Nanny McPhee and The Big Bang: Movie Review
Rating: 5/10
Cast: Emma Thompson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Maggie Smith, Rhys
Ifans, Ralph Fiennes
Director: Susanna White
School hols are well and truly here.
What with How To Train Your Dragon and now Nanny
McPhee and the Big Bang, it's clear there's a fight going on for the
household cash - if the rain sets in over Easter.
Emma Thompson is back as the Nanny in this second world war set sequel which
sees Maggie Gyllenhaal's Mrs Green on the verge of tearing her hair out - with
her husband away at war and city dwelling cousins sent to live on the farm, plus
with quarreling kids of her own, she's really got her work cut out.
However, enter McPhee - who turns up on their doorstep because the army sent
her (she's a military Mary Poppins) and with a brief to pull the kids into
line.
But that's not all the problems - Mrs Green's brother in law (Rhys Ifans,
verging on a 1930s silent film villain) has gambled away his half of the farm -
and is determined to do what he can to save his own neck from the debtors.
Look - what can I say about Nanny McPhee? It's clearly a family film aimed at
the families who've got younger kids; jokes about poo from the farm, a belching
bird and sibling squabbles do not a sophisticated day out make. Coupled with a
slightly nostalgic way we all lived in the war, parts of this film may irritate
you a little more than is necessary.
Throw in some cute animal moments and synchronized swimming pigs and you
clearly have a recipe aimed at the younger end of the market. Not that there's
anything wrong with that - coupled with Emma Thompson's very restrained and
austere performance as the slightly nightmarish nanny, there's plenty to keep
that audience relatively amused for the duration.
There's also some good one liners from the city dwelling Cyril (Eros Vlahos)
who has a way with sardonic lines such as this about Nanny McPhee - "She has a
face that could make us win the war hands down."
But, yet, there's a vein of tragedy running through this film which an adult
will pick up - there's betrayal, war orphans being relocated, family love
issues, an ongoing nod to the city's perception of the country folk (hint "we're
in the land of poo" and "Oh covered in poo people" comments from the kid
characters will tell you where that's angled) which are clearly aimed at the
more perceptive end of the audience.
It's this odd mix though which doesn't quite hang together - while all of the
main adult cast do proficiently in their roles, the child actors are in places a
bit ropey (although they do have their moments) and the whole thing isn't
exactly enthralling in the way other kids movies can be.
In conclusion (and to reiterate), Nanny McPhee and The Big Bang will be loved
by the younger end of the audience; older kids and adults may find it somewhat
of a harder sell to sit through as there's not enough to keep them engaged
throughout.
Thursday, 1 April 2010
Leaving: Movie Review
Leaving: Movie Review
Rating: 5/10
Cast: Kristin Scott Thomas, Sergi Lopez, Yvan Attal
Director: Catherine Corsini
Kristin Scott Thomas stars in this French film about a 40 year old woman living in the south of France - and desperate for a change.
Married to a doctor and with two kids, Suzanne's decided to go back to work as a physiotherapist; her husband gives her the nod and decides to build a consulting room in their backyard.
Cue Ivan (Sergi Lopez) the odd job man who's been to jail turning up on their doorstep.
However, soon after the work begins, the pair find themselves attracted - and unable to fight their feelings.
But what begins as an affair soon engulfs five people's lives - and with disastrous consequences..
Leaving will divide you - personally I felt it's hard to feel too much sympathy for Kristin Scott Thomas Suzanne in this film - she's got everything she needs and clearly is unhappy; but the fault lies within her character rather than the film itself. Robbed of any real context of why she's so miserable in her marriage, until her husband starts to act jealously (as any wronged partner would), she's not really got much in the way of a case for the affair.
And yet, there's an undeniable chemistry between both Suzanne and Ivan - and it's this which makes this film plausible (even if you don't agree with it). Sure, she's got no financial freedom and there's a social comment here with the woman leaving her home for a Spanish blue collar worker but I didn't really feel any connection - or sympathy - to Suzanne's plight.
However, Kristin Scott Thomas puts in a strong performance as Suzanne as her plight begins to affect all around her - and it's towards the end as it starts to really unravel that she finally comes alive as a character and delivers an emotional and powerful performance - which almost makes you forgive the fact she's lied, cheated and slept with someone else.
Rating: 5/10
Cast: Kristin Scott Thomas, Sergi Lopez, Yvan Attal
Director: Catherine Corsini
Kristin Scott Thomas stars in this French film about a 40 year old woman living in the south of France - and desperate for a change.
Married to a doctor and with two kids, Suzanne's decided to go back to work as a physiotherapist; her husband gives her the nod and decides to build a consulting room in their backyard.
Cue Ivan (Sergi Lopez) the odd job man who's been to jail turning up on their doorstep.
However, soon after the work begins, the pair find themselves attracted - and unable to fight their feelings.
But what begins as an affair soon engulfs five people's lives - and with disastrous consequences..
Leaving will divide you - personally I felt it's hard to feel too much sympathy for Kristin Scott Thomas Suzanne in this film - she's got everything she needs and clearly is unhappy; but the fault lies within her character rather than the film itself. Robbed of any real context of why she's so miserable in her marriage, until her husband starts to act jealously (as any wronged partner would), she's not really got much in the way of a case for the affair.
And yet, there's an undeniable chemistry between both Suzanne and Ivan - and it's this which makes this film plausible (even if you don't agree with it). Sure, she's got no financial freedom and there's a social comment here with the woman leaving her home for a Spanish blue collar worker but I didn't really feel any connection - or sympathy - to Suzanne's plight.
However, Kristin Scott Thomas puts in a strong performance as Suzanne as her plight begins to affect all around her - and it's towards the end as it starts to really unravel that she finally comes alive as a character and delivers an emotional and powerful performance - which almost makes you forgive the fact she's lied, cheated and slept with someone else.
Nowhere Boy: Movie Review
Nowhere Boy: Movie Review
Rating: 6/10
Cast: Aaron Johnson, Anne Marie Duff, Thomas Sangster
Director: Sam Taylor-Wood
A film about John Lennon's early life is probably long over due.
The Beatles may have had a recent resurgence - but very little's ever really been committed to screen about the adolescent years of one of those behind the legacy.
Aaron Johnson stars as the teenage Lennon who's living with his aunt Mimi (a stiffly icy Kristin Scott-Thomas) - when his uncle drops dead one night, Lennon's suddenly struck by a desire to find his mum (Anne Marie Duff)
Ultimately the pair is reunited and Lennon starts to discover his musical side - and the rest as they say is history.
Except with Nowhere Boy and John Lennon in this film, that's not the case. Nowhere Boy is an interesting look into the early familial side of life of the man who would help shape the future of music.
However, it's not without its faults - at times, it feels like a kitchen sink drama as it negotiates the mother son and aunt triangle. There's an odd dynamic between Lennon and his mum Julia - it feels at times flirty - and is slightly uncomfortable to watch early on until you realize why she is like she is. It does also seem like a DVD or TV Movie - there's never really anything compelling given as a reason as to why it should be on the big screen.
That's not to say it's not good in places - 1950s life is stunningly recreated in this and the soundtrack is great.
And Johnson as Lennon is great - he manages to capture the cheekiness of Lennon's humour well and also gets the sadness down to a tee as he deals with the day to day family troubles. There are early hints of the Beatles - with Thomas Sangster (Love Actually) being given the Paul McCartney role.
But Nowhere Boy is less about the formation of the band and more about the problems Lennon faced growing up - if anything it provides a peek into a life some of us may not have known anything about.
Rating: 6/10
Cast: Aaron Johnson, Anne Marie Duff, Thomas Sangster
Director: Sam Taylor-Wood
A film about John Lennon's early life is probably long over due.
The Beatles may have had a recent resurgence - but very little's ever really been committed to screen about the adolescent years of one of those behind the legacy.
Aaron Johnson stars as the teenage Lennon who's living with his aunt Mimi (a stiffly icy Kristin Scott-Thomas) - when his uncle drops dead one night, Lennon's suddenly struck by a desire to find his mum (Anne Marie Duff)
Ultimately the pair is reunited and Lennon starts to discover his musical side - and the rest as they say is history.
Except with Nowhere Boy and John Lennon in this film, that's not the case. Nowhere Boy is an interesting look into the early familial side of life of the man who would help shape the future of music.
However, it's not without its faults - at times, it feels like a kitchen sink drama as it negotiates the mother son and aunt triangle. There's an odd dynamic between Lennon and his mum Julia - it feels at times flirty - and is slightly uncomfortable to watch early on until you realize why she is like she is. It does also seem like a DVD or TV Movie - there's never really anything compelling given as a reason as to why it should be on the big screen.
That's not to say it's not good in places - 1950s life is stunningly recreated in this and the soundtrack is great.
And Johnson as Lennon is great - he manages to capture the cheekiness of Lennon's humour well and also gets the sadness down to a tee as he deals with the day to day family troubles. There are early hints of the Beatles - with Thomas Sangster (Love Actually) being given the Paul McCartney role.
But Nowhere Boy is less about the formation of the band and more about the problems Lennon faced growing up - if anything it provides a peek into a life some of us may not have known anything about.
Wednesday, 31 March 2010
Moon: DVD Review
Moon: DVD Review
Moon
Released by Sony Home Entertainment
Rating: M
In this superb slice of intelligent sci-fi, Sam Rockwell stars as Sam Bell, an employee contracted for three years by a mining company to work on the surface of the moon to help extract helium-3 which is to be used on earth as a power source.
As the end of his stretch nears, Bell suffers an accident on the lunar surface and wakes up back inside the base, convinced he is not alone&
There's much to love about Moon - from the retro stylings of the moonbase (its sheer whites recall 2001: A Space Odyssey - as does Kevin Spacey's voicing of the robot GERTY, whose monotone talk and displays emoticons on its screen are reminiscent of HAL) -to the wonderful performance of Sam Rockwell as a disaffected Bell.
But in terms of themes, Moon is more than just scifi.
It has universal themes such as isolation, what it is to be human and how we need other people to survive - the initial opening is all about the character study and how one survives alone and millions of miles away from others before it changes into something even smarter and more existential. Rockwell continues to grow his portfolio as one of the best actors around - his multiple character emotions are brought excellently to the fore by director Jones. It's his performance which literally pivots the film - and which is so compelling, you can't take your eyes off the screen for one moment.
To simply define Moon as sci fi is to do it a disservice - to consider it more as a study of the human condition and of the big questions in life is more appropriate.
Extras: Commentary with the director, and producers, a featurette on the making and the visual effects - as well as a short film by the director Duncan Jones - all add to the experience.
Rating: 8/10
Moon
Released by Sony Home Entertainment
Rating: M
In this superb slice of intelligent sci-fi, Sam Rockwell stars as Sam Bell, an employee contracted for three years by a mining company to work on the surface of the moon to help extract helium-3 which is to be used on earth as a power source.
As the end of his stretch nears, Bell suffers an accident on the lunar surface and wakes up back inside the base, convinced he is not alone&
There's much to love about Moon - from the retro stylings of the moonbase (its sheer whites recall 2001: A Space Odyssey - as does Kevin Spacey's voicing of the robot GERTY, whose monotone talk and displays emoticons on its screen are reminiscent of HAL) -to the wonderful performance of Sam Rockwell as a disaffected Bell.
But in terms of themes, Moon is more than just scifi.
It has universal themes such as isolation, what it is to be human and how we need other people to survive - the initial opening is all about the character study and how one survives alone and millions of miles away from others before it changes into something even smarter and more existential. Rockwell continues to grow his portfolio as one of the best actors around - his multiple character emotions are brought excellently to the fore by director Jones. It's his performance which literally pivots the film - and which is so compelling, you can't take your eyes off the screen for one moment.
To simply define Moon as sci fi is to do it a disservice - to consider it more as a study of the human condition and of the big questions in life is more appropriate.
Extras: Commentary with the director, and producers, a featurette on the making and the visual effects - as well as a short film by the director Duncan Jones - all add to the experience.
Rating: 8/10
Tuesday, 30 March 2010
Orphan: DVD Review
Orphan: DVD Review
Orphan
Released by Warner Home Video
Rating: R16
It appears the scary kids are back.
Kate (Vera Farmiga) and John (Peter Saarsgard) are two parents trying to put the pieces back of their lives after losing a third child - however, the strain is showing as Kate also battles with going back on the booze and blaming herself for her youngest daughter Max's deafness after an incident involving a lake near their home.
So as they try to get back on track, they head to the local orphanage where they're immediately charmed by 9year old Russian girl, Esther.
Esther becomes a part of their lives - and splits the younger kids - with the elder Daniel wary and Max (Aryana Engineer) being overly welcoming and in thrall of her new sister.
However, it soon becomes clear that Esther is not all she seems&.
For the majority of its (slightly long) two hour running time, Orphan is racked full of suspense - with the sense of foreboding quite powerful at times.
It's quite an honest portrait of a family trying to get back to a normal life - both Farmiga and Saarsgard are compelling and realistic in their portrayal of a normal couple who are stretched to the limits by what's happened.
Of the younger kids, newcomer Aryana Engineer gives an impressive debut performance as Max (traumatized and empowered in equal measures)- but it's Isabelle Fuhrman who provides the requisite spooks and gives you the creeps as her Esther skulks around on screen.
Some will find the brooding build up a little slow in places - and at times the soundtrack pulls no punches in screeching its terrifying intentions (not always to the best effect).
Unfortunately after the end twist sucker punch, Orphan sadly has nowhere left to go and descends into a conclusion mired in clichéd horror films - but for shocks and moments where you find your nails digging into the cinema chair, Orphan delivers the necessary goods.
Extras: Additional scenes including an alternate ending don't add too much to the package - but at least there's something.
Rating: 6/10
Orphan
Released by Warner Home Video
Rating: R16
It appears the scary kids are back.
Kate (Vera Farmiga) and John (Peter Saarsgard) are two parents trying to put the pieces back of their lives after losing a third child - however, the strain is showing as Kate also battles with going back on the booze and blaming herself for her youngest daughter Max's deafness after an incident involving a lake near their home.
So as they try to get back on track, they head to the local orphanage where they're immediately charmed by 9year old Russian girl, Esther.
Esther becomes a part of their lives - and splits the younger kids - with the elder Daniel wary and Max (Aryana Engineer) being overly welcoming and in thrall of her new sister.
However, it soon becomes clear that Esther is not all she seems&.
For the majority of its (slightly long) two hour running time, Orphan is racked full of suspense - with the sense of foreboding quite powerful at times.
It's quite an honest portrait of a family trying to get back to a normal life - both Farmiga and Saarsgard are compelling and realistic in their portrayal of a normal couple who are stretched to the limits by what's happened.
Of the younger kids, newcomer Aryana Engineer gives an impressive debut performance as Max (traumatized and empowered in equal measures)- but it's Isabelle Fuhrman who provides the requisite spooks and gives you the creeps as her Esther skulks around on screen.
Some will find the brooding build up a little slow in places - and at times the soundtrack pulls no punches in screeching its terrifying intentions (not always to the best effect).
Unfortunately after the end twist sucker punch, Orphan sadly has nowhere left to go and descends into a conclusion mired in clichéd horror films - but for shocks and moments where you find your nails digging into the cinema chair, Orphan delivers the necessary goods.
Extras: Additional scenes including an alternate ending don't add too much to the package - but at least there's something.
Rating: 6/10
Monday, 29 March 2010
My Life In Ruins: DVD Review
My Life In Ruins: DVD Review
My Life In Ruins
Released by Roadshow Entertainment
Rating: PG
The team behind the eternally successful My Big Fat Greek Wedding, have reteamed for this frothy rom com about a tour guide working in Greece.
Nia Vardalos returns and is this time playing Georgia, a history professor who is now slumming it as a tour guide for a dodgy tour company in Greece. Georgia's not doing too well - preferring to concentrate her tours on the architecture, despite her groups insisting they see the tacky tourist traps while out and about.
However, Georgia's about to give up - unlucky in love, unlucky in life, she's decided enough's enough. Her competitor tour guide (played by British impersonator Alistair McGowan) is determined to drive her out - so when Georgia's latest tour group turns up, he seizes his chance.
What can you say about My Life In Ruins? Disappointing is perhaps the politest way to describe this piece of romantic fluff which will anger the sensible with its awful racial stereotyping and distinctly unfunny script.
Vardalos does ok; and even with the support of the ever dependable Richard Dreyfuss, she can't do much to raise this from the mire (which is bizarre as she wrote most of it as well).
Perhaps the best thing about My Life In Ruins is the Greek scenery - some of the ancient monuments look just stunning on screen - however, the jokes about their bus driver's name (he's called Poupi) do little to raise the cultural bar.
Extras: Audio commentaries by Vardalos, director and writer as well as deleted scenes and a featurette entitled Everybody Loves Poupi should tell you everything you need to know about this.
Rating: 3/10
My Life In Ruins
Released by Roadshow Entertainment
Rating: PG
The team behind the eternally successful My Big Fat Greek Wedding, have reteamed for this frothy rom com about a tour guide working in Greece.
Nia Vardalos returns and is this time playing Georgia, a history professor who is now slumming it as a tour guide for a dodgy tour company in Greece. Georgia's not doing too well - preferring to concentrate her tours on the architecture, despite her groups insisting they see the tacky tourist traps while out and about.
However, Georgia's about to give up - unlucky in love, unlucky in life, she's decided enough's enough. Her competitor tour guide (played by British impersonator Alistair McGowan) is determined to drive her out - so when Georgia's latest tour group turns up, he seizes his chance.
What can you say about My Life In Ruins? Disappointing is perhaps the politest way to describe this piece of romantic fluff which will anger the sensible with its awful racial stereotyping and distinctly unfunny script.
Vardalos does ok; and even with the support of the ever dependable Richard Dreyfuss, she can't do much to raise this from the mire (which is bizarre as she wrote most of it as well).
Perhaps the best thing about My Life In Ruins is the Greek scenery - some of the ancient monuments look just stunning on screen - however, the jokes about their bus driver's name (he's called Poupi) do little to raise the cultural bar.
Extras: Audio commentaries by Vardalos, director and writer as well as deleted scenes and a featurette entitled Everybody Loves Poupi should tell you everything you need to know about this.
Rating: 3/10
Sunday, 28 March 2010
Ponyo: DVD Review
Ponyo: DVD Review
Ponyo
Released by Madman Entertainment
Rating: G
Cast: Frankie Jonas, Tina Fey, Noah Cyrus, Liam Neeson, Matt Damon, Cate Blanchett
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
From the renowned animation stable of Studio Ghibli - the studio which bought you Howl's Moving Castle, comes Ponyo.
Or to give it its full title - Ponyo on a Cliff By The Sea.
A 5-year-old boy, Sosuke (voiced by Frankie Jonas) adopts a goldfish (the titular Ponyo played by Noah Cyrus)when she emerges from the sea one day having escaped from her father, the king of the ocean (voiced by Liam Neeson.)
However their friendship is torn apart as quickly as it's begun after the seas reclaim her. But Ponyo works a way out to become human and return to her friend - yet, her desire could signal the end of the world.
Studio Ghibli animation is always a delight - and this latest offering from the stable of Hayao Miyazaki is no exception. It first wowed me at the New Zealand International Film Festival and has done it again on the small screen - even if it is the American dubbed one with major actors in the roles. Shame, there's no sign yet of the Japanese version in all its majesty.
It's a truly enchanting tale - quite beautifully animated with traditional drawings as opposed to the computer animation so prevalent in today's cinematic world. Ponyo has a pure heart and joy about her - even when a tsunami threatens to engulf a town, the visual of Ponyo, in her human form, skipping over the waves brings a smile to your face.
A work of pure fantasy and one which shows there's plenty of life left in Studio Ghibli - let's hope Miyazaki has got many more tales in mind.
Rating: 8/10
Ponyo
Released by Madman Entertainment
Rating: G
Cast: Frankie Jonas, Tina Fey, Noah Cyrus, Liam Neeson, Matt Damon, Cate Blanchett
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
From the renowned animation stable of Studio Ghibli - the studio which bought you Howl's Moving Castle, comes Ponyo.
Or to give it its full title - Ponyo on a Cliff By The Sea.
A 5-year-old boy, Sosuke (voiced by Frankie Jonas) adopts a goldfish (the titular Ponyo played by Noah Cyrus)when she emerges from the sea one day having escaped from her father, the king of the ocean (voiced by Liam Neeson.)
However their friendship is torn apart as quickly as it's begun after the seas reclaim her. But Ponyo works a way out to become human and return to her friend - yet, her desire could signal the end of the world.
Studio Ghibli animation is always a delight - and this latest offering from the stable of Hayao Miyazaki is no exception. It first wowed me at the New Zealand International Film Festival and has done it again on the small screen - even if it is the American dubbed one with major actors in the roles. Shame, there's no sign yet of the Japanese version in all its majesty.
It's a truly enchanting tale - quite beautifully animated with traditional drawings as opposed to the computer animation so prevalent in today's cinematic world. Ponyo has a pure heart and joy about her - even when a tsunami threatens to engulf a town, the visual of Ponyo, in her human form, skipping over the waves brings a smile to your face.
A work of pure fantasy and one which shows there's plenty of life left in Studio Ghibli - let's hope Miyazaki has got many more tales in mind.
Rating: 8/10
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