The first Hobbit film, An Unexpected Journey was a loud, ugly overlong mess full of ridiculous dwarf sing-a-longs, tedious computer-generated battle sequences and interminable scenes of dwarves traipsing through the forest. It also featured characters suspiciously shoehorned into the story from other sources such as The Lord of the Rings. Lacking subtlety, emotional depth and the simple, pastoral charm of
Read moreAmerican Hustle is an intoxicating mix of 1970’s nostalgia, slow-burn crime drama and comedy that probes themes of deception and identity and constantly asks the question “who’s playing who?” American Hustle is, along with Silver Linings Playbook director David O. Russell’s second film of 2013 and together they reassert him as one of American cinema’s most important contemporary auteurs. Set
Read moreHappy New Year “Built For Speed” listeners. There’s no respite from the “Built For Speed” machine as we charge through Summer with more fine music, film reviews and pop cultural ramblings. For our first show of 2014 we look at two of the biggest films to hit our cinemas at the end of last year, riotous retro crime caper American
Read moreMerry Christmas one and all. Here’s my take on the best and worst films of the year as well as best and weirdest acting performances and best use of music in a film: Best Films of 2013 The Best Offer The Imposter Prisoners Blue Jasmine Before Midnight American Hustle Twenty Feet from Stardom World War Z Broken Captain Phillips Warm
Read moreWhat would an oppressively hot and sweaty Australian Christmas be without an animated Disney fantasy set in a wintery wonderland. Disney’s’ Christmas offering for 2013 is tween-oriented girl-power adventure, Frozen which is based on Hans Christian Anderson’s fable The Snow Queen. Kristen Bell stars as the voice of irrepressible teen princess Anna whose family rules the fictitious kingdom of Arrendelle. Following
Read moreSet mostly in 1980 and based on a true story, British-Australian co-production The Railway Man begins as a typically quirky, charming romance set in a world of steam trains and verdant English countryside. The film recalls Brief Encounter as the calm, sensible and sensitive Patti (Nicole Kidman) meets and eventually marries the awkward, dishevelled trainspotting nerd Eric Lomax (Colin Firth).
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