Mini Reviews
Limitless (out now) is about a guy who starts taking a special tablet that gives him access to 100% of his brain (as opposed to just 10%). Every part of his life improves dramatically but how long can he keep his special abilities a secret? This is an interesting premise and whilst a little more could have been made of the idea, it still held my attention. Ending a disappointment. Grade: B.
World Invasion: Battle LA (out Mar 17) is your standard alien invasion movie. The special effects artists have earned their cheque but I can't say the same for the writer. The characters are boring. You won't care for them at all. Aaron Eckhart is great in comedy (Thank You For Smoking) and great in drama (Rabbit Hole) but he cannot carry a sci-fi action flick. Grade: C.
The Reef (out Mar 17) is a low-budget Aussie thriller about a small group who find themselves stranded in the middle of the ocean after their boat capsizes. Do they stay and wait for help or should they try to swim for land? It's an interesting premise but this doesn't generate much tension. Grade: C+.
A Heartbeat Away (out Mar 17) was awful. It's like watching the pilot for a cheesy Aussie sitcom from the 90s that no TV network wanted to buy. I do feel bad when I slag Aussie films. It's like telling your best friend that they have bad BO. Hard to say but you have to do it for the greater good. Grade: C-.
Kiss Me Again (out now) is a well woven Italian drama which follows a group of people and their troubled relationships. It's a touch long but I think it does a nice job illustrating both the beauty and tragedy of love. Grade: B+.
The Company Men (out now) is about three guys who find their jobs in jeopardy in the wake of the global depression. It's a worthy topic to explore (showing the effect on them, their family) but this film doesn't dig deep enough. I didn't feel much sympathy for these guys. Grade: B.
The Rite (out Mar 10) is a snooze-fest about a doubting priest who heads off to "exorcism school" in Rome. Lo and behold, he sees crazy stuff and becomes a believer. We've seen this story too many times before. This offers nothing new. The characters are boring, the subplots go nowhere and there are no scary moments. Grade: C.
Rango (out Mar 10) is about an anxious chameleon who gets caught up in a crazy adventure. The film attempts to distinguish itself but providing material for both children and adults. Other critics have been positive but I didn't like it. The story isn't told clearly enough, there aren't enough laughs for kids, and the characters themselves are hard to love. Grade: C+.
The Adjustment Bureau (out Mar 3) is an interesting concept but I wasn't sold on the execution. You'll be curious to know how it ends but it just doesn't generate enough suspense. Instead of losing myself in the story (as some will), I kept focusing on the flaws within this strange world. Grade: B-.
Hall Pass (out Mar 3) is batshit crazy. It's just so random. It revolves around two guys given a week's leave by their wives so they can sleep with whoever they want. There are breasts, penises and feces. If you're looking for shock value, there are more than a few laughs. The problem is that the story doesn't hold up well and the characters are hard to like. Grade: B-.
Wasted On The Young (out Mar 3) is an Australian film revolving around a high school party that goes horribly wrong. A girl is raped and differing versions of events are being spread through text messaging and social network sites. I'm not convinced there's a clear message and the ending is a bit silly. I still liked it however. It's stylishly shot and a features a decent storyline. Grade: B+.
