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Chappie (2015)
Please ignore the desperate paid positive reviews!
Oh my word. This is one of the biggest, steamingest, festering piles of crap I've had the misfortune of sitting through.
You'll see the A-list cast and think "how bad can it be?" Well...it's as bad as it gets. Did Sigourney and Hugh actually read the script? I doubt it.
You know how you hear people say "it's so bad, it's good?"...not this little clusterf*** of a story. Poorly written, poorly acted, and just plain dopey. I give it one out of ten for the efx, but please, if you're expecting equal or better than 'District 9' save your $$$. You will be disappointed.
Melancholia (2011)
Beautiful, haunting film that stays with you
I watched this on the small screen and deeply regret not seeing it at the cinema when it came out in 2011, as I believe the impact would have been even greater. Having said that, I've read reviews which have slammed the "shaky-cam" method of filmmaking that LVT uses (some even cite nausea), and I suspect the impact of that style of camera-work would have been more severe on the big screen. On my 55" screen however, there were still some parts of the first half of the film where I felt myself distracted by the shaky-cam. For this I should deduct one star. But I can't criticize this film for it is a true masterpiece that you will either love or hate.
Don't go into it expecting to enjoy a linear exposition with typical Hollywood entertainment values. It is art, pure and simple (that introduction! Stunning!) and hopefully it will speak to your soul about the essence of true melancholia. Prepared to be deeply moved, but go in with an open heart and no expectations. Leave your scientific analysis of film content at the door, and allow yourself to immerse in the sublime imagery and layers of meaning within the plot. This film will stay with me a long time, and I hope to watch it again as there is just so much visual and emotional appeal.
Ghostbusters (2016)
Ignore the MRA Haters; it's just a very enjoyable film!
Ghostbusters (2016) has a lot to offer - it's a funny and contemporary reworking of a much-loved comedy classic of the 1980s, the original being a film I saw many times and loved as a teen. The reviews have been puzzling...and the utterly disgusting sexist attacks on the actors of this film unwarranted and horrifying. Quite frankly if all you are thinking as you clutch your pearls and wring your hands while watching a film is "that character has a vagina!" then there is something seriously wrong with your perception of reality. Unless the Official Rules for Ghostbusting state that penises are somehow required to operate the required equipment then, you know, gender doesn't matter. This film spoiled your childhood? How exactly does that work retrospectively? Do you frequently travel back in time to your childhood?
Okay so we can safely disregard the feeble, whining MRAs who can't fathom a woman in a strong position or lead role. It makes not one jot of difference what gender the Ghostbusters are, as long as the film is entertaining. And this one certainly is!!
There's a comfortable sense of familiarity in the premise, with the delightful discovery of these new personalities and their relationships. The cast is more than adept at delivering confident and convincing performances, with standout McKinnon stealing every scene with her quirky yet magnetic energy. I can't wait to see her in more major film roles. McCarthy anchors the film in a surprisingly measured performance. Mind you the last film I saw McCarthy in was Spy, where she dominated every scene in a fabulously OTT story. Similarly Wiig was comfortable in this ensemble performance. Combined with Jones' affable and generous "Patty", the four new Ghostbusters are a cohesive and fun team that bring it. Chris Hemsworth is capable in his role as ditzy receptionist, with a > 50% hit rate with his humorous lines, however I couldn't imagine a better film conclusion (and credits) due to Hemsworth's fine performance.
Is the film flawless? No. There are some hiccups in pacing here and there, and issues with some character formation and progression. In a way the sheer familiarity we all have with the original combined with the abundant cameos detract from full 'suspension of disbelief' in Ghostbusters 2016. But I expect this would always have been the case in the reworking of such a comedy classic. I must stress the film stands on its own merits, with a solid storyline, great CGI and typically fine direction from Feig. I watched the film with my 15 year old son. Not that it matter much to me, but for some it will be good to know the film is largely free from swearing and sexual content. He has seen the original but also loved this remake. His favourite character was also McKinnon's Holtzmann. My enlightened son also understood the tongue-in-cheek silliness of Hemsworth's character without losing his mind over the objectification (by one Ghostbuster) of the character in this small ditzy role reversal.
Overall I rate Ghostbusters (2016) an 8/10. With a bit better pacing in parts, maybe some reworking of script to ensure character consistency throughout the film it would have been the "perfect" fun comedy hit. This film had me smiling all the way through it, with some real LOL moments. Go see it!
The Sapphires (2012)
Chris O'Dowd is the Glue That Holds The Sapphires Together
The music is great and yes, this 'based on a true story' film is well worth watching just to see and hear the insanely talented Jessica Mauboy (as "Julie") sing, but it's the performance of Chris O'Dowd which really holds this film together from start to finish, albeit in a sometimes rather stereotypical manner. There are, annoyingly, a remarkable number of goofs that bring you "out" of the immersive experience that film watching should be (the impact of which I guess will depend on your age and knowledge of Australian history). I'd recommend watching this film when it plays on free-to-air TV (record it on your PVR and FF through the ad breaks). It's certainly low on language, violence and sexualised content so suitable for watching with young teens. Older viewers will enjoy the music and IT Crowd fans will enjoy seeing O'Dowd in this major film role; without him as the cohesive male lead, the film would be relegated to just another fair-to-middling Australian film, quickly forgotten. Except for Mauboy's standout voice.