Man of Steel trailer arrives

Man of Steel trailer arrives

Here's your first look at the new Superman movie, Man Of Steel - due in cinemas in 2013.

Starring Henry Cavill...

New Zealand Film Festival Reviews - Day One

New Zealand International Film Festival Reviews - Day One

With the New Zealand International Film Festival now underway, here's a quick wrap up of what I've seen so far. Keep checking back for more as the festival plays out in Auckland.

Beasts of the Southern Wild - This year's opening night film is a heady, visceral and tender tale of life, love and our connection to the world. Six year old Hushpuppy lives with her father in the Bathtub, a southern New Orleans delta continually threatened by rising flood waters. But she doesn't want to leave and her father refuses to evacuate them. When a storm comes though, and devastates their community, the pair trawl through the Bathtub trying to find survivors. Replete with an impressive lively OST and anchored by one of the strongest child performances seen on celluloid for a long time, Beasts is a unique vision of life and a joyous celebration of what binds us to the land and each other. But it all rises on the central performances of the child and her father - and thankfully by looking at life from the eyes of a kid, it's an insightful view which offers up a truly rewarding experience.

Wish You Were Here - When two Aussie couples head to Cambodia for a holiday, (two sisters and their respective partners) you'd expect it would all go to plan. However, when only three of them return, the pressure to find out what happened to Antony Starr's missing Jeremy ramps up - from the government and the police. But only Joel Edgerton's Dave holds the key to what exactly happened to them all... A tautly wound piece, this well paced piece offers up flashbacks to the event as well as secrets which are exposed with devastating consequences. A lack of real background to the four rarely proves a stumbling block to investing in the mystery and the clues provide dark hints as to what went on. Edgerton is the stand out here as the nervy and potentially guilty Dave, offering up a performance that's subtle, stifling and superb. A full review will follow when the film gets a nationwide release later in the year.



This Must Be the Place - Sean Penn as retired rock star Cheyenne (who's part Edward Scissorhands, part Ozzy, part Robert Smith from the Cure first thing in the morning) sets on a road trip to find the Nazi war criminal who persecuted his recently deceased father. Full of quirky offbeat visual moments and subtle touches of humour throughout, This Must Be The Place is a road trip film which is fuelled by heart as well as a stonkingly good OST (and appearance from David Byrne). Penn's a touch above what you'd expect from him as the oddity unfurls bringing layers of subtlety to the performance - but with cameos from David Byrne and Harry Dean Stanton, the film's a classy if bizarre affair. However, in all the occasional weirdness and whimsy, there's a strong beating centre which remains with you long after it's finished - and most of that is thanks to Penn's measured performance as the ex glam rocker looking for redemption and a sense of identity. Definitely worth catching while the buzz is very hot.

Killer Joe - Matthew McConaughey brings the menace as a Texan cop Joe, who's also a contract killer in this black humoured slice of trailer trash luridness which is peppered with some sickening violence. When a trailer park family concocts a plan to bump off their mother for an insurance pay-out, Joe's brought into the picture - but as ever, things don't go according to plan. There's a sleaziness amongst the pitch black humour which means KJ won't be to everyone's tastes (and certainly the violent denouement may appal some like Killer Inside Me did) but McConaughey is very good as the measured mean man whose every calm delivery is peppered with menace and implied threat; but it's Juno Temple as trailer park Dottie who scores the break-out here, with a turn that's way above those around her. KJ is a polarising piece, but with some great performances which will linger after the lights have gone up, it shows director William Friedkin is still a force to be reckoned with.

Moonrise Kingdom - Wes Anderson's latest whimsical outing collects together eccentricities, visual gags and quirks aplenty as it unfolds on the screen. In 1965 New England, a tale of first love blooms as scout Sam breaks out from his troop and meets his love Suzy who frees the shackles of her lawyer family (played by the ever deadpan Bill Murray and a stoic Frances McDormand). But the 12 year old pair's escape doesn't go unnoticed and a search is launched for them as a hurricane approaches. A lightly deft piece which is dazzlingly funny and heartfully humorous throughout, despite dealing with slightly precocious kids and more innocent times. A star packed cast offers up the very best of what's given to them but the film belongs firmly to the two leads and Anderson, whose eye for the artfully insane and utterly charming are once again spot on in this crowd pleasing sure-fire audience winner.

The Cabin in the Woods - Joss Whedon's much- vaunted Cabin gets its Incredibly Strange outing - and a review which won't proffer up anything of the spoilery nature. Suffice to say a group of good looking teens head into the woods for a weekend away - but as ever, when they get there, things turn rather hellish. Billed as genre mashing and genre bending, TCITW is actually a pulpy, trashy piece of film which plays with horror conventions, mocks the twists and turns and slaps on the smarts as well as the laughs. There's also a lot of gore too as the cleverness unfolds. Best watched with a packed audience, TCITW is a bit of a self referential enigma, as you can't help but feel that you've been subverted and had your expectations messed with as it unfolds. This effective genre piece is grounded by great performances by Richard Jenkins and Bradley Whitford and is peppered with in jokes that horror fans will lap up. Humorous, shocking and a sly tipping of the genre, mean that Cabin will be a cult hit that deserves a wide audience. And talking of the audience, seeing it at a packed Civic with a massive crowd was a major buzz. It's also best viewed without any prior knowledge of what's about to unfold too - so stay away from the internet! (Also on hand at the NZIFF screenings is the Kiwi star of the film, Anna Hutchison to offer a bit of background on why it's taken so long to release and to get a flavour of the experience).

The Dark Knight Rises: Movie Review

The Dark Knight Rises: Movie Review

Cast: Christian Bale, Anne Hathaway, Tom Hardy, Joseph Gordon Levitt, Gary Oldman, Michael Caine
Director: Christopher Nolan

It's finally here - the ending of the epic Batman franchise from Christopher Nolan.

To say The Dark Knight Rises is one of the most anticipated films of the year is a massive understatement. Fans have been speculating over it, with slavish obsession and devouring every still released online.

So, does it provide a satisfactory conclusion to the franchise?

Eight years after the events of The Dark Knight and Batman's left Gotham after the death of D.A Harvey "Two Face" Dent. Hunted by the police and blamed for the golden boy's end, the Caped Crusader's become a myth and Bruce Wayne's not much better - a recluse living in Wayne Manor and never seen in public.

But when cat burglar Selina Kyle (Anne Hathaway) breaks into Wayne's safe and ends up on his radar and when a masked terrorist named Bane (Tom Hardy) threatens to take over the city, Bats has no choice but to come out of seclusion and save his beloved city.

There's more to the story but to be honest, revealing some of those intricacies, details and nuances of the script would veer into spoiler territory - and being frank, this Bat-threequel is best viewed unspoiled.

Christopher Nolan has crafted an epic ending to the series - and one which is reverential to the source mythology and one which has truly raised the bar for comic book films. It begins with an audacious piece of action and the thrills never let up until the end some 165 minutes later. Visually, the film offers so much, satiating both fanboys seeking the spine-tingling moments and the casual viewer wanting a great blockbuster.

While the film's somewhat disappointing denouement may not stand up to repeated inspection and tearing apart thanks to its conventional story which is spread over a somewhat bloated middle part, two things need to be remembered - one, it's a comic book film (which is bound to have a MacGuffin or two on hand) and two, it's the performances which anchor this film from beginning to end.

Christian Bale's vulnerable Batman is a flawed hero we can readily identify with; he's a tortured soul more than ever who's to be broken spiritually and physically by what's put in front of him; but Bale brings his A game to the performance, providing the emotional intensity during some quieter scenes needed to ground this film and bring a payoff which is rich and satisfying as he becomes the Batman who's an inspiration and a symbol to others. Likewise, when he's kicking ass as the Batman; this is a guy who's given a rounded and powerful performance to a character loved by many.

Gary Oldman's spot-on as a conflicted Commissioner Jim Gordon, a man who takes up the mantle of defending his beloved city; Morgan Freeman, is well, Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox - and Sir Michael Caine is venerable, vulnerable and humane as butler Alfred.

Of the newcomers to the cast, Tom Hardy's anarchist Bane (who sounds a little like your English mate trying to do a Sean Connery style impression through a Darth Vader mask) is impressive; the ferociously intelligence and physical presence are astounding and instantaneous, giving his baddie a commanding feel which doesn't let up until the end (and if you know your Bat mythology, you'll realise how important it was to get Bane so right.) The scenes when Bats and Bane go mano a mano are intense, but not in the over the top way that you may have expected. And it's a performance which is a physical one too, with the eyes conveying a lot of his emotions - Hardy's to be commended.

Equally, Anne Hathaway is perfect as Catwoman (although she's never called such on screen); her Selina Kyle is a slinky, vampy, sly character which is given a few humorous lines to punch through the occasional pomposity which is prevalent. Marion Cotillard offers up some class as a member of the Wayne Enterprises board.

But the real star of the cast is Joseph Gordon-Levitt, whose idealistic and very human policeman John Blake becomes a driving force for belief. His Blake has the belief which has become so jaded and lacking in both Batman and Commissioner Gordon - and his character's story arc is thrilling to behold. Gordon-Levitt continues to impress as an actor and seals his place as one of the best talents on offer with this copper.

Visually, Nolan's utilised the best of the action he could muster, delivering up some flawless sequences which make maximum use of the IMAX format (and the playboy technology available) and offer some of the most impressive set pieces committed to celluloid.  In fact, overall, Nolan's provided a polished and tonally epic spectacle throughout; it's a film which talks of flawed heroes, of how the ordinary man can start a revolution and how belief can fuel hope - but it's not without a few flaws here and there (as well as some true comic book one-liners)

Sure, it's a fitting send off for the film and the franchise, and to concentrate on a few narrative misfires here and there seems a little unfair because overall, The Dark Knight Rises offers up much for the movie lover; this is a Batman movie which is a grand and satisfying end to an epic series; it's an unmissable event which lives upto its hype and offers a rich spectacle which the multiplexes will rightfully be packed out for.


Rating: 

Brand new Total Recall clip

Brand new Total Recall clip

You've got to love Comic Con 2012 - not only was it a collection of some of the finest stuff on the geek planet, but for movie fans, it's meaning a whole new set of content's becoming available to view.

The latest is a brand new scene from Total Recall, showing Kate Beckinsale kicking some ass and guns and stuff...

Total Recall 2012 hits cinemas in September.

50/50: Blu Ray Review

50/50: Blu Ray Review

Rating: M
Released by Roadshow Home Entertainment

Based on the life of Will Reiser, this dramedy stars a rather good Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Adam, a regular everyday joe.

Working as a radio journalist and living with his girlfriend Rachel (Bryce Dallas Howard), Adam's life is going ok - apart from a nagging back pain. When he gets that checked out, his doctors tell him it's actually a cancerous tumour growing on his spine.

And with that, his life is turned upside down; his family's worried sick - his mum's already caring for his father, who's suffering from dementia and his best friend Kyle (a somewhat downbeat but still funny Seth Rogen) is urging him to use his cancer to try and make the most of his life - ie get laid.

Adam's world hits rock bottom when he discovers Rachel's cheating on him - and with the doctors telling him his chances are 50/50, it doesn't look too good for this average guy....

50/50 is a dignified sort of illness film which greatly benefits from Gordon-Levitt's stoic central performance. His Adam deals with every knock which comes his way in a very real manner; there's plenty of realism peppered through this film and most of it falls squarely on his shoulders.

Mind you, the directors do well to steer it away from the mawkish disease of the week kind of telemovie material - and while no-one's pretending this film is an easy watch, everything which occurs feels natural, well acted and as a result, quite moving. There are no moments too when Adam's character falls into a pit of wallowing despair - in fact, it works better because he doesn't - it's infinitely more moving.

Rogen gets the best friend down to a tee - the guy who's trying to do his best for his mate but who's worried his friend won't see it through is quietly moving and a little desperate as the film goes on; once again, with a muted performance, he shows he's really got the talent he needs rather than the usual schlubby friend roles he goes for. Anna Kendrick as Adam's therapist is well cast and provides a unflailing grip on what it takes to be part of this kind of situation.

But it's because this flick's based on a true life event that it feels so distinctly plausible and is so well acted, it's deeply affecting. It's a muted night in, granted, but it's one which needs to be seen because it impresses with its drama and because of the talent on display.

Extras: Deleted scenes, commentary, the story of 50./50 and a couple of other docos

Rating

The Hobbit - Comic Con footage

The Hobbit - Comic Con footage

Fans of the Hobbit are certainly getting their fill at this year's ComicCon.

Sir Peter Jackson and the cast have been talking about the new film as well as revealing some 12 minutes of Hobbit footage from the upcoming film, The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey.

Take a look at the video of the Entertainment Weekly chat with The Hobbit Cast:

Man of Steel Comic-Con reveal

Man of Steel Comic-Con reveal

The Man of Steel has hit Comic Con.

Fans of the upcoming Superman film have had their first look at the Man of Steel's imagery.

Take a peek below: