Weekly Review Round Up 20th Jan 2013

THIS WEEK'S PREVIEWS

What should you spend your precious dollars on when visiting the cinema? What needs popcorn to enjoy?  And what needs waiting until DVD?

If you have seen any of these or want to see them and have a comment please feel free to share. We love hearing from our readers.

(My movie Pick of the week)

Django Unchained ★★★★^½

Opens in Australia: 24^th January 2013

Other Countries: Release Information

OUR THOUGHTS 

It’s on the Oscar Best Film list and I agree it deserves to be there.  However, Jamie Foxx should also be there for Best Actor.  He is superb.  Proof the Academy has gone bonkers this year. If you love Tarantino, then this one will not disappoint. It has all the wry humour and the bodies and the blood. In fact, I enjoyed it so much I am seeing it again this week and skipping another film I haven't seen.  Heard on the grapevine most other reviewers are doing the same.  Read my full review here.

Full Django Unchained Review: 'There Will Be Blood'

STUDIO BLURB

Set in the South two years before the Civil War, DJANGO UNCHAINED stars Academy Award®-winner Jamie Foxx as Django, a slave whose brutal history with his former owners lands him face-to-face with German-born bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz (Academy Award®-winner Christoph Waltz).  Schultz is on the trail of the murderous Brittle brothers, and only Django can lead him to his bounty.  The unorthodox Schultz acquires Django with a promise to free him upon the capture of the Brittles – dead or alive. 

Success leads Schultz to free Django, though the two men choose not to go their separate ways.  Instead, Schultz seeks out the South’s most wanted criminals with Django by his side.  Honing vital hunting skills, Django remains focused on one goal: finding and rescuing Broomhilda (Kerry Washington), the wife he lost to the slave trade long ago.    

Django and Schultz’s search ultimately leads them to Calvin Candie (Academy Award®-nominee Leonardo DiCaprio), the proprietor of “Candyland,” an infamous plantation.  Exploring the compound under false pretenses, Django and Schultz arouse the suspicion of Stephen (Academy Award®-nominee Samuel L. Jackson), Candie’s trusted house slave.  Their moves are marked, and a treacherous organization closes in on them.  If Django and Schultz are to escape with Broomhilda, they must choose between independence and solidarity, between sacrifice and survival.

This is 40 ★★★^½

Opens in Australia: 17^th January 2013

Other Countries: Release Information

OUR THOUGHTS

Absolutely laugh out loud hilarious in parts.  If you have children between eight and eighteen you will really get this. I kept whispering to the hubby, ‘It’s us’.  Judd Apatow does have a habit of over-staying his welcome though. And this would have benefited from a twenty-minute shortening.  However, it’s the best of these relationship movies I’ve seen in a while.  And MAKE SURE YOU STAY whilst the credits roll. There is an outtake with Melissa McCarthy that had tears rolling down my cheeks it was so funny. In fact, I’m going to see it again just for THAT scene. 

STUDIO BLURB

Writer/director/producer Judd Apatow (The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Funny People) brings audiences This Is 40, an original comedy that expands upon the story of Pete (Paul Rudd) and Debbie (Leslie Mann) from the blockbuster hit Knocked Up as we see first-hand how they are dealing with their current state of life. -- (C) Universal

Safety Not Guaranteed ★★★^½

Showing: SHOWING IN PERTH at Lotterywest Festival Film Season

Somerville 14–20 January, 8pm Joondalup Pines22–27 January, 8pm

OUR THOUGHTS

First let me tell you that if you are in Perth, Western Australia you need to attend one of the  Lotterywest Festival films at Somerville or Joondalup Pines. It is simply stunning sitting there amongst the pine trees. 

‘Safety Not Guaranteed’ is one of those quirky indie love stories.  It’s sweet and quite funny.  Surprisingly, my husband enjoyed it more than me.  The geek in me was hoping for more sci-fi, which there is but not as much as I was expecting.  Still it’s a lovely night out and certainly an enjoyable film.  Treat yourselves and enjoy this glorious outdoor weather.

STUDIO BLURB

An unusual classified ad seeking time-travelling companions piques the interest of three magazine writers, who set off to find the author. Safety Not Guaranteed is an endearing and humorous muse on regret, reconciliation and the risk of falling in love. Loaded with universal appeal, this romantic comedy sci-fi road trip celebrates misfits, lost souls and kindred spirits.

Madeline Bates sat down with Mark Duplass to discuss the film. Read her interview here.Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award, Sundance Film Festival 2012

What have you seen this week? Did you find our comments helpful or do you disagree? Share your thoughts with us.