Film No. 20 (2016) Eye In The Sky March 14th.

Film No. 20 (2016) March 14th.  6.30 PM LUNA WINDSOR Nedlands.

"If they kill 80 people, we win the propaganda war, if we kill one child, they do".(Just some of the diplomatic banter exchanged during the decision making process).

Once upon a time war movies were the staple diet of cinema goers throughout the world. A War Movie had everything; good conquering evil, the seeking of revenge against the odds and romance under difficult circumstances. Eye In The Sky may be the film to rekindle the genre via and age old ingredient; suspense.


Modern warfare is a complex game in 2016. We only have to stream a news station to absorb the latest random mass bombing or shooting to comprehend this fact. Eye in the Sky propels us into a situation which legitimizes aspects of this complex game. What this film does well, even if it's a little far fetched, is bring a human face and the "what if" factor into the narrative. 


Colonel Katherine Powell(Helen Mirren) has tracked a British subject turned terrorist, Aisha al Hady, to a small fortress in Somalia, Africa. The methods of tracking and the devices used in the process range from a drone stationed kilometres above, strategically placed hi definition cameras and electronic flying bugs. They are elaborate and by themselves worth the price of a ticket to this film. Time is ticking and Powell needs to eliminate her target.


Mirren returns to her "hard arse" persona (Jayne Tennison, Prime Suspect) here and is effective. The real intrigue comes in the scenes where diplomacy holds the key. As Powell waits for the decision allowing her to move, circumstances arise that complicate the decision making process. We meet the highest ranking diplomats all weighing up their options depending on their agendas. Eventually a couple of rookie drone pilots (Aaron Paul and Phoebe Fox), sitting in a shack in the Nervada desert, hold a crucial key. In the end there are more questions asked than answered and this added to the thrill.  10GUMS.   








   

Film No. 19 (2016) My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 March 9th.

Film No. 19 (2016) March 9th.  7.00 PM HOYTS Carousel Cannington.

"Don't let your past dictate who you are, but let it be a part of who you will become". (The combined musings of Nia Vardalos and John Corbett prior to the release of M.B.F.G.W.2)

Excuse my ignorance, but I hadn't realized that the original My Big Fat Greek Wedding remains the highest grossing romantic comedy in the U.S. Well there you go. With that, I would be surprised if this sequel overtakes that standard. M.B.F.G.W. 2 tries to be everything the first is but unfortunately it falls short. 


If you loved the original and you're not expecting much more than catching up with friends you haven't seen for 14 years then M.B.F.G.W.2 is a must see. All your old friends are still on screen but be warned, most of them come fresh from surgery; but who hasn't been nipped and tucked these days?


The story-line, 14 years on, brings together three generations of Nia's family. Her father and mother are unmarried due to a convenient twist, she and husband Ian are in a marriage without sparks and daughter Paris (Elena Kampouris) is being hassled about "keeping it Greek" when it comes to boys (the same way Nia was in M.B.F.G.W.1). And so the lovable, adorable characters jostle with each others emotions in the nicest possible way for the nicest possible outcome. A marzipan sandwich is only slightly sweeter! 


But hey, No.2 will have a following. Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks are still involved (producers) and hopefully there will be upside for the Greek economy. It's a film with its heart in the right place. 6GUMS.


   















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Film No. 18 (2016) The End of the Tour February 28th.

Film No. 18 (2016) February 28th.  8.00 PM THE PINES Outdoor Cinema Joondalup.

"The more people think you're really great, the bigger the fear of being a fraud is". (Wallace's parting words to Lipsky after their 5 day tour).

A film based on events depicting a celebrated writer, David Foster-Wallace (Jason Segal), being profiled by Rolling Stone journo David Kipsky (Jesse Eisenberg) may not have people stampeding to cinemas but there is something profound about this simple tale capturing one man's (Wallace) complicated emotional state of mind.


The naturalistic style of Tour, takes us on a documentary like journey to the heart of a unique relationship which smoulders then ignites as Lipsky fans the embers during a 5 day road trip through the ice-cold landscape of mid western USA.  


If you know of Lipsky's writings about this adventure, or have read Infinite Jest, the book by Wallace which sparked this tour or if you are simply a fan of either, you are bound to love The End of the Tour. I knew little to nothing of either and I enjoyed this film immensely. 10GUMS.