Many cinemagoers might have feared that Hercules would be yet another moronic, CGI-drenched video game-like action fest. Despite the fact that it is mostly composed of sword-swinging battle scenes and that it stars former pro-wrestler Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in the title role, this vaguely post-modern take on the Hercules legend is surprisingly enjoyable. In a plot that resembles Seven
Read moreFollowing The Tracker and Ten Canoes, Rolf de Heer’s Charlie’s Country completes a film trilogy that intelligently and confrontingly examines the experience of indigenous Australians. David Gulpilil plays the title character, a man in his early 60’s eking out an existence in a government run indigenous town camp. Once a celebrated dancer who performed at the opening of the Sydney
Read moreThis week on Built For Speed we take a look at two very different movies: Rolf de Heer’s latest film, low-key drama Charlie’s Country and big-budget fantasy block-buster Hercules. There’s also plenty of fine music with a selection of favourite tracks from across the decades and new material from Honey Blood, Temples and many others. Don’t forget our regular round-up
Read moreMrs Brown’s Boys D’Movie is the big-screen adaptation of the surprisingly successful TV sit-com Mrs Brown’s Boys a gleeful yet rarely funny throwback to the broad British working class sit-coms of the 1970’s. I grew up with shows like On the Buses, Benny Hill, Dick Emery, Love Thy Neighbour and Mind Your Language so I have some nostalgic affection for
Read moreIt may be clever, politically aware and intellectually dense but comedy/ drama The French Minister is one of the most annoying films of the year. Like a quirky, manic French take on The West Wing, this journey into the hyper-stressed world of French politics mostly consists of obnoxious, arrogant buffoons spouting grandiose and mostly incomprehensible waffle. The main offender is
Read moreThe ever-controversial Roman Polanski is back with his latest film Venus in Fur. This film which depicts an audition for a play which is based on another play which is based on a novel and which also toys with perceptions of Polanski himself, takes the concept of a meta-movie to a bizarre new level. Not surprisingly, it’s hard to tell
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