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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 20 April 2000

Born into a life of poverty, Fanny Price (O’Connor) is given a special opportunity.  At the age of 10, her mother ships her off to Mansfield Park to live with her wealthy aunt and uncle.  However, at her new home she’s always had trouble fitting in and many see her simply as the old peasant girl in a class below the rest of the family.  

From the time she entered Mansfield Park there was always one she could trust and rely on, her cousin Edward (Miller).  They developed a strong bond and shared all their thoughts and feelings with each other.

Over time, Fanny became an excellent writer and established herself into a respectable young lady.  When a wealthy gentleman by the name of Henry Crawford (Nivola) stays for a short time at the Park, he is smitten with Fanny and asks the uncle for her hand in marriage who accepts the proposal.

Fanny wants no part of it.  She doesn’t believe Henry will be faithful to her and refuses to marry him.  Her uncle threatens to disband her from the household unless she accepts which leaves her in an impossible situation - either marry a man she does not love or be forced to return home to her life of destitution.

Frances O’Connor has bloomed as an actress over her short career and is set to make her mark in Hollywood.  O’Connor is wonderful in her role as Fanny Price and caught the attention of Steven Spielberg who has just cast her along side Jude Law and Haley Joel Osment in the new A.I. project.

Patricia Rozema’s direction is also well crafted.  The flashy camera movements and angles help keep the story upbeat and moving.  The language is kept simple and it all works for the benefit of the film and the genre.  So many are turned off by period pieces but film’s such as Mansfield Park are doing their best to take the movie to the public rather than the other way around.

Jane Austen’s works deserve the success they are receiving.  Her writings are in a class of their own - romantic tales 200 years ago that are still relevant today.  I’m sure William Shakespeare would have been a fan.

Not to be missed, Mansfield Park is an uplifting romantic comedy of love triumphing above adversity.  Austen fans can expect more of her works on the big screen rather soon I presume.  They’re certainly more entertaining than the current crop of romantic films being churned out by Hollywood writers.  Soak it up while you still can.

Details

Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 13 April 2000

Topsy-Turvy is a look at the true story of William Gilbert (Broadbent) and Arthur Sullivan (Corduner) who together created musicals for the Savoy theatre.  Their previous creations included the HMS Pinafore and The Pirates of Penzance.  However the public is tiring of the familiarity that is encroaching their new works.  Their latest, has struggled at the box-office and Sullivan has had enough.

Sullivan is the composer and desires to create a grand opera where his music can truly shine rather than merely supporting words.  Gilbert is the writer who constantly relies on scripts with magic and worlds that are “topsy-turvy”.

Seemingly at the end of their successful career together, Gilbert attends a Japanese exhibition with his wife, which sets of a spark that would pen The Mikado, a comedic musical based on the lifestyle of the Japanese.  Sullivan is impressed and agrees to put music to the words and the rest is history...

Topsy-Turvy is a wonderful look behind the scenes of a theatrical production.  Set in the late 1800s, all the characters are incredibly played and it makes for highly intriguing viewing.  All the players have little nuances to them and as the film progresses, a little more of each is revealed.

Nothing more can be said about the incredible sets, makeup and costumes - no stone has been left unturned.  The script is phenomenal and deserves the Oscar nomination it receives.  The story is not enhanced for comedic effect but rather plays as it really was.  The language and dialogue are beautifully crafted and echo the era in which it is set.

Not to be missed, Topsy-Turvy is a triumph and another feather in the hat of Mike Leigh.  Sure it’s over two and a half hours but the time is not wasted.  A rarity is modern cinema, a screenplay that can actually go the distance.

Details

Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 20 April 2000

In the tradition of Sliding Doors, Me Myself I is the story of Pamela Drury.  She’s just celebrated her 30th birthday and panic is setting in - will she be going through her whole life without meeting the right man?  She still has thoughts of her dream guy from high school, Robert Dixon, but he’s long married and out of her reach.

That is until the switch.  Pamela suddenly finds herself in a whole new life - the one in which she did marry Robert all those years ago.  It’s gives her a unique opportunity to look at what her life might have been.

Philippa Karmel is a first time director having branched out from an editing career that included an Academy Award nomination for her work on Shine.  Pip is also wrote the script which is obviously influenced by prior films.

Rachel Griffiths brings charm to her persona in what is one of her first leading roles.  The rest of cast are reasonable but they don’t bring much life to the story, which is flimsy.  There are nice lighthearted moments but the film rehashes old and abused material by the bucketful which leaves few surprises or refreshment.

In a pleasant change, this film does not have an Australian feel to it despite its origins.  These days, you can tell an Aussie film from a mile off (ala The Craic, The Wog Boy).  Me Myself I has a strong American influence that doesn’t necessarily help the film but is a good experiment.

Likely to make a few bucks in Australia and please audiences with its idea, toilet humour and senseless nudity, this film isn’t up to the benchmark set by Sliding Doors (which I should add isn’t such a high mark).  Don’t worry, this idea of two different scenarios will be back soon I guarantee.  Until then...

Details

Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 13 April 2000

In trying to slip away from her romantic tag, Roberts takes on the role of Erin Brockovich.  Based on a true story, Erin has been through several jobs, two husbands and has little to show for it except for two kids.  When injured in a car accident she thinks her life may have turned for the better when she hires lawyer Ed Masry with the hope of a big payout.  Upon losing, Brockovich reaches breaking point and frustrated with her lawyer, promptly shows up at his office and says she’s not leaving until he employs her to make up for his broken promises.

It is here where she finds her calling.  Given the small job of filing some workpapers regarding a real-estate claim, she takes it upon herself to investigate further.  What she would uncover was a massive conspiracy from American electrical company PG&E.  They had knowledge that runoff from their machines was contaminating the water supply of a small Californian town but had concealed the information for over two decades.

Julia Roberts has never been nominated for Academy Award and it is roles like this that will start her on the road to critical admiration.  She is superb in her portrayal and shows a character with determination and spark.  Albert Finney (playing Ed Masry) outshines Roberts with his wonderful performance and has the greatest line in the film when he talks of the value of PG&E to both Roberts and an opposition lawyer.

The rest of the cast is great too (including In The Company Of Men’s Aaron Eckhart).  Thomas Newman continues his run of successful scores with some beautiful music suiting the film perfectly.  Steven Soderbergh (Out Of Sight) gives the movie an interesting, upbeat flavour with his direction.  It’s quick, jerky and focuses on characters rather than courtroom scenes and other legal matters.

Despite having all the ingredients, the life of Erin Brockovich isn’t that interesting or inspiring.  Again the story has been dazzled up to meet Hollywood standards and it’s really hard to buy.  A similar story was told in last year’s A Civil Action about a man and a law firm who risk everything to bring to trial a firm who was found polluting a river.  This is basically the same movie except you replace John Travolta with Julia Roberts and add a few more laughs.

This film touches on some interesting points but doesn’t dig below the surface.  There’s a moment in a meeting with the townsfolk where one asks - if we win, how do we divide the money between us?  A very good question that is never answered.  With over 600 people bringing an action against PG&E, you’d think there’d be many who weren’t happy with the judgment but you wouldn’t know looking at this film.  Erin Brockovich is made out to be a saint who has the ability to solve everyone’s problems with her charisma.

Surely though there must be more interesting people out there to make movies about.  Modern day movies always like to focus on people who hit bottom and then claw their way to the top (ala The Hurricane).  I enjoy uplifting stories as much as anyone, but why do they have to be portrayed like gods?  I guess I was warned though by the opening line of the movie - “This movie is based on a true story”.  It’s the new Hollywood disclaimer.

Details

Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 20 April 2000

Word comes in of an emergency assignment and within hours they’re shipping out with a highly classified mission plan.  Upon departure, they find they are intercepting a German U-boat (the U-571) who has been disabled but not destroyed.  On board is a top-secret typewriter that will reveal the German’s encrypted code that has prevented the U.S. from understanding their radio transmissions.

Putting the plan into action goes smoothly until another German submarine arrives and destroys the U.S. sub.  This leaves a handful of men stranded on the German U-571 with no knowledge of the submarine’s operations or technology.  They must somehow manoeuvre the U-boat back home whilst under the threat of the approaching Germans.

On a positive side, U-571 has some solid action scenes that feature some great sound effects, cinematography and direction.  However, it tires quickly and the film’s intentions are compromised by poor dialogue and disgracefully corny subject material.  At least the story doesn’t claim to be based on a true story (ala Erin Brockovich).

I would have much preferred to see a more realistic viewpoint of these heroes.  War movies are a staple of the American public’s cinema diet and it’s a tough ask to follow the recent acclaim for Saving Private Ryan and The Thin Red Line.  War films are about the passion and emotion of fighting for one’s country.  It is not about zany over-the-top action scenes.

So treat this film for what it is.  It’s just a simple action film with little story, little acting and little else.  U-571 is dedicated to the U.S. marines of World War II who fought and captured German intelligence material that helped win the war.  I’m sure those who actually were in the war would find this film one laugh after another.