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 - Couples Retreat

Couples Retreat (out Oct 8) is a "comedy" about two shmucks who con six selfish, narcistic friends into going on a week-long therapy session disguised as a holiday. The world is an interesting place. There are so many different types of people. There are those who enjoy movies like this. And there are people like me. Grade: C.

Mini Review - Whip It

Whip It (out now) caught me off guard. It's a terrific film about a 17-year-old girl (Ellen Page from Juno) who is looking to express herself... and finds a way on the roller derby rink. The cast had fun making it and I had fun watching it. Who'd have thought Drew Barrymore could direct a movie? Grade: A.

Mini Review - Julie & Julia

Julie & Julia (out Oct 8) tells two stories concurrently. The first is of Julia Child attempting to write a French cookbook. The second is of Julie Powell trying to cook up 524 recipes in 365 days. I like the idea of telling these two related stories together but felt the film was a fact-telling exercise in many places - lacking in emotion and character development. Grade: B-.

Mini Review - Mao's Last Dancer

Mao's Last Dancer (out now) brings to the screen the true story of Li Cunxin - a talented Chinese dancer who defected from his home country and started a new life in the United States. I liked the way it ended but there's not enough tension or excitement in the lead up. Ho hum. Grade: B-.

Mini Review - G-Force

G-Force (out now) is just dumb. Grade: C.

Mini Review - Moon

Moon (out Oct 8) is peculiar film about a man (Sam Rockwell) who has spent three years living alone on a space station and is preparing to return home.  The isolation has left him a little messed up but there's more to this story than meets the eye.  I think it's a bold movie which will develop a cult-like following but I admit to finding it predictable.  Grade: B.

Mini Review - Che

Che (out Oct 1) tells the story of Che Guevara and his successful revolution in Cuba in the 1950s and his unsuccessful revolution in Bolivia in the 1960s. It is being released in two parts so make sure you've got 4 hours free if you want to watch them both. Benecio Del Toro is terrific but I think the film gets bogged down with minor details. Grade: B+.

Mini Review - Seraphine

Seraphine (out now) opened my eyes to the life of French painter Seraphine de Senlis. She's an interesting character and it's a great performance from Yolande Moreau. Sadly, the film is too long and a little repetitive in places. Grade: B-.

Mini Review - Van Diemen's Land

Van Diemen's Land (out now) is an unmarketable film set in the early 19th Century about a group of eight convicts who flee from the authorities and hide in the Australian wilderness. What happens when they run out of food? The cinematography was nice but didn't think too much about the story. Grade: B-.

Mini Review - Shorts

Shorts (out now) is a cool kids film about a magic rock which can grant wishes. It's from Robert Rodriguez, director of the Spy Kids trilogy. If I was a young'un, I'd lap this up. Grade: B+.

Mini Review - Fame

Fame (out now) did not make me want to live forever. It did not make me want to learn how to fly... high! Zero character development. Grade: C.
  1. Mini Review - Surrogates
  2. Mini Review - $9.99
  3. Mini Review - Valentino: The Last Emperor
  4. Mini Review - Looking For Eric