Where The Wild Things Are: DVD Review
Where The Wild Things Are
Released by Roadshow
Entertainment
Rating: PG
Bursting onto the small screen is the adaptation of the perennially popular
book Where The Wild Things Are.
Max is your typical
kid - rambunctious, lacking in boundaries and discipline and blessed with a
fiercely imaginative mind.
He spends his time
building igloos in the snow and wandering around in a wolf costume.
One day after a fight and heated argument with his
mum, he runs off, gets in a boat and heads to an island. That island is Where
The Wild Things live - and under the cover of darkness, he meets Carol (James
Gandolfini) and the rest of the gang - a group of 10 foot tall hairy creatures
wreaking havoc for no reason.
Granted, there's not
much story to build on from the book but what the ever creative director Spike
Jonze has dreamt up is stunning in places - and his decision to turn the Wild
Things into toweringly tall animatronic full suits (with creatures made by Jim
Henson's Creature Shop) is nothing short of cinematic genius.
Shot with a handheld camera, the film is full of beautiful visuals -
as well as nightmarish visions and will amaze you from the very moment the Wild
Things appear on the screen. They look like cuddly puppets in places - but
Carol's temperamental behaviour and tantrums which rock Max's world are
brilliantly brought to life by the vocal work of James Gandolfini of Sopranos
fame. In fact, it's possible to say Gandolfini's Carol is a creature version of
his Tony Soprano - charming and charismatic but with the capability of turning
at just the bat of an eyelid.
Where The Wild Things
Are is a charming and sweet piece which will win you over.
Rating: 7/10
Wednesday, 12 May 2010
Tuesday, 11 May 2010
Red Cliff: DVD Review
Red Cliff: DVD Review
The Battle of Red Cliff
Rating: M
Cast: Tony Leung, Takeshi Kaneshiro
Released by Warner Home Video
Director John Woo returns to Chinese soil with millions of dollars in Red Cliff, a historical epic about Cao Cao (Zhang Fengyi), and the scheming Prime Minister to the Han dynasty Emperor.
The Prime Minister is leading a massive Northern army to quell the rebel warlords of the South.
Filled with sumptuous battle scenes and brutal recreations of the battles which dominated Chinese history, Red Cliff is in places a visual treat. Don't get me wrong, while it looks gorgeous - it is probably a dream film for those who want to study how wars were conducted in years gone by.
But it's ever so slightly hollow - I wasn't quite sure whether some of the close ups of the evil Prime Minister laughing sinisterly were ironic - because if not, they certainly verge on the hammy.
The Battle of Red Cliff is a good story which appears to have been told with a set formula in mind and that hasn't helped.
That said, the battle scenes are quite stunning in places (even if it does come with Woo's trademark slow mo shots)- Red Cliff is an interesting film which doesn't quite engage 100% but as a spectacle it looks fabulous.
Extras: Interview with director John Woo, and a behind the scenes doco
Rating: 6/10
The Battle of Red Cliff
Rating: M
Cast: Tony Leung, Takeshi Kaneshiro
Released by Warner Home Video
Director John Woo returns to Chinese soil with millions of dollars in Red Cliff, a historical epic about Cao Cao (Zhang Fengyi), and the scheming Prime Minister to the Han dynasty Emperor.
The Prime Minister is leading a massive Northern army to quell the rebel warlords of the South.
Filled with sumptuous battle scenes and brutal recreations of the battles which dominated Chinese history, Red Cliff is in places a visual treat. Don't get me wrong, while it looks gorgeous - it is probably a dream film for those who want to study how wars were conducted in years gone by.
But it's ever so slightly hollow - I wasn't quite sure whether some of the close ups of the evil Prime Minister laughing sinisterly were ironic - because if not, they certainly verge on the hammy.
The Battle of Red Cliff is a good story which appears to have been told with a set formula in mind and that hasn't helped.
That said, the battle scenes are quite stunning in places (even if it does come with Woo's trademark slow mo shots)- Red Cliff is an interesting film which doesn't quite engage 100% but as a spectacle it looks fabulous.
Extras: Interview with director John Woo, and a behind the scenes doco
Rating: 6/10
Friday, 7 May 2010
The Blind Side: Movie Review
The Blind Side: Movie Review
Rating: 5/10
Cast: Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, Quinton Aaron, Jae Head, Kathy Bates
Director: John Lee Hancock
So the film that netted Sandra Bullock an Oscar on the same weekend as she scored a Razzie is finally upon us.
Based on a 2006 book, The Blind Side is the story of Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron), a towering gentle giant who's from the wrong side of Memphis. Homeless, apparent family-less and with no prospects at all, Michael's life is changed when his path one day accidentally crosses with Sandra Bullock's brassy, Southern sassy Leigh Anne Tuohy.
The Tuohys are from the right side of town; Leigh Anne's husband owns a heap of Taco Bells and with their Christian way of life and ethics, they never want for anything.
So in the true spirit of altruism, the Tuohys take in Michael and begin to offer him some hope - and some of that hope gives him the belief he needs to play American football.
I know exactly what The Blind Side is aiming for - it has aspirations to be inspirational and is clearly pitching purely and simply at uplifting. But sadly, personally it didn't strike the chord.
Sandra Bullock is good as Leigh Anne but I couldn't shake the feeling having seen other Oscar nominated performances that she didn't quite deserve to walk off with the statuette - she does ballsy and headstrong with a heart well but is it Oscar winning? Well that's for debate I guess.
The supporting performances are good - including Quinton Aaron who does a reasonable job of portraying the down on his luck kid in need of a break.
I can see why The Blind Side did well in America and I can see how it will resonate with some here but I didn't really feel like I was watching something that was told originally; it follows a very set formula and is entirely predictable in its story - although there was a hint of something a bit more of a moral at the end (which was left unexplored), sadly The Blind Side didn't give me the feel good factor that had been promised.
Rating: 5/10
Cast: Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, Quinton Aaron, Jae Head, Kathy Bates
Director: John Lee Hancock
So the film that netted Sandra Bullock an Oscar on the same weekend as she scored a Razzie is finally upon us.
Based on a 2006 book, The Blind Side is the story of Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron), a towering gentle giant who's from the wrong side of Memphis. Homeless, apparent family-less and with no prospects at all, Michael's life is changed when his path one day accidentally crosses with Sandra Bullock's brassy, Southern sassy Leigh Anne Tuohy.
The Tuohys are from the right side of town; Leigh Anne's husband owns a heap of Taco Bells and with their Christian way of life and ethics, they never want for anything.
So in the true spirit of altruism, the Tuohys take in Michael and begin to offer him some hope - and some of that hope gives him the belief he needs to play American football.
I know exactly what The Blind Side is aiming for - it has aspirations to be inspirational and is clearly pitching purely and simply at uplifting. But sadly, personally it didn't strike the chord.
Sandra Bullock is good as Leigh Anne but I couldn't shake the feeling having seen other Oscar nominated performances that she didn't quite deserve to walk off with the statuette - she does ballsy and headstrong with a heart well but is it Oscar winning? Well that's for debate I guess.
The supporting performances are good - including Quinton Aaron who does a reasonable job of portraying the down on his luck kid in need of a break.
I can see why The Blind Side did well in America and I can see how it will resonate with some here but I didn't really feel like I was watching something that was told originally; it follows a very set formula and is entirely predictable in its story - although there was a hint of something a bit more of a moral at the end (which was left unexplored), sadly The Blind Side didn't give me the feel good factor that had been promised.
Thursday, 6 May 2010
A Single Man: Movie Review
A Single Man: Movie Review
Rating: 8/10
Cast: Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, Nicholas Hoult, Matthew Goode
Director: Tom Ford
Finally, the Oscar films are making their way to our cinemas.
The latest is A Single Man, based on the book of the same name, the directorial debut of Tom Ford and the film which saw plaudits rained down upon its leading actor, Colin Firth.
Firth stars as Professor George Falconer, a gay English professor who lives in 1960s Southern California. As the film begins - and via viewers' flashback, he's told by a phone call that his long term partner Jim (Goode) has been killed in a car crash.
Struggling to find any reason to carry on after the death of his 16 year relationship, and reflecting on his past and seemingly empty future, Falconer sets about planning for the end of his life via suicide.
What follows are his attempts to say goodbye and bring some order to his life at the end - and the seemingly mundane duties of his last day at college, dinner with his old friend Charlie (Julianne Moore) and drinks with a student Kenny (About a Boy's Nicholas Hoult) all bring a special significance to Falconer.
A Single Man is a stylistically heavy film - it won't surprise you to learn that it's from the same production design team who make TV's Mad Men; in fact a lot of the stylish recreations of the time are perfectly encapsulated on the screen.
But Ford's made a ham fist of some of his direction - there's plenty of close up scenes focusing on eyes; be it of people or in one case of a massive poster; these seem odd distractions and motifs which don't really fit in.
Likewise Nicholas Hoult's Kenny appears to have been airbrushed to within an inch of his life; with his spray tan and bleached teeth, it's like watching a mannequin - again, there's nothing wrong with his performance, but it just distracts from the overall feel.
However - those are just minor niggles because A Single Man is Colin Firth's film. I'll freely admit I've never really rated him (sorry ladies, I know many of you are thinking of that scene from Pride and Prejudice) as an actor - but after this performance, I really am going to have to re-evaluate him because he's sensational and sears on the screen in this.
One scene when he's told of Jim's death is just stunning to watch; in just a few moments Firth conveys every conceivable emotion you'd expect of someone who's just been told their one true love has died; it's heartbreaking to watch and yet mesmerizing to see him perform so well. Firth commands your attention and never once betrays that commitment.
Where A Single Man also works so well is in its portrayal of Jim and George's relationship - never once is it in your face; it's subtle, tender and loving, a relationship to aspire to and thanks to that, you fully understand George's emotive response to his loss.
A Single Man is a slice of sophisticated cinema; it's slick (perhaps a little too much in places) but thanks to Colin Firth, it's a hypnotic film which will be cherished by many.
Rating: 8/10
Cast: Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, Nicholas Hoult, Matthew Goode
Director: Tom Ford
Finally, the Oscar films are making their way to our cinemas.
The latest is A Single Man, based on the book of the same name, the directorial debut of Tom Ford and the film which saw plaudits rained down upon its leading actor, Colin Firth.
Firth stars as Professor George Falconer, a gay English professor who lives in 1960s Southern California. As the film begins - and via viewers' flashback, he's told by a phone call that his long term partner Jim (Goode) has been killed in a car crash.
Struggling to find any reason to carry on after the death of his 16 year relationship, and reflecting on his past and seemingly empty future, Falconer sets about planning for the end of his life via suicide.
What follows are his attempts to say goodbye and bring some order to his life at the end - and the seemingly mundane duties of his last day at college, dinner with his old friend Charlie (Julianne Moore) and drinks with a student Kenny (About a Boy's Nicholas Hoult) all bring a special significance to Falconer.
A Single Man is a stylistically heavy film - it won't surprise you to learn that it's from the same production design team who make TV's Mad Men; in fact a lot of the stylish recreations of the time are perfectly encapsulated on the screen.
But Ford's made a ham fist of some of his direction - there's plenty of close up scenes focusing on eyes; be it of people or in one case of a massive poster; these seem odd distractions and motifs which don't really fit in.
Likewise Nicholas Hoult's Kenny appears to have been airbrushed to within an inch of his life; with his spray tan and bleached teeth, it's like watching a mannequin - again, there's nothing wrong with his performance, but it just distracts from the overall feel.
However - those are just minor niggles because A Single Man is Colin Firth's film. I'll freely admit I've never really rated him (sorry ladies, I know many of you are thinking of that scene from Pride and Prejudice) as an actor - but after this performance, I really am going to have to re-evaluate him because he's sensational and sears on the screen in this.
One scene when he's told of Jim's death is just stunning to watch; in just a few moments Firth conveys every conceivable emotion you'd expect of someone who's just been told their one true love has died; it's heartbreaking to watch and yet mesmerizing to see him perform so well. Firth commands your attention and never once betrays that commitment.
Where A Single Man also works so well is in its portrayal of Jim and George's relationship - never once is it in your face; it's subtle, tender and loving, a relationship to aspire to and thanks to that, you fully understand George's emotive response to his loss.
A Single Man is a slice of sophisticated cinema; it's slick (perhaps a little too much in places) but thanks to Colin Firth, it's a hypnotic film which will be cherished by many.
New York, I Love You: Movie Review
New York, I Love You: Movie Review
Rating: 6/10
Cast: Natalie Portman, Bradley Cooper, Rachel Bilson, Cloris Leachman - and a host more
Director: Natalie Portman, Anthony Minghella - and a host more
New York - a diverse city and a collection of cultures.
New York, I Love You - a diverse collection of stories all tied together by the city they're set in. And a sequel of sorts to Paris, Je T'Aime.
This film's comprised of 11 stories of around 10 minutes long and they cover a whole range of story topics - the only ever common theme is NY itself.
And it's not just a wealth of acting talent involved too, there's a whole heap of directors - including the late Anthony Minghella (to whom the film's dedicated.)
As with any collection of anthologies and like a box of chocolates, there's some good ones and some duds that you tolerate. But as the stories themselves are only 10 minutes long, it means if you're ever bored or irritated by one of them, another one's knocking in the wings waiting for your attention.
Some are more successful than others - I loved the sparkle and sleight of hand of the story of Anton Yelchin's dumped boyfriend off to the prom; thanks to some crackle and rug from under your feet moments, there's a lot to love about this story where not everything is what it seems.
Likewise, the story of OAPs Abe and Mitzie has a universality around it - and many of us will recognise something of themselves in their tale.
The less successful segments sadly make the 10 minutes a difficult ask - Orlando Bloom and Christina Ricci's tale of books and connections doesn't work as well as it could; but to be honest the diamonds outweigh the lumps of coal.
Sure, there are some common links to these vignettes; characters who drop in and out of frames - but each story is its own beast.
Stringed together by some obligatory shots (and at times unoriginal shots) of the skylines, of life in the city, of shapes and jazz New York I Love You has excellently conveyed the feel of the Big Apple and will find you lost in them for around 100 minutes.
Rating: 6/10
Cast: Natalie Portman, Bradley Cooper, Rachel Bilson, Cloris Leachman - and a host more
Director: Natalie Portman, Anthony Minghella - and a host more
New York - a diverse city and a collection of cultures.
New York, I Love You - a diverse collection of stories all tied together by the city they're set in. And a sequel of sorts to Paris, Je T'Aime.
This film's comprised of 11 stories of around 10 minutes long and they cover a whole range of story topics - the only ever common theme is NY itself.
And it's not just a wealth of acting talent involved too, there's a whole heap of directors - including the late Anthony Minghella (to whom the film's dedicated.)
As with any collection of anthologies and like a box of chocolates, there's some good ones and some duds that you tolerate. But as the stories themselves are only 10 minutes long, it means if you're ever bored or irritated by one of them, another one's knocking in the wings waiting for your attention.
Some are more successful than others - I loved the sparkle and sleight of hand of the story of Anton Yelchin's dumped boyfriend off to the prom; thanks to some crackle and rug from under your feet moments, there's a lot to love about this story where not everything is what it seems.
Likewise, the story of OAPs Abe and Mitzie has a universality around it - and many of us will recognise something of themselves in their tale.
The less successful segments sadly make the 10 minutes a difficult ask - Orlando Bloom and Christina Ricci's tale of books and connections doesn't work as well as it could; but to be honest the diamonds outweigh the lumps of coal.
Sure, there are some common links to these vignettes; characters who drop in and out of frames - but each story is its own beast.
Stringed together by some obligatory shots (and at times unoriginal shots) of the skylines, of life in the city, of shapes and jazz New York I Love You has excellently conveyed the feel of the Big Apple and will find you lost in them for around 100 minutes.
The Hedgehog: Movie Review
The Hedgehog: Movie Review
Rating: 6/10
Cast: Josiane Balasko, Togo Igawa, Garance Le Guillermic
Director: Mona Achache
The Hedgehog aka Le herisson is a French film about a Parisian family living in an apartment block.
11 year old Paloma (Le Guillermic) is a deadly serious child - brought up within a rich family, she's desperate to prevent her life turning into a stuffy rich person. So she decides to kill herself when she's 12 - and spends the intervening time with a hand held camera taping everything around her.
Renee (Balasko) is the concierge of the building; a quiet, unnoticeable woman who performs her chores without complaining and never steps out of line.
However, under that façade lies the truth about Renee- and when both Paloma and Renee meet new neighbour Mr Ozu (Igawa) their lives are changed forever.
The Hedgehog is a sentimental story, which has, according to the director, a kind of fairy tale theme. Paloma is fiercely intelligent and seems at odds with the rest of the world around her. During Paloma's filming, she captures the mundanity of life around her and wonderfully articulates why she wants out. There's a good solid performance from both the actors who play Paloma and Renee and you do get engaged in the story.
It's a story which rewards investment in the characters - and certainly the last 10 minutes packs an emotional punch.
There's also some wonderful animation which appears onscreen from time to time and adds a lot to overall feel of the film - it's not quirky or irritating; it simply allows a bit more depth into this story about friendship.
The Hedgehog is an odd curio of a film - you may actually find yourself more moved than you anticipated as it nears its end.
Rating: 6/10
Cast: Josiane Balasko, Togo Igawa, Garance Le Guillermic
Director: Mona Achache
The Hedgehog aka Le herisson is a French film about a Parisian family living in an apartment block.
11 year old Paloma (Le Guillermic) is a deadly serious child - brought up within a rich family, she's desperate to prevent her life turning into a stuffy rich person. So she decides to kill herself when she's 12 - and spends the intervening time with a hand held camera taping everything around her.
Renee (Balasko) is the concierge of the building; a quiet, unnoticeable woman who performs her chores without complaining and never steps out of line.
However, under that façade lies the truth about Renee- and when both Paloma and Renee meet new neighbour Mr Ozu (Igawa) their lives are changed forever.
The Hedgehog is a sentimental story, which has, according to the director, a kind of fairy tale theme. Paloma is fiercely intelligent and seems at odds with the rest of the world around her. During Paloma's filming, she captures the mundanity of life around her and wonderfully articulates why she wants out. There's a good solid performance from both the actors who play Paloma and Renee and you do get engaged in the story.
It's a story which rewards investment in the characters - and certainly the last 10 minutes packs an emotional punch.
There's also some wonderful animation which appears onscreen from time to time and adds a lot to overall feel of the film - it's not quirky or irritating; it simply allows a bit more depth into this story about friendship.
The Hedgehog is an odd curio of a film - you may actually find yourself more moved than you anticipated as it nears its end.
Thursday, 29 April 2010
Gentlemen Broncos: Movie Review
Gentlemen Broncos: Movie Review
Rating: 3/10
Cast: Jemaine Clement, Sam Rockwell, Michael Angarano, Jennifer Coolidge
Director: Jared Hess
So the director of Napoleon Dynamite returns with this film showing nationwide in the World Cinema Showcase.
Set in mid town America, Angarano stars as aspiring sci fi teen author, Benjamin Purvis, home schooled and naïve in the ways of the world. Sent to a writers' camp, Purvis meets his hero, esteemed sci fi author Ronald Chevalier (Clement) and enters his manuscript (the terribly titled Yeast Lords) into a competition to win a deal.
However, Chevalier is struggling to find inspiration for his next book - and so, inspired by Purvis' Yeast Lords, he promptly plaigarises the whole thing.
But at the same time, Benjamin's sold the story to some local (terrible) film-makers and when their movie comes out, a creative showdown's on the way.
Gentlemen Broncos is quite frankly irritating. With prevalent quirky characters who are just annoying rather than wonderful, it quickly begins to grate. Every single one involved on the screen is blessed with irritations rather than nuances which would make them lovable.
Sam Rockwell makes good of his role as the star of Yeast Lords, in the comic reinterpretations of both Chevalier and Purvis' books - yet, these recreations mock the terrible sci fi adaptations and just look awful. I understand it's supposed to be a tribute to the comic and awful pulp scifi world, but after seeing scenes of pink vomit, dive bombing stags and naff costumes, it just cloys.
Thank goodness then for Jemaine Clement, the shining beacon from within the mess. His Ronal Chevalier (who sounds like Alan Rickman at times) is destined to be a cult character, with easily quotable lines from within his New Age mantra just waiting to be embraced by the masses.
It's just unfortunate that the rest of the film is such a disappointment and a misfire.
Rating: 3/10
Cast: Jemaine Clement, Sam Rockwell, Michael Angarano, Jennifer Coolidge
Director: Jared Hess
So the director of Napoleon Dynamite returns with this film showing nationwide in the World Cinema Showcase.
Set in mid town America, Angarano stars as aspiring sci fi teen author, Benjamin Purvis, home schooled and naïve in the ways of the world. Sent to a writers' camp, Purvis meets his hero, esteemed sci fi author Ronald Chevalier (Clement) and enters his manuscript (the terribly titled Yeast Lords) into a competition to win a deal.
However, Chevalier is struggling to find inspiration for his next book - and so, inspired by Purvis' Yeast Lords, he promptly plaigarises the whole thing.
But at the same time, Benjamin's sold the story to some local (terrible) film-makers and when their movie comes out, a creative showdown's on the way.
Gentlemen Broncos is quite frankly irritating. With prevalent quirky characters who are just annoying rather than wonderful, it quickly begins to grate. Every single one involved on the screen is blessed with irritations rather than nuances which would make them lovable.
Sam Rockwell makes good of his role as the star of Yeast Lords, in the comic reinterpretations of both Chevalier and Purvis' books - yet, these recreations mock the terrible sci fi adaptations and just look awful. I understand it's supposed to be a tribute to the comic and awful pulp scifi world, but after seeing scenes of pink vomit, dive bombing stags and naff costumes, it just cloys.
Thank goodness then for Jemaine Clement, the shining beacon from within the mess. His Ronal Chevalier (who sounds like Alan Rickman at times) is destined to be a cult character, with easily quotable lines from within his New Age mantra just waiting to be embraced by the masses.
It's just unfortunate that the rest of the film is such a disappointment and a misfire.
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