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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 19 August 2009

This is a beautifully told story centred on a shy young man named Elias (Scamarcio).  When we first meet Elias, he is travelling in a freighter on the Aegean Sea.  He is escaping his current life and is looking to start a new one on the European mainland.  As the boat nears the coast, it is spotted by the authorities.  Not wanting to be captured and deported, Elias jumps ship and swims ashore.

He ends up at a coastal holiday resort which is packed with tourists.  The police are scouring the place for any illegal immigrants who did escape from the freighter and so Elias must conceal himself.  He befriends a French woman who allows him to hide out in her room.

Whilst at a resort party, Elias helps a travelling magician who promises him a job if he can find his way to Paris.  Thus begins a live changing journey.  He meets an assortment of people along the way – some helpful, some not so helpful.

Elias is a likeable character but there is greyness to the story.  It gives you plenty of food for thought regarding illegal immigrants and their place in the world.  Yes, what they’re doing is wrong but if you were in the same position as them, would you do the same thing?  I think many people would answer that question in the affirmative.

Like the magician in the film, I had a sense that director Costa-Gavras was trying to weave a little magic of his own – transforming the film into a modern-day fairy-tale.  There are a few close shaves for Elias and there are few peculiar happenings also.  I particularly liked the note on which the film ended.  Not everything was wrapped up into a neat little package.

 Shot in Greece and France, Eden Is West put a smile on face and held my attention for the full two hours.  I hope it’ll do the same for you.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 05 August 2009

Maybe I’m tiring of the deep, dark Australian film because I wasn’t overly impressed with Beautiful Kate.  It’s one of those stories about a family with long held, well guarded secrets and as the film progresses, it all comes out into the open and conflict ensues.  I feel like I’ve seen this kind of movie too many times before in recent years and this didn’t offer anything new.  I haven’t read Newton Thornburg’s novel, on which the film is based, but I’m sure there’s a lot more depth.

That’s not to say that the film doesn’t explore some intriguing issues.  In fact, it’s quite confronting in places when we finally learn the truth.  I can’t say too much more than that but do tread carefully with this one.  It’s not exactly for everyone.

It begins with Ned (Mendelsohn) going on a road trip with his girlfriend to visit his dying father (Brown).  He lives in a remote part of Australia and has been cared for by Ned’s younger sister, Sally (Griffiths).  Ned hasn’t seen his father in many years.  He fled home as a teenager following the death of his twin sister and older brother.  It’s a past he has not wanted to revisit.

If you ask me, none of these characters found redemption.  Maybe that’s the point of it all.  I don’t know.  Why was Ned neglecting his girlfriend?  Why did he spend so much time writing down his memories?  I don’t know either.  All these people gave off a “coldness” and I didn’t feel any compassion for them and their problems.

The cast is strong with Ben Medelsohn, Rachel Griffiths and Bryan Brown but as I’ve alluded to, the script isn’t up to scratch.  It’s another Aussie release that despite good intentions, will struggle at the box office.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 12 August 2009

The reason I’m reminiscing is to help explain what this film is about.  It’s about a group of not-so-popular school kids who have put a band together with the hopes of defeating all the other schools at the annual Bandslam competition.  They want to prove to their many critics that they have what it takes.

Managing the band is Will Burton (Connell).  With a distinctive taste in music, shying away from mainstream stuff, Will has always seen himself as an outsider.  He’s just started at the school and is hoping to make some new friends.  Will got the gig as manager having caught the eye of the lead singer, Charlotte (Michalka).

There’s another girl to throw into the mix.  Sam (Hudgens), like Will, tends to stay away from conformity and largely keeps to herself.  The two have plenty in common and after being paired up for a school assignment (which seems ridiculous easy if you ask me) they too become friends.

In the background in a nice supporting role is Lisa Kudrow (Friends) as Will’s mother.  She’s a nice character and provides Will with some valuable advice for his troubles.  Which girl will he end up with?  How will they go at Bandslam?  You’ll have to see the film to find out more.

This is a teen orientated film and I’m happy to report that it doesn’t always follow traditional formulas.  What I’m trying to say is that there aren’t huge character extremes.  These are just ordinary kids (well, kind of) all struggling to fit in.  Charlotte is an ex-cheerleader but be careful not to judge her too early.  I liked the name of the band too – “I Can’t Go On, I’ll Go On.”

Before I get everyone too excited, I still wasn’t blown away by this film.  It has some nice touches but I didn’t find Will to be a very exciting central character.  All the letters he wrote to David Bowie seemed more creepy than enlightening.

I’m taking the middle ground on Bandslam and giving it a mild recommendation but am certain that it will appeal more to the younger audience.  The casting of Vanessa Hudgens from the High School Musical trilogy and Alyson Michalka from Disney’s Phil Of The Future television series should tell you that.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 05 August 2009

I had a few laughs along the way but when you break it down, this is another superficial comedy filled with superficial characters.  Let me explain where I’m coming from…

Abby (Heigl) is a television producer whose morning program is struggling in the ratings.  Looking for something to boost their audience, Abby’s boss brings in Mike (Butler) and a segment called The Ugly Truth.  On his show, Mike talks about relationships from a “macho guy” perspective.  It’s controversial, it’s politically incorrect but lo and behold, it becomes a smash hit.

So what kind of advice is Mike giving out?  He tells women that if they’re struggling to get a date that they need to start exercising and making more of an effort about their appearance.  This doesn’t sit well with Abby and the pair quickly clash.  She doesn’t like her program being tarnished by Mike and his twisted views.  She wants to take him down.

The opportunity presents itself when Abby meets Colin (Winter), a hot guy living next door.  She wants to make a good first impression and so asks Mike for advice.  He pretty much tells her to do the exact opposite of what she’d usually do – in other words, to NOT be herself.  If it works, Abby has to accept Mike as a genius and throw her support behind him and his segment.  If it doesn’t work, Mike agrees to quit.

I think how it all pans out is rather obvious but won’t spoil it for those unfamiliar with romantic comedy formulas.  I had major concerns with how these characters seemed to go through these mind-blowing transformations.  If Mike’s show was so popular and people agreed with his views, why did he mellow in the end?  What are men really like – the Mike at the start of the movie or the Mike at the end of the movie?

Ok, this isn’t reality but these two characters are fake and phoney.  I had trouble sitting through it.  I’m often critical of romantic flicks but to prove my worth – I saw two wonderful romantic dramas last week at the Brisbane International Film Festival.  An Education and 500 Days Of Summer were both awesome and will be released nationwide later in the year.  Chemistry is everything – something that the characters in this film didn’t have.

Details

Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 12 August 2009

It’s the story of a builder named Jack Kelly (Bradnam) who works for his experienced father, Digger (Sweet).  They’ve been at it for years, building quality homes in Hervey Bay.  A rift has developed between the pair however and Jack is looking to start his own company.  He wants to compete for a lucrative development contract which is on the horizon.

That’s the main storyline but there are a few subplots to spice things up.  Jack has fallen for Tiffany (Satchwell), a Victorian who has moved to Queensland and works a major developer.  Jack’s sister (Beck) is pregnant but she’s not quite sure who the father is.  There are two alternatives and one of them is Jack’s best mate.  What will happen if he finds out that he’s not the dad?

A few of the characters are undeveloped and I use Brooke Satchwell as a good example.  Subdivision is the first feature film for this ex-Neighbours star and despite featuring prominently on the film’s poster, it’s not a big role.  I’d have liked to have seen more of Satchwell and a few of the other cast members for that matter.  Did we really need all the football scenes?

That said, I’m not sticking the boot in because this is a solid effort and is best described as a “fair dinkum” Aussie movie.  It’s nice to see a film shot in Queensland, particular one that provides a few laughs.  It’s a feel good flick which will appease our local audience.

The film’s best attribute is its exploration of the relationship between Jack and his father.  I think the writers have done well to flesh out both characters and I enjoyed the interaction between Gary Sweet and Ashley Bradnam.  I particularly liked the ending and the way in which the community bands together.  It may not be the most realistic of endings but it’s still enjoyable.

This is the first film for director Sue Brooks since she won the Australian Film Institute Award for best director in 2003 for Japanese Story (a wonderful film).  This isn’t quite on the same level in terms of quality but based on her words at the Brisbane premiere, you could tell she had a lot of fun making it.  Hopefully that rubs off on the Australian public.