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WONDER WOMAN

30/5/2017

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2017 | DIR. PATTY JENKINS | REVIEW BY GLENN COCHRANE.

DC's attempts to create the “Extended Universe” with MAN OF STEEL, BATMAN V SUPERMAN and SUICIDE SQUAD have left much to be desired, and with those being examples of style-over-substance, the franchise resembles candied popcorn... colourful and sugary with no nutritional value. I have been wanting to embrace this series because the overall aesthetic is appealing to me, but without any tangible (or sensible) plot or storyline I have struggled to invest in them. Until now....


​Congratulations DC... and welcome to the club.​
WONDER WOMAN gets the job done and delivers the substance that DC fans have been frothing for. It serves as an origin story for Diana Prince – an Amazonian princess – who was raised on the hidden island kingdom of Themyscira, isolated from mankind and seemingly impervious to outside influence. When an American fighter pilot (Chris Pine) breaks through the kingdom's protective shield and crashes into the ocean, Diana leaps to his rescue, only to face a German battalion in pursuit. With World War II threatening to destroy their utopia Diana leaves her home to seek and destroy Ares; the God of war, whom she believes will destroy the world if undefeated.

The synopsis is simple, and is more or less lifted straight out of the comic books, although I admit that I had low expectations entering into WONDER WOMAN. The promotional marketing painted a very hokey image in my mind and I carried the disappointment of the previous three titles with me. The first 15-minutes of the film take place on the island of Themyscira, where the all-female warrior culture wear the sort of ornamental garments that you'd expect in a show-bag. They look silly and conjured an immediate sense dread. Fortunately their prelude is brief and substantial enough to provide enough subtext to Diana's quest, and from the moment she steps into the 'real' world the film takes on a while new dynamic and assumes ownership of being DC's best entry in the Expanded Universe.
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​I hesitate to cite Marvel in this review – because I enthusiastically want DC to rise above – however the greatest compliment I can give WONDER WOMAN is that it recalls the same texture and authenticity that the first CAPTAIN AMERICA captured. In fact there are many similarities, with the most notable being its WWII setting and a horrifically disfigured villain. It also sets a similar pace by relying on character development and drama to explore the story, as opposed to saturating the screen with incessant action and ludicrous dialogue. Fans have been calling upon DC to take cues from Marvel's lead, and while I don't disagree with the sentiment, I also think that DC ought to forge their own unique path.... and now that they've (finally) listened to demand, perhaps they can treat it as a stepping board.

The film's greatest strength is Gal Gadot. She assumes the character of Wonder Woman with absolute conviction and actually acts her ass off. Her character is - thus far – the most emotionally rounded and humane of the whole Justice League crew, and her compassion throughout the story is sincere and wonderfully performed. Gadot is relatively unknown and has been ideally cast. She exudes beauty and brawn in equal measure and refuses to be branded with a sex-symbol label. She is a superhero to rival all of her contemporaries and hopefully she will lay the path for more strong female superheroes to follow.

The supporting cast are all fantastic and I'm not able to fault a single one of them. Chris Pine proudly adopts the support role and allows Gadot to kick-ass without cliched sexism or tokenistic gratitudes and there's a sense that he is proud to be part of a game-changing gender-reserved blockbuster. David Thewlis is as brilliant as always and offers a performance packed gleefully full of mystery. Other players include Robin Wright, Danny Huston, Connie Neilson and Ewen Bremner... all of whom add a weight of creditability.

The film's director is Patty Jenkins, whose previous directorial effort was the serial-killer biopic MONSTER. With that film being such a small and modest production in comparison to WONDER WOMAN her appointment was something of a gamble, and I imagine that her sensibility towards the female driven character-study is what landed her this gig. It was a gamble worth taking and I can't imagine any other director doing a better job. She captures an essence and quality in her film that directors Zack Snyder and David Ayer both failed to ensnare in their own entries.

This is an exciting moment for DC. Faith has been restored into a previously flaccid franchise, and hopes are high for what's to come. So far we are four films into the Expanded Universe with five more on the way, as well as a staggering TEN upcoming sequels, prequels and/or spin-offs. The odds aren't good, but lets hope that most of them follow WONDER WOMAN'S lead, and focus on character and story before the saturation overcomes... because enough with the puerile extravagance... just stick to substance.  ​​
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A QUIET PASSION

27/5/2017

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2016 | DIR. TERENCE DAVIES | REVIEW BY GLENN COCHRANE.

Emily Dickinson is regarded as one of America’s greatest poets, although the distinction wasn’t made until after her passing. Aside from a handful of poems published in newspapers – edited and without credit – her work was reserved for her personal collection, hidden in a chest amongst her belongings. Dickinson’s sister, who discovered her works after her death in 1886, eventually published the work in a three-volume collection of books. The rest, as they say, is history and Dickinson posthumously became one of the world’s most highly regarded writers.
Adapting her life for film might have seemed like an appealing idea if conjured in a spontaneous burst of inspiration, but when you explore beyond the legend, what’s left is an ordinary life bereft of romance. She was a modest woman who resided on her family’s property and lived a reclusive life. Considered to be free-spirited and emotionally temperamental, she struggled to comprehend the world around her, whereby notions beyond her perception were deflected with hostility and self- loathing. And so, with very little flexibility for a overarching narrative, director Terence Davies (The House Of Mirth) focuses his energy on the characters and has, in turn, created a performance-driven piece that is only as strong as its players… which is very strong in deed.

CLICK HERE TO READ FULL REVIEW. 
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SLEEPLESS

25/5/2017

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2017 | DIR. DARAN bo ODAR | REVIEW BY SHAUN CRAWFORD.

Hey, remember back in February when Jamie Foxx's dirty-cop film SLEEPLESS dropped in Australian cinemas? Don't worry, neither do we.

The $30-million Hollywood film debut of Swiss director Baran bo Odar slipped in and out of multiplexes causing not so much as the blink of an eye. Perhaps it's because this remake of the 2011 French picture SLEEPLESS NIGHT is so middle-of-the-road it's hard to praise it while it's as equally hard hate.
In it Foxx plays Nevada PD Detective Vincent Downs, a cop so dirty his colleagues feel the need to shower after conversations with him; you know the kind. Bad dad and shitty husband, devotes too much time to the job. After the dirty cops botch a clandestine heist that yields a surprising 25kgs of cocaine, Downs and his partner become the focus of the buyers and the sellers of the narcotics; son of mob-boss, Novak (Scoot Macnairy) and Luxus casino manager Stanley Rubino (Dermot Mulroney). In retaliation, Downs' 16-year old son is kidnapped until the drugs can be returned and the deal transacted. 

To compound the problem, Internal Affairs agents Bryant and Dennison (Michelle Monahan and David Harbour respectively) have begun investigating, thanks to the presence of government issued ammunition at the heist scene, and instantly the filthy Downs has become the prime suspect. The fall-out (and everyone involved) collide in Rubino's casino over the course of one night while everyone tries to get their shit straight before Daddy Novak shows up and whips everyone's ass.

Think SNAKE EYES meets CRANK with neither the wit of the former nor the velocity of the latter.
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​In an age where the police thriller has been elevated to almost an art-form, no thanks to talents like Michael Mann and David Ayer, SLEEPLESS wants so badly to play with the big-boys and be Vegas Vice, what with all its crisp neon lights and deep focus into the Nevada night sky, it's gruff, dirty police and sharp-suited criminals, but while it looks the part thanks to Romanian director of photography, Mihai Malaimare, SLEEPLESS' biggest letdown is Andrea Berloff's derivative script, which is a crying shame given her last effort - Mel Gibson's BLOOD FATHER - was a lean, mean mother-fucking machine!


Too much of SLEEPLESS is recycled and derivative to make it worth the while of the more than capable cast. We've seen it all before and we've seen it better. We've seen the visuals, the archetypes, the combat, the gunplay, the plot twists all before. Foxx does well with the physical requirements, handling the fisticuffs as well as he does the odd scene of familial softness. Monahan does her best in as the largely thankless expositional mouth-piece, grissling her way through the cynical, one-note IA role. It is refreshing, however, to see a tough female cop that doesn't rely on hyperbole in order to convey toughness. 
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Ultimately SLEEPLESS biggest problem is that it has no big problems. It's a fine film. Its not a great film and it's not horrible film. It's just a fine film...
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20th CENTURY WOMEN

24/5/2017

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2016 | DIR. MIKE MILLS | REVIEW BY GLENN COCHRANE.

20th CENTURY WOMEN is director Mike Mills third feature film following the acclaimed THUMBSUCKER and THE BEGINNERS, and it continues his legacy of exploring weighty dramatic stories with a unique sense of whimsy and nostalgia. It is a showcase of excellence from both sides of the camera and qualifies as one of this year's leading films.


Set in 1979, against the backdrop of Santa Barbara boarding house, Annette Bening plays Dorothea, the owner of the house and a progressive single mother who struggles to raise her teenage son, Jamie (Lucas Jade Zumann). When her liberal approach to parenting fails to connect with him she enlists the help of two younger women living in the building; Abbie (Greta Gerwig) a 20-something photographer who is recovering from cervical cancer, and Julie (Elle Fanning), Jamie's confused and promiscuous best friend. Dorothea asks them to enlighten Jamie and when their influences on him become too liberal (even to her standards) she finds herself faced with her own personal demons while struggling to cut the apron strings of their mother/son relationship.

There is something immediately personal about 20th CENTURY WOMEN and it is not surprising to learn that the film is semi-autobiographical. The overarching narrative, while at times bewildering, is told with conviction and the characters are given their own invaluable backstories, giving the story depth and complexity. The strength of Mill's writing lies in his familiarity with the era and his casual pacing of the plot. He has placed his characters in an era where he seems comfortable, and with a well-placed soundtrack and a retro-centric ambience he explores the coiled relationships with earnestness and good humour.

Annette Bening's performance as Dorothea is quite possibly the best of her career. She invests in the character with all that she's got and adopts mannerisms and traits that we haven't seen from her before. Mills capitalises on the vulnerability within her expression with well-placed close ups and a lingering camera, and with an equal measure of experience and nativity Bening takes Dorothea on a journey of self discovery which progresses as she lives vicariously through the lives of others.
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Her co-stars are excellent too and make for one of the year's most dynamic ensembles. Lucas Jade Zumann gives a wonderfully understated performance as the film's focal character, Jamie. I spent the entire film watching him while trying to place his face. I knew him from something I had seen recently and I was sure he was good in whatever that was. It wasn't until I got home from the cinema that I realised that he had played Gilbert Blythe in the recent Netflix series ANNE WITH AN E (a praise-worthy adaptation of Anne of Green Gables). These two performances couldn't be any more contrasting, nor any better. His turn in 20th CENTURY WOMEN is effortless and as equally vulnerable as Benings... and given that his character is the focal point of the story it irritates me that Mills chose a title that solely draws attention away from this crux.

Elle Fanning gives another exceptional performance as the dispositioned best friend who struggles to express herself and has a desperate need for nurture. With this film adding to a line up of titles including THE NEON DEMON, TRUMBO and LIVE BY NIGHT Fanning is fast becoming one of the most impressive female actors of her generation. In fact her demeanour as Julie in 20th CENTURY WOMEN had me recalling her performance in Francis Ford Coppola's 2011 film TWIXT. It was a poorly received horror film that failed to make an impression (although I enjoyed it) but it also showcased her undeniable talent and foreshadowed the sort of performer she would become. In many ways her sunken and melancholic demeanour in that film has found its way into this one.

Greta Gerwig lends solid support as the recovering cancer survivor who has yet to fully process the weight of her ordeal. She seeks solace in fantasy and adheres to the rise of feminism, and Gerwig's performance is both tenacious and vulnerable. She turns to a fellow housemate, William (Billy Crudup) for comfort. He is a mysterious gentleman drifter who is ever present and willing to impart friendly advice when sought. Crudup play the role with the reliable composure that he instills in most of his characters. He is great, as always.

20th CENTURY WOMEN is Mike Mill's best work to date, and it oozes sincerity. His script is smart, heartfelt and very funny – and deserving of its 2016 Oscar nomination. Think of a less-melodramatic Cameron Crowe film and you will have an understanding of what to expect. Let me reaffirm that the title sorely misrepresents the film, and even though it does makes sense in relating to certain themes of the story, it certainly doesn't encapsulate the greater narrative. This is a highlight of the year for me so far and I cannot recommend it enough.  

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BAYWATCH

23/5/2017

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2017 | SETH GORDON | REVIEW BY GLENN COCHRANE.

A kite surfer is hurled into the air before being slammed into the rocky shallows and swept out to sea. Mitch Buchannon (Dwayne Johnson) mans his tower, turns, drops his binoculars and hits the sand running. He throws his life preserver into the air and leaps into the ocean. He reaches into the swirly depths, scoops up the unconscious man, emerges from the water, and is accompanied by an enormous “Baywatch” title card rising from the wash like a U-boat.
It is an immediate wink to the audience, and a signal that we’re in for a facetious and deliberate satire. What follows is 2 hours of unapologetic ridicule, mindless action and relentless comedy.

CLICK HERE TO READ FULL REVIEW. 
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KING ARTHUR: LEGEND OF THE SWORD

19/5/2017

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2017 | DIR. GUY RITCHIE | REVIEW BY GLENN COCHRANE.

King Arthur and all of the ‘Arthurian’ type of films do very little for me, and while I subscribe to the theory of “there is no bad genre, only bad films,” I do admit that I struggle with this particular brand of movie. In fact, the only one that I truly love is Monty Python and the Holy Grail (okay… perhaps Excalibur too), and so my enthusiasm for this new entry was considerably tepid.
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword is a renewed effort to create a blockbuster franchise from the classic story – a feat that failed when Antoine Fuqua teamed up with Clive Owen in 2004. With the global fandom of Game of Thrones reaching dizzy heights, it was no surprise that the producers of King Arthur would seek to capitalise on the audience’s hunger for sword-and-sorcery, but also a precarious wager for them considering the mixed responses to films like Gods of Egypt and Warcraft. To compound the risk, they chose Guy Ritchie to direct, based – presumably – on his approach to the Sherlock Holmes franchise. Given his style as an auteur, this film could have gone either way.

CLICK HERE TO READ FULL REVIEW.
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NUMBER TWOS: BEWARE! THE BLOB

13/5/2017

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1972 | DIR. LARRY HAGMAN | REVIEW BY GLENN COCHRANE.

You hit play on BEWARE! THE BLOB and you immediately ask yourself “what was I thinking?”. And a few minutes later “what am I watching?”. It is the sequel to the THE BLOB (1958) and the 14-years separating the films saw a drastic shift in tone, texture and its overall sentiment. The classic B-movie splendour of the original film was replaced with a cheap, grainy exploitation quality that upon first glance might be mistaken for a skin-flick. Where the '58 film took advantage of that era's fear of nuclear power the sequel makes use of schlock and satire to tell its story... and the result? Well.... it's strange to say the least.
BEWARE! THE BLOB was directed by Larry Hagman (yes, of I Dream of Jeanie and Dallas fame) and his involvement in such a low-budget independent film is just as perplexing as the film itself. The story goes that he lived next door to the producer of the original and had never seen the '58 film starring Steve McQueen. When the producer showed him the film Hagman said that he could get lots of his friends together for free (because they would all want to be blobbed) and that he would direct it. Lets suppose that he had energy to burn and needed to “spaz out” a little, because it's the only explanation.

And so what he created was a film unlike any other. It isn't a sequel at all, but rather a re-imaging. It adheres to the basic premise of the previous flick but injects a heavy dose of camp, which masquerades as satire. Furthermore, his direction was strangely surreal whereby he flirted with absurdism and lunacy. Take the opening title sequence for example; the film opens with an upbeat piece of music as a kitten frolics amongst long grass. It has no purpose aside from disorientating the viewer and it makes no sense. And yet that confusion is where much of the film's charm lies.
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​Yes it's a bad film. It's a terrible film! But it's so damn fun. Hagman precedes each of his death sequences with insanely stupid set-ups, such as a husband camping in his lounge room while watching the original '58 movie, or a fat nude Russian man running down the highway... or a barber who refers to himself as a 'hair sculptor' and charges $400 per sculpt... and then splat, THE BLOB ATTACKS! It's total insanity! So insane that it could even be passed off as an art film.


The cast is inconsequential with a heap of Hagman's mates popping up for a scene or two. Some of them include Gerrit Graham, Dick Van Pattern, Cindy Williams, Sid Haig and Burgess Meredith, amongst others. And I could have sworn that I caught a glimpse of Paul Williams in there too.

Suffice to say that BEWARE! THE BLOB is a mixed bag of talent and mayhem. A stupid and ludicrous venture with no obvious redemption. As I already mentioned, there is definitely an element of charm, and it's the kind of schlock that you can enjoy with a puerile frame of mind. If you embrace the absurdism them you'll have a stack of fun but as far as sequels go in general (and creature-features for that matter) it is an absolute turd. No wonder Hagman never directed again.  ​
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ALIEN COVENANT

12/5/2017

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2017 | DIR. RIDLEY SCOTT | REVIEW BY GLENN COCHRANE.

Alien has been one of cinema’s more enduring sci-fi/horror franchises, and with the exception of the two Alien vs. Predator spin-offs, it has remained a somewhat reliable series. Each instalment has been different from the other, both stylistically and narratively, and despite the tepid reception of the third and fourth films, they still progressed the story and delivered unadulterated space action. The character arc of Sigourney Weaver’s Ellen Ripley gave those films an emotional core, as well as a hero to cheer for.
Ridley Scott’s attempt to provide subtext to the series has, so far, seems to have proven to be a misguided ego trip, one that steered the series far from its original concept. His obsession with exploring the origins of the Xenomorph species (the Aliens) has ultimately tarnished the franchise and proven to be an exercise in style over substance. Needless to say, I did not enjoy his latest entry, the second Alien prequel, Alien: Covenant.
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CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REVIEW. 
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DEATH AND THE MAIDEN

10/5/2017

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1994 | DIR. ROMAN POLANSKI | REVIEW BY GLENN COCHRANE.

Many people consider Rosemary’s Baby to be Roman Polanski’s magnum opus, others cite Chinatown as his best, and I have been caught up in more of these discussions than I care to count. Other films of his such as The Pianist, The Tenant and Frantic also get lobbed into the conversation and the exchange is usually reduced to a pompous contest of cinematic wankery. For my money, it’s impossible to go past his 1994 film, Death and the Maiden, starring Sigourney Weaver, Ben Kingsley and Stuart Wilson.
Based on an acclaimed stage show by Chilean playwright Ariel Dorfman, the film depicts the intense psychological exchange between three people in an isolated country-house. On a cold, stormy night in an unknown location, a stranger knocks on the door of Paula and Gerardo Escobar’s (Weaver & Wilson) home. The stranger is Dr Roberto Miranda (Kingsley), whose car has broken down nearby. The Escobars invite him in, offering him a meal and a seat beside their fireplace. As the pleasantries transpire, Paula begins to withdraw, starting to suspect that Dr Miranda is in fact the very same man who tortured and raped her 15-years prior. What unfolds is an intense night of confrontation as the characters lock horns; Paula fervid for revenge and Miranda in a desperate plight of innocence.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REVIEW

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LIVE BY NIGHT

8/5/2017

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2017 | DIR. BEN AFFLECK | REVIEW BY SHAUN CRAWFORD. 

It's probably fair to say nobody saw 2007s  GONE BABY, GONE coming, least of all that it should be Ben Affleck who was responsible for it.
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Following a string of flops and public ridicule over his disastrous love life, B-Aff's career was all but DOA. The once-upon-a-time Wunderkind had seemingly just about hit rock bottom

Then his modestly budgeted Boston-set private eye directorial debut dropped and not only was it very good, it was arguably a modern American crime classic. A morality tale that was as much about the city it was set in as it was about a missing girl and was typical of the kind of deep emotional complexities scribe Denis Lahane is famed for.

It's no surprise then, that here, in LIVE BY NIGHT, Affleck's fourth film as writer-director should also have its source with Lahane once again although it's more closely aligned with his second film THE TOWN.

In it the Square-Jawed One plays Joe Coughlin, a small-time Boston gangster and son of Police Chief Tom (Brendan Gleeson) who makes it his business to stay in the middle of the warring Irish and Italian factions that rule his town. But when Irish head-honcho Albert White (Robert Glennister) discovers Benny-Boy is banging his girl (Sienna Miller) he makes everybody's life miserable, forcing Joe in to bed with the Italians who ship him off to run their bootleg operations in Tampa where he must seize control, forge business relations, battle the Ku-Klux Klan and make a play for minor politics.
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​'Sprawling epic' is an overstatement but LIVE BY NIGHT's two-hour plus running time never feels stretched. It's thickly plotted but it never feels crowded. It's got remarkable breathing space and Affleck changes gears seamlessly, jarring us with explosive violence one minute and then soft intimate tear-jerky moments the next. It's also a treat to see Affleck make reaches as a director. LIVE BY NIGHT may not be the thematic juggernaut that GBG was, nor does Joe have the richness of the characters in THE TOWN, but it is certainly his most richly crafted film. Even if it does do everything you expect it to, it does them well.

This is an homage to the pulpy, hard boiled gangster tales of old replete with sharp dialogue, sharper suits and Tommy-guns. Jess Gonchor's production design is textured and elegant and is the real star of the show. It's prohibition-era aesthetic stretches from snow-covered Boston bank robberies all the way to the sun-soaked glades and speakeasies of the Florida Keys. Everything feels timely and functional, used and worn, utilitarian. 

Close behind Gonchor is cinematographer Robert Richardson, hot off the back of Tarantino's famed HATEFUL EIGHT shoot, here dipping his toe again into the kind of territory he revels in; period-set, violent dramas. 

So, then, not a jaw-meet-floor experience, but certainly better than the recent Kevin James release, which begs the question why did it disappear without a trace? Could it be that audiences were bored of this kind of content? Overexposure killed it before it arrived? In and out of its theatrical run in Australia in 14-days and in turn losing Universal Studios $75-million.

Five seasons of BOARDWALK EMPIRE, Michael Mann's PUBLIC ENEMIES and Hillcoat's LAWLESS have a lot to answer for. It's a shame because LBN is sensual, visceral, violent, tender and romantic. It's not as instantly classic as GBG, but hands down better than the overwrought ARGO, it's a shame it flopped as badly as it did because it really deserves more of an audience.
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NUMBER TWOS: TEEN WOLF TOO

8/5/2017

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1987 | DIR. CHRISTOPHER LEITCH | REVIEW BY GLENN COCHRANE.

There are only two reasons for disliking the 1985 film TEEN WOLF. Either you're a millennial in desperate need of a cinematic-education or you have shit taste in movies. It was that other flick that Michael J Fox made around the same time as BACK TO THE FUTURE and it told the story of a teenage werewolf who goes from zero to hero thanks to his grizzly alter ego and some mad basketball skills. It wasn't a critically acclaimed film but it was definitely an audience favourite on home video. If you've never seen it then stop reading and go find it.
Thanks to TEEN WOLF's popularity with the 80's teen audience an inevitable sequel was made two years later. And like some other sequels of the era it was given the classic “Too” moniker, in lieu of the traditional “2” (refer to SPLASH TOO, THE JERK TOO). With Michael J Fox soaring the heights of Hollywood the film was recast with a young Jason Bateman who, like Fox, had come straight from the world of television sit-com. With Bateman's father serving as the movie's producer he was an obvious choice, and a good one.
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​In the film Bateman plays Todd Howard – cousin to Scott (Fox) – who arrives at a new college campus on a full sports scholarship. Despite not having a sporting bone in his body he is registered to the wrestling team, following the recommendation of a teacher who taught his cousin, and discovers that his family's Lycanthrope lineage gives him super-human abilities. And so there's a new Teen Wolf in town and no one bats an eyelid. In fact no one so much as flinches when Todd transforms into a werewolf for the first time. A girl looks at him and says “oh, you're a dog!” while another girl reassures him “Everything will be fine”... how's that for tolerance, huh? Todd also earns himself a superstar status and takes the college by storm.

TEEN WOLF TOO is an inferior sequel in many ways, most notably due to a lacklustre script and an uninspired story. It repeats the formula of its predecessor but fails to re-capture the spirit. Obviously these are important qualities that the movie abandons, but all is not lost thanks to the quality of the production design and the enthusiastic performances. Despite being made for video (with a limited theatrical run in some places) the film maintains the aesthetic of the first instalment, which makes for a seamless continuation and Bateman makes for a suitable substitute for Fox, despite his on-screen presence being less energetic. He's also supported by James Hampton and Mark Holton (reprising their roles) as well as Stuart Fratkin assuming the role of Stiles and John Astin as the college dean. 

The way I look at it TEEN WOLF TOO was made to be seen when you've suffered from TEEN WOLF ONE fatigue. The first movie is an undeniable classic (take note Millennials) which demands repeat viewing... but sometimes you can over do it and TEEN WOLF TOO is the alleviation you need. It's the sequel that is by no means an equal, but is – nevertheless - a supplement that maintains the dietary intake . And for added trivia, a third instalment was written only to be reshaped into a stand-alone movie called TEEN WITCH (a trilogy would have been cool).
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A DOG'S PURPOSE

5/5/2017

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2017 | DIR. LASSE HALLSTRÖM | REVIEW BY GLENN COCHRANE.

A DOG'S PURPOSE is a family-friendly dramatic comedy about the inner thoughts of a canine whose soul bounds through a series of lives in search of a purpose. The premise alone is bait for ridicule but before people dismiss the film entirely they should give it the benefit of the doubt. The first thing to consider is its director, Lasse Hallstrom, who over the last 30-years has established himself as one of Hollywood's respected auteurs.
Disregard the fact that Hallström's first English-language film was ABBA: THE MOVIE in 1977 (although that is an awesome notch to have) and consider that his contributions to cinema have included films such as WHAT'S EATING GILBERT GRAPE, THE CIDER HOUSE RULES and THE SHIPPING NEWS. Furthermore he is no stranger to melodrama with titles like CHOCOLAT, SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMIN and HATCHI: A DOG'S TALE... amongst others. And so while A DOG'S PURPOSE may be an indulgent exercise in schmaltz, it is nevertheless classy brand of schmaltz. Haters be damned. This is a delightful film.

Josh Gad plays the voice of Bailey, dog who ponders his own existence after his first life is cut short as a puppy. He is born again as a golden retriever and adopted by a young family, where he and the son become inseparable for the duration of his long and happy life. When he dies of old age Bailey is born again as a German Shepherd police dog and as the film unfolds he journeys through several lives until he finds his way home to where it all began and realises his purpose. You needn't consider that to be a spoiler, because lets face it... films like this are generally presumable.
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​What sets A DOG'S PURPOSE apart from the countless other cutesy dog flicks is it's humour and its charm. By having the dog's inner-thoughts narrate the story, the film not only adopts the format of the book from which it was adapted, but it also presents a relatable sense of humour that all dog owners will identify with. From adorable misunderstandings to sincere and heartfelt affections the film embraces its sentimentality without being hokey or mindless.

Gosh Gad's voice work is nicely restrained (thank God) and aside from a few idiosyncrasies most unsuspecting viewers will be oblivious to his presence... he gives Bailey a well-measured balance of fun, innocence and sincerity without relying on his usual over-the-top brand of low-brow humour. The rest of the cast play second-fiddle to Gad's lead and they include KJ Apa (hot from his lead role in RIVERDALE), John Ortiz, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Peggy Lipton and Dennis Quaid. Despite being the obvious draw-card name Quaid's role is contained in the final act. His is a relatively minor role, and yet it is the most profound.

If you're a sucker for tear-jerking animal films then A DOG'S PURPOSE is a cut above the rest. And while you may have tissues on stand-by for an inevitable finale, it might be a good idea to pack more, because this cheeky movie hits you with that heart-thumper over, and over, and over again (in a good way). Cynics be damned, because this film makes no apologies for laying on the schmaltz. You know what to expect before you see it and so if you're inclined to hate, see something else instead. ​​
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SPAGHETTIMAN

4/5/2017

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2016 | DIR. MARK POTTS | REVIEW BY GLENN COCHRANE.

I'll be honest with you. I wasn't expecting much from SPAGHETTIMAN. In fact upon first glance it looked like a dodgy DIY movie with a stupid premise, most likely made by stoners for shits 'n giggles. And, well, most of that is true. I can't verify the 'stoner' comment... but I'm sure there's merit to the rest of my assessment.

There are three things that I wasn't expecting... firstly SPAGHETTIMAN makes a fundamental emotional connection with its audience, secondly it is brilliantly written, and thirdly it is hilarious! I was no further than 20-minutes into the film when I felt compelled to cook myself a bowl of ramen noodles. I put the movie into pause-mode and addressed the situation, before watching the rest of SPAGHETTIMAN with a deliciously themed meal. Rarely does a film speak to me on this level and I don't recall enjoying 'audience-participation' as much before. THIS is the type of emotional connection that even the teariest Merchant-Ivory Production struggles to make.

The movie follows the daily trials and tribulations of Clark, a dishevelled loser whose life consists of mooching off others and watching TV. When he eats a bowl of spaghetti that has been over-nuked in the microwave he suddenly develops the ability to produce spaghetti at will. Not only can he shoot spaghetti from his wrists, he can piss spaghetti too. With his newfound powers he puts a paper bag on his head and adopts the persona of “Spaghettiman”. He takes to the street saving people from peril for his own personal gain. His services are special but do not come freely, and Clark profiteers from the misfortune of others.
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Some may describe the synopsis as stupid, whereas I would call it genius. It is a ludicrous concept that its creators have embraced and - in turn – created one of the funniest films of the year. Director Mark Pott's, along four co-writers, have written a clever, taut and satirical film that is concise and consistently hysterical. Potts compensates his budget restraints and technical limitations with a script that takes the piss out of the superhero genre and delivers a fun narrative that refuses to lag.

Clark/Spaghettiman is played by Winston Carter, a scruffy-looking guy making his feature-film debut, and for a bloke without much experience he certainly has a natural on-screen presence. His comprehension of the comedy and his emphatic delivery of gags are on-point, and his lethargic demeanour might suggest that a lot of his material was improvised. From his lazy and slobbish quirk to his confident and reckless hero persona, he gives to micro-budget cinema what Christopher Reeves gave to blockbusters (or more appropriately, what Toxie & SGT Kabukiman gave to Troma).

SPAGHETTIMAN might be a cheap independent film with no commercial appeal, but for those smart enough to look beyond its bare-bones production it will prove to be one of the most outrageously fun movies you will see in ages. It represents the sort of filmmaking that we need to nurture and the calibre of talent that we should champion! It is the very type of movie that people like James Gunn (GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY) were making before Hollywood came knocking and it will – hopefully – go on to become a cult favourite.

Do yourself a favour and watch SPAGHETTIMAN!!

SPAGHETTIMAN is now available to buy on DVD from Umbrella Entertainment. 
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RESIDENT EVIL: THE FINAL CHAPTER

2/5/2017

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2017 | DIR. PAUL WS ANDERSON | REVIEW BY SHAUN CRAWFORD.

It's that time again. Paul WS Anderson (no, not THAT Paul Anderson, the other one) found it fitting to deliver us another film based on the classic Capcom zombie-fest video game, this time promising it to be the finale to the series that has banked over $1.25billion at the box-office.


​After the regular, and expected, recap of the story thus far, Alice (Mrs. Paul W S Anderson, Milla Jovovich) sets off on a mission to go back to where it all started, 15-years ago, to the underground facility run by the evil Umbrella Corporation, the dastardly empire responsible for unleashing the T-Virus and killing all but 4000 humans on earth, find the anti-virus and undo the mayhem that's been plaguing the planet for a decade
Along the way she may also discover the truth about herself and the cloning fiasco that's haunted her since, well, forever.

​With each new installment of the surprisingly resilient franchise, Anderson's imagination becomes incrementally less tethered to any kind of reality. These films have become multi-million dollar playgrounds for his imagination and a way for his wife to strut her stuff while he banks another couple million bucks.

Nothing wrong with that, mind you, but it would be nice if once in a while there was a little thought given to character. The people populating the films become afterthoughts, they become a modus of delivering new and increasingly grotesque ways of doing away with the hordes of newly designed undead baddies.
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​Unlike George Romero's undead series, which had clear and concise political and social commentaries, the RESIDENT EVIL films don't seem to hold that much depth. 
Indeed, if Anderson's pictures aspire to such lofty ideals as Romero's they're certainly a lot tougher to decipher. And that's always been the RE downfall. Unlike its other multiplex contemporaries 28 DAYS LATER and Snyder's DAWN OF THE DEAD remake, as Anderson's films become more elaborate in scale and scope what little heart and soul it had becomes as lifeless as the zombies he's decapitating. He has nothing left to say.

Regulars from the series pop up again in THE FINAL CHAPTER; Ali Larter and Iain Glen, but they're no more developed than they were 3 films ago, and then there's a new batch of underdeveloped, fresh-faced cannon fodder for the masses including our very own Ruby Rose in the second of 3 major releases for her across 2016-17.

Moderately budgeted at $40-million there's no denying this, the sixth film of the series, looks like it cost twice that. The level of chaos, destruction and anarchy onscreen, even if it is mostly CG, is head-spinningly vast (an Alamo-like siege between an army of undead and humans barricaded in a ruined skyscraper is a particularly impressive sequence).

Canadian cinematographer Glen McPherson, a regular on the series since it started going 3D in AFTERLIFE, is as adept at the sun-scorched landscapes as he is at the sub-terrainian darkness. In fact, outside of Jovovich's impressive dedication to the series' constant physical demands, the way THE FINAL CHAPTER looks is one of the film's few very strong points, borrowing liberally from George Miller's MAD MAX and Stephen Norrington's BLADE... and even a sneaky nod to Paul Verhoven's ROBOCOP.

As daft as it is there's no denying that RESIDENT EVIL: THE FINAL CHAPTER is a fun ride even if it's only draw cards are its good looks and breakneck pace. Slightly more comprehensible than other chapters, it's admirable for being what it set out to be; a mad dash for the finish line that leave it all open for more. And given THE FINAL CHAPTER was the highest grossing film of the series, it wouldn't be surprising if it graced the screen one more time.
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Seemingly made only for the fans of the series, those dedicated enough to have stuck with it this far (plus fun-lovin' gorehounds), it'd be a stretch for anyone else. It's a lot of things but boring isn't one of them.
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THE AUTOPSY OF JANE DOE

1/5/2017

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2017 | DIR. ANDRÉ  ØVREDAL | REVIEW BY GLENN COCHRANE.
 
Here we go again. Another horror title that you can throw at the cynical idiots who insist that they don't make good horror movies anymore. In fact this is the perfect counteraction to their dismissal and it joins an ever-growing list of films that are stripping back the genre and delivering excellence on the back of a modest budget, intelligent script and savvy filmmaking skills.

THE AUTOPSY OF JANE DOE presents a deceptively simple - yet calculated story - that relies on atmosphere and artistry. Set in the basement-morgue of a family-run mortuary the film chronicles the autopsy of an unidentified woman labeled as Jane Doe. Her body was discovered at the scene of a gruesome massacre with no identifiable connection to the other deaths. Her body is delivered in an immaculate condition and as the father & son morticians conduct their examination they begin to unravel a mystery that sets their night on a course for unadulterated horror... To reveal more is to deny you the pleasure of experiencing this wonderful film without preconception.
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Norwegian director André Øvredal follows up the success of his previous film TROLL HUNTER with this unexpected American flick that sets an example to all young filmmakers of how to utilise recourses in order to conjure an effective movie. Beginning with a one-location script Øvredal embraced a self-contained concept that allowed him the freedom to flex his creativity in a more audacious way than what a larger production would have allowed. With a restless lighting design, a claustrophobic environment and a methodical story-reveal he has exploited just about every trope in the book while slathering on layers of unpredictability and originality. There are moments when the influences are obvious with one particular film coming to mind (click here for that spoiler), and yet beneath the homage lies an unforeseen narrative that will take unsuspecting viewers off guard. This is the definition of excellent filmmaking.

Emile Hirsch and Brian Cox share the lead-billing as the father and son morticians who get more than they bargained for when they take on the strange case of Jane Doe. Both are actors with a proven track record, whose resumes showcase quality and respectability, and having them headline a humble film of this nature adds immeasurable value to it. They give top-notch performances, with Cox's – in particular - being surprising, unexpected and thoroughly convincing.

With an 85-minute running time THE AUTOPSY OF JANE DOE never outstays its welcome. It is a concise and efficient film that is as equally intriguing as it is terrifying, and if viewed under the right conditions (at night, in the dark, up loud) it is sure to scare the living shit out of anyone who watches it. 
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The Autopsy of Jane Doe is now available on Blu-Ray & DVD through Umbrella Entertainment. 
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