Tuesday 27 June 2017

Film No. 44 It Comes At Night June 21st.

Film No. 44 (2017) June 21st  6.30 PM  LUNA Paradiso, Northbridge.


"Arising from the anticipation of evil" (promotional grab accompanying the trailer).






This film is as tense as the grip you'll have on the arm of the cinema seat. Described as a horror, thriller and mystery movie, It Comes At Night is more mystery due to what we don't know or see as opposed to what happens. We can only surmise as to the state of the world beyond Paul's (Joel Egderton)fortress (a rambling house in the woods) and his desperate commitment to protect  his family. This film is as dark as its title and comes with warnings; some scenes are disturbing. Hard to recommend but it lives up to the promises depicted in its unnerving trailer. 10GUMS.   

Monday 19 June 2017

Film No. 42 My Cousin Rachel June 13th

Film No. 42 (2017) June 13th.  11.15 PM LUNA WINDSOR Nedlands.


"I've written to you several times but there is no one I can trust to take my letters to the mail"(Phillip reads a letter sent to him by his dying cousin, newly married to a woman named Rachel).






Another lavish re-tell of a well known novel by Daphne du Maurier (Rebecca). A faultless production depicting the dark mysterious, gold-digger (seemingly) Rachel, stunningly played by Rachel Weisz. The opening stanza builds exquisite tension prior to Rachel's arrival on the windswept cliffs of county Surrey but gradually the gloss is lost in this old fashioned tale as later scenes linger longer than they should. Sam Claflin playing the emotionally challenged Phillip doesn't have quite the chemistry to match Weisz. It will be popular matinee cinema for the mature set never the less. 8GUMS.      

Wednesday 14 June 2017

Film No. 41 The First Girl I Loved June 12th

Film No. 41 (2017) June 12th.  6.30 PM  LUNA Paradiso, Northbridge.


"I'm not comfortable with this, I feel like my daughter is being accused of something" (Anne's mother discusses her daughter's at a school mediation session).






Perhaps First Girl I Loved will gain a larger audience on a streaming network but this quirky love triangle gained a Sundance following which has caught the attention of cinema goers. It is vibrantly fresh with an excellent lead performance by Dylan Gelula as Anne. The male corner of the triangle lacks development hence the Netflix feel to the overall product. A film that takes risks and leaves us thinking for a day or two can't be all that bad. Thus First Girl has merit. Those with Homophobic tendencies may be best suited to steer clear. 7GUMS.     

Tuesday 13 June 2017

Film No. 40 (2017) The Mummy. June 7th.

Film No. 40 (2017) June 7th.  6.45 PM Greater Union Event Cinema,  Innaloo.



"Welcome to a new world of Gods and Monsters" (Voice over attached to a trailer).






Tommy Cruise takes on another blockbuster role, this time he fills the rather larger shoes of Brendan Fraser in a re-boot of The Mummy. No surprise that Cruise is once again bullet proof but he's not everything he seems. Fraser's version was far more linear in structure and less CGI reliant. It's a long shot to stretch the aura of a mummy into something it is not. Too long, confusing and basically boring for mine but may well please the masses. And yes, Tom gets the girl but there's a twist. 4GUMS.