Knew nothing about this film when I walked in and quickly realised we would not get along.
Hand. Held. Camera.
I am a very light touch when it comes to motion sickness so this was a disaster for me. I really tried hard to stick it out FOR YOU GUYS. SEE WHAT I DO FOR YOU!?
But at the 50 minute mark, my stomach could take it no longer and I had to swiftly dash out the cinema. You can guess the rest, though I wouldn't recommend it.
The last time this happened to me was with the film Kenny. Urgh.
For what it's worth, the film is about three high school nerds, a cute sister and a hot popular girl from school who manage to invent a way to time travel. But (surprise!) they don't think through all the consequences of this. I wish I could tell you how that aspect of the film unfolds but I didn't return after my aforementioned exit. What I did get through I wasn't particularly impressed by, so if you're willing to take the word of someone who only got through 50 minutes of a movie, I'd say give this a miss.
Here's a two star review in the UK Telegraph for you if you want the full picture, more on the story etc. And trailer here.
This film is based on the international best-selling book 'Fifty Shades of Grey' by author E.L James. (Note that I haven't read the book so this is just a regular film blog to me.)
If you've been living under a rock you might not know that the book is famous for some pretty raunchy s&m sex between main characters Christian Grey (young rich 'business man') and Anastasia Steele (young innocent English Lit student).
In the film adaptation we have Jamie Dornan as Christian and Dakota Johnson as Anastasia. Anastasia meets Christian and he gradually tries to compel her get involved in his s&m world. Both give an ok performance in a film I found to be total rubbish.
Honestly, it was just tedious. Some of the dialogue, I gather taken directly from the book, just made me wonder how on earth it was so popular.
For example (FRUITY LANGUAGE WARNING):
Anastasia to Christian: "Are you going to make love to me now?"
Christian: "I don't make love, I fuck. Hard."
I actually heard someone in the cinema mutter "Oh please" at that bit.
OK that was me who muttered that.
The film is attracting some controversy as to whether it glamorizes domestic violence. Obviously that's not something that can be examined within the confines of my short 'cut to the chase' style, but if you do want to read more about that, try this article.
But quite apart from any of that, I think this is just a really ordinary film and I'd be disappointed if I'd paid $20 to see it. If you're looking for titillation it would be way too soft for you (it's not even R-rated, it's MA 15+) and if you're not into that you'd probably have no interest in the film anyway.
Fairfax film critic Phillipa Hawker didn't hate it as much as me, for the record. Here's her 3 star review if you're interested in that perspective and more on the story. The Today Show's Lisa Wilkinson hated it and gave it a big ol' serve on her show, which you can watch here.
Trailer here.
Imagine a friend is a gambling addict and you have to watch them dig themselves deeper and deeper into debt and crisis, making bad decision after bad decision. That would be pretty awful to watch, wouldn't it?
Welcome to The Gambler.
Mark Wahlberg is our gambler and I never really became invested in him and his plight, nor the mediocre mini love story in this.
All in all, it was just pretty *meh* and definitely not worth laying down a lobster (and then some) to see at the cinema.
The one thing I did enjoy though is John Goodman as one of the blokes owed money. I'd forgotten how great that guy is.
(Side note: thumbs down to any film maker who makes Mark Wahlberg look as unattractive as he does in this.)
Trailer here.
This is the story of famous theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking's life, based on a memoir by his ex-wife Jane. Hawking was diagnosed with motor neurone disease at the age of 21 and went on to defy expectation and make amazing discoveries in physics. (That's my layman's take on it but I'm not a a physicist so leave me alone, ok?!)
As you would imagine, the role of Hawking is challenging to play but actor Eddie Redmayne is amazing. He won the Best Actor Golden Globe and may well go on to win the Oscar also.
I personally found this film pleasant enough viewing but not amazing. Redmayne's performance aside, my friend I agreed that it was a bit dull. If the opportunity arises, sure, watch away, but I can't say I'd suggest rushing out for it. Especially during award season when the market is flooded with great films.
For more on the story, check out this three star review in The Telegraph (UK). Three stars sits about right with me - good but not great.
Trailer here.
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.
