Mini Reviews
Robot & Frank is set in the near future and is about an elderly man suffering from dementia who is given a robot by his son to help cook and the clean the house. The robot ends up being used for a rather different purpose and this warm-hearted comedy is boosted by a great central performance from Frank Langella. Grade: B+.
Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has To Travel (out Nov 22) is a documentary which covers the life of the long-time fashion editor for Harpers Bazaar. Her openness and passion for the craft will leave you impressed. Grade: B+.
Dead Europe (out now) has an interesting leading character but there are some odd parts to the film and it doesn't flow as well as it should. The story centres on an Australian photographer who travels to Greece to learn about his late father's past. Grade: B-.
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 (out Nov 15) is disappointing. The plot moves at a glacial pace and just when you think it's going somewhere... it doesn't. The characters emit almost no emotion and they speak as if they have a gun to their heads and are reading a ransom note. Fans will love (as expected) but I'm glad this series is over. Grade: C+.
Seven Psychopaths (out now) throws the textbook out the window and laughs at its own self. It about a group of idiots who kidnap dogs for living... but it's also mocks the predictable nature of Hollywood movies. I really, really enjoyed it. Grade: A-.
Alex Cross (out Nov 8) is rubbish. A group of cops try to stop a psycho killer guy and nothing really makes any sense. It contains more holes than a donut shop. Grade: C-.
Skyfall (out Nov 22) has a better first half than second but it's still a very good Bond film with well-timed humour and amazing action sequences (particularly the opening). The striking cinematography is what I loved most. The plot is a little thin but I liked the running theme of old versus new. Grade: A-.
The Sessions (out Nov 8) is a well-paced drama about a 38 y/o man who has been paralysed from the neck down since he was a child. He is introduced to a sex therapist who tries to provide him with his first real sexual experience. It skirts around a few issues but for the most part, it was an eye-opening drama with two nice performances from John Hawkes and Helen Hunt. Grade: B+.
Bachelorette (out now) is the female equivalent of The Hangover. The plot isn't as crazy but I enjoyed following these nutty, self-absorbed characters (particularly Lizzy Caplan) in the 24 hours in the lead up to a wedding. Grade: B+.
The Master (out Nov 8) is set in the 1950s and is an absorbing character study about an aimless WWII veteran (Joaquin Phoenix) and the leader of a growing cult (Philip Seymour Hoffman). The performances are sensational and combined with the beautiful cinematography and uneasy film score, this is another feather in the cap of writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson. Grade: A-.
Last Dance (out now) is set in Melbourne and is about a young Muslim man who takes refuge in the home of an elderly woman after being part of a terrorist attack. The film has been made with good intentions but unfortunately, the plot is too implausible to take seriously. Grade: C+.
