Weekly Review Round Up 5/7/2013

There is a good pick this week (well this fortnight, I missed last week) of mostly solid Indie film releases. They’re those films that usually have something interesting to say with out all the bangs and whistles of the big buck studios.  For all the mainstream lovers, Epic 3D is pretty good animation for the holidays but sadly Man of Steel is a wretchedly boring overkill.  I am still cranky about them getting it so wrong.

(My movie Pick of the week)

In The House (Dans La Maison) ★★★★

Opens in Australia: 27^th June, 2013
Perth, Australia: See at Luna Cinemas 
Other Countries: Release Information

OUR THOUGHTS

Ooh La La.  This is a bit delicious.  It’s a fascinating mystery and you will be ducking and weaving with the twists and turns.  Is it real or just a wild story within a story?  This is why I love French Cinema. Their film-makers have a way of looking at ordinary lives and transforming them into art and mystery. Sometimes they’re crazy and sometimes they are amazing. This is both.  Loved it. 

STUDIO BLURB

A 16-year old boy, Claude, (Ernst Umhauer) insinuates himself into the house of a fellow high-school student, Rapha, (Bastien Ughetto) and writes about his family in essays that perversely blur the lines between reality and fiction for his jaded literature teacher, Germain (Fabrice Luchini). Intrigued by this gifted and unusual student, Germain rediscovers his taste for teaching, but the boy's intrusion sparks a series of uncontrollable events. Kristin Scott-Thomas plays Germain's wife, Jeanne, a contemporary art gallery director, who, alongside her husband, avidly follows Claude's semi-imaginary escapades, while Emmanuelle Seigner plays Rapha's mom, Claude's object of desire. (c) Cohen Media

Man of Steel ★★
Opens in Australia: 27^th June 2013
Other Countries: Release Information

OUR THOUGHTS

No, no, no. This is not good what they have done to Superman.  And it is almost unforgivable that director, Zac Snyder (Sucker Punch, 300) managed to make Michael Shannon act badly. I thought that was impossible.  Its spot the 'A' list actor but that means nothing if they have nothing to work with. Something has gone terribly wrong in Hollywood when nobody tells Directors they have gone too far and repeated the same scene too many times.  Yes, there is a spectacular fight sequence but we don’t need two of them that drag the film out to 143 minutes.  And there are plot holes big enough for Superman to detonate some kind of weird bomb in.  Another reboot that needs another reboot.  Super-boring.

STUDIO BLURB

A young boy learns that he has extraordinary powers and is not of this Earth. As a young man, he journeys to discover where he came from and what he was sent here to do. But the hero in him must emerge if he is to save the world from annihilation and become the symbol of hope for all mankind. -- (C) Warner Bros

Epic (3D)
★★★½

Opens in Australia: 4^th July, 2013
Other Countries: Release Information

OUR THOUGHTS

It’s charming and colourful and I feel a little sorry for ‘Epic’.  What animation release wants to go up against ‘Monster’s University’ or ‘Despicable Me 2’?  We needed ‘Epic’ last school holidays when there was a bunch of below par animations released. It would have rocked then.   It is a good, solid story, beautifully done and I think the wee littlies will enjoy it.  My twelve-year-old harsh critic enjoyed as did his tag-along mate, Alex, who wrote a full review here.  But I would see the other two superstar animations before this.

STUDIO BLURB

EPIC is a 3D CG adventure comedy that reveals a fantastical world unlike any other. From the creators of ICE AGE and RIO, EPIC tells the story of an ongoing battle between the forces of good, who keep the natural world alive, and the forces of evil, who wish to destroy it. When a teenage girl finds herself magically transported into this secret universe, she teams up with an elite band of warriors and a crew of comical, larger-than-life figures, to save their world...and ours. -- (C) Fox

The Look of Love ★★★^½
Opens in Australia: 27^th June 2013
Other Countries: Release Information
Perth, Australia: See at Luna Cinemas 

OUR THOUGHTS

The English do these bio-pics extremely well.  The Director, Michael Winterbottom (Trishna, The Killer Inside Me) does not mind confronting audiences.  ‘The Killer Inside Me’ is still one of the most violent and nasty films I have ever seen (and I didn't like it).

In this film, we learn about the British smut King, Paul Raymond, who from this film we gather is the equivalent of Hugh Hefner or Larry Flynt.  You won’t feel a great deal of sympathy for Raymond enduring the tragedies of his life. 

It’s a well crafted, interesting film, albeit probably not on a person I really care to have this much detail.  In saying this it is interesting to see London in the swinging sixties and seventies.  Warning, there is a great deal of sexual content and nudity. 

STUDIO BLURB

The Look Of Love is the quite extraordinary true story of British entrepreneur and smut peddler Paul Raymond (played by Steve Coogan), who made his fortune opening some of Britain's first strip clubs and financing other classically un-British pursuits to eventually become Britain's richest man. The film follows Raymond's life in humorous fashion before leading up to the darkest parts of his life when his daughter (played by Imogen Poots) and heir to his empire dies of a drug overdose.

We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks
★★★
Opens in Australia: 4^th July 2013
Other Countries: Release Information
Perth, Australia: See at Luna Cinemas

OUR THOUGHTS

After recently viewing ‘Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God’ produced and directed by Alex Gibney, I had high hopes for his latest documentary, ‘We Steal Secrets’. 

WikiLeaks is a fascinating story and in viewing ‘We Steal Secrets’ I’d hoped to  learn more about the headline-making, white-haired enigma Julian Assange.  However, whilst it was interesting, I don’t think there was anything here we didn’t already know.

There was some insight into Bradley Manning, the analyst who leaked the super secret military documents to WikiLeaks but instead of delving deeper into Assange and Manning, there was a lot of repetitive information which filled the film out to 130 minutes.

For documentary lovers who have been on another planet and know little of WikiLeaks it will be fascinating.  Although, smoothly done, afterwards I felt rather a little spun by a documentary exposition on the evils of ‘spin’.   

STUDIO BLURB

Acclaimed documentarian Alex Gibney (Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room) takes the reins for this no-holds-barred look at one of the most unusual phenomena of early 21st century media. In 2006, an Iceland-based outfit called The Sunshine Press launched the website WikiLeaks.org. As run by Australian Internet activist Julian Assange, the site's mandate involved regularly publishing top-secret documents and covert information, often regarding governments and their respective military operations. As might be expected, this set off a firestorm between those who admired the organization's bravado and resourcefulness, and those who argued, not unjustly, that the dissemination of data regarding such events as the U.S. war in Afghanistan could put untold numbers of lives at risk. In We Steal Secrets, Gibney relays the story of the WikiLeaks website from the inside, and moves beyond black and white to penetrate a complex network of activity guided by courage and idealism but also allegedly guilty of ethical insensitivity and hypocrisy. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

WEEKLY REVIEW ROUND UP 23rd June 2013

We have the best pick of films in a long time this week; especially welcome after last week’s poor group.  I couldn’t pick 'Movie of the Week' because they are all so good and so different.  There’s wonderful family films with Disney’s ‘Monsters University’ and ‘Despicable Me 2’—both equally good; then a great Blockbuster ‘World War Z’ and a beautiful independent film, ‘Still Mine’.  All films this week are worthy of your dollars.  You won’t be disappointed.

(They’re all top picks) My movie Pick of the week)

Still Mine ★★★★^½
Opens in Australia: 6^th June 2013
Other Countries: Release Information
Perth, Australia: See at Luna Cinemas

OUR THOUGHTS

This doesn’t sound like an engrossing premise–a retired farmer building a house for his wife who suffers from dementia and comes up against bureaucracy.  Yawn right? 

But this is engrossing.  I kept thinking, whilst watching, why, why, do I love this so much. The answer is James Cromwell of ‘Babe’ fame.  He is mesmerising. They bandy the words ‘tour de force’ around so much in film promotions but, in this case, believe it.  Geneviève Bujold, playing his wife, is pretty remarkable too. 

I saw this on a screener (a DVD sent to reviewers when you can’t make the preview) and I wish I had seen it on the big screen-I think the full immersion of a darkened cinema would have had me sobbing. This is a special film. 

STUDIO BLURB

 In his first lead role after decades of playing supporting characters, James Cromwell gives a tour de force performance in STILL MINE, an exquisitely crafted and deeply affecting love story about a couple in their twilight years. Based on true events and laced with wry humor, STILL MINE tells the heartfelt tale of Craig Morrison (Academy Award (R) nominee Cromwell), who comes up against the system when he sets out to build a more suitable house for his ailing wife Irene (Academy Award (R)  nominee Geneviève Bujold).

Although Morrison uses the same methods his father, an accomplished shipbuilder, taught him, times have changed. He quickly gets blindsided by local building codes and bureaucratic officials. As Irene becomes increasingly ill - and amidst a series of stop-work orders - Craig races to finish the house. Hauled into court and facing jail, Craig takes a final stance against all odds in a truly inspirational story. (c) Samuel Goldwyn

World War Z ★★★★           

Opens in Australia: 20th June
Other Countries: Release Information

OUR THOUGHTS

Woohoo this is a ride!  How can you go wrong? Brad Pitt. Zombies. And a good script.  Buy a big popcorn, spend the extra dosh on IMAX at Hoyts Cinemas in Australia, or whatever giant screen is nearest you, sit back and hang on.    Yippeeeee.  Our full review here with all the interesting behind the scenes facts: "Zombies Rule O.K.!”

STUDIO BLURB

  The story revolves around United Nations employee Gerry Lane (Pitt), who traverses the world in a race against time to stop a pandemic that is toppling armies and governments and threatening to decimate humanity itself. (C) Paramount

  

Despicable Me 2  ★★★★
Opens in Australia: 20^th June
Other Countries: Release Information

OUR THOUGHTS

My family were not fans of the first Despicable Me so we weren’t skipping along to number two in anticipation.  Well what a surprise!  Great voice talent plus a solid script plus beautiful animation adds up to a film which the whole family will enjoy. Steve Carrell and Kristin Wig eat up the lead voice roles and the minions are simply hilarious.  There is a fantastic scene over the end credits well worth the extra entry price to see it in 3D.

The twelve-year-old harsh film critic and I have been officially converted to minion status. 

STUDIO BLURB

Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment's worldwide blockbuster Despicable Me entertained audiences around the globe in 2010, grossing more than $540 million and becoming the 10th-biggest animated motion picture in U.S. history. In summer 2013, get ready for more Minion madness in Despicable Me 2. (c) Universal

  
Disney’s Monster’s University
★★★★

Opens in Australia: 20^th June, 2013
Other Countries: Release Information
Perth, Australia: See at Luna Cinemas

OUR THOUGHTS

Disney Pixar’s Monsters Inc set a standard back in the early days of animation.  Our eldest watched it all through his babyhood and then childhood and we still all marvelled at the freshness and wit over twelve years later when we saw the re-release in cinemas of a 3D version. 

For the past year we’ve been taunted by trailers for the prequel 'Monsters University', so by the time we snuggled down into our seats we were ready for school with our pals, Sulley and Mike.  Pixar rarely misses with their animations and it was a wise move to bring these beloved characters back to the screen with a prequel, giving us insight into the friendship between the leads and the conflicts with characters like Randall.  Plenty of cameos abound from the original cast as their younger selves.

It’s charming, witty and full of heart.  And that’s Disney’s Pixar studios for you.  No need for them to go back to school.  My suggestion is to enrol your whole family in Monster University at your nearest cinema. 

Oh and the short, which always precedes a Pixar animation, ‘The Blue Umbrella’ is charming and clever.  Read our full review here: “Excelling in A-Grade Entertainment”

STUDIO BLURB

Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan are an inseparable pair, but that wasn't always the case. From the moment these two mismatched monsters met they couldn't stand each other. "Monsters University" unlocks the door to how Mike and Sulley overcame their differences and became the best of friends. -- (C) Walt Disney

World War Z ★★★★

Zombies Rule Okay!

Opens in Australia: 20th June
Other Countries: Release Information

          Zombies are the new black. You know they’ve entered popular culture when a respected actor like Brad Pitt stars in and produces a Zombie film via his ‘Plan B’ production company. “Five years ago, I knew nothing about zombies,” says Pitt. “Now, I consider myself an expert.”

Once residing in the B-grade domain, where no mainstream author or filmmaker would dare to go less they lose their take-me-seriously badge, Zombies have become a big draw in entertainment. This year alone, we have Warm Bodies (a zombie love story), The World’s End’ (a comedy coming soon), the third season of the very gory ‘The Walking Dead’ (the highest rated show on cable television), and now the thriller drama ‘World War Z’.

           The film began as a post-apocalyptic horror novel by Max Brooks entitled ‘World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War’ using a multi-person, testimonial style. Director, Marc Forster comments, “The novel’s approach did not lend itself to a motion picture screenplay. We did try to follow the narrative of the book but found, having gone through the process, the dramatic tension was significantly diminished, at least in cinematic terms.”

       And there is tension aplenty, along with zombies who don’t shuffle aimlessly; these guys run faster than a cheetah. In fact the quip, “You don’t have to outrun a lion to survive, just the other guy” played through my mind as each victim was pursued.

           From almost the opening scenes in Philadelphia, we are hurled into the action with Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt), an ex-UN worker who in his past worked in volatile, dangerous political situations. He’s since given up the peril to be with his family, Karin (Mireille Enos) and their two daughters.

          When a rapidly spreading, zombie virus takes over the world, Gerry is the guy called to escort an expert scientist into zombie territory to track down ‘Patient Zero’. First though the UN must rescue him and his family from the infected city of Philadelphia; no mean feat when there are thousands of zombies everywhere zombifying healthy people in seconds with one bite.

       Gerry must then leave his family behind at the UN Headquarters, now a ship off the coast of the US, and travel around the world following clues in the hope of finding an antidote. 

          There are certainly some edge of the seat, gut-churning moments as Gerry and his military escort experience some back-against-the-wall moments.

        The action is extreme and realistic and, surprisingly, was filmed in Glasgow which doubled for Philadelphia—the cities share similar architecture, some of which was augmented during post-production. Veteran second unit director Simon Crane who orchestrated much of the ‘World War Z’ mayhem, shares, “We crashed over 150 different cars. We crashed the garbage truck and slammed Brad’s Volvo into an ambulance and various other things. It was big scale. At least 80% of the vehicles were written off. We shut down blocks and blocks of Glasgow for controlled car crashes outside the main buildings.”

         The other stars of the film, the zombies, were as real-life as the un-dead get. Creating crowd scenes which included zombies called for its own logistical feat, says producer Ian Bryce, “If you have 500 extras that need to look a certain way, that’s an awful lot of people required to get them ready. We were shooting one day with the full extra count and I remember coming on to the set and you literally couldn’t move because of the size of the crew that was there to get everyone ready. And then a couple hours later we sent the zombies away for a little break as we were going to do something else just with Brad and a few other people and it was like the set became barren. It was hilarious.”

         ‘World War Z’ is not just a film for the zombie or horror fans, its solid script and performances will please most thriller and action fans. Brad Pitt, despite his huge star-persona, rarely appears in blockbuster films, tending to prefer dramatic indie roles worthy of his acting talents. Thanks to his solid portrayal of an ordinary man with, literally, the world on his shoulders ‘World War Z’ is lifted a notch above the average.

       It’s Brad Pitt versus the zombies and the winner this time is the cinema-goer.