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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 28 March 2014

The Captain America franchise was launched back in 2011 with Chris Evans in the leading role (successfully distancing himself from the underwhelming Fantastic Four series). Titled The First Avenger, the movie provided the background to this unlikely hero and saw him defeat Adolf Hitler’s weaponry chief (played by Hugo Weaving) during the later stages of World II. The film ended with Captain America being frozen in a block of ice and then subsequently awoken in the current day. This led perfectly into The Avengers – the ridiculously successful 2012 release that saw him team up with Thor, Iron Man and the Hulk so as to save the world… again.

Are you up to speed? Oh wait, you knew that already didn’t you? Sorry. I just thought I should include a brief introduction for the 1% of the population that hasn’t been contributing to the box-office phenomenon created by Marvel Studios. Past film-going generations have flocked to see musicals, Roman epics, gangster flicks and cop thrillers. Today’s crowds obsess over comic book superheroes and based on the number of productions in the pipeline, it’s a fad that’ll be with us for a few more years yet.

While there are plenty of laughs to be had watching the Thor and Iron Man movies, Captain America: The Winter Soldier indicates that this particular franchise wants to head in a darker, more political direction (in the same vein as Christopher Nolan’s recent Batman trilogy). I really like the approach. It asks questions about the role of superheroes and governments. It highlights the importance of trust and the heavy burden of power. It illustrates the blurry line between good and evil.

You may not get that impression at the start. The film opens with Captain America trying to find his place in the world… and taking girlfriend suggestions from his partner in crime, the Black Widow (Johansson). A lot has changed since he was frozen back in 1944 and so he’s put together a quick “to do” list based on the recommendations of friends. It was a nice touch to see eating Tim-Tams on the list!

Unfortunately, there won’t be time for hot dates and chocolate biscuits. This isn’t a romantic comedy. After helping rescue a group of hostages from a hijacked boat, Captain America gets a sense that something is rotten in the state of S.H.I.E.L.D. He asks questions of those at the top of the organisation, Nick Fury (Jackson) and Alexander Pierce (Redford), but clear answers are not forthcoming. The arrival of a mysterious masked assailant, known as the Winter Soldier, only adds to the confusion.

It’s hard for me to say too much more without giving away key plot specifics. The screenplay has been carefully assembled by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely (who both wrote the first film) to deliver maximum intrigue. With no clear villain or motive established during the opening hour, you might be wondering where the story is heading. Don’t worry though. When the film’s true nature is revealed, it’s compelling, thought-provoking stuff. I’ll add as asterisk though. I’d have preferred a few elements of the “nasty” plan to have been fleshed out in more detail.

While I often tire of the action blockbusters that crowd every America summer, you can almost always count on Marvel Studios to produce an entertaining product. That’s certainly the case here. Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson make for a strong, likeable crime-fighting duo (there’s great banter between them). Some action scenes stray too far into fantasy-land but it’s a fault that’s easy to forgive given the interesting plot.

With Iron Man, Thor and Captain America all bestowed an individual film over the past 12 months, it’s time to bring them back together again for Avengers: Age Of Ultron, due for release in May 2015. You’ll get a brief glimpse if you stick around through the closing credits. I’m already looking forward to it.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 19 March 2014

If you think it’s tough getting a film made here in Australia, try being a female director from Saudi Arabia. It’s a country that has no movie industry. You can’t walk down to your local multiplex because cinemas are banned. The only way to watch any kind of movie is on TV or DVD.

Further, Saudi Arabia is one of the worst countries when it comes to women’s rights. They are expected to wear a black cloak and head covering when they appear in public. They are not allowed to drive and are discouraged from using public transport. They must not interact with any men with whom they are not familiar.

Blending comedy with drama, Wadjda explores this inequality through the eyes of an 11-year-old girl (Mohammed) living with her mother (Abdullah) in the capital city of Riyadh. Wadjda is at age where she wants to rebel not just against her overbearing parents but also against her society’s rigid rules. She doesn’t like covering her hair. She doesn’t like taking orders from her school’s headmaster. She doesn’t like seeing her mother treated so poorly by her father (who is considering taking on a second wife).

There’s one thing she wants beyond anything else – a bike. Women generally aren’t allowed to ride a bike but Wadjda doesn’t care. She wants to race against a boy who lives across the street. With a bike already picked out from a nearby toy store, Wadjda’s only problem is coming up with the cash. An opportunity then presents itself. Her school is hosting a Qur’an recital competition with a substantial cash prize. It’s going to take a lot of study but she’s a very determined young girl…

This is a film to be admired for both its on-screen and off-screen story. Wadjda is reportedly the first film to have been shot entirely in Saudi Arabia. It adds a layer of authenticity (as you’d expect) but it also provides a great backdrop for cinematographer Lutz Reitemeier. There are numerous scenes where the focus is not on the characters but rather the intriguing setting. We look inside a standard Saudi home and observe the happenings out on the streets.

Director Haifaa Al-Mansour had to direct many of the film’s outdoor scenes from inside an equipped van. While there’s nothing to prohibit a female from making a movie, she couldn’t be seen giving orders to men in public. It only further underlines the film’s key theme. Through this simple, fictional tale, Al-Mansour has found plenty of room to highlight the oppression of women in Saudi Arabia. It will be an eye-opener for some.

Nominated for best foreign language film at the 2014 British Academy Awards (the first Saudi film to ever achieve such an honour), Wadjda one of the most important films that you will see this year.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 26 March 2014

I can vaguely remember the story of Noah’s ark from my schooling days. He builds a huge boat, he puts two of every animal on board, and then a big flood wipes everything else out. It’s a yarn that most would be familiar with – even if they’re not considered “religious”.

It wasn’t until I saw this adaptation from writer-director Darren Aronofsky (Requiem For A Dream, Black Swan) that I realised just how little sense the story actually made. Noah learns about the flood after being given a “vision” in a dream. He then confirms this with his long lost grandfather (who has magic powers but only when it’s convenient – kind of like Gandalf in The Lord Of The Rings).

Noah didn’t build the giant ark on his own. That would have been impossible. He built it with the help of some giant talking rock monsters known as “watchers”. They’re been around since the days of Adam and Eve (a story that pops up repeatedly throughout the film). But how did he keep the animals asleep? The answer to that question was with the help of a super-dooper sleeping powder. It kept them unconscious for close to a year. They didn’t even need food and water!

It’s also important to remember that Noah had a wife, three sons and an adopted daughter. Given that they were going to be the only 6 human beings on the planet post-flood, you might wonder how the human race managed to survive. One of the sons could have slept with the adopted daughter (since that wouldn’t constitute incest) but then what happens to their siblings? How do they procreate?  It's a question that's deliberately, and too obviously, avoided.

I admire Aronofsky as a bold, original filmmaker… but this movie does not work (despite its impressive visuals). Ray Winstone plays the film’s keynote villain – a sinful, self-appointed king who eats animals and does as he pleases. Ok, so he’s not a nice guy, I get that, but what about the rest of the population? Why were they all tarred with the same brush?

Failing to create a credible story with credible characters, Noah is a film that is very hard to take seriously. Some scenes are laughable. Perhaps this won’t bother the world’s large Christian population who will be keen to see this iconic tale adapted for the screen. They proved me wrong ten years ago when Mel Gibson’s The Passion Of The Christ became one of 2004’s highest grossing movies (which I never would have predicted).

What am I supposed learn from this film? Should I become a vegetarian? Should I be more careful with my use of the planet’s resources? Should I be nicer to my fellow humans and not attack them using spears and makeshift guns? Should I be fearful of a vengeful God? Sorry Mr Aronofsky. Sorry Mr Crowe. You have not convinced me.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 13 March 2014

Nick Frost trained for 7 hours a day, 5 days a week, for 7 months. That’s how long it took for him to becoming a convincing salsa dancer. All the hard work was done at the renowned Pineapple Dance Studios in London – a place where top dancers perform with the hope of being spotted by dance companies, record labels, television networks and film studios.

Frost has admitted that he got a few strange looks and a few laughs from fellow dancers. Given his larger, not-so-athletic build, they clearly didn’t think he was Pineapple-material. It’s an interesting behind-the-scenes story that highlights exactly what Cuban Fury is trying to say.

Frost plays Bruce Garrett – a guy who was a champion salsa dancer in his teenage years but gave it away after being bullied, teased and beaten by some bigger high school students. Two decades have since passed and Bruce has decided to dust off his dancing shoes, team up with his old coach (McShane) and try to reignite his passion.

There’s an ulterior motive though. He’s not doing this solely to dispel the naysayers. Bruce wants to impress Julia (Jones) – a new employee at work who has a similar love for salsa. He doesn’t have the courage to ask Julia out on a date because it’d be like “a butterfly going out with a parsnip.” Instead, he’s going to build up his self-esteem by getting into shape and proving himself on the dance floor.

Making life extremely difficult is Drew (O’Dowd) – a villainous co-worker who is also looking to seduce Julia and is happy to squash Bruce is the process. Some may find his character over-the-top but he’s the key to the whole film. Because Chris O’Dowd (The Sapphires) has created such a vile, nasty, sleazy, disgusting, offensive individual… it makes us cheer for Bruce even harder.

This is a classic underdog tale. We’ve seen it before and we’ll see it again. It’s telling you not to bow to conformity, not to do what everyone else does. Sometimes you’ve just got to go out, take a chance and follow your dreams. We’ve seen kids’ films reiterate this message again and again – see Kung-Fu Panda, Cars and Turbo. Cuban Fury can be categorised as the adult equivalent.

We’ve grown accustomed to seeing Nick Frost in supporting roles (Kinky Boots, The Boat That Rocked) or working alongside good friend Simon Pegg (Shaun Of The Dead, Hot Fuzz). In Cuban Fury, he gets the chance to take the helm in what is a rare leading role. While it’s O’Dowd who steals much of the film, Frost proves himself a worthy protagonist and earns a few decent laughs.

This film’s weakness is the fact that it’s so unadventurous. Yes, there’s room for humour within the limited storyline but it’s not stretching beyond that. It’s a simple crowd pleaser – pure and simple. There are no surprises and everything pans out just as you might expect. This won’t be satisfying enough for some audience members… but I know a few who will find this sufficiently entertaining.

You can read my chat with star Nick Frost by clicking here.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 23 March 2014

“And now here’s something we hope you’ll really like.” These were the memorable words uttered by a squirrel named Rocky in the 1960s animated television series The Rocky & Bullwinkle Show (noting that the show actually had several names). The 22 minute episodes contained a number of short stories – some revolved around Rocky and Bullwinkle (the talking moose) but others featured on a completely different set of characters.

Across the 5 seasons of the show, there were 91 stories that centred on a super-intelligent dog named Mr Peabody and his adopted human son, Sherman. They’d jump in their WABAC (pronounced “way-back”) machine to travel back in time and meet some of history’s most important individuals. The list included Napoleon Bonaparte, Calamity Jane, George Washington, William Shakespeare and Pocahontas.

Taking advantage of 3D computer-animated technology, the world of Mr Peabody and Sherman has been reinvigorated for the big screen by director Rob Minkoff (The Lion King, Stuart Little) and screenwriter Craig Wright (Six Feet Under, Lost). They use their time machine to visit to go on an assortment of misadventures to places stretching from Ancient Egypt in 1332 B.C. through to the French Revolution in 1793. It’s a creative way of giving kids a fun story while also providing a knowledge-building history lesson.

Holding the film together is an easy-to-follow narrative. Sherman and a new friend from school use the WABAC machine without Mr Peabody’s permission and their actions threaten to disrupt the “space-time continuum”. Further complicating the situation is Ms Grunion – a villainous child welfare officer looking for any excuse to take Sherman away from Mr Peabody. She doesn’t think it’s appropriate for a child to be raised by a dog.

I like the idea of this film and there are a few nice moments. There’s a sweet introductory sequence that makes effective use of the John Lennon song “Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)”. There are also some cute perspectives on history – such as how Leonardo da Vicini got his model to smile before painting the Mona Lisa.

That said, I’m not fully sold on the film’s execution. Much of the time travel stuff is rushed with too much being squeezed into its 90 minute duration. I was also disappointed by the two leading characters – voiced by Ty Burrell (Modern Family) and 10-year-old Max Charles. When I think about some of my favourite animated features over the past year (Frozen, Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2, Despicable Me 2), I realise that Sherman and Mr Peabody don’t generate enough laughs – for both kids and adults. They’re not all that engaging either.

If you hang onto your money for an extra week, you’ll find a better animated feature on offer – The Lego Movie.