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The Gilded Age (2022)
A Study in Class
I found the first episode of The Gilded Age very crisp and fresh. I admit that I have not been a big fan of Cynthia Nixon in the past, but her performance in this series is exquisite and truly shows an acting ability that I haven't seen in her previous roles.
The casting is very good and with so many likeable characters, this show is sure to delight those of you who enjoy period dramas.
Don't Look Up (2021)
Intelligent satirical look at our species
**Spoiler about the ending
I'm going to disagree with most of the "critical reviews" on this one. I don't have a PhD or any type of degree or qualification in literature, but I have some intelligence and this movie was exactly that....intelligent.
To truly understand this movie, the viewer needs to delve beneath the surface of the tongue-in-cheek approach to see that the story is reflective of the idiocy of our planet and leaders.
Take Meryl Streep's character, for example, a president more interested in maintaining their term and seeking another term instead of telling the truth to their citizens, surely not? (For those of you who are from the US, please don't think I am criticising your political system, there is enough of the ridiculous in Australian politics that shine a reflective light on this movie).
This movie takes our civilisation and dissects it with the contempt it deserves, should an extinction event ever look mildly possible, we would be too caught up in fighting each other, in not looking forward to the stars for new opportunities and not seeking change from within to caretake our own precarious ecosystems, that we would simply become extinct, just as this movie predicts.
For those of you who are enlightened by this movie, then it has achieved it's goal, but for those of you who still don't understand what it's saying, if you take nothing else away from the experience, try to remember, that sometimes, truth is stranger than fiction and this is the only planet we have...currently!
RFDS (2021)
Total Aussie Gem
I love this show, I cannot stress that enough. It's brilliant. I'm old enough to remember The Flying Doctors, what you might call the original RFDS and the flame was passed on to an equally entertaining show that displays what life in the harshness of the outback can be...the good, the bad and the type that tears your heart out of your chest when you witness it.
The characters are really great, contemporary, kind, funny and somewhat tongue in cheek at times, but we'll thought out and we'll acted.
This show is a real true blue pleasure to watch and it tips it's hat to the real people who work for the Royal Flying Doctors and the great work they do in the rough outback environment.
Solver (2017)
Underrated and understated movie
I found this movie to be really underrated. It was intelligent and very intriguing. Sure, the actors were a bit on the B-Grade side, but the content was definitely A-grade. I loved the puzzle content and the conspiracy theory side, it added to the overall reason for making the movie in the first place. Definitely worth a viewing.
Goldstone (2016)
Hauntingly beautiful
This movie brought back everything I remember about living in the Australian outback. The vastness, the quiet countenance of the people who live there. From Alex Russell's depiction of an outback cop who feels trapped in a small town situation of deceit, corruption and bribery, to Aaron Pedersen's damaged Aboriginal detective and wonderful performances from David Wenham and Jackie Weaver. I was lost in this movie for the entire time it ran and to top it off, the soundtrack had a symbiotic relationship with the characters and the isolation. It's not too often that music of this calibre and intelligent interpretation of sound like this comes along in a movie. Great movie and brilliant soundtrack....and the ending was perfect.
It's worth watching Mystery Road first, though.
Stowaway (2021)
A study in humanity
I wasn't sure what to expect from this movie, but it delivered a heartfelt study in human nature. The characters were well conceived, from the mission commander, Toni Collette's character, through to the reluctant stowaway. Anna Kendrick brought a depth to her role that made me cry endless tears. Definitely worth a watch.
Backyard Ashes (2013)
Aussie humour at its best
I really loved this movie, and for someone who loathes the game of cricket, that's saying something. Not a big budget movie by any means, it made the best of what it did have. Great acting and a well thought out soundtrack were two of the things that made this movie very watchable. It also showed a community spirit that I personally envied. References to Jardine (during the Bradman era) and his unsavoury bodyline tactics were fun and the inclusion of the poor cat/s as one of the major premises for the grudge match was hilarious. Altogether, it was a tale of the underdog making good and a happy ending for most people. Worth a watch.
Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears (2020)
Tears of joy for the new Miss Fisher movie
***Spoiler alert***
I have watched the series so many times, when I heard about the movie, I was very excited, and it did not disappoint me. It's a fairly light movie, but with a lot of the same characters we have grown very fond of over the life of the series. The scenery is delightful and Miss Fisher is adorned in her stylishly beautiful outfits as per usual. It was a pleasure to see John Waters and Rupert Penry-Jones play significant parts as well.
The story behind the plot is interesting and there was a small teaser before the end credits that could hopefully lead to another movie.
As for the ending.....you need to watch the movie for that secret to be revealed.
The Meg (2018)
A good fun movie
Okay, so it's not the intricate sci-fi movie that we come to expect, but it's fun anyway. Seeing Jason Statham outside of his traditional role is surprisingly refreshing. The plot is interesting and I would say (in spite of my son,) that it is an entertaining movie with a good plot line.
The Orville (2017)
Sci-fi Slapstick at its Best
I started to watch this with low expectations, but found that I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of this show.
If, like me, you have been suffering from some Star Trek Discovery withdrawal, this is the perfect show to fill the gap.
The premise is a bit of a take-off of the Star Trek franchise, but with some dirty moments included in the show. There are still some ethical dilemmas, much like the ST: The Original Series and The Next Generation and this is part of the quality of this series.
Some moments are a touch corny, but I have to say, if you are in the market for some Star Trek-like television to take you up to the next release of the Star Trek franchise, I can highly recommend this as the remedy.
The Titan (2018)
Real Science Fiction
I loved this movie, it does what good science fiction movies always do, makes us question the future and how far we as a human race should go to mould that future. Not since Gattaca have I seen a movie that places human evolution and ethics into the spotlight as much as The Titan does. If nothing else, this movie is worth watching just to question what we as a race do in the present and the implications this will have for the future.
Pawno (2015)
The human side of Australia
I was incredibly surprised by both the content and human elements of this poignant movie. It's depiction of life on the street and within the surrounding community, has no equal in my eyes in Australian film.
The sensitive nature in which each complex character was handled was very intelligent and showed that marginalised people still have dreams and hopes. The movie humanised people who are ordinarily shunned by society. The content was very thought- provoking.
I haven't written a review for some time, but this film moved me to write this in the hope that more people might read it and watch this movie.
Gotham (2014)
A solid and enjoyable show!
I was determined to dislike Gotham (being a purist Batman movie girl) but I was bored one night this week so decided to give it a trial run. I was impressed, to say the least, after watching not even a full episode, I was hooked.
The back stories are very intriguing and made me want to do a full- on Batman re-run of all the movies to date right from Michael Keaton to Christian Bale, just to see if I could correlate a linear development from where the young characters are now to what they have become as they have matured into the Batman movies.
What helps this series along is the great choice of actors and actresses, especially Ben McKenzie, who plays the young and idealistic detective, James Gordon, whose honesty and integrity something of an enigma in the seedy, dangerous and dark city of Gotham. This is a city where police brutality and being on the take is met with a cynical "this is Gotham" what-do-you-expect-type comment and Gordon is like a breath of fresh air in an otherwise crippled and twisted city.
Integral to Gotham is the tormented and driven young Bruce Wayne who looks upon Gordon as something of a mentor or father-figure after the murder of his parents. The relationship between the two is not forced but gradually develops after Gordon makes Bruce a promise, one that is, for now, unkept.
Another stand-out character is Fish Mooney, played in a sizzling and aggressive performance by Jada Pinkett Smith. Fish is part of the Gotham crime family line-up and can knee-cap someone with the best of them. She stops at nothing to get her way and is a master manipulator.
So far as other characters go, a young Catwoman, Penguin and Riddler have been introduced as the budding super villains (I still personally think of Catwoman as essentially one of the good people of Gotham) and I look forward to other Gotham regulars making an appearance in the show, like Scarecrow and the Joker.
If you love the Batman movies, Gotham is definitely worth a look and once you do, I guarantee that you won't regret that first flirtation with the show.
Grand Piano (2013)
Suspense with style.
***CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THE PLOT AND ENDING***
Grand Piano begins by showing us the tormented character of Tom Selznick, a famous piano prodigy who is now famous for his on-stage breakdown five years earlier. Selznick is played extremely well by Elijah Wood, whose performance is executed stylishly and with credibility.
Initially I was unsure about watching this movie and wondered how it would pan out with most of the movie filmed in the concert hall. However, I was intrigued enough to get the movie and was very glad that I did. It is incredibly tense, reminiscent (as some critics have alluded to) of the suspense found in Alfred Hitchcock movies, where the hero or heroine is placed in an impossible situation in which they may or may not succeed or survive.
The other characters, excepting the blackmailer, Clem, nastily played by John Cusack, are fairly peripheral to the plot, but add elements of further intrigue and stress to Tom's evening.
Tom receives his first clue that the evening is not going to go as scheduled when he finds a red arrow on his sheet music. Eventually he sees a message that he must not make a mistake or he and his wife will be killed. The addition of an earpiece through which Clem communicates his instructions to Tom is an interesting addition because it opens a dialogue between Tom and Clem.
Clem has no problems flaunting Tom's helplessness to stop Clem from escalating the situation and taunts Tom by telling him or showing him the people that have died when Tom doesn't do as he is instructed.
As the movie progresses, Tom overhears a conversation between Clem and one of his partners-in-crime, and begins to understand the stakes. The last four bars of a piece of music that is unplayable by anyone else alive, apart from Tom, open a hidden lock in the piano that is the key to immeasurable fortunes.
It isn't until the very end of the movie that Tom eventually manages to open the lock but the audience doesn't get to see how it happens or what it contains. At one point in the recital, we get to see a key fly through the air inside the piano, but its final destination is only implied.
I gave this a nine out of ten, but the ending was disappointing, leaving, I felt, too many questions that I wanted to have answered and left me with a feeling that it had finished too soon and was unresolved.
If you are looking for a surprisingly good and interesting movie, I would heartily recommend Grand Piano. Additionally, the score is very apt and engaging, something that adds a lot of value to the movie.
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
Way to go, Marvel - another fantastic addition to the franchise!
Guardians of the Galaxy is definitely a crowd pleaser. I saw the preview trailer and wasn't convinced that I wanted to see the movie but my kids dragged me along anyway, forcing me to sit through what turned out to be probably one of my favourite movies of all time. The perfect mix of action, comedy, drama and hint of romance saw me going back for a second time and even then it didn't get old. I wouldn't be surprised to see it turn into a cult flick in the future.
Chris Pratt's performance was certainly one out of the bag and his charisma and ability to transform his loser character, Peter Quill, into a hero of the galaxy was entirely credible. Zoe Saldana (Gamora), true to her science fiction form of late, also showed a depth of character and emotion that gave a distinct sizzle to the chemistry between Gamora and Quill. Fellow guardians, Vin Diesel (Groot), Bradley Cooper (Rocket)and Dave Bautista (Drax) all showed great skill in their roles and were great additions to the movie. It was also a pleasant surprise to see Glenn Close in the movie.
The special effects and plot were outstanding along with the performances of all the other cast members and I'm sure that nobody could fault the amazing '70's soundtrack, funny jokes and the pop culture references throughout the movie.
What's great about the Marvel universe is that through watching all the movies, links start to build up between each film that really start your brain ticking over to figure out how each one fits into the jigsaw puzzle.
Guardians is definitely worth a look especially if you've enjoyed the other Marvel installments and I, for one, loved it, even the second time around (hmm, thinking about the third time already :-) )! Only three more years to Guardians 2...oh, and don't forget to wait until the credits finish for another quick clip.
We're the Millers (2013)
Fun, fun and more fun!
This movie was probably one of the most inappropriate ones I've seen in ages...and I absolutely loved it!!! If your sense of humour doesn't stretch to the twisted then perhaps it's not a movie for you and it's certainly not recommended for viewing by younger children. Seeing Jennifer Anniston as stripper ,Rose O'Reilly, was a highlight after her normally more conservative roles and Jason Sudeikis was hilarious as the immoral drug dealer, David Clark, whose interpretation of a family is a somewhat loose interpretation.
The entire cast was fantastic with one of the funniest moments being a bite to their ring-in son, Kenny's nether regions by a Mexican Red Kneed Tarantula, among other unexpected challenges that come along to stop David and the rest of the 'family' from getting their drug payout. All in all this movie has been one of the most entertaining comedies I have seen for a long time.
The Frozen Ground (2013)
Brilliant psychological thriller!
I watched this movie out of curiosity and wasn't expecting the seamless and suspenseful film that it was. I haven't seen much of Nicolas Cage's movies recently since they haven't held much interest for me, however, he was incredible in The Frozen Ground, as was John Cusack.
Cage plays an Alaskan State Trooper, Jack Halcombe, who reluctantly takes on a serial killer case two weeks before his resignation. His complete polar opposite, the serial killer Robert Hansen, is aptly played by John Cusack who brings an atmosphere of evil to the role. This film reinforces the quality of both these actors and takes what might have been a mediocre film with different actors, to a whole new level.
The chemistry between Halcombe and the only living victim of Hansen, Cindy Paulson, played brilliantly by Vanessa Hudgens, is amazing. It's clear that Halcombe wants to protect her but she makes the task difficult, along with the increasingly menacing presence of Hansen once he realises she is working with the police. I would definitely recommend this movie which is understated in its ability to entertain, scare and engage the viewer.
Hart of Dixie (2011)
Needs a Different Lead Actress/Actor
I bought this series out of hope that it would be of the same quality as Doc Hollywood. It is set in a the small town of Bluebell, a pleasant and pretty setting with unique townspeople, a place that finds a New York surgeon in her own kind of hell, as she puts it in not so many words. So far as supporting actors and actresses go, it has an interesting mix of talent and I think that the people in these roles do a good job. However, Rachel Bilson sadly lacks credibility as the lead character of Zoe, a talented young doctor and surgeon. She frequently acts and portrays the role as immature and inept and the sincerity that I think should have been integrated into Zoe's portrayal is not present. I also wish that Nancy Travis had stayed with the series since I liked her very much. Having said that, Tim Matheson plays an excellent role as Dr. Brick Breeland, Zoe's surgery partner as does Jaime King as his neurotic daughter, Lemon. The plots are heart-warming and light, but due to the choice of lead actor (or director, not sure which is responsible for her atrocious acting) I have to give it a four.
White House Down (2013)
Better after a second glance
I was disappointed the first time I saw White House Down at the cinema (if you don't count the moment where Channing Tatum's character got his shirt off to the obvious delight of female audience members). On second viewing I appreciated this movie more and didn't take it as seriously as I had the first time around, which happened to be after watching its almost-twin and more serious version, Olympus Has Fallen.
I was able to appreciate bits of subtle humour that I hadn't seen on the initial viewing and warmed up to the characters. Jaime Foxx as a young and passionate President Sawyer and Channing Tatum as John Cale, a returned war-veteran turned cop had some defining moments of understanding between them in the midst of chaos while James Woods played a solid role as an unhinged, dying secret service boss.
I liked Maggie Gyllenhaal as Carole Finnerty, the go-between secret service agent trying to do the right thing and the young actress who plays Cale's daughter, Emily, gave an incredibly moving and believable performance. If you can sift through a little bit of corny scripting this movie is an enjoyable action thriller.
One interesting fact is that if you want to see the full version, it will pay to get the Blu-Ray version, since the Australian DVD movie is a full five minutes shorter than the aforementioned. I haven't been able to find the reason behind this inconsistency which meant that some scenes I saw at the cinema were cut.
Olympus Has Fallen (2013)
Kick Ass Movie
***DEFINITE SPOILERS*** I have to say that I wasn't expecting this movie to be nearly as good as it was but I absolutely loved it. I run hot and cold on Gerard Butler but he really pulled out all the stops in this movie, as Secret Service Agent Mike Banning and talk about some hellishly good fight choreography! Angela Bassett is equally great as Secret Service Director Jacobs and Morgan Freeman as always provides a polished performance. Melissa Leo also gives a solid performance as Secretary of Defense McMillan.
Basically, the North Koreans want to take back what they think they lost - South Korea. To do it they take the White House and hold the President, played well by Aaron Eckhart and kill off pretty much all the secret service agents except Mike Banning, who is a thorn in their side the whole way through the movie. What I really enjoyed was the complexity of the scheme to get into the White House and the way the movie was put together was seamless. Dylan McDermott also played a great role as a traitorous secret service agent, but the winner was the undoubtedly evil North Korean terrorist, Kang, played enthusiastically by Rick Yune from The Fast and the Furious. Not someone you would like to meet in a dark alley at night, unless, of course you were Mike Banning.
I was disappointed that Ashley Judd didn't last for very long, I like her as an actress and Rahda Mitchell only had a fairly low-key role, but both were additions to the plot that I felt enhanced the storyline.
Now You See Me (2013)
High Grade Acting Low Grade Chemistry
Now You See Me is an interesting movie based on a unique concept. The plot was quite good and the acting, for the most part, was also good. Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine and Woody Harrelson, as usual, did not disappoint. The chemistry, however, between Mark Ruffalo's and Melanie Laurent's characters, FBI Agent Dylan Rhodes and Interpol Agent Alma Dray, was seriously lacking. This lent little credibility to the budding relationship and was a poor mix of dynamics for a love tryst. Having said this, the little twists and turns throughout the movie were intriguing and kept me guessing as to the identity of the person behind the four horsemen. All in all, it was enjoyable if you can sit through the moments where Rhodes and Dray are forced by the script writer into trying to look as if they're interested in each other. I've given it a 7 out of 10 for managing to keep me in the cinema and genuinely surprise me at the end.
Pacific Rim (2013)
Pacific Rim Packs a Punch
***DEFINITE SPOILERS***
Although Pacific Rim has had mixed reactions from the critics and box office alike, it is clear to me on a lot of levels that very often, so- called critics only like art-house flicks and don't like to give positive reviews to mainstream movies, even of the caliber of Pacific Rim – it makes them look less intelligent, at least I'm sure that's what they think.
I had mixed feelings about going to see the movie, and I can be just as critical as the critics, but I found very little to criticise either with the movie, special effects or the acting. It had a great plot, and the premise of the shared minds to harness the power of the Jaeger weaponry was a good concept and drove the storyline in a different direction to what might have been another alien shoot-em up movie. A few twists and turns here and there added to the enjoyment of the movie, along with subtle and non-so-subtle humour from the slightly mad scientists and Ron Perlman, whose appearance was an added bonus.
Character-wise, I wasn't sure what to expect after seeing Charlie Hunnam in Sons of Anarchy, I couldn't quite visualise what he would be like as a hero. I was incredibly surprised and happy to find that I really enjoyed his performance as Raleigh Becket. The plot had several twists and turns in it and the special effects were amazingly seamless. Idris Elba portrayed his character very powerfully, his role softened slightly by his father-like relationship with rookie Jaeger pilot, Mako, played by Rinko Kikuchi, who is not generally known for mainstream movies.
I give it a 9/10 and recommend ignoring the critics if you enjoy a rip- roaring humans vs aliens movie with a good plot, solid acting and great SFX (not to mention non-stop action).
World War Z (2013)
A Zombie Movie With a Plot
***SPOILERS*** This has to have been the best zombie movie I have watched. I found the plot interesting and it had much more depth than many zombie flicks have in the past (with the exception possibly of 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later). Right from the start the action began, leading me to hit myself in my 3D glasses in an attempt to hide my eyes from the first real 'fright' moment.
I was surprised initially in the previews I had seen to find out that Brad Pitt played the lead in a zombie movie and was a little dubious, considering that he has traditionally, for the most part, been more of a mainstream actor and not someone whose acting really appeals to me. However, he was cast perfectly in the role of the world-weary ex-UN Investigator, Gerry Lane, who was blackmailed into taking on yet another dangerous and potentially deadly mission away from his family. After the blackmail exchange, I immediately felt sympathy for his character and wanted him to succeed.
As the plot continued, the early death of the scientist, Andrew Fassbach was unexpected, something I always enjoy. A well-worn plot is boring, and this movie's script is anything but well-worn. The young Israeli soldier was a surprise and interesting addition to the mix and well worth the inclusion to forward he plot and ensure a positive outcome. The originality of the solution to the zombie plague was pure genius and Brad Pitt's character caught on to all the right clues. Considering that almost all of the rest of the cast were relative unknowns, compared to Brad Pitt, the movie had a solid foundation and the acting was superb. I would rate it very highly and already I'm planning another trip to see it at the cinema.
Heartland (2007)
Good Old-Fashioned Entertainment
Heartland is a true family show grounded in the values of times past but in a present context, leaving the viewer with a light and happy feeling at the end of each episode. It is a true delight to watch and the characters are incredibly genuine, making it easy to empathise with their lives and dilemmas. My son is 15 years old and as with other children his age, addicted to modern technology, yet since I discovered Heartland, we enjoy nothing more than sitting down in the evening and watching a few episodes as a family, something that I doubt no other PG-rated show could have achieved. I would recommend Heartland to everyone of all ages who wants to watch a heartwarming television show that brings its stories to life.
Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)
J.J. Abrams Delivers Again
**DEFINITE SPOILERS** I have to admit that I was skeptical of this movie since I hadn't heard any specific outlines (my son was way more enthusiastic in seeing it). Having said that, once again the characterisations, humour, intrigue and downright brilliant special effects were even better than the 2009 Star Trek movie. I truly enjoyed the tributes to the original Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan, leaving true Trekkie fans to believe that they were in a secret society of understanding from having seen the original. The entrance of the new, improved and extremely menacing Dreadnought Class fleet vessel, USS Vengeance escalated the suspense to a new level, to which Peter Weller's character was a perfect fit. Finally, as Khan, Benedict Cumberbatch portrayed the quintessential, purely evil villain in a performance that was masterful. There were two moments of true sadness, but I'll leave those out for everyone who hasn't seen the movie. It is definitely worth a look and it is great to see Star Trek being revived in such an excellent fashion.