Reese Witherspoon takes the lead in this film based on a true story - Cheryl Strayed's account of her 1770 kilometer trek through American desert in 1995.
We jump from now, when she's actually trekking, to moments in the past that explain why she came to be on such a significant journey. Much of it goes back to the death of her 45 year old mother played by Laura Dern and where her grief takes her. (Hint - it ain't pretty.)
Witherspoon is nominated for the Best Actress Oscar for this film which speaks volumes. This is a huge role (she's in almost every scene) that really carries the entire film and she is excellent in it.
At first as we watched this young woman, so inadequately prepared for such a huge physical challenge, walking through the desert I was taken back to the Australian film Tracks in which Mia Wasikowska plays a woman trekking through the desert with a camel. Despite the critical acclaim I found that film a giant snooze fest so I was worried this would follow in a similar vein but there's plenty of action outside of the desert challenges to keep this one interesting.
This positive review in the LA Times captures it nicely, if you're keen to read more.
Trailer here.
In this film, Julianne Moore plays a 50 year old academic diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's Disease. She is brilliant in it and deservedly just won the Best Actress Golden Globe and is a got chance of winning the Oscar for same.
Her experience of the disease taking hold is a journey she goes on with her husband, played by Alec Baldwin, and her children, played by Kristen Stewart (who does sullen predictably well), Kate Bosworth and Hunter Parrish.
This film is spectacularly beautiful and I would highly recommend it but be prepared for an emotional experience. You will need tissues!
For more read this four star review from The Guardian... "An effortlessly excellent film about a difficult subject."
Trailer here.
Loved this! Bill Murray at his blistering best as grumpy, wacky old Vincent, neighbour to Melissa McCarthy's Maggie and her son Oliver.
Maggie and Oliver are new to the neighbourhood and circumstances see Vincent become unlikely babysitter to Oliver. Not surprisingly it's far from a usual babysitting arrangement but the two characters develop a lovely connection and get into a bit of mischief.
There's also more to it including a role for Naomi Watts (for which she was expected by some to get a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination but was 'snubbed') but you don't need the details, just go and see it!
Highly recommend this one.
Here's a positive review (surprisingly only matched with 3.5 stars) from News Ltd's Leigh Paatsch if you want more and here's a trailer.
As with many films out at this time of year, Birdman is nominated for a bunch of Oscars which is of course a sign of good quality.
(You know a film distribution company thinks they have a hit on their hands when a film like this, which is an arthousey one, is on at Hoyts Greensborough. Greensborough! The only thing stranger than that programming decision is the fact that there was four other people in the cinema in my session!)
But I'll be honest. I didn't love it.
I get why the critics love it (eg this gushing review in Variety) and I agree that the performances in it are amazing. Michael Keaton is brilliant in the lead role and Emma Stone playing his daughter also impresses. Zach Galifianakis, Naomi Watts and Ed Norton - all excellent.
I think the people who will enjoy this are people who don't just dig mainstream, people who like their films to make them think a little. If you like your movies pretty mainstream and you're just at the movies for some mindless entertainment in a rare two hour break from the kids, I think you could be disappointed by this.
Birdman is anything but mindless. It's about an actor Riggan Thomas (Keaton) who is trying to reinvigorate his career after playing iconic superhero 'Birdman' in a series of films many years ago. He's doing that by staging his own adaptation of a Raymond Carver short story 'What We Talk About When We Talk About Love' - directing and starring, no less.
If I could watch any of the 'Best Picture' Oscar nominated films again, I'd watch Whiplash and The Imitation Game again before this.
Give this Fairfax 5 star review a read if you're thinking about seeing it I reckon. It'll give you a helpful idea of the story before going in.
Trailer here. Now showing.
