Mini Reviews
Drag Me To Hell (out Jul 23) is the best horror film I've seen in some time. It's about a bank loan officer who is left with a nasty curse after rejecting a mortgage extension application by a hideous old woman. I've gotta try that with my own bank. Anyway, this film has moments to make you jump, squirm and laugh. Great entertainment. Grade: A-.
My Friends My Love (out now) is a strange French comedy (I think it was a comedy) about two divorced guys who move into together with their children. It's a quirky "odd couple" type storyline that has a few unexpected laughs but nothing too profound. Grade: B.
The Escapist (out now) tries to be stylish but it's not as good as I'd hoped. Starring the underrated Brian Cox, it's just a ho-hum prison break movie that is a little too hard to believe. Grade: B-.
Lucky Country (out now) is a heavy Australian drama set in the year 1902. A 12 year old boy is watching his family fall apart. His mother died a month ago, his father is struggling to make ends meet, and his older sister is looking to leave home. The arrival of three strangers to their remote home will change everything. It's pretty grim but the story is strong and the cinematography is excellent. Grade: B+.
Harry Potter & The Half-Blood Prince (out now) is disappointing. The two and a half hours flew fairly quickly but there's a noticeable lack of action, a lack of suspense. Some sub-plots are woefully underdeveloped and too much emphasis is placed on the romantic elements of JK Rowling's novel. The worst in the series to date. Why are they letting David Yates direct the last two films??? Grade: B-.
Winged Creatures (out now) is about the different ways in which we deal with grief. A man walks into a diner and kills two people. Those who witnessed the atrocity struggle to make sense of it all. This ensemble piece of Australian director Rowan Woods (The Boys) stars Guy Pearce, Forrest Whitaker and Kate Beckinsale. Not brilliant but it held my attention. Grade: B+.
The Burning Season (out now) is a great documentary which looks at the burning of forests in Indonesia and what one Australian is doing to try to stop it. It was an eye-opener for me in terms how difficult it is to reach a universal consensus on fighting global warming and also on what is involved in a carbon emissions trading scheme. Grade: A-.
The Merchant Of Venice (out now) wasn't Shakespeare's best play and this isn't his best adaptation. The film was made in 2004 and is only now getting an Australian release. Why? Grade: B-.
Public Enemies (out Jul 30) is a terrific new film from Michael Mann. Set in the 1930s, it focuses not just on John Dillinger's famous bank robberies but also on the methods used by the police to hunt him and his cronies down. There are some great shoot-outs (with archaic rifles) and strong performances, particularly from Christian Bale and Marion Cotillard. Johnny Depp was not quite as good. Grade: A-.
My Life In Ruins (out Jul 16) did not appeal to me at all but it's a semi-decent feel good flick that will please many filmgoers. Its the story of an American tour guide (Nia Vardalos from My Big Fat Greek Wedding) and her latest trip around Greece with a bunch of misfits. Yes, it's predictable but it is only meant to be fun. It brought back memories of my own Contiki Tour across Europe in 2004. Grade: B.
The Fox & The Child (out Jul 9) is a beautifully shot film from Luc Jacquet, director of March Of The Penguins. It's the tale of a 10 year old girl (the only human in the entire film) and her year-long friendship with a curious fox who lives in the woods beside her home. The story isn't too deep but it's nice to see a family orientated film that has some originality. Grade: B+.
