Mini Reviews
Friends With Benefits (out Aug 18) is nothing new sadly. Two people who recently became friends decide to have a relationship based purely on sex. We all know where it's going. Mila Kunis is decent but I didn't think much of Justin Timberlake. The dialogue is also over-thought - it doesn't feel natural. Grade: B-.
Win Win (out Aug 18) is exactly that. It's about a struggling lawyer who welcomes a troubled teenager into his family for complex reasons. The ending is too forced and there are a few unnecessary characters but I still loved this film. The story is terrific and Paul Giamatti again proves there's no one better who can play an "ordinary guy". Grade: A-.
Green Lantern (out now) is yet another superhero film and is best described as a mixed bag. I was fine with Ryan Reynolds and didn't mind the overall premise. The execution of key scenes left a lot to be desired however. Grade: B-.
Cowboys & Aliens (out Aug 18) is mildly suspenseful in parts but if you're going to mix the western and sci-fi genres, you need to have a lot more fun with it! There are simply not enough good one-liners. The overall storyline also needed work. Grade: C+.
Jane Eyre (out Aug 11) is a story that's been told many times before but I still loved this fresh adaptation. Aussie Mia Wasikowska (Alice In Wonderland) is amazing in the leading role. You will feel much empathy for her character and the way her closely-guarded heart has been tortured by a wealthy suitor. Grade: A-.
Senna (out Aug 11) is film you must see before finalising any "best of" lists for 2011. It's a well-crafted documentary that has the look and feel of a drama. It goes beyond what you might expect and provides an intimate account of Formula One racing driver Ayrton Senna and his motivations to succeed. The never-before-seen footage is amazing. Grade: A.
Love Crime (out now) is a French film about the vicious power struggles between two women trying to get ahead in a major company. It starts slow, picks up in the middle stages but finishes poorly. A little too clever for its own good. The business scenes are laughably bad. Grade: B-.
The Beaver (out Aug 4) is about a man (Mel Gibson) battling depression who starts walking around with a hand puppet to help him communicate. I was disappointed by this film. It doesn't dig anywhere near enough into its complex characters and we're left with a shallow, over-simplified drama. Grade: C+.
Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes (out Aug 4) is rubbish. They spend 90 minutes setting up the story and yet still do a bad job of it. Characters' motivations are never explained and certain storylines go nowhere. I tried to stay with it but the film completely lost me when they started using subtitles so we could understand the apes communicating. Bahahaha. Grade: C.
Red Dog (out Aug 4) is an Australian film that centres on a kelpie who roamed the rocky landscape of the Pilbara region during the 1970s. The comedic parts early in the film are a little cheesy but it builds into heartfelt drama that will tug at the heartstrings of many in the audience. Grade: B+.
Of Gods And Men (out now) is a well acted but slightly tedious drama about a group of monks who find their monastery threatened by terrorists. Will they flee or will they stay? Grade: B+.
