Page 48 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Observer Showbiz What’s Hot and What’s Not in Blu-Rays and DVDs
● Mark Wahlberg and Ted, the world's most politically incorrect teddy bear, are back with more laughs and plenty to offend in Ted 2. FILM: TED 2: Genre: Comedy. Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Amanda Seyfried, Seth McFarlane, Morgan Freeman. Details: 2015. Rating: MA15+ Length: 115 Minutes. Stars: *** Verdict: The world's most foul-mouthed bear, Ted, is back in this sequel to the 2012 hit, and this time newlywed couple Ted and Tami-Lynn are having problems and they decide they want to have a baby, so options such as adoption and artificial insemination are put into play, but in order to qualify to be a parent, Ted has to prove he's a person in a court of law. Created, co-written and directed by Seth MacFarlane (TV's The Family Guy), again, little, if any, topic or word is sacred. Like its predecessor, 'Ted 2' may seem a predictable one joke affair, but for the most part, it is genuinely funny, even surprisingly poignant, even though at times it can be quite cringe-worthy. In a world of political correctness gone mad, and when it works, there's something refreshingly infectious in its moments of its insanely crazy formula, or just maybe that it draws us back to the days of our own childhood. Definitely NOT for the kiddies! FILM: MADAME BOVARY: Genre: Drama. Cast: Mia Wasikowska, Ezra Miller, Paul Giamatti, Details: 2014. Rating: M. Length: 118 Minutes. Stars: **½ Verdict: Classic tale of Emma Bovery, the beautiful wife of a small-town doctor who engages in adulterous affairs in an attempt to advance her social status and escape the banalities and emptiness of provincial life. Filmed numerous times over the decades, most notably in 1949 by the Oscar nominated MGM film starring Jennifer Jones, James Mason and directed by Vincente Minnelli, this is a surprisingly emotionless and ineffective adaptation. Nonetheless, not all is lost, it is handsomely presented with outstanding production design and superb period detail, and with some good solid performances, most notably Australian born actress Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland, Stoker). However, director Sophie Barthes delivers a disappointingly uneven and disengaged effort with little to grasp, an empty and unfulfilled realization that would be better suited to the small screen than large. FILM: Genre: Cast:
FOUL PLAY: Mystery/Comedy/Thriller. Goldie Hawn, Chevy Chase, Dudley Moore, Burgess Meredith, Rachel Roberts. Details: 1978. Rating: PG. Length: 116 Minutes. Stars: **** Verdict: Delightful Hitchcockian mystery-comedy-romp of a shy San Francisco librarian and a bumbling cop who fall in love as they try to avoid being murdered and solve a crime involving albinos, dwarves, assassination and the Catholic Church. Sparkling and brisk screenplay and direction by Colin Higgins (W: Harold & Maude, Silver Streak/W-D: Nine to Five, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas) with Hawn and Chase right at the top of their game, and the results are a riotous delight. However, the real scene stealer here is comic great Dudley Moore in a slide-splitting laugh-out-loud performance as the sex crazed Stanley Tibbets, which introduced him to U.S. audiences and led him to his starring roles in "10" and "Arthur." Parodying a number of his films, the legendary Alfred Hitchcock was intending to sue the studio, until he saw the film, during which he was reportedly uncontrollable with laughter, and subsequently dropped his thoughts of suing. Great fun!
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Movies, DVDs With Jim Sherlock and Aaron Rourke
Downhill Racer
● Robert Redford and Gene Hackman in the under-rated sports drama Downhill Racer. ■ (PG) (1969). 97 minutes. Now who we see grow from a newborn to available on DVD. the age of 11. With an outlook on competitive Under the careful guidance of her sport that sadly remains contempo- parents (voiced by Kyle MacLachlan rary, Downhill Racer convincingly and Diane Lane), Riley has been portrays a world where being number blessed with a loving, stable environone is everything, and fame and for- ment, encouraged and supported in a tune over-rides the love for that par- way that has made her a likeable, conticular sporting arena. fident child. The story centres on Dave Inside Riley's mind, we see how Chappellet (Robert Redford), a she has developed via five main charyoung hot-shot skiier who is obsessed acters - Joy (Amy Poehler), Sadness about being the best-of-the-best, even (Phyllis Smith),Anger (Lewis Black), at the expense of family and friends. Fear (Bill Hader) and Disgust (Mindy Chappellet is a late inclusion in the Kaling). USA team competing at the Austria These emotions do their best to World Skiing Championships, an help Riley react appropriately to varievent which is regarded by many as a ous situations, creating healthy, happy dress rehearsal for the Winter Olym- memories that in turn mould Riley into pics. a well-adjusted person. The abrasive newcomer's unAll this begins to change when the doubted ability quickly attracts the at- family move, with Riley having to sudtention of head coach Claire (Gene denly deal with a new home home, Hackman), as well as the local me- school, and many unfamiliar faces, dia, and despite Chappellet's reckless and being torn from the world she behaviour and ruthless treatment of knew fractures her emotional state of those around him, Claire wants his mind. team to achieve the fastest time, no This will send Riley and her matter what the cost. empathetic overseers on a journey that James Salter's screenplay is eerily will affect everyone. prophetic, detailing a training environInside Out is both cleverly strucment that allows and even promotes tured and intelligently written. personal ego over teamwork, where Combining the set-up of Pixar's sporting identities can get away with original hit Toy Story, where a group murder if it means on-field and finan- of unseen characters help the wellcial success. being of a young child, and the shortThe growing involvement of prod- lived 1990's TV series Herman's uct placement and corporate funding Head, co-writer/director Pete Docter is also effectively handled. (Monsters Inc. / Up) skilfully fashDirector Michael Ritchie (Prime ions a film that is involving for viewCut / The Candidate / Smile / Fletch) ers both young and old, treating each keeps the drama believable, but he age group with respect. also brilliantly stages the skiing seThere is a level of maturity here quences themselves, using multiple not normally seen in Hollywood ani16mm cameras to capture every ex- mation, and in fact this could be citing, exhausting moment on the favourably compared to the more slopes. complex creations from Japan, which Redford is excellent in an atypi- don't shy away from adult themes and cally anti-hero role, and is matched three-dimensional characterisations. by the ever-reliable Hackman, who The voice casting is perfect, with is superb as the pushy, hypocritical Poehler (Parks And Recreation TV coach. series / Baby Mama), Smith (The OfAlso in the cast is under-rated ac- fice USA TV series), Black (The Daily tor Dabney Coleman (Slender Thread Show), and Richard Kind (as Riley's / 9 to 5 / War Games). Downhill Racer imaginary friend Bing Bong) all eshas been somewhat ignored over the pecially standing out. years, but it deserves to be better Moving without falling into sentiknown and appreciated as a worthy ment, funny without becoming flipsports movie, one that uncovers the pant, Inside Out is an absolute treat. rather nasty and hollow side of modBeautifully designed and dramatiern athletics that has unfortunately cally satisfying, this is Pixar's best become commonplace. outing since the wonderful Up (2009). RATING - ****. This release contains the equally affecting Lava, a short animated film from Pixar that deals with loneliness, love, and the deep longing of wanting ■ (PG). 91 minutes. Now available to be needed. on DVD, Blu-Ray, and 3D Blu-Ray. This makes for a lovely, thematiAfter a series of stumbles that saw cally-linked precursor to the winning their reputation somewhat tainted main event. (Cars, Cars 2, Monsters University, RATING - ****. Brave), Pixar return to form with In- Aaron Rourke side Out, a heartwarming family film DVDs and Blu-Rays kindly that is filled with the kind of invensupplied by Video Vision, 177-179 tiveness and writing smarts that saw Carlisle Street, Balaclava. For the studio rise to the top in the late information or bookings on these 1990s. titles please call 9531 2544, or check The story revolves around Riley, online at videovisiondvd.com.au
Inside Out
Top 10 Lists THE AUSTRALIAN BOX OFFICE TOP TEN: 1. THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY PART 2. 2. SPECTRE. 3. THE DRESSMAKER. 4. SECRET IN THEIR EYES. 5. THE MARTIAN. 6. BRIDGE OF SPIES. 7. OUR TIMES. 8. THE LAST WITCH HUNTER. 9. PREM RATAN DHAN PAYO. 10. A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME WITH ANTONY. NEW RELEASES AND COMING SOON TO CINEMAS AROUND AUSTRALIA: NOVEMBER 26: BY THE SEA, CREED, HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2, LOVE THE COOPERS, THE PROGRAM. DECEMBER 3: END OF THE TOUR, IN THE HEART OF THE SEA, PHOENIX, THE NIGHT BEFORE, TRUTH. THE DVD AND BLU-RAY TOP RENTALS & SALES: 1. TED 2 [Comedy/Mark Walhberg/Amanda Seyfried, Morgan Freeman, Seth MacFarlane]. 2. TRAINWRECK [Comedy/Romance/Amy Schumer, Bill Hader, Brie Larson]. 3. INSIDE OUT [Animated/Adventure/Diane Lane, Bill Hader]. 4. JURASSIC WORLD [Action/Adventure/Sci-Fi/Chris Pratt, Bryce DallasHoward]. 5. MADAME BOVARY [Drama/ Mia Wasikowska/Paul Giamatti/ Ezra Miller]. 6. THE HOBBIT: TRILOGY Extended Edition. 7. SAN ANDREAS [Action/ Dwayne Johnson, Paul Giamatti]. 8. LOVE & MERCY [Music/Drama/ John Cusack, Paul Dano, Paul Giamatti]. 9. SELF/LESS [Thriller/Matthew Goode, Ben Kingsley]. 10. FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD [2015/Carey Mulligan, Michael Sheen]. Also: MAGIC MIKE XXL, SPY, TERMINATOR GENISYS, MAD MAX: FURY ROAD, THE AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON, POLTERGEIST, WOMAN IN GOLD, FAST & FURIOUS 7, DANNY COLLINS, TOMORROWLAND. NEW RELEASE HIGHLIGHTS ON DVD THIS WEEK: RICKI AND THE FLASH [Comedy/ Drama/Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline]. ANT-MAN [Action/Fantasy/Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Evangeline Lily]. MAX [Adventure/Drama/Josh Wiggins, Thomas Heden Church, Luke Kleintank]. PAPER TOWNS [Drama/Cara Delevingne, Austin Abrams, Nat Wolff]. MOMENTUM [Action/Drama/Morgan Freeman, Olga Kurylenko]. NEW RELEASE HIGHLIGHTS ON BLURAY THIS WEEK: RICKI AND THE FLASH [Comedy/ Drama/Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline]. ANT-MAN [Action/Fantasy/Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Evangeline Lily]. ANT-MAN 3D [Action/Fantasy/ Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Evangeline Lily]. MAX [Adventure/Drama/Josh Wiggins, Thomas Heden Church, Luke Kleintank]. Turn To Page 55