Mini Reviews
Gomorrah (out May 14) is an Italian mobster film which exposes the real-life activities of the Camorrah - a long running crime organisation based in Naples. It's gritty and it's confronting. There's also a substantial body count. Grade: A-.
Observe & Report (out May 14) is a much darker comedy than you might expect. It stars Seth Rogen as a mall security guard who is trying to prove himself to a girl (Anna Faris) by apprehending a serial "flasher". Seth's character is one messed up guy and he makes you feel uncomfortable in some scenes. Bold, but not for everyone. Grade: B+.
Prey (out now) is the worst film of the year so far and one of the worst Australian films I have ever seen. It's a horror film starring Natalie Bassingthwaighte. I saw it Saturday night at 9pm at the Palace Barracks. I was the only poor soul in the cinema. How the hell did this ever get a cinema release? It doesn't even deserve to be seen on DVD. Grade: C-.
Samson & Delilah (out now) has been hailed by many critics as the best Australian film in years. I can now agree. It's a subtle, beautifully told love story about two troubled Aboriginal teenagers living in remote Australia. Let's hope it is well received at the Cannes Film Festival in a few weeks. Grade: A.
Synecdoche, New York (out now) is about a depressed theatre director (Philip Seymour Hoffman) trying to create a life defining play. Charlie Kaufman is my favourite screenwriter (Being John Malkovich, Adaptation, Eternal Sunshine) but this is a little too "out there" and confusing for my liking. Grade: B.
State Of Play (out May 28) is a twisting thriller about a journalist (Russell Crowe) trying to dig up dirt on a possible corporate conspiracy. The dialogue is sharp and it explores some topical issues regarding journalistic integrity. Where’s the line between being a journalist and being a cop? This is my kind of movie. Grade: A-.
Ghosts Of Girlfriends Past (out May 7) is a manipulative romantic comedy about a womanising guy who is visited by the ghost of his late uncle and is told to change his ways. Jennifer Garner is nice but that's about it. Can I ask - why is Matthew McConaughey's character portrayed so badly when the bridesmaids are just as slutty? Grade: C+.
My Year Without Sex (out May 28) is a new Australian film from Sarah Watt, the director of Look Both Ways (one of my top 10 films of 2005). It's about a family's ups and downs over the course of an eventful year. I think it's a great film filled with real characters and storylines. Grade: A-.
Tenderness (out now) stars Russell Crowe and Jon Foster and is one of the worst films of the year. It's about a semi-retired cop who is following an 18 year old boy who he thinks will kill someone. None of it really makes any sense and the characters are as boring as a phone book. Avoid!!! Grade: C.
Paris 36 (out now) is a touching flick set in 1930s Paris about a group of performers trying to keep their beloved theatre alive. There's music, murder and romance. Some nice moments and a fitting ending. Grade: A-.
The Baader Meinhof Complex (out May 7) is a two and a half hour German film which centres around a terrorist organisation reeking havoc in the 1960s and 70s. It's an interesting piece of history but I wasn't a fan of this movie. I had trouble discerning their motives and there were too many characters. Grade: B-.
