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.
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.
Paper Towns
I admit when I first saw this trailer (the first one) I went out and bought the book the very next day. Now I’m trying to decide if I should read it before the movie or not. On the one hand books are usually better (nearly always) and yet the trailer was that good it possibly deserves to suck me in.
Hmmm.
What’s Popular
Logan Lucky
What’s it about?
Down-on-their-luck siblings join forces with bomb-addict siblings for a heist that will become legendary: the home of NASCAR.
What did we think?
Stephen Scott says: Logan Lucky (3¾★) wins the heist battle of 2017 over Baby Driver (3½★) thanks to a stronger storyline and beguiling characters – interestingly both films use the transition of musical styles to further tension, in this case from country to bluegrass. Soderbergh cleverly mirrors the same story of a fight-against-the-odds for redemption across three encampments without you realising by using sleight of hand, country music, a couple of clever twists, and some good laughs.
BEWARE: the odds are high you’ll end up singing a John Denver classic. Yep. That one.
An Inconvenient Sequel
What’s it about?
Ten years after An Inconvenient Truth, Al Gore is still at it – and with good reason.
What did we think?
Amy Currie says: This is certainly an important film, and its (terrifying) statements about climate change are clearly explained and backed up by solid data. However, the movie itself is blatantly manipulative and spends a lot – like, a lot – of time talking about what a great guy Al Gore is. So great. Wow.
It’s pure propaganda – but when it’s propaganda for good, does it really matter? It’s not a brilliant film, but that’s not the point.
The Big Sick
What’s it about?
Writer and star Kumail Nanjiani brings the story of his burgeoning relationship with his now wife to the big screen, illustrating the ups and downs they faced with their cross-cultural connection, not least of which was Emily being in a coma.
What we thought
Angela Young says: This film is brilliant, go see it. It’s properly funny and properly real. Kumail plays himself, so we know we we’re getting the truth there, but Zoe Kazan is fantastic as down-to-earth and bubbly Emily. You will love all the characters in this film, literally – there’s not a baddie (or bad acting) among them. Even Ray Romano as Dad! You’ll laugh, you’ll cry (but only a little bit), and you’ll only just notice the subtle lessons you’re learning about cultural integration and the hilarious nuances at play within a Pakistani muslim family in modern America.
A Monster Calls
What’s it about?
A troubled young boy (Lewis MacDougall) is visited by a storytelling monster (Liam Neeson). Emotional growth ensues.
What did we think?
Amy Currie says: At first glance, this tale featuring an enchanted tree, a stern grandmother and fantastical revenge on a schoolyard bully seems a Dahl-esque children’s story. However, in an interesting twist on the genre, A Monster Calls takes place in the real world of divorce, chemotherapy and lawsuits, where good and evil aren’t clear-cut and endings are often imperfect. It’s not a subtle film, but the performances are decent, the animation in the storytelling sequences is gorgeous and the ending will make you cry.
Editor's Choice
Logan Lucky
What’s it about?
Down-on-their-luck siblings join forces with bomb-addict siblings for a heist that will become legendary: the home of NASCAR.
What did we think?
Stephen Scott says: Logan Lucky (3¾★) wins the heist battle of 2017 over Baby Driver (3½★) thanks to a stronger storyline and beguiling characters – interestingly both films use the transition of musical styles to further tension, in this case from country to bluegrass. Soderbergh cleverly mirrors the same story of a fight-against-the-odds for redemption across three encampments without you realising by using sleight of hand, country music, a couple of clever twists, and some good laughs.
BEWARE: the odds are high you’ll end up singing a John Denver classic. Yep. That one.
An Inconvenient Sequel
What’s it about?
Ten years after An Inconvenient Truth, Al Gore is still at it – and with good reason.
What did we think?
Amy Currie says: This is certainly an important film, and its (terrifying) statements about climate change are clearly explained and backed up by solid data. However, the movie itself is blatantly manipulative and spends a lot – like, a lot – of time talking about what a great guy Al Gore is. So great. Wow.
It’s pure propaganda – but when it’s propaganda for good, does it really matter? It’s not a brilliant film, but that’s not the point.
The Big Sick
What’s it about?
Writer and star Kumail Nanjiani brings the story of his burgeoning relationship with his now wife to the big screen, illustrating the ups and downs they faced with their cross-cultural connection, not least of which was Emily being in a coma.
What we thought
Angela Young says: This film is brilliant, go see it. It’s properly funny and properly real. Kumail plays himself, so we know we we’re getting the truth there, but Zoe Kazan is fantastic as down-to-earth and bubbly Emily. You will love all the characters in this film, literally – there’s not a baddie (or bad acting) among them. Even Ray Romano as Dad! You’ll laugh, you’ll cry (but only a little bit), and you’ll only just notice the subtle lessons you’re learning about cultural integration and the hilarious nuances at play within a Pakistani muslim family in modern America.
A Monster Calls
What’s it about?
A troubled young boy (Lewis MacDougall) is visited by a storytelling monster (Liam Neeson). Emotional growth ensues.
What did we think?
Amy Currie says: At first glance, this tale featuring an enchanted tree, a stern grandmother and fantastical revenge on a schoolyard bully seems a Dahl-esque children’s story. However, in an interesting twist on the genre, A Monster Calls takes place in the real world of divorce, chemotherapy and lawsuits, where good and evil aren’t clear-cut and endings are often imperfect. It’s not a subtle film, but the performances are decent, the animation in the storytelling sequences is gorgeous and the ending will make you cry.