Arbitrage: Movie Review

Arbitrage: Movie Review

Cast: Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon, Tim Roth, Brit Marling, Laetitia Casta
Director: Nicholas Jarecki

Richard Gere stars as a troubled hedge fund magnate, Robert Miller, in this thriller from first time director Jarecki.

As he turns 60, Miller is the epitome of success - a beautiful home, beautiful family, respected within the business community. But under the public exterior lies a troubled truth - Miller has a mistress, young French art dealer Julie (Casta) and is desperately trying to seal the sale of his company before his fraud is discovered.

But it all goes wrong - a car accident is disastrous for Miller. And his carefully built house of cards threatens to topple over when NYPD Detective Michael Bryer (Tim Roth) comes sniffing around.

Arbitrage is a taut thriller, slickly produced and shot but one which benefits greatly from a searing performance by Gere. He's watchable, and never predictable as the story plays out, preferring to go for a classier approach rather than the sleaze that he clearly is. And it's obvious that Miller has some morals somewhere deep down but chooses just to make the wrong choices as the screws begin to tighten around him.

If Gere's all uptight, subdued swagger then Roth as the detective out to finally bring down one of the rich-erati is his polar opposite. Walking with a slouch and slumping on furniture wherever he can, Roth's shaggy faced detective is a voice for many who feel that Wall Street has got away with too much for far too long. As the cat and mouse game winds up ever closer to the end, you may find your allegiances torn between both sides as each tries to weasel out of their fate.

While Gere and Roth are stand-outs here with characters which are slightly stereotyped, it's the supporting players who also shine; Sarandon is impressive, particularly in one scene with Gere where she finally decides enough is enough. That scene shows masterful touches and subtle nuances which speak volumes about their character's history with each other. Likewise, Another Earth's Brit Marling does well in this as the daughter and chief financier of the company, forced to confront Miller's duplicitous behaviour.

All in all though, it's Gere who should be the main reason for seeing this film - while its story is perhaps the stuff of novels and occasionally predictable mini-series, his performance lifts this cautionary tale that money can't buy you everything out of the ordinary.

Rating:

Star Wars 7 due for release

Star Wars 7 due for release

In news that came out of nowhere, details have been revealed about the release of Star Wars Episode 7.

That's right - I said number 7...

Overnight, it was revealed the Walt Disney company has bought LucasFilm for a whopping $4.05 billion - and that Star Wars Episode VII will be released sometime in 2015.

Episode Seven will continue the story of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Princess Leia beyond Return of the Jedi. Episodes eight and nine will follow the new film, followed by one new movie every two or three years after that.

Here's what George Lucas has to say in a statement:

"For the past 35 years, one of my greatest pleasures has been to see Star Wars passed from one generation tot he next," George Lucas said in a statement."It's now time for me to pass Star Wars on to a new generation of filmmakers. I've always believed that Star Wars could live beyond me, and I thought it was important to set up the transition during my lifetime.

"I'm confident that with Lucasfilm under the leadership of Kathleen Kennedy, and having a new home within the Disney organization, Star Wars will certainly live on and flourish for many generations to come. Disney's reach and experience give Lucasfilm the opportunity to blaze new trails in film, television, interactive media, theme parks, live entertainment and consumer products."

The Amazing Spider-Man: Blu Ray Review

The Amazing Spider-Man: Blu Ray Review

Rating: M
Released by Sony Home Entertainment

Andrew Garfield takes on the iconic role of Peter Parker, in this reboot of the franchise.

Abandoned by his parents when he was a young boy, Peter grows up with his Uncle Ben (the ever brilliant Martin Sheen) and Aunt May (Sally Field). A typical teenage outsider, this Parker is a skateboarder who defends the picked on at school and gets a beating for his troubles.

But it also gets him the attention of Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone, in yet another excellent turn).

Trying to find out what happened to his parents, Peter's awkward quest leads him to Oscorp and the one armed Dr Curt Connors (Rhys Ifans), his father's former partner. Connors' research is into tissue regeneration and when Peter helps with the research, he inadvertently sets in motion a chain of events which will have catastrophic life-changing effects.

The idea of a reboot of the Spider-man series wasn't one which had some fans and movie goers excited. 
Sam Raimi, Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst had pretty much got it wrapped up with the trilogy of films nearly a decade ago, so there was perhaps some fears as to where a new version of the established story could go.

But clearly, based on this latest, the answer is wherever it wants.

Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone are the perfect pair as Spidey and Stacy; they have a sparky, realistic relationship which is grounded, human and benefits from excellent chemistry. There's a playfulness underpinning the usual sadness of this relationship and is a direct result of an early unveiling that Parker is Spider-man. It's a bold creative decision which means this version of Spider-man doesn't wallow or wander into emo territory, preferring to bring a bit of spring into the proceedings. His is also a Peter Parker whose strength is in science, with the web slinging the result of the Spidey intelligence rather than a genetic touch. It's a nice nod to the comics' history and also gives this Spidey a bit more of a vulnerable feel, prone as he is to looking beaten to pieces after the mask's taken off following a fight with Lizard.

If you're being picky about this version of Spider-man, you could argue that the Lizard lets the side down a little in terms of creating a creature that matches some of the other FX work within the film; and his overall plot to take the world isn't anything spectacularly original or cleverly executed. Plus the film's ever so slightly long with some heavy handed cheesy moments towards the end - a scene where workmen line up cranes to help an injured Spidey get to the top of the Oscorp tower is painful in some ways.  However, those are a few minor niggles for a film which delivers good solid action and a strong story which engages the heart as well as the visual senses.

But all in all, The Amazing Spider-man is a stunning take on an established comic book favourite - and manages to put the prior versions in the shade, which is no mean feat.

Extras: Amazing Spider-Man Second Screen App – On disc supporting content, Commentary with Marc Webb, Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach

Rating:

Fresh Meat: Movie Review

Fresh Meat: Movie Review

Cast: Temuera Morrison, Kate Elliot, Nicola Kawana, Hannah Tevita
Director: Danny Mulheron

You just can't beat this mad butcher's meat.

In the latest horror-come-comedy outing for NZ film, it's off to the kitchen with a dash of exploitation and a pinch of pulp thrown in for good measure.

After a jailbreak from a security van, a gang of criminals end up on the run and in a house owned by Temuera Morrison's associate professor, Hemi and his celeb chef wife, Margaret (Kawana).

However, the family's just got their daughter Rina (Tevita) back from her all-girls school (wink, wink - according to the film) and into the bosom of her meat loving whanau.

But Hemi and Margaret have a secret to share with their daughter - they've discovered the joys of human flesh. And when the crooks crash the dinner party, the family decides it's time they were on the menu.

What can you say about Fresh Meat?

It's probably destined for cult status, with echoes of Tarantino from its slow-mo ultra-violent shoot out at the start, and its sleazy eye on exploitation right from the start as the camera lingers on Rina as she enjoys a shower with one of her fellow school girls.

But to my mind, I don't think it goes far enough and as a result ends up feeling more like a mixed stew than a gourmet meal. It's fairly clear that this occasionally vulgar film's tongue is firmly in its cheek, but by holding back on some of the gore and not going the whole hog, this finger-licking cannibal flick ends up being a bit of a damp squib rather than a full on festival of Kiwi film. Certainly after the initial guts and gore opening, it appears to run a little out of steam as it becomes confined to the hostage house of Hemi and the gang, losing its energy, bite and undeniable fizz.

It's a shame because it's gloriously OTT (and rightly so), mixing in violence, social commentary, some hammy acting (Witness Tem licking his lips salaciously when he spies one of the criminals' wound) and some solid performances. Elliott and Tevita have good solid meaty roles and show some acting chops. Tevita, in particular, gives us a great in and emotional centre as the decidedly non-PC action plays out.

Morrison's fine, offering up some good one-liners and acerbic comments, but his final ascent into insanity goes too OTT - and his final shot appearance hints at the hamminess and cult potential this film has.

Overall, Fresh Meat isn't bad - deliberately trashy, tasteless and unPC but just a little hamstrung by its own constraints. If it had had a little more  punch to be seasoned in with its black humour, knowing winks to Maori life and horror credentials, it could have been a real entry into the Kiwi cult cinema canon.

Rating:

Show Me Shorts finalists nominees revealed

Show Me Shorts finalists nominees revealed

This just in...

The nominees for the 7^th annual Show Me Shorts Film Festival are in! Fourteen films have been nominated in nine award categories.  Notably, ‘Night Shift’ by Zia Mandviwalla received nominations in five award categories; ‘Tatau’ by Chantelle Burgoyne and ‘Lambs’ by Sam Kelly each received four nominations; and ‘43,000 Feet’ by Campbell Hooper received two nominations.

The winners will be announced at the Opening Night in Auckland on Thursday 1^st November. The 2012 prize pool is valued at over $20,000, with the winner of the top award for Best Film taking away $5,000 in film equipment rental from Rubber Monkey Rentals, 6x 400ft of Kodak film stock, subscriptions to Screen Hub, StarNow.com and Setkick’s online production management tool, plus a one year membership to SDGNZ for the Editor and Director.

Two short films from Australia and one from Switzerland have been nominated for Best International Film. Australian film, ‘The Wilding’, is produced by previous Show Me Shorts Best Film award winner Jannine Barnes.

Three dramatic Kiwi shorts are in contention for the coveted Best Film award: ‘Lambs’, ‘Tatau’ and ‘Night Shift’. Last year’s Best Film award was won by Jack Woon for his dreamy drama about awkward teenage love: ‘The Great Barrier’.

There are still some tickets for the Auckland Opening Night and Awards Ceremony available to the public but these are selling fast from Capitol Cinemas (reservations on 09 623 2000). The Show Me Shorts Opening Nights include screenings of the winning films, and are the only chance to see all of these films screened together. A Wellington Opening Night event will follow at Paramount on Thursday, November 8^th.

The judges for 2012 are actor Rene Naufahu (‘No.2’, ‘The Market’, ‘Russian Snark’), props and prosthetics designer Roger Murray (‘Evil Dead’, ‘Spartacus’, ‘Narnia Chronicles’) and director Paul Campion (‘The Devils Rock’, ‘Eel Girl’). Naufahu was impressed with “the willingness of the assembled teams to take risk, to lead with the heart, to be brave; without compromise of technique in all areas - photography, editing, script-writing, acting - regardless of budget, location or material.”

The nominated films can be found scattered throughout the six different sessions of Show Me Shorts 2012 programme, each featuring about seven short films grouped together around a common theme: Explorers, Comedy Corner, Love & Other Catastrophes, My Hero, Nerd’s Revenge and Unrestricted Access. The full programme of 40 short films this year showcases a wide variety of fiction and documentaryshorts. Themes of family ties and new relationships feature alongside dumpster diving and synchronised cycling. The international films on offer tell tales of sheep stealing, the de-winging of angels and time travel, not to mention stories on love… for gravediggers, zombies and juvenile delinquents.

Judge Rene Naufahu describes the Show Me Shorts films that had the biggest impact on him as “inescapable, claustrophobic, unpredictable, urgent and other-worldly yet at the same time liberating, a huge breath of fresh air, slow-burning and (best of all!) on our doorstep”. 

The seventh annual SHOW ME SHORTS Film Festival will screen in 12 cinemas around New Zealand, commencing 1 November. The full programme is at www.showmeshorts.co.nz.

Here is the full list of 2012 nominees:

SHOW ME SHORTS BEST FILM

Tom Hern for ‘Lambs’

Zanna Gillespie, Graeme E. Bibby & Chantelle Burgoyne for ‘Tatau’

Matt Noonan & Chelsea Winstanley for ‘Night Shift’

PANAVISION BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Andrew Stroud for ‘43,000 Feet’

Ari Wegner for ‘Night Shift’

Denson Baker for ‘Lambs’

BEST STUDENT FILM

UNITEC for ‘This is Libby’

Zanna Gillespie, Graeme E. Bibby & Chantelle Burgoyne for ‘Tatau’

Lauren Eisinger & Katherine France for ‘Kia Kaha’

STARNOW BEST ACTOR

Waka Rowlands for his role in ‘Lambs’                  

Anapela Polataivao for her role in ‘Night Shift’                      

Fynn Ellison for his role in ‘Ollie’    

SCRIPT TO SCREEN BEST SCREENPLAY

Zia Mandviwalla for ‘Night Shift’

Matthew Harris for ‘43,000 Feet’

Lucy Zee for ‘This is Libby’

SDGNZ BEST DIRECTOR

Zia Mandviwalla for ‘Night Shift’

Sam Kelly for ‘Lambs’

Chantelle Burgoyne for ‘Tatau’

SDGNZ BEST EDITOR

Chantelle Burgoyne for ‘Tatau’

Jeff Hurrell for ‘Lambs’

Dan Jarman for ‘The F.E.U.C’

BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM

Jannine Barnes for ‘The Wilding’

Maya Zibung Jones for ‘Parallel’

Asuka Sylvie for ‘Pinion’

SPECIAL JURY PRIZE

Richard Mans’ technical accomplishment for ‘Abiogenesis’.

The cast and crew of ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ for community filmmaking.

Yaser Naser for the VFX on ‘50% off Mail Order Bride’.

(Also a special mention to Andrew Long’s End Credits on 50% off Mail Order Bride)

The Deep Blue Sea: DVD Review

The Deep Blue Sea: DVD Review

Rating: M
Released by Universal Home Entertainment

In a repressed world just out of the Second World War and in a flat in a boarding house, Hester Collyer (Rachel Weisz) is on the edge of desperation. As she puts a towel under the door to block it and turns the gas fire on full, it's clear what she intends to do.

But her suicide attempt is unsuccessful and suddenly through a series of flashbacks and current events, the ramifications of what she's tried to do and what's led her to that point are gradually revealed.

The Deep Blue Sea is a terrifically stifled and repressed film - the whole thing reeks of claustrophobia and desperation as flashbacks reveal the reasons for Hester's despair. Trapped in a loveless marriage to a British High Court Judge (Simon Russell Beale) who adores her but is older and clearly aware this is a society marriage, it's obvious that Hester will fall for fly boy Freddie (a brilliant Tom Hiddleston) and find her passion reignited.

However, it's a tragedy that the passion cools for Hester and Freddie because of his post traumatic stress disorder and his (understandable) comfort in living in the past.

As the threads start to tie together, you begin to realise that there's only really been two actors on screen for the duration of this and that the intensity of their performance is intoxicating. Hiddleston is initially all "chocks away" and flyboy bravado, but the bitter frustrations of a repressed age from long ago push his performance more into the slightly monstrous whilst still managing to keep you engaged.

The Deep Blue Sea isn't exactly a joyous film which will leave you feeling a fuzzy after glow as it ends; but with some great performances from Weisz and Hiddleston, it becomes the kind of film that gets under your skin.

Extras: None

Rating:

Avatar 3D: Blu Ray Review

Avatar 3D: Blu Ray Review

Rating: M
Released by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

Once more back into the world of Pandora for the 3D TV release of the film which was one of the biggest ever.

In case you've been living under a rock, Sam Worthington stars as crippled marine Jake Sully, who finds himself on the world of Pandora and thrust into the middle of a battle between the blue skinned natives and the colonists looking for a mineral called Raritanium.

It's the age old tale of redemption, discovery and love as the fight for the civilisation goes on and to be honest, you're either on board with this story and all its faults - or you're completely put off by the cliched writing, terrible dialogue and lack of distinct originality.

To be frank though, Avatar for me was never about the story - it was always about the visuals and the look of it and this latest release does much to boost that once again by embracing the technology currently on offer in the market place.

It's a relatively light package in terms of the extras (ie none) and is really more about launching the film into the 3D TV waters - so you've been warned if you don't have the technology, you may want to wait a little.

Extras: 3D version of the film, 2D version

Rating: