Film Review

Looper

What’s this? An action sci-fi that isn’t convoluted or confusing but instead incredibly original and exciting? That’s exactly what you’re in for with Looper, one of the best blockbusters to be released this year and with a huge surprise, every badass moment throughout is earned with some great character development and plot.. Well, almost.

Joseph Gordon Levitt stars as Bruce Willis. No, no let me try that again, Joseph Gordon Levitt is Joe, a 20 something year old looper in the year. 2044. If you’re wondering what in the hell a looper even is, it’s basically the guy responsible for killing people who return from the future, looper’s know where they emerge from and kill on sight, without a minute’s hesitation. Time travel has not yet been invented in 2044 but it has in the future, in about 30 years. Looper’s don’t question their jobs or the physics of time travel but simply sit in a field in Kansas where the portal is, holding a large gun, waiting for the person from the future to emerge so they can be killed, it’s as simple as that.

Joe, isn’t one for the details of it all but merely does what he can to save up for a trip to France. He’s a loner who takes a lot of drugs and has frequent associations with a local prostitute. He’s a cold individual who does what he can to protect his interests. This however changes when one evening, the figure that emerges from the portal is his future self (played by Bruce Willis). Of course, Joe fails in killing him and is on the run from his employers, a quick witted yet violent mobster, Abe (Jeff Daniels) and a gun totting yet unreliable henchman, Kid Blue (Noah Segan). Joe’s older self is also hiding from the henchmen yet is on a mission to prevent a tragedy from happening in his future while younger Joe finds himself in the care of a young farmer (Emily Blunt) and her 5 year old son. He still intends on killing his older self and clearing his name yet their paths are soon to cross as his older self is heading their way.

How’s that for an original plot?

This is all thanks to Rian Johnson (Brick, The Brother’s Bloom) who is a creative force to be reckoned with as well as one who knows to respect the audience with great screenwriting and meticulous direction. Trust an art house direction to understand how a fun yet substance filled big budgeted film should go.

What’s so refreshing and invigorating about Looper is the attention to detail in both the plot and it’s characters. Also, as mentioned, the originality of it all! Yes, some plot developments dwell on cliche and the ending could’ve been a little better but this is unlike any recent film to be released as of late. It takes very few conventional routes in its approach to the story, including brutality which the story benefits from this time around. Most sci-fi blockbusters that are released these days carry an M rating (or most notably a PG-13 in the states) but that’s not the case with Looper, characters swear, the violence is bloody, essentially, you’re aware from minute one that these characters aren’t caricatures but instead real people with serious flaws, which helps in convincing the audience that all of the plot details in which these characters have to work within are beyond rational and logic, yet the movie takes its time in explaining all of the details to the audience.

When all is said and done however, Looper is not a perfect film. Like most films the minute the plot’s direction is revealed, the protagonist always tends to hide out somewhere where we meet the female lead or essentially the love interest, played pretty damn immaculately by Emily Blunt. The shift in tone and pace changes and you either go with it or don’t. But it doesn’t derail the narrative/story.

To also make it clear, the performances are also outstanding including a makeup covered Joseph Gordon Levitt, and with special mention to Jeff Daniels, Noah Segan, Paul Dano and Garrett Dillahunt, who plays a bounty hunter,the best in the business his time on screen is pretty outstanding, but above all, Bruce Willis is back to being badass. One scene in particular just proves why we loved him in the first place and why we’ll always rely on him to deliver the action and fun.

With the exception of one scene, Looper is a tight, exceptionally well written and directed action sci-fi that’ll restore your faith in blockbusters and just gives you another reason to want to go to the movies yet also serves as a reminder as to what we love about original storytelling.

9/10

 

 

 

 

Film Review

The Expendables 2 (2012)

You’ll go in expecting it to be dumb, predictable and geriatric? What if it is, yet its also the best action film to be released so far this year purely on the fact that it’s one of the few big blockbusters of 2012 that does all it can to keep the audience having fun and feeling satisfied?

Sylvester Stallone once again writes and stars in The Expendables 2, a sequel to the 2010 hit action flick with the same name minus the ’2′. However, this time, Simon West (Con Air. Lara Croft: Tomb Raider) is directing. Is there a notable difference between both film? Yes, there’s more inventive action sequences and kills compared to the first film and all in all, a lot more fun to be had. Some could comment that that’s thanks to director, Simon West but amidst all the cheesy lines and godawful puns, there’s still a hell of a lot of fun included in the writing, thanks to Stallone. So, who’s on board this time around? The usual crew from the first film, of course: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Terry Crews, Dolph Lundgren, Jet Li and Randy Couture and a new addition, Liam Hemsworth (who’s easily 700 years younger than the rest of the Expendables gang). Things however things go sour when one of the Expendables crew is murdered on a routine mission. Their response to this? “Track em’, find em’, Kill em’”…and I promise you, that’s EXACTLY what they do.

In addition to their crew, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis extend their cameos from the first film and have a hell of a lot of fun (as does everyone else) and last but most definitely not least, yes, even Chuck Norris joins in on the fun and he has an array of guns that go with it. You know the minute Chuck Norris enters a film in a slow motion walk then proceeds to make fun of himself that you’re watching an action film that knows what it’s doing. If you’d like more of a plot description then I suggest you read a review for just about anything else that’s screening at your multiplex right at this moment. The Expendables 2 will always be known for its lack of plot and three dimensional characters, its novelty, of course, is old action stars we loved back in 1980 onwards blowing shit up and cracking lame jokes in between it all. Why were they so successful? Why do we wish to see them again in The Expendables 2? Because unlike action stars today (Taylor Lautner in Abduction? Really?) they never took themselves THAT seriously, they were good guys and you loved em the minute you saw them. Every cast member’s performance is pitch perfect, especially Norris and Stallone who give it their all and then some. The action’s improved from the first film, the stakes are a hell of a lot higher and above all, the thing we love most about action films besides the action are the laughs. Yes, folks, every actor in this film is aware of how old they are, and they want you to know they’re thinking exactly what you are, that they’re simply “too old for this shit” then surprise you by killing 20 men with a single bullet.

My praises may seem incredibly high for a film that has a paper thin plot with two dimensional characters but really, when all’s said and done, I wanted to spend more time with Stallone, Statham and every other former action star than most characters I’ve seen on screen as of late. These guys are like that cool, older relative you love spending time with because they simply know how to have fun when no one else you’re with does. They understand the fun and cheese that comes with a great, kick-ass action film and all the props in the world deserve to go to Stallone for keeping the fun and excitement in modern action films. You’ll jump to make comments and joke throughout the film the minute something isn’t being blown up or shot at (a grand total of 25 minutes) but before you can, the actors will do it for you. This time around, the humour and bad puns have been taken up a few notches from the first film, along with the action, which is non-stop and involving. This is the ultimate summer action film you’ve been waiting for and if that wasn’t what you were waiting for, then hell, surely you like having fun when you’re at the movies?

The film of course isn’t perfect, some of the dialogue and bad puns can become beyond cringe worthy, there are instances of CGI-blood (looks fake, pay for the ketchup and red wine, Stallone) and some “characters” could’ve had a little more screen time. But if these are the only qualms to be had for a big, dumb action film that knows exactly what it is and doesn’t parade around like its anything else, then it’s an instant success. See it and think of all the action and fun you’re in for, instead of a male version of the golden girls where they rub lotion onto each other’s backs and play bingo with a knife,,,,be thankful it’s not that.

Oh and if you’re still not convinced, please keep in mind, every single one of the actors mentioned are out to beat the living bejesus out of the film’s villain…played by none other than Jean Claude Van Damme!

8.5/10

P.S If you begin wondering why Stallone and Schwarzenegger are talking about their sex life and look A LOT like Tommy Lee Jones and Meryl Streep, then you’ve walked into Hope Springs. Calm yourself and walk into the right cinema.  

 

Film Review

That’s My Boy (2012)

Warning: This review contains continuous coarse language…in the name of proving a point and keeping you away.

It looks bad, it sounds bad, it has Adam Sandler yelling at things for 115 minutes, how could it be decent in any way?

Well, whadaya know, it fucking aint.

Ok, So, this reviewer does not hate Adam Sander, in fact quite the contrary, Punch Drunk Love is my fourth favourite film of all time and in terms of his comedies, here’s a list of the ones that were enjoyed by me:

- Happy Gilmore
- The Wedding Singer
- Anger Management
- I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry
- You Don’t Mess With The Zohan
- Funny People 
- Jack & Jill (Yes, even Jack & Jill)

At least four of the eight films mentioned include a dancing homeless man, people getting beaten up with objects found around the room, Sandler yells at a senior citizen or a dead person and almost always has fart jokes… so now it can be made very clear, that I can be fair when it comes to Adam Sandler comedies and I walked into this one hoping it would be so stupid and insane that it’d generate some laughs….

Oh why do we as audience members ask for so much? Is it wrong to want to laugh in a fucking comedy?

Adam Sandler stars as Donnie Berger, a loud and immature man child who is being sent to jail for not paying taxes for many, many years unless he can come up with 43 thousand bucks. Donnie, however, is famous, washed up but still well known, for when he was 13 years old, he was molested by his teacher which resulted in a pregnancy. Yes, molested, and that’s even a joke in the film. The knock up in question results in his now 30 year old son, Todd, (Andy Samberg) who is set to get married on the weekend. Donnie, of course needing money, decides to visit his estranged son and make up for all the time he never spent with him, along with embarrassing him in front of his fiance, Jamie (Leighton Meester) and her family and when all’s said and done, smooching some cash to avoid jail time.

Alrighty, let’s put aside the fact that the film’s first joke involves a 13 year old being molested by his teacher who looks to be in her late 20′s – early 30′s. Let’s forget that, the film is almost 2 hours long. It’s 10 minutes shy of John Carter and Prometheus‘ running time, and even if they weren’t great films, they were telling a story of sorts so the running time seemed necessary. How does Sandler manage to be a fuckwit for 115 minutes? He puts on that whiny voice the entire time (you know the voice, the one he puts on before saying “poop” or kicking something) and instead of “shit” he says “fuck” and we’re talking every 15 seconds. He yells, he beats people with bottles and there’s at least one scene where he masturbates while talking in that whiny voice (which lasts for 5 minutes). How can Sandler not care about making people laugh anymore? How can any director (Sean Anders – Sex Drive) look at half of the scenes in this film and go “ok, great”… there are so many moments where Sandler says “balls” or “cock” followed by a random “fuck” and then silence, just so everyone is informed that that was a joke, and one of the few on offer.

Andy Samberg these days is a hell of a lot funnier than Adam Sandler, and he’s completely wasted in this film. His “character” is that really nervous and boring guy who freaks out at just about everything and goes “dddaaaaddd, you’re embarrassing me!” every couple of minutes.Oh yes and much like the film’s approach with its dialogue, this sentence is missing a profanity…. fuckity. You don’t waste a great comedian like this for Sandler who doesn’t try for a single second in this slogfest of a movie.

That’s My Boy does something very few films have done before, instead of bothering with characters and a structure… or even jokes for that matter, it instead makes every scene an endurance test, of how long it takes for you to leave the fucking cinema. As said before, there aren’t really jokes in the film, it’s a collection of disgusting scenes that get worse and all the more irritating by the minute. You’ll hate the “characters” and yourself for even watching this thinking Sandler bothers to put an effort in anymore.

The best thing about the whole movie is Vanilla Ice, he plays himself and raps here and there. He’s funny, he smiles and poses throughout while Sandler teabags something or someone whilst making bird noises. Yeah, that’s about it in terms of positives.

Mr. Sandler,

Replacing ‘Pee-Pee’ and ‘Poop fries’ with ‘Cock’ and ‘Fuck’ doesn’t make a film funny. Also, what the fuck happened to you, buddy? Remember Happy Gilmore? How you used to yell and it was funny? We DID miss you, until you made this goddamn film. It’s the worst one you’ve ever “made” or yelled in. Stop fucking around with your fans and find a script with jokes in it, not a piece of toiler paper covered in crayola scribbles, PLEASE!

You have our money, now in return, make us laugh again.

Yours Sincerely,
The poor audience who sat through all of That’s My Boy.

This isn’t comedy, this isn’t film, this is the hose that’s commonly used when giving someone an enema. Don’t see it, trust me, and if you still think it’s gonna be good because Sandler’s in it, then get ready for the cinematic equivalent of sitting on a chainsaw.

The first movie I almost walked out of just a few minutes in.

0.5/10

 

Film Review

Get The Gringo (2012)

This is the old school and bad ass yet fun and exhilirating action film this reviewer’s been waiting for. This isn’t Jason Statham kicking people from miles away then shooting them for no reason, no no there’s a plot and characters and everything! Sounds paradoxical reading that in a review for an action film, doesn’t it?

Mel Gibson stars as the protagonist in Get the Gringo, he has no name we can go by. Along with no fingerprints or I.D, he is sent to a Mexican prison after crashing through the border in a failed car chase with the police during a getaway, and by ‘getaway’ I mean Mel Gibson wearing a clown mask along with his accomplice  (who’s also wearing a clown mask) in the back seat bleeding to death near a bag full of money (around 2 million bucks worth), It’s one hell of an opening. So, with his money gone he’s now stuck in this prison which is more like a small city for criminals and their families, you can buy food, drinks, drugs, hang with your buddies, it’s all out in the open and his character does all he can to make a quick buck and get the hell out of there and retrieve the 2 million (which corrupt Mexican policeman are keeping an eye on). During his stay and amongst his clever ways in stealing a dollar or two from the locals, he befriends a 10 year old boy who knows about survival in a place like this, from here they quickly become enemies of the big boss in the yard who owns just about everything and everyone. It’s his wits and the young boys street smarts that are gonna get them out and back to the money he stole at the beginning of the film. The rest, as they say, is history.

There’s a hell of a lot more to the plot, but to mention it would be spoiling the fun, and what fun Get the Gringo is.

Now, to address the elephant in the room before continuing, Mel Gibson’s performance is stellar, it’s really something great. He’s known for his troubles these days more than he is his acting, and in this case, it shouldn’t come into question, his performance is his performance, it has nothing to do with his personal life. Please do not skip Get the Gringo due to Gibson’s personal life, you’ll forget about all of that the minute he appears on screen wearing a clown masking and yelling at policemen (which some will say was performed without his knowledge of anyone filming).

Gibson also wrote the screenplay, which may not be anything complex beyond recognition, but it does have a plot and a great number of fantastic one-liners. The characters are also well rounded, we like his character, even without knowing his name. We get to love the 10 year old kid, who’s pivotal to the plot rather than being there just to annoy the protagonist, they’re both smart and have a reason for doing the things they do.

Get the Gringo was directed by Adrian Grunberg, a first time director who also co-wrote the screenplay with Gibson and with the exception of shooting in digital (which is annoyingly noticeable at times) he does a fine job. He doesn’t rely on shaky cam or bad performances amongst the action, everything is of a quality degree and the timing of each line and bit of humour is almost perfect, making Get the Gringo much funnier than half the comedies released recently (The Dictator).

Gibson’s character has a lot of personality, he’s as mentioned, a smart guy and when a line is delivered, it’s a lot funnier than what it could’ve been. His character doesn’t rely on insults and looking cool, he knows what he’s doing and as we see throughout the film, one who has respect, even for a 10 year old boy. He just so happens to be a no bullshit kind of guy, which is always refreshing when it works.

Get the Gringo is that special kind of action film, one with fantastic sequences, a plot, some fun characters and a playful sense of humour that never goes away, You’ll enjoy the hell out of every minute of Get the Gringo, which doesn’t think it’s anything more than what it is, a slick, very old school action comedy. Jason Statham could learn a thing or two… along with how to pull different facial expressions while shooting someone and talking to people. Oh and not every foreigner is a villain, almost everyone in this film is the “bad guy” even the Americans… which always adds a nice balance. 

However, with all of this said, there are a few things that don’t work. As mentioned, the film is shot on digital and it shows in a few scenes (not many, but enough to notice). Some of the CGI is noticeable, and could’ve been done without (especially since some of it does look cheap) and the plot does take a cheesy turn with one of the characters having a rare blood disease (an easy way out for film plots as this NEVER happens and builds a bridge for things to take place) but even this is handled better than expected.

Please, do not avoid Get the Gringo because of Mel Gibson, his performance is fantastic and the movie’s even better. You won’t have this much fun from an action film or a comedy in quite a while, so embrace it all you can.

8/10

 

Film Review

The Dictator (2012)

Did you love Borat? Were you one of the very few that didn’t walk out midway during Bruno? Then get ready to try your hardest for a laugh or two in The Dictator. One of the very few movies this week where you’re encouraged to laugh at jokes about 14 year old boys being raped and committing suicide. Laughing yet?… How about now?

Sacha Baron Cohen stars as General Aladeen, a dictator whose country is at risk of becoming a democracy, and while visiting America, he’s taken hostage and stripped of his beloved beard (because no one could recognize a man without a beard that looks fake to begin with) and with that, he’s broke, homeless and still on a mission to prevent democracy from entering his country, which a double (also played by Sacha Baron Cohen) is about to do. While doing all he can to stop this, he meets a vegan feminist (you heard me) who stands for democracy and equality, played by Anna Faris. At first, General Aladeen is at his usual worst, being sexist, racist and just about every other mean thing a human can be, until he has no choice but to “act” like a kind and respectable person in order for her to help him with such basic needs as food, clothing and a job… working at her vegan green grocer shop. Hilarity ensues… yet never comes. With all this in mind, can General Aladeen be recognized in time to save his country from democracy and continue its oppression while in the process become a nice, caring man who falls for a feminist vegan?

So it has a plot, although ridiculous, it still has one. Now to what it doesn’t have.

Borat is a damn funny movie, Remember when it first came out back in 2006 and it was declared one of the funniest movies ever made by.. well, half the population? Then Bruno was released in 2009 and scared the other half of the population with its constantly dirty humour (which some of was funny). So, The Dictator is essentially the tie breaker, the one that’s meant to bring lovers of Cohen back from Bruno’s unfunny wrath, and does it succeed? God no, of course it doesn’t.

Sacha Baron Cohen is a very funny guy, he knows the timing of a joke through and through, he’s also a great actor (see Hugo and Sweeney Todd) So what’s the problem? it’s not funny anymore. The character of Borat was at times, racist and sexist and ignorantly so, but the majority of those jokes were still very funny, we still liked Borat, there was a heart in all his vulgar ignorance. General Aladeen isn’t funny, or interesting or ignorant, he knows he’s racist and sexist and foul, and his character transformation at the end? Nope, there isn’t one, so you’re stuck for 83 minutes with a racist douche with a terribly unconvincing accent.

In reading that last sentence, this reviewer must sound like a 70 year old conservative who can’t take a joke or a bit of vulgarity? I’m afraid not, this reviewer is no prude, but instead likes a joke and a heart to go along with all (or any) distasteful dialogue and characters. And that’s The Dictator’s major problem, none of what’s being said is funny, they literally don’t bother with a joke and just say racist and sexist comments while you sit in your chair and squirm. 

If you’re still unconvinced, how’s this, remove 90% of the jokes in Borat… still with me? (We now have a 12 minute movie) and make Borat aware that he’s being an ass and make his accent sound more rehearsed and fake while openly insulting everyone around him and not caring. That’s The Dictator in all its mean spirited glory. This makes Bruno seem like a funny film, remember it wasn’t?

The supporting cast includes Ben Kingsley and John C. Reily who is one of this reviewer’s favourite actors and he’s given next to nothing to do. Ben Kingsley is paid to make a fool of himself and act out some lame physical comedy. Not even two great actors could save this film. More injustice.

But to be fair, even if you do read this review, some of you will see it no matter what and it’s understandable why, the trailer was kinda funny, Sacha Baron Cohen making appearances as General Aladeen as of recently have been really funny and what look to be a return to form of sorts… There are three decent jokes in the entire film and one exceptionally funny joke that is delivered by Anna Faris, the rest is mean and said with horrible accents and poor acting that’d make even a deaf man cringe, they’re distasteful and all you’re left to do is sit there and wait for a joke…. It never happens, trust me.

What should’ve been disgusting and distasteful with a whole heap of excruciatingly funny jokes is just one long 83 minute rant about how everyone is pathetic in some way.

It’s quite scary how advertising and synopsis’ for the film have lied to everyone by calling it a comedy, The Dictator is essentially Sacha Baron Cohen stripping to his bare ass, turning around and bending over while yelling at the camera, horrible and insulting things about everyone watching and in between each comment shouting “LAUGH, NOW”. Still laughing?

This reviewer all in all wasn’t that insulted by what was said but how it was said and how it didn’t bother to tell a joke amongst any of it. As mentioned earlier, a conversation about General Aladeen raping 14 year old boys is had and it lasts for at least two minutes and there’s no punchline or joke to speak of, it’s just ugly.

Oh and if anything has to be commended, Baron Cohen only pulls his dick out once this time, instead of the usual seventeen or eighteen. Good work buddy.

2/10
 

 

Film Review

Safe (2012)

This reviewer earlier in the year copped a hell of a lot of flack for loving Killer Elite: http://chriselena.wordpress.com/2012/02/19/film-review-13/ the Jason Statham, Robert De Niro and Clive Owen action fest. Naturally with all the negative responses, the question had to be asked “Did I really LOVE that movie? There’s gotta be a reason why everyone hates it so”…Well, faithful readers, I can safely say that I indeed did love that movie for amongst it’s well choreographed action set pieces and fine performances.. It also tried for a story and some grounded reasons for the silly action to exist.

This realization came from seeing Jason Statham’s latest action flick, SAFE.. and it can be said that the only decent thing about the entire film is its poster. Killer Elite is a damn masterpiece compared to this miserable excuse of a movie..

Mei (Catherine Chan) a young girl with an incredible memory has memorized a series of numbers which mean more than a lot to the triads she’s memorized it for, the Russian mafia and of course a collection of corrupt NYC cops. Everyone wants this set of numbers and the little girl who remembers them. But who oh who could save her from all these horrible, foreign characters? Enter Luke Wright (Jason Statham.. who else?) an ex-prize fighter, ex-cop and full time homeless tough guy who stumbles upon Mei and does all he can to protect her, it’s only a slight coincidence that the Russian mafia, the triads and the NYC cops all did what they could to ruin his life. Can Jason Statham save Mei and kill off every single bad guy after her with his bare hands and possibly some bullets and inanimate objects that aren’t nailed down?

There’s only so much that can be expected from a typical Jason Statham action flick, his acting abilities range from murdering ignorant henchmen with things you use to cook and clean your kitchen with to squinting and looking up, as if he’s been intimately staring at the sun. He can do better and is damn well capable of it… if you need proof, see Snatch, Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels and Crank 2: High Voltage. The man can act in between head butts, so what in the hell is wrong with this movie if it isn’t Statham’s limited acting skills?

This would have to be one of the most idiotic “action” movies ever to be released, and unlike most brainless action flicks, all the fun is taken away because it thinks its gritty and tense and worst of all… original. SAFE takes itself so seriously that there is not a single thrill to be had throughout the entire time, so instead of some fun, you’re stuck in a dinner date with boredom. When it displays all its embarrassingly bad scenes (which were written in purple crayola’s) as gritty montages of old school action flicks, you’re left wondering why you’re not laughing.

The screenplay, unlike most bad films is existent, but there in lies the problem. The plot is silly beyond belief and the “characters”… well, let’s just say, if you have never been to New York, SAFE paints it to be a city with angry homeless people who yell cliches and any European individual, especially with an accent is a dumb villain carrying a gun, unaware of which end the bullet comes out of. There’s really no excuse for every villain with an accent to be this stupid and paper thin… its hard to watch and an insult to the average human brain.

SAFE was written and directed by Boaz Yakin (Remember the Titans) who was clearly going for a 1970′s, old school type action flick, yet even the action set pieces are so lazily strung together that it merely results in Statham shooting the villains a good eight or nine times rather than using any skill or technique in his moves. In terms of characters and their relationships, The bond between Mei and Luke is only brief and weak, despite what the poster and plot synopsis suggest, they’re together for a good half an hour and nothing special or interesting comes from their friendship/bond. So you’re stuck with 94 minutes of stupid, one dimensional characters running around a dirty and ugly New York City thinking they’re smarter than they already are, it’s just infuriating, and you all deserve better.

Just look at that poster, Jason Statham pointing a gun at the audience, well, Mr. Statham, if you’d be so kind, pull the damn trigger… at least then I’ll have forgotten every painful minute of this lazy and stupid piece of mediocrity you call an action flick.

It’s that bad, and as stated, I loved Killer Elite.

1/10

 

Film Review

Wish You Were Here (2012)

 Four friends on a trip to Cambodia… you just know how this is going to end. Well, at least you think you will.

One of the best Australian actors around right now Joel Edgerton stars as Dave Flannery, a family man living in Bondi in Sydney with his family has just returned from a trip to Cambodia with his wife Alice (Felicity Price) and her sister Steph (Teresa Palmer). Things are not as they should be and tension grows between the three of them as it’s revealed that there was a fourth person on that trip (Steph’s boyfriend (Anthony Starr) who’s gone missing after a night of partying in Cambodia. No one knows where he is and secrets will slowly unravel and test their relationships while it still remains, what happened to him?

There’s a lot more to be said in terms of the plot and character but a film like Wish You Were Here deserves all the secrecy that can be kept, you’ll thank me later, trust me.

So, it still continues that Australian films have a less than stellar name to them, even with a solid trailer and cast, people can be still pedantic when it comes to approaching an Australian film, as to why they’re not really given that chance they deserve? Well, that still remains a mystery however the last few “big” Australian film releases have been pretty horrid so it’s very understandable.

Well, good news all around, since Wish You Were Here is not a “big” mainstream Australian film release (the script’s too good to be a mainstream release) it’s a modest film, made for a budget of 2.5 million and it’s just as rich and exciting and rewarding as any great film being released at the moment, whether it be a mainstream or limited release or even in terms of Australian films. Wish You Were Here is simply a great film through and through.

The screenplay, written by the film’s director Kieran Darcy-Smith and partner (co-starring in the film) Felicity Price is really something to behold. The core of this film is a relationship drama, especially between Dave and Alice whose relationship is left hanging in the balance as the film progresses. Australian films tend to love any conflict between characters and when all’s said and done, having just that for two hours makes for a depressing film experience (one of the major criticism’s with Australian films) yet Wish You Were Here is something else, the relationship drama’s go hand in hand with the mystery of the disappearance so not a single moment ever feels too depressing or dull. It’s quite an amazing and ingenious thing to see. The handling of the disappearance itself is also extremely well constructed, you’re given just enough to stay intrigued throughout the film but never is it used as a cheap plot device.

The performances here are beyond words, especially from Edgerton, who on the surface looks like he could play the brute and the action hero who can take a hit, but here he really shines. It may be a little early to say, but for now, this is his best performance yet and a scene towards the end of the film confirms this without question. Felicity Price is also stellar and knows how to show anger and sadness in a scene without having to overact or emphasize every single movement, it’s a quiet yet forceful performance. The only weak note in the entire film is Teresa Palmer, although adequate for the most part, some scenes involving her delivering a line of dialogue of some kind fall flat and doesn’t quite have the power and integrity as the rest of the performers, even though she brings it home just about every other time.

The direction is also fantastic, and unlike the slew of heavy Australian drama’s to be released recently, it doesn’t de-saturate the colour in the film just because the events within the story are dark and ugly, instead it shows a bright and colourful Sydney, one that’s never really been seen in film before, most would tend to shy away from particular streets and views, but not in this case, the characters dealing with all these problems within this gorgeous setting only makes the action and events all the more unpredictable and intriguing. Not every drama has to look and feel depressing and Kieran Darcy-Smith knows it.

More could be said about this film and this review can go on for another 2000 words, but it’s best seen and felt.

The ending, which trailers and synopsis’ will hint to be grand and exciting, is quite the contrary, you may feel disappointed at first but with time and a lot of thought on the rest of the events that take place during the film, it’ll make a lot more sense and will feel all the more wise.

Despite The Avengers being released this week, Wish You Were Here is the pick of the releases this week and any week for a while, it’s one of the very best films of the year. Drama has never felt this interesting and rewarding.

9/10

 

Film Review

The Avengers (2012)

Picture this, you’re not a Marvel fan and you’re not big on most comic book based superhero flicks. So when The Avengers is presented to you and it ticks every single superhero film box available, e.g. a great script, great characters, fun and exciting action set pieces… then what more can be said? This is the ultimate superhero action film.

Instead of an in-depth, revealing plot synopsis for The Avengers, you’re only going to get the characters involved and their plans. Why? Well, if I were to give anything of the plot away, it’d be technically be spoilers, and almost everyone should be able to fall in love with this chaotic superhero fest without having anything spoiled.

The Superheroes who have had to assemble in order to save the world:
- Thor (Chris Hemsworth)
- Captain America (Chris Evans)
- Hulk (Mark Ruffalo)
- Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.)
- Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson)
and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner)

Their target:
- Loki (Tom Hiddleston)

Loki’s plans are to essentially take over the world and have every living Human being bow down to him and his madness, so what’s Nick Fury (Samuel L Jackson) and Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg)  to do in order to save the world? Why, he calls in, The Avengers, almost every great Marvel superhero ever created to form an alliance and stop Loki and his evil plan.

That’s your synopsis and not a single more will be given as the film is a surprise in itself that REALLY doesn’t deserve to be spoiled.

So, what makes The Avengers the ultimate superhero film? Every hero mentioned from Thor to Iron Man to Captain America to even The Hulk gets the perfect amount of screen time so not for a single second do you ever feel cheated, Best of all? Each scene the hero’s are given to work with are written to perfection, they’re scenes that are funny and smart and best of all, they develop each character as well… characters, instead of super hero type guys wearing fancy leather outfits, these are people you wanna see more of and care about.

Speaking of characters, the one thing that superhero films, (with the exception of The Dark Knight) especially Marvel based films struggle with are convincing villains… either they’re one dimensional and want to rule the world because…well, just because or they have no motivation and make life difficult all for the sake of being cast as the villain. Despite Loki not being that terrifying a villain in Thor, he is presented as the balls out, no holds barred villain we’ve all been waiting to be afraid of, he shows no remorse and is clever in his plans and dealings. He has smarts and uses em in favour of world domination, which only makes this all the more unsettling when we believe every second of it. 

Now that we’ve established that the characters (whom everyone anticipating the film is waiting to see) are portrayed as pitch perfect, let’s delve into the writing and directing, whom which Joss Whedon (Serenity) takes care of. The film is much funnier than you’d expect, the lines have sharp delivery and an air of wit to them and the action set pieces are well constructed and filmed so you’re placed in it all with these characters. It’s an exciting thing to see an action sequence last for more than half an hour and not be boring in the slightest, we like all of them, so we want them all to succeed and there in lies the success to almost every set piece. The humour is welcome and extraordinarily inserted when it counts. So all in all the writing and directing are fresh, original and more than important.

And It’s also incredibly refreshing to see a Marvel film get The Hulk right, it’s been a long time comin’ but they finally did it.

More can be said about how great The Avengers is, but judging by any trailer, synopsis or just general love for the stories and characters you have or have seen, you’re bound to know what movie you’re in for, and it can be safely said, that due to the intimacy of it all, you’re always involved and NEVER disappointed, it’s quite a nice feeling to have.

Although it’s not this reviewers favourite superhero film (tied with Watchmen and The Dark Knight) this is still pretty damn perfect in terms of that big blockbuster/superhero flick you’ve all been waiting for all these years.

9/10 

 

Film Review…. By Request

Bucky Larson: Born To Be A Star

What a fucking waste of time.

Worst movie I have ever seen, oh I hate you Adam Sandler, I fucking hate you! Fuckity!

-100/10

……………………………………What’s the bet that’s what you were expecting when seeing the trailer and poster?

Bucky (Nick Swardson) is a buck-toothed (literally), naive farmer boy who discovers his parents were famous porn stars in the 70′s, so what does ol’ Bucky do? Does he confront them? No way, Jose, he travels to L.A to become a famous porn star, just like his ma and pa, understandable, right? Along the way he meets a kind waitress, Kathy (Christina Ricci), an ambitious yet pill hungry porn director, Miles Deep (Don Johnson) a psychotic roommate, Gary (Kevin Nealon) and an egotistical porn star who envies Bucky, Dick Shadow (Stephen Dorff). Laughing yet?

Now, before you rule it out as the worst movie ever made, this is the protagonist we’re stuck with for 92 minutes:

He doesn’t even look like a human being, yet the movie is convinced that he is. He is a sweet character and tries being nice to everyone but the movie, of course, fucks up any chances Bucky Larson has as a character for stupid, immature jokes including the size of his penis… yes folks, it’s the nineties all over again, but less MMBOP.

90% of the jokes, as this was written by Adam Sandler, include the size of Bucky’s penis, Bucky’s inability to jerk off, mistaking his penis for a vagina… do I continue? Imagine watching it!!

Here’s an insight as to Adam Sandler’s thought process whilst writing Bucky Larson: Born to be a star on a napkin with his favourite crayola:
“BOOBIES” “PEE PEE” “BOOBIE PEE PEE? BEEBIE” *continues to slap self and count cards in Vegas*

It’s only after the “screenplay” was drawn that he continued this trend of writing, he just decided to put on a wig and buy a camera and call it a motion picture called Jack & Jill.

But alas, this is not the worst movie to come from Happy Maddison, the attempts at heart and sincerity, especially with Christina Ricci’s (She deserves better than this) character do deserve some credit, many comedies these days have forgotten that warm and fuzzy side of human error and vulgarity, so that in itself, with two touching moments and one VERY funny scene involving Bucky’s psychotic roommate make Bucky only another terrible effort but not an extremely godawful antichrist of a film like Just Go With it.
Every actor in this film deserves better, even Nick Swardson who is a target for just about every filmgoer’s fist at this very point in time. He needs a buck or two just like the rest of us.

Please don’t see it, please. Or else Adam Sandler’s next written and produced film’s gonna be financed:
THE POOPENING: An unemployed man in his late 30′s who randomly breaks out into violent acts of rage and beats up senior citizens at the supermarket makes friends with a talking shit who teaches him how to be a man and fall in love… even while kicking up a stink.

HE MUST BE STOPPED.

3/10

 

Film Review

The Lucky One (2012)

“Well, it has Zac Efron, what did you expect?” Is not an excuse anymore. And if this movie looks familiar, that’s because it is, each and everyone of us have already seen this film, when it was on at midday right after The Golden Girls and lawn bowls competitions.

How do you discuss and analyze a film that has next to no real plot or story, has one dimensional characters and doesn’t contain a single decent, interesting, or original scene in its entire running time? Maybe excuses like “It’s meant for young teenage girls and older women who love cheap romance novels from the news agency, it’s not meant to be analyzed” are what keep movies like this from being good? Nope, time to avoid all those excuses now.

Logan (Zac Efron) a marine who’s just returned from Iraq shell shocked travels to North Carolina in search of a woman (Taylor Schilling) whose photo he found in Iraq and which subsequently saved his life. Upon meeting her and her young son, they fall in love (*gasp* no!, you’re kidding!?). Their romance and happy ending are jeopardized when her ex-husband (Jay R. Ferguson) a bastard and a police officer, of all things, doesn’t like their relationship and in turn he does all he can to prevent their love and happiness.

Before the hail of flaws this movie has can be mentioned, one thing has to be said: Zac Efron is not a bad actor. He isn’t, look past the screaming 12 year old girls with signs covered in glitter behind him and notice that he can act. So, it only makes things worse when the character and lack of direction he’s given to work with is beyond limited, it almost looks like it’s his fault the movie is literally nothing? It isn’t. In fact, none of the actors mentioned are at all bad actors, they’re just given a whole bunch of uncooked and dull elements to work with.

The only real threat in their “romance” is the ex-husband who may be one of the worst villains ever to be present in a film. He just ruins things just because. He pulls out a gun in public..just because. He’s the guy who has a gun pointed at puppies and is laughing like a maniac.. why? Well, just because.

The Lucky One might just be one of the laziest films ever made. Yes, you heard correctly, it’s not a simple case of, “Oh, it’s a sappy rom-com, it was never going to be something original or ground-breaking”… Well, it never had to be this dull and unimaginative. As mentioned earlier, not a single scene in this film is different or new or even heartfelt, the crew and especially the director have been given a cardboard box filled with Danielle Steele and TV Midday movie VHS’ and they’ve decided to splice together scenes from each one and call it a movie. No audience should have to see the same movie over and over again, especially when it’s 101 minutes of unoriginal cheese. 

The real accusations have to be directed towards director Scott Hicks, who seems to have given up on directing. He’s directed Shine, Hearts in Atlantis and The Boys Are Back… three very solid films that each had something going on that was remotely different and interesting. No movie I’ve seen on the big screen so recently has felt so much like a bad TV movie. The angles, score and performances used on screen are so tired and labored it’s as if they simply gave up from minute one all because they knew if they used The Fray in the trailer along with some hugging and Zac Efron poses that they’d get their $15 million bucks on opening weekend. It’s really not cool to phone in for an audience all because you know they’ll see it regardless.

Those teenage girls and older women who love romance novels… looking past the stereotype for a second, if they really are the audience for this movie, they deserve a hell of a lot better.

1/10

The Lucky One has officially made it into that faithful category of ‘Un-Movie’ Where originality and intrigue are foreign words.