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

Mini Review - Waiting For Superman

Waiting For Superman (out Mar 24) is a documentary from Davis Guggenheim (An Inconvenient Truth) which shines the spotlight on the many flaws within the U.S. education system. I wished it had of focused more on superintendent Michelle Rhee and her fight against the unions (as opposed to the lottery stuff) but this is still persuasive and will generate debate. Grade: B+.

Mini Review - Limitless

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.

Mini Review - World Invasion: Battle LA

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.

Mini Review - The Reef

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+.

Mini Review - A Heartbeat Away

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-.

Mini Review - Kiss Me Again

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+.

Mini Review - The Company Men

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.

Mini Review - The Rite

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.

Mini Review - Rango

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+.

Mini Review - The Adjustment Bureau

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-.

Mini Review - Hall Pass

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-.
  1. Mini Review - Wasted On The Young
  2. Mini Review - The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest
  3. Mini Review - The Way Back
  4. Mini Review - Conviction