DVD and Movie Reviews
No sex please
Despite the eye-catching title, Australia’s latest cinema offering, My Year Without Sex, is a touching and realistic look at the harsh blows people can be dealt.
Australian director/writer Sarah Watt doesn’t shy away from the day-to-day tribulations that most Hollywood dramas deem too insignificant. This, her second feature since the similarly themed Look Both Ways, proves that humans are basically voyeuristic when it comes to other peoples’ lives. My Year Without Sex is not a escapist film but the film’s subtle use of humour, gritty reality and genuinely appealing characters makes the compassionate drama gripping viewing.
Natalie (Sacha Horler), is a middle-class suburban mother of two, unexpectedly struck down by a brain aneurysm during her pap-smear. Taking this as a warning that life is unexpected and can be fatal, she has a list of dos and don’ts to adhere to, the big one being no sex. What is quite uplifting about this in a strange kind of way is that her husband, Ross (Matt Day), a sound engineer at a local radio station, is more worried that they won’t survive on his income alone, rather than mourning the loss of his sex life.
The only real focus on sex in this movie are the imaginative chapters given to each month of Natalie’s life as it passes her by. Not so much double entendres as double meanings, the ‘missionary position’ and ‘doggy style’ are mere religion and the family’s new pet – of course – what else could they mean?
Pondering her near-death experience, Natalie seeks guidance regarding her faith, or lack of it. Befriending the church’s local curate, Margaret (Maude Davey), who found God after years of rock and roll and substance abuse. Natalie hopes to find the same comfort in understanding death that Margaret does but struggles to believe in God when his existence can’t be proven.
Keeping their financial woes from their two children, Louis (Jonathan Segat) and Ruby (Portia Bradley), is another burden borne by the couple. Despite trying hard to be more supportive and involved as a father, Ross seldom gets it right in the eyes of Natalie.
The daily battles could have been monotonous to watch but Sarah Watts holds these characters so close to her heart, that you can’t help being enthralled and compassionate towards their plight. One thing missing is the extraordinary event that turns their lives around and this can make the film seem longer than it is but the delicate humour that doesn’t overwhelm the mood keeps you interested in the characters plight.
Don’t be put off by the title, this is Australian film at its best.
Reviewed by Debbie McTaggart
Light-years away
If adventure and futuristic space exploration is your thing, then you must have been a Star Trek fan. Even if the phenomenon passed you by, the new movie is extremely well rounded and a hit with audiences worldwide.
Going into the movie, I had no expectations Having seen many movies over the years, and finding most television spin-off movies disappointing rather than exciting, my hopes were not high. However, I have to admit, I left the cinema surprised buy how much I had enjoyed it. The characters from the television remained the same, leaving big boot for the cast of new actors to fill. Only Leonard Nimoy managed to retain his part, albeit as an older version of his well-loved character, Spock.
The casting was clever, the story was well rounded and the battle scenes exciting – what more could you ask for?.
The greatest thing about the movie is you can lose yourself in the characters and let your imagination run wild. Featuring the usual heroes and villains, with spots of humor along the way, this adventure is well worth taking a trip down to your local movie theatre to see!
Don’t fall off, because your will be on the edge of your seat from start to finish!
Reviewed by Drew Patchell
Radio Rocks
Based on the infamous Radio Caroline, The boat that rocked, sees Richard Curtis return to the big screen after six years of writing for television. It will always be difficult for Curtis to top his comedy masterpiece of 1993, Four weddings and a funeral, which saw a host of minor British actors hit the big time, none more so than Hugh Grant.
In this offering, the genius comedy set-up allows for a ready-made quirky ensemble of endearing DJ underdogs, ready to do battle with the authorities in the name of rock and roll. Bill Nighy is fantastic, even though he plays pretty much the same part in every movie – how many times can you play a drug taking party boy in your 60s? However, he is expertly cast as radio boss Quentin. Philip Seymour Hoffman is removed from his usual cerebral role, though still manages to maintain his air of superiority as The Count. Initially brought in by Quentin to replace Gavin, (Ryhs Ifans), the Count is the stabling influence of the station, even when Gavin returns from the US a superstar, ready to take the helm again.
Many of the cast are well known from British comedy films, Chris O’Dowd plays Simon, a love struck simpleton who has his heart broken thanks to Gavin’s sexual prowess, and Nick Frost, who, as Dave, thinks he is god’s gift and plays his own part in upsetting the course of true love.
Shinning through are the younger members of the cast. Gemma Arterton and Tululah Riley, fresh from St.Trinnan’s and Will Adamsdale as John, Quentin’s godson. Sent to the boat by his mother, the gorgeous Emma Thompson to basically grow up and learn a bit of the wilder side of life. These young stars will no doubt be mainstays in British movies for many years to some.
The stern face of authority is fronted by Kenneth Brannagh as Minister Dormandy, hell bent on destroying pirate radio and his sidekick, Twat, well played by Jack Davenport.
All in all this movie never reaches the highs of Curtis’ previous movies but it is entertaining, funny and the music is fantastic, well worth seeing for that alone.
A toe tapping tale
Reviewed by Debbie McTaggart
Bigger than the Easter bunny
This 1950 movie predates all of Disney’s classic movies but the tale of Elwood and the friend that only he can see, a six foot three inch rabbit, could be straight from Walt’s drawing board.
Harvey, is classic James Stewart, who plays a slightly-sloshed, good natured, Elwood P Dowd in this delightful movie. Elwood and his invisible to everyone but Elwood friend, Harvey, cause mayhem when Elwood’s sister, Veta (Josephine Hull) accidently ends up being committed. Concerned about her brother’s drinking and “friendship” with Harvey, Veta thinks the best course of action is to have her brother locked away and treated but the plan backfires on her.
Elwood and Harvey embark on plan to free Veta, with hilarious consequences. Based on Mary Chase’s Pulitzer Prize winning play, Harvey may be funny and light-hearted but there are bones to the story line. The rights and wrongs of Elwood and Veta’s different takes on life are thought provoking and Harvey sweetness and humanity are heart-warming.
James Stewart is perfect as the amiable Elwood, whose troubles are only magnified when people, like his sister, refuse to let him live his life as he wishes.
Whether it’s Easter or not, Harvey will be a family favourite for years to come.
Reviewed by Debbie McTaggart
Oz and James’ wine adventures
This unlikely pairing of a wine enthusiast and car buff, travelling around the pretentious wine regions of France and the new world vineyards of California, provides an entertaining and informative look at wine production and consumption.
Oz and James’ Big Wine Adventure may not be the most imaginative title but it does exactly as it says on the bottle! UK wine expert, Oz Clarke, once a world wine tasting champion, takes on the unenviable task of teaching Top Gear’s James May, self confessed wine novice, the intricacies of French wine, in the first series of this truly funny offering from the BBC. Not knowing his Bordeaux from his Beaujolais, James could however, tell you the make of a car from its headlights, not an entirely useful task on this journey.
While Oz has a passion for wine, is refined and understands the nuances of French wine production, James is about as uncouth as they come, only wanting to understand how to choose a good bottle for $10! As the pair try to come to terms with their own very different natures, upbringings and, there are many laughs along the way.
With the backdrop of some of the prettiest regions of France, this series is entertaining and informative and will provide even the most unknowledgeable with some “wine facts”, as James refers to Oz’s ramblings.
More of the same but situated at the other side of the world, the second series sees the unlikely duo travelling across the Atlantic to California, the new world of wines. Hoping to escape the snobbery of French wine producers, James decides a mammoth Winnebago is the best way to travel. Again, this is more of the same but it’s far from tired and it just as entertaining as the first series.
As summer draws to an end, pour yourself a glass of your favourite red and laugh your way around the wine world.
RRP: $34.95 each
Acorn Media
Reviewed by Debbie McTaggart
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A virtuous tale
A light-hearted romp is just what’s needed to cheer up a dark miserable day and director, Australian Stephen Elliot, has produced just that, in his delightful adaptation of an obscure Noel Coward play.
Easy Virtue is Elliot’s first outing as a director since Priscilla Queen of the Desert, and it’s been worth the wait. While not as flamboyant as Priscilla, Elliot has none the less taken a period drama and injected some life into it. The choicest of witticisms are all that is left of Coward’s original script and to be honest, these are enough to make the movie worthwhile. The stately home backdrop is the perfect juxtaposition for this frothy tale with substance.
A night at the cinema to see Easy Virtue came second to the initial choice of entertainment for my girlfriends and I, a night sitting in the rain at Melbourne’s Botanic Gardens watching a performance of Shakesphere’s Taming of the Shrew, just missing out on our patronage. To be honest, we expected to be mildly amused, going with the view that a night at the movies was better than nothing. Easy Virtue doesn’t start out as anything special, introducing us to John Whitaker (Ben Barnes), a privileged young Englishman returning to the family home after a jolly old jaunt on the French Riviera, with his new American bride Larita (Jessica Biel) in tow. Needless to say the new Mrs Whitaker disrupts life at the family home, offending the propriety of John’s stern mother (Kristin Scott Thomas), intriguing and infuriating his sisters and slowly awakening something like life in his bitterly cynical and war-scarred father (Colin Firth).
Scott Thomas does what she does best in this movie, portraying the embittered, po-faced mother/sister/wife, disappointed by her loved ones. However, this is the perfect character to give credibility to the occasional quips from Firth, who mopes around the stunning-looking location like an older, more jaded Mr Darcy and injecting the necessary humour to the tale.
After the initial slow start things perk up, as Elliott brings the focus sharply onto the battle of wills between Larita and Mrs Whitaker. As the gloves come off, the film kicks into life with a series of very funny set-pieces, aided by a soundtrack peppered with contemporary songs redone in a jaunty ‘20s jazz style, including Sex Bomb, far removed from Tom Jones’ version but just as enjoyable. Biel’s performance impresses too, and the actress, who has previously amounted to little more than expensive set dressing, earns her top billing, revealing previously unsuspected talents. Larita is a more complex character than first impressions suggest, and Biel convinces when the script calls for depth, as well as in broader comedy moments.
Barnes is also good, undertaking John’s naïve boyishness with ease. Elliott directs with a lightness and pace that is refreshing in a genre synonymous with rigidity, and while the story’s conclusion will be easy for most audiences to predict, Elliott ends things with a flourish that is genuinely surprising.
A quietly surprising piece of cinema enjoyment.
A dog’s life
A tale of father and son relationships, this unpredictable shaggy dog story will warm the cockles of your heart on the most bitterly cold, winter’s day
Plucked from obscurity My talks with Dean Spanley, a 1936 novella by Lord Dunsany, the great Anglo-Irish fantasy writer, is the basis for this delightful tale, Dean Spanley, of Henslowe Fisk (Jeremy Northam) a dutiful son frustrated by his cold and overbearing elderly father, Horatio Fisk (Peter O’Toole).
Perplexed as to how to entertain his cantankerous father, Henslowe takes him along to a lecture given by Swami Nala Prash (Art Malik). In the audience, he encounters Dean Spanley (Sam Neill), whom later reveals a connection with his father’s dog, Wag, when plied with a rare 1889 Imperial Tokay wine. Spanley is invited to dinner at the Fisk household and as reminisces about his past life as a dog, these revelations have a surprising effect on Fisk senior.
Enlisting the help of conveyancer, Wrather, (Bryan Brown) Henslowe procures a bottle of the sweet Hungarian wine that has such an astonishing effect on Spanley.
Dean Spanley is a lightweight piece and given it’s literary origins, it just stretches to a movie and reading the book prior to watching the big screen version, may put you at an advantage. Brought to the big screen by director Tao Fraser, this movie could have wandered off at a tangent, if left in less experienced hands and will struggle to find an audience. This should not detract from the excellent performances of the cast. If you are willing to look beyond what is happening on screen and listen to the clever and witty dialogue between characters, all will be clearer.
Reviewed by Debbie McTaggart
Never too old for love
Last Chance Harvey is a love story that you can relate to, proving that you are never too old to fall in love and you just never know where it will strike.
Harvey Shine (Dustin Hoffman)is on a downward slide, at work and in his personal life. He may be down but he’s not out. With young musicians snapping at his heels to take over his job as a jingle writer, his daughter’s wedding in London couldn’t have come at a worse time for this New York based aspiring jazz pianist. Planning a quick jump across to the Atlantic to attend the wedding then return for an important business meeting, Harvey wonders why he bothered when he is snubbed by his ex wife, her new husband and the friends they used to share. To add insult to injury, his daughter informs him that she would like her step-father Brian (James Brolin) to walk her down the aisle.
Stunned by this development, Harvey decides to leave after the ceremony but luck is not on his side and thanks to the wonderful London traffic, he misses his flight. A phone call to his boss results in his immediate dismissal and he heads to the nearest bar to drown his sorrows.
Her he comes across beleaguered Kate (Emma Thomson) whose job it is to question arriving passengers at Heathrow Airport. Realising he gave her the brush off when he first arrived in London, Harvey tries to make amends. Despite Kate initially rejecting his attempts to engage her in conversation, she warms to the slightly rumpled stranger, draw in by his warmth and openness.
Harvey is attracted to Kate and is loathed to let her go. Following her about London, the two of them strike up a comfortable friendship and he opens up about his daughter’s wedding and his musical ambitions. Kate persuades him to return to his daughter’s wedding and make amends, even agreeing to accompany him.
As Harvey opens up to his daughter during his speech, Kate sees love being a possibility, despite her reservations about only having met him. Desperately needing her own life, she is constantly at the end of the phone to her lonely mother, Kate allows herself to be swept along in the romance of it all. But romance never does run smoothly as both she and Harvey discover.
Warmly witty and surprisingly touching, Last Chance Harvey has a humanity that is often missing from modern comedies. Hoffman brings all his rumpled charm to bear on the role of Harvey Shine and Emma Thomson is back to her screen best after a few miss hits.
Open up your heart to this lovely tale and just go with the flow.
Reviewed by Debbie McTaggart
Gran Torino
Movies broadly fall into two categories; those which are forgotten as soon as you leave the cinema and those which stay with you for days, even weeks, after the event. Gran Torino is very much in the latter.
The appeal, prior to seeing this film, was largely Clint Eastwood and some good reviews and an impressive recent interview on Enough Rope. I’m old enough to carry warm memories of that wonderful series, Rawhide, in living black and white viewed on an ancient Astor (small screen) TV. Week after week, Gil Favor, Wishbone and the rest of the cast of this classic western thundered into our suburban lounge-room. However, in recent years, Eastwood has, seemingly quite easily, moved to more contemporary issues in his films. Gran Torino is very much in this vein and showcases Eastwood’s directing skills as well as his long-established ability in front of the cameras.
The opening scenes are of Walt Kolwaski’s wife’s funeral in the local Catholic Church, where the priest is a baby-faced newcomer who, at 27, is brilliantly juxtaposed with Walt, the Korean War veteran. His family are present amongst the mourners and we are very quickly introduced, humorously, to the particularly unattractive two sons and their respective families. Walt snarls his way through life; there isn’t much in his contemporary US that meets with his approval. There’s the demise of the local car industry in which he worked most of his life, (he’s a Ford man) and one of his sons has grown fat selling imported Asian vehicles and then there’s the decline of his mid-Western suburban neighbourhood. His traditional two-storey house stands as an isolated bastion of white, working-class home pride and patriotism with the Stars and Stripes proudly fluttering, whilst all around him the near identical neighbouring properties are falling rapidly into disrepair! His contemporaries have all forsaken the district in one way or another and been replaced by Hmong refugees from South East Asia, complete with a violent young gang which is terrorising the neighbourhood.
This movie works at so many different levels and communicates with a thoughtful balance of humour and pathos. The casting is exceptionally strong, though most of the supporting actors would be unknown to Australian audiences. The all-too familiar American clichés are steadfastly avoided and the script is tight and plausible. But above all, the message is clear, in an immigrant society such as the US or Australia, it’s always the most recent arrivals who cop the flack from the earlier immigrants. Walt has no difficulty relating to his Italian barber or the Irish building foreman, but the Hmong remind him all-too vividly of his foes in that Korean conflict, fifty-plus years ago. How Walt gradually mellows and, as an intelligent human being, starts to view his contemporary world more objectively, makes for an absorbing couple of hours. The attendant “education” of the “virgin” parish priest is equally believable and moving.
Go and see Gran Torino for wonderful, politically incorrect commentary on our contemporary society, or because you wish to experience a good news, uplifting story, or because you just admire Clint Eastwood. You will not be disappointed on any of these scores.
A true cinematic treat from a cinematic genius.
Reviewed by David Fallick
Taken, not stirred
With his twinkling eyes and soft Irish brogue, Liam Neeson may not be your first choice as an action hero. But in his latest box office offering, there’s a definite hint of James Bond about him.
Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson)estranged daughter Kim (Maggie Grace)lives with her mother Lenore (Famke Jansson) and her rich step father. As with many separated parents, Bryan and Lenore come to blows on how best to raise their. While travelling in Europe with a friend, Kim is kidnapped, a situation Bryan is helplessly listening to on the other end of the phone. When the kidnappers pick up the dropped phone, Bryan clearly states his intentions to them - he will hunt the men responsible, he will find them and he will kill them.
Now Mills is no ordinary father. He has a past that includes work for the CIA. He has a particular set of skills which make him a very dangerous man and soon everyone involved with his daughters kidnapping will know what he is capable of and the lengths he will go to find her.
At 56 Neeson is amazing in this. He shows no sign of his age slowing him down as he jumps, smashes, punches and kicks his way through countless Albanian traffickers to find his kidnapped daughter. The violence is strong and apparent and whilst all of this menace is unfolding before your eyes, you still get a story running throughout as the backbone of the picture.
Perhaps a little far-fetched in places, this movie none-the-less offers an alternative to some of the truly ridiculous action movies that have been served up of late. Neeson shows another side to his talents and makes you wonder why he was never consider as a possible Bond.
Fast-moving, hard-punching action all the way.
RRP: $34.95
20th Century Fox
Reviewed by Debbie McTaggart
Man’s best friend
Man’s best friend, more like worst nightmare! This cute adorable “clearance puppy” otherwise known as Marley, takes over the lives and hearts of his owners.
Based on the best-selling novel by John Grogan, the adventures of Marley, the overgrown pooch with a big heart, will have animal lovers laughing until they cry. Marley and me is a based on the real-life adventures of John Grogan and his dog, Marley. Grogan, played by Owen Wilson, is keen to muffle the sound on his wife’s biological clock by introducing a puppy into their life. Grogan’s wife Jen (Jennifer Aniston) welcomes the dog with open arms but it is Grogan’s life on which Marley has the most impact.
Through his newspaper column Grogan relates the hilarious escapades of Marley, “the worst dog in the world”. The column becomes a hit and Grogan and Marley are heroes. Deep down, Grogan yearns for a different life, one of an investigative journalist and takes his now growing family, two boys Patrick and Connor and a girl, Colleen, to Philadelphia, where he soon realizes just how happy his life as a columnist had been.
This is more than a movie about a dog. It is heartwarming and insightful, offering a realistic view of how life can change - and that learning to accept what makes you happy is the real key to fulfillment. This movie is simple, not flashy or distracting. The laughs come from “real life” moments of an everyday American family.
Marley is undoubtedly the real star of the show although it’s difficult to understand how anyone could have put up with him for so long! He simply loved his family and had an over-the-top zest for life, with no bounds on his affections or his actions. If you’ve read the book then you know the ending, which I won’t spoil but make sure you have a tissue or two!
A true tale of puppy love.
Reviewed by Debbie McTaggart
Wedding woes
Toni Collette and Rachael Griffiths have taken Hollywood by storm in recent years but their movie careers had much more humble beginnings in Porpoise Spit.
Muriel’s Wedding is the dream of Muriel Heslop (Toni Collette) the eldest daughter in a family of underachievers. Surrounded by Bill, a corrupt councillor for a father (Bill Hunter), a perpetually vacant looking mother Betty (Jeanie Drynan) and layabout brothers and a sister, Muriel looses herself in the music of Abba and her dream of a fairytale wedding. Continually reminded by her alleged “girlfriends” that she’ll never enjoy a beautiful wedding, Muriel links up with former school friend, Rhonda Epinstalk (Rachael Griffiths).
After stealing $12,000 from her father, Muriel and Rhonda head for Sydney and a new life of independence but Porpoise Spit is never far away. With a serious illness threatening Rhonda’s independence, the pair make a pact to stick together and never go back.
Muriel does indeed get her dream wedding, although it comes with a twist and she finds out that married life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Not just a home
Undoubtedly one of the funniest ever Australian movies, The Castle tells the story of an almost ordinary Australian family living beside an airport in the suburbs fighting the government’s compulsory acquisition of their home (“the castle”) in a classic small guy versus big guy plot.
The Castle is filled with intelligent humour and stereotypes Australians in a way that always brings a smile to the viewers face. While the production may scream low budget, you are entranced and drawn in by the characters, especially Darryl Kerrigan, played by Michael Caton, the father of the family who takes on the government to defend his home. Other notable cast members include Eric Bana, Stephen Curry and Charles (Bud) Tingwell who all bring their quirky characters to life.
While the movie performed terribly overseas as the humour was lost on outsiders, The Castle has become a nationally recognized movie depicting True Blue Australians.
Love is in the air
Scott loves to dance - but he wants to dance his way, much to his mother’s distress.
In Strictly Ballroom, Scott Hasting (Paul Mercurio) just won’t dance like the others and despite losing competitions and no-one wanting to be his partner, he refuses to change.
Baz Luhrmann takes the characters of this movie, from different cultural backgrounds, and shows how Australia has changed as a nation, much to the horror of some.
In Fran (Tara Morice) Scott finds an ally, a newcomer to the ballroom scene who convinces him that his steps should be danced, with her as his partner. His domineering mother, Shirley (Pat Thomson), is horrified that he is throwing away his career and blowing his chances of winning the Australian Pan Pacific Championship, the same competition he lost years ago.
Rather than delighting in her son’s obvious talents, Shirley is more concerned with fitting in with everyone else but maybe love and dance will win the day.
A real toe tapper that will have you swirling in the aisles.
Top Ten Reviewed Movies of 2008
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Movie buffs’ heaven
Choosing which movie to watch can become such a chore that you are tempted to give up and switch on an old favourite. Amongst the mass produced Hollywood offerings, there are some cinematography gems out there but how do you find them?
Do you have a favourite director or actor and are keen to watch all their movies? Or maybe you’re in the mood for a laugh, a good old cry or to be scared witless? Movie lists: 397 ways to pick a DVD, has been compiled and written by film buff, Paul Simpson, to help you wade through the shelves of your local DVD shop to find exactly what you’re looking for.
There’s nothing more disappointing than being sucked in by all the hype surrounding a movie, only to finally sit down and watch it and be thoroughly disappointed. Paul Simpson and his movie watching contributors have tried to take the disappointment out of movies by listing the best in each genre. Of course, this is difficult to do, as what one person loves, another may hate
A celebration of movies and a handy trivia guide, Movie lists is entertaining and informative and may even finally explain what film noir really means!
Dim the lights, get the popcorn ready and enjoy!
Paul Simpson
RRP: $29.95
Allen & Unwin
Less is more
The French are very good at making small movies. Not for them the huge epics, budgets and sets for films such as Lord of the Rings, Titanic and Australia. No, the French have learnt to confine themselves to simple plot lines and devastatingly good acting and camerawork. And nowhere can this be seen more clearly than in the recent gem from director, Philippe Claudel, I’ve loved you so long
Starring Kristin Scott Thomas as Juliette and Elsa Zylberstein as Lea, this gentle film tells the tale of two sisters who are reunited after a long separation. Initially very awkward together, their silences gradually diminish as the reason for their estrangement and their very different life paths is slowly revealed. Set in the University town on Nancy in northern France, the action in this film is predicated on simple family events and situations, adding to the believability of the story. Scott Thomas has been touted as a possibility for a Golden Globe or even an Oscar for the strength of her acting. But Zylberstein is equally powerful as the “luckier” younger sister. Supporting roles are also as well cast and contribute to the sincerity of the message of love, redemption and possibilities for lost souls.
Reviewed by Kaye Fallick
Watch the trailer here
Jamal’s journey
When I first met Jamal, the hero of Vikas Swarup’s book, Q&A, I was captivated by his inate goodness, particularly given his background as a beggar in Bombay. His rise to riches in no way affects his values. If anything, he just re-affirms them as he ducks and weaves his way through crime and corruption to win millions, and, more importantly, capture the heart of the girl he adores. Now that this entrancing novel has been adapted for the big screen, under the title Slumdog Millionaire, it is even easier to appreciate the similarities between Jamal’s childhood in Bombay, and those of the beggar children in Dicken’s London. The movie opens with the death during a religious uprising of the mother of Jamal and his brother, Salim. In the aftermath they meet Latika, an orphan girl of similar age, and Jamal imagines them to be three musketeers. They all survive, in their own different ways, life in the Dharavi slums and the brutality of the local orphanage, reconnecting later in life in the Mumbai which has taken over old Bombay. Jamal’s journey from child to Chai-wallah (teaboy) in a call centre contrasts strongly with that of his brother, for whom grinding poverty means a policy to kill or be killed. Jamal is poised to win a quiz show with a prize of $10 million rupees – but his only real concern is to find Latika and free her from a life of exploitation. Will he answer the final question? Will he see his one true love again? And what role does his violent brother have to play? Go and see Slumdog Millionaire to find out the answers, but don’t expect easy viewing or a charming Bollywood landscape. Director Danny Boyle’s movie is relentless, punishing and brutal. But it is also a celebration of the excellent acting talents the nine actors playing the different ages of the main three characters, and the pulsating energy and drive that personifies modern India.
Reviewed by Kaye Fallick
Chinless wonders
A smash when adapted as a television mini-series in the 1980s, Evelyn Waugh’s epic novel,
Brideshead Revisited has hit the big screen, but does Hollywood do the story justice?
Set in wartime England, the movie centres around the memories of Charles Ryder (Matthew Goode) and his love for Brideshead. Introduced to the ancestral home of the Marchmain family by Sebastian (Ben Whishaw), the son of Lady Marchmain (Emma Thompson), Charles embarks on the greatest love affair of his life. Sebastian meets Charles at Oxford University and is immediately attracted to him, and Charles plays on this blatant sexual attraction to bring him closer to Brideshead. As much as Charles adores Brideshead, Sebastian loathes it, and the religious fanaticism of his mother.
Brideshead, the most imposing character in this movie, is actually Castle Howard in North Yorkshire. Revered by Lady Marchmain and Charles, the house and his wife's religion has also pushed away Lord Marchmain, into the arms of his lover, Cara (Greta Scacchi). His exiled life in Venice is the perfect getaway for Sebastian, but aware of her son’s excessive drinking and sexual appetite, Lady Marchmain insists Charles accompanies him, “to look after him”. This trip is the undoing of Sebastian and Charles’ friendship, as Charles’ attraction to Sebastian’s sister, Julia (Hayley Atwell), breaks Sebastian’s heart. Unfortunately, as a non-Catholic, Charles has no hope of winning Julia’s hand, and she is betrothed to American, Rex Mottram
Banished from Brideshead, Charles becomes a successful artist and marries, though again he proves his inability to truly love anyone by ditching his wife, who has gotten him to where he is, as soon as Julia reappears on the scene. Charles truly is a loathsome character, though he lacks the edge in this production to truly portray this side of him, coming across as someone just a little wishy-washy. The religious aspect of the Marchmain family somewhat overpowers the strength and pull of Brideshead, the true bastion of the family.
This movie is okay, but there’s just too much in the novel to fit into two hours. If you can, try and get the television mini-series to watch, at nine hours long, it’s an epic but truly reflects the story Waugh set out to tell.
One for DVD… maybe.
Reviewed by Debbie McTaggart
Second chances
It doesn’t always follow that a great book makes a great movie but, when Hollywood gets it right, the result is something special.
Nights in Rodanthe is based on the best-selling novel by Nicholas Sparks, who also wrote the Notebook, and is this year’s tearjerker of a movie. Be warned, do not watch this movie without your tissues. Set in a tiny coastal town in North Carolina, the stunning backdrop adds to the emotion of the movie but Dianne Lane and Richard Gere deserve all the kudos for bringing this tale to life.
Richard Gere may be a year shy of 60 but, with a shot of his trademark smouldering look halfway through the movie, this man is timeless. Gere plays a self-obsessed doctor, Paul Flanner, enroute to reconciliation with his estranged son in the mountains of Ecuador. With some unfinished business to conclude in Rodanthe, Dr Flanner finds himself the only guest at a beachfront inn, which is being looked after by Adrienne Willis (Dianne Lane), as a favour to her friend.
A storm is brewing in more ways than one. The good doctor needs to face up to the husband of a patient who died, and realise, with much help from Adrienne, that he needs to do more than just say sorry. Adrienne, separated from her husband, at odds with her teenage daughter and full of concern for her younger son, needs to be reminded that, as well as being a good mother, she is a woman capable of loving and being loved.
Holed up in the inn, battered from all sides by wind and rain, Paul and Adrienne remind themselves of the people they were, and still are, underneath the worries of family life and work.
Lane is superb in this part. She may not be one of Hollywood’s most glamorous actresses on screen but she is by far one of the most believable. She makes the movie more than just a run-of-the mill love story. She effectively takes the audience with her on the journey of discovery of what she wants and deserves in life, and she has an on-screen chemistry with Gere that saves the movie from becoming just another overly sweet romance.
There are few movies where the actors exhibit evidence of having life experience. Neither Lane nor Gere are spring chickens, but that does not stop you from appreciating their individual beauty and charm. Gere is one of Hollywood’s perennial heart-throbs and this movie will do little to persuade you otherwise. Lane is an accomplished actress, with a combination of brains and beauty rarely seen on screen these days.
Let the tears flow.
Reviewed by Debbie McTaggart
Bronte brought to life
Charlotte Bronte’s classic novel is brought to life in this 1970s BBC adaptation of Jane Eyre.
This is the tale of an unwanted orphan, Jane (Sorcha Cusack) who is sent to live with her mother’s brother’s family. Her uncle, the only one of the family who cares for Jane, dies shortly after adopting her. She has to endure the resentment of his wife and three children, who neglect and abuse her and push her to the limit. When she finally snaps and retaliates with violence, she is sent away to school.
Here, the pattern of resentment and bullying repeats itself and she again loses someone she is close to when her friend, Helen, dies of typhus.
As life goes on for Jane, she never has it easy. Indeed, even when she falls in love and life is looking rosy, her betrothed is not all he seems.
Jane struggles through life, never once forgetting her strong Christian morals, nor her belief that one should only marry for love.
A true classic.
RRP: $29.95
Acorn Media
No life without a wife
Jane Austen would turn in her grave, but what a fun and fabulous celebration of her work is
Bride and Prejudice, the Bollywood version of her somewhat better known classic.
All the ingredients are there – if a little modernised. Mr Darcy is still haughty – but this time he is a wealthy property developer. The heroine, named Lalita Bakshi, is one of four daughters from a humble home. She is intrigued by the proud American friend of the man her sister admires, but cannot forgive him his disdainful attitude to her country. The action moves from Amritsar to Goa, to London to LA, providing colourful and diverse locations for the unfolding tale of male pride and female obstinacy. But the English and American locations simply cannot compete with the colourful crowd scenes in India, particularly the fabulous dance sequences, in particular the final wedding parade. This is a movie which doesn’t take itself too seriously – it’s a long while since we’ve seen heroes or heroines break into song, waves pounding lustfully in the background. First released in Australia in 2005, now on DVD, grab a copy and order in the takeaway Chicken Korma and Naan – this is a treat not to be missed!
And for those wishing to try a sample – visit this link and enjoy YouTube videos of some of the fabulous musical moments including the unbeatable
No Life Without a Wife. http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=izrpZxkX2p8
Reviewed by Kaye Fallick
Girl power
If you’re looking for a tale of strong independent women then this may not be the movie for you, but it will still give you a giggle.
This modern day remake of the 1939 classic movie,
The Women, is a showcase for female Hollywood talent which unfortunately is not enough to make a great movie. Trying not to compare the two movies is difficult, but the storylines are identical, and the fact that there are no male actors in either movie proves the later version follows the original as closely as it can. The original is an iconic movie, definitely worth watching, and can probably be considered the first ever “chick flick”.
The current version does try to update the storyline a little, by portraying the cast as modern day role models that women of today can relate to. However, the inclusion of Jada Pinkett-Smith as the token lesbian friend of the group is pointless. Her character adds nothing to the plot, nor is she particularly endearing.
Mary Haines (Meg Ryan) is a wife and mother, whose life is centered on her home in the suburbs, while her high-flying husband spends much of his time in New York city. Quite by chance, both Mary, and her best friend Sylvie (Annette Benning), find out from a beautician that Mary’s husband has been having an affair with a girl from the perfume counter. Mary is devastated when she finds out and turns to her mother, played by Candice Bergen, who is by far the best part of this movie. She is funny, irreverent and her character actually seems to have a reason for being in the movie.
The movie sees Mary come to terms with the betrayal of her husband, and her best friends Sylvie, which she finds the hardest to forgive. The plot takes Mary, her friends, her daughter and her mother on a journey of relationships and rediscovery of the person Mary used to be. Eva Mendes as sultry perfume girl Crystal Allen is stunning, and definitely believable as a woman who could lure away a woman’s husband, especially if his wife is wishy-washy Mary. A chance meeting of both women in an upmarket lingerie shop could have been so much more, and a turning point for this movie however, sadly it fails to deliver.
Not everything about this movie is bad. Candice Bergen is well cast as the supportive mother, who has lived through something similar herself. And the relationship between Mary and her mother is the one believable thing of the movie, and the only one you really care about. There are moments of humour and these alone probably make this movie one worthwhile for DVD, but not worth rushing to the cinema to see.
If possible, watch the original, much better value for money.
Reviewed by Debbie McTaggart
Clever comedy
Fans of the Cohen brothers offering of Fargo will delight in this latest movie from the kings of black comedy.
Burn after reading is dark witty and sometimes just laugh out loud funny. The casting of George Clooney and Brad Pitt is not typical of their usual Hollywood pairing. Pitt plays Chad, a gormless fitness trainer who stumbles across what he believes to be “top secret” intelligence information. Along with his plastic surgery obsessed colleague and friend Linda, (Frances McDormond), they conspire to extort money from sacked intelligence boss, Osborne Cox (John Malkovich).
The “top secret” information turns out to be Cox’s financials, compiled by his estranged wife, Katie (Tilda Swinton), who plans on setting up home with her hapless lover, Harry (George Clooney). The intricate webs weaved by the very clever script and writing sees the lives of the main characters overlap, without actually colliding.
As with Fargo, Burn after reading could quite easily have turned into a farce. And, as with its predecessor, the human behaviours and vulnerability of the characters gives something to which the audience can relate.
The cast of this movie is immense in talent, with many of Hollywood’s more serious, independent actors taking up supporting roles. The exchanges between David Pascale as a CIA officer and his superior (J K Simmons), provides some of the best laugh out loud but possibly very close to the truth moments of the movie.
A very clever look at the world of US intelligence.
Reviewed by Debbie McTaggart
Sweet temptation
There are few things more divine in life than chocolate, although the two stars of the modern-day classic movie, Chocolat come pretty close.
Juliette Binoche (Vianne Rocher) and Johnny Depp (Roux) star in this 2000 romantic drama. With the idyllic backdrop of a quaint French village, unmarried mother Vianne and her identically dressed daughter breeze into town. The eyebrows of the puritanical villagers are raised as the Rochers open a sinful chocolaterie, across the street from the church, during the first week of Lent.
The charms of Vianne and her tempting confectionery are too much for the repressed townsfolk and soon the town’s prudish mayor deems the chocolaterie. Vianne’s sweet offerings inspire raised libido, feminist awakenings, reconciliations and even criminal rehabilitation.
Just as the town looks likely to go to hell in a chocolate covered hand basket, a swarthy band of Irish water dwellers, led by Roux, drift into town, adding to the town’s debauchery. Rock ’n’ roll meets country as romance blossoms between Vianne and Roux.
What makes this sickly sweet tale of girl-against-God so watchable are the flaws and inwards struggles of the characters, expertly portrayed by Binoche and Depp. Dame Judi Dench adds her weight to the cast as cantankerous old diabetic Armande, who is unable to resist the delights of the chocolaterie, despite the hazard to her health. Alfred Molina is delightfully dour as Compte Paul de Reynaud, Vianne’s nemesis in this battle of the chocolate bombs.
Curl up with this movie and your favourite bar of chocolate.
Roadshow Entertainment
Reviewed by Debbie McTaggart
Rockin’ oldies
With the Rolling Stones and AC/DC reforming and hitting the tour circuit in their 60s, there is no doubt that rock music can be enjoyed at any age.
Young@Heart is the moving tale of a senior citizens’ chorus that will bowl you over with emotion and admiration for the participants, who refuse to give up on their dreams of rock-stardom. From humble beginnings in Northampton, Massechusetts, (a town of only 30,000 residents) the Young@Heart chorus has delighted audiences with their very special renditions of rock favourites for 25 years. The oldest member is war widow, Eileen Hall, who does not let being 92 years old hold her back from belting out classics such as The Clash’s Should I stay or should I go.
This documentary by British filmmakers Sally George and Stephen Walker follows the group as they learn new songs and prepare for their homecoming concert in Northampton. With less than two months to their performance, the group rehearses three times a week, gradually making some of the best-known rock anthems their own.
What starts off as a lighthearted look at a quirky group of ballsy pensioners, quickly takes a more deep and meaningful twist when two returning members of the group die. This experience of the loss of their friends injects real emotion into the lyrics of songs more commonly covered by young pop pups. On their way to a special performance at Hampshire County Jail, the group hears that one of their members has passed away. The plucky group decides to carry on and their performance of Bob Dylan’s Forever Young would draw tears from a stone. The group are delivered another devastating blow when, less than a week later, they receive the sad news that a second member of the chorus has died.
As well as preparing for their Northampton performance, the group embarks on the recording of four music videos, which are threaded through the documentary. One of the videos show charismatic senior, Fred Knittle, sing the lead in the Bee Gee’s Staying Alive. What you don’t see is that Fred’s much needed oxygen supply ran out – he didn’t tell anyone in case they made him stop!
This sums up the character and determination of this group, who will make you look at yourself and the life you lead and wonder if there’s more to give and achieve no matter your age.
Cry, laugh and fall in love with these wrinkly rockers.
In cinemas 16 October 2008
Fox Searchlight
Reviewed by Debbie McTaggart
Newman’s best
With the passing of Paul Newman, the AboutSeniors office reminisced about some of the fabulous movies in which he starred. We’ve listed three of our favourites and hopefully ones you’ve also enjoyed.
The Hustler - 1961
As pool hustler Fast Eddie Nelson, Newman plays the loveable rogue that endeared him to so many moviegoers. Undoubtedly, talented but on a path to destruction, Fast Eddie embarks on his mission to take on the legendary Minnesota Fats. The ensuing pool match between the two leaves Eddie down and out and looking for someone to console him.
The resulting love story is played around Eddie’s struggle to become the best but will the price of success be too much?
Some 25 years later, Newman resurrected the role of Fast Eddie Felson alongside Tom Cruise in The Colour of Money – winning him his first Oscar.
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid – 1969
George Roy Hill’s western copped a lot of flack when first screened for being different to what had gone before. Amusing, energetic and filled with spectacular gunfights and scenery, the movie sees the pairing of charismatic Newman as Butch Cassidy and the charming Robert Redford as the Sundance Kid, undertake a train robbery.
Still as fresh today as it was when first released, this movie is s true classic, enjoyed by film fans whether or not they are fans of westerns.
The Sting – 1973
This box office smash won seven Oscars and reunited Newman with his Butch Cassidy co-star, Robert Redford. As two conmen in 1936 Chicago, Henry Gondorff (Newman) and Johnny Hooker (Redford) set out to pull of the con of all cons and avenge the murder of a mutual friend.
Caught between the Chicago mob and the police, the story which takes on many twists and turns, sees the duo pull off the scam with style and panache.
Three movies worth taking the time to watch again.
Off with her head
Henry VIII was a formidable figure in English history, as notorious for the number of wives he had as the battles he fought.
The Other Boleyn Girl concentrates on Henry’s most famous wife, Anne Boleyn (Natalie Portman), the girl for which he abandoned his catholic faith for and changed the religious history of a nation. Based on the faction novel by Philippa Gregory, The Other Boleyn Girl may not be completely factually correct but it does portray accurately the cutthroat nature of the King of England’s court.
Eric Bana as Henry Tudor cuts a much more attractive figure than the original King Henry is believed to have been. Thanks to the devious ways of her parents, Thomas and Elizabeth Boleyn and their wish to improve their family’s social standing, Mary (Scarlett Johansson) is the first Boleyn girl to catch Henry’s wandering eye. Having tired of his wife, Katherine of Aragon and her failure to produce a male heir to the throne, Henry seduces young Mary, much to the delight of her parents. However, even the ample charms of this young lovely are not enough to satiate the rampant king long term and desperate to keep the King’s favour, the scheming Boleyn family produce another daughter for his enjoyment, Anne.
This big screen tale is visually stunning, with the scenery and costumes breathtaking. The unexpected delight of the story is the rivalry between the two sisters, pitted against each other by their own family, in love with the same man. Anne is portrayed as the more devious of the two, obviously taking on whole-heartedly the teachings of her family. While Mary, the poor hard-done by sister who ultimately triumphs in life where her sister fails.
The rest, as they say is history
RRP:$39.98
Universal Distribution
Reviewed by Debbie McTaggart
Quirky killers
This tale of two rogue Irish hitmen is dark and funny and will have you laughing out loud one minute and cringing the next, while still admiring the eye-catching backdrop.
There is a good chance I could be shot down in flames for reviewing In Bruges as the language is deplorable, with over 120 derivatives of the “f” word” peppering the dialogue, and that’s not the worst word used. However, in defense of the colourful language, Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson) are from working class, Celtic backgrounds and therefore the language, although gratuitous, is not out of place.
In Bruges, written and directed by Martin McDonagh, is one of the wittiest darkest films that I have seen for a long time. After a job goes wrong, Ray and Ken are sent to Bruges by their London boss (Ralph Fiennes), to cool their heels. Out of place in the beautiful, well-preserved medieval city, these two rough-edged hardmen struggle to come to terms with what has brought them there.
Despite their current line of work, Ray and Ken are, at heart, good people. Ken has taken the wayward Ray under his wing and assumed the role of indulgent father. He has embraced the beauty of Bruges and the religious, architectural and historical significance of the city while Ray is like a petulant child, determined not to enjoy himself and is never far from a scrape with trouble.
A phone call from Harry quickly changes the mood of the movie and his subsequent arrival in the Flemish city has bloody consequences.
Once your ears adjust to the onslaught of profanities, the characters of Ray and Ken will have you laughing out loud at the painful and somewhat ridiculous antics of our unlikely heroes.
A dark, witty offering that shouldn’t be missed.
Reviewed by Debbie McTaggart
Love-hate relationships
Coming to terms with the relationship you have with your parents is never easy, so disclosing the details on the big screen is a very brave thing to do.
And when did you last see your father? Is the big screen adaptation of Blake Morrison’s best selling memoir. Cleverly cast with two of Britain’s most accomplished actors Jim Broadbent and Colin Firth, this movie is really the tale of a father and son love story.
Newcomer Matthew Beard is a real find as the young Blake, struggling to flourish under the shadow of his charismatic and overbearing father (Broadbent) and come to terms with the effect his adultery has on the Morrison family.
Colin Firth expertly captures the adult Blake, reconciling the difficulties of this father-son relationship with the heartbreaking emotion of watching his father die. The heart-rending journey is lightened by dry-witted humour and the realism that parents are human too and not always accountable to their children.
Make sure you have tissues at the ready!
Reviewed by Debbie McTaggart
Life, death and regrets
Being a second wife is never easy, especially when you’re grieving the death of your husband and trying to please a demanding step-daughter.
Our first glimpse of newly widowed Arvilla Holden is a woman with a resigned expression lying prostrate in the back of a cab which is delivering her to her home in Idaho.
Her much-loved husband, Joe, has died suddenly during an adventure in Borneo and her grieving is palpable. Friends call in and help her to get through the funeral – just – but one visitor is less welcome. Her uptight step-daughter, Francine, played beautifully by Christine Packard, arrives to tell Arvilla that she expects her father’s ashes to be delivered to her home for a separate memorial service –and that he always wanted to be buried beside her mother in Santa Barbara. Arvilla knows Joe’s wishes were to have his ashes scattered to the winds. Unless Arvilla meets this “demand”, Francine intends to repossess the house her father and his second wife have shared for 20 years. A frantic search for a later will is fruitless, and despite many misgivings, Arvilla sets off for the memorial service in Santa Barbara with two close girlfriends, Carol (Joan Allen) and Margine (Kathy Bates), and Joe’s ashes. Let the road movie begin! The three friends are travelling in a 1966 Bonneville – Joe’s pride and joy. And the car becomes a symbol for good times which can be enjoyed with people and things which are well known and loved. Many reviewers have suggested that the talents of three such experienced actresses are wasted in this gentle tale, but that seems a little unfair. Another recent movie about life, death and regrets, The Bucket List, was a big budget, sentimental and superficial cop out. Bonneville is more of an Indie production which showcases some sensational American scenery and highlights the value we can add to other’s lives when we learn to let go, rather than hang on.
Reviewer Kaye Fallick
Joe Carol Margine
The Joker in the pack
Is Batman: The Dark Knight too bleak? Batman fan or not, you can’t have failed to have noticed all the hype surrounding the release of Hollywood’s latest blockbuster.
Make no mistake, this movie is a tour de force, in every sense of the word. Even allowing for all the pre-release publicity and hype, the sheer two and a half hour length will test your endurance. Then there are the twin assaults on your senses (visual and aural) by every special effect that the masters of Hollywood can contrive.
By now, you’ll have gathered that your reviewer is no great fan of contemporary US flicks. However, once one ceases to apply logic to the plot, suspends reality and settles back to just let the entire, madcap, fast paced, noisy, violent, no expense spared spectacle wash over one, then it’s not all that painful.
The hoods running the Gotham City crime business are straight out of the Godfather but uglier! Heath Ledger embraces the Joker character so convincingly that the role could have been written for him, though his repeated philosophising, intended to be deep and meaningful, borders on the incomprehensible. Christian Bale in the role of Batman is, frequently, upstaged by the Joker and his squeeze (Maggie Gyllenhaal) is unremarkable. Nestor Carbonell as the mayor is, prior to his unfortunate accident, unconvincing and, after the fiery encounter, bordering on the grotesque, whilst Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine perform well in their supporting roles to Batman.
If you like your entertainment loud, violent and implausible, but with non-stop excitement and a few unexpected twists, then you’ll probably relish The Dark Knight. However, for dyed-in-the-wool Batman aficionados, there’s probably not enough of their hero.
Not for the faint hearted
Reviewed by David Fallick
Love-hate relationships
Coming to terms with the relationship you have with your parents is never easy, so disclosing the details on the big screen is a very brave thing to do.
And when did you last see your father? Is the big screen adaptation of Blake Morrison’s best selling memoir. Cleverly cast with two of Britain’s most accomplished actors Jim Broadbent and Colin Firth, this movie is really the tale of a father and son love story.
Newcomer Matthew Beard is a real find as the young Blake, struggling to flourish in the shadow of his charismatic and overbearing father (Broadbent) and come to terms with the effect on the Morrison family of the latter’s adultery.
Colin Firth expertly captures the adult Blake, reconciling the difficulties of this father-son relationship with the heartbreaking emotion of watching his father die. The heart-rending journey is lightened by dry-witted humour and the realism that parents are human too and not always accountable to their children.
Make sure you have tissues at the ready!
Reviewed by Debbie McTaggart
Royal scandal
Over the centuries royal families have been involved in many a scandal and one from the 1960s has all the ingredients necessary for the latest big screen heist movie.
The Bank Job follows the heist format to the letter; dodgy geezers, a less than water tight master plan, a close run-in with the police, a bank vault and of course, a little political intrigue. Based on true events surrounding a robbery from a bank vault at a top London bank in the 70s, The Bank Job is a little tongue in cheek but entertaining nonetheless.
Jason Stratham plays dodgy car dealer Terry, approached by the gorgeous Martine (Saffron Burrows) with a full-proof plan for a bank job that will net them millions of pounds. Terry assembles a team of likely lads who tunnel under the streets of London, through to the bank vault.
Once ensconced in the vault, the gang discovers loot of a saucy nature, compromising photos linking a high profile member of the Royal family to a sex scandal. Despite being hunted frantically by the police and an initial flurry of press coverage, the gang escaped. No arrests were made and no valuables recovered, thanks to the issue of a ‘D’ Notice, a British Government gaggery order of the press.
The true story behind this story definitely helps the movie, which at times teeters on the brink of becoming unbelievable. The gullible gang is well portrayed by the cast and the retro 70s scenery and costumes are delightful. Although a little slow to start, due to the need to set the scene and background events that are about to take place, The Bank Job offers intrigue, humour and a cracking story.
A true gem.
Reviewed by Debbie McTaggart
Unlikely love story
As a young Oxford graduate, Englishman George Hogg is more interested in finding the next great war story than the plight of China’s war orphans.
Inspired by true events, Children of the Silk Road depicts the story of 60 orphaned boys who capture the heart of a war-hardened journalist (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers). This is the true love story of this movie. George Hogg finds himself captured in Xinjiang by Japanese troops, who are hell-bent on invading China. Narrowly escaping execution, he is saved by Communist partisan, Chen (Chow Yun Fat)
Battered and bruised after yet another Japanese attack, Hogg is given shelter in Huang Shi, home to children orphaned by war and cared for under the supervision of American nurse, Lee Pearson (Radha Mitchell). Hogg soon realises that the only chance he and the boys have of survival is by educating the children to farm, as well as teaching them basic language skills. As Japanese troops advance and threaten their unlikely idyll, Hogg, Pearson and Chen take the boys on an epic journey to safety.
Traipsing across almost a thousand miles of perilous terrain, through the snow-bound Liu Pan Shan Mountains, to the edge of the Mongolian desert, takes its toll on the group of travellers. During the trip, Hogg and Pearson discover a love for one and other, the inclusion of which adds no benefit to the story but does highlight the artistic licence of the script.
Children of the Silk Road is an Australia-China collaboration and is filmed completely on location in China. The scenery is the real star of the story and, along with the strong storyline, make this movie worthwhile. The performances of the children are delightful, which only highlights the less-than-convincing efforts of Rhys-Meyers and Mitchell.
For many reasons this movie is worth watching, though may be best saved for DVD!
An unlikely love story.
Reviewed by Debbie McTaggart
Abba medley
Whether you’re an ABBA fan or not, you’ll be tapping your feet and singing along to the latest blockbuster musical to hit the big screen.
Just like the stage version, Mamma Mia, the movie may not have the strongest plot line but that’s not the point of the production. Born out of a need to string together some of the best loved ABBA songs of all times, the tale of a young bride-to-be finding out her father is one of three possible candidates is a little far fetched.
When Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) reads her mother’s diary, she discovers that Donna (Meryl Streep) has led more than a colourful life! Intrigued to find out who her real father is, she invites all three possibilities to the wedding, without telling Donna!
The arrival on a Greek island of three men from her past, Bill (Stellan Skarsgard), Sam (Pierce Brosnan) and Harry, (Colin Firth) is the first Donna knows of Sophie’s rebellious act. Supported by her long-standing and loyal friends Rosie (Julie Walters) and Tanya (Christine Baranski), Donna does her very best to get through the days leading up to Sophie’s wedding, without losing the plot! The joyous trip down memory lane that follows is a laugh a minute, with the ABBA favourites the real stars of the movie.
For me, this was a movie that couldn’t fail. Having loved the stage show so much, I saw it three times, the movie had a lot to live up to and it did. It may not be one of the critics’ favourites but then, what do they know?
Brings out the Dancing Queen in you!
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
