Hyde Park on Hudson: Movie Review

Hyde Park on Hudson: Movie Review

Cast: Bill Murray, Laura Linney, Olivia Colman, Samuel West, Olivia Williams
Director: Roger Michell

Bill Murray was nominated for a Golden Globe for his portrayal of US President FDR in this winsome little film.

It's 1939 America and Britain is in the grip of the War. But in America, FDR is growing closer to his sixth cousin, Margaret Suckley (Linney). As they gradually move closer to a romantic relationship, FDR's relative peace is shattered by the arrival of the King and Queen of Britain (West and Colman) who visit him at his upstate New York mansion.

Hyde Park on Hudson tells the story of that weekend's visit and the passions and problems it throws up for FDR as well as Margaret.

To say that Hyde Park on Hudson is pleasant may sound like an insult but it's not. It's just that it's quite dull despite being  perfectly affable in places. Murray channels a bit of relaxed lightness as FDR himself as he gets closer to Margaret (the film's based on her diaries which were uncovered). Linney herself is also fine as Suckley - and Colman is the spitting image of Queen Elizabeth in parts with her hoity toitiness perfectly pitched against the uncomfortable stutterings of her King.

But here's the thing about Hyde Park on Hudson - it's pretty unmemorable the minute it's over.

Linney lurks in the background and never really makes much of a splash as Margaret - and Murray never really suggests anything other than a casual approach to the president. It's a shame because the distant and remote performance he puts in forces you to not connect with FDR in places. Colman and West make a great team but there's never really any frisson of anything approaching tension or excitement as this weekend plays out. There's a lack of insight into the characters as well and it's particularly superficial in the approaches to them.

It may be beautifully costumed and replete with stunning period detail, but it's as light and fluffy as a feather blowing on the breeze - though if you're a fan of the likes of Downton Abbey and those kind of gentle films about manners, then this will be right up your street.

But while it's inoffensive, it's all a little too fanciful and nice to have any real lasting impact after the lights go up.

Rating:

Despicable Me 2 trailer lands

Despicable Me 2 trailer lands

Here's the first full trailer for Despicable Me 2.

It stars Steve Carell as Gru and of course, the lovable Minions.

Liberal Arts: Movie Review

Liberal Arts: Movie Review

Cast: Josh Radnor, Elizabeth Olsen, Zac Efron, Richard Jenkins, Alison Janney, Elisabeth Reaser
Director: Josh Radnor

Ah, college life.

The time when you thought anything was possible and everyone was interesting. Then, the realities of actual life intrude and it all goes a little bit south.

Josh Radnor stars as Jesse, a 35-year-old admissions officer, who's invited back to his former college to farewell his favourite professor (Richard Jenkins). Leaping at the chance, he heads back there and ends up falling for student Zibby (Olsen) - a relationship which takes him by surprise and forces him to reconsider a few of life's big questions.

Warm, whimsical and sly, Liberal Arts is an unexpected treat.

With witty dialogue, universal situations and a warmth between the two leads, it gets almost everything right. Add in yet another great character performance from Jenkins as the outgoing professor and it's something which flies in the face of traditional rom-coms. There's more of an emphasis on the romantic side rather than the outright comedy - in fact, if anything the comedy is more gentle with moments such as an ongoing spat between the pair over the Twilight book series indicative of the age differences rather than an outright ideological chasm.

Radnor and Olsen have an affable ease which ensures this film is watchable enough and pleasant enough to pass the time. Both have a connection and throw in some truly suburban leafy college surroundings and you've got the recipe for a fine time at the cinema. Anyone who's been to college will identify with the multitude of coda on display and the life lessons you learn - but more than that, it's a romantic tale which will appeal to all.

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The Croods: Movie Review

The Croods: Movie Review

Cast: Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds, Catherine Keener, Clark Duke, Cloris Leachman
Director: Kirk De Micco and Chris Sanders

The latest prehistoric animated outing arrives in time for the Easter holidays.

And as Dreamworks Animation begins its partnership with 20th Century Fox, it seems rather apt their first film is set in the dinosaur world, given how much success they've had with the Ice Age series.

Emma Stone stars as Eep, the eldest girl of the Croods, a family of Neanderthals getting by thanks to the over-protective nature of her father, Grug (Nicolas Cage, in one of his best performances in a while) who simply wants to keep the family safe from harm and trapped within a cave. But Eep is growing up and wants to spend more time in the sun rather than the dark of the cave.

However, when nature intervenes, their cave's destroyed and the continents begin to separate, the Croods have no choice but to move on to find a new cave. And things are further complicated when Guy (Ryan Reynolds) shows up - a smart, thinking and inventive chap, with diametrically opposed ideologies to Grug. Eep falls for him but his attitude puts him on a collision path with Grug... Will the Croods survive the new world?

Dreamworks The Croods movie is, without a doubt, a blast of animated air for the holiday period.

With an opening that exudes CGI confidence as the Croods hurtle around the landscape trying to catch their food, The Croods movie hits the ground running as it crafts together a world of colourful critters and hilarious hijinks. Whereas Scrat had his acorn to chase, the Croods have an egg which provides them with sustenance - a parallel which can't be ignored in this latest prehistoric outing.

With her waving red hair, Eep is the latest redhead after Brave to grace the screen but it's the animation and the world around the Croods movie which scores highly. From its bright colours to its general lunacy of pace, there's plenty to keep the kids entertained in this - with its supporting character of Belt, a sort of pinkish/ purple long armed sloth providing some of the film's best laughs.

Which is a good thing because there's scant story to see the film through to be honest. It's simply a tale of a family trying to find their way into a new life - and the usual father / daughter tensions shining through as the girl-meets-her-first-boy and father-struggles-to- reconcile-with-the-possibility-he-will lose-her-to-a-younger, smarter version of himself. The whole family as Neanderthals and new guy as an intelligent next stage works well as an allegory (who hasn't thought their family were primitive when it comes to being impressed by a new suitor?) but it's anything but subtle as the occasional ACME style zaniness plays itself out.

Still, in terms of the journey, it's one which is worth taking - even though it lacks a fully rounded and expanded story, it pushes family values right in the final stages and provides a gooey resolution to the Eep / Grug tensions, The Croods is still a film which will delight many - no matter how young or old they are and regardless of whether they're Neanderthals or otherwise.

Rating:

Arbitrage: DVD Review

Arbitrage: DVD Review

Rating: M
Released by Madman Home Entertainment

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

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.

Extras: Interviews, and behind scenes

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Movie Reviews - Broken City and Your sister's Sister

Movie Reviews - Broken City and Your Sister's Sister

Here's the very latest set of movie reviews from Saturday Mornings with Jack Tame on Newstalk ZB.

This week, I was discussing Broken City and Your Sister's Sister - and the big birthday I hit.

Take a listen below.

Talking Broken City and Your Sister's Sister

Brand new Doctor Who Series 7b trailer

Brand new Doctor Who Series 7b trailer

Something for Whovians, just 2 weeks before the new series of Doctor Who launches in the UK.

Here's a new trailer for Doctor Who Series 7b...




And also out is the Doctor Who Comic Relief 2013 piece. Remember to donate if you view.