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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 12 July 2016

Few would doubt the writing talents of John le Carré.  The British author has penned more than 20 novels.  Several have been successfully adapted for the big screen including A Most Wanted Man (2014), Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011), The Constant Gardener (2005), and The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965).

There’s a feeling of authenticity that laces all of the abovementioned films.  It never feels like you’re watching an over-the-top action thriller.  You get the sense that these events could actually have taken place.  That shouldn’t come as a surprise given Carré’s background.  He started writing back in the early 1960s when employed by the British intelligence agency MI6.  Many suspect his novels are based on truth but the reserved Carré keeps his cards close to his chest.

Our Kind of Traitor begins in Morocco with a British couple trying to get their rocky marriage back on track with a well-overdue holiday.  Perry (McGregor) is a jaded poetry lecturer who recently admitted to sleeping with a university student.  Gail (Harris) is a well-paid lawyer who cannot find a balance between her work and private lives.

Dining alone while his wife takes care of an important business call, Perry is approached by an extroverted Russian named Dima (Skarsgård) who invites him along to a party.  What follows is an evening that involves expensive booze, beautiful women, illegal drugs, and a few horses.  Perry doesn’t seem to have any regrets but he’s still puzzled as to Dima’s background and the entourage of security guards that follow him around.

The next day, Dima reveals his true identity.  He’s the top money launderer for the Russian mafia and he’ll soon be transferring a string of bribes to enable a Cypress-based bank to operate in London.  Included on the bank transfer list is a high-profile British politician (Northam).

Dima doesn’t want to betray his Russian comrades but he has no choice.  He knows he’ll be of no value to the mafia once the transfer takes place and it’s likely that he will be executed in the same manner as a close friend.  With no one else he can trust, he gives Perry a USB stick containing details of the money laundering and asks him to pass it onto MI6.  Dima’s hope is that he can then negotiate safe passage to the UK for both he and his family before it’s too late.

Our Kind of Traitor puts all of its key characters to the test.  Perry and Gail have to size up the situation and work out if it’s worth risking their lives to save that of a complete stranger.  Dima needs to formulate a plan that will allow him to communicate with Perry without attracting the attention of the Russian mafia.  A top MI6 agent in London (Lewis) must convince his own bosses that the evidence against the British politician is credible and should be acted upon despite a possible fallout with their Russian counterparts.  There’s a lot at stake and there are a lot of moving parts.

It’s taken longer than expected for this project to come to fruition.  Stars Ralph Fiennes and Mads Mikkelsen were originally attached alongside Australian director Justin Kurzel (Snowtown) but all three withdrew due to conflicting schedules.  British director Susanna White (Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang) eventually took to the helm.

While I wouldn’t have loved to have seen what Kurzel could have done with this material, White and writer Hossein Amini (The Wings of the Dove, Drive) have still crafted an interesting thriller.  There’s plenty to hold your attention, the characters act surprisingly sensibly, and there’s a worthy ending that fits neatly with the lead up.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 29 June 2016

Mark Rylance is one of the best actors working today.  His name will be unfamiliar to many however as he has spent much of his career performing on stage in London and New York.  On his mantelpiece at home are 3 Tony Awards and 2 Olivier Awards.  He also spent a decade as the artistic director of Shakespeare’s Globe in London where he helped create numerous productions.

Steven Spielberg had been keen to work with Rylance for a long time.  He first offered him a role in Empire of the Sun (released in 1987) but Rylance turned it down and accepted a part with the Royal Shakespeare Company in Warwickshire.  It took almost 30 years but finally the stars aligned for these two craftsmen.  Rylance took on the part as a tight-lipped Russian spy in last year’s Bridge of Spies and won the Academy Award for best supporting actor.

During his acceptance speech, Rylance praised Spielberg as “one of the greatest storytellers of our time.”  As someone who grew up during the 1980s, I can think of another individual who would fit that same description – Roald Dahl.  A quick look at his bibliography brings back numerous memories of my childhood.  I spent hours sitting up in bed reading the likes of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Twits, and The Witches.

A low-budget animated feature was produced in 1989 but this marks the first attempt at a live-action cinematic adaptation of The BFG.  On paper, it sounds like a perfect threesome – the writing of Roald Dahl, the direction of Steven Spielberg, and the acting of Mark Rylance.  Cool your heels though.  The finished product isn’t as magical as you might expect.

The story begins in London and we’re introduced to a feisty, confident young girl named Sophie (Barnhill) who has spent her entire life in an orphanage.  She suffers from insomnia and so while her friends sleep soundly in the dormitory, Sophie passes the time by sorting mail and reading classic books.  Late one night, she hears an odd noise outside her balcony window and upon stepping outside, finds herself face-to-face with a 7-metre tall giant.

Before shock has a chance to set in, Sophie is snatched by the creature and taken to Giant Country.  His sneaky escape through the streets on London is one of the film’s coolest sequences.  It may sound scary but the giant has a soft side and isn’t to be feared.  These two characters quickly become pals with Sophie referring to him as The Big Friendly Giant.

The majority of the film is spent watching them go on an assortment of adventures.  The BFG has to stand up for himself against a group of bigger giants looking to assert their authority.  We also learn why The BFG spends time in the human world.  He cooks up dreams, both good and bad, and places them in the heads of those fast asleep.  The dream creating scenes showcase the talent of the special effects crew.  The visuals are outstanding.

There’s no disputing that Spielberg has created a fascinating world.  It’s just a shame that the story and characters aren’t quite as fascinating.  There are a few signature moments such a scene where Sophie hides in a Snozzcumber (an awful vegetable) and another where The BFG offers frobscottle (a fizzy drink) to a new group of friends.  Unfortunately, there a lengthy gaps in between that don’t offer much in the way of laughs or excitement.

Great books don’t always translate into great movies and perhaps The BFG is a good example.  It’s likeable but it’s hard to describe it as memorable.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 06 July 2016

The story of Tarzan has been brought to the screen numerous times.  In its defence, it’s nice to see writers Adam Cozad (Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit) and Craig Brewer (Hustle & Flow) not go with another bland origin tale.  It takes a little adjustment though.  It’s like watching the second series of TV show without having seen the first.  The story of how Tarzan was raised in the jungle and how he first met his American love-interest, Jane, is all told by way of very brief flashbacks.

The lack of a long-winded introduction creates more room for a fuller action adventure.  We first meet John Clayton (aka Tarzan) in London where he and Jane are now living a quiet, ordinary life.  That changes when is approached by an American messenger, George Washington Williams (Jackson), who suspects there is unrest in Congo.  Williams believes that the Belgian Government, who control part of the country, are illegally enslaving natives to help build a railroad and other infrastructure.

Clayton agrees to help and he heads to central Africa alongside his wife and the gun-toting Williams.  It turns out there is truth to the rumours.  A ruthless Belgian captain named Léon Rom has been instructed by his government to strip Congo of its valuable diamond deposits and use them to pay their government’s significant debts.  A tribal leader, Chief Mbonga (Hounsou), is willing to assist but on one condition – Rom captures Tarzan.  Mbonga wants revenge after Tarzan killed his only son many years ago.

What follows is a ho-hum action piece that struggles to get out of first gear.  Inglorious Bastards showed that Christoph Waltz can be a great bad guy… when given great dialogue to work with.  That’s not the case here.  He plays a cartoonish villain who has little to offer in terms of threats and intimidation.  When he captures Jane and tries to offer her up as bait, his simply describes his plan as “He’s Tarzan. You’re Jane. He’ll come for you.”

As Jane, Margot Robbie doesn’t have much to do.  Instead of moving with the times and creating a female character with depth and significance, the writers have stuck with the source material and portrayed her as the simple “damsel in distress.”  Alexander Skarsgård will excite some in the audience with his numerous shirtless scenes but it’s Samuel L. Jackson who earns “most valuable player honours” as Tarzan’s comedic offsider.

In a season cluttered with big-budget blockbusters, The Legend of Tarzan doesn’t stand out and is unlikely to leave an impression.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 27 June 2016

Kevin Hart is no stranger to the buddy comedy genre.  He’s played the “straight guy” opposite Will Ferrell in Get Hard and played the “funny guy” opposite Ice Cube in the Ride Along franchise.  Dwayne Johnson has plenty of credits to his name but this is the first time (in my memory anyway) that he’s part of defined comedy duo.  We’re more accustomed to seeing Johnson as the hero in big-budget action flicks (Fast 7, San Andreas) or as the single lead in board-reaching comedies (Tooth Fairy, The Game Plan).

Central Intelligence opens with a high school flashback.  Calvin (Hart) is the most popular senior in his class and everyone believes he’s going to do great things with his life.  He’s fit, he’s sporty, he’s intelligent, and he’s got a great girlfriend.  None of those descriptors would apply to Robbie (Johnson).  He is teased for being overweight and has no friends.  There’s a horrible moment where a group of bullies drag him from the locker room showers and parade him naked in front of a school assembly.

Slipping 20 years forward to the current day, we learn that the paths of these characters has changed significantly.  Calvin is an unhappy forensic accountant who isn’t respected by his work colleagues.  His home life is also a little bumpy with his wife (Nicolet) suggesting they see a marriage counsellor.  On the flip side, Robbie is now a gifted CIA agent with the body of a Greek God.  His secret to getting into shape?  Hitting the gym for 6 hours every day for the past two decades!

The three-person writing team needed to find a way to bring these two guys together and they’ve gone with a goofy premise.  Those within the CIA believe that Robbie is a double agent who is selling valuable satellite codes on the black market.  With seemingly no one he can trust, Robbie gets in touch with Calvin via Facebook and forces him to help.  He needs to use Calvin’s forensic accounting expertise to clear his name and identify the real criminals.

Central Intelligence is a film that feels low on ideas.  There’s a sequence in a warehouse where Calvin argues with Robbie about whether he is “in” or “out” with regards to this escapade.  A similar scene takes place a short time later in Calvin’s office.  Could they have not come up with something different to laugh about?

Johnson’s character is also a struggle to wrap your head around.  Robbie talks and acts like a hyperactive high school teenager throughout much of the film.  You may think it is part of some elaborate act but I wasn’t much wiser as the end credits started to roll.  A scene involving Jason Bateman (in a small cameo) only added to the confusion.  How did this guy become such a successful CIA agent given his emotional baggage and warped view of reality?  Why doesn’t he haven’t any friends despite his post-high school transformation?

Some jokes hit the mark.  Johnson and Hart argue back and forth and there’s the occasional barb or unexpected comment that will leave you chuckling.  Unfortunately, these two actors can’t save a script so poorly conceived.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 04 July 2016

Australia has a history of making great movies with indigenous characters in leading roles.  Ten Canoes (2006) was set in pre-Western times and focused on the conflict between two tribes.  Samson & Delilah (2009) followed two troubled 14-year-olds from a poor community in remote Australia.  The Sapphires (2012) was based on the true story of a group of musicians who performed for troops during the Vietnam War.  All three won the AACTA Award (previously known as the AFI Award) for best film.

The problem for Australia is that we don’t seem to make enough films centred on indigenous characters.  That’s the opinion of director Ivan Sen who is doing his best to balance the scales.  The indigenous filmmaker now has several acclaimed movies under his belt including Beneath Clouds (2002), Toomelah (2011) and Mystery Road (2013).

His latest outing, Goldstone, was selected to open the prestigious Sydney Film Festival last month and has been showered with praise since.  It’s a spin-off from Mystery Road in that it features the same lead – Aaron Pedersen as indigenous Detective Jay Swan.  The setting is a remote mining community that has next-to-no infrastructure.  The police, the mayor and the mining workers all operate out of rundown demountable buildings.  There’s not a lot to see or do.

Jay has arrived in town to investigate the disappearance of a young Asian girl who has been missing for 6 months.  His entrance is anything but glamorous.  He spends his first night in a jail cell after being pulled over for drink driving by the town’s sole police officer, Josh (Russell).  Not long after, his caravan is peppered with bullets by unknown assailants.  It’s clear that something is amiss in Goldstone and Jay is warned “to be careful where you step as there are plenty of snakes about.”

His investigations lead him to several individuals with questionable intentions.  The mayor (Weaver) is pressing hard for an expansion to the gold mine so as to pump valuable revenue into the local economy.  The mine’s manager (Wenham) is doing everything he can to sway the opinion of an indigenous leader (Lewis) who is critical to the approval process.  A local businessman is running a shady bar that serves as a brothel for the mining staff.

Pedersen is terrific as the film’s flawed hero and he is well-assisted by rising star Alex Russell (Chronicle).  Tommy Lewis is the pick of the supporting cast as the indigenous leader who, in trying to please everyone, loses his moral compass.  Sen also makes great use of the remote location with some beautiful shots (the drone footage is particularly impressive) and some tense chase sequences.

The film may be laced with an element of truth but it comes across as corny in places.  Jacki Weaver and David Wenham are not subtle in portraying themselves as villainous individuals.  It feels like Weaver is portraying a skewed, over-the-top version of the character that earned her an Oscar nomination in Animal Kingdom. 

Selected to open the prestigious Sydney Film Festival last month, Goldstone has its weaknesses but it’s still an impressive action-thriller from Sen who puts a fresh spin on a well-used Hollywood formula.

You can read my chat with writer-director Ivan Sen by clicking here.