BEN AND JERRY’S OPENAIR CINEMA If you took all of the ingredients for a perfect summer and mixed them up into one big event, you’d end up with Ben and Jerry’s Openair Cinema. This summer, Ben and Jerry’s will bring Sydneysiders movies, ice cream, live music and a bar, all from the ultimate beach destination, Bondi Beach. The film line-up is a mix of new releases like The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, and classics like Dirty Dancing and Grease. Every Sunday, up-and-coming local musicians will play
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Evil Lord Kira (Tadanobu Asano) wants to take over the provinces of feudal Japan, and he’ll do it dressed like a Power Rangers villain, while a shapeshifting witch (Rinko Kikuchi) does his bidding. Kai (Keanu Reeves) is an orphaned half-demon man in love with his ruler’s daughter Mika (Ko Shibasaki). A series of events triggers his ruler’s suicide and the local Samurai being banished as the everdisgraced Ronin.
before screenings as part of the Sundae Sessions. There’ll also be free scoops of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream, Putt Putt and Giant Cow Jenga on the lawn. The Sundae Sessions Charity Night on February 2 will feature indie forest-rockers Jinja Safari playing before a screening of Anchorman 2. Another event sure to go down well in Bondi is The Big Blue, a surf film double bill on February 19. Featuring Missing, starring champion surfer Mick Fanning, and Uncharted Waters, a documentary about 1960s surfing icon Wayne Lynch. “We can’t wait to bring the event back to its home in Bondi,” says Sarah Steel, marketing manager for Ben and Jerry’s Openair Cinema. “Openair Cinemas started in Bondi as a small local event and is now in its tenth year, it’s grown to tour six cities across Australia. This summer’s Sydney Season is a bigger and better event than ever before.” Steel suggests getting tickets early, as many of the nights are either selling fast or already sold out. (AS) Jan 23-Mar 2, Dolphin Lawn, Bondi Beach, $13-55, openaircinemas.com.au
THE GREAT BEAUTY In a style comparable to Aussie director Baz Luhrmann, this new Italian film by director Paolo Sorrentino is aesthetically pleasing. Ageing socialite and washed-up writer Jep Gambardella (Toni Servillo) throws extravagant parties for Rome’s high society, on his rooftop terrace overlooking the Colosseum. Flashbacks to his youth and his first love follow, as a
somewhat cynical Jep, searches for meaning in his life. This film is almost like a meditation on beauty, playing more as a series of vignettes. Each scene is a sensory overload with rich visual imagery and colourful costumes. Upbeat dance music juxtaposed against classical music helps to carry the story along. (VP) WWWW
Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio pair up again for The Wolf of Wall Street. Based on the memoirs of Jordan Belfort, who made millions selling fraudulent, inflated stocks; it follows Belfort’s rise and fall as he ‘conquers’ Wall Street. Viewers are rushed through this whirlwind tale as Belfort and his band of brothers spend their money on prostitutes, drugs, fast cars and more
Eventually the Ronin reunite to avenge their master’s death and rescue his daughter from Kira’s clutches. Keanu Reeves helps. This film boasts beautifully realised landscapes, incredible set pieces and inspired art direction with surprisingly strong performances from most of the cast. Arguably this film would benefit from its Japanese cast speaking in their native tongue, but Hollywood tells us we can’t handle listening to another culture. (TW) WWW
drugs. As he earns more money and continues to become more extravagant, you start to wonder if this guy is ever going to learn anything. This is an unbelievably funny film, particularly scenes with DiCaprio and Jonah Hill. Australia’s own Margot Robbie proves that you can completely move on from a Neighbours career. (ATS) WWWW
JACK RYAN: SHADOW RECRUIT Directed by Kenneth Branagh, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit is based on the famous character created by author Tom Clancy. Jack Ryan (Chris Pine) attempts to halt a plot to collapse the U.S. economy by a Russian terrorist (Kenneth Branagh). Performances by Kevin Costner as William Harper, the ally and father figure, and Branagh as the Russian villain are ‘okay’ and carry a film with an unoriginal and predictable THE RAILWAY MAN Depicting the life of the famous Thai ‘Death Railway’ survivor Eric Lomax, his tale is woven with stunning Edinburgh scenery and a musical score to match. Colin Firth, who plays Lomax, does an incredible job of convincing the audience of the turmoil the prisoners of war faced upon returning from their living hell. Nicole Kidman delivers the necessary support and strength needed from a wife of a returning soldier. Together, the cast and crew have produced an incredibly raw film about the code of silence culture and what it means to live with those demons. (TO) WWWW
AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY is a dark comedy/drama boasting a stellar cast. Meryl Streep plays dysfunctional Violet Weston, a lady diagnosed with mouth cancer. When her alcoholic husband Beverly (Sam Shephard) suicides, the family reunites, becoming the catalyst to a family meltdown after years of unresolved issues resurface. Family conflicts are infinite with entangling sub-plots and temperaments igniting, providing laughter as the screaming, swearing and fighting escalate. The story moves slowly, obviously written for the stage and resounding themes are the importance of family values and honour. (MM) WWW½
SAVING MR BANKS Inspired by true events, Saving Mr Banks is the extraordinary behind-thescenes story of the tribulations Walt Disney (Tom Hanks) and his staff endured whilst attempting to convince relentless authoress P.L. Travers (Emma Thompson) to sign over the rights to her novel Mary Poppins. All facets of this majestic production are outstanding, especially the editing, as audiences are skillfully transported into Travers’ childhood. Performances are faultless and Thompson’s poignant scenes will reduce the more sensitive viewers to tears.
plot. Keira Knightley as the token girlfriend has a laughable American accent, which is distracting. The 106-minute film looks sleek with beautiful views of Moscow and New York but still has some very predictable cinematography. Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit fits neatly into the action/spy thriller genre, but is lacking in imagination. Not one of the best Clancy adaptations. (LK) WWW Mesmerising and insightful, Saving Mr Banks is a remarkable cinematic achievement. (MM) WWWW HER Those who despair American cinema has forgotten how to write and tell stories about real human beings will be heartened. Theodore Twombly (Joaquin Phoenix), in-touch with his feminine side, makes a living writing letters of a personal nature. After a long relationship ends he finds solace in an operating system that is intuitive and has a developing personality. The film explores our neediness and vulnerabilities and asks what is ‘human’ after all? (MMu)
THE WOLF OF WALL STREET PHILOMENA Judi Dench is incredibly moving as Philomena, a lady in her 70s who travels to America with journalist Martin Sixsmith (Steve Coogan) in search of a son she hasn’t seen in 50 years. Inspired by true events, the story unfolds through effective flashbacks to the 1950s, an era when Irish-Catholic communities had zero tolerance for ‘shamed’ young girls who fell pregnant out of wedlock. The perfect balance of light humour and sensitivity delivers an inspiring and triumphant film. (MM) WWWW½
THE HOBBIT:THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG follows Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) as he accompanies the dwarves on an adventurous journey to reclaim their home from the terrifying dragon Smaug (Benedict Cumberbatch). CGI effects and camera work often make the action sequences feel like being part of a large-scale video game and filming with a faster frame rate diminishes the seamless integration of the special effects. As always Howard Shore’s score is spot on and the sets are magnificent. Packed with outstanding casting and grand visuals, The Desolation of Smaug is still the feast that fans of both Jackson and Tolkien have come to expect. (LL) WWW½ 21