Page 34 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, September 13, 2017
Observer Showbiz
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Movies, DVDs with Jim Sherlock, Aaron Rourke What’s Hot and What’s Not in Blu-Rays and DVDs FILM: BECOMING BOND: Genre: Biography/Comedy/Drama. Cast: George Lazenby, Josh Lawson, Kassandra Clementi. Year: 2017. Rating: M. Length: 92 Minutes. Stars: *** Verdict: The story of George Lazenby, the Australian car mechanic who, through an unbelievable set of circumstances, replaced the legendary Sean Connery by landing the role of James Bond 007 in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" (1969), despite having never acted a day in his life, then after being offered the next seven Bond films and a $1 million signing bonus, he turned it all down. Hugely engaging and entertaining biographical-comedy-docu-drama has George Lazenby telling the story in his own words, and tongue firmly in his cheek. Funny, raunchy, sad, involving and even poignant, you can't help but be charmed by Lazenby's charismatic presence and captivating story-telling ability, all aided by a wealth of news and interview footage, re-enacted sequences and behind-the-scenes material. But at the end of it all, one is still left to wonder "Why?" and "What IF?." FILM: PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN - DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES: Genre: Action/Adventure/Fantasy. Cast: Johnny Depp, Javier Bardem, Geoffrey Rush, David Wenham, Keira Knightley, Orlando Bloom, Paul McCartney (as Uncle Jack). Year: 2017. Rating: M. Length: 129 Minutes. Stars: *** Verdict: This fifth outing for Captain Jack Sparrow finds the winds of ill-fortune blowing even more strongly when deadly ghost pirates led by his old nemesis, Captain Salazar, escape from the Devil's Triangle, and determined to kill every pirate at sea...including him, and Captain Jack's only hope of survival lies in seeking out the legendary Trident of Poseidon, a powerful artefact that gives the power of total control over the seas. Directed this time by Norwegian due Joachim Ronning and Espen Sandberg, who gave us the superb 2012 film "Kon-Tiki," everything about this swashbuckling saga is BIG, big sets, production design, big cast, eye-popping action, jaw-dropping CGI special effects, and plenty of pyrotechnics, it's all there, and then sum, as Jack Sparrow staggers and swaggers his way around the Caribbean defying all the odds. This outrageously outlandish epic is something Cecil B. De Mille or Errol Flynn would be doing if they were alive and well today. Typical of Johnny Depp's character and charisma he gives his usual Jack Sparrow performance with Marlon Brando style verbal mumbo-jumbo, and the remaining cast, most notably Javier Bardem as Captain Salazar and Geoffrey Rush as Captain Hector Barbossa, are all having fun. Not without its flaws, it's not the cinematic equivalent of Picaso or Rembrant, but whatever caught the imagination in the previous four adventures remains pretty much in-tact here.You don't need to be a rocket scientist to find something to enjoy in this illogical and loud swashbuckling roller-coaster ride, a recipe that Hollywood has been doing for around 100 years, and will no doubt continue to do so. FILM: THE MUMMY - 2D + 3D: Genre: Action/Adventure/Fantasy. Cast: Tom Cruise, Russell Crowe (Dr. Henry Jekyll), Sofia Boutella (Ahmanet). Year: 2017. Rating: M. Length: 110 Minutes. Stars: **½ Verdict: A former U.S. Military officer, or Soldier of Fortune, (Tom Cruise) unintentionally unearths the tomb of Princess Ahmanet, and becomes haunted and possessed after she puts a curse on him, enter Dr. Henry Jekyll (Russell Crowe), as she unleashes all sorts of terror and destruction that defy human comprehension. The first instalment in the (Unversal) Dark Universe film series, this is not a good start for this reboot of "The Mummy" franchise, an unengaging, dull and tiresome seen it all too many times before in other forms: it's Mission Impossible meets Raiders of the Lost Ark, meets An American Werewolf in London, meets The Walking Dead, meets The Evil Dead ... all classics for a reason.It's all there, the globetrotting locations, the Mission Impossible style action, falling buildings, massive CGI effects, but through it all remains flat and unexciting, doesn't do what horror should do, be scary. At least the Brendan Fraser "Mummy" trilogy with: The Mummy (1999), The Mummy Returns (2001), The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008), was a fun experience, where this new "Tom Cruise" formulaic nuts and bolts effort fails. Even the classic Abbott & Costello Meet The Mummy (1955) was far more scary and ultimately entertaining! If you haven't experienced the catch the original The Mummy (1932) starring Boris Karloff, and Hammer's The Mummy (1959) with Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee. - James Sherlock
Rourke’s Reviews: Handmaiden ■ (R). 144/167 minutes. Coming soon to Blu-Ray and DVD. After making his Hollywood debut in 2013 with the stylishly disturbing Stoker, director Park Chanwook (Old Boy, Thirst) returns to his roots with The Handmaiden, and his many fans will see that he has lost none of his ability to capture the dark, macabre side of human nature. Set in the 1930s, when Korea was under Japanese occupation, the story centres on Sook-hee (Kim Tae-ri, making her feature film debut), a talented pickpocket who works with her family, all experienced con-artists themselves. When a local swindler (Ha Jung-woo) offers a proposal that could prove incredibly lucrative, Sook-hee sees this as a chance to live a more luxurious life. The plan will involve her becoming the handmaiden to Japanese heiress Lady Hideko (Kim Min-hee), and slowly influencing the timid woman to accept the advances of the swindler, who will be posing as a Japanese Count. Once the two elope, the duo will steal Hideko's fortune, but as the scheme begins to play out, complications start to arise. Based on the acclaimed 2002 novel by Sarah Waters (which was also turned into a 2005 BBC miniseries), this certainly follows the basic outline of the source material, but screenwriters Chung Seokyung and Chan-wook twist and turn it into something all their own, creating a dark fable that lives and breathes within its culturally specific setting. Serpentine in structure, there is delicious fun to be had in seeing what dastardly deed will be inflicted next, and every performance perfectly captures the characters' desires and duplicities. Min-Hee (Moby Dick / Very Ordinary Couple) and Tae-ri are extraordinary, deflecting elements that could have been sleazy with noticeable skill. The sex scenes are explicit (and are reminiscent of the recent French film Blue Is The Warmest Colour), but never feel gratuitous or exploitative. Super star Jung-woo (The Chaser / The Yellow Sea) acquits himself well, Jin-woong makes the most of his role as the crazed Uncle, and it's great to see veteran Moon So-ri (Oasis / Peppermint Candy) on the big screen, and is a treat to watch. All this Dangerous Liaisonsstyle treachery has been beautifully realised by a talented crew of exceptional craftspeople, and Chanwook himself is in fine form, blending the grotesque with the blackly humorous with a typically masterful hand. His only mis-step occurs during a fifteen minute segment which recaps the story from a different angle. It is an unnecessary diversion, slightly muting Chan-wook's otherwise impressive storytelling skills. Hopefully like the superb UK release, this will contain both the theatrical and extended versions of the film.
Deepwater Horizon
■ (M). 107 minutes. Now available on Blu-Ray and DVD. This polished, high-octane feature from actor-turned-director Peter Berg (Very Bad Things / Friday Night Lights / The Kingdom) is one that raises mixed emotions. On one hand it is a superbly produced, excitingly executed action extravaganza that keeps the viewer on the edge of their seat, delivering the kind of thrills that mark the best films of the disaster genre, such as The Poseidon Adventure and (more appropriately) The Towering Inferno. On the other hand, you begin to feel guilty enjoying what you are watching on screen, as it continues to hit you that this is based on a true story that was tragic in so many ways. Based on the biggest oil disaster in US history, the film covers the moments leading up to the horrifying destruction that occurred on the massive oil rig. We are given a quick tour of the off-shore location and its inhabitants, namely Mike Williams (Mark Wahlberg), rig chief Jimmy Harrell (Kurt Russell), console operator Andrea Fleytas (Gina Rodriguez), and BP rep Vidrine (John Malkovich, sporting a hilariously over-the-top southern accent). The early scenes between Williams and his family are effective if overly calculated, while the banter between workmates feels real and frequently amusing, even if all the characters come across as rather one-dimensional. If certain roles do resonate, it is due to the work of the actors involved rather than the script given to them. Wahlberg is once more a reliable presence (this pairing between star and director works better than the uncomfortable misfire Patriots' Day), but the film is stolen by veteran Russell (also recently seen in the blockbusters The Fate Of The Furious and Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2), who embodies the honest, continually frustrated Harrell with the kind of comforting humanity that big business forever lacks. Director Berg, who normally uses the often intolerable shakycam format, thankfully employs a more classical approach this time, and the film is immeasurably better because of it. Added to that, the fact that massive sets were built in order to carry out action scenes as practically as possible, and what you have is a surprisingly old-fashioned disaster film that delivers fast-paced, adrenaline-fuelled entertainment. Not surprisingly, this large-scale tribute reminds one of Ron Howard's Backdraft (including the presence of Russell), another technically impressive feature that turned everyday workers into larger-than-life superheroes. Despite the uneasy feelings of enjoying slick, big-screen spectacle that is based on real-life tragedy, Deepwater Horizon achieves its very specific goals, and Irwin Allen would have definitely given his nod of approval to the end result. RATING - *** - Aaron Rourke
Top 10 Lists SEPTEMBER 10-16 THE AUSTRALIAN BOX OFFICE TOP TEN: 1. THE HITMAN'S BODYGUARD. 2. AMERICAN MADE. 3. GIRL'S TRIP. 4. DUNKIRK. 5. ANNABELLE: CREATION. 6. THE DARK TOWER. 7. HAMPSTEAD. 8. ALI'S WEDDING. 9. GIFTED. 10. CELEBRATE STUDIO GIBILI. NEW RELEASES AND COMING SOON TO CINEMAS AROUND AUSTRALIA: SEPTEMBER 7: IT, NAMATJIRA PROJECT, THE DINNER, THE GLASS CASTLE, THE LOVERS, THE MIMIC, TOMMY'S HONOUR, TWENTY TWO. SEPTEMBER 14: AMAZON ADVENTURE 3D, AMERICAN ASSASSIN, I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO, MEMBERS ONLY, MOTHER! PATTI CAKE$, RIP TIDE, THE EMOJI MOVIE. THE DVD AND BLU-RAY TOP RENTALS & SALES: 1. THE MUMMY [Action/Adventure/Fantasy/ Tom Cruise, Annabelle Wallis, Russell Crowe]. 2. GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY: Volume 2 [Sci-Fi/Action/Adventure/Chris Pratt]. 3. THE SHACK [Drama/Fantasy/Sam Worthington, Octavia Spencer]. 4. JOHN WICK 2 [Action/Crime/Thriller/ Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane]. 5. BECOMING BOND [Biography/Comedy/ George Lazenby, Josh Lawson]. 6. FREE FIRE [Action/Crime/Comedy/ Sharlto Copley, Brie Larson, Armie Hammer]. 7. WAKEFIELD [Drama/Bryan Cranston, Jennifer Garner, Beverly D'Angelo]. 8. ALIEN COVENANT [Action/Thriller/Sci-Fi/ Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston]. 9. GET OUT [Mystery/Thriller/Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Bradley Whitford]. Also: BAYWATCH, KING ARTHUR: LEGEND OF THE SWORD, COLOSSAL, THEIR FINEST, KONG: SKULL ISLAND, THE ZOOKEEPER'S WIFE, A DOG'S PURPOSE, SNATCHED, GHOST IN THE SHELL, DENIAL. NEW RELEASE HIGHLIGHTS ON DVD THIS WEEK: NORMAN [Drama/Thriller/Richard Gere]. PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES [Adventure/Johnny Depp. NEW RELEASE HIGHLIGHTS ON BLU-RAY THIS WEEK: PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES [Adventure/Johnny Depp]. NEW & RE-RELEASE AND CLASSIC MOVIES HIGHLIGHTS: TO BE OR NOT TO BE (1942 - Carole Lombard, Jack Benny]. NEW RELEASE TELEVISION, DOCUMENTARY AND MUSIC HIGHLIGHTS: VEEP: Season 6. VERA: Season 7. - James Sherlock