It's Complicated: Movie Review

It's Complicated: Movie Review

It's Complicated
Rating: 6/10
Cast: Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, Steve Martin, John Krasinski
Director: Nancy Meyers
In this romantic comedy, Meryl Streep is Jane who's divorced her philandering hubby Jack (Alec Baldwin) over a decade ago. Since then, she's carved herself a dandy life as she cooks and he's remarried to a younger model with a child.
However, as they come together to celebrate their son's graduation, the pair find there's still an attraction and against the odds begin an affair.
As they rekindle their relationship, it becomes clear that Jack's more into it than Jane as he views it as a reconciliation and a chance to get back together. So things are further complicated when Jane's architect Adam (a muted playing it straight Steve Martin) starts to develop feelings for her.
Ultimately things start to come to a head for Jane and she has to find her place in these relationships&
Meryl Streep was Golden Globe nominated for this piece - and it's easy to see why. It's clearly her film - and while Baldwin brings his roguish caddish comedy touch to the role, neither he nor Martin can compete with Streep - she's light years ahead of them on the screen.
She manages to brilliantly use a deftness of touch to make Jane the likeable element in this - left on the sidelines and unsure of how to get involved in relationships, her transition is plausible, pleasant and in places, funny. She gives a masterclass on bringing subtlety to the character.
Meyers wrote and directed this piece which not only benefits from some zingy one liners but an excellent ensemble cast; Martin underplays his sad sack Adam who's been divorced and unsure of the game for a while - and John Krasinski provides some much needed comic relief in places) but sadly suffers from a lull about 75 minutes in.

It's Complicated is going to appeal more to certain sector of the audience than some; putting it politely, as Nancy Meyers does great films for women, it's fair to say this charming comedy is squarely in the grab a bunch of your girlfriends and head to the flicks.

Land of The Long White Cloud: Movie Review

Land of The Long White Cloud: Movie Review

Rating: 7/10
Director: Florian Habicht
In this doco from director Florian Habicht, New Zealand's fishers are put under the microscope.
Shot at the annual Red Snapper Classic at Ninety Mile Beach in the Far North, this genial piece takes in the characters and attitudes which are found over the five day event.
With serious money up for grabs, Habicht wanders round capturing the goings on - both on and off the beach as the event gathers pace.
Land of the Long White Cloud is a fascinating insight into those who'll go for the sport of fishing - one of the greatest events on offer in this country, whether you want to be solo or part of a group.
Part of the charm of this relatively short doco is the personalities of those who inhabit the shores for the event.
There's a languid atmosphere amid the competition - and Habicht gets to pick brains and get the fishermen - and women - to open up and offer up their philosophies as the surf peals around them.
One reveals he'd buy socks with the money after he's spent so long hooking his own by accident while out; another talks about how they're normally a smartly turned out office boy who relishes the chances to throw it all off and stand around waiting to catch the big one.
It's an interesting and entertaining look as Habicht asks some of them if they can remember where they were when they heard Lady Di had died; or even if they watch the news - the danger is the casual viewer will think he's trivializing, but what's revealed is probably a more accurate snapshot of Kiwi life than any survey or census could find out.
The fishermen end up contemplating life against a truly wondrous backdrop of rolling waves and blue skies - and espouse such sentiments as: "Look after those you love." Sure, there's a level of cod philosophy here but you'll forgive it that in spades.
Land of the Long White Cloud will appeal to any of those who want to marvel in the majesty of Ninety Mile Beach and the wondrous bounty of the coastline - the most entertaining part though is definitely the human element - especially as you see them enjoying life after the rods have been put down for the night.

Overall, this is the kind of film which sums up precisely why Aotearoa is such a wonderful country - a heady mix of coast, surf and characters. Just don't be surprised if at the doco's conclusion, you have an overwhelming urge to head out for a day's fishing.

Elegy: DVD Review

Elegy: DVD Review

Elegy
Released by Roadshow Home Entertainment
Rating: M
Cast: Penelope Cruz, Ben Kingsley, Dennis Hopper, Patricia Clarkson
New York college professor David Kepesh (Kingsley) appears to have it all - an easy 20 year long no strings attached relationship with a former student (Clarkson); a friend George O'Hearn (Hopper) who's always there for him.
But one day his world is completely changed by Cuban Consuela Castillo (Penelope Cruz) whom he meets in one of his classes.
Determined to have her, he pursues her and they end up involved in a passionate relationship which ignites feelings of possessiveness in Kepesh, who's secretly worried she will leave him because he's 30 years her senior.
However, the effects of their dalliance are long lasting - and devastating.
Based on the book The Dying Animal by Philip Roth, Elegy deals with the reality of growing old and of self worth.
It's supposed to be an engrossing examination of uncertainty and of instability - but it's ruined by the complete lack of chemistry between leads, Cruz and Kingsley.
Although they're supposed to have a passionate relationship, this lack of anything tangible between the two of them affects the overall feel of the film - and ultimately derails its central message.
It's also painfully slow - and whilst that sometimes allows for character development, I actually ended up feeling the film needed to hurry along as I was starting to get somewhat depressed by the way it all unfolded.
While I appreciate what Elegy was trying to do and deliver a meditation of life, lust and love, it feels a little at times as if Coxiet lost her way.
Some may find Elegy engrossing but others may feel some books don't translate well to the screen.
Extras: None

Rating: 4/10

Sunshine Cleaning: DVD Review

Sunshine Cleaning: DVD Review

Sunshine Cleaning
Released by Madman Entertainment
Rating: M
Cast: Amy Adams, Emily Blunt, Steve Zahn, Alan Arkin
A film about cracking into the world of crime scene cleaning sounds like an interesting premise - and one which is currently not flooding the silver screen.
Sunshine Cleaning from New Zealand director Christine Jeffs is certainly fresh in places - and irritating in others.
The ever wonderful Amy Adams is Rose Lorkowski, a single mother whose son is forever getting into trouble at school.
Her unreliable sister Norah (Blunt) is flaking from one job to the next - the pair basically want a get rich quick scheme to pull their life out of the mundanity which has befallen them after high school promised so much.
Rose is having an affair with Steve Zahn's cop and he suggests one day there's good money in the forensic clean up business.
Throw in an oddball father (Alan Arkin) and you have pretty much a recipe for some quality screen time. And to a point you do.
But the central characters Rose and Norah (and to an extent Alan Arkin's character) are quite irritating after prolonged exposure - riddled with neuroses and character quirks, which had they been underplayed would have been endearing.
Unfortunately after about 20 minutes, they may get a bit too annoying for you.
Sunshine Cleaning feels in parts a lot like Little Miss Sunshine - which is no bad thing - and it has a lot of humour throughout - Blunt and Adams are good in their respective roles but their characters feel a little too stereotyped at times - Adams' Rose is having a lazy affair with a cop; Blunt's Norah is too kooky (witness her following a daughter whose wallet was found at a crime scene).
And the pair's secretly troubled parental relationship is a story thread which could have been seen coming a mile off.
Overall, Sunshine Cleaning feels a little bit too forced at times - whether that's the fault of the screenplay or the director I'm not 100% sure. It's not a bad film - it's just with such an original premise, it could have been so much more.
Extras: Theatrical trailer, Deleted scenes - not an inspiring selection for a film with such a great central cast.

Rating: 6/10

Dr Who: Series 1-4: DVD Review

Dr Who: Series 1-4: DVD Review

Doctor Who - Series 1 -4 Box Set
Released by Roadshow Entertainment
Rating: PG
Cast: Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant, Billie Piper, Catherine Tate
23 discs, 2 Time Lords, a wealth of Daleks, Cybermen and adventures - what's not to love about this collected set of the first four series of the remade for the noughties audiences?
Well, this set is a timely reminder of why new Who has been so successful - there was no guarantee when it rematerialized on our screens back in 2005 that it would be a bona fide hit - but thanks to the oft overlooked presence of Christopher Eccleston behind the TARDIS, this series had sure fire hit written all over it.
And when David Tennant, a self professed fan of the show stepped behind the blue doors, the show got stellar and became bigger and bigger.
It's easy to see why the show's so popular - over 45 minutes and some 50 odd episodes, there's much to love - all of the show's cast and its supporting players throw so much into the mix as the Doctor was brought into the 21st Century.
There's only 2500 of these complete series in existence in New Zealand - but without being churlish, aside from a lavish 68 page book, there's little new to entice old school fans to shell out once again for the 4 series they're already likely to own.
Don't get me wrong - there's some great entertainment here; episodes like Dalek, The Christmas Invasion show why the show's done so well in this day and age with a great script and story being the main thrust over the effects (granted there are a few duds - Fear Her and the one with Peter Kay as a loin cloth wearing alien aren't the finest) but for the die hard fan, there's likely to be a sense of frustration that this set doesn't come right upto date with current Doctor, David Tennant's final episodes (being broadcast this Christmas).
That said, the extras are the same as the original sets - and it's quite fun to see David Tennant being given a police escort and his priceless reaction in the video diaries; there's also the behind the scenes cut down episodes of sister show Doctor Who Confidential, which beef up the package.
All in all, if you're a new fan to the show, it's a fabulous jumping off point - if you're an old school Whovian, you may be heading straight to TradeMe to sell off your old sets to get the money together for this set - or for the inevitable reboxing of it along with Doc 10's final eps.
Extras: Christmas episodes, commentaries, outtakes, deleted scenes, cast interviews, BBC idents, video diaries - a 68 page booklet - almost as gigantic as the TARDIS itself.

Rating: 9/10 for new fans, 6/10 for fans who've already bought the series

The Tooth Fairy: Movie Review

The Tooth Fairy: Movie Review

The Tooth Fairy
Rating: 6/10
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Ashley Judd, Stephen Merchant, Julie Andrews, Billy Crystal
Director: Michael Lembeck
Dwayne Johnson in a tutu with wings, being a fairy.
It doesn't sound like your average start to any film - but with the Tooth Fairy that's pretty much part of the premise.
Johnson (none of this The Rock business) is Derek Thompson, a fading ice hockey player whose schtick is he knocks out his opponents' teeth on the ice - and hence is known as The Tooth Fairy.
However, when Thompson tells his girlfriend's daughter Tess there's no such thing as the Tooth Fairy, he's swiftly summoned before Lily (Julie Andrews) the head of the real Tooth Fairies (there's an academy of them) and ordered to serve time in their shoes.
So paired up with Tracy (Stephen Merchant), Thompson's forced to live the life of the Tooth Fairy - and face some uncomfortable tooths (erm, sorry - truths) about his world and dreams.
The premise is nothing original, and sure you don't have to be a genius to see where the film's going, but the Tooth Fairy isn't as bad as you may think it could be.
While the kids will love the humour of the goofy Dwayne Johnson getting his wings at inappropriate moments as well as when the pint sized hero faces off against a large cat, adults will warm more to the Stephen Merchant and Billy Crystal factor. Crystal is reduced unfortunately to a mere cameo as a Fairy inventor but in his one scene, he's excellent (stick around at the end for a bit more Billygoodness)- likewise the tall gangly Merchant (Of Extras fame). His Tracy, as Thomspon's mentor is nothing original (once again, he's playing a version of himself) but thanks to a likeable performance and some smart deadpan humour, he becomes one of the best things of the entire film.
Julie Andrews brings a degree of warmth to her role - but essentially it's her turn from the Princess Diaries all over again.
Sure there's a message about belief here - both in your self and in dreams, but thanks to the affability of Johnson and the cast, it's toothfully not a bad family film.

There are some awful puns using the word tooth to start off with (some of which I've chosen to share here with you) but once you get past that, there are some laugh out loud moments throughout meaning the whole experience is not a displeasurable one.

Cold Souls: Movie Review

Cold Souls: Movie Review

Rating: 7/10
Cast: Paul Giamatti, Emily Watson, Dina Korzun, Katheryn Winnick, Lauren Ambrose

Director: Sophie Bartes
Yes, there's echoes of Being John Malkovich here - but Cold Souls is a slightly different affair.
Paul Giamatti (complete with sad sack eyes and jowly cheeks) plays Paul Giamatti, a fictionalized version of the actor, who's struggling with his part in Uncle Vanya. Clearly Chekhov's play is resting heavy on him - and one day, he sees an ad for a Soul Storage place which piques his curiosity.
So, with the ad's slogan "Is your soul weighing you down?" he heads to see if he can find some relief.
What he actually finds is a surgery which can remove souls and hold them in special units (or if they want to avoid tax, can be shipped to New Jersey) to give their owners a new lease of life.
Initially skeptical, Giamatti undergoes the treatment - and things get more complicated for him when a soul trafficking group from Russia ends up stealing his soul to satiate a Mafioso style don's girlfriend. Giamatti ends up facing the possibility of heading to St Petersburg or remaining soulless for the rest of his life&.
Cold Souls is a strange, weird ride - its mournful tone belies some of the comedy on display; sure, there are some existential overtones to the film (Giamatti's not happy when he can't find his soul) and some downright funny moments (his soul, when extracted, just looks like a chickpea)
Parts of the film have weird trancelike qualities - and some of it is downright hallucinogenic as well. An excellent supporting cast - the majority of whom I've never heard of until now - is good too.
But director Bartes (who also wrote the story) has managed to get the very best out of Giamatti - put simply, he's brilliant in the role as he navigates the levity of being soulless with the horrifying reality that he needs his soul to be complete.

It's Giamatti's film and a tour de force performance which keeps Cold Souls on just the right side of a wickedly original premise- if it had been trimmed a little (its 100 minutes feel a little bloated towards the end), Cold Souls would have been perfect.