Film No. 40 (2014) The Fault In Our Stars May 26th.

Film No. 40 (2014) May 26th. 6:30 PM GREATER UNION Innaloo.

The Fault in Our Stars

Let me get my criticism over with early. The Fault in Our Stars is twenty minutes too long. For me, the dwelling on themes for longer than necessary, lessened the heartfelt impact of this very intelligently made film. Now, on with the accolades, and Fault deserves many.

The trailer has been "rolling" in cinemas for weeks so I expected plenty of tears; I got plenty of sadness but the surprises came from the clever script which didn't weigh the audience down with storyline cliches. Shailene Woodley (Hazel Grace) and Ansel Elgot (Augustus) both bring their charismatic charm to the screen and it is their subtle chemistry which adds to the depth of the script. This type of story is predictable but Fault has some surprises.

Hazel and Gus are teenagers who fall in love with each other. They both have health issues of the "meanest" kind so when they meet, their charms' are channelled in the most positive way possible, via infatuation, then love. The external relationships including Hazel's parents played by Sam Trammell and Laura Dern (slightly over acted) are both warm and real. Then there's the work of Nat Wolf as Isaac, Gus's best friend, he is a charmer and manages to "steal" a scene or two.

Based on a popular novel by John Green, director Josh Boone, has maintained the impact of Green's work. A popular novel is always a challenge; teenagers can be especially harsh if their expectations are not met. In this case I think the box office will reflect how positive the reaction will be. This will be a hit !  10GUMS   

Film No. 39 (2014) The Double May 24th.

Film No. 39 (2014) May 24th. 11:00 AM LUNA Leederville.

The Double


The Double plays with our mind; but more importantly it plays with Simon James's (Jesse Eisenburg) mind.

This dark thriller asks an interesting question. If you are not happy with who you are then what would it be like if you met yourself; the self with all those energetic and charismatic qualities you wished you had? Then as you get to know your other self you begin to find out who you really are.

Eisenburg is excellent as the duel characters, Simon and James. The real challenge for an audience is to detect and distinguish between the two characters. Eisenburg shows what range he has as an actor and he has it in "spades". Hannah (Mia Wasikowska) plays the love interest with "dead pan" poise but I have to admit to being confused by her actions on occasions. I'm convinced, however, that The Double needs a second viewing !

After watching The Zero Theorem recently there are many common themes, namely a dark, dark landscape and a desperately confused hero. Double has a "smarter" script and it is in the words that we begin to unravel the puzzle Simon has to solve and what's real in his world !   9GUMS.   

  

Film No. 38 (2014) The Trip to Italy May 22nd.

Film No. 38 (2014) May 22nd. 6:30 PM PARADISO Northbridge.

The Trip to Italy

If you like a travelogue, full of one-liners from the talented minds of two British comedians as they play out their self indulgent lives in an exotic European country (Italy), as big screen entertainment, then you are going to love The Trip to Italy.

I prefer to watch the 6 part series in 25 minute portions as it was intended, on TV. Like some of the food on screen, the fare is rich and at times tiresome. The repartee of Steve Coogan is quick and "laugh out loud" funny on occasions but the real humour comes in the form of Rob Brydon's impressions; most particularly his Hugh Grant impersonations as we watch the fictionalisation of him having an affair.

At 108 minutes, it's too long, I'm beginning to suffer from indigestion after eighty. The Italian background from the rolling vineyards to the Mediterranean coastline makes you wonder if a corrupt arm of the Italian government has made Winterbottom an offer he couldn't refuse. Tourism is already booming after the release of the film; as too are Alanis Morissette albums'.

The Trip II will interest many people, as it did the guests we took to the preview.  For me, I'll catch the odd episode on telly.   5GUMS          

Film No. 37 (2014) Sunshine On Leith May 21st.

Film No. 37 (2014) May 21st. 6:30 PM. GREATER UNION Innaloo.

Sunshine on Leith


I'd have to say I'm surprised there haven't been more "postcard musicals" since the success of Mamma Mia in 2008. The depiction of the Greek Isles layered with the sounds of ABBA remains a on many people's "repeat viewing" list.

Sunshine on Leith in all likelihood won't have the same "trailing commissions" but it's a better film. This time Edinburgh forms the backdrop and the music of The Proclaimers, the soundtrack. Like Mamma the underlying theme is "love conquers all" and then it's down to the talent of the performers, both as actors and lip sync singers.

Rab (Peter Mullan) and Jean (Jane Horrocks) keep the home fires burning while son Davy (George McKay) serves his country in the Afgan war. He and his mate Ally return to Edinburgh after their tour. From here we learn of the complications of love as dad (past infidelity), mum (finding out), son (new love), daughter (not ready for commitment) and Ally (wanting commitment)deal with the latest developments in their lives. Like all musicals, the story is never deep.

Nothing The Proclaimers sang was too insightful but their beat and melodies were "catchy". All the performers worked the rhythms to perfection and the film entertains from the stunning aerial panorama of Edinburgh to the final titles. Anyone with connections to "The Thistle" will have even greater fun, I'm sure.   9GUMS.         

Film No. 36 (2014) The Babadook May 17th.

Film No. 36 (2014) May 17th. 11:00 AM LUNA Leederville.

The Babadook


Once again the South Australian Film Corporation is involved in an interesting project. This time The Babadook comes to our screen via the The Sundance Film Festival where it was a "hit". So much so, that it has been sold to 40 odd different countries even before opening here in Australia. Jennifer Kent has created a very moody, spooky film and uses many clever, innovative techniques. 

I'm not a fan of the horror genre, but I know a sharply cut, well acted, dark film when I see it. Simply told, The Babadook is a children's story about a scary, cloaked monster who lives in a closet. A closet much like the one in Amelia's (Essie Davis) house, in-fact, within the room of Samuel (Noah Wiseman), her young son. Amelia, under stress from the loss of her husband is not coping and this story, one Samuel insists she reads to him, is not helping matters.

The vulnerability of Amelia, intelligently depicted by Essie Davis gives the Babadook the "opening" it is looking for. The final ten minutes does not live up to the previous ninety but that can happen when the standard is set so high.

Noah Wiseman as Samuel is outstanding. His performance will send chills up the spines' of even the most competent of parents. Daniel Henshall (Snowtown) shows his range as the compassionate Robbie, a work mate of Amelia's. Jennifer Kent didn't attend film school because she wanted to tread her own path. The Babadook is a strong start to her feature film career.  8GUMS 

  

Film No. 35 (2014) Grace of Monaco May 15th.

Film No. 35 (2014) May 15th. 6:30 PM THE WINDSOR Nedlands.

Grace of Monaco


Grace of Monaco is either a very clever, tongue in cheek send up of a fairy tale within a fairy tale or a botched Americanisation of "How The Princess Saved Monaco". I'm hoping it's the latter because if the critics are anything to go by then director Oliver Dahan is taking some "heat".

Look, the film would have us believe that in 1962, the principality of Monaco was in danger of "falling" to the French. The Prince was helpless, with no army and just his wife and her celebrity influence by his side; a wife not comfortable as a princess. But then after careful rumination and subsequent tuition she "eats her spinach" and beats off the French with a speech at a Gala Dinner. Come on, who's going to believe that ?

Nicole Kidman, wandering eyebrow and all, hams up her role to perfection. Tim Roth plays Prince Rainier III as a helpless puppy dog made more helpless by the treachery mounted against him by his sister and brother in law. Dahan would have us believe Antoinette was a French spy. Derek Jacobi and Frank Langella play key characters in the Princess's life as her fairy godfathers; Langella as her mentor and Jacobi as her etiquette teacher.

Then there is the Hitchcockian film techniques layered throughout via music, close ups and a variety of dissolves. I ask you, why couldn't it be a fairy tale within a fairy tale? The film's only chance for redemption is that it becomes a cult classic .... never the less, I'm glad I saw it.    6GUMS  

    

Film No. 34 (2014) The Zero Theorem May 10th.

Film No. 34 (2014) May 10th. 11.00 AM LUNA Leederville.

The Zero Theorem

There are no surprises in this latest contribution to cinema by Terry Gilliam. The Zero Theorem is colourful, eclectic, futuristic, thought provoking but more importantly asks the question Gilliam so often asks; what is the meaning of human existence? Find the Zero Theorem and all will be answered; thus Gilliam uses the tortured character of Qohen (Christopher Waltz)to take us on this journey.

Waltz is brilliant in Theorem. We leave the cinema carrying some of his baggage after watching him battle with his lustful thoughts and the pressures of The Corporation. Like Sam Lowry (Jonathan Price)in Brazil, Quohen is being used and then ultimately blamed by Management (Matt Damon) when all is not what it seems.

Gilliam began his career as "that American animator" with Monty Python. His film sets' always give off a "beyond belief" effect. Jane Fonda gave us Barbarella in the sixties, Melaine Thierry is Bainsley, the object of Qohen's desires. They go on dates, electronically, but Qohen wonder's whether they are but figments of his imagination. The surreal beach scenes are typical examples of Gilliam's "beyond belief" world.

The film is being criticised, world wide, for being cluttered and meaningless. I'd agree on both fronts but there is something mesmerising about Gilliam's style. He certainly doesn't solve the recurring question he asks but he brings to the screen another film full of ideas and sumptuous images. But not everyone enjoys Gilliam's style.   9GUMS   

Film No. 33 (2014) Healing May 8th.

Film No. 33 (2014) May 8th. 6:30 PM LUNA Leederville.

Healing


The Trailer, for me, has become an addictive pleasure. I know, in most cases, it is going to wet my appetite for a film in coming weeks. Healing, by Craig Monahan, had saturated my appetite for a month leading up to last night's showing. What a disappointment it is then, to best describe it as "Clunky".

The parallel stories of birds of prey with broken wings placed along side the lives of their carers, inmates hoping to heal their shattered emotions, is a credible premise. Especially when another of those in repair is the prison officer, Matt (Hugo Weaving) who creates the in-house sanctuary. But then we've only had time to absorb the plight of one inmate when we are asked to focus on the "baggage" of another.

Don Hany plays Viktor, an Iranian immigrant, a prisoner for 16 years with an accent more akin to a character from an eighties sketch comedy show, is the film's main focus. He along with Matt gather trust in one another while at the same time Shane (Mark Winter)along with Paul (Xavier Samuel)form a bond as they become to rely on each other's honesty. Each character could have had their own individual film narrative depicted on screen.

At the preview I attended, the audience applauded as the credits rolled; there will be plenty of people who will enjoy Monahan's latest effort. There is a terrific message for the need in fathers to build strong bonds with their sons ..... that alone makes Healing worth seeing; for some.   7GUMS.        

Film No. 32 (2014) Last Paradise May 2nd.

Film No. 32 (2014) May 2nd. 6:30 PM LUNA Leederville.

Last Paradise


Last Paradise has some wholesome messages. It is a film made by middle aged blokes about the adventures that shaped their lives; and that if we were all to embrace the wholesome message then the generations to come will experience that same wholesomeness. The fact that the message was continually "rammed down our necks" made for a generally tiresome experience.

The fact the film was muddled together by a cameraman and an editor and not an accomplished film maker throttled the energy from it's narrative. In many respects the sum of the film's parts had it all. Historical footage along with discussions about comparing eras and even a lesson in energy generation represented worthwhile content. A film, however, needs structure to be totally effective.

Clive Neeson and his mates, do however, deserve a pat on the back for devising a piece of entertainment from the variety of exerts taken by a collaboration of camera people over 50 years. There is something to be learned from the characters and their "tangles" with adventure depicted on the screen. A.J Hackett, the pioneer of commercial Bungy Jumping, is particularly interesting.

I'm an advocate of all of the film's virtues; I viewed, in awe, the freedom these guys experienced based on all they believe in and practiced. I'm surprised, with all their wealth and common sense, that they they didn't employ a film artist to produce a film of better quality. The impact of their message would have been more effective.  6GUMS  

    

Film No. 31 (2014) Chef April 30th.

Film No. 31 (2014) April 30th. 7:00 PM GREATER UNION Innaloo.

Chef


Jon Favreau is a multi talented film artist. He writes, he acts, he directs, he produces and while his career has taken a commercial path recently he leaves his unique mark on all his projects. That mark often comes in the form of a scene rich with dialogue we didn't see coming.

Chef is not a great film. It is an enjoyable, entertaining, heartwarming flick with plenty of those rich scenes which may give it some cult following in the future. It it is a film so easily recommended to so many people for so many different reasons.

Carl Casper (Favreau) is burnt out and battling creatively, emotionally and financially. His greatest asset is the charismatic effect he has on people. He takes a break from life, as he knew it, by acting as a carer for his son Percy (Emjay Anthony)on a trip to Miami with his ex-wife Inez (Sofia Vergara). It is then that the real adventure takes place as Casper invests in a food van and proceeds to cook, babysit and tweet as he drives back to California.

Go see this film for the food on display. See it for the scenes with Dustin Hoffman and Robert Downey Jnr; they provide that richness I described earlier. See it to enjoy the fun a dad might have with his son. The film is as fresh as the ingredients on display in so many of the scenes.  10GUMS 

Film No. 30 (2014) Young and Beautiful April 26th.

Film No. 30 (2014) April 26th. 11:00 AM LUNA Leederville.

Young and Beautiful

Isabelle (Marine Vacth) is certainly young and beautiful. She is stunning. So much so, her ability as an actor is blurred by the quality of her appearance on screen. Given that, her portrayal of a student coming of age, both sexually (initially) and emotionally, in the most unconventional of manners is thought provoking to say the least.

French film maker Francois Ozon was accused of being overly voyeuristic with In The House. Young and Beautiful will have its premature walk outs for the same reasons but the film's logic is revealed much later and the stark sex scenes early in the film are soon forgotten.

Isabelle's story is told in four parts, via the seasons in a year. We begin in Summer as she looks forward to her first sexual experience. The sex she has is unrewarding hence we meet her in The Fall as a call girl operating her lucrative business from her second mobile phone. Her motives are not clear but the repeated counting of her money gives her audience an indication.

The film's final stanza is more revealing. Isabelle is a girl willing to take risks beyond her years so when tragedy strikes her resources for coping are limited. Her awakening is real and with the help of her family she learns to adjust.  8GUMS