Page 108 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, September 25, 2013
www.MelbourneObserver.com.au
Movies, DVDs With Jim Sherlock and Aaron Rourke
What’s Hot and What’s Not in Blu-Rays and DVDs
● Leonardo DiCaprio heads a stellar cast as the charismatic and enigmatic Jay Gatsby in Baz Luhrmann's extraordinary and haunting vision of F. Scott Fitzgerald's literary classic. FILM: THE GREAT GATSBY: Genre: Drama. Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan, Joel Edgerton. Year: 2013. Rating: MA15+. Running Time:143 Minutes. Format: BLU-RAY 3D, BLU-RAY, DVD. Stars: ****½ Verdict: The Great Gatsby is a vibrant and energetic experience. The structure, performances, period detail, production design and costumes combine to make this classic 1925 tale as good as it's ever going to get. This is a sweeping and haunting feast of sight and sound in every way. After three previous attempts, most notably in 1949 with Alan Ladd and 1974 with Robert Redford, this classic tale by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a cinematic achievement! It has taken 86 years, 21st Century technology, the vibrant and colourful vision of filmmaker Baz Luhrmann, aided with touches of inspirations of Hollywood's greats throughout the generations, and abundance of Australian talent to bring this worthy addition to a classic and timeless literary masterpiece! FILM: STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS: Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy/Action/Drama. Cast: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Benedict Cumberbatch, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg. Year: 2013. Rating: M. Running Time: 132 Minutes. Format: IN CINEMAS NOW. Stars: ***½ Verdict: The long running crew of the USS Enterprise are called back into action when an unstoppable force has attacked Starfleet and left Earth in chaos, so Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise are tasked with leading a manhunt to capture the party responsible and settle an old score. Star Trek fan or not, this is an impressive addition to the long running franchise and the science fiction genre. The infectious characters, solid performances and plenty of drama and humour, are surrounded by a rollercoaster ride of thrills and spectacular visual effects, all combining nicely to ensure an exciting out-of-this-world experience. FILM: THE CALL: Genre: Drama/Thriller. Cast: Halle Berry, Abigail Breslin, Evie Thompson. Year: 2013. Rating: MA15+. Running Time: 94 Minutes. Format: DVD and BLU-RAY. Stars: **½ Verdict: In "The Call" a veteran emergency phone operator takes a call from a teenage girl who has just been abducted and eventually realizes that she must confront a killer from her past in order to save the girl's life. This is a fairly predictable romp with plenty of clichés throughout, but not all is lost. Tight pacing and good strong performances from Halle Berry and Abigail Breslin make this a satisfying enough experience to keep you on the edge of your seat throughout. Reminiscent of 2004's "Cellular" with Kim Basinger and Jason Statham, and John Schlesinger's gripping 1996 thriller "Eye For An Eye" starring Sally Field. FILM: SNITCH: Genre: Drama/Action/Thriller. Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Susan Sarandon, Barry Pepper. Year: 2012. Rating: MA15+. Running Time: 112 Minutes. Format: DVD and BLU-RAY. Stars: *** Verdict: Straight forward thriller inspired by true events of a father who goes undercover for the in order to free his son who was imprisoned after being set up in drug deal. Big screen action man Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson gives a solid performance as the father determined to bring those responsible to justice. Strong supporting cast includes Susan Sarandon as the DA and Barry Pepper as his undercover aid. No doubt poetic licence Hollywood style has been injected, with a car chase or two, but that doesn't detract from the core of the story which is of every parent's nightmare of their child getting caught up in a deadly game.
TRIBUTE TO JOHN LANDIS
● John Landis ■ Director John Landis, who gave The Kentucky Fried Movie (R) us such iconic films as Animal House, (1977). ****. Landis teams up with the Zucker The Blues Brothers and An American Werewolf In London, is to receive a brothers (Flying High / The Naked retrospective at ACMI, and even Gun) for this hilarious collection of greater news is that Landis himself skits. Raunchy in its day, but unlike will be present to introduce some of many of today's Hollywood comedies, is never excessively crude. these enduring classics. The Stupids (PG) (1996). *. From his low-budget, good-natured Sorry Mr Landis, but apart from debut Schlock (1973) (***) to his most recent effort Burke And Hare (2010) the usual collection of director cameos, (***), Landis has helped shape the this is a complete misfire. Into The Night (M) (1985). ****. landscape of modern cinema, and has Landis again skilfully combines created some of moviedom's most facomedy with a darker, foreboding mous celluloid moments. Landis's love for classic cinema, thread in the story of office worker Jeff who is pulled into a world but utilising modern technology to tell Goldblum, of stolen diamonds and dangerous ashis cinematic tales makes him a fasci- sassins by the mysterious Michelle nating film-making hybrid (along with Pfeiffer. Landis is fun as one of three directors such as Joe Dante, Tobe bumbling Iranian killers who are chasHooper, Walter Hill, John Car- ing Pfeiffer. Will be followed by a Q penter and Brian De Palma), and & A. this tribute is well-deserved and long An American Werewolf In London overdue (for a brilliant look at his (MA) (1981). *****. quickfire sense of humour and vast Still the perfect blend of horror and movie knowledge, visit the terrific site comedy, this groundbreaking film still Movie Trailers From Hell). impresses today, with eye-popping, The retrospective will screen from Oscar-winning make-up effects by Friday October 11 to Wednesday Oc- Rick Baker. tober 16 (let's hope ACMI put up a Burke And Hare (M) (2010). ***. large 'See You Next Wednesday' poster Despite its grisly subject matter on the final day), and full details can (which has been filmed a number of be found on www.acmi.net.au, or you times), this is a sweet-natured film that can call ACMI on 8663 2583. is mildly amusing rather than laughHere are the films that will be out-loud funny. Andy Serkis (Lord Of screening - it's just a pity that Spies Like The Rings trilogy) however is wonderUs (1985) (****), The Blues Brothers ful. Animal House (M) (1978). *****. (1980) (*****), and the under-rated This is the grand-daddy of teen comfilms Oscar (1991) (***½) and Innocent Blood (1992) (****) aren't part of edies, a film that still influences Hollywood film-makers today (though the the program. Mr Warmth : The Don Rickles tone still eludes many of them). Despite its slovenly trappings, this is a Project (M) (2007). ****. A rare look behind-the-scenes at one thoroughly good-natured movie with a of America's most revered comedi- colourful, likeable cast of characters. Thriller (1983). With Introducans. Hilarious and insightful. Would tion and DVD signing. *****. love Landis to do a documentary on John Landis changed the world of Rickles's long-time friend and fellow music videos with this epic, elaborate comedian, Bob Newhart. Three Amigos (PG) (1986). ****. offering that almost overshadows Jackson's hit song. Steve Martin, Chevy Chase and Michael Trading Places (M) (1983). ****. Martin Short make a great comedy Smartly written about the team as silent film stars who get a taste haves and have-notscomedy doesn't seem all of reality when they are hired by fright- that out-of-place today. An exceptional ened villagers to fight a notorious cast includes Dan Aykroyd, Eddie Mexican gang. Landis even refer- Murphy, Jamie Lee Curtis and ences The Wild Bunch by casting Denholm Elliott. Alfonso Arau (who was in the Coming To America (M) (1988). Peckinpah classic) as the leader of **. the gang. Will be followed by a Q & A. Handsomely produced comedy has Slasher (M) (2004). ***. its moments, but seemed to emulate the Alternately humourous and uncom- ballooning ego of its star Eddie fortable, this is a revealing look at the Murphy, and lacks the genuine fun morally vacant world of the used car and comic smarts of Trading Places industry, and makes an interesting com- (though there is a nice reference to the panion piece to Robert Zemeckis's 1983 hit). Has a strong following, but achingly funny 1980 comedy Used Cars it left me a little cold. (1980) (****½). - Aaron Rourke
Top 10 Lists THE AUSTRALIAN BOX OFFICE TOP TEN: 1. THE SMURFS 2. 2. RIDDICK. 3. WHITE HOUSE DOWN. 4. BLUE JASMINE. 5. NOW YOU SEE ME. 6. WE'RE THE MILLERS. 7. ELYSIUM. 8. RED 2. 9. R.I.P.D.. 10. THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS: THE CITY OF BONES. NEW RELEASES AND COMING SOON TO CINEMAS AROUND AUSTRALIA: SEPTEMBER 19: A HIJACKING, I'M SO EXCITED, ONE DIRECTION: THIS IS US, PERCY JACKSON: THE SEA OF MONSTERS, PLANES, TURBO. SEPTEMBER 26: GROWN UPS 2, LOVELACE, REEL ANIME, RUNNER RUNNER, STORIES WE TELL, TIM WINTON'S THE TURNING. THE DVD TOP RENTAL & SELLERS: 1. STAR TREK: INTO DARKNESS [Sci-Fi/Action/Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto]. 2. IRON MAN 3 [Science Fiction/ Action/Robert Downey Jr, Ben Kingsley]. 3. THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES [Drama/Bradley Cooper, Ryan Gosling]. 4. OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN [Action/ Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman, Aaron Eckhart]. 5. SNITCH [Action/Thriller/Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Barry Pepper]. 6. OBLIVION [Science Fiction/Action/Tom Cruise, Morgan Freeman]. 7. TRANCE [Thriller/Drama/Crime/ James McAvoy, Vincent Cassel, Rosario Dawson]. 8. WARM BODIES [Comedy/Horror/ Nicholas Hoult, Teresa Palmer]. 9. KON-TIKI [Adventure/Drama/Pal Sverre Hagen, Anders Baasmo Christianen]. 10. G.I. JOE: RETALIATION [Action/ Dwayne Johnson, Bruce Willis]. Also: THE CALL, THE COMPANY YOU KEEP, BULLET TO THE HEAD, PASSION, RETURN TO NIM'S ISLAND, THE ICEMAN, A GOOD DAY TO DIE HARD, ZERO DARK THIRTY, RUST & BONE, THE HOST. NEW RELEASE HIGHLIGHTS ON DVD THIS WEEK: THE GREAT GATSBY [Drama/ Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan]. TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (2013) [Horror/Scott Eastwood, Trey Songz]. CHASING MAVERICKS [Adventure/ Drama/Gerard Butler, Elisabeth Shue]. RED LIGHTS [Action/Thriller/Robert De Niro, Sigourney Weaver]. NEW & RE-RELEASE CLASSICS ON DVD HIGHLIGHTS: BOND 50: The Complete James Bond Collection (Re-Release). NEW RELEASE TELEVISION, DOCUMENTARY AND MUSIC DVD HIGHLIGHTS: RIPPER STREET. HANNIBAL: Season One. THE WALKING DEAD: Season 3. SUPERNATURAL: Season Eight. REVOLUTION: Season One. HAWAII FIVE-O: Season Three. BRYAN FERRY: Live in Lyon. THE TOWN. Turn To Page 115