Remember Me

Remember Me
Year: 2010
Director: Allen Coulter
Cast: Robert Pattison, Emilie De Ravin, Pierce Brosnan, Chris Cooper
In My Own Words
Never underestimate the drawing power of a teenage heartthrob. They not only draw in the adolescent crowd, but filmgoers of all ages who are curious to know whether these superstars can in fact act outside their comfort zone. “Harry Potter”, “High School Musical” and “Twilight” are perhaps the three biggest phenomenon’s of recent times and have made superstars out of young actors. People follow these young superstars through the tabloids and also their other projects, eager to see who can survive outside their usual playing grounds. The stars of “Twilight” definitely have their work cut out for them. Teenagers flock to their movies away from the Twilight saga in droves, and as a result Robert Pattison, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner, Anna Kendrick and Dakota Fanning have their work cut out for them. Fanning established herself as an actress before she appeared in “New Moon”, yet “Twilight” has provided her with a whole new fan base, while Kendrick gave an amazing performance in the acclaimed “Up In The Air”, earning her an Oscar nomination and proving she is far more than just Jessica in “Twilight”. However, what about Pattison, Stewart and Lautner? What lies beyond Edward, Bella and Jacob?

Hence the drawing power of “Remember Me”. Would it really have meant as much to people if Robert Pattison wasn’t in it? Maybe to some people, but not to the younger audience. Many people will go into “Remember Me” thinking “Can Pattison actually act beyond Edward Cullen”? Or even, “Will Robert Pattison forever just be Edward Cullen”? Unfortunately all I could see when the film begun was Edward Cullen, and I struggled to get past this throughout the film. The visual of Elijah Wood will always mean Frodo, the visual of Daniel Radcliffe will always mean Harry Potter and the visual of Robert Pattison will always mean Edward Cullen.

These are my own words and here is my review.

Review
“Remember Me” is the Robert Pattison show. There are many other actors who could have played the lead in this film and may have even done it better than Pattison, but the film wouldn’t have done quite as well as it did financially had Pattison not been part of it. Pattison plays Tyler Hawkins, who is mourning the death of his older brother, Michael who committed suicide five years before. Tyler develops a rebellious nature and after having a run in with a policeman, lands himself in hot water. Tyler’s room mate and partner in crime, Aidan (Tate Ellington)discovers that Sgt. Craig (Chris Cooper) has a daughter who goes to school with them and dares Tyler to ask her out. Tyler and Ally (Emilie De Ravin), who is also still recovering from the murder of her mother, embark on a romantic venture which helps both of them recover from their losses.

The big fault of “Remember Me” is that it is nowhere near as emotionally charged as what it should be. There is now overpowering feelings of love between Tyler and Ally, as there should be in a romance film such as this. There is more of an emotion connection between the audience and the “smaller” characters such as Tyler’s father (Pierce Brosnan) and his sister, Caroline (Ruby Jerins), and Sgt. Craig, than with the lead characters. However, the film is supposed to be focused on Tyler and Ally, although the audience definitely wishes that director Allen Coulter would focus more on the families and their dynamics and ways of dealing with their grief. The way in which the film is filmed, one would suspect that Coulter was also trying to film “Remember Me” in an indie style, which greatly fails. It lacks the purity and raw emotion of an indie film.

As for Robert Pattison, it isn’t a bad performance, but certainly not a great performance. Pattinson can act, but he is overshadowed by other performers in this film. It almost feels as though he is struggling to break through with his performance and falls short of the performance he should have given. There does definitely seem to be a lack of chemistry between him and co-star, Emilie De Ravin. There is no belief in the two being in love. Watching the two of them on screen makes the audience member, particularly the “Twilight” fan wish, Kristen Stewart would take De Ravin’s place. De Ravin herself does not deliver a particularly memorable performance and does not have a very hard role to fulfil. However, the saving grace of this film are the performances by the supporting actors. Both Brosnan and Academy Award winner Cooper give superb performances as the two fathers. They leave both Pattinson and De Ravin for dead. Young Ruby Jerins is also superb in her debut role. She is believable as the talented, bullied younger sister and surely has great things in store for her. Thanks to these three performers, the film does have a reason beyond Pattinson to be viewed.

“Remember Me” could have been a lot more than what it is. It is not the best role for Pattinson and he is truly much better as Edward Cullen. If it were not for the performances of Brosnan, Cooper and Jerins, “Remember Me” would not be remembered at all.
4/10

The Rebound

The Rebound
Year: 2009
Director: Bart Freundlich
Cast: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Justin Bartha

In My Own Words
Is it just me, or now that Oscar season has finished , is Hollywood bombarding us with rom-com’s and romance flicks? Well, maybe not bombarding, but there definitely seems to be a pattern. As I pondered what to see tonight, I almost thought I was seeing double with “The Bounty Hunter” and “The Rebound” looking alike, and “Dear John” and “Remember Me” looking far from polar opposites of each other. We also have “When In Rome” and “The Last Song” starting soon which fit in these two categories. . Next week will see the onslaught of a number of family flicks opening in time for the Easter holidays. Is Hollywood trying to send us a message? In my American Film Genre’s class a few years ago, my lecturer said that trends in Hollywood directly reflect the times we are living in and how the media wants people to be or what they want them to think. So, my question is, is Hollywood trying to cheer us up? Are they trying to tell us that in this time of lack of financial and job security in the world and all the forces of nature taking their toll, just remember the loving relationships around you? Are they just trying to make us laugh and turn around and give the one’s we love a big cuddle?

So as a result of these trends, at my local cinema it was either a rom-com or a romance tonight. “The Rebound” won through based on the Catherine Zeta-Jones factor. It feels like we don’t see much of Zeta-Jones these days, but she is still a box office draw. The film definitely plays on the theme in today’s society where everyone talks about ”cougars”, so it is the opposite to Zeta-Jones’ situation in real life where she is 25 years younger than her husband, Michael Douglas. As for the film, it is a romantic comedy. Think about everything you expect a romantic comedy to be and this is it.

These are my own words and here is my review.

Review
There are no surprises in “The Rebound”. When you hear the plot of the film, it is easy to guess what is going to happen to the characters. Mother of two, Sandy (Catherine Zeta-Jones) has just caught her husband cheating on her and decides to move to the city to make a new start. When she goes on her first date since her separation, she calls on Aram (Justin Bartha), a broken-hearted college graduate who is just drifting through life, to take care of her kids. Aram starts to become a part of the family and he and Sandy develop feelings for each other, despite Sandy being 15 years older than him. They are plagued by age taunts from other people, and eventually the age leads to friction in the relationship. As soon as the audience realises that there is an age difference between the two, they immediately realise how the story is going to pan out. It is slightly unfair to say that the whole thing is predictable as there are parts which you will not see coming, but the actual overall outline of the film is predictable. However, romantic comedies are very rarely unpredictable, so this makes the film is typical of its genre.

Although the film is enjoyable and there are definitely some funny aspects of it, there is just something that does not work with it. Some of the comedy seems out of place. It doesn’t carry on a consistent type of comedy, it can go from being clean and innocent to being crude. Unfortunately, this can be seen as the fault of writer and director, Bart Freundlich, for making the script uneven. The film is also very slow to get going and once it does, the conflict is sudden and there is no emotional insight to it. The emotional insight is what also makes the film seen uneven. There is really a lack of emotion throughout the film, although it is more prominent in some parts than others. When talking about her separation from her husband, Sandy exhibits more emotion than she does with Aram. In this way, the audience is lead to believe that Aram is the rebound, but is he really? It is never really made clear.

There are some good qualities about the film though. There are definitely some funny parts in the film, and it is actually quite realistic in the way that Sandy handles her divorce, Aram’s life situation and the relationships in the film, not just between Sandy and Aram, but also between Aram and the kids. Catherine Zeta-Jones does give a good performance, showing that she is still as good an actor as ever. She is particularly good in the scene where she confronts her ex-husband. There is also great character development for each of the main characters, but not enough chemistry between the main characters.

Unfortunately, there does seem to be more bad points about “The Rebound” rather than good points. On the bright side, it is an easy watch, there is nothing strenuous about it and nothing that will really tug at your emotional strings. Just as side note Mr Freundlich, watch out for parts in your script that don’t make any sense. If you are born in 1983, that does not make you 30 in 2010.
4.5/10

Throws Of Passion

Throws Of Passion
Year: 2009
Director: Todd M. Jones
Cast: Steve Belanger, Leah Gallimore, Jeffrey May, Jim Danila

In My Own Words
“Throws Of Passion” is the third film I have reviewed that premiered at the Soho International Film Festival and completely different from the other two films which I have reviewed thus far. While both “A Kiss Of Chaos” and “One In The Gun” were serious and quite intense, “Throws Of Passion” is a comedy. It is not just a comedy, it is in the style of a mockumentary. A mockumentary about a rock scissors paper tournament....that should arise much interest in the film by itself! Rock scissors paper is traditionally a way of deciding those decisions between two people that really aren’t that important (I haven’t actually heard of any decisions in the political world being made by rock scissors paper, but correct me if I am wrong!), so it is obvious that the movie itself will be something light and comedic.

The mockumentary style of film is one that I am particularly interested in. I really like the creativity involved in making such a film. I enjoy documentaries as well as they are really educational, but mockumentaries are entertaining, and you feel like you are learning something as well. However, what you are learning in a mockumentary is rarely factual, but that is the talent and creativity combined of the directors to make you believe that you are actually learning something real. The talent of Todd M. Jones shows this as well in “Throws Of Passion”. Believe it or not, there is actually a Rock Scissors Paper World Championship for those who did not know, as I didn’t before I saw this film and did my research.

These are my own words and here is my review.

Review
“Throws Of Passion” is the comedy film that everyone who attended the 2010 Soho International Film Festival is talking about, and with good reason. It is an extremely funny little mockumentary, which is great fun and completely enjoyable. The film is pieced together from found footage by the failed Cable Sports and Life Network of the coverage of a Rock Scissors Paper tournament. There is a stressed producer, Cuban competitor who no one believes in Cuban, the drunken, out of work presenter and many more who are all involved in the tournament and allow for mayhem amongst all the passion.

According to director, Todd M. Jones, “Throws Of Passion” cost only $1000 to make. Well, what a superb feature for such a small investment! The script is extremely witty and original, not to mention extremely funny. It is never easy to make a film funny, but writers Jones and Jeremy Linden (whom also plays Jeremiah) succeed in making a film that will make everyone giggle. Jones has taken a subject which people would find amusing and made it even more so by throwing some intriguing and colourful characters. As one would expect from a film such as this, the cinematography or visual effects are nothing to write home about, but that is definitely excusable considering the budget. It is the script and the characters which are the focal point of the movie and they are the aspects to be celebrated.

The character development is brilliant in this film. The way in which the film is edited shows all the important points of each of the characters very early on in the film. The audience connects with the characters straight away. There is no character in the film that doesn’t bring a smile to your face, they are all hilarious in different ways. All the characters are perfectly cast in their roles, and, again, Jones does a fantastic job in directing them all.

“Throws Of Passion” is a great film that is funny in so many ways. It is a very clever comedy and certainly a credit to its makers.
7.5/10

One In The Gun

One In The Gun
Year: 2010
Director: Rolfe Kanefsky
Cast: Steven Man, Katherine Randolph, Steven Bauer, James Russo

In My Own Words
“One In The Gun” is the second film of the 2010 Soho International Film Festival that I am reviewing. This feature premiered on the closing night in February and ended the festival with a bang. The film is high paced and full of action, with never ending twists and continuous surprises, a perfect end to a festival. Such an end to an event leaves an audience wanting more, ensuring that the 2011 Soho International Film Festival will be bigger and better.

Director Rolfe Kanefsky has tried his hand at many genre’s, horror being what he is best known for. In this film he tries his hand at “One In The Gun”, a film which is hard to fix with a particular genre. It has the aspects which could classify it as film noir, such as a femme fatale and.....well, I can’t say much else besides that as I would give away part of the film! However, the film has a real David Lynch feel about it, reminding me most of a cross between “Mulholland Drive” and “Lost Highway”. It is extremely surrealistic , just like many of Lynch’s films, but Kanefsky has his own style and knows how to make it work for him.

These are my own words and here is my review.

Review
“One In The Gun” is an extremely enjoyable, action packed roller-coaster. It is one of those rare films where there is not a single moment where there is not something of intrigue and captivation happening, a sign of a great story, script and direction. True to the surrealist nature of the film, there are times in the film that are plagued with a feeling of confusion, but the confusion is an intended part of the film. It is not there as a result of something being ill-explained, but rather to increase the audience’s inquisitiveness of what Mickey, played by Steven Man, is really going through. When Mickey meets Katrina (Katherine Randolph) in a supermarket car park, he is thrown into a seductive, and dangerous chain of events. In becoming the house painter for Katrina and her husband, he falls under her spell and falls victim to her charms. However, things are never what they seem.

Although the film can seem like it starts off weak, it is realised that it is the perfect the way it is. “One In The Gun” gains momentum continuously throughout the film so it is only fitting that it starts off at its weakest as it is revealed later as to why Kanefsky made things the way they are. It can be argued that the acting is weak at the beginning of the film, but it is supposed to be weak as the actors are playing characters who are acting themselves. It is a great film when a film is one that makes you think you know the ending, but the ending is continuously changing so the film is indeed tricking the audience. When you think it is predictable, it changes direction. “One In The Gun” changes direction, but does not do so in a messy way. There is no stone that is left unturned and everything ads up in the end. It feels as though the film really is a roller coaster, it goes around in a loop, but shocks its passengers by making jolted, unexpected turns, leaving the passengers anxious as they do not know what to expect. When the roller coaster of “One In The Gun”, the passengers turn to one another, looking for each others reactions, but they all agree that that was a great and surprising ride.

Steven Man does well as Mickey and carries a convincing performance showing the unease of the character. At times, the character can seem like the evil one, yet there is also pity for him. Katherine Randolph is the perfect femme fatale, both physically and in her acting ability. She is sexy and sultry, as well as scheming and can be plain wicked at times. The character of Heather, played by Dana Fares, is definitely noteworthy. She is extremely bizarre and definitely unsettling. Her movements and terrifying laughter and voice are the things nightmares are made of. Just the sight and sound of her makes the audience squirm. Heather is the horror of the film.

“One In The Gun” is a film where nothing is ever as it seems. Even when you think you have it figured out, it is unlikely that you do. It is a film that must be watched until the end and is unlike your everyday run of the mill thriller. Although it does contain fragments of other movies that you may have seen, it is presented originally due to its surrealism and is entrancing.
8/10

A Kiss Of Chaos

A Kiss Of Chaos
Year: 2009
Director: Ricardo Sean Thompson
Cast: Judy Marte, Manny Perez, Michael Rivera, Gleendilys Inoa, Stephanie Ortiz

In My Own Words
Today Movie Critical embarks on a new journey. Not only will we still be featuring films currently showing in cinemas, but we will also be reviewing several films that are being shown or have recently been shown at film festivals around the world. The first film festival which we are honoured to be reviewing films from is the Soho International Film Festival. The annual Soho International Film Festival ran in New York City from the 18th till the 21st of February 2010 and featured many notable films. Among them was our first film to be reviewed, “A Kiss Of Chaos”. “A Kiss Of Chaos” took away the honour of being the Best Showcase Feature Film, an outstanding achievement for director Ricardo Sean Thompson.

And a well deserved award it is. “A Kiss Of Chaos” is completely gripping and full on from start to finish. The major aspect I really admired in this film is that the crime thriller with a strong female character as the lead. Stereotypically, crime dramas and thrillers where the subject of the crime is illegal drugs tend to have male lead characters, but not this one. Judy Marte plays one of the strongest female lead characters I have seen on screen in a long time. For how much she endures throughout her life and especially on this night, she remains stronger than the people around her and does not show any sign of weakness. Phoenix could well be one of my favourite characters of the film year.

These are my words and here is my review.

Review
“A Kiss Of Chaos” is exactly as the title suggests, chaotic in the most amazing way. The film by Ricardo Sean Thompson is captivating right from the opening scene and does not lose momentum throughout its duration. The film is definitely not for the faint hearted and does require quite a strong stomach, but it is to be enjoyed by anyone who can admire great film making and story-telling. Phoenix (Judy Marte) is a young artist who is trying to overcome the turmoils she experienced in her childhood. However, this birthday of hers only makes this harder and makes her life more chaotic. Her wounded trouble maker ex-boyfriend, Angel (Michael Rivera) turns up on her kitchen floor just before Phoenix’s younger and overtly jealous sister, Isis (Gleendilys Inoa) calls for help. The only person she feels she can trust is her best friend, Tiffany (Stephanie Ortiz) who see’s Phoenix as more than just a friend. Phoenix ends up in a web of drug crime and it is unclear whether she and everyone around her will survive the night.

Thompson is indeed an amazing film maker. “A Kiss Of Chaos” is completely original and not predictable at all. There is twist after twist in the film, none of which the audience see coming. It is completely compelling. Just like a car wreck, the audience watches and cannot turn away from watching Phoenix’s life go from bad to worse, not because of her own actions, but because of the people who disrupt her night. The script is well written and the cinematography is also notable. The musical score is appropriate in all the right spots and adds to the emotion of the film. Be warned though, there are some strong themes and images in the film so be prepared to not be relaxed for an hour and a half.

The characters development and acting are also very strong points. The script provides great character development as well as the flashback scenes. Judy Marte is an absolute stand out as Phoenix and perfectly cast. She shows tremendous talent in executing an emotionally tired but strong character. The audience truly feels a connection with her and her strength. The audience also feels a connection with both Angel and Isis, but not as favourable a connection as that with Phoenix. Michael Rivera’s Angel is not a likable character with his shrewd behaviour and treatment of his ex, especially when younger sister Isis steps onto the scene. Both Rivera and Gleendilys Inoa’s characters are not likable at all, a tribute to their acting. Inoa’s Isis is completely crazy and scary to watch.

“A Kiss Of Chaos” is not yet available for release, but if you do get the chance to see it at a screening, definitely go to witness a success. Phoenix is definitely a character to be remembered and celebrated, as is Thompson’s direction. “A Kiss Of Chaos” is definitely a film that does not hold back on issues that are often seen as taboo in society and on screen. Completely chaotic and enjoyably confronting and compelling.
8.5/10

Crazy Heart

Crazy Heart
Year: 2009
Director: Scott Cooper
Cast: Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Robert Duvall, Colin Farrell

In My Own Words
Well, it would only be fitting to review an Oscar winning performance the day after the Oscars. My father went to see “Crazy Heart” last week and was in a cinema with only four other people. Tonight, I was in nearly a full cinema to see the same movie. For how many people say they don’t care about the Oscars, it’s amazing how an Oscar win can increase the number of people who see a movie. Had Jeff Bridges lost the Best Actor Oscar, would the cinema have been packed? I think not. To back up my theory, last year before “Slumdog Millionaire” won it’s Best Picture Oscar, here in Australia barely anybody outside the film buff circles had heard of the film. After it won, it opened in the multiplex cinemas rather in just the independents and ticket sales increased. Don’t get me wrong, this is not a bad thing. If the Oscars encourage more people to see quality films and amazing performances, there is nothing at all wrong with that.

And what a performance it is. I hated Bad Blake at the beginning of the film and did not pity him at all, but almost fell in love with him by the end of the film. For a character to have that sort of effect on an audience member, the director and the actor have definitely gone above and beyond in character development. I felt like I experienced Bad Blake’s journey with him. The film also made me feel like going home and listening to country music. Even though it isn’t in the film, I also felt like going to Nashville, the city I associate with country music. I can listen to country music, but going to Nashville to do so is kind of out of my reach right now. It’s fantastic when a film can make you feel all these things. Well done to Scott Cooper and Jeff Bridges.

These are my own words and here is my review.

Review
“Crazy Heart” is one of those rare character based films which allow you to go on a roller coaster ride of emotions side by side with its main players. Admittedly, this film will be remembered more for Jeff Bridges Oscar winning performance than for its story. The story has been done before in other films, but a performance of this calibre has not been achieved by Jeff Bridges before and is a performance that will be remembered for years to come. Bad Blake (Bridges) is a washed up country singer who’d life practises are not to be admired. He used to be great, but nowadays he has been reduced to performing in bars and bowling alleys. His life starts to turn around when he meets Jean (Maggie Gyllenhaal), a single mum journalist from Santa Fe who wants to write a story about Bad Blake. She is different than all the other women Bad has met on the road and her and her son leave a mark on him, proving him to be in some ways, not as bad as he thought, but in other ways, worse than what he thought.

The story is the character. Some people may think that not much happens in the movie, but it is what happens to the character is overwhelming and is the story. Although the film can seem a tad slow at times, not one of the scenes is wasted and each scene tells something about the character. The directing by Scott Cooper is superb, not just with his direction of the acting, but the cinematography is also very well done. One cannot critique “Crazy Heart” without mentioning the musical score. The music is original and will be a favourite with all country music fans. However, people who are not fans of country music will also be moved by the lyrics of “The Weary Kind” and “I Don’t Know”.

Not enough praise can be given to Jeff Bridges performance. It is undoubtedly the best of his career. He is at first arrogant and disgusting, but progresses into a lovable and unforgettable character. He at first seems almost one-dimensional, but the pain and sorrow which he feels is completely evident in his face by the end of the film. Credit must also be given to Maggie Gyllenhaal who also gives one of the best performances of her career. She is completely believable as the damaged, protective single mother. Gyllenhaal is perfectly cast and is well deserving of her Oscar nomination. The chemistry between Bridges and Gyllenhaal is good emotionally, but can seem to be physically incompatible.

“Crazy Heart” is the must see film of the year for country music fans, but it is also for non-fans, although true haters of country music may not be able to handle hearing so much of it. “Crazy Heart” is one of the great character based films of the past few years and Bad Blake is definitely a character to be celebrated.
8/10.

Alice In Wonderland

Alice In Wonderland
Year: 2010
Director: Tim Burton
Cast: Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway

In My Own Words
“Alice In Wonderland” marked a momentous occasion for me, my first experience of 3D in my local cinema. I have experienced 3D before, but only in theme parks. It seemed like such a special concept at places like Warner Bros Movie World, Universal Studios and Disneyland, I guess that’s why 4D is becoming the rage there now. I didn’t find my 3D experience quite as exciting as I thought I would. It didn’t feel like it enhanced the film at all and it didn’t feel like it was quite the excitement it has been hyped up to be. I’m on the fence as to whether 3D is really worth the extra $5 we paid for it. I thought that is I was going to go to my first 3D film that Tim Burton’s “Alice In Wonderland” would be a good one to go with. Maybe I should have started with “Avatar”. Don’t get me wrong, there were some scenes where I thought the 3D made the visuals amazing...actually there was only one scene that stood out like that too me and that was where Alice was falling down the rabbit hole. I think I will be reserving 3D for the action films.

As for the movie, I really enjoyed this film. From beginning to finish, it is very Tim Burton though. Burton is one of those directors that you can walk into a cinema not knowing who the director is and recognise his styling trademarks not far into the film. The one thing I will say about “Alice In Wonderland” is in order to enjoy, take it for what it is. It is a family sequel to the Lewis Carroll tale which is a showcase of fantasy visual effects. Don’t expect a film that will shake you emotionally, Carroll’s fantasy was never supposed to be that.

These are my words and here is my review.

Review
Tim Burton’s highly anticipated film “Alice In Wonderland” is, just like the original fantasy by Lewis Carroll, loads of fun and extremely enjoyable. Not just for children, unlike its Disney animation relative, the film shows Wonderland through a grown-up’s perspective as well as having aspects of it that children will also enjoy.Alice (Mia Wasiknowska) returns down the rabbit hole 15 years after her first journey to Wonderland to find that the Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter) has taken over and is out to get Alice, as she is the only one who can strip her of her rule. Alice is helped along the way by her friends which she made in Wonderland when she was young such as the White Rabbit, the Cheshire Cat, Tweedledee and Tweedledum and the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp) and the White Queen (Anne Hathaway).

The film is just beautiful to watch and a lot of fun. The visuals and script mix well together to create a film which is a pleasure to sit back and enjoy rather than worry about the ending. Yes, it is predictable, but “Alice In Wonderland” was always meant to be a family film and not to be too stressful. It is also important to remember just how strange the original novel and film is, and then the film seems fitting as it just carries on the tradition. The visual effects which Tim Burton employs are beautiful and completely appropriate. The costumes, especially the ones made for Alice, are beautiful and stunning. On the whole, the film is extremely Burton-esque. In the first 60 seconds, it is completely obvious that you are in a Burton film. The score, by Danny Elfman, is reminiscent of his past films and the visuals ring of “Charlie And The Chocolate Factory”. However, this does not take away from any of the beauty and the magnificence of the production. Although the story is quite original, the big criticism here is that it extracts from so many other stories. There are elements of the story which are so much like other stories. For example, there are traces of “The Chronicles Of Narnia”, “The Lord Of The Rings”, “Robin Hood”, “Where The Wild Things Are” and “Peter Pan” and its film sequel “Hook” in it all over the place. It almost feels like déjà vu throughout parts of the film.

Another criticism here is that there are many references to the Disney animation version of “Alice In Wonderland”. These are references that people who have seen the 1951 animation version will not get at all, but those who have seen it will recognise immediately, such as “Twinkle twinkle little bat, how I wonder where you’re at”. These references and this fact are not major criticisms though, as those who haven’t seen the animation, will still understand the film regardless.

Mia Wasikowska is the perfect Alice. She has the right amount of innocence and is picture perfect for the role. Although she does not strain herself at all in the role, she is extremely likable and brings to the role everything that one should. The Mad Hatter is definitely not Johnny Depp’s best role, but he is still good. It does feel as though he is channelling his inner “Drop Dead Fred” in this role through the visuals and as the young Alice’s mentor. Helena Bonham Carter does a great job as the Red Queen and her character stays true to the original Queen in the Lewis Carroll novel and in the first film. “Alice In Wonderland” feels like a very different film for Anne Hathaway. Although she has done fantasy films before, this is the first time she has not played the role of the young girl, and instead takes on the role of a superior, but quirky queen. The March Hare is also a great character to watch, as he is hilarious and definitely mad.

The most important thing when watching “Alice In Wonderland” is to purely enjoy it for what it is. It relies greatly on the visuals and not on an emotional journey or anything remotely thought provoking. It is purely fun and just beautiful to watch.
8/10

The Men Who Stare At Goats

The Men Who Stare At Goats
Year: 2009
Director: Grant Heslov
Cast: George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Jeff Bridges, Kevin Spacey

In My Own Words
Despite “The Men Who Stare At Goats” being released in Australia this week, I actually got to see this film while I was in the United States last month. I love Australia, but I hate how long it can take films to get here sometimes. I understand the reason why it is so, but it still doesn’t make it any less annoying when you are dying for a film to arrive here. It took all my might not to buy “The Hurt Locker” on DVD when I was over there so I could watch it at the cinemas when it arrived here. I guess I have to sacrifice some things living in a beautiful country! Although I would love to live in the states as well.

Anyway, that’s enough about me and now onto the film. I really enjoyed this film for the big reason that it is completely different from anything I have seen in a long time. I am all for originality in film and I feel like standing up and cheering when I see something different. Maybe we should all watch this film after we watch “The Hurt Locker”, not so we can learn to laugh at war, but just so we can relax after it. I have not read the book which this film is based on by Jon Ronson, but I have been told that it is extremely funny. It does depend on what type of comedy you like as to whether you will enjoy it though. Some people will find it weird and just plain silly, or even a bit hard to follow. If you like intelligent comedies with a touch of quirkiness and silliness, then you will love this movie. In other words, if you like the Coen brothers, then chances are you will like this film.

These are my own words and here is my review.

Review
The majority if people will be able to realise what type of film this is just by looking at the title “The Men Who Stare At Goats”. Despite the silliness of the title and the comedic nature of the film, this film and the book of the same name which it is based on are in fact true stories. The fact that the film is based on a piece of non-fiction makes it even more intriguing, if not totally bizarre. Journalist Bob Wilton (Ewan McGregor) arrives in Iraq to cover the war, but instead ends up coming across Lyn Cassidy (George Clooney). Cassidy is an ex member of the New Earth Army, a group of soldiers who claim to have psychic abilities. Wilton is drawn into the world of these soldiers as he learns all the ropes and learns what it takes to fight with your mind rather than with weapons. This film is one that many people will find confusing and downright strange, but others will find hilarious. There are some very funny moments and it is likely that if you find the beginning scene funny, you will find the rest of the movie hilarious.

The movie is completely refreshing and original. It can be a bit slow and a bit tedious at times, but is otherwise quite well done. However, it can be quite confusing and the ending does not feel as conclusive and as fitted together as what it should be. The story is indeed intriguing, but it is unclear as to whether director Grant Heslov is making fun of these soldiers or supporting them. Audience members will leave trying to figure out whether what they saw was based on fact, or was it making fun of what these soldiers believed? However, Heslov does do a very good job in directing this film. The arid scenery is amazing and the recreation of war torn Iraq is definitely noteworthy. The screenplay is well put together and script very witty and humorous. The choice of cast is also a winner. It could not be anything but with the four main male cast members each being marvellous actors in their own right. George Clooney is both hilarious and charming in his role of Lyn Cassidy. Ewan McGregor takes on a type of role that we have not seen him in for quite awhile, that of the inferior come superior. It is like he is playing the flip side of his Star Wars role of Obi-Won Kenobi and does so extremely well. So well that it makes you want to see him in more roles such as this. Jeff Bridges is a favourite in the film and Kevin Spacey, as usual, plays the role of the bad guy with perfection. One just has to feel sorry for the goat, but no animals were harmed during the filming of this movie. So, great performance by the goat who plays dead.

A war/comedy hybrid movie does not come along very often, so this movie is a rarity. “The Men Who Stare At Goats” is refreshing and original, but also quite bizarre. It will not be a movie that everyone will find funny or that everyone will like, but it is good clean humour crossed with quirkiness. Fans of Clooney will definitely love this movie, fans of animals, especially goats, may not like it as much.
7/10

The Blind Side

Year: 2009
Director: John Lee Hancock
Cast: Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, Quinton Aaron, Kathy Bates

In My Own Words
Big confession, I wasn’t a huge fan of Sandra Bullock until about 6:30pm today. Actually, I wasn’t a fan of hers at all. I found her roles too light and wishy-washy, if that is an accurate description of ones acting performances. But as of 8:40pm, I like her a lot more. I don’t know if I am completely convinced that she gives the performance of the year, but it is definitely the performance of her career. If there was an award called “Best Choice Of Role To Redefine Yourself As An Actor”, I do believe she should win that. I fear that she may win the Oscar for the reason that it is her best performance and members of the academy may get the two mixed up. I’m not saying that her performance in “The Blind Side” isn’t a great performance, because it is, but I don’t believe that it is the best performance by a female actor in 2009. I’m not entirely sure that “The Blind Side” should have been one of the 10 films nominated for Best Picture either, and again, not because it isn’t a good film, but it doesn’t quite compare to pictures such as “Avatar”, “The Hurt Locker” or even “Up”.

Yet....”The Blind Side” is a sweet and simple film, that made me want to go home and watch a football game. Too bad the rugby league season here doesn’t start until next weekend. It has been awhile since a good sports film has been released and it’s good to finally see one again. Definately one for the football fans.

These are my words and here is my review.

Review
“The Blind Side” is definitely the best sports film of the past few years. Although it can be quite simplistic at times, it is still enjoyable and Sandra Bullock does indeed give the performance of her career. For many reasons, it is almost “The Sandra Bullock Show”, but by no means is that a bad thing. The film is based on the true life story of footballer player Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron), who lived an under-privileged childhood as a result of a drug dependant mother and having to move from foster home to foster home. When he is lost for a place to live, he is taken in by the Tuohy family and is treated as one of their own. Michael shows talent as a footballer because of his huge size and he achieves more than he ever thought possible.

Even though “The Blind Side” deals with hard-hitting issues such as racism, drug abuse and poverty, it is quite light considering. The script is very simply written and at the beginning, is quite weak. Luckily, it gathers momentum and strengthens as the film goes on. Of course, we do feel sorry for Michael with all his turmoils, but it is known from the very beginning that “The Blind Side” is definitely a feel good movie so he will therefore break through. Being a fell good movie, it is predictable. The ending isn’t as victorious as it could be, but such is the problem with biopics, you can’t stray too far from the truth if you want to remain true to the story. However, even though this is a downfall, it is also an advantage for the movie. By making the movie softer than it could be, it opens up a bigger audience for the film. The audience doesn’t need to have a strong stomach or even be much of a sports fan to enjoy the movie. Of course, sports fans will love the movie, but the film is not just for sports fans by any means.

Sandra Bullock is, as everyone must know by now, the star of the film. She gives the best performance of her career in this film and it is unlike any other work she has ever done. Although she has tried her hand at dramatic films before, this is the role that best suits her acting capabilities and is definitely her most memorable. She is witty, driven and believable as Michael’s adopted mother, Leigh Anne. Quinton Aaron does well in his portrayal of Michael Oher. His character is quiet, yet shows much emotion just by using his facial expressions. The performance is sure to please the real Michael Oher by all means. Kathy Bates is witty and delightful as Michael’s tutor, Miss Sue and Tim McGraw is likeable, but at times boring, as Sean Tuohy.

“The Blind Side” will not win Best Picture at the Oscars next week, but it is definitely a feel good movie that will delight audiences. Sports fans will really enjoy all the football sequences, but non-sports fans will enjoy the acting and optimistic view of the movie that you can make something of yourself no matter where you come from. It is definitely worth seeing the film for a piece of light, but good viewing and to see Sandra Bullock give the performance of her career thus far.
7/10