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.
The Sessions ★★★★1/2 (My movie Pick of the
week)
Opens in Australia: 8th November 2012
OUR
THOUGHTS
‘Give me a
moment,’ I said to my husband as the end credits rolled. I couldn’t stop sobbing. Yep that was me blubbering like a baby in the
fifth row. It’s not a movie that
sounds remotely interesting. In fact, a
guy in an iron lung having sex with a sex therapist, whilst sharing the details
with his priest, sounds exactly what you don’t need to see or read or hear
about. BUT, you should see this
film. It’s beautiful, poignant and, dare
I say it, the performances are Oscar worthy.
Helen Hunt gives the bravest performance of her life and though she’s
not my fave actress her style really suits this story. It’s about love and what
that means. And though many films attempt to frame that thought, this one actually nails
it.
STUDIO BLURB
Based on the poignantly optimistic
autobiographical writings of California-based journalist and poet Mark O'Brien,
The Sessions tells the story of a man confined to an iron lung who is
determined - at age 38 - to lose his virginity. With the help of his therapists
and the guidance of his priest, he sets out to make his dream a reality. -- (C)
Fox Searchlight
Seven Psychopaths ★★★★
Opens in Australia: 8th November 2012
OUR
THOUGHTS
You shouldn’t
laugh in this film. It’s violent, the
language is foul and the characters, well, they’re, ah… psychopaths. So you also
shouldn’t care about them. But you
do. Just as you guffawed at the
violent & anti-social behaviour in Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill and Machete, Seven Psychopaths
will have you laughing out loud at the superb lines and ridiculous antics of these
outrageous characters. Christopher
Walken's and Sam Rockwell's performances simply make the film. This comedy is blacker than black with no
shades of grey. If you squirm at the
sight of blood, avoid.
STUDIO BLURB
Marty (Farrell)
is a struggling writer who dreams of finishing his screenplay, "Seven
Psychopaths". Billy (Rockwell) is Marty's best friend, an unemployed actor
and part time dog thief, who wants to help Marty by any means necessary. All he
needs is a little focus and inspiration. Hans (Walken) is Billy's partner in
crime. A religious man with a violent past. Charlie (Harrelson) is the
psychopathetic gangster whose beloved dog, Billy and Hans have just stolen.
Charlie's unpredictable, extremely violent and wouldn't think twice about
killing anyone or anything associated with the theft. Marty is going to get all
the focus and inspiration he needs, just as long as he lives to tell the tale.
-- (C) Official Site
Killing Them Softly ★★★½
Opens in Australia: 11th October 2012
OUR
THOUGHTS
In the same
vein as SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS, this one is funny and nasty but more character
driven and thoughtful. Brad Pitt, as
always, delivers a perfect performance. Good looking, talented and with a
gorgeous wife, he certainly never seems to put a foot wrong. I’ve missed James Gandolfini, since the end
of Sopranos, so it was a joy to see him back on screen as a broken down gangster assassin who can’t get his act together. It’s
a little overlong in the set up and a few scenes probably overstayed their
welcome but still a pleasure to watch (if you can call watching multiple
homicides and bashings a pleasure).
STUDIO BLURB
Three dumb
guys who think they're smart rob a Mob protected card game, causing the local
criminal economy to collapse. Brad Pitt plays the enforcer hired to track them
down and restore order. Killing Them Softly also features Richard Jenkins,
James Gandolfini, Ray Liotta, Scoot McNairy, Ben Mendelsohn, and Vincent
Curatola. Max Casella, Trevor Long, Slaine and Sam Shepard also make
appearances. -- (C) Weinstein
End of Watch ★★★
Opens in Australia: 1st November 2012
Other Countries: Release
Information
OUR
THOUGHTS
Big warning on this: It uses very shaky hand-held cameras like all
these FOUND FOOTAGE films. In this case,
there is the added extreme of particularly horrific violence. One audience member in the row behind (but
thank goodness about ten seats along) was violently ill. It may have been the camerawork or they might have
arrived feeling a tad greenish. All I know is that it was one of
the most unusual screenings I’ve ever attended whilst we pondered the fate of the sick patron.
Another warning: The language is
beyond disgusting. These Mexican street
gangs are scary folk and their vocabulary is limited to four letter expletives
in every second word. Not a date film
girls, and a little bit of a dull start but it certainly makes you appreciate
the tough job of police in certain areas of L.A.
STUDIO BLURB
From the writer of Training Day, End of
Watch is a riveting action thriller that puts audiences at the center of the
chase like never before. Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña star as young LA
police officers who discover a secret that makes them the target of the
country's most dangerous drug cartel. -- (C) Open Road
Bachelorette ★★½
Opens in Australia: 1st November 2012
OUR
THOUGHTS
This isn’t bad but it isn’t great. It’s not BRIDESMAIDS but it’s trying so hard
to be, that it hurts. The first half is
funny and the concept should work but the characters aren’t positive if they are
good, bad or ugly. Kirsten Dunst has
never looked worse and I’m not sure if Rebel Wilson is as funny with an
American accent. It’s definitely a chick
flick, so leave the boyfriend/hubby at home and have a glass of wine beforehand (just one cause you don't want to end up like the characters).
It may put you in the right mood. And
again, who do I complain to about the pointless foul language, people? Just
because it worked in BRIDESMAIDS doesn’t mean gutter talk is a given in making a hit
comedy. (Why not just try writing wit ala Katherine Hepburn) Half a star off too because I’m
sick of the “F” word in film—its lost its meaning.
STUDIO BLURB
On the night before an old friend's
wedding, three frisky bridesmaids go searching for a little fun but find much
more than they bargained for. With lovely Becky (Rebel Wilson) set to marry her
handsome sweetheart, Dale (Hayes MacArthur), the remaining members of her high
school clique reunite for one last bachelorette bacchanal in the Big Apple.
Regan (Kirsten Dunst) is an overachieving, ueber-Maid of Honor who's secretly
smarting over the fact that she's not the first to marry, while Gena (Lizzy
Caplan) is a whip-smart sarcastic who's actually a closet romantic, and Katie
(Isla Fisher) is a ditzy beauty who loves the good life. But when Becky insists
on keeping the bachelorette party tame, the women proceed with an after-hours
celebration of their own. -- (C) Official Site
The Master ★★
Opens in Australia: 8th November 2012
OUR
THOUGHTS
There was a
buzz about, before ‘The Master’ preview screening.
It’s being touted as an Oscar contender.
Yes, the acting is superb, although, as good as Joaquin Phoenix is, his
mumbling meant a lot of what he said was incoherent. Phillip Seymour Hoffman is a standout as the
slimy L. Ron Hubbard type but its not enough to make it an interesting film. There
seemed to be a good deal of provocative sexual behaviour that we probably
didn’t need to see (imagine that it could also have been called “The
Master-bate”). The Director, Paul Thomas
Anderson, seemed uncertain that his audience got the message so he beat us over
the head on every point, which makes for a slow and overlong experience. I think there is a fascinating tale to be told
about religions that are akin to cults, ala Scientology, but this isn’t it.
STUDIO BLURB
A striking
portrait of drifters and seekers in post World War II America, Paul Thomas
Anderson's The Master unfolds the journey of a Naval veteran (Joaquin Phoenix)
who arrives home from war unsettled and uncertain of his future - until he is tantalized
by The Cause (insert the religion that Tom Cruise and John Travolta practices) and
its charismatic leader (Philip Seymour Hoffman).
What
have you seen this week? Did you find our comments helpful or do you disagree?
Share your thoughts with us.
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