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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 14 April 2013

Unsure of what he wants to do with his life, 17-year-old Joseph (Sitruk) is preparing to join the Israeli army and commence his national service. An odd detail stands out during his medical examination. Joseph is of the blood type A+. His two parents are of the blood type A-. Such a statistic is genetically impossible.

His mother (Devos) starts asking questions and it leads to a shocking revelation. Joseph is not her son. On the night that he was born, the hospital was bombed and all patients were hurriedly evacuated into an underground shelter. Amidst the confusion, her child was inadvertently switched with another, born at the same time.

I don’t know if there’s an appropriate way of describing the emotion that comes with such a situation. Perhaps the best thing to do is picture yourself in their shoes. How would you react if you discovered that your 17-year-old child was nor your own? Would you tell him? What about your biological son? Would you want to track him down? Would you want to take an active interest in his life?

Joseph’s parents decide to reveal the truth to their son. They also learn that their “other son” lives across the fortified border in neighbouring Palestine. His name is Yacine (Dehbi) and he has been raised by a Muslim family.

All of the above details are covered quickly during the opening 20 minutes of The Other Son. It’s a wise move by writer-director Lorraine Levy as it allows the rest of the film to explore something far more interesting – the connection that grows between the two families and also between Joseph and Yacine. Despite the horrifying nature of the mistake that happened 17 years ago, it’s possible that this story could have a happy ending.

The setting deliberate and it’s obvious that the film is making a point about the conflict that currently exists between Israel and Palestine. Joseph has been raised as a Jew and as Israeli. He strongly believes in his religion (he’s one of his synagogues best pupils) and defends his country’s stance in the conflict. When he learns that he should have been raised as a Muslim and a Palestinian, it leaves him questioning his long-held views and values. Which side of the fence should he be on? Should there even be a fence at all?

Critics of The Other Son have targeted the simplistic view it seems to take of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While I admit the film doesn’t explore the history and the politics, I don’t think it needed to. At its heart, this tale shows that a tragic event can bring very different people together in unexpected ways. It could have been set in any country. What’s most important is that it feels real, honest.

Featuring four different languages – English, French, Hebrew and Arabic, The Other Son is an interesting, life-affirming story that I highly recommend.

Details

Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 03 April 2013

Sandy Patterson (Bateman) sits down at his home computer and proudly proclaims to his wife (Peet) that he’s balanced the household budget. All the bills have been paid for the month and there’s $14 left over. It’s a nerdish comment but that’s the kind of guy Sandy is. He’s a content accountant who works for an investment company and pulls in about $50,000 a year. He’d like to make more but it’s a tough economic environment.

Sandy’s safe, monotonous life is about to be upturned in an unexpected fashion. His identity is stolen by a woman (McCarthy) living on the other side of the country. She creates a fake credit card in his name and racks up a huge credit card bill. She also gets involved with a crime syndicate and ends up being arrested for punching a police officer. After skipping bail, the cops turn up at the real Sandy’s doorstep with an arrest warrant. Suffice to say he doesn’t know what the hell is going on.

It couldn’t come at a worse time for Sandy. A new job opportunity has arisen with a huge pay increase… but his potential employer is concerned as a result of these recent events. The cops don’t seem to be doing much and so it’s up to Sandy to track down this mysterious woman and clear his name. The plan is to travel to Florida, drag her back to Denver and present her to the police.

Finding her proves to be the easy part. Taking her into custody will be much more difficult. This is a woman who is an expert in deception and manipulation. Complicating the situation is the fact that others are looking to get their hands on her – two goons working for a disgruntled mobster in jail, and a bounty hunter hoping to collect $50,000. It all adds up to a wild adventure across the country.

This film has been savaged by many critics in the United States but I honestly think it’s not too bad. Jason Bateman does what he does best – playing the “straight” guy who tries to act normal when everyone around him is insane. Melissa McCarthy has fun in her role. It’s as if she’s been tasked with creating the most annoying person alive… and she does a pretty good job.

There are some humorous scenes and a few surprising plot developments along the way. Further, there’s a darker undercurrent to the story which first reveals itself in a scene involving the female Sandy in a car outside a motel room. There’s also some risky, politically incorrect material that makes reference to McCarthy and her character’s overweight figure.

While it held my attention for the most part, writers Craig Mazin and Jerry Eeten have struggled to come up with a decent ending. There’s a moment when the two Sandys sit down to have dinner in a nice restaurant and it all slides downhill from there. The film’s darker elements are brushed aside and we’re left with a zany, feel-good finale.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 10 April 2013

Some will want to see this because they’re a fan the science fiction genre. Others will want to see it because they’re part of a shrinking collective who like Tom Cruise. I don’t fall into either of those categories, however. Oblivion excited me as it marked the follow up feature from director Joseph Kosinski. This is the guy who brought us Tron: Legacy in 2010 – a film that created a cool, futuristic world and filled it with striking visuals, booming sound effects and a memorable music score.

It would appear those features are part of Kosinski’s signature, at least for the moment. I can use the same descriptors when talking about Oblivion. The story is set in the year 2073 where the Earth has been all but destroyed after a war with an alien race. The aliens were defeated but the planet is now uninhabitable due to the effects of nuclear weapons. A tiny portion of the population survived and they’ve been transported to Titan, Saturn’s largest moon, to try to forge a new existence.

This isn’t like apocalyptic films such as Deep Impact, Armageddon or The Day After Tomorrow. Those films are more about emotion. We follow a bunch of characters and we hope that they’re going to make it to the end of the movie and wrap their arms around their loved ones. Oh, and it’d be also nice if the Earth still exists.

There is a small, not-so-convincing emotional element to Oblivion but this is a film to be enjoyed more for its mystery and intrigue. As it begins, we discover that Tom Cruise plays Jack – a mechanic who is one of Earth’s last remaining residents. He and his partner (Riseborough) live in a space-ship like house that can be found high above the clouds.

They’ve been tasked with the responsibility of protecting a number of large machines which are extracting water from the Earth’s oceans and converting it into energy. It’s taken many years but their work is almost done. In two weeks, they’ll join the other human survivors on Titan and the energy will be used for the benefit of the new colony.

Things aren’t that simple, however. There’s a sudden flurry of activity on the Earth’s surface that Jack is struggling to explain. Why are the machines being attacked? Did a few aliens manage so survive? Jack has also been having strange dreams. He sees himself standing atop the Empire State Building in the company of a young woman (Kurylenko). What do they signify?

It might take you a little while to get your head around the ending (there was some confusion at my preview screening) but Oblivion will hold your attention for the full two hours. It kept me guessing and for that, I am grateful.

Details

Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 02 April 2013

I’ve stood on a stage in front of a thousand people and delivered a speech. No problems. I do live radio every week on Brisbane’s highest rated breakfast program. No problems. Could I stand on a stage in front of 50 people and try to be a stand-up comedian? Hell no! I can’t think of many things more terrifying. Even if you fed me the jokes, I’d struggle to deliver them. Humour is not my strong suit.

Sleepwalk With Me is a very personal film for Mike Birbiglia. That’s not just because he’s the director, writer and lead actor. It’s also because the story is semi-autobiographical. He first told it as part of an off-Broadway play in New York City in 2008 and now, it has been brought to the big screen with the help of Ira Glass, the host and producer of the popular radio program This American Life.

When we first meet his character in the film, known as Matt instead of Mike, my first reaction was to cringe. It’s like he’s borrowed from the works of Woody Allen and created a neurotic, irritating fool who narrates and over-analyses every part of his life. Perhaps that’s what the real Mike is like. He’s been with his girlfriend, Abby (Ambrose), for more than 8 years and he’s tired of fielding questions about when they’re going to get married.

So why hasn’t he popped the question? Well, Matt is waiting until he gets his life in order first. He’s sick of working late nights behind a bar for a minimum wage. He’d much prefer regular, high-paying gigs where he can showcase his stand-up comedy routine. Perhaps he could even be fortune to get his own television sitcom in the same vein as Jerry Seinfeld.

Once you see Matt’s attempts at comedy, you’ll realise such goals are not dreams… but delusions. He’s utterly hopeless. A small piece of advice will steer him in the right direction though. After talking to a fellow comedian about his up-and-down relationship and a recurring sleepwalking problem he has at home, Matt incorporates this material into his act. Suddenly, he’s getting laughs. Suddenly, he’s getting paid.

It takes a while to find its feet but Sleepwalk With Me develops into an interesting film about an interesting person. You’ll be curious to know how Matt deals with his new comedic success and what effect it has on his relationship with his long-time girlfriend and his close family. It also offers a nice insight into the world of a struggling stand-up comedian. For every Robin Williams, Chris Rock or Louis C.K., there are a thousand others driving 50 miles for a gig that will barely cover the cost of their petrol.

Shot on a small budget, the film premiered at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival and has been popping up, to generally good reviews, at other film festivals across the United States. Mike Birbiglia has been in Australia for the Sydney and Melbourne Comedy Festivals (proof that his story does have a happy ending) and it’s allowed his film to get a small release in this country. If you’re interested in the subject matter, you’ll have to make sure you find time to see it.

Details

Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 07 April 2013

It premiered at the 2011 Toronto Film Festival. I first saw it last June at the 2012 Sydney Film Festival. Now, almost two years after it was completed, First Position is finally getting a cinematic release, albeit a limited one, here in Australia.

My first reaction – thank goodness! I’ve mentioned this film to many people since I saw it in Sydney and I was worried that others wouldn’t get the same chance. I’m a huge supporter of the documentary genre and if this film doesn’t put a smile on your face, you are too hard to please.

There is a coveted ballet competition held each year in New York City known as the Youth America Grand Prix. It is open to those aged between 8 and 19 and performers qualify for the finals through a series of heats that are held around the world. Younger dancers are looking to win trophies. Older dancers are looking to win scholarships into prestigious ballet schools. The stakes are extremely high.

Using this as the subject for her first feature film, Bess Kargman has followed a group of very different dancers in the lead up to the 2010 competition. They’re all ridiculously talented. There’s no question about that. They practice for hours every day and put their bodies under immense stress.

This film is about more than just great dancing, however. For starters, it highlights the value of passion, hard work and dedication. These kids have sacrificed so much in pursuit of their dreams. Joan Sebastian is a 16-year-old who left his family in Colombia and moved to the hustle and bustle of New York City to pursue his career as a dancer. There’s a heartfelt scene where he telephones his parents, who he hasn’t seen in more than a year, and opens up about how much he misses them.

There’s also the story of Michaela – a 15-year-old who was born in war-torn Sierra Leone. Her father was murdered, her mother died of starvation and at the age 4, Michaela was fortunate to be adopted by an American family in New Jersey. She now has lofty ambitions – to become a successful ballet dancer and to one day return to Sierra Leone to start her own dancing school.

There’s a reason that my eyes were a little moist during the film’s closing moments. This is a documentary that makes you care about these people. You understand who they are and you want them to find happiness. The final half hour, where they compete in the New York City finals, will leave you enthralled. You see every emotion – from the nervousness in the dressing room to the sheer euphoria as they complete their performance and soak in the audience’s applause. It’s all on display and Kargman captures it through the camera lens.

You’re likely to feel a little nervous yourself as you watch the presentation ceremony. Which dancers will earn prizes? Which dancers will earn scholarships and contracts? You’ll see not just the shock of those on stage but also the split-second reactions of the coaches and family members in the audience. It’s so beautiful to watch.

A documentary on ballet dancing could have targeted the negative elements associated with the industry – pushy parents, overbearing coaches, dodgy judges, boys being teased at school and kids losing their childhood. These elements are touched on within First Position but they’re not the focus, nor should they be. This film is intended to be a celebration of dance and a look at how hard one must work to succeed.