If you enjoy these musings, do hop over and join my
newsletter. Immediately you will receive two fantastic short stories FREE.
You'll also be the first to know when I have exciting news to share like free
books (international) and film ticket giveaways (Australia). Plus, I share my
film, book, and theatre reviews there, so you won't miss out.
Maze Runner The Scorch
Trials ✪✪✪ (opens 10th
September))
My Thoughts
I’m becoming confused with these
young adult film book adaptations. They’re all broken up into a series, so end
on cliffhangers and continue for multiple films. Fine with TV shows because you
can come back the next week and remember what happened, but when you wait a
year between films, well, it might be my age, but I just forget who is who and
what is what. Then throw in the fact that between The Hunger Games, Divergent, and Maze Runner they’re all set in Dystopian worlds that look similar
and I’m lost.
My twelve-year-old is confused,
too. He sees too many films. In the first minutes of this, he leaned over to me
and said, “Mum, that’s the guy from Maze
Runner.”
“That’s what we’re watching,
love.”
“Oh, I thought you said it was The Scorch Trials.”
So funny, right?
Anyway, this one has some good
moments, but dies in the third act, when it should be ramping up. So many same-same
battles and chase scenes happening that it seemed rather unoriginal compared to
the first film, which was fascinating and mysterious. This one has some rather
fast zombie creatures, too, so Walking
Dead fans will enjoy.
It wasn’t too much of a trial to sit
through, but, certainly, I would say it didn’t pass with flying colors, either.
However, it may be the script is staying true to the book and so the fans might
be happy. Felt a tad tired.
Film Blurb
In this next chapter of the epic "Maze Runner" saga, Thomas
(Dylan O'Brien) and his fellow Gladers face their greatest challenge yet:
searching for clues about the mysterious and powerful organization known as
WCKD. Their journey takes them to the Scorch, a desolate landscape filled with
unimaginable obstacles. Teaming up with resistance fighters, the Gladers take
on WCKD's vastly superior forces and uncover its shocking plans for them all.
(C) Fox
People
Places Things ✪✪✪✪ (opens 10th September—Luna cinemas)
My Thoughts
What a delightful film. Just shows that when you have a smart script,
there are still engaging stories to be told about romance, broken families, and
everything in between. The trailer makes it appear to be a film kids could come
along and enjoy. In fact, my fifteen-year-old asked to come, so a few of his
and my thirteen-year-olds friends came. Color me embarrassed as its definitely
not for kids. There’s some adult themes and references in it.
The enjoyable part of this film is
the charm of New Zealand-born comic Jemaine Clement with his native New Zealand
accent playing against the Americans and their sensibilities. You might have
seen him recently in the vampire comedy What
We Do In The Shadows playing Vladislav. He’s doing very well for himself
with parts in Despicable Me, Muppets Most
Wanted, and a few other films. I can see him landing some much bigger roles
after this. He’s refreshing and very talented.
Great date night film. Just leave
the kiddies at home.
Film Blurb
Will Henry is a graphic novelist and a professor in NYC. At his adorable
twin girls' fifth birthday party, Will's life is turned upside down when he
walks in on the mother of his children, and longtime girlfriend, Charlie, with
their friend Gary. One year later, Will is still alone and trying to put his
life back together. He finds unexpected challenges when his talented student
Kat tries to set Will up with her accomplished mother Diane. In this thoughtful
comedy, Will is forced to navigate the unknown landscape of single fatherhood
and dating in New York City, while remaining an inspiration for his students
and coming to terms with himself both as a father as an artist.
My thoughts
I didn’t see this film at the
preview, but I watched the screener (which is industry speak for a vimeo link,
so reviewers can watch at their leisure). Perhaps it loses something off the
big screen, but I found this barely watchable. The camera handling is shaky.
Why? And, yes, it is kind of weird that these poor kids were never let outside
much to integrate into society, but where is the story? Where is something for
us to learn from the experience? Where are the interviews with a psychologist
or the people who helped these kids once their abuse came to the authorities’
attention?
All we get are these poor kids
re-enacting scenes from their favorite films, which is the only way they get to
live some kind of life, and old video of them when they were kids.
Director Crystal Moselle spent
five years documenting the Angulo brothers’ lives, and I think herein lays the
problem. Too much footage and a director too close to her subjects. I would
wait until it’s on TV and then catch it if you really feel the need. I don’t
think it is deserving of your hard-earned movie dollar.
Film Blurb
"Not since Grey Gardens has a
film invited us into such a strange, barely-functioning home ... altogether
fascinating. Five stars." – The Guardian
Locked away from society in an
apartment on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, the Angulo brothers learn about
the outside world through the films that they watch. Nicknamed the Wolfpack,
the brothers spend their childhood re-enacting their favourite films (Pulp
Fiction, The Dark Knight and The Fighter) using elaborate homemade props and
costumes. With no friends and living on welfare, they feed their curiosity,
creativity, and imagination with film, which allows them to escape from their
feelings of isolation and loneliness. Everything changes when one of the
brothers escapes (weariing a Michael Meyers mask for protection), and the power
dynamics in the house are transformed. The Wolfpack must learn how to integrate
into society without disbanding the brotherhood
Director Crystal Moselle spent
five years documenting the life of the Angulo brothers, including their first
forays into the outside world, creating a unique coming-of-age documentary.
Both a fly-on-the-wall record of a bizarre sociological phenomenon and a
fascinating insight into the nature of creativity and control, The Wolfpack is
a riveting experience. SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL GRAND JURY PRIZE WINNER
SPECIAL
EVENTS
Forces of Destiny
Date: Monday14th September Windsor
Cinema
& Monday 21st September Cinema
Paradiso
Time: 6:30pm
Join us for a special
Q&A screening with producer Maggie Miles, 14 September 6.30PM at Windsor
Cinema hosted by Ros Walker and with director Paul Cox, 21st of September
6.30PM at Cinema Paradiso hosted by Annie Murtagh-Monks, FTI Director,
Skills & Engagement.
From veteran Australian filmmaker Paul Cox
(Innocence, Molokai) comes his most autobiographical film, drawn from his own
personal battle with cancer.
David Wenham stars as Robert, a renowned
sculptor diagnosed with cancer of the liver. While reeling from this news he
meets Maya (Shahana Goswami), an Indian marine biologist who comes from a
different world, a different reality. Robert’s passion for Maya intensifies as
he confronts the agony and ecstasy of finding the love that has evaded him his
entire life, just as his body is about to be taken from him. Yet new hope comes
when he’s placed on the transplant waiting list. Filmed in Melbourne and India,
FORCE OF DESTINY is another screen gem from this Australian stalwart.
"A moving and compassionate
exploration of the human condition. One of Paul Cox’s most personal and
emotional films. David Wenham gives an exceptional performance." – David
Stratton
Love Live! The School Idol Movie.
Date: Sunday 12th September
Time: 4:00 pm
*Free poster per ticket purchased. Limited autographed boards (whilst stocks last) courtesy of
Madman and prizes from Tokyo
Underground and Yobe Chibicon Convention
prize for Best Dressed Cosplay!
When their school was at risk of shutting
down, nine students came together in order to save their school. How could they
save it? By becoming school idols! And thus the legend of μ's
("Muse") began! Now, three of the members are graduating. What will
happen to the group? With the clock ticking on their school idol life, the
girls decide to hold one last, great concert. But first they’ll need more
publicity… In order to spread the appeal of school idols, the girls travel to
America! Will they go out with a bang or a sizzle? Will they find the true
meaning of school idols? And will they learn the answer to this question…
“whose sake do you sing for?”
The Love Live Movie was the #1 film at the
Japanese box office for three weeks in a row, beating Mad Max: Fury Road and
Tomorrowland!This is movie follow-up to the popular two-season long anime. The
latest u’s CD topped the weekly charts in Japan and achieved Gold
status whilst the free IOS/Android rhythm game released in Japanese
in 2013 and in English in 2014. reached over 2,000,000 players for the English
version alone
The Met Opera: The Merry Widow Encore
Date: Sunday 12th & 13th
September
Time: 1:00 pm Luna Leederville 11:25 am Luna SX
The great
Renée Fleming stars as the beguiling woman who captivates all Paris in Lehár’s
enchanting operetta, seen in a new staging by Broadway virtuoso director and
choreographer Susan Stroman (The Producers, Oklahoma!, Contact). Stroman and
her design team of Julian Crouch (Satyagraha, The Enchanted Island) and costume
designer William Ivey Long (Cinderella, Grey Gardens, Hairspray) have created
an art-nouveau setting that climaxes with singing and dancing grisettes at the
legendary Maxim’s. Nathan Gunn co-stars as Danilo and Kelli O’Hara is
Valencienne. Sir Andrew Davis conducts. Original screened: 2015