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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 02 January 2011

In the more than 20 years that I’ve been competing in golf tournaments, there’s one goal that I’m yet to achieve – to play a bogey-free round.  In my eyes, it’s the equivalent of perfection.  It’s a round of golf without a single mistake – where every hole is completed in par or better.  I’ve been close so many times and it’s been the cause of much angst and heartbreak.

This pursuit of perfection is at the heart of Darren Aronofsky’s (The Wrestler, Requiem For A Dream) new film, Black Swan.  For many years, Nina (Portman) has dedicated herself to being a renowned ballet dancer.  I must strong emphasise the word “dedicated”.  Nina has given up everything to follow this career path.  She has no friends, she rarely socialises and she’s never had a meaningful relationship.  She simply practices for hours every day, putting her lightweight body through an incredible level of stress.

Her hard work has paid off.  The studio’s artistic director, Thomas (Cassel), has cast Nina in the lead role of his new production.  She will play the Swan Queen in a fresh adaptation of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake.  For those that don’t know the tale, it’s about a beautiful woman who is turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer.  She can only be returned to human form if a man pledges his love for her.  A handsome prince looks set to break the spell but he too is deceived by the sorcerer.  Realising that there’s only one way that they can be together, the prince and the swan make the ultimate sacrifice.

There are two parts to the role of the Swan Queen and Thomas knows that Nina would be perfect as the White Swan.  She’s beautiful, she’s virtuous and she’s precise.  His concerns are with the second half of the play and whether Nina can transform into the darker, seductive Black Swan.  It requires passion, flamboyance, spontaneity.  These not so perfect qualities can’t be learned from a textbook.  They come though life experience, an area lacking in Nina’s repertoire.

The fact that Nina can’t perfect the role won’t stop her from trying.  She realises that she must discover the “Black Swan” within.  She starts rebelling against her overbearing mother (Hershey).  She gives in to Thomas’s aggressive flirtations.  She goes out drinking with a rival dancer (Kunis) who knows how to have a good time.

This film is about a ballet dancer but it could just as easily be about any artist in pursuit of a dream.  Sometimes, we must lose ourselves before we can discover who we really are.  Darren Aronofsky illustrates this psychological quandary by blurring the lines between fantasy and reality.  Which of the scenes in this movie are real?  Which are an hallucination?  You’ll be trying to answer these questions long after you’ve left the cinema.  I don’t think multiple viewings will help either.

Be warned – Black Swan is a brutal film-going experience.  Aronofsky wants to put the audience through the wringer and give them something to remember.  He weaves moments of unexpected horror into the hazy storyline.  Some parts will leave you squirming in your seat.  Others will leave you with an increased heart rate.

Natalie Portman has been lauded for her performance as Nina and with good reason.  Just like her character, you can see that she’s thrown everything into the role.  She may be rewarded with a first Academy Award in a few weeks time.  I was equally impressed with Vincent Cassel at Thomas.  He’s such an intriguing guy – is he genuine or is he manipulating Nina for his own benefit?  On the flipside, I didn’t think too much of Mila Kunis as Nina’s rival.  I’m surprised by the numerous award nominations she’s already received this season.

I’m a long-time admirer of Darren Aronofsky but I’m not raving about Black Swan like many other critics.  The parallels between Nina’s story and the Swan Lake story seem almost too obvious.  I got the message early on and there weren’t any great revelations in the film’s finale.  I also had trouble believing in Nina’s “transformation”.  It felt rushed and the ending (which I also have concerns about) sneaks up too quickly.

So will I ever achieve my elusive bogey-free round?  Am I foolish to be aiming for perfection in an imperfect world?  Or will the pursuit of this almost unobtainable goal drive me to improve?  It’s a fine line and Black Swan left me thinking.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 22 December 2010

If you enjoy a good post-film conversation, grab some friends and check out Somewhere.  I make this comment as I’ve read many differing opinions about this latest film from Sofia Coppola (Lost In Translation).  When it screened at the Brisbane International Film Festival last month, my Twitter friends described it as everything from “tiring” to “stunning”.

The film centres on the day-to-day life of a big name movie star living in Hollywood.  Johnny Marco (Dorff) is his name.  The first scene of the film is Johnny doing laps on a deserted race track in his Ferrari. The second scene has Johnny lying on his bed while watching two blonde twins put on a pole dancing display.  This opening is a little drawn out but you get the point.  Johnny Marco can pretty much do whatever he wants.

Is he happy though?  Well, that’s a question up for debate.  There are certainly parts of his life that he enjoys.  Women are forever falling at his feet.  There’s one part where he opens his apartment door and an attractive blonde just so happens to be waiting across the corridor.  One thing leads to another and... well, you get the idea.

What’s more interesting about Johnny is the fact that he comes across as an introvert.  He doesn’t want go to a party with friends and get stuck making small talk.  He doesn’t want to do press junkets with journalists asking him the same questions over and over.  He’d rather spend his day alone – driving his car, laying by the pool or simply taking it easy in bed.

Out of the blue, Johnny’ ex-wife drops off their 11-year-old daughter, Cleo (Fanning), at his doorstep.  She needs a break and has asked that Johnny look after Cleo for a while.  You might think that Cleo would be a hindrance to Johnny’s lifestyle but she’s anything but.  They get along beautifully.  Johnny enjoys the company and the chance to spend time with someone who doesn’t see him as a movie star.  Cleo enjoys having a father figure and also the opportunity to visit some cool places.

I wasn’t satisfied by the ending but I enjoyed the journey.  When I put together my list of the top 10 movies of 2010, I noticed that two films were light in terms of dialogue – A Single Man and I Am Love.  Both let sounds, music, expressions and visuals do the talking as opposed to actual words.  Whilst Somewhere isn’t quite “top 10 material”, it has been made using a similar mould.  It’s a style I appreciate.

Whilst it has a little bit to say about Hollywood and the way it operates, I enjoyed the film more for its depiction of the relationship between father and daughter.  I also admire Sofia Coppola for not overcomplicating the screenplay.  There’s no tension just for the sake of it.  Watching Johnny and Cleo lying in bed eating ice-cream was enough for me. It’s a touching moment.

When I first saw the trailer for the film, I was puzzled by the odd casting choices.  Stephen Dorff rose to fame in 1992 with his role in The Power Of One but his last decade has been dominated by direct-to-video action flicks.  Chris Pontius (who plays Johnny’s best friend) is better known for his crazy stunts, many involving nudity, on Jackass.  As for 12-year-old Elle Fanning, this is her first time in a leading role.  Coppola's gamble has paid dividends.  The performances are all terrific but Fanning deserves to be singled out.  She’s a natural on screen and this should open many doors for her.

Once again, we’ve been spoiled with a plethora of new release films in Australia on Boxing Day.  It’s a bountiful crop this year and hopefully many filmgoers will find time to squeeze Somewhere into their relaxing holiday schedules.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 28 December 2010

Becky Fuller (McAdams) loves a challenge.  Despite her relative inexperience, she’s just landed the job as producer of Daybreak, a morning show which is broadcast nationally across the United States.  It may sound like a dream job but it’s anything but.  Daybreak’s ratings are horrendous.  It’s sitting in fourth place – miles behind the always popular Today Show.  Becky has been told by her boss (Goldblum) that if the ratings don’t improve, the show will be canned.

After sacking the male anchor on her first day, Becky goes in search of a replacement.  The man she finds his Mike Pomeroy (Ford), a veteran who has been covering high-profile news stories for close to 40 years.  Becky is excited.  Mike is not.  He wants nothing to do with the show.  He hates the idea of breakfast shows with their cooking segments, entertainment reports and repetitive infomercials.  He’d rather be covering serious political issues.

Mike doesn’t have a choice unfortunately.  He’s bound by his contact with the network.  You can probably see where this is going and yes, it’s a recipe for disaster.  Mike is going to make Becky’s job as difficult as possible.  He refuses to follow orders while off the air.  He refuses to engage with his co-anchor (Keaton) while on the air.  All he wants is to be off the show.

It comes down the age old question – what happens with an immovable object meets and unstoppable force?  Who is going to budge first?  Will Becky concede defeat and get rid of Mike?  Or can she find a way to change his gloomy temperament?  Perhaps neither will come to fruition.  The ratings are trending downwards and time is running out.

There’s a subplot to this main storyline that revolves around Becky’s relationship with Adam Bennett (Wilson), a fellow employee.  The confident demeanour she displays at work doesn’t extend to her love life.  In fact, she’s very insecure.  Becky sums it up best when she says “I don't know if a man is interested in me until I see him naked.”

You always know where a movie like this is heading but there’s still a lot to like about Morning Glory.  Rachel McAdams (The Notebook, Sherlock Holmes) proves that she can carry a romantic comedy.  Her talkative, bubbly personality will win the hearts of many in the audience.  She’s the best thing in the movie. 

We haven’t seen much of Harrison Ford in recent years but it’s nice to see him back on screen in a light-hearted role.  I’d love to know how easy it was for him to play this tired, forlorn character.  He certainly looks the part.  Perhaps that’s why Roger Michell (Notting Hill, Changing Lanes) decided to cast him.

I’m not from the television industry but I’ve been told the “behind the scenes” stuff on Daybreak is a close reflection of reality.  There are the early starts, the tension between anchors, the struggles to get big-name guests and difficulty in finding fresh, original stories.  Those who enjoy a dose of Sunrise or The Today Show here in Australia might find it eye-opening.  I enjoyed this part of the story more than Becky’s up-and-down relationship with Adam.

I’m hard to please when it comes to romantic but Morning Glory has a strong leading character and a fun premise.  That’s good enough for me.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 18 December 2010

Who ruled Great Britain before Queen Elizabeth II? She’s been on the throne for so long that many people wouldn’t have the slightest idea.  The answer is King George VI.  He was Britain’s monarch from 1936 until his death in 1952.

His unlikely ascension to the throne is chronicled in this amazing film from director Tom Hooper.  Known within the family as “Bertie”, Albert Frederick Arthur George (Firth) was never expected to be king.  This was because he was the second son of King George V.  His older brother, Edward (Pearce), was first in line and had been impeccably groomed to take the throne when the need arose.

That situation presented itself in January 1936 when their father died at the age of 70.  The charismatic Edward became king and Bertie could breathe a sigh of relief.  He never really wanted the throne.  He was happy to leave the mantle to his more outgoing, more charismatic brother.

Unfortunately for Bertie, a constitutional crisis was about to present itself.  King Edward wanted to marry an American divorcee by the name of Wallis Simpson.  The government threatened to resign if the marriage went ahead and so Edward abdicated the throne.  As they say, the rest is now history.  Bertie, now known as George VI, became King of the United Kingdom in December 1936 and ruled during World War II.

Much of this story is told in The King’s Speech but the film’s focus is on Bertie’s relationship with an Australian speech therapist named Lionel Logue (Rush).  Ever since he was a child, Bertie had suffered from a terrible stutter.  The pressure of his role and the fact he often had to speak publically only made things worse.  His wife (Carter) had found numerous therapists but none had made an impact.

Lionel Logue was different however.  His methods were unorthodox and he had a somewhat odd sense of humour.  A trust developed between the pair and Bertie’s stutter started to improve.  Their friendship had to be kept a secret however.  The palace didn’t want it known that George was being helped by an unknown Australian with few credentials.  Even Lionel had to keep it a secret from his wife (Ehle).

Writer David Seidler had wanted to tell this story for a long time.  He originally envisioned it as a play but that changed when Geoffrey Rush first laid his eyes on the script.  Left on his doorstep in a brown paper envelope, Rush read the script and immediately spoke to his agent in Hollywood.  He suggested that the film would make a better movie than a play.  Judging from the fantastic early reviews which have been received for The King’s Speech, I guess he was right.

Seidler and Hooper undertook a large amount of research to help get to know these characters.  They had spoken with Lionel’s son but an amazing stroke of luck occurred just 9 weeks prior to shooting.  They located Lionel’s grandson living in London who had a diary that Lionel had written while treating the King.  It offered incredible insight and the script went through a quick re-write.  A few of the jokes which were actually shared by the real King and the real Lionel made their way into the final film.   They give the movie a nice balance of comedy and drama.

The power of The King’s Speech comes from its performances.  Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter have been perfectly cast.  All three appear on track for an Academy Award nomination with Firth a strong frontrunner in the best actor category.  You’ll develop a great deal of sympathy for his complex character and be hoping that he finds a way of overcoming his frustration and insecurity.

One of the most highly regarded prizes in cinema is the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto Film Festival.  Hundreds of films are screened each year with the audience (as opposed to critics or a jury) picking the best film.  Winners over the past decade have included Precious, Slumdog Millionaire, Hotel Rwanda, Whale Rider and Amelie.  The King’s Speech took the honours in 2010 and so if my glowing review isn’t enough to get you to the cinema, may you instead be guided by the wider public.

You can read my interview with director Tom Hooper by clicking here. 

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 27 December 2010

Walt Disney produced America’s first animated feature film in 1937.  Based on the fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was a tremendous success.  It is regarded as one of the best animated films of all time.

A lot has changed over the past 73 years but Walt Disney Animation Studios (as it is known today) has stuck to its winning formula.  They have taken iconic stores and brought them to life on the big screen for both kids and adults to enjoy.  There are too many examples to name.

Tangled is a milestone in that it’s the 50^th animated feature film within the Walt Disney Animated Classic series.  It too is based on a fairy tale from the Brothers Grimm – that of Rapunzel.  If you’re wondering why Disney didn’t call the film Rapunzel, apparently they were worried that it wouldn’t appeal to a young male audience.  Doesn’t make any sense to me but ok, I’ll go with it.

For those unfamiliar with the story, Rapunzel is a young lady who has spent her entire existence living atop a tall tower.  She has often wanted to leave home and see the world but her mother, Gothel, has other ideas.  She tells Rapunzel that it’s too dangerous and that she must stay hidden within the tower for her own safety.

What Rapunzel doesn’t know is that her mother is pure evil.  In fact, she’s not even her mother at all.  Rapunzel was born a princess to a nearby kingdom but was kidnapped by Gothel just after she was born.  Why you ask?  Rapunzel’s hair contains amazing powers and provided it is never cut, Gothel can use it to remain eternally youthful.

Upsetting the apple cart is a mischievous thief by the name of Flynn Ryder.  After stealing a valuable crown from the castle, he flees into the forest and comes across the well-hidden tower.  It’s a little rocky at first (evidenced by a frying pan to the head) but Flynn and Rapunzel become close.  With Gothel away on a short trip, the two sneak out and go in search of adventure.

I liked Tangled but I wouldn’t consider it in the upper echelon when ranking Disney’s best.  I saw the film almost a month ago and I struggle to remember many of the details when putting together this review.  My point is that it’s a nice way to spend two hours but it’s not that memorable.  It lacks the emotion that I remember from so many other animated classics.

Perhaps others feel the same way.  Tangled has battled its way to just $144m at the box-office in the United States over the past 5 weeks.  That’s well below what’s you’d expect from a Disney film.  It looks even worse when you compare it against its budget of $260m (making it the most expensive animated film ever made).  Maybe they should have stuck with Rapunzel as the title!

I feel like I’m being overly harsh because there’s still a lot to like about Tangled.  There’s a nice balance of action, suspense and comedy.  A feisty horse named Maximus will leave plenty of audience members smiling.  The quality of animation is superb… although I suggest you choose the 2D option if you’re looking to save a few dollars.  The extra effects aren’t worth it.  Damn!  I’ve just finished on another negative.  Perhaps we’ll just leave it at that.