes of old age, loneliness and opportunities lost as seen through the eyes of residents of an aged care facility in County Wicklow, Ireland. The “hard core” (read recalcitrant) residents are wonderfully portrayed by an ensemble cast Vanessa Redgrave, Imelda Staunton, Brenda Fricker and Josh Ackland. These recalcitrants go out of their way to torment Ellie (Hayley Atwell), the younger sister of owner Kate (Orla Brady). Whilst sympathetic to their plight, Ellie has problems of her own, and so one day she decides to take this “dysfunctional family” in hand for once and for all.
How about you takes a fresh look at the challenges of ageing, and highlights the very real contribution all human beings can make while they have breath in their bodies. It is an exceptionally well-cast movie, with not a false portrayal, but the stand out performance surely belongs to the amazing Vanessa Redgrave who, as a once famous singing star, proves that you can’t keep a good girl down.
In cinemas July 24
Reviewed by Kaye Fallick
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Ageing adventure hero
Action heroes rarely die or suffer from the ails of old age apparently! Indiana Jones is back, 19 years after his last adventure, and is just as agile.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull sees Harrison Ford dust off his khakis, don his hat and resurrect the character of action-man Jones. Set in 1957, cold war paranoia is at an all time high, and the Nazi bad guys of the previous generation have been replaced by the Soviets.
Any movie written by George Lucas and directed by Steven Spielberg is sure to be action packed, and the Crystal Skull doesn’t disappoint. The action scenes are superbly choreographed and executed, and given Ford is now in his sixties, this must be no mean feat. Though older greyer and craggier than before, Jones is not outpaced by his younger counterpart, Mutt Williams (Shia LaBeouf).
All the favourites from previous movies are back on screen, Marion (Karen Allen), Oxley (John Hurt) and Mac (Ray Winstone), a few years older but still ready, willing and able. Cate Blanchette as power-crazed, communist scientist, Irina Spalko, injects some new blood into the tried and tested Indiana Jones formula.
Sure, it’s cheesy, with typical indi humour, over-the-top-action scenes and the obligatory creepy crawlies, but that doesn’t mean it’s not fun. It’s good to see Hollywood embracing its ageing actors for a changing, rather than putting them out to pasture.
You’ll be humming the theme tune for weeks!
Reviewed by Debbie McTaggart
Below the stairs
Few have lived long enough to recall life in Edwardian times, so it is difficult to imagine giving up all your home comforts for a life of servitude in pre-war Britain.
The Edwardian Country House is a reality TV show with a difference, first shown in Australia several years ago on the ABC. This is a real social experiment, far superior to Big Brother and the like. Screened over six episodes, it follows the lives of the Olliff-Coopers, and their newly acquired social standing.
Played by method actors, the Olliff-Coopers are a family of five, born to a life of luxury. Their staff of 14, all volunteers, look after their every whim and want, without the time and energy saving devices of the 21st century. As servants to an upper-class family, who have afternoon tea, play croquet and have a stable full of horses and carriages, life below stairs is far from easy.
The volunteers have no housekeeping experience, let alone the skills required to survive in the harsh environment of a pre-war country house. Over and above all their duties and adapting to daily Edwardian life, there is an intricate pecking order which ensures everyone in the house has a defined social position.
Follow the lives of new incumbents of the country house, over three months, as they grapple with their new way of life, social position and removal from the real world. This is a reality show worth watching, truly enjoyable as well as being educational.
Acorn media
RRP:$44.95
Reviewed by Debbie McTaggart
It never rains…
Your husband leaves you one day, your mother dies the next and your biological clock is ticking away in your ear. Then, your birth mother finds you.
Then she found me is the directorial movie debut for its star, Helen Hunt. Adapted from the novel by Elinor Lipman, liked to a Jewish Jane Austen, this unlikely romantic movie sticks closely to the story’s no-nonsense Jewish roots, and dry humour.
April Epner (Hunt) is a schoolteacher desperate for a child of her own. This seems unlikely as her husband runs out on her and her body lets her down. Despite loving her adopted mother, adoption is not a road April wants to travel. Following the death of her typically over-bearing mother, April is approached by her large-than-life birth mother, daytime TV star, Bernice (Bette Midler). Midler twinkles on screen and is well cast as April’s flakey mother but she is a bit of a distraction opposite the completely believable but straight acting of Hunt.
Bernice is liberal with the truth surrounding the facts of April’s conception and adoption, which immediately infuriates the straight-laced April. Adding a further complication to April’s life, is the blossoming romance with recently divorced, father of two, Frank (Colin Firth).
Hunt opted not to wear make-up for this role, a brave choice for a 45 year old actress in Hollywood. This bold move pays off as you warm to April, her honesty and homeliness softening her spiky, timid side. Colin Firth as Frank is dishevelled and a little puffy, much as you would expect from a recently divorced man to look, though still quite appealing.
Then she found me is a little predictable but can be forgiven this. Its clever humour and honesty makes it a movie worth watching.
Reviewed by Debbie McTaggart
Home front battle
As British troops were battling it out in the trenches, housewives all over the country were fighting their own private war.
Promising exactly what the title suggests, Housewife 49 allows us to relive another side of the battle of World War II, through the eyes of a 49 year-old housewife. Nella Last is ‘Housewife 49’ and as part of the Mass Observation Project of the Second World War, kept detailed diaries of ordinary life in wartime Britain. Edited by Richard Broad and Suzie Fleming, Nella’s real war diaries became a book, Nella’s Last War: The Second World War Diaries of Housewife 49.
Adapted for TV, this drama written and starring Victoria Wood, better known for comedy than serious drama, follows Nella’s journey to carve a role for herself in war torn Lancashire. With her son enlisted in the army, Nella finds herself no longer required as a mother, the only real purpose in life she’s ever known.
Although frightened by the prospect of what war will bring for her family, she also finds herself liberated from the traditional roles expected by women during this period. Director Gavin Miller, has plenty of experience of war time dramas, Foyle’s War was another smash TV drama, and he uses it to get the best out of Wood and David Threlfall (Shameless, Patriot Games), who plays Will, Nella’s husband.
Depicting the hardships of rationing and air raids, there is also the sense of hope and triumph as Nella finds purpose in her life by volunteering for the war effort. She finds the confidence to stand up for herself against her domineering husband, Will and learns to cope with her son’s enlistment.
This is a touching, real life story, filled with emotion, heartache and even the odd touch of humour. Superbly written, directed and acted, its well worth watching.
A touching and emotional drama.
Acorn Media
RRP $29.95
Reviewed by Debbie McTaggart
A story to share
It’s often said that everyone has a story to share but how do you tell it if one day you find yourself completely paralysed?
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is the on-screen adaptation of Jean-Dominque Bauby’s memoirs. Bauby, played by Mathieu Amalric, was a successful writer and chief editor of Elle in France. In 1995, at the age of 42, he remained in a coma for several months after suffering a sudden seizure and, on regaining conciousness, was told he had “lockedin syndrome”. Unable to speak or move, he is trapped in a world where he can hear, think and see but cannot communicate.
The first part of the movie shows life from Bauby’s perspective, with the camera being his eyes, allowing you to see the world as he does. The limited visuals in these scenes allow you to connect with Bauby, understanding his thoughts and the difficulties he faces adapting to life trapped in his own body.
The blinking of his left eyelid is the only action he can control, and with the help of his physio (Oltaz Lopez Garmendia) and speech therapist (Marie-Josee Croze) he soon learns to use this as an effective, albeit time-consuming, means of communication. Having fully developed this system, Bauby puts it to good use, and with the aid of his patient transcriber (Anne Consigny), he dictates his memoirs, reflecting on the life he has led. This humbling experience allows him to reconnect with his estranged girlfriend (Emmanuelle Seigner) and their three children.
Given the subject matter, the movie is inspiring, if a little harrowing at times and there is plenty of humour to relieve the seriousness of the topic. This remarkable true story is well scripted, directed and acted, an excellent example of all that’s good in French cinema.
Be moved, inspired and humbled, a definite must see movie.
Distributed by Icon
Reviewed by Debbie McTaggart
Naughty girls
If you enjoyed the comic capers of the 1954 original, The Belles of St.Trinian’s, the more sophisticated 2008 version is sure to make you chuckle.
The original was black and white and more slapstick than clever humour, however, the timeless storyline of unruly schoolgirls and a less than moral headmistress, combined with excellent casting, still proves to be a winner.
Times have moved on and the shocking vices of 1954, such as smoking and gambling, have been updated. Sex, drugs and art theft may make this version a little more risqué but it certainly doesn’t go over the top in true British cinema style.
Rupert Everett resurrects the role of Millicent Fritton, renamed as Camilla and sporting a horsey headscarf, headmistress of the infamous school for “young ladies”. Keeping with the tradition of the original, Everett also plays Camilla’s brother, art dealer and cad, Carnaby Fritton, who places his less than equipped daughter, Annabelle, in her care at St. Trinian’s.
With Education Minister and university love, Geoffrey Thwaites threatening to close her school, and the added pressure from her bank manager, Camilla turns to her girls to rescue their school from ruin. Lead by head girl Kelly, (Gemma Atherton, soon to be the new Bond girl) and Flash Harry (comedian Russell Brand), the talented group of misfits come up with a cunning plan.
Co-directed by Colin Parker and Barnaby Thompson, St.Trinian’s is filmed in and around the famous Ealing Studios in West London. Having produced some of the great British comedies in the 1940s and 50s, the studios were closed for many years. Re-opened in 2002, Ealing Studios has seen a steady growth in films made there.
The humour is obvious but not ridiculous and the young cast is superb in this truly funny, up-to-date version of a classic.
Distributed by Sony Pictures
Reviewed by Debbie McTaggart
Friendship rekindled
Wry humour and an endearing tale make Conversations With My Gardener the perfect movie to curl up with on a cool autumn day.
Inheriting the family home in rural France after the death of his mother, is only the start of the journey for Daniel Auteuil’s character. The names of the movie’s characters are never revealed, adding to the wonderful simplicity of the film and its story. Auteuil’s plays “dauber”, a landscape painter more at home in Paris’ cosmopolitan art world than the ramshackle country house, with its neglected vegetable garden he grew up in.
On hiring “gardener”, played by Jean-Pierre Darroussin, to bring the vegetable garden back to its long forgotten splendour, Dauber rekindles a friendship from his childhood. As childhood buddies, Dauber and Gardener were expelled from junior school after a prank gone wrong, and their lives took very different paths.
The conversations that occur between the two unlikely friends, whether about the demise of Dauber’s marriage, or the merits of one lettuce over another, are filled with humour, if a little flowery in their delivery. The pull of such conversations, and the joy in watching his garden flourish, prove to be more satisfying for Dauber than the bright lights of Paris and the charms of his young mistress.
The journey to find himself draws to a close for Dauber, just as the summer ends and brings with it the fruits of Gardener’s labour. The two friends are forced to face the realities of growing old and the onset of the autumn of their lives.
A cosy, autumn watch.
Rialto Films
RRP $34.95
Reviewed by Debbie McTaggart
Once in a lifetime
Winning an Oscar for best original song was the icing on the cake for small budget, Irish movie, Once.
Set in Dublin and made with a miniscule $200,000 budget, and shot in 17 days, Once showcases the musical talent of the film’s two stars, Glen Hansard, who’s self penned tunes is the background to this musical masterpiece, and Marketa Irglova, a pianist of tremendous ability. The tale focuses on two lost souls who come across each other by chance and inspire the other to take the risk of trying to succeed where they don’t believe they can.
Hansard plays a young, heart-broken musician who lacks the confidence to play his own music but will happily busk in front of thousands in Dublin’s busy Grafton Street, while working for his father in the family’s vacuum repair business. Irglova is the sparky, Czech immigrant, bringing up her daughter with the help of her mother, who befriends the young musician and compliments his music with her fantastic piano playing
Bound by their love of music, and the difficulties life and love has thrown at them, they inspire each other to reach for their goals and grab life with both hands.
Directed by John Carney, who also directed that other Irish musical masterpiece, The Commitments, he brings together newcomers Hansard (who did have a small part in The Commitments) and Irglova, who have a magical on-screen chemistry, which makes this movie an absolute joy to watch. So strong is the talent of the two cast members, and powerful the music, that the characters are not given any names, and they just don’t need them.
This simple movie has no sex or violence, it’s just not required. The music and talent of the actors is enough to transport you to the streets of Dublin.
A real musical treat.
Reviewed by Debbie McTaggart
Icon Films
RRP $29.95
Not dead yet
When was the last time you saw a movie that made you laugh out loud? The Bucket List may be predictable but it doesn’t mean it’s not funny!
Given the statistic that 96% of people polled would rather know when they were going to die, what would you have on your bucket list? Yes, that’s right, a list of things you want to do before you kick the bucket. For most it would be spending time with loved ones or taking the trip of a life time but when money is no option, how could that change your wishes?
Jack Nicholson plays Edward Cole, an ageing, playboy billionaire, who, while recovering in one of his own hospitals from major surgery and undergoing chemotherapy, meets Carter, a calm, wise, gentel man whose family and faith are everything to him. Faced with terminal cancer, the pair compile a list of what they want to do with their last days on earth – it’s childish, unrealistic, unbelievably sentimental, but that’s what this film is all about. It’s about entertaining the audience, making them laugh and cry at the same time, without having to think too deeply.
Jack Nicholson pretty much plays himself, if his Holywood persona is to be believed, but he does it with such style and humour that he can be forgiven. Morgan Freeman is an excellent choice as the straight-man to Nicholson’s more maverick character, providing small gems of wit in this otherwise predictable movie. You will also have to look past the fact that for two men dying of cancer, they look amazingly fit and well while undertaking their whirlwind trip across the world, taking in some of the most majestic sights on offer and risking their lives with adrenalin rushing stunts. Sean Hayes, as Tom, Edward’s man-Friday completes the trio and provides a few laughs of his own.
The Bucket List may not be the critics’ favourite movie of the year but it shouldn’t stop you going along to see it and making your own mind up!
Reviewed by Debbie McTaggart
Romancing Jane
Nobody does romance quite like Jane Austen and she certainly does it better than the six Californians who form The Jane Austen Book Club.
When dog breeder Jocelyn (Maria Bello), a resolute singleton, suffers the loss of her prized pooch, six-times married Bernadette (Kathy Baker) calls upon their friends to form a book club as a way of keeping her occupied and when she stumbles across newly-married Prudie (Emily Blunt) extolling the virtues of Austen to a less than enthusiastic cinema queue, she hits on the idea of the Jane Austen book club.
With six Austen novels to read and discuss, six members of the book club are needed, one for each title. Sylivia (Amy Brenneman) who has recently been ditched by her husband Daniel (Jimmy Smitts) and her daughter Allegra (Maggie Grace) who is openly gay, yet hides her love of extreme sports, take the next two spots, leaving the last one to Darcy (Hugh Grigg) a self confessed sci-fi fan who’s never been in love. Darcy is recruited by Jocelyn, as a diversion for Amy from her marriage woes.
This diverse group is preoccupied with the nature and complexities of relationships, whether friendships or romantic entanglements, all of which are mirrored by the storylines of the Jane Austen novels written at the turn of the 1800s. With each novel, the group find out a little bit more about themselves, each other, and the relationships they have, have had or hope to have.
With a mixture of established, if not instantly recognisable, and up-and-coming young actors, the cast of this amusing and light-hearted look at love hold their own. The appearance by the formidable Lynn Redgrave as Prudie’s alcoholic mother, doesn’t detract from their performances.
Whether you’re a novice or a Jane Austen fan from way back, this movie will have you rushing to your nearest library to enjoy her output of six novels, including, Sense and Sensibility, Mansfield Park and of course, Pride and Predjudice.
Distributed by Sony Pictures
Reviewed by Debbie McTaggart
Coming of age
Rupert Grint (Ron Weasely in the Harry Potter movies) comes of age as an actor and as his character Ben in Driving Lessons, under the excellent tutelage of Julie Walters, who plays the slightly barking Dame Evie.
Raised in an oppressively conservative house by his over-bearing mother (Laura Linney) and his down-trodden vicar father (Nicholas Farrell), Ben struggles to come to terms with his parents’ relationship with each other and himself. Forced to cover up his mother’s affair under the auspices of his driving lessons, he tries to reach out to his father, hoping for someone to take the pressure off him but his father is closed off in his own misery.
Replying to an ad for a “boy Friday” Ben meets Dame Evie, a retired classical actress for whom the best years of her career are far behind her but her zest for life has not quite been extinguished. Ben marvels at her eccentric ways as she forces him to rebel against his mother’s wishes in an underhand way and guides him through the rites of passage that all teenagers must face.
Ben flourishes in this friendship, much to the despair of his mother who tries her best to ruin the endearing relationship shared by the unlikely duo. Age is no barrier for these two, with the traditional roles seemingly reversed and Evie acting more like a troubled adolescent and Ben the responsible adult. Evie forces Ben to question who he is and where he’s going and enables him to find the way forward with his life, something that should have been the role of his parents.
Rupert Grint clearly enjoys learning his trade under the guidance of the extremely talented Walters in this endearing tale of friendship and coming of age.
Hopscotch Entertainment
RRP: $37.99
Reviewed by Debbie McTaggart
Irish Logic
The Irish RM is a superb and hilarious rendition of the Somerville & Ross classic, set in turn of the century Southern Ireland. The locations are magnificent and the episodes remain remarkably faithful to the original stories.
Peter Bowles, well known for playing the ‘upper crust gentleman’ in British comedies around the 1970 -1980 era, stars here as the hapless Major Sinclair Yeates, a retired British army officer who takes up a post as Resident Magistrate (R.M.) in the west of Ireland around 1900. From the moment he arrives, Yeates attempts to come to grips with absurd situations, which pass as the local version of logic; and there is where the humour lies.
The series was set at a time when blood sport was a very popular method of pest control. In all three series, however, the only animals killed on screen are one snipe, one duck and one salmon - hardly distressing viewing, even for the most squeamish. In spite of the contentious and fiery political events at the time; that is, British Home Rule in Ireland, this series is not at all political, which adds to its charm.
There are 18 episodes in all, but the continuity of the series is generally unimportant. Full of gentle and good-natured humour, any one episode will give an hour’s enjoyable viewing especially to viewers with an understanding of Ireland’s relationship with England.
Acorn Media
RRP $34.95
Reviewed by Myriam Camilleri
Grandma steals the show
The consensus of reviews of Hunting and Gathering is that it is a film which concentrates on young people meeting and matching in Paris. This take on the movie misses the real story – which is about the dilemma of Franck’s ageing grandmother, and her resistance to living out her days in an institution.
Directed by Claude Berri of Manon des Sources and Jean de Florette fame, the story starts when Philibert and Camille meet outside a Parisian apartment. Philibert helps Camille when she falls sick, much to the disgust of his lodger, Franck. Franck’s behaviour is unbelievable boorish, but partly explained by his long working hours as a chef, and worry about his grandmother who has suffered a fall, and hates the home to which she has been relocated. Audrey Tatou is delightful as Camille, Guillaume Canet suitably handsome and brooding as Franck, but the real scene stealer is the winsome grandmother, Paulette, played by Francoise Bertin. Go and see this charming film to renew your faith in cross-generational love.
Reviewed by Kaye Fallick
Cate’s golden role
Shekhar Kapur directs another visual masterpiece in this follow up to Elizabeth. Cate Blanchett, resurrecting her role as the virgin Queen, is again joined by Geoffrey Rush as her trusted advisor, Walsingham and, as expected, neither fails to impress.
The story line of the sequel, Elizabeth: the Golden Age is not as strong as the first film, with the true history of the time giving way to something more entertaining to watch. However, this does not detract from the fabulous costumes, scenery and well acted roles.
In this movie, Protestant England is under threat of invasion by the Spanish Armada, following the instruction of a zealous King Philip, the Catholic King of Spain and Elizabeth herself must contend with the threat to her throne by her cousin, Mary Queen of Scot’s (Samantha Morton), held prisoner in Fotheringhay Castle.
Showing the more human side of Elizabeth, you’re given an understanding of what it must be like to serve your country, even when you see the wrong in what is expected of you. The resolve of Elizabeth is shaken when she is forced to condemn her cousin Mary to death, when it’s discovered she played a part in the attempt to overthrow her.
Living vicariously through her lady-in-waiting, Beth, played by Australian newcomer Abbie Cornish, Elizabeth watches as romance blossoms with Sir Walter Raleigh, superbly portrayed by Clive Owen. As Sir Walter leads England to victory over Spain on the high seas, Elizabeth is, for now, secure in her reign.
Although not as gripping as the first movie, Elizabeth: The Golden Age is still worth the trip to the cinema.
Distributed by Universal Studios
Sean’s story
We Are All One Family
Sean Willmore is no ordinary bloke. Working as a ranger at Warrangine Reserve, between Bitten and Hastings on the Mornington Peninsula of Victoria, he had the opportunity to attend a conference at which he met other rangers from overseas. Sean was so impressed with their stories that he sold his car, remortgaged his house and spent 14 months travelling the globe. During this time he lived and worked with his opposite numbers in a diverse range of natural environments and was confronted with a bewildering array of challenges.
This is not just another natural history on endangered species wildlife doco. Some of the “parks” visited by Sean resemble warzones, and the local rangers, front line troops engaged in a deadly campaign against poachers. This is the real politik of the over-population pressure on scarce resources. In this context, it’s the belated attempts by some more enlightened governments and/or courageous individuals to protect remnant natural environments and their precious inhabitants. Whilst the experiences of the Canadian and US rangers, will be more familiar to Australian viewers, those of their Ugandan and South African counterparts are much more life-threatening. As if to underline this point, all the profits from the sale of this DVD go to the families of rangers killed in the line of duty. Currently, the funds are earmarked for two Sri Lankan and one African ranger who were shot whilst protecting their parks.
As a bonus, there is a great contemporary soundtrack from musos such as Bomba, Blue King Brown, Paul Dillon, John Butler Trio and Xavier Rudd.
Do something worthwhile, aid a great cause and help to thicken the thin green line this Christmas.
Reviewed by David Fallick
The Thin Green Line
RRP $25.00
www.thingreenline.info
IRF - International Ranger Federation
Brilliant Beethoven
Classical music historians may not appreciate this fictional account of Beethoven’s last years but, forgiven its dramatic licence, Copying Beethoven, set in Vienna in 1824 and starring the wonderful Ed Harris, is a story of passion and artistic brilliance well told.
If you can let yourself believe that, back in the nineteenth century, a beautiful young woman (Diane Kruger) would be accepted as copyist for one of the greatest composers of all time, then it is worth watching this film for the fine acting and direction which makes it such an enthralling experience.
The music helps. By the time the story reaches its climax at the opening night performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, you have a greater appreciation of this complex man’s music. Having ‘lived’ for an hour-and-a-half with his passion and aggression, his loneliness, borne of deafness and an unpredictable and demanding character, and his love for, and anger at, God for giving him the gift of creating musical works he will never hear except in his head – the music itself becomes imbued with greater emotional significance.
This is the film’s strength: it enables you to understand and experience the music more deeply. It also makes you acutely aware of the irony and cruelty of Beethoven going deaf – as he finishes conducting his symphony (possibly only with the aid of his copyist who has become deeply important to him in many ways), the audience is on their feet cheering. Beethoven stands still staring at the orchestra until he is alerted to the rapturous audience behind him. He cannot heard the cheers.
Ed Harris disappears into this role as Beethoven – he is an extraordinary actor at the height of his powers in this film. Director Agnieszka Holland runs a tightrope with the relationship between the young female copyist and the much older man, but thankfully, it remains ambiguous and never slips into mawkish sentimentality. And the last image of this compelling movie is a powerful indication of an important theme in the film: walk your own path and, regardless of what challenges you face, you are free.
Hopscotch Entertainment
RRP $35.00
Reviewed by Kate Johnston
Uproarious undertakers
Keeping a stiff upper lip is what the British do best, even at the funeral of a loved one. Throw into the mix a blackmailing dwarf, unrequited lust, family rivalry, hallucinogenic drugs and incompetent undertakers and the scene is set for a laugh-a-minute farce. Death at a funeral will have you cringing and the unraveling of a genteel British family.
Directed by mupeteer Frank Oz, who was born in the UK and has the dry sense of humour necessary to ensure the slapstick element of this upper-class riot isn’t over played. With a screenplay by Dean Craig (this is his first major feature), Death at a funeral will not disappoint.
Matthew McFadden (Pride and Prejudice) leads the cast as Daniel, son of the deceased, who is desperately trying to give his father the send off he deserves. Daniel is in constant danger of being overwhelmed by the demands of his new wife Jane (Keely Hawes). At the same time, he struggles to control his flirty, famous novelist brother Robert (Rupert Graves), his cousin Martha’s (Daisy Donovan) delirious, nude fiancé Simon (Alan Tudyk), and to keep the lid on his father’s secret gay, dwarf lover, who is threatening to divulge intimate photos of their life together!
With an ensemble cast from the cream of British comedy, such as Peter Vaughan as incontinent, wheelchair bound uncle Alfie, Jane Asher as the deceased’s prim wife Sandra and Thomas Wheatley as the ubiquitous, stressed out vicar, Death at a Funeral can’t fail to entertain.
Death at a funeral is now playing in good cinemas across the country.
Reviewed by Debbie McTaggart
In sickness and in health
Julie Christie stars in Away from her, a simple but moving story about the changes that come to a long marriage as Alzheimer’s takes hold on one of the couple.
Based on the story, The Bear Came over the Mountain, by Canadian writer Alice Munro, Away from her is set in snow-covered Canada and directed by respected Canadian actress, Sarah Polley. She has approached her first full-length film with a simple, restrained touch, which avoids the ‘impressive’ camera angles or forced stylisation many directors seem compelled to employ early in their careers. This allows the story to unfold with a subtlety and tenderness especially appropriate to the subject matter.
Married for 50 years, Grant (Gordon Pinsent) and Fiona (Julie Christie) have a committed and loving marriage, the serenity of which is only occasionally broken by Fiona’s references to a past betrayal. When Fiona is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and has to move into a home, her memory and recognition of her husband disappears. Grant is forced to watch as her affections completely turn towards another man in the nursing home.
It’s refreshing to see a depiction of Alzheimer’s which doesn’t focus entirely on the physical degradations but rather, on the way even the most comfortable and loving relationships are affected. Away from her is a reminder of how lives can be turned upside down at any age, shining a light on the complexities and cyclical nature of marriage as well as the painful consequences of a debilitating disease.
Reviewed by Kate Johnston
A good education
The History Boys is a screen adaptation of the acclaimed and as you would expect, witty, Alan Bennett play – and it doesn’t stray too far from its roots in story or characters.
Set in Yorkshire in 1982, the story follows eight ‘A’ Level students from essentially working class backgrounds attempting to secure places at Oxford and Cambridge universities. Each student has a different reason for wanting to study at such elite establishments but they are brought together by the will of their teachers to succeed.
The boys are mentored by three key tutors: Hector, the more liberal teacher played by Richard Griffiths; Mrs Lintott played by Frances de la Tour, who brings the necessary feminine element to this male dominated story; and Irwin played by Stephen Campbell Moore, who brings structure to the boys learning as a teacher brought to the school especially to coach the boys in their quest. Director Nickolas Hytner, who also directed the stage versions in London, New York and Sydney, has stuck with his original cast in these three roles.
With snappy dialogue and characters who more than hold your interest, The History Boys is a delight to watch, proving that a good story line, excellent script and fantastic cast can achieve more than most Holywood blockbusters.
Distributed by: Fox Searchlight
RRP: $29.95
Reviewed by Debbie McTaggart
Please Sir…
Academy Award winning director Roman Polanski’s dark but masterful twist on Oliver Twist is a faithful adaptation and one that should become required watching for all families. You may think it unnecessary to do another version of any Dickens story but this one is great.
Polanski has said that he wanted to make a movie “his kids could somehow identify with”. This film is not sentimental and it manages to get right inside a child’s fear and fragility. Perhaps Polanski is able to tap into Oliver’s pain of abandonment because of the memory of his own parents, who were taken from Krakow’s Jewish ghetto to Nazi concentration camps.
Still working in his seventies, Polanski surprised many taking on the classic tale of good triumphing over evil, but a good story is a good story and this sensitive and stunning version is a delight. Ben Kingsley as Fagin is a rotten charmer who can switch from flattery to scorn at the tip of his hat. Young Barney Clark stars as Oliver, who is gentle and polite and not as cringingly sycophantic as other cinematic Olivers.
Polanski creates a cruel world where power is abused, as orphans are forced to completely and utterly fend for themselves – a moving reminder of the extreme vulnerability of children. This version, more than any other, empathises with the boy, never falling into the trap of patronising or dismissing the child’s feelings. Perhaps it’s also a reminder to adults that we too are more vulnerable than we like to think.
Reviewed by Kate Johnston
Tristar RRP $40.00
Comedy club
Boynton Beach Club is a fun, lively romp through the Florida’s mature-age dating scene Starring Dyan Cannon, Len Cariou and Sally Kellerman, the ensemble cast do a great job, proving that relationship dilemmas are pretty much the same at any age.
The ‘Boynton Beach Bereavement Club’ is the social hub of this Florida retirement community and the members all start out suitably skeptical but end up sharing in the ups and downs of each other’s lives. Jack (Cariou) has lost his wife and needs to learn to do the everyday things she’s always done for him. He meets Sandy, (Kellerman) whose past is not as clear cut as she wishes it were. Then there’s Lois (Cannon), the fun and funky one who befriends the kind, recently widowed Marilyn (Brenda Vaccaro).
It’s good to see an ensemble cast of older actors having fun and showing the world that love is as desired after 50 as it is at 15. It is rare to see older people depicted as having any sexuality or sexual needs, and Boynton Beach Club has taken this further by letting us see an older woman’s naked body – a body of which she is proud (and should be).
It takes time to adjust to watching Dyan Cannon, who has had so much plastic surgery that the first fifteen minutes of the film require some deep breathing. But her performance is so likeable that her character’s delightful joie de vivre blocks out any plastic surgery prejudice.
Its’ easy to see why Boynton Beach Club was a huge cult hit in the U.S. The script is a bit obvious at times, but the actors create a world that is emotionally genuine, helped in this regard especially by Len Cariou and Brenda Vaccaro, who bring warmth and truth to this light comedy.
Reviewed by Kate Johnston
Amazing, indeed
The death of slavery in 1833 was the result of decades of hard work, a life-long battle fought by anti-slave trade activist, William Wilberforce. Born in England 1759, and elected to Parliament in England in his twenties, Wilberforce’s privileged background could have meant an easy, if uneventful, life. But his social conscience was too strong to let him take the easy path. A stellar cast, including Ioan Gruffudd, Michael Gambon, Albert Finney and Romola Garai, bring this fabulous story to life.
The very personable welsh actor, Ioan Gruffudd, is a good choice to portray the dedicated, focused Wilberforce who struggles with politicians, poor health and laudanum addiction for much of his life. But this movie is not just about the lead role – the cast is full of our favourite British character actors, with Albert Finney and Michael Gambon almost stealing the show as John Newton, the former slave ship captain, and Lord Fox, the wily politician. The film works well at many levels – as a story of persistence, a period romance, and a fascinating insight into the Westminster system of parliament in action. On limited release, try to catch Amazing Grace soon, or wait a few weeks and enjoy the DVD.
Becky is sharp
This BBC mini-series of the Thackeray classic, Vanity Fair, draws you into the myopic world of social climber Becky Sharpe with a satirical and entertaining skill of which the author would have been proud.
British screenwriter, Andrew Davies, whose hugely successful adaptation of Pride and Prejudice brought a fresh and contemporary take to the classic book, has done it again with Vanity Fair. This is a lavish and beautifully shot production, full of imagery which reflects the story of men, women and families struggling during the financially fragile time of the Napoleonic War.
The war is the backdrop for the story of determined young governess Becky Sharp (Natasha Little) whose considerable charms are put to work at every possible turn in the name of furthering her social status. Becky’s drive and ambition are made more obvious by the utter naïvety of her best friend Amelia (Francis Gray), who falls for the charming rake, George Osborne (Tom Ward) ands stays faithful to him even after his death and even whilst the most honourable of men, Colonel Dobbin (Philip Glenistar) is madly, but silently, in love with her.
Miriam Margolyes is brilliant as the imperious but honest and very, very wealthy sister of Becky’s husband Miss Crawley. This is an entertaining and well structured mini-series, which though not entirely faithful to era (some of the dances are a little risqué for the time), is nevertheless a delightful way to pass a cold, wet Sunday afternoon or evening.
BBC DVD
RRP $29.95
Reviewed by Kate Johnston
Faith in friendship
If you’ve lost your faith in the youth of today then Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont, an adaptation of the best selling novel by the late English author, Elizabeth Taylor, is the film for you.
Better known for her stage roles and being Lady Laurence Olivier, Joan Plowright is adorable as the spunky Mrs Palfrey.
After her husband passes away, Mrs Palfrey moves from Scotland to London, with the intention of building a relationship with her grandson, Desmond. Wanting to keep her independence, however, she books into the Claremont Hotel. Far from the grand affair she was expecting, the Claremont proves to be somewhere that time has passed by and this is indeed the case for the other
residents she meets there.
Due to Desmond’s lack of interest in his ageing grandmother, the longed for relationship with her grandson fails to flourish, causing much pain and embarrassment to Mrs Palfrey, who has told the other residents how wonderful he is. Mrs Palfrey happens across a young writer, Ludvic Meyer, played by newcomer Rupert Friend, who comes to her rescue after a fall and, a deep-rooted and mutually beneficial friendship ensues, proving the old adage “You can’t choose your family… “.
Having found the ‘grandson’ she so desperately wanted, Mrs Palfrey enjoys life to the full and helps young Ludvic find his way in life. In return, he pretends to be Desmond, making life at the Claremont much more enjoyable. All goes well until, chastised by his mother for neglecting his grandmother, the real Desmond shows up at the Claremont, causing a few raised eyebrows amongst the other residents.
Supported by some the great actors of the English theatre – Anna Massey, Georgina Hale, Millicent Martin and Clare Higgins – and introducing another newcomer, Zoe Tapper, as Ludvic Meyer’s love interest, Joan Plowright shines
in this tender, touching and deeply moving film.
Madman films distributor
RRP $29.99
Reviewed by Debbie McTaggart
La Vie en Rose
It is difficult to imagine anyone leaving this movie unmoved. It’s a tour de force and after 140 minutes you emerge exhausted but also exhilarated and stimulated. It’s ironic; such a lengthy examination of such a short life – Piaf died at the age of 47.
We start shortly after her birth on the streets of an immigrant suburb called, somewhat incongruously, Belleville, Paris. Her formative years were traumatic and she was not fortunate with her choice of parents or grandparents. World War 1 was drawing to a close so her father, pending his demobilisation, leaves her with his mother, a madam running a brothel in Normandy. Piaf loses her sight for four years and regains it, miraculously, as the result of a pilgrimage to the Shrine of St Therese. She had no sooner regained her vision than she lost her hearing, at the age of eight, not regaining it for six years.
The film graphically recreates this grim, dark period in Piaf’s life and her subsequent ‘discovery’ by Louis Leplée, a nightclub proprietor (played by Gérard Depardieu), who takes her from street singer to paid entertainer and recording star.
The cast is convincing including two young actors who play Piaf at ages five and ten and her parents, Anetta (Clotilde Courau) and Louis (Jean-Paul Rouve). Marion Cotillard as the adult Piaf is superb, physically fragile, impetuous, volatile, egocentric, dismissive of her inner-circle of friends and supporters, but, above all a determined and passionate performer who, as she repeatedly collapses on stage, strives to sing until the bitter end.
There are only a couple of weaknesses; the now seemingly unavoidable use of flashbacks (and forwards) which this production has taken to the nth degree, and which can confuse. Also, whilst most of the subject’s life is faithfully recounted, it coincided with major events in her beloved France and so it’s somewhat surprising that WWII is omitted. Similarly, we know that she was friends with such major performers as Maurice Chevalier and Charles Aznavour, but with the exception of an unconvincing exchange with Marlene Dietrich when Paris is occupied by the Germans, there is no attempt to cover, even briefly, these important relationships.
But these are but minor criticisms. The film is a magnificent testament to the human spirit and one woman’s triumph over the worst possible start in life. Go to La Vie en Rose whether you’re a Piaf fan or not, or even tone deaf. You will emerge being totally absorbed by something increasingly rare in the cinema – a thoroughly researched, professional production which not only informs, but inspires and days after the experience, will return to you, warmly.
Reviewed by David Fallick
Madame Bovary
Emma Bovary was no grey nomad but she certainly wanted to run away from home! This fine BBC Production of the classic Flaubert novel stars Australian actress Frances O’Connor. It’s full of repressed passion and longing looks.
Marriage to the reliable Charles is not what Emma thinks it will be. Hoping for late night garden romps, she gets dedicated but dull-as-dishwater domestic non-bliss, until she meets a young clerk Leon (played by the gorgeous Hugh Dancy from Daniel Deronda fame) who ignites a flame. It’s a flame that becomes a bonfire when she later meets the irresponsible but sensual aristocrat, Rodolphe (Greg Wise).
But amidst all this passion, socially ambitious Emma can’t control her spending and her husband who is a fool for her love, turns a blind eye. And so things go from bad to worse.
The novel was highly controversial when published in 1857, and although the moral frameworks of our society have changed, the themes of frustration and acts of desperation stemming from uncontrollable desire are very modern indeed!
This is a strangely affecting and enthralling two-part version of what is a genuine masterpiece.
ABC/BBC DVD
RRP $29.95
Reviewed by Kate Johnston
The pursuit of happyness
Inspired by a true story, The pursuit of happyness sees real life father and son, Will and Jaden Smith, team up in this confronting, and at times emotional, story.
Some believe that good things in life shouldn’t come easily and that’s certainly the case for Chris Gardener. As his relationship falls apart, Chris finds himself as sole carer to his son, Christopher. Torn between surviving day-to-day and trying to provide a better and stable future for his son (effortlessly played by the delightful Jaden Smith), Chris finds himself penniless, forced to sleep in homeless shelters and even in a public bathroom!
Despite being hindered by his poor upbringing and lack of opportunities, the undeniably intelligent Chris aims high and, after a chance meeting and much determination, secures himself a place on a high competitive internship with one of San Francisco’s top brokerage firms. With only one of the twenty interns making the cut, the odds are stacked against Chris; however, spurred by the love and trust of his son, he struggles to overcome all obstacles.
This film covers issues such as poverty and homelessness, which shouldn’t exist in a civilised society but all too frequently do. The pursuit of happyness should be an inspiration to us all.
Sony Pictures
RRP $38.99
Reviewed by Debbie McTaggart
Powerful family drama
Proof, starring Gwyneth Paltrow and the ever-brilliant Anthony Hopkins, and based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by David Auburn, is a moving story of a daughter’s struggle to come to terms with the loss of her brilliant, but mentally ill, mathematician father for whom she cared in the last years of his life.
The film works on many layers. It is, on one level, a story about the different ways siblings deal with grief. Katherine (Paltrow) has cared for her father whilst her sister Claire has been living and working elsewhere. Claire, the efficient and practical one, comes home for the funeral with an agenda to ‘sort out’ the life of her sensitive younger sister, who seems disengaged from the world.
But the shadow of grief is only one aspect of the darkness Katherine is experiencing. Both siblings fear Katherine has inherited their father’s mental illness. But Katherine’s world is expanded by Hal, an ambitious former student of her father’s, whose intentions, both personal and professional, are unclear – he is hoping to gain status through publishing a revolutionary mathematical formula he’s searching for amongst her father’s work. But the future of mathematics lies in the present, not the past.
Flashbacks are hard to pull off in film, but great performances and a clever script mean this well-structured, deceptively simple story is full of subtle nuances.
Distributed by Buena Vista International
RRP $39.95
Reviewed by Kate Johnston
Dancing penguins
Happy Feet is a toe-tapping musical with a difference. A whole host of Hollywood stars give their voices and wit to this Oscar-winning, Australian-made extravaganza, produced and directed by George Miller, best known for the Mad Max series of movies.
Meet Mumble (Elijah Wood), born into a group of Emperor penguins who find their soul mates through song. Poor Mumble can’t hold a note – but boy can he dance! Singled out as being different the moment his egg hatched, vocally- challenged Mumble struggles to make his parents, two of the colony’s best singers, Norma Jean (Nicole Kidman) and Memphis (Hugh Jackman) accept his happy dancing feet as part of who he is.
Cast out by his narrow-minded peers, Mumble embarks on a quest to find out why there is a shortage of food for his colony this season. Teaming up with a quirkier, more accepting group of Adelie penguins, led by the side splittingly funny Ramon (Robin Williams), Mumble and his new friends battle through the dangerous artic wilderness, spurred on by the need to save the “all-knowing guru”, Lovelace (also Robin Williams), who is in danger of being choked by discarded rubbish.
The environmental message of this movie can not underestimated but is tackled with enough humour that it doesn’t overpower a delightfully funny and touching children’s tale, which will most definitely be enjoyed by all the family. With Britney Murphy bringing to life Gloria, Mumble’s love interest and a cameo voice over by the late Steve Irwin, Happy Feet really does have something for everyone. Disney couldn’t have done better himself.
Warner Bros
RRP $37.99
Reviewed by Debbie McTaggart
Brilliant Julia Britton
Fearless is an apt title for a documentary about the magnetic and unstoppable energy within 92-year-old playwright Julia Britton.
Julia Britton is about to take one of the biggest risks of her career as a playwright and producer by taking a production of her play ‘Fresh Pleasures’ to London. This documentary shows the incredible energy and determination necessary to put on a theatre production for anyone, let alone someone of Julia’s age.
In a ‘previous life’, Julia was a lecturer in classics at the University of Adelaide and a journalist. At the age of 70, she decided to write plays and her first work, The Brilliant Career of Miles Franklin, was a great success in Australia and the USA. Since then she has been a prolific writer for the theatre as well as writing screenplays for production here and overseas.
Fearless is an entertaining and fascinating look at a woman who has put aside conventional beliefs that you have a narrowing range of choices as you age. The producers must be commended for recognising the value of her story and giving us a chance to enjoy and be inspired by her life.
For more information click here
The DVD of Fearless can be purchased by clicking here
Reviewed by Kate Johnston
Family road trip
Australia’s own Toni Collette leads the award winning ensemble cast in Little Miss Sunshine, a quirky, yet touching, comedy.
The story is sees a middle American family embark on a trek in a beat up VW camper van to get their less-than-glamorous young daughter, played by the delightful newcomer and Oscar nominee Abigail Breslin, to a kiddies’ beauty pageant. In the end, she competes, and the hilarious final performance for which had been coached by her delinquent grandfather, is something to be seen. Alan Arkin clearly relished his portrayal of the grandfather – and deservedly won a best supporting actor Oscar for the role.
Though funny and quirky, the Oscar-winning screenplay also deals admirably with issues such as bereavement, adolescent angst and, of course, the ultimately ridiculous regime of Kiddie Beauty Pageants. The film effortlessly delivers truly laugh-out-loud moments without the need to be crass or rely on worn-out clichés.
Greg Kinner as the father struggling to provide for his family, Steve Carrell as the suicidal, gay brother and Paul Dano as the ‘mute through choice’ adolescent son complete the unlikely, but fabulous, cast. They’re dysfunctional, yet immensely endearing, and they take you on a journey in which you become fully submerged, as they discover themselves, each other and the importance of family – dysfunctional or not!
Fox DVD
RRP $29.98
Reviewed by Debbie McTaggart
Funny folk music tribute
In the tradition of writer/director/performer Christopher Guest’s other ‘mockumentaries’, the hilarious Best In Show and Waiting for Guffman, A mighty wind is an amusing and moving ode to the early ‘60s folk music scene, which saw groups of ‘family singers’ perform divine harmonies in squeaky clean costumes.
The film begins with the preparations for a tribute concert to the recently departed folk music manager, Irving Steinbloom. Various groups are reforming for the occasion, including former lovers Mitch and Mickey, played by Eugene Levy (who co-wrote the film) and Catherine O’Hara, who consistently manage to walk the fine line between absurd comedy and pathos and whose final live performance brings unexpected tears to the eyes.
Christopher Guest has again brought together a talented ensemble, who depict all the oddball sweetness of the era through subtle but insightful observations and symbiotic performances. The honesty and warmth these performers bring to their roles makes A mighty wind fine viewing. The script is spot on, the original songs have you humming along and the affection that underpins the film adds a deeply satisfying layer to the experience. But most of all A mighty wind is wonderful silliness and great entertainment. Make sure you listen out for such classic song lyrics as Never did no wanderin’, a gentle and believable parody of the folk music cliché of a free wheelin’ life. Brilliant.
Mighty fine fun
Reviewed by Kate Johnston
Hamish MacBeth – is all as it seems?
Stunning scenery, haunting music and the quirky characters of Lochdubb – this is the essence of the third (and final) series of Hamish Macbeth.
This series shows Hamish Macbeth, played by Robert Carlyle, so comfortably ensconced in this small Scottish town that he dreads the impending threat of promotion and subsequent relocation. Drama surrounds the little town as the school burns down and the authorities are hesitant to rebuild. Fiery moments occur as it appears Rory, the councillor, was privy to this.
The appearance of Lochdubb’s own journalist, Elizabeth, who returns to her hometown briefly to cover this story, leaves the viewers wondering if Cupid is again working his magic. Not to mention the arrival of Hamish’s new assistant PC. And Major MacLean returns with a glam new fiancée: but is all as it seems?
Full of humour and best of all an inspiring community spirit, this two-disc set featuring eight episodes is available now.
RRP $29.95
Reviewed by Myriam Camilleri
Stylish devil
It’s going to be a very tough call on Oscar night with three of the grand dames of the screen going head to head. If you’ve seen The Queen, Helen Mirren seems unbeatable in her portrayal of her Maj. Those who’ve watched Dame Judy Dench’s performance in Notes on a Scandal think she deserves the gong, but for pure style and pizzaz we’re going all out for Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestley, the editor from hell in The Devil Wears Prada.
And she does wear Prada – as well as Dior, Valentino and so on. Based loosely on the real-life editor of American Vogue, Anna Wintour, Streep has a ball as the bitchiest boss in town – glamorous, chic and caustically sarcastic. Her hapless personal assistant is the impossibly gorgeous Anne Hathaway, who suddenly one day dons Chanel thigh high boots, and the rest, as they say, becomes history. But watching ‘Prada’ is not about reality – it’s about the highlife of high flying New York fashion editors who take a concept and turn it into the latest ‘must-have’ for thousands of women around the globe. See it for what it is – a fun romp through New York and Paris in search of the next big thing….and enjoy a remarkable actress who just keeps getting better…
Warner DVD
RRP Price $29.98
Reviewed by Kaye Fallick
A Prairie Home Companion
Starring Meryl Streep, Lily Tomlin, Lindsay Lohan, and Garrison Keilor (as himself), this heartwarming film follows the lives of various country and western performers as they grapple with the demise of their weekly radio show. The action centres on the last show and how the performers respond to the imminent loss of their employment and the breakup of their radio ‘family’. Old hurts, memories, dreams and songs are shared and celebrated. The music is wonderful, the cast excellent, and the story will resonate with all those who mourn the passing of old style family entertainment.
DVD due for release in February
Reviewed by Kaye Fallick
A Moving Tribute
Christmas Eve, Northern France, World War 1. Officers and soldiers from Scotland and France are engaged in battle with Germans across the trenches. Then something amazing happens – the men put down their weapons and call a truce. Based on a true event, this moving film portrays the spontaneous generosity of the human spirit even in the most horrible circumstances.
Full of humour and pathos the film also includes much singing – showing the power of music to express emotion impossible to express in any other way. This music, as well as the heightened look and design of the film, give it a fairytale quality. It is a joy to see a film that eschews the contemporary obsession with gritty, ‘realistic’ depictions of the blood and guts of war. Joyeux Noel chooses to tell the story of the strength of humanity to rise above the chaos and destruction which can overwhelm hope, and as such, it is as moving a tribute to the men who sacrificed so much as any other war film full of violence and horror.
Reviewed by Kate Johnston
A Ballet Classic
Performed at the Melbourne Arts Centre in 1994, Graham Murphy’s Nutcracker tells the life-story of a famous Russian ballerina, Clara, now in her elder years, reminiscing about her tumultuous past. We watch Clara fall in love and lose her beloved in the war, travel all over the world and become a ballet dancer.
Graham Murphy’s choreography gives it an Australian twist. Act I sets up an intriguing story, after which the audience is blown away by a combination of familiar songs composed by Tchaikovsky, beautifully identifiable costumes, energetic dance and an involving narrative. A splendid 95-minute show that will capture any imagination.
Reviewed by Damon Arezzolo
Gore’s Triumph
Finally we have a good reason why Al Gore did not win that famous election in 2000 after it went down to the wire in Florida. Gore’s failure to become President of the United States has set him off on a path far more important for the future of the world – exploring global warming. And his conclusions in An Inconvenient Truth will dismay, depress, but hopefully inspire your to do your bit to help save our planet.
Gore travelled far and wide to gather research for this film and his findings are truly negative. Within a decade there will be no more snow on Mt Kilimanjaro. The planet’s hottest ten years on record occurred during the last 14 – with 2005 being the hottest ever. The film features stirring yet horrifying images of nature gone mad – dead rivers, massive hurricanes, parched farmlands. Gore’s delivery is matter of fact – but his case for how our actions affect the planet is compelling. Inconvenient Truth does not deal in conjecture, but hard scientific data. No wonder the film received three standing ovations at the Sundance film festival. As the trailer says, If you love your planet, if you love your children, you have to see this film.
Amen.
Screening now, DVD available November 21
Romantic Comedy At It’s Best
If you don’t laugh and cry at Katherine Hepburn, Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart in the 1940 George Cukor classic, The Philadelphia Story, you need to check your pulse.
‘Twas the night before the biggest society wedding Philadelphia had ever seen, when the bride-to-be’s ex-husband, CK Dexter Haven (Grant) turns up on the bride, Tracy Lord’s, (Hepburn’s) doorstep. Soon after journalists-in-disguise Macaulay Connor (Stewart) and Elizabeth Imbrie (a perfectly dry Ruth Hussey) arrive, attempting to secretly cover the wedding for a tacky tabloid paper. The plot thickens, as who knows the truth about whom turns the story into a marvellous mess, and rich and poor discover that true integrity is class-blind. After some home truths from Dexter and a few too many champagnes, Tracy falls from her self-righteous pedestal, putting away the proud goddess for a flesh-and-blood woman whose flaws only make her more loveable.
Jimmy Stewart won a much-deserved Oscar for his hilarious portrayal as journo-cum-novelist with a heart of gold Connor – watch him eyeball Dexter in his brilliant drunk scene. Cary Grant’s straight face and dry one-liners only add to the fun. It’s joy to watch these actors relishing the brilliant script (originally a Broadway play).
With a superb supporting cast, including xxx as bottom-pincher Uncle Willie, The Philadelphia Story is as witty and wonderful a romantic comedy as ever made.
This DVD set includes documentaries about George Cukor and Ms Hepburn plus other interesting extras.
Atlantic 2-DVD set
RRP $29.95
Reviewed by Kate Johnston
Oliver Twist
Tessa Oliver, aged nine, reviews a DVD of the Dickens classic.
I just finished watching Oliver Twist. I have to say I liked it a lot. The actor who played Oliver was pretty good at acting but not at crying. I thought the story was well written. The story was sad in some bits and happy in others. At the end of each episode you had to see the next. The story made me feel glad that I wasn’t a child back then.
The story started off when little Oliver Twist is born but just after he was born his mother died. Oliver was brought up by an orphanage where he was named. As he got older a man took him away to a workhouse. As he got even older he got known as ‘bad’, so the work house put up signs to give him away. Oliver went to many different family’s some good and some bad. He got taught to rob but that gets him into lots of trouble. Oliver finally gets into another family that is good but the robbery gang thinks he going to tell about them so they set out to catch him....
I think lots of people will like Oliver Twist, and I rate it 4/5. I’m going to watch A Christmas Carol next.
By Tessa Oliver (aged 9)
Charles Dickens Collection
12-DVD Set
Duration: 32 hours 55 mins.
Rating: Various depending on story – From G to M
$200.95
Tinnie Heaven
This production, currently screening Tuesdays in prime time on the ABC, should be mandatory viewing for every Australian, particularly those who huddle around our coastline or dwell in ‘the big smoke’.
Not only is the subject – water – arguably the greatest challenge currently facing our wide brown land, but the exposition of this seemingly complex problem is delivered in layman’s terms.
The two stars (three if you include the ‘Bismarck’ – the wonderfully “unseaworthy” aluminium run-about) are Dr Tim Flannery and John Doyle, who combine a wealth of complementary skills and interests. They work together in beautiful harmony and infectious enthusiasm, but for all the (dry) humour and classic Aussie irreverence and understatement, there is a serious message. Australia’s greatest (only) permanent river system, the Murray Darling is dying! The recollections of the numerous “characters” met along the way by our two intrepid explorers, leaves the viewer in no doubt! Barring acts of God, this river will never again see healthy flows unless those up stream (i.e. cotton farmers and QLD) put back at least some of what they are drawing out.
We also gain an insight into the vagaries of this harsh country, visiting once great pastoral runs where the dreams of the late nineteenth century have long evaporated with the moisture which sustained them.
There’s history, wonderfully genuine people (e.g. the CWA afternoon tea), scenery, nature and all the diversity of a “road” movie, yet so much more. And then there are our two knowledgeable yet entertaining “guides”. A beautifully whimsical production – and, as John Williams would sing it , “true blue”.
ABC DVD
RRP $30.95
Reviewed by David Fallick
Vanity Fair
Talk about attitude! One of the great feisty female characters of literature is brought to life in this classic BBC production of William Makepeace Thackeray’s Vanity Fair.
Natasha Little is excellent as Becky Sharp, the wily governess whose attempts to climb the social ladder of the elegant salons of Georgian London are brilliantly depicted in this 1996 series. She may not come from the best stock, but Becky’s brains, beauty and a good deal of calculated conniving are more than enough to help her in her search to find a suitable husband.
Her ill-fated attempts to ‘nab’ the buffoon Jos Sedley and her doomed marriage to the aristocratic ‘man about town’ Rawdon Crawley are all set against a backdrop of the battlefields of Waterloo. Becky Sharp is a survivor, both the person within the story and as a classic fictional character.
A BBC supporting cast is always a joy to behold and, in this case, Miriam Margoyles, Jeremy Swift and Philip Glenister are in their element. This is a series to be savoured.
ABC DVD
Running time: 321 minutes
RRP $30.95
Reviewed by Kate Johnston
Grumpy Old Men
Is it possible to be thoroughly entertained by watching a load of middle-aged men gripe about everything from celebrities to speed bumps? Yes, it is. And even better – they’re grumpy and British!
Sir Bob Geldof, John Peel, Richard Madeley, Will Self and Rick Stein are just a few of the world-weary blokes who are irritated and tormented by just about anything in this two-DVD set, Grumpy old men, Series one and two.
This couple of hours of silliness allows whingeing Poms to take their whinging to another level, all for the benefit of our amusement. Whether it is call centres or body piercing, these guys are clearly seasoned complainers who have honed their grumpiness over many annoyed years.
The perfect gift for father’s day, Grumpy old men is permission to indulge the inner whinge bag. Great fun.
ABC DVD
RRP $29.95
Reviewed by Kate Johnston
Learning From Past Battles
This clever concept combines several different genres of contemporary entertainment all of which enjoy a significant following on TV. Specifically, the theme of history in this DVD back to Roman occupation of Britain, forensic examination and scientific testing and the enduring appeal of great conflicts, where the underdog displays impressive courage and/or cunning against a stronger adversary. Though, sadly, these worthy attributes do not always deliver victory, despite the worthiness of their cause (e.g. The Battle of Culloden, in 1746).
The three-DVD set of Battelfield Britain runs for eight episodes, totalling an impressive 497 minutes. The common thread, throughout the 2,000 years that have shaped British history, are the presenters, father and son team, Peter and Dan Snow. If you’re a dedicated fan of such investigative series as Silent Witness or Wire in the Blood, you’ll appreciate the approach of these two hosts as they disinter the accumulated evidence and reassess what really happened at the time of the battle.
The contemporary viewer will also gain a much greater appreciation of what it must have been like to be a foot soldier, a sailor or a Battle of Britain pilot. The weapons and tactics are also examined and, with the benefit of computer graphics and historical re-enactments, eight key battles are brought to life. These are, in chronological order: Boudicca’s Revolt 61, Hastings 1066, Battle for Wales 1403, Spanish Armada 1588, Naseby 1645, The Boyne 1690, Culloden 1746, Battle of Britain 1940.
Totally absorbing, but you’ll need to choose watching times carefully so as to avoid interruptions to what is a compelling transportation to another time and place.
3-DVD set
Rated: PG
RRP $50.95
Reviewed by David Fallick
Catherine the Great
Sourced from her intimate memoirs and personal letters, this two-part series brings to life one of history’s most powerful and passionate women – Catherine the Great.
The story starts as the 15-year-old princess from a small German principality is summoned to St Petersburg, a potential wife for Peter, heir to the Russian throne – a silly and sickly youth with a fondness for wooden soldiers.
Possessing a complex combination of intelligence, humanity, ruthlessness, political cunning and personal charm, Catherine became fluent in Russian, changed her religion and educated herself – whilst simultaneously learning to deal with the intrigue and treachery of the Russian court.
Catherine was also ambitious. Married to Peter at 17, she confesses in her memoirs that she felt indifferent toward her husband – but, she said, “I was not indifferent to the Russian throne.” She became a student of politics and of the Enlightenment, and when her chance came, she seized power in a daring coup, becoming Empress, as her unpopular husband was quietly murdered. In a reign spanning 34 years, Catherine strove to modernise Russia with new ideas on health and education, transforming an impoverished, uncivil nation into a vast, sophisticated empire equal to any in Europe – but she also waged numerous wars in a ruthless quest for expansion.
Filmed as a docudrama on location in Russia, Emily Bruni portrays Catherine in dramatic re-creations interspersed with dialogue from world-renowned historians who help to tell the story, though some of what they say, they stress, is “speculation”.
While much political point-scoring is currently being made in Australia on how history should be taught, this engrossing two-part documentary on the life of Catherine the Great is a reminder that history is far more than the dry-recitation of dates and facts. It is about people, with all their foibles and contradictions, their politics and their beliefs, whose actions and interactions lead to events and deeds, which are then called ‘history’. Yet it is discovering the ‘back-story’, understanding the people, interpreting their actions from a human perspective, which brings history alive and engages us.
RRP $30.95
Rated: M
Duration: 96 mins.
Reviewed by Kim Smith
The Battle of Jericho
This production however, has a refreshing point of difference; it’s set, very authentically, in 1950’s London. Also, Robert Lindsay’s Chief Inspector Michael Jericho, has a few points of difference himself. Firstly, there’s his love-hate relationship with the media, both Fleet Street and the fledging black and white TV. Then there’s his social awkwardness as revealed in his ongoing “relationship” with Juliet, Francesca Annis, who lives below Jericho’s modest digs in Soho. She has fled her homeland for fear her parents will discover how she earns a living and this, in turn, is used as a threat against Jericho by his arch enemies in the Homicide Department at Scotland Yard.
Another storyline runs through the series – Jericho’s shadowy policeman father, whose violent murder by two masked men, at night, in the family home was witnessed by the young Jericho. The crime has never been solved and, as well as providing his son with a motivation to join the force, haunts the adult Jericho with unanswered questions (e.g. was his old man on the take? had his experiences in WW1 irreparably changed him?) in violent flashbacks.
There are loads of twists and turns in the plot in every case, gallons of spilt blood, no shortage of truly unlikeable characters (even Peter Bowles plays the mysterious, urbane proprietor of an illegal casino/bordello with whom Jericho is obsessed). The entire production is wreathed in cigarette smoke (pre-cancer concerns and product placement) which rivals the dense London pea-soup fog.
Totally absorbing – can’t wait for a second series!
ABC DVD RRP $29.95
You Must Remember This…
Geoffrey Palmer and Dame Judi Dench shine in As Time Goes By, the Reunion Specials Part 2. You don’t need to have followed the show to enjoy this modern day drawing room comedy of errors. It’s quite simply an engaging hour of television to which we can all relate – because it’s all about families.
The crisp and simple writing allows the performers to revel in the fun of their characters, who have developed over the many series of this much loved show. There’s Jean (Dame Judi Dench), who in this story is more than slightly anxious about a black African man who has turned up on hers and Lionel’s (Geoffrey Palmner) doorstep saying Lionel is his father. Then there’s the annoying but harmless relatives, Penny and Stephen, who turn up out of the blue to announce a most unique mid-life crisis. And of course, there’s Jean’s child Judith, struggling in her relationship with Alistair, who has his own unique ideas about how to pep up their sex life. All this combines to create laughs galore.
Included in the DVD is a documentary on the making of the show, which is a lovely insight into how the jokes are created and heightened through the movements of the actors on the set. It’s also interesting to see what the character actors are like in real life, and you can see just how much they transform into a character, as so many unsung English actors do so well.
ABC DVD
RRP $25.95
Reviewed by Kate Johnston
Cricket Magic
The story of the West Indies’ 1960–61 tour to Australia is the stuff of legend, and not just because of the famous tied test. The Windies came as underdogs but left as one of the most beloved sporting teams of all time, inspired with enormous pride at being led for the first time by a black captain, the inspirational Sir Frank Worrell. In this way, cricket reflected the huge shifts in the cultural landscape of the times. This 3-DVD set, Calypso Summer , captures the excitement of each game, with entertaining interviews by all the major players, including the ever-laconic Richie Benaud and the Windies’ great fast bowler, Wes Hall.
The players themselves tell much of the story, with some of cricket’s greatest characters recounting their part with humour and grace, edited and interspersed with actual footage to create a narrative tension as tight as any thriller novel. Though on field tensions ebbed and flowed, the uplifting spirit in which it’s possible to play a hard-fought contest of aggressive batting and bowling never wavered.
For cricket tragics, this 3-DVD set includes over five hours of match highlights. Also of interest is the context in which this series was played, as cricket crowds were dwindling and children losing interest. The role of Sir Donald Bradman as the head of the Australian Cricket Board in using his most persuasive tactics to spur both teams on to play their most aggressive, entertaining game is a fascinating insight into the influence the Don had on the game long after he retired.
Testament to the spirit in which the series was played is the fact that the trophy was named after the losing side’s captain, Sir Frank Worrell. His speech at the farewell parade in Melbourne is interspersed with cheers from the astounding 500,000 people who lined the streets to say goodbye to their new heroes.
The Australian public’s spontaneous outpouring of respect and affection for the West Indies team during the height of the White Australia Policy even helped to force the death of that shameful piece of paper. But ultimately it was the game itself which was saved. Lifted out of the doldrums of dull, defensive batting, crowds flocked again to see now legendary athletes take risks and play the gentlemen’s game with body, heart and soul.
Calypso Summer is an utterly engaging indulgence for cricket fans young and old.
3-DVD set
ABC $50.95
Reviewed by Kate Johnston
All Creatures Great and Small
All Creatures Great and Small is one of those rare TV series that is totally timeless – as watchable today as it was 25 years ago, it will, no doubt, be just as watchable in 25 years to come.
Based on James Herriot’s (real life vet Alf Wight) much loved books, the BBC engaged the talents of some of their finest directors and writers for adaptation to the small screen. Add a rock solid cast for the lead roles and minor characters, and no one could quibble at the quality of the production.
In series three, hard times have hit the Darrowby surgery, and Siegfried decrees an end to all free treatment. Yet in typical Siegfried fashion, while laying down the law to James, he continues to treat animals for free himself. Tristan is up to his usual sloth. Or is he? For all his appearance of idleness, it comes as a surprise to Siegfried just how much his younger brother actually does about the place. And how would the vets of Skeldale House cope should Mrs Hall marry and leave?
Aside from following the ups and downs of the lives of the main characters, the animal patients have always been a highlight – and the scenes involving animal treatment are not just realistic, many of them were actually real. Under the close guidance of on-set vets, many animals were given free treatment in exchange for “starring” in the show, with the actors performing the procedures themselves.
James, Siegfried and Tristan have their daily battles of saving animal lives, and getting recalcitrant customers to pay their bills, yet in series three a bigger battle is looming – war. Tristan’s mates at the Drover’s Arms think the trouble may all blow over. Others are not so sanguine, as the government issues gas masks and orders glass windows taped up. Even the remote dales can’t remain untouched forever.
A series that will engage viewers from 8 to 80+, All Creatures Great & Small is as charming and fresh as ever. I do, however, have one small nitpick regarding the navigation options on the DVD release. On some of the disks the “episode selection” option takes the viewer into the second scene, rather than starting at the beginning of the episode. Such a quality series should not be marred with lazy DVD production standards.
4-DVD BBC Set
$60.95
Rated: PG
Duration: 728 mins
Reviewed by Kim Smith
For Mums Who Love Jane
While fans of Jane Austen have been treated to some beautifully lavish Hollywood productions – Pride and Prejudice (2005), Emma (1996) and Sense and Sensibility (1995) – for hard-core fans of Austen’s novels, they are a bit ‘Austen-light’. Thank goodness for the ‘mini-series’ format of Mansfield Park .
No two-hour movie, no matter how sumptuous, is going to be able to portray the full breadth and depth of the story: the intricacy of character, the subtle nuance of social mores, which Austen readers love.
The BBC has recently released on DVD their 1983 mini-series of Mansfield Park and it’s a faithful translation to the small screen. Even Lady Bertram’s beloved pug is in evidence! Anna Massey portrays Aunt Norris to perfection and Sylvestra le Touzal’s Fanny has just the right mix of timidity and tenacity of character and moral resolve. The standout performance, however, was Jackie Smith-Wood as Mary Crawford. Her portrayal of Mary is quite sympathetic, creating a far more, shall we say, “lively and agreeable” character than some readings may give. She also manages witty banter in Georgian-style English (straight from the book) as one who has spoken it all her life.
Production values are 1980s, and “BBC on a budget”, so do make allowances. At times the camera angles are awkward, and dialogue is occasionally lost to the sound of gravel crunching underfoot or booted feet upon the parquetry. The staging also, at times, is a little wooden. But all is forgiven, to be treated to a wonderfully authentic rendition of a favourite novel. This DVD set would make the perfect gift for the serious Austen fan in your life.
Mansfield Park
2-DVD Set
BBC $30.95
Rated: G
Duration: 313 mins.
Reviewed by Kim Smith
