Van Diemen's Land - Movie Poster

Van Diemen's Land

2.5 Anthony Macali

The true story of Alexander Pearce, Australia's most notorious convict. In 1822, Pearce and seven fellow convicts escaped from Macquarie Harbour.

"Van Diemen's Land" plays like a horror/slasher film. The format is very simple: convicts sit by the fire hiding fears they're the next to be killed, and then proceed to walk through the forest (in the most captivating moments of the film), before one is inevitably bludgeoned to death for food. If we were able to associate more with the characters' hunger and desperation, it may have had a greater impact, but in the end it's just simple and barbaric.


The Trip - Movie Poster

The Trip

2.5 Stefan Bugryn

Steve Coogan and fellow comedian Rob Brydon eat and drink their way through a restaurant tour.

It's quite difficult to categorise this film. It's part travel show, part culinary diary, part documentary, part comedy! In this respect it is truly unique, but the lack of any discernable events or conflict also make it a little uninteresting. It's almost like you're just waiting until the actors start doing their own comedic character impressions again, which are actually hilarious. Had they ingrained some sort of incident, drama, anything... it would have been a lot more engaging. Instead, we're literally just dished up two mates dining at restaurants and cracking jokes.


Like Crazy - Movie Poster

Like Crazy

2.5 Anthony Macali

A British student falls for an American, only to be separated from him after overstaying her visa.

"Like Crazy" is a hazy memory of a distant relationship. A couple separated by an ocean, and thanks to their foolishness, a visa. They walk, they laugh, they fall in love, and it quickly turns saccharine. If you don't sympathise with the plight of the two, the story becomes quite tedious. Captured are some beautifully observed and genuine moments, but they are lost in the introduction of new characters of affection. The experience is like watching two people kissing in a park. You tend to stare, before quickly wishing they would find a room, and not a film.


Sister Smile - Movie Poster

Sister Smile

2.5 Anne Murphy

A biography of Belgian nun Jeannine Deckers, who became a popular singer in the early 1960s and came out of the closet.

It's said that truth is stranger than fiction, and while the 'Singing Nun' had a very strange life, it borders on dull when stretched to fill a feature film. The story is neatly presented in chronological sequence, and beautifully filmed to capture the era. Unfortunately, this bio-pic sticks to the facts and barely scratches the surface with any deeper connection to the characters. Expect a limited life span from this disappointing tale of a one-hit wonder.


Whatever Works - Movie Poster

Whatever Works

2.5 Anne Murphy

Attempting to impress his ideologies on religion, relationships, and the randomness of existence, lifelong N.Y. resident Boris Yellnikoff rants to anyone who will listen, including the audience.

"Whatever Works" contains all of the autobiographical elements expected from this writer-director. From the New York City neighbourhoods that form the urban backdrop, to the unlikely romantic action, it's a little predictably familiar. Enjoy the existential ponderings, the witty 'kvetching' and the laugh out loud one-liners. It is not so much a return-to-form as a return-to-the-familiar for the film-maker, an encore of what used to work.


Raavan - Movie Poster

Raavan

2.5 Amit Jain

A bandit leader kidnaps the wife of the policeman who killed his sister, but later falls in love with her.

This film attempts to recreate the Indian mythology of "Ramayana" into a modern tale. The cinematography is amazing, magnificently shot in the remote jungles of India and accompanied by a beautiful soundtrack. However, even though the music may be a treat to your ears, the film lacks soul in terms of story, and the screenplay lacks substance or the presence of an exciting climax. Although "Raavan" might lose direction in its distinction between the main character's identity as brutal demon or outlaw helping the poor, it's still worth a watch if not simply for the stellar cast.


Mademoiselle Chambon - Movie Poster

Mademoiselle Chambon

2.5 Anne Murphy

Jean, his loving wife and son live a simple, happy life.

"Mademoiselle Chambon" is an emotional drama laden with unexpressed feeling that hovers between sensitive and stagnant. While subtlety must have been the director's intention, the effect is slack and stifled. The story has a very long fuse, as restraint is favoured over illicit passion. Unfortunately, the wick is so slow burning that by the final scene interest in the characters has been extinguished. With barely any action and sparse dialogue, the movie fails to ignite (which could be the point), and for many this film will seem pointless.


Beauty - Movie Poster

Beauty

2.5 Anne Murphy

A man's unhappy existence comes unravelled after a chance encounter with an old friend's son.

Post-apartheid South Africa looks dated, painted in sepia tones, in this film about repression and infatuation. The central character is tormented with closeted rage. He is so emotionally taut there is an almost explosive undercurrent threading the increasingly uncomfortable scenes. Although noisy with background sounds there are long sequences without dialogue which serves to add to the dangerous mood. Ultimately the narrative is insufficient to provide coherence, which lets down interest as the pace stumbles. Mirror mirror on the wall not much beauty here at all.


I Love You Phillip Morris - Movie Poster

I Love You Phillip Morris

2.5 Anne Murphy

Steven Russell is happily married to Debbie, a member of the local police force, when a car accident provokes a dramatic reassessment of his life.

"I Love You Phillip Morris" contains some squirmingly uncomfortable stereotyping of various characters, and a flawed portrayal of gay men played for laughs by straight men. It's as unfunny as it is shallow, particularly disappointing is that the central romance is underdeveloped. The story, with its furious pace, covers a lot of events, mostly prison escapes, and unfortunately that's at the expense of real insight or depth. You might love Phillip Morris but probably not Steven Russell.


The Tree - Movie Poster

The Tree

2.5 Anne Murphy

Fate strikes taking the father of a family of four and leaving his daughter convinced that her dad still lives in the giant fig tree growing near their house.

There is a tension between holding on and letting go, mourning and living that's central to the plot. The idea behind the story is imaginative and unfortunately the movie lacks depth on the screen as does the dialogue that fails to hold interest. Even the characters at their best are blandly stereotypical. Thankfully the Australian countryside is magnificent, as is the titular tree. It just doesn't take root.


Countdown to Zero - Movie Poster

Countdown to Zero

2.5 Stefan Bugryn

An intensive look at the atomic bomb, from its history, to where it's at now, and where its heading.

Much like any other documentary, if you don't have an underlying interest in the subject matter, you won't engage with the narrative. This is no different for "Countdown to Zero". There are tidbits of interest, but there's probably not enough 'wow' factor to suck everyone in. Lucky for some, what could have been a harrowingly complex story full of jargon and gobbledygook has been simplified for a wider audience. But if you don't like bombs, then you just don't like bombs. Stay for the countdown if you want.


Route Irish - Movie Poster

Route Irish

2.5 Andrew O'Dea

A private security contractor sets out to discover the truth about his friend's death in Iraq.

Although gripping at times, "Route Irish" is too often let down by pointless tangents in its story and the fact that it constantly feels the need to explain the plot rather than letting the audience figure it out for themselves. Not exactly the most effective technique when trying to heighten a 'thriller'. Combined with a melodramatic ending and characterisation that is let down by some sub-par acting, the film attempts to make a concerted political commentary on the Iraqi war that doesn't quite have the impact it should. No through-road.


Zero Focus - Movie Poster

Zero Focus

2.5 Anne Murphy

Spurred by the disappearance of a newly-wed husband, three women in post-war Japan are drawn into a murder mystery.

"Zero Focus" is a mystery thriller set in post-war Japan. The plot is complicated and bodies pile up as the murders out-number the suspects. The movie is moody and melodramatic, evoking the classical work of directors from a past era. Despite the cultural setting there is familiarity to the style and unusual camera angles. The lengthy drama is eventually brought to a lengthy conclusion, but no thread is left unexplained as final scene follows final scene, leaving focus diminished.


The Extra Man - Movie Poster

The Extra Man

2.0 Tom Jones

A man who escorts wealthy widows in New York's Upper East Side takes a young aspiring playwright under his wing.

Louis Ives travels to New York city to discover who he is. Is he a gentleman? An escort? A writer? Or... a woman? Much like the central character, this film suffers from its own identity crisis; it has no identity. The characters are not relatable on any level and this undermines the film's realistic base to the point where it's hard to take it seriously at all. Set in the city that never sleeps, this film may actually send you to sleep.


Canteen - Movie Poster

Canteen

2.0 Anne Murphy

The events in a night, from dusk to dawn, at a roadside kebab caravan, Kantina.

People come and go throughout the night, what brings them to the canteen is a mystery - most don't drop in for the food. What does happen is a confusion of events and characters. Greek speakers in the audience will chuckle more than the non-Greek speakers, as the subtitles seem to lose something in translation. As the canteen's patrons muddled along throughout the disjointed storyline, it's no surprise the production quality suffered the same fate and was inconsistent from scene to scene. You'll be left hungry after visiting "Canteen".