No. 52 (2018) Deadpool 2 June 17th.

Film No. 52 (2018) June 17th  12:50 PM Hoyts Millennium Fremantle.

"I don't know much about this Cable fella, but I guarantee you he hasn't killed as many people as melanoma has." (Peter prepares for battle by applying sun lotion).

Ryan Reynolds continues to count his lucky stars (money, more likely) with mark II of the wise cracking, self effacing, rat-bag superhero Deadpool. I had as much fun with II as I, so much so I'm motivated to take a second sitting to catch up on the machine gun delivery of sharp wit and satire I missed on the first sitting. Deadpool is the naughty boy of the Marvel stable but now he has a sensible, beautiful girlfriend, Vanessa (Morena Baccarin). Were something to happen to her, most likely because of his wayward ways, he would need to form his own superhero gang to avenge any wrongs. So nothing new in franchise land excepting the script. Ryan Reynolds shovels another sod of dirt quite literally on the grave of Green Lantern with a tilt of his shining shovel, a glint in his rebellious eye and another smudge on his crimson, skin tight suit. 10GUMS. 

No. 51 (2018) Ideal Home June 14th.

Film No 51 (2018) June 14th.  6:45 PM  LUNA PALACE Leederville . 

"We can't have a kid! We couldn't even handle that Yorkshire Terrier".(Paul makes a point with partner Erasmas after it becomes obvious a life change is imminent for them).

Ideal Home is full of tongue in cheek one-liners delivered with exquisite timing. Without the slap-stick of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis of the 60's, Coogan (Erasmas) and Rudd (Paul, yes screen name) deliver an equivalent comic chemistry as an affluent professional gay couple living life to the full near the U.S. and Mexican border. Their lives take a turn when Bill (Jack Gore), Eramas's grandson, quite literally turns up on their doorstep and needs shelter while dad (Jake McDorman) serves a short prison term. All very convenient; then this unconventional house turns into a warm, loving home for Jack as his flamboyant but inoffensive, wise cracking guardians show him true affection and security. Ideal Home is laden in clique but is sharply scripted and smartly cast. Coogan and Rudd will have their producers crowing with delight. 9GUMS.

 

No. 50 (2018) Upgrade June 11th.

Film No. 50 (2018) June 11th.  6:45 PM EVENT Cinemas Innaloo.                        

"As a quadriplegic it must be frustrating for you, someone who likes to get things done with their hands." (Profound words uttered to Grey Trace after the track incident which changes his life for ever).

Billed as a horror flick, Upgrade is more a futuristic thriller with the odd scene depicting horrific violence. It's sure to get a following due to its smart concept and old fashioned revenge and redemption themes. Popeye ate spinach to take on super-human strength, Grey Trace (Logan Marshall-Green) gets help of the I.T. variety after he is rendered a quadriplegic in the most tragic of circumstances. But Grey is a convincing hero, one we root for from the first time we meet him.  He tinkers with cars from our world when all the while A.I. operates around him. He's grounded and uncomplicated. Director Leigh Whannell created Saw in Australia fifteen years ago, shopped it around Hollywood and the rest is history. Upgrade may very well be his cleverest, slickest project so far. 9GUMS.

No. 49 (2018) Brother's Nest June 9th.

Film No 49 (2018) June 9th.  11:00 AM  LUNA PALACE Leederville . 

"I know that Jeff, it's kinda a little intense when it's all written down like this".(Terry makes a point to brother Jeff in response to his big brother's lecture on being organised when committing a crime).

The proudly Australian Jacobson brothers are back with a film so much darker and different to their first offering (Kenny) that Brothers' Nest only further underlines older brother Clayton's ability to make original films. Jeff (Clayton J) and Terry (Shane J) roll up at the family's rural homestead to commit a dastardly deed. The clever, darkly humorous script joins all the dots before leading us to a slightly overly long, but never the less impactful, climax. Walking away from Brothers'Nest I couldn't help but feel this tale could easily be based on true events. Families and the nightmares which may occur within are stories heard regularly. Brothers' Nest is another Jacobson gem of simple proportions but of significant repercussions both in message and hopefully on the world stage. 11GUMS.  

      

No. 48 (2018) Edie June 7th.

Film No. 48 (2018) June 7th.  6:30 PM LUNA  Palace Northbridge. 

"Nancy, I'm letting you know I'm going away for a few days" (Edie makes a decision and understates the trip she is about to take, in a voice message to her daughter).

Edie (Sheila Hancock) tries and tries to push our compassion trigger points harder than she tries to climb Mount Suilven itself and that's saying something for an 85 year old. The problem with Edie (the film) is, one can't make up ones mind if it's a feature length travelogue or a corporate team building, moral boosting, audio visual presentation. The overly earnest soundtrack would suggest the former. Hancock however sucks in a breath of fresh air for all of us on her journey of discovery and if the inspiration she generates in Edie flows onto people of her generation anywhere in the world then the film becomes a wonderful vehicle. The same can be said for the beautiful seaside town of Lochinver on the north west coast of Scotland. If the town's tourists double over the next few years due to the director's stunning drone work, there's another win. It's just a pity that, unlike Local Hero, the storytelling is naff! 6GUMS.

   

No. 47 (2018) Hereditary June 6th.

Film No. 47 (2018) June 6th.  6:45 PM EVENT Cinemas Innaloo. 

"She wasn't altogether there at the end." (Daughter Annie describes her recently deceased mother's demeanor just prior to her death).

Another horror flick with a seemingly happy, functioning family at its core, hot on the heels of A Quiet Place. Hereditary is getting the same, if not better, critiques but for me the former is by far the superior film. Tony Collette (Annie) plays the vulnerable mother and meticulous miniaturist who draws on all our dark senses as she deals with tragedy, blackness and more blackness. Undercurrents of spiritual unpleasantness brew around her after the death of her mother. Husband Steve (Gabriel Byrne) is Annie's rock and brilliantly cast children Peter (Alex Wolff) and Charlie (Milly Shapiro) all band together to take us on an emotional rollercoaster ride via close-ups, cut aways and subtle light definitions. The ending will have you thinking through the triggers that came earlier. This is Ari Aster's first feature as a director and he's nailed Hereditary to a point. But I say again, it's not as effecting as A Quiet Place. 8GUMS.

No. 46 (2018) Disobedience June 2nd.

Film No 46 (2018) June 2nd.  11:00 AM  LUNA PALACE Leederville . 

"I think he thought that marriage would cure me".(Esti explains to Ronit the reason for one of the major changes   which had taken place in her life).

Terms such as slow burn, insightful, tense then finally, heartfelt and emotionally powerful describe Disobedient. Never a relaxing watch, the film explores life where people, in this case Ronit (Rachel Weisz), Esti (Rachel McAdams) and Dovid (Alessandro Nivola) childhood friends, each brought up as orthodox Jews reunite under strained circumstances. It's evident early  why Ronit left
suddenly in search of a new life in New York city. No one has heard from her in years. Then Ronit returns after receiving word her father, a Jewish leader, had died suddenly. The film, put simply, captures the puzzle of unresolved issues lying thick in the air after her exit. Weisz and McAdams have a brooding chemistry and Nivola goes a way to stealing the show with his calm, insightful performance. Don't see Disobedience if your mood requires  a light, fun film. Sebastian Lelio's (A Fantastic Woman) film is neither fun nor light but it is very good. 10GUMS. 

  

No. 45 (2018) Gurrumul May 28th.

Film No 45 (2018) May 28th.  5:50 PM  LUNA PALACE Leederville . 

"He's making it easier for the world to understand and he's making it new". (A voice over from a family member describing Gurrumul's unique sound).

Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, arguably, will be remembered as having the purest, most authentic voice Australia has produced. This riveting documentary tells a little of the story of a prodigiously talented blind boy who becomes a man as he humbly unveils his talents to the world. Darwin film maker Paul Damien Williams was given approval by Gurrumul to make the film. Williams scoured hours and hours of archival sounds and images from Gurrumul's past, he captures brilliantly how his subject came to be who he is. An unsung star of Gurrumul's is friend and closest collaborator Michael Hohnen. The film relies on Hohnen's unique  connection with Gurrumul, the people of Elcho Island and ultimately the rest of the world. Geoffrey is the star but the bond these men have is what makes this journey so watchable.  10GUMS.