Focus: Blu Ray Review

Focus: Blu Ray Review

Rating: M
Released by Roadshow Home Ent

The con is back on in Will Smith's latest.

Well, a rom con anyway.

Smith is Nicky Spurgeon, a veteran con-man who takes newbie Jess (Robbie) under his wing and into his bed for his latest scam. But when the two part ways and reunite by chance three years later, their meeting could cause all kinds of problems for either side.

For a film with as generic a title as Focus and with a subject matter of con-men and heists, this latest heist flick entrant into the pantheon does little to distract you from its sleight of hand trickery as the cat-and-mouse game plays out.

Packaged up into a pristine shimmer with many backgrounds and scenes looking like they're straight out of adverts, there's very little to shake your attention away from the flimsiest of plots and lightest of characters.

With the likes of Now You See Me, American Hustle, The Wolf of Wall Street, Ocean's 11,12and 13, The Hustler and others ringing in your ears, you know nobody is to be trusted (hence shattering any kind of illusion before it's started) and no lines are simply thrown away for no reason whatsoever (in fact the denouement's resolution is mentioned early on if you know where to look)

But the joy of Focus comes from seeing Smith hustling as an ultra-slick veteran conman out to score big; there's a thin crackle of chemistry between him and rookie pickpocket wannabe big timer Jess (a star cementing turn from Robbie) whose naïveté sets you off mark to begin with; (it is, after all, a conman caper, and everybody is on the make, surely)

There's a minor fizzle that never quite froths over in Crazy Stupid Love's directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa's handling of Focus' action as it swirls from one moment to the next.

But like any magic trick or smart con, the real thrill is supposed to come in the chase.

However, a healthy detachment from any veracity to anyone's comments and a once-over-lightly touch for the main leads actually holds the film back from achieving some of the tension it occasionally strives for.

And at times, it's a real struggle to love - or even like - Smith whose weariness requires effort to engage with; as opposed to Robbie whose infectious and effortless charm is self evident from the moment she's on screen. Equally, the tubby comedy relief offered by one of Nicky's cohorts played by Adrian Martinez - which speaks volumes that a supporting character's better written than anyone else.

That and the fact the heists are more fun and a little more convincing than the two lead's story.

(And don't the best heist films work when you care about the protagonists?)

That's not to say a couple of sequences don't stand out in Focus.

These include BD Wong's extended cameo at a high stakes bet at a football game and an initially puzzling sequence with a goon sent for Nicky which really see the film focus in on what it does best, by sharpening the elements and giving you something to really drill down to. Which is the inherent problem of Focus - you're expecting the bait and switch at any moment, which cripples it and the two halves of the story don't quite gel together as perhaps they should.

Ultimately, Focus is a frothy style over substance tale, complete with the smooth upbeat jazzy music you'd expect of its genre and the resolution you can see a mile off, rather than a smart last minute pull-the-rug-from-under-you Eureka moment.

The greatest con Focus will be able to pull will be convincing an audience into either loving it or remembering it days after it's done.

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Magic Mike XXL: Film Review

Magic Mike XXL: Film Review

Cast: Channing Tatum, Joe Manganiello, Kevin Nash, Matt Bomer, Amber Heard
Director: Gregory Jacobs

The fact that it takes five minutes for Channing Tatum's Mike to emerge from a pool, fully clothed and with a soaking shirt stuck to his near-perfect abs should tell you all you need to know about the sequel to 2012's misunderstood-stripper-with-a-dilemma Magic Mike.

This time around, three years after quitting the Kings of Tampa, Mike's running his furniture business when he gets a call out of the blue from Tarzan (Nash) to tell him that Dallas has died.

But that turns out to be a ruse, and given that Matthew McConaughey's troupe leader Dallas has fled abroad to start anew with the Kid, the guys are on one last road trip heading to the Stripper Convention at Myrtle Beach for one last blast - and they need Mike along as they're lacking an MC and a direction.

So heading to the last hurrah, the group get distracted, stopping off at a bordello run by Jada Pinkett-Smith's , who has a history with Mike and making a house-call in Savannah that leads to a contrivance that could only happen in the movies.

Ladies, there ain't nothing wrong with a bump and grind, and, heaven knows, there's plenty of that on show in Magic Mike XXL.

Whereas the Soderberg original three years ago (he's back on exec-producing duties this time around) was a more heady affair, blessed with character, with occasional scenes of stripping thrown in as the plot progressed, this is anything but.

Aside from just hanging out, this latest sees the Hollywood machine cater to the lowest common denominator (and serve the audiences the more intellectual flick only flirted with) with endless scenes of heavily choreographed routines, complete with so much gyrating, gold lame pouches and dry-humping that it would make anyone blush.

Except it doesn't - because that's really all this film has to offer, and even the fun is lacking at times.

In among the bickering and squabbling, hidden within the utterly atrociously banal dialogue and debate that these bros engage in ("Did you bang her?" being one of the more eloquent moments) there is nothing more than a shallow series of excuses, complete with distinct lack of plot, to let the man-candy let it all hang out on stage and with each other.

There's no edge to this film, no bite in the character and no tension nor sense of any arcs.

Mike's given the largest reason to get back into it all (cos stripping's just in his blood, yo after he has his solo dancing moment in the garage at home) - none of the rest of the crew give any valid reason as to why this stripper convention should be the end of the line for them; there's no call for the finality and no joie de vivre in the long drawn out finale that separates the gang and deprives them of the chemistry of the group.

Andie MacDowall's frustrated Southern belle is a highlight; Jada Pinkett-Smith plays the same character as Fish Mooney on Gotham; and Elizabeth Banks' energetic cameo towards the end provides a welcome burst of joie de vivre. Elsewhere, Mangianello's Big Dick's attempt to get a smile out of a gas attendant at least borders on the self-knowing and comical; and Tatum brings a bit of charm as Mike, but this sequel is relatively flat and stuffed simply with robotic dance routines - though it has to be commended for widening the audience appeal thanks to a scene in a drag club and the aforementioned Southern Belle stop-off, an acknowledgement of older ladies (and even the guys spend a lot of their stage show making sure the plus size ladies are gettin' the lovin' in a rare moment of equality)

Some awkward attempts at character arcs fall flat - Tarzan's getting too old for the game and contemplating life after alone, Big Dick's unable to perform in the bedroom as no lady is ever the one, Ken's facing life when his looks fade. These are all big issues to the guys, but are handled in such a shallow vein and the life lessons are barely learned as the stilted road trip progresses.

All in all, Magic Mike XXL is anything but abs-olutely fabulous; its lack of drive. magic, character and flaccid excuses to whip the ladies up into a frenzy may prove to be cinematic viagra for the girls' night out, but unlike the first film which benefited from being based on Tatum's dancing days, this XXL outing is all trouser, but definitely no mouth.

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The Elder Scrolls Online Tamriel Unlimited: PS4 Review

The Elder Scrolls Online  PS4 Review

Platform: PS4
Released by Bethesda

Massive multiplayer online games are always a buzz.

And they don't come any bigger than The Elder Scrolls Online - literally.

In its latest iteration, Tamriel Unlimited, the fantasy series has gone bigger than ever before thanks to a massive 60GB release for the consoles (including patches). Set within the world of Tamriel , you begin the game by choosing a faction to be part of, which defines your quest and the journey within.

And then really, it's quite simply off you go into a fantasy world packed with missions, quests, fighting and exploring., levelling up to ensure you get the most out of your experience is as ever, necessary and will see you reach the higher echelons of your character's abilities.

Exploration of Tamriel Unlimited brings you inevitably into the path of other players, some of whom can be seen rushing around, fighting and then fleeing and others who appear to be simply stuck observing it all. It's a curious phenomenon when you get out of the early parts of the game which feel like a solo campaign only to emerge blinking into the massive reality of the game. In many ways, if you're not part of a group, it can in truth be an alienating experience, one which dwarfs you because of its size but also because you need people to play with to ensure you get the most from the game.

Like Skyrim before it, the devil's in the details and while Tamriel is nicely rendered; elves, orcs, dwarves et al scatter the worlds and prove either to be allies or thorns in your side. Scenes of chat and forced questioning punctuate part of the game and make it feel like a step back to the early version of The Hobbit on Commodore 64 with the obligatory lines, but it's there to give a feeling of interaction. But it doesn't quite work, and the best interaction you'll have is with friends or randoms who take part in the game.

Team-work's crucial in this and while that's to be saluted and necessary for the MMO, it's a shame that parts of the game rely on it. Not every player wants to be forced into a co-op to complete areas. Occasionally, too glitches strike the game and render the experience a frustration, but they're few and far between.

All in all, The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited is an impressive port over from the PC, with a few minor niggles thrown in. You'll get out of it whatever you want to put in - rewards come from endless gameplay and serious hours in front of the console and online. I suspect those who don't like MMORPGs won't be won over, but fans will lap up this with the glee most fantasy games command from their lovers.

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Cinderella: Blu Ray Review

Cinderella: Blu Ray Review

Rating: PG
Released by Disney DVD

It's hard to be cynical when presented with the 2015 live action version of Cinderella.

Yet, it's also potentially even harder to take the film at face value in a world where weary children are bombarded with cartoons rich in subtext and meaning.

That must have been the quandary for Kenneth Branagh, who's helming this latest take on the Disney classic, which more or less plays it right down the line when revisiting the original tale.

In this 2015 version, Downton Abbey's Lily James (all porcelain skin, blonde hair and looking very much like Elsa from Frozen - surely no coincidence that short Frozen Fever screens just before) is the Ella of the fairy tale. Her life's irrevocably changed when her mother (Hayley Atwell) dies, imparting the mantra "Have courage and be kind" to her as her dying wish.

After time, her travelling father (Ben Chaplin) takes in Lady Tremaine (an icy, tart with just the right amount of classic villainness and chic 1940s screen star Cate Blanchett) and her two daughters. But to compound Ella's own tragedy, her father dies on the road, leaving the girl a servant in her own home.

But hope for Ella is only a stone's throw away after she meets the square-jawed Kit (Game of Thrones' Richard Madden) in the forest... will this girl get her man and rise above the tragedy that's befallen her?

Ironically for a film so swathed in sumptuous colour, Branagh's workmanlike Cinderella is completely black and white.

Sticking almost rigidly to the formula and faithfulness of the original (as well as some CGI touches including comedy mice and a clever transformation of the old pumpkin carriage), this Cinderella is a refreshing blast of yesteryear brought vividly to life with a director who's got an eye for classic cinema as his camera swirls around.

It's not perfect though; it's a little too long with the 2 hour duration likely to cause some fidgeting within the ranks of the young and some pantomime comedy moments failing flatter than anything and not landing with perhaps the zing that would have been expected.

The worst offenders are the squabbling Tremaine siblings who irritate; but Branagh has the chutzpah to ensure this film is above all, a spectacle with a simple message of being kind and courageous rather than a post-ironic feminist take on it all.

In terms of the acting, James is solid enough as Cinders, breathing life where necessary and a veritable personification of kindness; Madden is little more than a square jaw as the Prince; a theatrical Blanchett is a cool blast of conflicted iciness as the step-mother, whose cruelty lies quietly bubbling behind a cold veneer; and Bonham-Carter brings life - and a bit of Disney magic - at the right moment as the toothy Fairy Godmother giving the film the oomph it needs as it threatens dangerously to sag.

But all of those stars are eclipsed by the work done by the costuming and set work, which are all infinitely more luscious and flourish more than anything else on screen.

Bright, vivid colours, cobalt blues and opulent sets garnished with bountiful beauteous touches bring more striking life to the screen than anything else (and should see three time Academy Award winning Sandy Powell take home another trophy if there's any justice).

This Cinderella is no ugly step-sister - and in a post-modern world where Disney's mocked its own conventions, it deserves praise for following the path already travelled and for giving us a fairy tale which breezes life into the old nostalgia and will ensure many want to go to the ball.

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Hello Ladies: DVD Review

Hello Ladies: DVD Review

Rating: M
Released by Warner Home Video and Roadshow Home Ent

It’s a well-worn trope we’ve seen many times before – the awkward geeky guy trying to impress the ladies.

It’s also the MO of Hello Ladies, an eight part sitcom by Stephen Merchant and based on his show. Merchant is Stuart, a web design company owner living the high life in LA, but never having any success with women.

Renting out his “outhouse” is lodger Jessica (The Walking Dead’s Christine Woods), an aspiring actress trying to crack into the big time. And along for the ride are his mates Wade, who’s in the process of splitting from his wife and Kives, a ladies man who has more success than the others.

After a wobbly pilot that feels forced, it’s a relief to report the rest of the series is funny and warm, with Merchant’s awkwardness anchoring most of the stories and key moments. There’s an underlying gentle sweetness to the writing which makes up for any moments that feel like Stuart’s reaching far beyond. The show was cancelled, but the release includes the wrap up TV movie which goes exactly where you expect it would and isn’t quite as impressive as the rest of the run, but still treats its audience with the respect you've come to give the characters.

Refreshing for an HBO series to have such heart, be so gentle and unassuming and trading on Merchant’s charisma, Hello Ladies is surprising in many ways and ends up being a series that you binge without realising you’re doing it.

Force Majeure: DVD Review

Force Majeure: DVD Review

Cast: Johannes Bah Kuhnke, Lisa Loven Kongsli, Vincent Wettergren, Clara Wettergren, Kristofer Hivju, Fanni Metelius
Director: Ruben Ostlund

What would you do?

In the latest film from the Nordic provinces, it's the big question that faces the head of a family after an incident at a ski resort during a week's vacation.

It's all going well for the family on her holiday; mum and dad, two kids, the perfect piste and pristine snow and weather. But on day two, at lunch, when a controlled avalanche heads towards the family, Tomas (Kuhnke) panics, and runs leaving the family to fend for themselves, much to the horror of his wife and screaming two children.

When the snow powder clears, it becomes obvious that all is not well with the family and Tomas begins to feel the consequence of his actions.

Force Majeure is brilliantly filmed, with the extreme whites of the snow and the mountains framing the piercing problems ahead.

Kuhnke gives a performance that's as head-scratching as it is thought provoking - it's unlikely anyone watching this wouldn't throw a few thoughts over what they may do and how instinctive the survival gene actually is.

As the film slowly plays out, the creeping tension is almost unbearable and ironically, very little actually happens on screen, but Ostlund makes great fist of the locations (hotel corridors, the mountains, the close up shots) to convey a sense of dread not felt in a snow-set hotel since The Shining.

It's a film of psychological terror, yet it remains distinctly recognisable and humanly possible thanks to some humour at some oddly placed moments. Touches like these elevate Force Majeure into the realms of something truly different as the serenely and quietly terrifying tale progresses.

The only thing letting it down is the ending which seems at odds with what's gone before - a glimpse into the abyss has been offered and it's almost as if those in charge were too scared to stare too deeply within for fear of what it may say about us.

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Newstalk ZB review - Terminator, Ted 2 and Jupiter Ascending

Newstalk ZB review - Terminator, Ted 2 and Jupiter Ascending

This week, I was talking the return of Arnie, the return of Ted and the ascending of Jupiter.

Take a listen below:

http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/movies/darren-bevan-terminator-ted-2/

http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/movies/darren-bevan-terminator-ted-2/