World War Z
What’s it about?
A United Nations investigator, Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt), traverses the world in a race against time to stop the Zombie pandemic that is toppling armies and governments, and threatening to destroy humanity itself.
What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: An odd movie to review in that it was actually sort of enjoyable to watch but as soon as you start to apply scrutiny you’re left unsure exactly why. It’s intelligent (despite some gaping plotholes and devices) but it’s not quite an action movie. Nor is it quite a drama and in fact you couldn’t even call it a horror flick with the zombies mostly background fodder – something I actually enjoyed. But while that allowed focus on the human reactions to a looming apocalypse, it unintentionally highlighted the story’s inadequacies. I can’t say it’s bad as it was fun despite Pitt’s seeming boredom. But nor can I say it’s really good. And I have no idea why it’s a 3D movie.
Despicable Me 2
What’s it about?
Evil-villain-turned-super-dad Gru is recruited by the Anti-Villain League to help deal with a powerful new super criminal in what is promoted as a Bond parody. Alas there aren’t double “o”s, just “oh no”s.
What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: The clever undertones of the first movie are missing and in their place are fart jokes and other assorted immaturity. It’s not a bad movie – in fact most kids will love it – but there’s not very much there for adults other than a few late laughs. The promise of a clever parody quickly evaporates and it’s only the antics of the minions that keep it vaguely watchable for maturer audiences.
Haunted House
What’s it about?
Malcolm and Kisha move into their dream home, but soon learn a demon also resides there. When Kisha becomes possessed, Malcolm – determined to keep his sex life on track – turns to a priest, a psychic, and a team of ghost-busters for help.
What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: If you think the Scary Movies were funny, they will keep taking your money from you.
The Great Gatsby
What’s it about?
Chasing his own American dream, Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire) blows in to New York City at the height of the Roaring Twenties and finds himself drawn to the dazzling world of his wealthy neighbour, Jay Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio).
What did we think?
Elizabeth says: Gatsby has the Technicolor pomp and “all that Baz” we’re used to but it falls just short of the high bar that Luhrmann set with films such as Moulin Rouge! and Strictly Ballroom. Carey Mulligan, while a vision to behold, is almost too grounded in her portrayal of the flighty, fun-loving Daisy; Tobey Maguire is, well, Tobey Maguire; and there isn’t a time that Leo utters the phrase “old sport” when it isn’t jarring. On the flip side, Joel Edgerton smashes this one out of the park and Isla Fisher is a colourful little bit on the side, just as Myrtle should be. All this wrapped up in a stunning-looking, sumptuous package. It’s very enjoyable, just not quite “spectacular spectacular”.
The Hangover III
What’s it about?
This time, there’s no wedding. No bachelor party. In fact no one gets a hangover till midway through the credits. What could go wrong?
What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: On the plus side, the third Hangover movie doesn’t copy the same formula of the first two. On the negative side, it isn’t overly funny. The first worked because it was original, intelligent and had us guessing. The second failed because they tried to just change the setting. The third, while an improvement on the sequel, changes the story but not in a way that has you wondering what is going on or what will happen. It’s not a bad plot per se but really it’s just a vehicle for Zach Galifianakis and Ken Jeong to make their characters even larger than previous incarnations.
Entertaining enough for Hangover fans but it all pales when compared to the wit of the original. And despite the promises of the marketing, it doesn’t really look like this will be the final instalment.
The Big Wedding
What’s it about?
An all-star cast congregate in this flick about a long-divorced couple who fake being married as their family unites for a wedding.
What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: Think of the worst wedding you’ve ever attended and rest assured this movie is worse. No matter how bad the speeches, how lecherous the men, how disgusting the food, sitting through The Big Wedding will make you long for that terrible evening you will never get back again.
More a collection of tired and overly crude wedding cliches than a movie, this film was a waste of actors, cinema space and time. At one point Katherine Heigel vomits on Robert De Niro. Personally I would have preferred the vomit over this movie. Don’t even bother with the DVD. Heck don’t even pirate it.
What’s Popular
Strangerland
What’s It About?
When two teenage children vanish into the outback, their parents’ already troubled marriage unravels further.
What Did We Think?
Amy Currie says: This home-grown drama doesn’t quite know what it wants to be. Psychological drama? Whodunit? Neither? Parents Nicole Kidman and Joseph Finnes go for gritty, but look disconcertingly groomed and shiny for residents of an outback town (new arrivals, it’s true – but new arrivals from ANOTHER outback town). Our Nicole’s performance is surprisingly good for a while, but ends up veering into samey melodrama, while local cop Hugo Weaving is as solid as ever. The beautifully shot film is obviously trying for a sense of mysterious uncertainty, but it’s one thing to leave questions unanswered and another to leave them frustratingly ignored.
Jurassic World
aka Jurassic Parks and Recreation
What’s it about?
A theme park filled with living dinosaurs has put its chaotic past behind it and has been trading for years but their newest creation may be more than they can safely contain.
What we thought
Dan says: It’s impossible to measure up to the original Jurassic Park. It showed us movie monsters that we’d never seen before that reignited interest in the field of palaeontology. This script tries to out-do its predecessor with some truly absurd conceits. The strangest thing is that they all manage to work. The characters make some dumb decisions but the universe logic is tight and the action thick and visceral. People who love dinosaurs made this film and people who love dinosaurs will gobble it up.
Inside Out
What’s it about?
After young Riley is uprooted from her Midwest life and moved to San Francisco, her emotions – Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness – conflict on how best to navigate a new city, house and school.
What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: Delightfully clever, Inside Out actually takes the Pixar formula of creating a kids movie with enough in it for the adults and flips it around. The intelligent writing and (simplified) subject matter is the core of the story and most of it flies over the heads of the younger audience but it’s wonderfully engaging on so many levels that it doesn’t matter.
It’s rare you can say ‘fun for the whole family’ and truly mean it but Inside Out fits the bill. This is a gloriously emotional film that – for me – ranks among Pixar’s very best. Whether it has the replayability factor for kids remains to be seen but the underlying message that our joy needs our sadness is one that should resonate for years to come.
The Emperor’s New Clothes
What’s it about?
The rich are getting richer at an astronomical rate.
The poor are getting poorer at a faster rate.
The GFC was created by bankers obsessed with greed and riches.
We, the people, bailed out the banks with trillions of our dollars – putting our nations in debt.
Yet the bank bosses continue to earn over 300 times the wage their cleaners earn.
What do we think?
Stephen Scott says: Have you read the above synopsis or watched the trailer? Then you’ve seen the film. If you don’t know the basic details about how inequality is the basis of capitalism, then go ahead and watch Russell repeat the same thing over and over and over again for an hour and a half, until the last minute when he tells you his piss-poor solution. For a more balanced view, watch a real documentary about the GFC (the ABC’s recent Making Australia Great: Inside Our Longest Boom is an excellent place to start) or read the news instead.
Editor's Choice
Strangerland
What’s It About?
When two teenage children vanish into the outback, their parents’ already troubled marriage unravels further.
What Did We Think?
Amy Currie says: This home-grown drama doesn’t quite know what it wants to be. Psychological drama? Whodunit? Neither? Parents Nicole Kidman and Joseph Finnes go for gritty, but look disconcertingly groomed and shiny for residents of an outback town (new arrivals, it’s true – but new arrivals from ANOTHER outback town). Our Nicole’s performance is surprisingly good for a while, but ends up veering into samey melodrama, while local cop Hugo Weaving is as solid as ever. The beautifully shot film is obviously trying for a sense of mysterious uncertainty, but it’s one thing to leave questions unanswered and another to leave them frustratingly ignored.
Jurassic World
aka Jurassic Parks and Recreation
What’s it about?
A theme park filled with living dinosaurs has put its chaotic past behind it and has been trading for years but their newest creation may be more than they can safely contain.
What we thought
Dan says: It’s impossible to measure up to the original Jurassic Park. It showed us movie monsters that we’d never seen before that reignited interest in the field of palaeontology. This script tries to out-do its predecessor with some truly absurd conceits. The strangest thing is that they all manage to work. The characters make some dumb decisions but the universe logic is tight and the action thick and visceral. People who love dinosaurs made this film and people who love dinosaurs will gobble it up.
Inside Out
What’s it about?
After young Riley is uprooted from her Midwest life and moved to San Francisco, her emotions – Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness – conflict on how best to navigate a new city, house and school.
What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: Delightfully clever, Inside Out actually takes the Pixar formula of creating a kids movie with enough in it for the adults and flips it around. The intelligent writing and (simplified) subject matter is the core of the story and most of it flies over the heads of the younger audience but it’s wonderfully engaging on so many levels that it doesn’t matter.
It’s rare you can say ‘fun for the whole family’ and truly mean it but Inside Out fits the bill. This is a gloriously emotional film that – for me – ranks among Pixar’s very best. Whether it has the replayability factor for kids remains to be seen but the underlying message that our joy needs our sadness is one that should resonate for years to come.
The Emperor’s New Clothes
What’s it about?
The rich are getting richer at an astronomical rate.
The poor are getting poorer at a faster rate.
The GFC was created by bankers obsessed with greed and riches.
We, the people, bailed out the banks with trillions of our dollars – putting our nations in debt.
Yet the bank bosses continue to earn over 300 times the wage their cleaners earn.
What do we think?
Stephen Scott says: Have you read the above synopsis or watched the trailer? Then you’ve seen the film. If you don’t know the basic details about how inequality is the basis of capitalism, then go ahead and watch Russell repeat the same thing over and over and over again for an hour and a half, until the last minute when he tells you his piss-poor solution. For a more balanced view, watch a real documentary about the GFC (the ABC’s recent Making Australia Great: Inside Our Longest Boom is an excellent place to start) or read the news instead.