Mini Reviews
End Of Watch (out Nov 1) centres on two police officers and follows their escapades. At times, the cameras are held by characters or attached to cars. At other times, the cameras are held by external parties. I'm not sold on this visual technique and the story is nothing new... but the film is still worth a look. It's a honest look at what can be a challenging profession. Grade: B.
Housos Vs Authority (out Nov 1) is a movie spin off of the SBS TV show. I can't remember seeing a film with more F-bombs. Fans of the TV series (whoever you are) can check it out but everyone else can steer clear. Watching the two-minute trailer is bad enough. Grade: C-.
Dredd (out now) has style and some nicely choreographed action sequences that are heavy on violence. Not a huge fan of the characters though and I think The Raid (a similar Indonesian film released earlier this year) offered more in terms of fun and entertainment. Grade: B-.
Frankenweenie (out Oct 25) is unique in the sense that it's a black & white, stop-motion, children's horror film. It's a kind of a good idea but only feels like a half a movie. The story is strange and unfulfilling. The jokes are few and far between. Grade: B-.
The Intouchables (out Oct 25) is a little goofy to start but develops into something that is both joyous and affecting. It's the story of a wealthy paraplegic who employs a poor, self-centred guy to be his new live-in carer. This French film has been hugely popular with audiences around the globe and it's not hard to see why. A great crowd pleaser. Grade: A-.
Paranormal Activity 4 (out now) is simply not good enough. You can't keep making the same movie over and over. There are even fewer thrills this time. It's more drawn out than an episode of The Bold & The Beautiful. I'm happy for the series to continue... but can something at least happen next time! Grade: C.
Argo (out Oct 25) and is based on the true story of how the CIA helped rescue 6 American diplomats trapped in Iran during the 1979 Iranian Revolution. The use of dramatic licence in the finale is too obvious but aside, Argo is a solid dramatic thriller that is informative, entertaining and gripping. Bryan Cranston and Alan Arkin the pick of the performances. Grade: A-.
Savages (out Oct 18) is a tale about two guys who run a successful marijuana business in LA but find themselves up against a Mexican cartel who want a piece of their turf. It's slow to start, features a strong middle section but is ruined by a dumb ending. Grade: B-.
To Rome With Love (out Oct 18) made me feel sad. Woody Allen is one of my favourite filmmakers (especially given last year's Midnight In Paris) but this mix of romantic stories set in Rome is a complete mess. The characters aren't funny and the blend of fantasy and reality does not work. Grade: C+.
Safety Not Guaranteed (out Oct 18) follows a group of journalists who go in search of the person who wrote an advertisement in a newspaper promising time travel. The film doesn't quite have enough material to go the full 90 minutes but for the most part, this is an entertaining, off-beat comedy. It will keep you smiling and keep you guessing. Grade: B+.
Killing Them Softly (out now) is the story of a hit man chasing three guys who orchestrated the heist of a mob-run poker game. I admire the style and craftsmanship of director Andrew Dominik (Chopper) but I have to admit that I didn't find the characters all that interesting. Grade: B.
