Identity Thief
What’s it about?
A regular Joe (Jason Bateman) goes to extreme lengths to track down the person who stole his identity (Melissa McCarthy). He’s got nothing to lose and a bad credit rating to settle!
What did we think?
Elodie says: This flick is very hit and miss and suffers from a few pace problems especially early. A handful of lighter moments peppered with ridiculous humour save Identity Thief from being a lost cause, though. The chemistry between Bateman and McCarthy definitely deserves a mention; McCarthy in particular is a delight to watch on screen.
I Give It A Year
What’s it about?
Finally! A movie that starts where most rom-coms leave off. We begin with a wedding between Rose Byrne and Rafe Spall and look at the pressures of their first year of marriage including exes, jobs and temptations.
What did we think?
Anthony says: British comedies on the whole walk the line between clever and cringing very well which is why this movie is such a let down. With such a wonderful premise, one would have hoped for more wit and less cringe but most of this movie will leave you squirming rather than laughing. It IS funny in its way, features an amazing cast and the final act probably does justify it but it’s a question of whether you would take the time to get to the end really.
Warm Bodies
What’s it about?
In the future, after zombies have waged a successful apocalypse, an unusually empathetic zombie named “R” falls in love with Julie (there’s a theme here. I just can’t …), the daughter of the leader of the surviving humans. Oh but that won’t work out at all! Surely!
What did we think?
Alex says: What may have been intended as “Romeo & Juliet with Zombies” turns out to be more “Zombie Twilight” with an intentional sense of humour. But this zom-rom-com combo leaves you not really caring about the characters or the fate of the human race.
Jonathan Levine at least capably directs likeable leads Nicholas Hoult and our very own Teresa Palmer away from vapid Edward-and-Bella territory. But when it comes to the undead-related laughs, it’s no Shaun of the Dead.
Trance
What’s it about?
An art auctioneer who has become mixed up with a group of criminals partners with a hypnotherapist in order to recover a lost painting.
What did we think?
Anthony says: With a quality cast and an overly complicated plot, Trance tries hard to be seen as a clever, classy movie but a few things work against it. Firstly, they explain everything eventually in a way bordering on monosyllabic and secondly, none of the characters are actually likeable so you’re not sure who to cheer for. They all could have died and I wouldn’t have cared. In no way hypnotising – you’ll just end up feeling sleepy.
Liz says: Awesome stuff happened. Then less awesome stuff happened. Then some confusing and silly stuff happened. Then we saw Rosario Dawson’s vagina and it all went downhill from there.
Jack the Giant Slayer
What’s it about?
The fairy-tale adventure of a gullible farm boy thrust literally and horticulturally into circumstances where he must prove his worth or perish.
What did we think?
Dan says: Bryan Singer takes the quirky elements of a children’s fable and grittily reboots it. No longer restricted to water-colour illustrations, the giants and the bean stalk become monstrous entities. The action and violence is larger than life and occasionally pushes against the PG rating potentially upsetting some parents and few children. (They love it.)
Surprisingly satisfying for anyone who has ever enjoyed the age old tale and/or delighted in Ewan McGregor at his hammiest.
A Good Day To Die Hard
What’s it about?
John McClane (Bruce Willis) travels to Russia to help out his seemingly wayward son, Jack, only to discover that Jack is a CIA operative working to prevent a nuclear-weapons heist, causing the father and son to team up against underworld forces.
What did we think?
Anthony says: The opening seconds lift our spirits and hopes with a haunting bass version of Ode To Joy but then the black screen gives way to vision and it’s mostly downhill from there (impressive car chase aside).
Jack McClane is the Jar Jar of the Die Hard universe. He’s irritating, unnecessary and a walking cliche. Completely ignoring the complexities of the previous Die Hard movies, this time around the producers decided to keep the action and explosions but mix them with poor dialogue, bad editing and a simply ridiculous story.
I’m gutted.
What’s Popular
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.
Entourage
What’s it about?
After some time in exile Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven) returns to Hollywood to head up a movie studio. Naturally he hands his boy Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier) a big fat cheque and a directors chair. When Vinnie needs more cash to complete the movie, everything comes unstuck for Ari.
What do we think?
Casey Moon-Watton says: Exactly as one expects from Entourage the movie starts with loads of beautiful women, and finishes highlighting the importance of surrounding yourself with people whom you care about, and who care about you. As a fan of the show I loved this movie. It was true to the format that worked for so many seasons, made a bunch of in jokes that seemed to go over my fellow reviewers heads, but had me laughing out loud. Ari Gold swearing more celebrities that you can poke a stick at and cameo by Warren Buffet…
Jeremy Piven is by far the stand out performer in this film, playing by far the most likeable character. Excuse me while I disappear into the night chanting “spin off”.
Aloha
What’s it about?
A celebrated military contractor returns to the site of his greatest career triumphs and re-connects with a long-ago love while unexpectedly falling for the hard-charging Air Force watchdog assigned to him.
What did we think?
Angela Bowen says: Despite a very strong cast, Aloha doesn’t have any true weight. The film skims on some serious issues like military, love, and marital issues, but so shallowly that you struggle to care or even know why you are supposed to.The Hawaiian setting is used sparingly and is almost a side note. Aside from Emma Stone’s character repeatedly saying that she is Hawaiian, there is little to remind the audience of what should be a culturally rich location.
Even hard-core Rom Com fans, Bradley fans, or Emma fans may struggle with this one. There are some confusing and unnecessary side plots and a lack of believable chemistry between the characters. Aloha can mean hello or farewell, but I couldn’t wait to use it in the goodbye sense for this fim.
Editor's Choice
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.
Entourage
What’s it about?
After some time in exile Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven) returns to Hollywood to head up a movie studio. Naturally he hands his boy Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier) a big fat cheque and a directors chair. When Vinnie needs more cash to complete the movie, everything comes unstuck for Ari.
What do we think?
Casey Moon-Watton says: Exactly as one expects from Entourage the movie starts with loads of beautiful women, and finishes highlighting the importance of surrounding yourself with people whom you care about, and who care about you. As a fan of the show I loved this movie. It was true to the format that worked for so many seasons, made a bunch of in jokes that seemed to go over my fellow reviewers heads, but had me laughing out loud. Ari Gold swearing more celebrities that you can poke a stick at and cameo by Warren Buffet…
Jeremy Piven is by far the stand out performer in this film, playing by far the most likeable character. Excuse me while I disappear into the night chanting “spin off”.
Aloha
What’s it about?
A celebrated military contractor returns to the site of his greatest career triumphs and re-connects with a long-ago love while unexpectedly falling for the hard-charging Air Force watchdog assigned to him.
What did we think?
Angela Bowen says: Despite a very strong cast, Aloha doesn’t have any true weight. The film skims on some serious issues like military, love, and marital issues, but so shallowly that you struggle to care or even know why you are supposed to.The Hawaiian setting is used sparingly and is almost a side note. Aside from Emma Stone’s character repeatedly saying that she is Hawaiian, there is little to remind the audience of what should be a culturally rich location.
Even hard-core Rom Com fans, Bradley fans, or Emma fans may struggle with this one. There are some confusing and unnecessary side plots and a lack of believable chemistry between the characters. Aloha can mean hello or farewell, but I couldn’t wait to use it in the goodbye sense for this fim.