Welcome to the Film Pie! Brisbane based film critic Matt Toomey has reviewed thousands of movies since 1996. See what's out now, or browse the review archive.

Mini Reviews

Anna Karenina (out now) is the latest adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s beloved 19th Century novel and is very good. It lacks a final emotive punch but is still a creative, fluid, fast-paced period piece (a rarity). It's been beautifully shot and the performances are terrific. The characters' eyes say so much. Grade: A-.

Safe Haven (out Feb 14) walks in the footsteps of other Nicholas Sparks adaptations and follows to troubled people who fall in love. I liked the pairing of Josh Duhamel and Julianne Hough and they share some nice screen time together. A shame the villain is such an over-the-top caricature. Oh, and don't get me started on the rubbish ending. Grade: C+.

West Of Memphis (out Feb 14) is a superbly told documentary that looks at 3 teenagers who were found guilty of a 1993 murder and spent 18 years in jail. The problem... was that they were innocent. The film isn't afraid to point a few fingers and some of the events will leave you stunned. Grade: A-.

Movie 43 (out now) isn't the worst film of all time (as described by some critics) but it's still pretty bad. The skits are dull, strange, tedious and the punch lines fall flat. How they coerced so many Hollywood stars to appear is a mystery to me. Grade: C-.

The Sweeney (out Feb 14) is a British cop drama with Ray Winstone in the leading role. The first hour is strong. It suggests the film will be grey, edgy, different. Sadly, the second half disappoints with a contrived finale and bunch of unrealistic shoot outs. Grade: B.

Lincoln (out Feb 7) is a tale as relevant today as it was 150 years ago. Reminding us that politics is the art of compromise and that we must sometimes lie in pursuit of a greater good, the film is headlined by a terrific performance from Daniel Day-Lewis. A little dry at times but still informative, eye-opening and rewarding. Grade: A-.

Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (out Feb 7) takes the famous fairy tale and turns it into a violent action flick. The idea has merit but the execution is poor. The story clearly wasn't a priority and Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton don't have much to do. They may as well have cast Jason Statham and Milla Jovovich. Grade: C.

Flight (out Jan 31) is hard to believe in places but it's still a compelling story about one man's struggles with alcoholism. The fact he's a heroic airline pilot adds an interesting layer of complication. It features a great central performance from Denzel Washington. A romantic subplot with Kelly Reilly didn't impress me as much. Grade: B+.

Zero Dark Thirty (out Jan 31) recounts the events that led to the capture of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. We all know this story ends but this is still gripping and action-packed. Jennifer Chastain is brilliant as a CIA agent who spends 10 years of her life trying to hunt him down. The film explores so much about life within the CIA and this is definitely one of the year's best. Grade: A.

Silver Linings Playbook (out Jan 31) is a romantic comedy that follows two characters battling mental illness. There’s so much to love about this film during its first two-thirds including the edgier material and the terrific performances of Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence. Unfortunately, it then changes tact with a safe, silly, unrealistic finale. Grade: B+.
The Impossible (out Jan 24) centres on a family holidaying in Thailand who are separated during the horrific Boxing Day tsunamis of 2004. The film packs an emotional punch, especially during the tsunami scenes, but it's a shame about the cheesy dialogue and "coincidences" in the finale. Grade: B.