Page 32 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Observer Showbiz What’s Hot and What’s Not in Blu-Rays and DVDs
● Legendary Point Blank, Deliverance and Excalibur filmmaker John Boorman returns with his long-awaited follow-up to his autobiographical classic Hope & Glory with Queen & Country. FILM: QUEEN & COUNTRY: Genre: Drama/Comedy/Romance. Cast: Callum Turner, David Thewlis, Richard E. Grant, Tamsin Egerton. Year: 2014. Rating: M. Length: 114 Minutes. Stars: ***½ Verdict: Engaging sequel to director John Boorman's multi Oscar nominated autobiographical "Hope and Glory" (1987), picks up the story nearly a decade later as Bill (Boorman's alter-ego) is drafted in the early 1950s and begins basic training as the Korean War heats up. He is joined by a trouble-making army mate, and even though they never get to Korea, they engage in a constant battle of wits with their superiors and search for romance. This is an enjoyable journey during a part of the life of one of cinemas most revered, uniquely original and gifted filmmakers. The direction by John Boorman, production design, costume design, period detail and performances, most notably Richard E. Grant and David Thewlis as the army superiors, are all in top form. Brimming with humour and pathos, this a "breath of fresh air," a delightfully infectious film made on a small budget but with a big heart at its core, and an ending that will jolt film buffs in a way that only the legendary John Boorman can deliver. FILM: THE HUNGER GAMES - MOCKINGJAY - PART 2: Genre: Action/Sci-Fi/Thriller. Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Donald Sutherland, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Julianne Moore. Year: 2015. Rating: M. Length: 137 Minutes. Stars: ** Verdict: Following "The Hunger Games (20120, the sleep inducing "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013) and the woefully catatonic "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1" (2014), our heroine and leader of the rebellion Katniss (Catnip) Everdeen returns in this final instalment, and as the war of escalates to the destruction of other districts by the Capitol, the reluctant leader of the rebellion, must bring together an army against the evil President Snow (Donald Sutherland). Though a cut above the bum numbing previous effort, the epic look, surprisingly impressive special effects, pyrotechnics and action, which all come in short bursts, can't save this (thankfully) final chapter that suffers from poor pacing, banal dialogue and wooden performances. Having said that, this is the best the series has to offer, and that's saying something. The great cast may look good and shine on the screen, but they cannot save its all too many short comings, another one that promises too much and delivers too little, the most interest coming from when you start thinking about your Christmas shopping list and root canal work. FILM: SOME CAME RUNNING: Genre: Drama. Cast: Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Shirley MacLaine, Arthur Kennedy. Year: 1958. Rating: M. Length: 137 Minutes. Stars: **** Verdict: After a string of hit musicals including "Gigi," "An American in Paris," "Meet Me in St. Louis" and the acclaimed drama "The Bad and the Beautiful," Vincente Minnelli returned to drama with this searing and dark American tragedy of a troubled Army veteran and blocked author who returns to his Midwestern hometown after 16 years, to the discontent of his wealthy brother and others. Hugely underrated and under-seen complex character driven "Douglas Sirk-esque" (Imitation of Life) study grips like a vice as doesn't let go. Sinatra dominates the screen with firm psychological uncertainty and tightly wound intensity, but it is brilliantly touching and ultimately tragic Shirley MacLaine, and Dean Martin with unflinching grace and mean hard-edged menace that punches a whole right through the screen with performances that would establish their dramatic careers greatly. Based on the novel by James Jones (From Here To Eternity), superbly handled my director Vincente Minnelli, outstanding music score by Elmer Bernstein and breathtaking cinematography by William H. Daniels, all combine to make this a totally gripping and unforgettable experience!
Movies, DVDs
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With Jim Sherlock and Aaron Rourke
Still Alice ■ (M). 101 minutes. Available Now on DVD and Blu-Ray. With author Lisa Genova having recently visited our shores for the Perth Writers Festival (as well as being interviewed for the ABC series One On One), it is the perfect time to revisit one of the best films that came our way during 2015. Anchored by an extraordinary, Academy Award-winning performance from Julianne Moore, Still Alice is a delicately-handled, ultimately moving drama that rises above the disease-of-the-week TV movie formula. Moore plays Alice Howland, a renowned linguistics professor and celebrated author who is at the peak of her career. Married to John (Alec Baldwin), a lauded medical researcher, and with three grown children - Anna (Kate Bosworth), Tom (Hunter Parrish), and Lydia (Kristen Stewart) - everything seems to going perfectly for Alice. Small lapses in memory start to affect Alice, both at work and at home. When these incidents start to increase, a visit to a medical professional reveals that she is suffering the first stages of early on-set Alzheimer's, news that sends shockwaves through her family and work colleagues. Working from the novel by Genova writer/directors Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland keep proceedings natural and believable, never allowing the story to descend into cheap, manipulative melodrama. The reactions from all the family members ring true, showing how hard it is to deal with this particular disease, where someone close will eventually forget who her loved ones are. As stated, Julianne Moore (Maps To The Stars/ Short Cuts / The Big Lebowski / Freeheld) is exceptional as Alice, displaying a strength and intelligence that is being slowly eaten away by this insidious disease. Moore, Glatzer and Westmoreland keep Alice a real human creation throughout, making her physical and mental decline harder to watch. Moore is backed up by a strong supporting cast, with Baldwin, Bosworth, Shane McRaeand Stephen Kunken all delivering convincing performances. Even Kristen Stewartis unexpectedly effective. Still Alice could have easily been another forgettable drama dealing with a certain affliction, but due to fine work on both sides of the camera, what we have instead is an emotionally involving experience that will touch the hearts of everyone who has had to deal with Alzheimer's one way or another. RATING - ****
American Sniper (MA). 132 minutes. Available Now on DVD and Blu-Ray. It has been a quiet 12 months for Clint Eastwood, so it was great to rewatch his potent 2014 effort American Sniper, which became the most successful film of this iconic star's long and distinguished career. Based on a true story (though some of the facts have been changed
● Alice (Julianne Moore) and daughter Lydia (Kristen Stewart) enjoy a tender moment in the powerful drama Still Alice. or dropped), the film centres on Chris Kyle (Bradley Cooper), a young, aimless Texan who would go to become an elite SEAL member in the US military. Over numerous tours in Iraq, Kyle would attain the highest amount of confirmed kills as a sniper. As the dark shadow of war begins to take hold of Kyle, we see the ripple effect it has on his family, especially his wife Taya (Sienna Miller). Jason Hall's screenplay, based on Kyle's book, initially concentrates on what makes a person want to join the army, but then slowly switches paths to how war changes a person, and how it can distort their outlook on life and disconnect them from the people they love. Hall is respectful towards soldiers and the sacrifices they make, but wants to give some kind of insight into how intense, bloody, and sustained combat can damage a human being, and how hard it can be to return from the heart of darkness. The madness of war is also convincingly shown, as the prolonged conflict in Iraq now seems like a civil war between Allied soldiers and extremist militants, while the toll on civilians who get in the line of fire is both despairing and tragic. Under the guidance of Clint Eastwood, every aspect comes to three-dimensional life, as he wants Kyle's home life and war encounters to be explored equally. After heavy-handed, one-note war films like Fury and Lone Survivor, who want to present soldiers as nothing more than superheroes who remain ultra-tough and cool no matter what obstacle is thrown in front of them, it is refreshing to see a seriousminded movie that is prepared to delve deeper into a soldier's psyche, and that cruelty, violence, and death has genuine weight and consequence on their mind and soul. Production values are of the highest order, with first-rate work from cinematographer Tom Stern and editors Joel Cox and Gary D Roach, both Eastwood regulars. Like Matthew McConaughey, Bradley Cooper has been a revelation in recent years, proving his worth as a real screen presence in films such as The Silver Linings Playbook, American Hustle, The Place Beyond The Pines and Joy. This cemented Cooper's credibility as a dramatic actor, much in the same way Born On The Fourth Of July did for Tom Cruise back in 1989. The whole cast however is wonderful. American Sniper is another sterling effort from a seasoned filmmaker who is still delivering work that provokes and challenges, making audiences think about and discuss the action that is happening on screen. RATING - **** - Aaron Rourke.
Top 10 Lists THE AUSTRALIAN BOX OFFICE TOP TEN: 1. THE LADY IN THE VAN. 2. DEADPOOL. 3. GRIMSBY. 4. 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE. 5. HOW TO BE SINGLE. 6. ZOOTOPIA. 7. LOVE PUNJAB. 8. HAIL, CAESAR! 9. SPOTLIGHT. 10. BROOKLYN. NEW RELEASES AND COMING SOON TO CINEMAS AROUND AUSTRALIA: MARCH 17: LONDON HAS FALLEN, MIRACLES FROM HEAVEN, THE DAUGHTER, THE WITCH, ZOOTOPIA. MARCH 24: A BIGGER SPLASH, AMBARSARIYA , BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE, EYE IN THE SKY, KUNG FU PANDA 3, MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING 2, OUR LAST TANGO. THE DVD AND BLU-RAY TOP RENTALS & SALES: 1. SPECTRE [Action/Thriller/Daniel Craig, Monica Bellucci, Christoph Waltz, Lea Seydoux]. 2. BRIDGE OF SPIES [Drama/ Thriller/Tom Hanks, Mark Rylance, Alan Alda]. 3. MAN UP [Comedy/Romance/ Simon Pegg, Olivia Williams]. 4. THE DRESSMAKER [Drama/ Comedy/Kate Winslet, Judy Davis, Liam Hemsworth]. 5. THE MARTIAN [Sci-Fi/Adventure/Drama/Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain]. 6. NO ESCAPE [Action/Thriller/ Owen Wilson, Pierce Brosnan, Lake Bell]. 7. HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2 [Animated/Comedy/Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Mel Brooks]. 8. BLACK MASS [Thriller/Drama/ Johnny Depp, Joel Edgerton, Benedict Cumberbatch]. 9. THE WALK [Drama/Adventure/ Joseph Gordon-Levitt]. 10. PARANORMAL ACTIVITY: THE GHOST DIMENSION [Horror]. Also: MISS YOU ALREADY, BURNT, CRIMSON PEAK, LEGEND, SICARIO, THE INTERN, THE LAST WITCH HUNTER, GRANDMA, THE NIGHT BEFORE, QUEEN AND COUNTRY. NEW RELEASE HIGHLIGHTS ON DVD THIS WEEK: THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY - Part 2 [Action/ Jennifer Lawrence]. KNIGHT OF CUPS [Drama/Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Natalie Portman]. SECRET IN THEIR EYES [Thriller/ Chiwetel Ejiofor, Nicole Kidman, Julia Roberts]. HE NAMED ME MALALA [Feature Documentary/Malala Yousafzai]. ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING [Comedy/ Kate Beckinsale, Simon Pegg]. THE PROGRAM [Drama/Ben Foster, Dustin Hoffman, Chris O'Dowd]. END OF THE TOUR [Drama/Jesse Eisenberg, Jason Segel, Anna Chlumsky]. NEW RELEASE HIGHLIGHTS ON BLURAY THIS WEEK: THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY - Part 2 [Action/ Jennifer Lawrence]. Turn To Page 37