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 - 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.

Mini Review - Surrogates

Surrogates (out now) is set in a futuristic world where people lock themselves up in their homes and use "surrogate" robots to live their lives for them.  Things go awry when someone invents a weapon that can kill both the surrogate and the owner in one hit.  This Bruce Willis thriller tries to be tricky but the ending was flat.  Grade: B-.

Mini Review - $9.99

$9.99 (out now) is an awful title for a movie. Can't see it having huge box-office appeal. It's a stop-motion animated flick about a group of people living in a Sydney apartment who are trying to find meaning in their lives. I didn't find it very insightful and the style of the movie (including the ugly looking clay characters) didn't win me over either. Grade: C+.

Mini Review - Valentino: The Last Emperor

Valentino: The Last Emperor (out now) is a touching documentary about the iconic fashion designer and the lead up to his 45th anniversary show. You'll chuckle at his prima-donna antics but I loved him for his passion, his desire to create art in an increasingly commercial world. One of the best docos of the year. Grade: A-.
  1. Mini Review - Looking For Eric
  2. Mini Review - Anvil: The Story Of Anvil
  3. Mini Review - Sorority Row
  4. Mini Review - Imagine That