Tuesday, October 29, 2013

"Marvel's" Thor The Dark World ★★★★

THE GODS ARE SMILING AND SO IS THE AUDIENCE


Opens in Australia: 31st October
USA: 8th November  UK: 30th October
Other Countries: Release Information






     Let’s face it, Thor (thanks to Chris Hemsworth) is the best looking hero of the Marvel film franchises, and the studio could just rest on that.  We girls would be happy.  However, not content to rest on a pretty face, they’ve taken the time to bring in the right crew to work on number two, Thor The Dark World
Christopher Yost (screenplay) has been head writer on many “Marvel” animations and contributed to the original Thor. Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely (screenplay) together wrote Captain America: The First Avenger and have just completed Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and have also penned all three of The Narnia Chronicles.  Then you have Emmy®-winning director, Alan Taylor, who has worked on highly acclaimed shows like Sopranos, West Wing, Six Feet Under, Mad Men and, most recently, Game of Thrones.
Together, they’ve pulled off a worthy sequel, something very difficult to do in a franchise which has created such high expectations; achieving this by ensuring all the key ingredients from the origin story-humor, action, and realism while progressing the story line and character development.
We follow on from The Avengers’ “New York” conclusion where Thor (Chris Hemsworth) has returned to Asgard and his father, Odin (Anthony Hopkins), with Loki (Tom Hiddleston) in tow, to imprison his adopted brother for his misbehavior on Earth.  But, dealing with his wayward son is the least of Odin’s problems. An alignment of the Nine Realms (occurring once every 5,000 years) is imminent, and it will open a portal between the worlds-Earth being one of them. 

Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) is attempting to forget Thor, whom she hasn’t seen for two years. While investigating an anomaly, created by the impending alignment, she is dragged into the dark world where she inadvertently reignites a war, waged thousands of years previously, between one of Asgard’s greatest adversaries, Malekith.
As leader of the dark elves, Malekith was defeated by Odin’s Father, but he returns to take advantage of the realm’s alignment to take over Asgard and cause havoc throughout the universe.  Thor must create unlikely alliances and defy his father to defeat Malekith and restore peace to the Realms and, of course, once again save Earth.
The worlds are beautifully imagined and created, heightening the realism.  The director, Taylor, and filmmakers created this authenticity while filming scenes as much as possible on location and creating enormous, realistic sets; some taking months at a time to build.  Natalie Portman felt the scale of the sets harkened back to a different filmmaking era and commented, “It’s really like the old days of cinema. You walk on to the set and you think ‘Wow, we’re making a movie’.”


True to previous “Marvel” films, the story line is again interwoven between one franchise and another, following on from The Avengers and leaving the door open for the next. There are guest cameos from the first film's characters and other Marvel characters, including an extremely amusing spot from Dr Erik Selvig (Stellan Skarsgård)—remember he the only one who understood the Tesseract weapon in The Avengers? Of course, fans of Loki will not be disappointed with his role.  He may not be quite as princely and beautiful as Thor (pretty close, though), but he delivers all the best lines. 
It’s an extremely entertaining blockbuster movie which serves, also, to whet the appetite for the next installment, Captain America: The Winter Soldier.  If the “notorious” Marvel credits scene inserts (two: one in the middle and one at the very end, so make sure you stay) are anything to go by, there are many more films to come. The Gods and the fans will be pleased.


Sunday, October 27, 2013

Weekly Film Review Round Up 26 October 2013

THIS WEEK'S PREVIEWS

Click here to purchase
             from Smashwords
Click here for Amazon Kindle Version
Only two new films for you this week… Captain Phillips is a drama of the high seas, literally, and if you are looking for a good comedy you will enjoy Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa. Catch up on some of the good ones in the past few weeks too, like Prisoners, Gravity, and About Time because just around the corner we have releases of some top notch films.
Now I interrupt my normal film proceedings for an advertisment... my husband has told me that I must share with you all, that I have written a book. He keeps telling me that I have spent money and time writing it and then having some very professional and talented people edit it, so I should tell people about it. It's not quite a book, but a novella which is about 120 pages.  Behind the Fire  is a creepy little Stephen King type story. As well, I’ve thrown (at no extra cost) a short story which was previously published in an anthology.
If you enjoy my film reviews, perhaps you may enjoy my book. It is only 99 cents.  I am keeping it inexpensive, because if you don’t like it then at least you won’t get too upset when spending less than a dollar.  Get it while its still only 99 cents, because when I write that blockbuster I may put this one up to $1.99! I’ve put the link below the images to make it easy for you to grab a copy. Its also available at iTunes. Let me know what you think. 

(My movie Pick of the week)

Captain Phillips ★★★★ ½
Opens in Australia:      24thth October, 2013 
Other Countries:          Release Information

THOUGHTS
You want to see this on the big screen. It’s a helluva trip when Somalian pirates take on Tom Hanks as Captain Phillips. It’s a true story and an incredible one.  I often mock, how in films, the Americans are portrayed as the only people who can save the world. But, in this, when the navy arrives, you certainly understand why they are the best people to get the job done.  You also feel for the pirates who must resort to such a terrible and dangerous way to survive. And, a great job by screenwriter Billy Ray, in giving us such character depth. Tom Hanks will receive many award nominations for this performance. The music and cinematography are equally worthy. I am seeing it again.
STUDIO BLURB
Captain Phillips is director Paul Greengrass's multi-layered examination of the 2009 hijacking of the U.S. container ship Maersk Alabama by a crew of Somali pirates. It is – through Greengrass's distinctive lens – simultaneously a pulse-pounding thriller and a complex portrait of the myriad effects of globalisation. The film focuses on the relationship between the Alabama's commanding officer, Captain Richard Phillips (two time Academy Award® winner Tom Hanks), and his Somali counterpart, Muse (Barkhad Abdi). Set on an incontrovertible collision course off the coast of Somalia, both men will find themselves paying the human toll for economic forces outside of their control. The film is directed by Academy Award® nominee Paul Greengrass, from a screenplay by Billy Ray based upon the book, A Captain's Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALs, and Dangerous Days at Sea, by Richard Phillips with Stephan Talty. The film is produced by Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti, and Michael De Luca.

Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa★★★★ 
Opens in Australia:      24th October, 2013
Other Countries:          Release Information
Perth, Australia:                  See at Luna Cinemas

OUR THOUGHTS
If you are British you will already love Alan Partridge, and I won’t have to convince you this is a lot of fun. I’d never heard of this English show, so I went along as an Alan Partridge virgin.  What a hoot!  Once it amps up, there are many scenes where you will cry with laughter. Steve Coogan has popped up in so many films this year, and in so many varied roles, he has certainly demonstrated his breadth of ability. If you want a fantastic treat of a comedy (and they are few and far between lately), go meet Alan Partridge.
STUDIO BLURB
Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa, at last, brings an enduring comic creation to film, pitching Alan headfirst into a desperate battle for survival that’s both literal and figurative, as he becomes caught up in a siege at his radio station.

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

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Weekly Film Review Roundup 17th October 2013

What a week it’s been for reviewers, we’ve seen some really great films. Prisoners is not for the faint-hearted; its gripping. If you want something lighter go fall in love with About Time.  Girls, go treat yourselves and watch at Gold Class, La Premiere or one of those luxury cinema experiences.  For those who want a solid Australian drama, take a trip to Mystery Road. Remember, also, it’s the last week of the Italian Film Festival running across Australia.  Make it a night out with pizza, wine and a wonderful Italian film.

(My movie Pick of the week)
About Time ★★★★
Opens in Australia: 17th October, 2013
Other Countries:          Release Information
OUR THOUGHTS
Richard Curtis, screenwriter for some of the most memorable romances in the past few decades—Notting Hill, Bridge Jones Diary, Four Weddings and a Funeral, and War Horse—wrote the screenplay and directed for About Time. So going in, you know what to expect. It’s blatantly sentimental and filled to the brim with lovely, sweet moments.  
Nerdish Tim Lake (Domhnall Gleeson) is sat down on his 21st birthday by his offbeat father (Bill Nighy) and given the secret man’s talk—the men in their family have the ability to travel through time. The deal is he can only change things in his own life, so he uses it to change the one thing uppermost in his mind—score a girlfriend (Rachel McAdams).
Of course, true love, or life for that matter, never runs smoothly, but Tim can fix that by jumping back in time. However, he comes to realize that it’s not as easy as he thinks and he is faced with some large dilemmas. Some of the best moments are between Tim and his Father. Bill Nighy’s quirky character portrayals never get old.
It may not be Notting Hill, but there are so few of these sentimental romances around these days that About Time was a surprisingly enjoyable film. It’s a lovely commentary, too, on family, the bond between father and son, and a reminder we should savor each day.
STUDIO BLURB
At the age of 21, Tim Lake (Domhnall Gleeson) discovers he can travel in time... The night after another unsatisfactory New Year party, Tim's father (Bill Nighy) tells his son that the men in his family have always had the ability to travel through time. Tim can't change history, but he can change what happens and has happened in his own life-so he decides to make his world a better place...by getting a girlfriend.
Sadly, that turns out not to be as easy as you might think. Moving from the Cornwall coast to London to train as a lawyer, Tim finally meets the beautiful but insecure Mary (Rachel McAdams). Tim finds out that his unique gift can't save him from the sorrows and ups and downs that affect all families, everywhere. About Time is a comedy about love and time travel, which discovers that, in the end, making the most of life may not need time travel at all. (c) Universal  

Prisoners★★★★
Opens in Australia: 17th October 2013
Other Countries: Release Information

OUR THOUGHTS
This film is intense… no, I mean, REALLY INTENSE.  If you have children it will ask you all kinds of questions you won’t want answered, and you hope will never be asked of you.
I think it’s one of the best performances by Hugh Jackman I’ve seen. He really is a great actor. The final act has a few plot-holes, but you will be so shaken up by then you won’t think about them until later.  It’s a good film but I can’t say I enjoyed it.  It’s too grim, too terrifying, and too relentless. But, if that’s what you like, this one is definitely a “go see it.”

STUDIO BLURB
PRISONERS, from Oscar (R)-nominated director Denis Villeneuve, stars Oscar (R) nominees Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal in a story that poses the question: How far would you go to protect your child? Keller Dover (Jackman) is facing every parent's worst nightmare. His six-year-old daughter, Anna, is missing, together with her young friend, Joy, and as minutes turn to hours, panic sets in. The only lead is a dilapidated RV that had earlier been parked on their street. Heading the investigation,  Detective Loki (Gyllenhaal) arrests its driver, Alex Jones (Paul Dano), but a lack of evidence forces the only suspect's release. Knowing his child's life is at stake, the frantic Dover decides he has no choice but to take matters into his own hands. But just how far will this desperate father go to protect his family? (c) WB

Mystery Road ★★★ 

Opens in Australia: 17th October, 2013
Other Countries:          Release Information
Perth, Australia:      See at Luna Cinemas

OUR THOUGHTS
Ivan Sen has done a remarkably solid job in creating a real sense of dread in this small town murder mystery. The Australian cast is a “who’s who” of talent, and all deliver their best.  It’s a touch uneven in pace, but is still a good drama. Aaron Pedersen has a powerful screen presence, as the small town cop who follows his instincts while being confronted by prejudice and the challenges of his family. If you live outside Australia you will find this peek into Australian outback town life fascinating. And it’s a bloody good product from our country that you will enjoy tremendously.
STUDIO BLURB
An Indigenous detective investigates the murder of a teenage girl in a small town in the Outback. Ivan Sen (Toomelah) crafts a mesmerising thriller with a stellar Australian cast including Aaron Pedersen, Hugo Weaving, Ryan Kwanten and Jack Thompson.

Honey ★★★½

Australian Lavazza Italian Film Festival

(Festival: 2nd – 22nd October­­­—varies in your state)

Visit Lavazza Italian Film Festival Website for info on the Festival
Perth Festival: Screening details: Click here
Other Countries: Release Information

OUR THOUGHTS
Honey is a controversial film in its topic matter. Dealing with euthanasia it is not an easy

film to watch. Although, those who brave it will be rewarded with thought provoking arguments. Is euthanasia for mental illness justifiable. As one of the characters poses the question: Just because you can’t see the illness, is it not still an illness? 
It’s well-rounded and beautifully filmed and directed. Not for everyone but definitely a conversation starter.
STUDIO BLURB

Irene, nicknamed 'Honey', has devote herself to people looking for help, and tries to alleviate their suffering even when they make extreme decisions. One day she meets Grimaldi and his invisible malaise. An official selection of Un Certain Regard at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, Honey has been applauded for Golino’s stylish direction and Trinca’s breakout performance, making this multilayered and beautifully nuanced film an unmissable festival highlight.

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Weekly Film Review Round Up 13th October 2013

THIS WEEK'S PREVIEWS

Reviewed this week.  2 Guns’ is a story  elevated by the actors.  I can never not like Denzil in anything. He is just too good.  Then there is the woeful Diana which I think is asking a lot expecting you to pay for what is really a midday movie. If you are in Australia and want to have a little fun, check out the Italian Film Festival running across the country.  It’s just started in Perth at Luna Cinemas.  Ciao for this week.

(My movie Pick of the week)
2 Guns ★★★ ½ 
Opens in Australia: 10th October, 2013
Other Countries: Release Information
OUR THOUGHTS
Anything with Denzil Washington and Mark Wahlberg is always reasonable. Here they play pretty much to their usual type. Denzil is the wise, cool dude, and Wahlberg the smart aleck, careless sidekick. The beginning was a tad confusing but once the twist is revealed, about thirty minutes in it is quite fun. There is a horrible scene with chickens.  If you like animals, close your eyes.
The film is reasonable fare and there are no plodding scenes, but having just discovered Breaking Bad, I am catching up on obsessed with it at the moment, and every drug-dealing story pales next to it.  I think the name, 2 Guns needs a little work, too.
STUDIO BLURB
Academy Award® winner Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg lead an all-star cast in 2 Guns, an explosive action film that tracks two operatives from competing bureaus who are forced on the run together.  But there is a big problem with their unique alliance: Neither knows that the other is an undercover federal agent.   
For the past 12 months, DEA agent Bobby Trench (Washington) and U.S. naval intelligence officer Marcus Stigman (Wahlberg) have been reluctantly attached at the hip.  Working undercover as members of a narcotics syndicate, each man distrusts his partner as much as the criminals they have both been tasked to take down.
When their attempt to infiltrate a Mexican drug cartel and recover millions goes haywire, Trench and Stigman are suddenly disavowed by their superiors.  Now that everyone wants them in jail or in the ground, the only person they can count on is the other.  Unfortunately for their pursuers, when good guys spend years pretending to be bad, they pick up a few tricks along the way.

Diana ½ 
Opens in Australia: 10th October, 2013
Other Countries: Release Information
OUR THOUGHTS
Oh its horrible. Really ridiculously bad, just the like the hairdos of Naomi Watts as Diana.  Supposedly they gave her a prosthetic nose, but I don't think she looks anything like her.  She's the wrong shape, doesn't sound like her and her hair just looks like a bad wig.  Considering this affair was concealed pretty much from most people, its a real fictional account.  Don't waste your dollars.  You will actually see better on the free-to-air. Only watch if you enjoy Mills and Boone and Danielle Steele dramatizations. And I use the word drama very loosely here.
STUDIO BLURB
DIANA is a compelling portrait of Diana, Princess of Wales during the final two years of her life. The film stars British-born Academy Award (R) nominated actress Naomi Watts (J. EDGAR, FAIR GAME, 21 GRAMS) who assumes the leading role of the eponymous and iconic princess. Naveen Andrews, best known for his roles in THE ENGLISH PATIENT and the hit television series LOST, co-stars as Dr. Hasnat Khan. Fellow Brits Douglas Hodge, Geraldine James, Charles Edwards and Juliet Stevenson round out the  supporting cast. (c) Official Facebook

Honey ★★★½
Australian Lavazza Italian Film Festival
(Festival: 2nd – 22nd October­­­—varies in your state)

Visit Lavazza Italian Film Festival Website for info on the Festival
Perth Festival: Screening details: Click here
Other Countries: Release Information

OUR THOUGHTS
Honey is a controversial film in its topic matter. Dealing with euthanasia, it is not an easy film to watch. Although, those who brave it will be rewarded with thought provoking arguments. Is euthanasia for mental illness justifiable? As one of the characters poses the question: Just because you can’t see the illness, is it not still an illness? 
It’s well-rounded and beautifully filmed and directed. Not for everyone but definitely a conversation starter.
STUDIO BLURB
Irene, nicknamed 'Honey', has devote herself to people looking for help, and tries to alleviate their suffering even when they make extreme decisions. One day she meets Grimaldi and his invisible malaise. An official selection of Un Certain Regard at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, Honey has been applauded for Golino’s stylish direction and Trinca’s breakout performance, making this multilayered and beautifully nuanced film an unmissable festival highlight.


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

Friday, October 11, 2013

Win tickets to preview of FRUITVALE STATION

UP FOR GRABS MY PERTH FILM FRIENDS

FIVE DOUBLE PASSES
TO PREVIEW OF

FRUITVALE STATION
at

Saturday 19 October
10.45am for 11.00am start

TO ENTER

Just follow @susanmaywriter or like on Facebook or Friend on Google+ and tweet or share:

#PERTH #WIN Tickts 2 Film preview FRUITVALE STATION Sat 19/10 11am @lunacinemas  RT & Follow-Details: http://buff.ly/15YqMPr @susanmaywriter

Competition closes Midnight WA Time Tuesday, 15th October

Getting to Luna Cinemas Leederville

Luna Leederville is just a few minutes from central Perth. There's plenty of parking available off Vincent Street behind the supermarket or at the rear of the Leederville Hotel, or at the end of Oxford Street in the car park opposite the Leederville Train Station. We're also easy to reach by public transport. The Leederville Train Station is just a short stroll down Oxford St and Buses nos 15 and 401 will drop you at our door.

FILM BLURB
Film opens 7th November 

          Winner of both the Grand Jury Prize for dramatic feature and the Audience Award for U.S. dramatic film at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. Winner of both the Grand Jury Prize for dramatic feature and the Audience Award for U.S. dramatic film at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, director Ryan Coogler’s FRUITVALE STATION follows the true story of Oscar Grant (Michael B. Jordan), a 22-year-old Bay Area resident who wakes up on the morning of December 31, 2008 and feels something in the air.             
         Not sure what it is, he takes it as a sign to get a head start on his resolutions: being a better son to his mother (Octavia Spencer), whose birthday falls on New Year’s Eve, being a better partner to his girlfriend Sophina (Melonie Diaz), who he hasn’t been completely honest with as of late, and being a better father to Tatiana (Ariana Neal), their beautiful four year-old daughter. 
         Crossing paths with friends, family, and strangers, Oscar starts out well, but as the day goes on, he realizes that change is not going to come easily. His resolve takes a tragic turn, however, when BART officers shoot him in cold blood at the Fruitvale subway stop on New Year’s Day.  Oscar’s life and tragic death would shake the Bay Area – and the entire nation – to its very core.



Sunday, October 6, 2013

Weekly Review Roundup 5th October 2013

THIS WEEK'S PREVIEWS

This is the week of the sensational film Gravity opening around the world. It’s already the most talked about film of the year. I don’t give out five stars lightly.  A book or a film has to be perfect in its genre to receive that rating.  That doesn’t mean it doesn’t have plot-holes but it means it delivers to its intended audience. Gravity is the Avatar or Inception of 2013. We will look back and say that this film changed our expectation of what can be done on film.  Rush is also another great film but if you see one film this year, see Gravity.

(My movie Pick of the week)
GRAVITY ★★★★★
Opens in Australia: 3rd October, 2013
Other Countries:          Release Information

OUR THOUGHTS
This is hands down one of the best space films you will see.  I don’t hand out 5 stars very often, maybe two or 3 a year and neither do most film critics. But universally, we all agree that this film is a stand out and should not be missed. See it on the biggest screen, IMAX 3D.  Its what you call an experience. Every now and then a film comes along that pushes the envelope of technology and storytelling.  This is 2013.  If this film doesn’t win a lot of categories at the awards then something is very wrong. Sandra Bullock gives her best performance yet. I dare say its the best performance of her career.  Go see it and please remember to breathe occasionally. For my full review click here.
STUDIO BLURB
GRAVITY, directed by Oscar (R) nominee Alfonso Cuaron, stars Oscar (R) winners Sandra Bullock and George Clooney in a heart-pounding thriller that pulls you into the infinite and unforgiving realm of deep space. Bullock plays Dr. Ryan Stone, a brilliant medical engineer on her first shuttle mission, with veteran astronaut Matt Kowalsky (Clooney). But on a seemingly routine spacewalk, disaster strikes. The shuttle is destroyed, leaving Stone and Kowalsky completely alone.

Rush ★★★
Opens in Australia: 3rd October, 2013
Other Countries: Release Information

OUR THOUGHTS
Just like the mesmerizing 2010 documentary Senna, Ron Howard’s Rush takes us into the live fast-die young world of F1 racing. I’m not a rev head, and in my book cars are for getting from A to B (definitely within the speed limit), so these movies should not rev my engine.
But Rush is such a crafted film on the story of the fierce competition, in the seventies, between Englishman James Hunt and Austrian Niki Lauda that you can’t help enjoying it. It’s quite a remarkable tale of two crazily competitive drivers who both sought to be F1 world champions. You would be forgiven for believing the story had been Hollywood-fied but it is all true. It’s an adrenaline rush and a fascinating dramatization of a historic time in motor racing sport. Even if you are not a sports or car racing fan you will enjoy this film.
Chris Hemsworth is surprisingly good as the carefree, drinking, philandering James Hunt and Daniel Brühl makes a good, very serious Niki Lauda.
This is a surprisingly good date night film. The boys will love the cars and the girls will certainly enjoy simply looking at Hemsworth, and the story moves at a quick pace to match the cars. The incredible track footage is worth the entry ticket alone.
STUDIO BLURB
Two-time Academy Award (R) winner Ron Howard (A Beautiful Mind, Frost/Nixon), teams once again with fellow two-time Academy Award (R) nominee, writer Peter Morgan (Frost/Nixon, The Queen), on Rush, a spectacular big-screen re-creation of the merciless 1970s rivalry between James Hunt and Niki Lauda. The epic action-drama stars Chris Hemsworth (The Avengers) as the charismatic Englishman James Hunt and Daniel Brühl (Inglourious Basterds) as the disciplined Austrian perfectionist Niki Lauda, whose  clashes on the Grand Prix racetrack epitomized the contrast between these two extraordinary characters, a distinction reflected in their private lives. Set against the sexy and glamorous golden age of Formula 1 racing, Rush portrays the exhilarating true story of two of the greatest rivals the world has ever witnessed-handsome English playboy Hunt and his methodical, brilliant opponent, Lauda. Taking us into their personal lives on and off the track, Rush follows the two drivers as they push themselves to the breaking point of physical and psychological endurance, where there is no shortcut to victory and no margin for error.

Thanks for Sharing★★★
Opens in Australia: 3rd October 2013
Perth, Australia:      See at Luna Cinemas
Other Countries: Release Information

OUR THOUGHTS
Films about addiction are a difficult topic. It’s an illness but its hard to comprehend if you don’t suffer from it. This one is billed as a romantic comedy but its really a drama with some good performances.  It’s not a very deep examination on sex addiction which was explored in far more grim and suffocating detail with last year’s Shame. Gwyneth Paltrow is her usual natural self and Mark Ruffalo plays the lovable, raffable guy (as he always does well). Good performance by Tim Robbins.  I’d probably catch it on DVD if you like these actors.
STUDIO BLURB
On the surface Adam (Ruffalo), an over-achieving environmental consultant, Mike (Robbins), a long-married small-business owner, and Neil (Gad), a wisecracking emergency-room doctor, have little in common. But all are in different stages of dealing with addiction. Confident and successful in his career, Adam is afraid to allow love back into his life, even if that means losing a chance to start over with smart, beautiful and accomplished Phoebe (Paltrow); Mike's efforts to control his wife, Katie  (Richardson), and son, Danny (Fugit), as tightly as he does his impulses are tearing the family apart; and Neil is still deeply in denial when befriended by Dede (Moore), who has just begun to take her own small steps back to health.. As they navigate the rocky shores of recovery, Adam, Mike and Neil become a family that encourages, infuriates and applauds each other on the journey toward a new life. (c) Roadside

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

Friday, October 4, 2013

Gravity ★★★★★


A perfect space odyssey

Opens in Australia: 3rd October
USA: 4th October  UK: 10th October
Other Countries: Release Information


Gravity is surprising, no matter which way you turn. And there is a lot of turning and spinning, so be prepared if you suffer motion sickness. There is also a great deal of white knuckle, breath holding moments, too.
You could be forgiven for thinking a dramatic space film with Sandra Bullock as the lead wouldn’t work. The staging is so realistic you could, also, be forgiven for thinking it was filmed entirely in space. It was actually filmed entirely at Shepperton Studios in London, England against animated screens. You would also not expect that ninety minutes of slow movement, fifteen minutes of dialogue in the opening followed by mostly silence and monologue, would be so enthralling.
But director Alfonso Cuarón has delivered a film that will grab you by the throat from the beautiful opening scenes, and it will not release you until the end credits. Even then, you will find yourself reliving the moments later because it felt so real.
Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock), a medical genius is on her first shuttle mission and effecting repairs on a routine spacewalk. Matt Kowalsky (George Clooney) is on his last mission and, in the magnificent opening sequence, casually zips around her admiring his final view from space. When disaster strikes and their shuttle is destroyed through a collision with hurtling detritus, Dr. Stone must find a way back to earth while her air runs low and she finds herself in an environment for which she is ill prepared.

By all accounts Gravity was a frustrating film for Cuarón to create and he has said he will never venture into space again. Each sequence needed to be digitally created; a two year process before filming began. Most of the technology invented for the film constantly failed up until the first day of filming. Cuarón even kept a diary and talks of fifteen days where they barely achieved anything. The diary was his record for later analysis after what he believed would be his inevitable dismissal when the project fell apart. After the conclusion of principal filming, it was still another year and a half of post-production.

Even the star, Sandra Bullock, described the time she spent in a nine foot cube, created for her shots, as “lonely” and “isolating.” It was so difficult to get in and out of that she chose to remain inside between takes, alone, many times in full astronaut suit.
Gravity has been universally praised by critics, deservedly. We’ve never seen anything like it on the big screen. And since Cuarón has explained that it took him four and a half years to complete, we probably won’t again. But the effort was worth it. It is a haunting, thrilling masterpiece that should be enjoyed on the big screen. We saw it in IMAX in 3D and it is worth the extra dollars to experience the full effect of this extraordinary film.

Here is a great interview with Alfonso Cuarón on GRAVITY