A film that brings together two of my great loves - amazing food and Bradley Cooper - Burnt does not disappoint.
Cooper plays a messed up aggressive chef which in many respects makes him thoroughly unlikeable but I'll be frank: he's HOT and HE SPEAKS FRENCH. IN LIFE AND IN THIS FILM.
The story's probably a tad predictable but if that's it's worst crime, I think it's doing ok.
His pursuit of three Michelin stars in his culinary comeback has ups and downs and one or two surprises in spite of the aforementioned predictability.
I personally loved the food porn element of the film. I love to cook and love to watch others cook, though all the yelling of a professional kitchen depicted in this film is a tad scary! YES CHEF!
Here's a three star review by News Ltd's Leigh Paatsch if you want to know more. I agree with his positive sentiment but also his observation about the supporting cast - there's a lot going on there, probably a little too much.
Happily recommend this one.
Trailer here. In cinemas now.
Directed by Steven Spielberg, co-written by the Coen brothers and staring Tom Hanks, this film has a lot going for it on paper.
Based on a true story, Hanks plays an American insurance lawyer recruited by the CIA to negotiate the recue of a US pilot detained in the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
It's getting great reviews (this four star review in the Sydney Morning Herald, for example) but for me, it's a thriller than never actually got thrilling. It builds to a considerable crescendo but I never ever had that edge-of-your-seat, will-they-won't-they? feeling that comes with a good thriller.
Hanks is fantastic (der) but regardless, I didn't walk out of this film thinking it was amazing or even great. Just good.
Trailer here. In cinemas now.
This rom com (or "raunch com" as Variety describes it) featuring Alison Brie and Jason Sudeikis does have some funny lines and moments but ultimately it never gets off the ground to be really great.
Despite an admirable attempt to throw you off the scent, it's a predictable ending. I mean, when you throw two people together who are desperately trying to stay just friends in spite of an attraction the audience sees and even they concede, it's hard not to guess how it ends.
Pleasant enough, but can't say I'd suggest rushing to the cinema and laying down a lobster to see this.
Here's the New York Times' review if you want to know more. I think their view can be summarized as being about the same as mine.
Trailer here. In cinemas Thursday 29 October.
This Intern is light and charming film. Robert De Niro stars as Ben, a widowed retiree in need of intellectual stimulation, who signs up for a senior intern program at an online fashion start-up.
He gets the gig (surprise!) and winds up working for their young, stressed CEO Jules, played by Anne Hathaway.
I don't reckon you don't need to know much more than that. Just know that if you need some pleasant light relief that won't make you think too hard (ok, at all, really), then get along to this one.
Check out this three star review in the Sydney Morning Herald for more.
Trailer here. In cinemas now.
This weep-fest starring Drew Barrymore and Toni Collette is getting quite mixed reviews.
Based on a book by Morwenna Banks which I can only assume is similarly devastatingly sad, this film did get to me (TAKE TISSUES UNLESS YOU ARE MADE OF STONE) but ultimately I didn't like it that much.
Drew and Toni play besties (Jess and Milly respectively) at very different forks in the road of life. Jess and her FIFO partner are desperate to have a baby and Milly and her husband have two primary school age kids when she is struck by a breast cancer diagnosis.
No more details for fear of spoiling but this isn't Drew or Toni's best work.
I didn't hate it but I didn't like it much either so it's a 'don't rush out for this one' from me. Perhaps watch it on TV when it pops up in future if you're in need of a cathartic wail.
If you're interested in reading more, this is a pretty negative review and this is a pretty positive one. See, mixed!
Trailer here. In cinemas Thursday 8 October.
This Australian crime drama set in the 1970s is really great. I didn't know much about it before I saw it and having read some reviews subsequently, I think that's best. There's a significant plot twist in the film which some film critics have seen fit to spoil in their reviews. Honestly!
Sullivan Stapleton plays the lead character Pommie just brilliantly. He is terrifyingly creepy - a truly excellent performance.
My own experience of this film was interrupted by a poorly executed fire evacuation at Cinema Nova unfortunately. "This is not a drill" are words you just don't want to hear. Thankfully it wasn't a big nasty fire because let me tell you, many people would have been in strife if it was. "Evacuate" and "this is not a drill" does not mean get up out of your seat and mill about in the entrance to Lygon Court blocking access for fire fighters. No one seemed to be in charge or giving people any instructions. Epic fail, Cinema Nova.
Anyway, if you enjoyed Animal Kingdom and other films in that genre, I think you'll love this. It's pretty heavy going (lots of violence, for example) but very, very well done.
More on the story in this 3 star review in The Guardian.
Trailer here.
