Having just come back from three nights away in the little
seaside town of Busselton, I’m relaxed and ready for the full couple of weeks of
movie previewing coming up. Only two releases this week, but one packs
an emotional punch with a tragic Australian issue. The other is a biopic that I
don’t hold a lot of hope for in Australia, even though it's quite good. And I
catch up with that monkey film I missed reviewing last week.
THIS WEEK'S PREVIEWS
(My movie Pick of the week)
Charlie’s
Country ✪✪✪✪ ½
Opens in Australia: 17th
July 2014
USA: No Release UK:
No Release
Other Countries: Release Information
Perth: Luna Palace Cinemas
OUR THOUGHTS
Every Australian over the age of 14 should see this
film. It is arguably the best film since Rabbit
Proof Fence to depict the chronic issues we, as a country, are struggling
with in our attempt to live with the true owners of this land we call
Australia.
Based loosely on David Gulpilil’s (Charlie) life, it is, initially,
endearing and funny, then provocative, and ultimately heartbreaking. As the end
credits rolled I was in tears, and I just wanted to get to my car and have a
good sob.
It asks questions that seem extraordinarily difficult to answer and,
yet, must be answered sooner than later. Why are indigenous Australians so
misunderstood, and why are they treated with such disrespect? We can watch Rabbit Proof Fence and soothe our guilt
by pointing out these inhumanities happened decades ago when we didn’t know
any better. However, there is no excuse now that this disregard continues in
present day as portrayed by Charlie’s
Country. As if there has ever been an excuse for any of the atrocities at any time.
This is probably one of the most important
Australian films in the past decade. That aside, it’s beautifully scripted,
acted, and director Rolf de Heer allows the actor’s and their story to shine through
naturally and dramatically. Please see Charlie's Country and tell your friends.
STUDIO BLURB
Blackfella Charlie is out of sorts. The
intervention is making life more difficult on his remote community, what with
the proper policing of whitefella laws now. So Charlie takes off, to live the
old way, but in so doing sets off a chain of events in his life that has him
return to his community chastened, and somewhat the wiser.
Dawn
of the Planet of the Apes ✪✪✪½
Opens in Australia: 10th
July 2014
USA: 11th July
2014 UK: 17th July 2014
Other Countries: Release Information
OUR THOUGHTS
Every reviewer
everywhere loves this film. “Best
blockbuster this summer (or winter for us)” they say. Yeah… yeah… yeah. I don’t
agree. Great visual effects, but that’s about it. Not a terrible script, but
such a rehash of so many other films— Braveheart with hair, really. I did really enjoy the first film Planet of the Apes, and the very
original with Charlton Heston (saw it at the drive-in when I was a kid). I
didn’t hate this one, and I know most of you will want to see it. So do go.
It’s by the numbers and, for me, the numbers just added up to same ol’ same
ol’. And a tad slow, while I’m having a whine.
STUDIO BLURB
A growing nation of genetically evolved apes led by
Caesar is threatened by a band of human survivors of the devastating virus
unleashed a decade earlier. They reach a fragile peace, but it proves short-lived,
as both sides are brought to the brink of a war that will determine who will
emerge as Earth's dominant species. (c) Fox
Reaching
For The Moon ✪✪✪½
Opens in Australia: 17th
July 2014
USA: 2013 Festival Release UK: No release that I can find
Other Countries: Release Information
Perth: Luna Palace Cinemas
OUR THOUGHTS
It’s beautifully shot. I was just drooling over the
clothes, the houses, the scenery, even the furniture. There’s a desk in it that
I would sell one of my children to own.
A bit of a soppy romance film in parts, while in
other ways it is an interesting biopic of a clearly talented writer. However, I
really question how well this will do outside the USA. A lesbian love affair between an alcoholic
poet and a South American architect doesn’t really set off the “must see”
bells. Still, its nicely done and, again, that furniture and the beautiful architecture
really had me salivating.
STUDIO BLURB
DAYS IN SEPTEMBER, DONA FLOR AND HER TWO HUSBANDS) returns
with a sophisticated tale of an unlikely romance between two extraordinary
artists, set against the backdrop of political upheaval and a clash of
cultures. Grappling with writer's block, legendary American poet Elizabeth
Bishop (Miranda Otto) travels from New York City to Rio de Janeiro in the 1950s
to visit her college friend, Mary (Tracy Middendorf). Hoping to find
inspiration on Mary's sprawling estate, Elizabeth winds up with much more - a
tempestuous relationship with Mary's bohemian partner, architect Lota de Macedo
Soares (Glória Pires), that rocks the staid writer to her foundation.
Alcoholism, geographical distance and a military coup come between the lovers,
but their intimate connection spans decades and forever impacts the life and
work of these two extraordinary artists. The attraction of two polar-opposite
women has rarely been so volatile and so erotically charged on the big screen.(c)
Wolfe
If you’ve enjoyed these reviews, please share with your friends and
followers on social media and I will be very grateful. I love new readers who
love film
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