Category: FILM REVIEWS

Reading Time: 2 minutesOn the surface, The Lost King is a light-hearted comedy about a quirky woman who became obsessed with finding the remains of King Richard III, and in the process had hallucinations in which she saw and spoke with the King. Apart from Sally Hawkin’s outstanding acting, the attractions of the film are likely to be different for each of us. The issues tackled include research in the age of business-dominated universities, chronic fatigue syndrome, fractured families, and re-written histories. Above all, the story told by this gentle and entertaining film is based on real events and a tribute to the courage and determination of Phillipa Langley, who took on and defeated the authorities in her quest to find the remains of King Richard III.

Reading Time: 2 minutesHere After is an entertaining, unpredictable and original version of an afterlife romantic comedy. It is set in New York, where a young man dies in a motor vehicle accident. As he was not romantically attached at the time he finds himself before Scarlett, played by the ever so stylish Christina Ricci, who informs him that in order to pass to the other side he must find a similarly deceased soulmate. What complicates our leading character’s search is that the girl with whom he falls in love is not dead. This rom-com’s original concept makes the plot particularly interesting and less predictable. Visually, the film is quirky and urban-otherworldly. Christina Ricci is perfectly cast as Scarlett, the adviser, and dispatcher of uncoupled recently deceased. The Honey Bee character avoids many of the cliches of this genre and is also perfectly cast

Reading Time: < 1 minutePerfect Strangers is an Italian comedy/drama that is not only highly entertaining, but also, somewhat surprisingly, thought provoking.

Reading Time: 2 minutesIt would be misleading and an injustice to the film to simply describe it as telling the story of a couple visiting his parents for the first time, while she contemplates leaving him. Yet this aspect of the film is smattered with complex ideas and literary references. Even this ends up being the light layer of the film. The film’s story is also told through scenes of modern dance, drama, music and switches in time and even identity of characters I recommend this complex and superbly acted film as a positively challenging audio visual experience.

Reading Time: 2 minutesAs the film’s name suggests, it recounts a tale set in 1969 Hollywood. For his last feature film, Tarantino has cast actors of the highest calibre. Anticipation and dread of the historically violent ending of the story, builds up ithroughout the film. Tarantino does not disappoint, delivering extreme violence, but on his terms. Whether you love it or not, you’re unlikely to regret seeing it.

Reading Time: 3 minutesBoasting a stellar Australian cast, Palm Beach is a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining film with a distinctly Australian, but not cliched, character.

It is the story of a reunion of old friends flown in to Palm Beach to celebrate a birthday.

The uncontrived dialogue and dry laconic sense of humour allows the script to entertain while dealing with often real and confronting issues.

Reading Time: 2 minutes‘Yesterday’ is a light hearted, musically brilliant, albeit with a plot that should not be scrutinised too closely. It is very well cast and believably acted. A fun movie for the family, and especially those who remember or like Beatles music.

Reading Time: 3 minutesThe Chaperone is a much more profound film than its promotion suggests. It loosely tells the early story of flapper era film star and socialite Louise Brooks. But her story makes way for more significant developments and themes. So many films seem to run out of ideas after the first hour. The Chaperone, on the other hand, moves from strength to strength.

A satisfying experience, very well acted and thankfully not a lightweight period costume drama