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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 23 February 2011

It’s hard to imagine anything worse than being locked up for a crime you didn’t commit.  That’s the fate that befell Kenny Waters (Rockwell) in 1983.  He was convicted of murdering Katharina Brow, his next door neighbour at the time.

His younger sister, Betty Anne (Swank), was convinced of his innocence.  With little cash and all appeal avenues exhausted, she set her an incredible challenge – to get her high school diploma and then ultimately a law degree.  She would then be able to represent her brother and go in search of evidence to clear his name.

It’s was a big sacrifice.  Betty Anne had given up almost everything in her own life to try to save that of her brother’s.  Her marriage fell apart and her relationship with her two sons wasn’t ideal.  It took more than a decade but she got there – passing the bar examination and graduating from Roger Williams University.

In the time that had passed since Kenny was incarcerated, significant advancements had been made with DNA testing.  Betty Anne had heard of a group known as the Innocence Project who helped obtain DNA evidence to overturn incorrect convictions.  It seemed like the answer to her prayers but in fact, it created a new problem.  The evidence, including blood samples from the scene of the crime, had been destroyed several years ago.

This is a fascinating story which has been told in a not-so-fascinating manner.  The first half of the film is a mess.  There are flashbacks going everywhere.  You don’t get a sense for these characters at all.  They include scenes from when Betty Anne and Kenny were kids to try to show the “bond” between them.  They’re unnecessary.  The original trial and the subsequent appeals are also glossed over.  We never really understand how Kenny was easily convicted and what underhanded tactics were used by the prosecutors.

Things improve in the second half as we build towards the conclusion (which some may already know).  Hilary Swank’s strong performance will have you cheering for her until the end.  I still can’t recommend the film however.  My suggestion is to give it a miss and instead, spend a half-hour on the internet reading about Betty Anne Waters and her amazing journey.  You’ll take a lot more away than watching what feels like an extended episode of Law & Order.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 12 February 2011

Big time, I’m on my way I’m making it, big time, oh yes

Big time, I’ve got to make it show yeah, big time

Big time, so much larger than life

Big time, I’m gonna watch it growing, big time

  - Peter Gabriel (Big Time)

Inside Job is one of the most impressive documentaries that I’ve seen in recent years.  I realised this from the opening credits.  It’s a beautiful helicopter flyover of New York City to the tune of Peter Gabriel’s Big Time.  This extended sequence has been interlaced with images of those we’ll hear from during the film.  There are a lot of people who want to go on the record and offer their “two cents” about the recent global financial crisis.

Like any documentary filmmaker, Charles Ferguson has a point to make.  For several decades after World War II, the United States had a strong, robust banking sector.  It was tightly regulated.  Banks had to meet strict investment and liquidity guidelines to minimise their exposure.

That changed in the early 1980s as the U.S. began the gradual deregulation of the banking industry.  It allowed for the creation of riskier, unregulated investments such as derivatives.  We also saw banks lending money to just about anyone.  They didn’t care if you couldn’t repay.  Staff just wanted their short term bonuses.

It all came to an abrupt halt in September 2008 following the demise of Lehman Brothers, the fourth largest investment bank in the United States.  A number of other banks were also close to bankruptcy.  With the world’s biggest economy on the verge of collapse, the government announced a $700 billion bailout package.  To put that into perspective, that’s about $2,300 for every living person in the United States.

When making a movie like this, the tricky part is working out how to sell the message.  How can you encapsulate the crisis into two hours?  How can you explain complex financial instruments to an ordinary person?  How can you illustrate the insatiable greed that exists within the industry?

Charles Ferguson has found a way to do it.  He speaks with everyone from the Prime Minister of Singapore to a highly paid escort.  He has taken these interviews and woven them into a compelling narrative – starting the story back in the 1980s and quickly working his way through to the current day.  The film has a great deal more content than Michael Moore’s attempt at the same subject matter, Capitalism: A Love Story (which was still decent).

Ferguson also does a good job of avoiding the “politics” associated with the topic.  He isn’t pointing the finger at any particular President or political party.  They all played a part in this mess and the current President, Barrack Obama, is no exception.  There has been little change to banking regulation since 2008 and some of Obama’s key staff appointments will leave you scratching your head.

A good friend summed up Inside Job best when he called it “the comedy of the year”.  It’s true.  You’ll be laughing at politicians, lobbyists, educators and highly paid financial executives.  How did they manage to get away with some of this stuff for so long?  How are some still getting away with it?

Nominated for best documentary at the upcoming Academy Awards and smartly narrated by Matt Damon, Inside Job is great cinema.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 20 February 2011

Based on the novel by James Frey and Jobie Hughes, I Am Number Four revolves around a group of aliens who have found their way to our planet.  There are two types – the nice aliens are the Loriens and the nasty aliens are the Mogadorians.  They display numerous human characteristics which makes it easy for them to blend into society.

They haven’t come to earth to attack us.  Rather, they’re attacking each other.  The Loriens’ planet was all but destroyed by the Mogadorians and only a small number managed to escape before it was too late.  Those Loriens are now laying low so that they can regroup and rebuild their species.  The Mogadorians have other plans.

15-year-old John Smith (Pettyfer) is one of the Loriens who managed to escape.  His special powers are developing and he is closely watched over by a guardian, Henri (Olyphant).  John wants to live a normal life – going to school, having friends – but he can’t given the circumstances.  He and Henri and forced to move from town to town, trying to remain inconspicuous and avoiding the watchful eye of the Mogadorians.

It all comes to a head in the small town of Paradise, Ohio.  John falls in love with a girl (Agron) and decides it’s time to stop running.  He now has both the ability and maturity to take up the battle against the Mogadorians.  A few new friends will be valuable in the fight as well.

You’ll be able to tell this film is based on a novel.  There’s a lot of detail to the story but with just two hours to work with, there isn’t time to provide all the necessary background material.  I had trouble understanding much about these aliens – such as their super powers and weaponry.  Further, what’s with the beast like creatures?

My criticisms aren’t limited to the adaptation.  Director D.J. Caruso (Eagle Eye, Disturbia) has taken a route which is much too safe.  This is a textbook action film that offers zero surprises.  For example, there’s a cute dog that pops into the story early on.  It’s just too obvious that it has a purpose.  The same applies for the “Number Six” character (Palmer).  Why did they show a 30 second shot of her early in the film?  Why did they even show her in the trailer?  I was just sitting in my seat, waiting for the scene where she comes in and save the day.  And what’s with the “evil” Mogadorians?  They’re not even scary at all!

The film has a couple of redeeming features.  I didn’t mind the action finale.  The special effects aren’t great but they have some fun with it and there are few good lines.  Most of them are offered by Australian actor Callan McAuliffe.  He plays John’s new best friend, Sam, a fellow teenager who saw his dad abducted by aliens (another part of the film that is underexplored).  The dialogue is dreadfully clichéd but McAuliffe does manage to “spice up” his character.  He’s a face to watch going forward.

I Am Number Four is clearly targeted at a younger audience and has been described by some as “Twilight for guys”.  That’s a fair description but I’m not convinced that this will develop an equally large fan base.  Will we see future books in the series developed into films?  My hunch says no.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 09 February 2011

Next Monday is Valentine’s Day.  If you buy into the occasion, it’s a chance to do something special with the person you love.  This may involve flowers, gifts and candlelit dinners.  For some, it may involve a trip to the cinema.  There’s always at least one movie studio who are trying to offer up a sweet romantic comedy for the occasion.  Over the past five years, we’ve had Valentine’s Day, He’s Just Not That Into You, Definitely Maybe, Music & Lyrics and Just Friends.

This year’s suggested fare is No Strings Attached with Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher.  The title neatly sums up the crux of the story.  Emma and Adam are two people who keep bumping into each other.  She’s a doctor who works ridiculously long hours.  He’s an assistant on a popular television show.  Neither has time for a full blown relationship and so they decide to have one that based purely on sex.

Ok, we all know where this story is going and how it will end.  You can’t expect much more from a rom-com.  However, that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun along the way… and that’s exactly what I did when I saw this for the first time.  There are a few laugh-out-loud lines (the best involving a “crime scene”) and funny supporting cast including the likes of Kevin Kline, Greta Gerwig and Ludacris.

Perhaps the real reason I liked it was because it features two of my favourite actors.  Natalie Portman is wonderful as always.  She portrays Emma as a bouncy, happy-go-lucky character but with serious self-confidence issues bubbling below the surface.  Some might wonder why Portman would take on a role in a predictable rom-com but I think it’s an apt choice after her chilling performance in Black Swan.  It highlights her range as an actress and it’s also nice to see her laughing and smiling.  

I realise most won’t rank Ashton Kutcher as highly on their list of favourite actors but I like him.  I was curious to see how they’d deal with the height difference between himself and Portman.  He’s 6’3” and she’s just 5’3”.  Director Ivan Reitman (Ghostbusters) could have done the “Hollywood thing” and reduced the gap with creative camera angles but instead, he weaves it into the story with humorous effect.

Less than two months ago, we saw the release of Love And The Other Drugs with Jake Gyllenhaal with Anne Hathaway.  Both films are similar in that (1) they’re a little more explicit than you might expect and (2) they both involve a couple getting together only for sex.  So why did I like No Strings Attached and yet dislike Love And Other Drugs?  I don’t know.  I guess love really does move in mysterious ways.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 14 February 2011

I’ll never forget the last time I saw a film from director John Cameron Mitchell.  It was November 2006 and I was seated in the back row on the right hand side.  The venue was the old Dendy Cinema on George Street in the Brisbane CBD.  There were about 50 people in the cinema.  Some were on their own but the majority had come as a couple.

Why can I remember this so vividly?  Well, that’s because Shortbus was the most sexually explicit film that I have ever seen in a theatre.  It didn’t just push the envelope.  It tore it to shreds.  I realise it wasn’t for everyone (not quite suitable for my sweet grandmother) but I thought it was a creative and original idea.  Mitchell had effectively made porno that had insightful commentary and a decent script.  Who’d have thought it possible?

We’ve been waiting four years Mitchell’s next film and finally it has arrived.  Rabbit Hole centres on a married couple who have suffered the worst of all nightmares.  Their 4-year-old son was killed as a result of a tragic accident.  He chased the family dog out on the street and was struck by a passing car.

When we pick up the story, several months have passed.  Becca (Kidman) and Howie (Eckhart) are now trapped in a whirlpool of grief.  They don’t know how to stop it.  They can’t find a way to move on with their lives.

The film’s force comes from its performances.  Nicole Kidman (The Hours) portrays Becca as a tough, stubborn individual.  She’s bottled up her emotions and she’s not letting anyone in.  It’s just the way she’s chosen to deal with the loss.  Her husband and her mother (Weist) try to get her to open up but this only creates more tension.  Kidman richly deserves the Academy Award nomination she has received for this tricky, multifaceted role.

Also impressive is the talented Aaron Eckhart (Thank You For Smoking).  You get a close sense of the difficult situation in which he finds himself.  He’s trying to find a path forward but his wife keeps pulling him back.  They disagree about going to therapy.  They disagree about having another child.  They disagree about selling the house.  Their relationship is on shaky ground.

The film is heavy-going at times but there is light at the end of the “rabbit hole”.  The tagline on the film’s poster articulates it best - “the only way out is through”.  There’s no going back and so they’re just going to have to keep battling to find the solace they seek.  A high-school teenager (Teller) and a weed smoking mother (Oh) will each have a part to play before this story is over.

Based on the Pulitzer Prize winning play from David Lindsay-Abaire, Rabbit Hole is an affecting yet surprisingly uplifting tale about the ways in which we cope with sorrow and heartache.  There are a few slow points in the story but on the whole, John Cameron Mitchell has done an amazing job capturing the heart of these delicate characters.