Really awkward, bad screen play. Devoid of genuine emotion from Tucci. Strange.
Reviews
13 Reviews
Morning Glory
(2010)
Boring, cookie cutter.
9 April 2019
Bumbling workaholic woman sleeps with a good looking colleague. She's neurotic and only cares about her job, none of her character is drawn out other than that she's QuiRkY. I guessed the movies plot line a few minutes in.
Hollywood has gone down the crapper.
Hollywood has gone down the crapper.
Battle
(I) (2018)
Lacklustre story about a selfish, childish woman
15 February 2019
Warning: Spoilers
*****spoiler alert*****
The main character is selfish and entitled. Has no dancing skill. Cheats on boyfriend with a commoner, lies to both, learns nothing, apologises to the commoner via pretty poor modern dance routine, all is forgiven. Then end.
The main character is selfish and entitled. Has no dancing skill. Cheats on boyfriend with a commoner, lies to both, learns nothing, apologises to the commoner via pretty poor modern dance routine, all is forgiven. Then end.
Like Father
(2018)
Far exceeded my expectations
3 August 2018
I'm halfway through and am surprised to report that this is quite amusing, even cleverly written at times! Character actors that aren't caricatures or annoying, and no boring bits so far. Also has some emotional depth and feels fresh.
I have seen maybe three pretty good movies in about as many years so this actually joins those ranks. Hollywood puts out utter crap of late. I used to watch several movies a week since the 90s but I barely bother watching one a month now, thanks to the industry being so terrible. That's what utter depravity will do though, I guess.
Rock on, non sheeples!
I have seen maybe three pretty good movies in about as many years so this actually joins those ranks. Hollywood puts out utter crap of late. I used to watch several movies a week since the 90s but I barely bother watching one a month now, thanks to the industry being so terrible. That's what utter depravity will do though, I guess.
Rock on, non sheeples!
Enter the Dangerous Mind
(2013)
Surprisingly good!
9 February 2015
Warning: Spoilers
**********SOME SPOILERS*************
I wasn't expecting much from this when I looked on IMDb before watching it. Turns out that the movie is lingering, dark, and realistic. A couple of made-for-TV style moments, but nothing that really detracted. In terms of the acting, I was engaged by it and felt there was subtlety and nuance.
It did a good job of defining the line between softer and empathetic approaches to extreme mental health issues and the medical model which aims to kill and destroy deviant and unacceptable thoughts and behaviours. I liked the interplay of these opposing views.
Raised interesting questions like how far would a compassionate person (in this case, a well devised figure of a social worker) go to protect human life. And when do we apply judgement/control and when should we have mercy/empathy on people that don't share common human values with the "rest of us". Seems that we are no closer to knowing how to regard the extraordinary functioning of the human psyche.
I wasn't expecting much from this when I looked on IMDb before watching it. Turns out that the movie is lingering, dark, and realistic. A couple of made-for-TV style moments, but nothing that really detracted. In terms of the acting, I was engaged by it and felt there was subtlety and nuance.
It did a good job of defining the line between softer and empathetic approaches to extreme mental health issues and the medical model which aims to kill and destroy deviant and unacceptable thoughts and behaviours. I liked the interplay of these opposing views.
Raised interesting questions like how far would a compassionate person (in this case, a well devised figure of a social worker) go to protect human life. And when do we apply judgement/control and when should we have mercy/empathy on people that don't share common human values with the "rest of us". Seems that we are no closer to knowing how to regard the extraordinary functioning of the human psyche.
Friended to Death
(2014)
Surprisingly endearing and very good
10 May 2014
I watched this with very low expectations as there have been so few good movies in 2014. From the beginning I could tell that it was going to be better than this years calibre. No over the top American humour, good music and a thought provoking plot. The main character is nuanced and quite endearing without being too trite and emo. The clever writing gives the main characters depth and dimension.
The movie had the sweetness, sense of realiness and comedy of The Year of the Dog.
I will be watching this director's future work and happy to see a woman in the directors seat on this one!
The movie had the sweetness, sense of realiness and comedy of The Year of the Dog.
I will be watching this director's future work and happy to see a woman in the directors seat on this one!
Triple Dog
(2010)
Hidden gem!
23 December 2010
4.6 out of 10? This movie was so fresh and unique. The acting was strangely very good, and the depth to the plot was, for me, totally unexpected. When I rented this, I suspected I would be able to handle maybe half an hour before turning it off, but I was so wrong.
The director had very minute attention to detail and it really showed. I liked the way that the shots were framed and found the camera work to be near perfect. So yeah, maybe the ending wasn't a complete surprise but the way everything came together was what made this movie a hidden gem. I found the final 10 minutes to be genuinely authentic and emotional.
It's a shame this was marketed as a teen thriller with a silly title and DVD cover-work because it was much more like a psychological drama.
The director had very minute attention to detail and it really showed. I liked the way that the shots were framed and found the camera work to be near perfect. So yeah, maybe the ending wasn't a complete surprise but the way everything came together was what made this movie a hidden gem. I found the final 10 minutes to be genuinely authentic and emotional.
It's a shame this was marketed as a teen thriller with a silly title and DVD cover-work because it was much more like a psychological drama.
My Last Five Girlfriends
(2009)
Something entirely unique and inspired
24 May 2010
Warning: Spoilers
** SPOILERS ** It seems that something fresh (and dare I say, 'real') is emerging in film in the past year or so. My Last Five Girlfriends is a perfect example of this phenomenon as is How To Train Your Dragon and even (to a lesser extent) 500 Days of Summer. In my opinion, there are other films who attempt this kind of reality, but only these above have really made a mark.
This movie should not been assumed to be a rom-com as it is far more than that. Its an honest look at human relationships and it bravely dances around major existential issues such as the struggle to be loved, fear of death, suicide and the meaning of life.
The acting was great and while I imagine the budget was quite small, it didn't show. Attention to detail is what made the difference here. The only quibble I have is that the end could have been a lot more powerful as it suffered a similar fate as 500 Days of Summer. Well worth a watch as it undoubtedly prompts self-reflection.
This movie should not been assumed to be a rom-com as it is far more than that. Its an honest look at human relationships and it bravely dances around major existential issues such as the struggle to be loved, fear of death, suicide and the meaning of life.
The acting was great and while I imagine the budget was quite small, it didn't show. Attention to detail is what made the difference here. The only quibble I have is that the end could have been a lot more powerful as it suffered a similar fate as 500 Days of Summer. Well worth a watch as it undoubtedly prompts self-reflection.
Prime Mover
(2009)
A deep story about emptiness and longing.
21 March 2010
The rating this movie has is just absurd.
Sure its not an action packed, big budget film, but its got a lot of heart. And its memorable. I think it is a story a lot of Australians can relate to. For me, the whole movie resonates as an desperate tale of *will* and *desire* with a foreboding sense of not knowing or feeling what one really wants. Emily Barclay and Michael Dorman conveyed this feeling of emptiness, while Ben Mendelson seemed a little plastic and under-utilised. On the whole, a very enjoyable Aussie movie and one that, for me, was quite haunting really.
I hope it attracts more viewers!
Sure its not an action packed, big budget film, but its got a lot of heart. And its memorable. I think it is a story a lot of Australians can relate to. For me, the whole movie resonates as an desperate tale of *will* and *desire* with a foreboding sense of not knowing or feeling what one really wants. Emily Barclay and Michael Dorman conveyed this feeling of emptiness, while Ben Mendelson seemed a little plastic and under-utilised. On the whole, a very enjoyable Aussie movie and one that, for me, was quite haunting really.
I hope it attracts more viewers!
Blessed
(I) (2009)
I wasn't prepared for this movie. What a masterpiece.
9 March 2010
Warning: Spoilers
I am cynical by nature. But I am particularly cynical of Australia films. Often they are gritty and raw, but to the point of being over the top.
Until the second half of this film, this was just a better than ordinary Aussie film. But Frances O'Connor made this into something other worldly in my opinion. The final scene was haunting but showed what a real shift in a persons perspective might look like. When she danced, filling the screen, I admit that it overwhelmed me. I felt her pain and changed my own view of her as a cold, selfish woman and mother to someone capable of deep, deep love.
I've always thought that there is no real way to gauge excellent acting and so thought awarding an actress/actor on their performances was simply a matter of large-scale ego-stroking; but I have changed my mind in this case. I am left wondering why this movie totally missed an Oscar nod, particularly considering the lacklustre nominees of the 2010 Oscars.
(And I thought the rest of the cast did a great job too)
Until the second half of this film, this was just a better than ordinary Aussie film. But Frances O'Connor made this into something other worldly in my opinion. The final scene was haunting but showed what a real shift in a persons perspective might look like. When she danced, filling the screen, I admit that it overwhelmed me. I felt her pain and changed my own view of her as a cold, selfish woman and mother to someone capable of deep, deep love.
I've always thought that there is no real way to gauge excellent acting and so thought awarding an actress/actor on their performances was simply a matter of large-scale ego-stroking; but I have changed my mind in this case. I am left wondering why this movie totally missed an Oscar nod, particularly considering the lacklustre nominees of the 2010 Oscars.
(And I thought the rest of the cast did a great job too)
Young, Single & Angry
(2006)
The worst movie I have seen all year. Worse than "Disaster Movie"
13 April 2009
This was a terrible, meaningless movie. It begins with three self-absorbed women who are desperate and bitter due to many, many, many failed relationships/booty calls with awful men. When a wise male friend finally informs them that they are weak and pathetic, the women turn on each other. They finally become "happy" by finding men who are better than the men they normally chase. But why would such good men be attracted to THESE women?! No lessons learned. This movie was trash through and through.
I can't believe that the writer and director were serious when they made this movie; what they were hoping to achieve, I can't imagine. I am trying to find more words to summarise this movie so it makes up the 10 lines that IMDb asks for, but I pretty much summed up the whole movie in the above lines!
Do Not Watch. Its not even good for a girlie, chick flick night!
I can't believe that the writer and director were serious when they made this movie; what they were hoping to achieve, I can't imagine. I am trying to find more words to summarise this movie so it makes up the 10 lines that IMDb asks for, but I pretty much summed up the whole movie in the above lines!
Do Not Watch. Its not even good for a girlie, chick flick night!
Strangers with Candy
(2005)
Not worth the box it came in. :( :(
23 December 2006
Being in Australia (so far from most things of good taste), I was overjoyed and shocked to see the Strangers movie at the local DVD store. I didn't even think it was going to be released here.
I hired it immediately, although with some trepidation.
Rightly so. There were a couple of laughs but sadly the team had no idea who they were making the film for. I would argue that it WASN'T made for the fans since there were several recycled jokes that die-hard fans would have spotted and cringed at immediately.
"I'm not pushing you away, I am pulling me closer to myself"... you just can't re-use lines like that. Gold the first time, old the second.
So in short, great cast with lacklustre plot and terrible writing. A disappointment for a SWC obsessive like myself.
I hired it immediately, although with some trepidation.
Rightly so. There were a couple of laughs but sadly the team had no idea who they were making the film for. I would argue that it WASN'T made for the fans since there were several recycled jokes that die-hard fans would have spotted and cringed at immediately.
"I'm not pushing you away, I am pulling me closer to myself"... you just can't re-use lines like that. Gold the first time, old the second.
So in short, great cast with lacklustre plot and terrible writing. A disappointment for a SWC obsessive like myself.
Time Team
(1994– )
Excellent for the lay-person or enthusiast
25 September 2006
Each show covers one archaeological dig - start to finish - incorporating the expertise of historians, anthropologists, paleontologists, area locals, geo-physicists, cartographers and area surveyors to name but a few. The team use artists to both sketch out archaic scenes as well as design computer graphics to show 3 dimensional perspectives of once existing structures. Adding re-enactments, experiments and the rebuilding of artifacts by modern experts only adds to the diversity of the show.
The holistic approach to the dig-site provides a fascinating, multi-tiered study that is accessible to the viewer, regardless of their background.
The holistic approach to the dig-site provides a fascinating, multi-tiered study that is accessible to the viewer, regardless of their background.
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