Young Adult: Movie Review

Young Adult

Cast: Charlize Theron, Patrick Wilson, Patton Oswalt

Here comes the anti heroine.

Charlize Theron stars as Mavis Gary, an American young adult writer whose life isn’t exactly going the way perhaps her popularity in high school might have suggested.

One day, when she receives an email telling her of the birth of her high school sweetheart Buddy’s latest baby, she decides enough is enough and sets out to reclaim him.

The only problem is that Buddy’s actually quite happily married and unaware of Mavis’ intentions….


Young Adult is an odd film – written by Diablo Cody who brought us Juno (along with Reitman), the script does sparkle with some hipster speak here and there but it’s not exactly that kind of comic film; it’s a very dry, very cynical and slightly oddball look at someone who can’t bring themselves to grow up.

However, Theron is impressive in the role – and you do end up questioning her state of mind as she vehemently pushes on to try and win Buddy back despite everyone’s warnings that he’s quite happy where he is. Theron manages to push this latest role into the “sadly deluded but played quite seriously” territory so it’s an uneasy watch at times to be frank. One scene, at Buddy’s family christening, borders so closely on an intervention into Mavis’ life that you’re not sure whether it’s tragedy or very very dark humour on display.

The hitherto only known as Remy the Rat from Ratatouille, Patton Oswalt deserves a mention too for his role as crippled Matt Freehauf, who forms an uneasy friendship with Mavis. There’s tenderness and heart to his turn as well as sadness at a life ruined by one moment in high school.

Ultimately, Young Adult won’t be to everyone’s tastes – but it’s quirky enough and well acted that it has a curio factor – and could also see some award glory for Theron’s role. There’s an uncomfortable rawness which may strike a chord with some – and others will find it a little too aloof to engage with.

Rating:

New Resident Evil trailer - and new game confirmed!

It's a Resident Evil kind of day it would appear.

In a double whammy of announcements, the new trailer for the next Res Evil film's dropped this morning.

The wildly successful film franchise adaptation that has grossed nearly $700 million worldwide to the  popular video game series, Resident Evil, returns in its highly anticipated fifth installment, RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION in state-of-the art 3D.

The Umbrella Corporation’s deadly T-virus continues to ravage the Earth, transforming the global population into legions of the flesh eating Undead. The human race’s last and only hope, ALICE (Milla Jovovich), awakens in the heart of Umbrella's most clandestine operations facility and unveils more of her mysterious past as she delves further into the complex. Without a safe haven, Alice continues to hunt those responsible for the outbreak; a chase that takes her from Tokyo to New York, Washington, D.C. and Moscow, culminating in a mind-blowing revelation that will force her to rethink everything that she once thought to be true. Aided by newfound allies and familiar friends, Alice must fight to survive long enough to escape a hostile world on the brink of oblivion.

The countdown has begun....

Resident Evil Retribution hits NZ cinemas on October 11th, 2012.
Watch the Resident Evil Retribution trailer here.

Not to be outdone, Capcom's announced something gaming fans will be excited about too - another Resident Evil game...

It's announced this morning that Resident Evil™6 is in full development and scheduled for release on the Xbox360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft® and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system on November 20, 2012 with a Windows PC version to follow.
The release says:

"Blending action and survival horror, this latest instalment in the multi-million selling franchise, is the most ambitious, immersive and feature rich title of the series to date and promises to be the dramatic horror experience of the year. Resident Evil 6 portrays a world where an escalation in bioterrorist attacks across the globe has led to widespread fear among the population.
In an attempt to quell the panic and curb the bioterrorist activity the President of the United States has decided to speak to the nation but not before the very location of the address itself comes under attack. With the President’s safety compromised the situation for the rest of the world seems hopeless.
In a first for the franchise, Resident Evil 6 sees series favourites Leon S. Kennedy and Chris Redfield come together to face this unprecedented threat. They will be joined by new characters, each with their own unique perspective and involvement in this relentless dramatic horror experience enacted on a global scale." 

Since the landmark release of the first Resident Evil videogame in 1996, games with the Resident Evil tag has sold worldwide over 47 million units, while the live action movies starring Milla Jovovich have grossed in excess of $525 million dollars at the box office.   

Here's the game trailer:

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy: Movie Review

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

Cast: Gary Oldman, Benedict Cumberbatch, John Hurt, Toby Jones, Tom Hardy, Colin Firth, Mark Strong, Ciaran Hinds

Based on the book by John le Carre and adapted for a seven part BBC series, this latest release is an espionage film which is being tipped for Oscar success shortly.

Oldman stars as George Smiley, a retired British spy who's asked to investigate the possibility of a Soviet mole high up in British Intelligence (nicknamed The Circus) in the 1970s.

The head of intelligence Control (John Hurt) believes the mole is one of the four people who report directly to him and has his suspicions given credence after the shooting of one of their own while investigating his claims.

But as Smiley begins to investigate, he discovers the conspiracy is a lot deeper than he expected and when spy Ricky Tan (Tom Hardy) returns after apparently defecting to Russia, the web grows tighter.

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy is not a film for those who like quick fix entertainment; it's a brilliantly crafted piece of paranoia and suspicion which rewards engrossing viewing and those who like a complex plot. Perhaps, unfortunately it is a little dense at times - though that could be more of a reflection on audiences who don't traditionally lap up this kind of material.

Thankfully, riveting performances from an extremely strong cast, led superbly by Gary Oldman, mean you can't actually tear your eyes away. Each of them is given their individual moment to shine as well. Of the group, Benedict Cumberbatch's spy is the stand out performer and although the rest of the cast all get their time, it's Cumberbatch (the latest Sherlock) who really breaks through here.

The 1970s of Britain are superbly recreated with the drab browns and greys and attention to period details being spot on. It's also stunningly shot - but it's Gary Oldman who really shines in this adaptation which pours more importance on looks and stares rather than words and exposition.

Oldman brings a nuanced and textured take to the spy who was so definitively played by Alec Guinness back in the 1970s. There's also a cruelty lurking under his precise veneer which you're never quite sure is going to break out at any moment.

All in all, in a good way, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy feels like an old fashioned espionage film - it's suspenseful and masterful and an intelligent night out at the cinema. And with 11 BAFTA nominations under its belt this week, it's clearly heading for the awards.

RATING:

Sione's 2: Unfinished Business: Movie Review

Sione's 2: Unfinished Business

Cast: Oscar Kightley, Robbie Magasiva, Pua Magasiva, Shimpal Lelisi, Iaheto Ah Hi, David Fane

Five years after Sione's Wedding hit the cinemas and swept to box office glory, there's a sequel (potentially the first in New Zealand cinema history).

When it ended last time, the gang of Michael, Albert, Stanley and Sefa had all found women and contentment to take to Sione's Wedding and it looked as if they were all back on track.

Now, the boys are back and reunited in a quest from their minister to find errant friend Bolo (David Fane) who's needed back in their group after an unexpected turn of events.

But as the group tries to find one Samoan in Auckland, it soon becomes clear that they're not as sorted as they thought they were.

Does lightning strike in the same place twice?

That's what the makers of Sione's 2 will be hoping when it comes to the box office but it has to be said on the basis of this film, they may be somewhat disappointed.

The Duckrockers' latest outing is an unfortunately flat, uneven and at times, unfunny affair. And before you claim it's a case of critic's tall poppy syndrome after the success of the first, it's really not like that it all.

The problem is that there just aren't enough laughs to carry the film as we follow the guys' quest to once again grow up; jokes reference living in the suburbs of Auckland's North Shore as opposed to sticking to the inner city. The one highlight is a showdown between the Duckrockers and Albert's workmates, who call themselves The Adjusters (they're in insurance) on K Road at night which is very, very funny.

Ultimately Sione's 2 is a disappointment and some of the twists and turns may leave some of the audience feeling they've been a little robbed. Granted the original fans may flock to see this - but there's a real feeling this film, despite all the best efforts of all involved, may not reach the successes of the first - and that's a real shame.

RATING:

Journey 2 The Mysterious Island: Movie Review

Journey 2 The Mysterious Island

Cast: Josh Hutcherson, Dwayne Johnson, Luis Guzman, Vanessa Hudgens, Michael Caine

Director: Brad Peyton

Back to the world of the fantasy lost island film genre we go after the success of Journey To the Centre of the Earth a couple of years ago.

This time around, when rebellious teenager Sean Anderson (Hutcherson) gets a coded distress signal from an island which shouldn’t exist, he’s convinced it’s his grandfather Alexander trying to get in touch.

But Sean’s faced with a couple of problems – a stepfather Hank (Dwayne”The Rock” Johnson) who’s an embarrassment as far as Sean’s concerned – and a lack of transport to help him get to the South Pacific.

So, when Hank helps decode the message, Sean “lets” the stepdad come along – and on the way, the duo hook up with Luis Guzman’s Gabato, the only helicopter pilot willing to fly to the island – and Gabato’s daughter -and potential love interest for Sean – Kailani (Vanessa Hudgens).

However, when the quartet finds the island, they discover their time will be cut fatally short as it’s sinking and if they’re unable to make their way off, they’ll be stranded forever….

Journey 2 The Mysterious Island skews young – a family with younger kids will definitely enjoy the relatively short outing (though the parents may find parts of it a stretch).

Hutcherson and Hudgens work reasonably well together; Dwayne Johnson has a goofy, if ever so slightly annoying, charm as Hank – even if he does try to be self effacing and ends up more irritating. When he’s butting heads with Caine’s Alexander, there’s a nice vibe between the pair, but it can’t save the film.

Entirely predictable, Journey 2 The Mysterious Island plods along well enough with a side of cheese coating its dialogue and action sequences, which never fully soar.

The use of the 3D though is utterly appalling and lazy in the extreme – one sequence where Johnson gets to show off his “dancing pecs” (don’t ask) is shoe horned in simply to have a series of objects shoot off the screen and into the audience. And that in a nutshell is what’s wrong with this – if it was a little more relaxed and less cynical, Journey 2 would be watchable to all sections of the audience.

RATING:

 

Dr Who: UNIT Tales DVD Review

Dr Who – Unit Tales

Rating: PG
Released by the BBC and Roadshow Ent

Back to the 1970s for this hastily assembled double pack of adventures which has a tenuous connection to armed forces group UNIT at best.

In the first adventure, Jon Pertwee’s Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith encounter some terribly animated dinosaurs roaming the streets of London as part of an invasion force from environmentalists. In the second, Tom Baker’s teeth and curls (and scarf) Dr, once again along with Sarah Jane, finds a deserted village where nothing is as it seems and androids are ready to take over as part of an evil plan from outer space.

Suitably silly in places and redolent of the 70s attitude to Who (a smattering of science, a dollop of overacting and a soupcon of insane baddies) these are relatively watchable pieces.

Coupled with the brilliant collection of extras, (including commentaries, coloured episodes from Invasion of the dinosaurs and some nice docos) it’s not a bad set as we head towards the end of the Classic Dr Who range – but probably one for the Who fans rather than the mass market.

Rating:

Troll Hunter: Blu Ray Review

Troll Hunter

Rating: M
Released by Madman Home Ent

A Norwegian handheld spooky/ kooky flick, Troll Hunter follows a group of students who’re (so they believe) on the hunt for a poacher called Hans who’s supposedly taking out bears around the countryside.

Only when they follow him, they soon discover he’s a government sanctioned operative who’s actually hunting down trolls and preventing them from attacking the natives….

Troll Hunter is a giddy schlocky pleasure with some pretty good main performances from the largely unknown cast.  Sure, some of the effects of the trolls are a little ropey in places but thanks to the solid ensemble, a nice use of the handheld camera format and a bit of tongue in cheek action, it’s actually very watchable.

And you should watch it now – as inevitably a Hollywood remake is on the way too.

Rating: