At the flicks

How could I forget?

Saw 2 Aussie flix 'The Last Ride' and 'My Year Without Sex'. The first was a two-actor (actually one and a half, coz one was a child) drama set in the outback of South Australia. The two are on the run from a crime (crimes) that are gradually revealed in flashback. Hugo Weaving was fantastic as the (very) flawed father and the kid was wonderful too. Not a romantic date nor night out with the girls sort of movie, but I enjoyed it. The ending was great!
The other was a comi-drama of a 'normal' suburban family in which the wife is struck down by an aneurysm and must forego the delights of CB for a year as she recovers. Sad and funny, another good watch!

Whoo hoo, won tix to see Beautiful Kate, an Aussie film directed by the actor Rachel Ward, with the lady herself there for Q and A. This film has just been selected for the Toronto Film Festival. I thought it maybe just the merest of a tad too long, but a great movie none-the-less. Coincidently it was filmed in the same area of SA as the film I saw on the weekend, and with almost identical scenes of cars on beautiful empty roads.Ben Mendelsohn does his usual excellent best as a man tormented by his past and Rachel Griffiths has a major role. Worth seeing

I love Rachel Ward. She is so beautiful.

Still is, Terry...talented too

But it still doesn't hurt if you say 'Darling I think I'd like to direct a movie' and hubby says "that's ok Sweetie, I'll produce it, and if you really want me to, I'll star in it too'. That said, Rachel did say that BB was reluctant to take the part despite her assertion that as a GOM, he was well-suited to the role!

Yes, she seems like one who would age gracefully and be loaded with talent. So I should hate her?

Definitely!

went to a lovely artsy phartsy cinema in Nottingham - The Broadway - and saw Public Enemies with JD playing Dillinger. Thought it a fairly good film but somehow nothing quite beats Bonnie and Clyde (Faye Dunaway/Warren Beatty) from that genre, i know it's unfair of me not to take a film on its own merit, but I'm like that.

saw Moon with someone or another - can't be bothered googling it BUT I did like this film as often Sci-fi ends in total anti-climactic circumstances and you wonder why on earth they spend zillions on special effects and how the director fails to wrap it up with a modicum of credibility (yes, i know its sci-fi) and it all ends up as crapola in the highest form. I liked Moon.

also saw werner herzog's encounters at the end of world - go see it.

I watched 'Man On Wire' this evening. A wonderful and very poignant documentary (building of the Twin Towers was very sad to watch as it brought so many memories back of that fateful day). It showed Philippe Petit's journey - making a dream a reality, completing a high wire walk between the Two Towers. How many Americans saw this as it happened? Such dedication shown by Petit and his friends to realise his dream.

Confessions of a Shopaholic, on the other hand, is NOT a poignant documentary. It is imminently watchable, however, because of its stars, the very sexy Hugh Dancy and the absolutely adorable Isla Fisher. All US critics I read agreed the movie was so so but worth seeing just to watch her. I completely agree.

Speaking of Brits and Aussies, Hi Andre and Billy!

Hi Terry, but did you know I'm one of each? so technically it should be
Hi André and Billy...and Billy... but then...maybe not - looks a bit silly actually. I'll go now.
x

Hello Terry, how are you?

billy are you capitalizing on that! xx

THORT I COULD BERTIE ESPECIALLY WITH WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE CRICKET - I AM NOT HOPEFUL...for either side! and let's not forget my Indian heritage...it's nice to have options.
x

Soooo, India will win the Ashes???

Saw Lake Mungo, an Aussie ghost story, with a Q&A session with the director. It was a mockumentary about the death of a girl and 'what happened after'. I thought it was well-done and effective. The director/writer said that Paramount were already after him to film a remake. The audience said he should respectfully decline. The movie was fine as it was without American accents and over-the-top special effects.....easy for us to say when bucketloads of money are on offer. Had one shriek moment (I'm not a fan of horror)but it wasn't a horror movie, more a 'growing sense of disquiet' movie. Some saw similarities to Blair Witch, but the writer rejected that assertion. Worth seeing...I'd give it 4/5 Lindt Balls, but the sensuous distraction of the chocolate would impair your viewing ability.

Saw Gran Torino. A perfect vehicle for Clint Eastwood to growl and clinch his teeth. But, like most of his movies, overblown plot and not a 100% real character. Good basic premise -- cold heart of bigot thaws -- but movie insisted on leaving the world as we know it and entering the dimension of fairies and gremlins. Not literally, of course. I just mean all other characters either all good or all bad, and folks o/s of Hollywood just have to roll our eyes.

Hey Terry, I loved GT.....it's Clint and Hollywood...you want subtlety, nuance, shades of grey?

A girl can dream.

About Clint and Hollywood????? There must be more productive pastimes.....

About any movie that doesn't paint the world in pure black and white. Is that too much to ask?

But Terry...it's CLINT...and HOLLYWOOD!!!!!!!

I know. I know.

Still, there are great movies being made out there...we just have to diligently search 'em out, hunt 'em down and report back on 'em.....

Watched The Duchess last night (bargain dvd). Loved it...Keira Knightley was quite wonderful...I think if I was her I would have floored The Duke...

What was funny though...on the back of the DVD case was a yellow security sticker stating 'Please remove this sticker before placing in microwave'... a hot film perhaps?

Jeez, Andre', and I thought we had gone overboard with the litigation-defensive labeling in the U.S. (the eye drops marked "not for oral consumption," etc.)
I thought Keira Knightley was amazing in The Duchess. Though duty-of-position is often a theme or themette in Brit flics, her character really broke my heart. Much as Diana's situation. At least she could divorce.
Yours in continued diligence....

Saw the Aussie flick Balibo. Most Aussies know the story so it was bittersweet to watch. East Timorese good...Indonesians bad.....

What's it about?

In 1975 five Aussie journalists covering the Indonesian invasion of East Timor were murdered by the invaders. There are many allegations that the Government of the day knew about it, but did nothing. The journalists became known as the Balibo 5. Another journalist who became involved in the search for them was also murdered during the invasion. The Indonesian official who ordered the killings has never been brought to trial.

I hate injustice. Sounds like a must miss for me.

Anthony LaPaglia starred as the investigating journalist and also produced it.
So I guess The Cove is also out?

Saw District 9, a film made in South Africa with assistance from Peter Jackson. I really enjoyed it. It was a mockumentary, an allegory of the treatment of black people under apartheid but with aliens instead (!) I thought it was quirky, fun, different, unsettling and had many important points to make. They also paid homage to the Transformer movies so my boys enjoyed it too. It was great to be able to watch a multi-level film and discuss the 'stuff' in it as opposed to the simplistic rubbish that has no 'stuff'. Not a 'great' movie but one that has substance and the whole family (not littlies) can enjoy and discuss together.

Dead dolphins? Are you kidding me? A DEFINITE must miss.

Diary of a Nymphomaniac was good. Follows a woman's journey as she comes to terms with herself given that the only thing she doesn't enjoy about her proclivity is society's perception.

everyone loooves...the king of the sea......
gotta admit I'm skipping it too.....

Rarely go to the theater but did so today to spend time with a friend. 500 Days of Summer is most excellent. America cinema can be fine, and this is a rare example. Nice characters, quirky story telling, and a theme we can all relate to: being with "the one" when that person enjoys being there, but only for the moment.

Excellent, will look out for it.
Finally caught up with Todd Solandz's Happiness.....veeeery interesting!!!! It's 11 years old now and it is good to see that it still has the power to shock (or maybe it's just me!). Not for everyone but I 'enjoyed' its pitch black humour (I think!).

Hey Terry, you didn't mention that (500)DoS stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt!!!! I think he's great....LOVED The Brick...and, of course, 3rd Rock where we saw him grow up on TV....
(500)DoS is not out here for another 3 weeks, but the reviews have started.