WEEKLY REVIEW ROUND UP 1.6.2013

THIS WEEK'S PREVIEWS

This week the film everyone’s talking about and I disagree with the critics, THE GREAT GATSBY, a revenge drama with ‘that girl’, DEAD MAN DOWN, and a sweet, charming French Film CAMILLE REWINDS.

 (My movie Pick of the week)

The Great Gatsby
★★★★

Opens in Australia: 30^th May
Other Countries: Release Information
Perth, Australia: See at Luna Cinemas

OUR THOUGHTS

In the first five minutes I was in love with The Great Gatsby. The vibrancy of colour, the magnificent sets, the sumptuous feel, (just like the story) just drew me in.  

It’s taken a caning from the critics and I fail to see why. All I can think is the Americans don’t like other nationalities playing with their stuff, even though they’ve played with everyone else’s.  Surely Meryl Streep has played every major accent on screen, the most recently Great Britains Thatcher. So Aussies can do American classics surely?

Having read the book some thirty years ago I can’t verify how close to F. Scott Fitzerald’s great novel Luhrmann has stayed, although a fellow reviewer assures me it is pretty close.  Watching this really makes me want to revisit the novel and if the film does nothing else, it certainly has drawn some people back to the book.

Leonardo DiCaprio makes a marvellous Gatsby and Carey Mulligan shines as Daisy, the woman he could never forget. This is also most probably the best role Tobey Maguire has played as narrator and author Nick Carraway. Hollywood has obviously snaffled Australian Joel Edgerton, who holds his own as Tom Buchanan; no mean feat when you are sharing the screen with DiCaprio.  There is also a multitude of Aussies in the mix you can have fun spotting.

It is the most mainstream of Baz Luhrmann’s films—although you can tell it’s a Luhrmann from the opening scenes—and therefore very accessible for audiences.  The Great Gatsby is one of those films which suits Gold Class or La Premiere.  It’s luxury viewing all the way. 

STUDIO BLURB

"The Great Gatsby" follows Fitzgerald-like, would-be writer Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire) as he leaves the Midwest and comes to New York City in the spring of 1922, an era of loosening morals, glittering jazz, bootleg kings, and sky-rocketing stocks. Chasing his own American Dream, Nick lands next door to a mysterious, party-giving millionaire, Jay Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio), and across the bay from his cousin, Daisy (Carey Mulligan), and her philandering, blue-blooded husband, Tom Buchanan (Joel Edgerton). It is thus that Nick is drawn into the captivating world of the super rich, their illusions, loves and deceits. As Nick bears witness, within and without of the world he inhabits, he pens a tale of impossible love, incorruptible dreams and high-octane tragedy, and holds a mirror to our own modern times and struggles. -- (C) WB

Dead Man Down ★★★^½

Opens in Australia: 23rd May 2013
Other Countries: Release Information  

OUR THOUGHTS

By the end of this movie I still couldn’t tell you why it’s titled ‘Dead Man Down’.  Call me thick but the title probably doesn’t help promote what is a pretty good drama revgenge mystery.  Noomi Rapace (the original Girl With A Dragon Tattoo actress, Prometheus) is the real deal when it comes to mesmerising portrayals.  And the role of a surly, introvert with a hidden past is Colin Farrell all over.

Niels Arden Oplev who also directed the 'Swedish Girl With A Dragon Tattoo' and is currently directing Stephen King’s ‘Under The Dome’ TV series  has a good feel for this type of brooding revenge mystery.   The ending is a little bit out there but certainly a solid drama that whilst a little messy is still enjoyable.

STUDIO BLURB

  Niels Arden Oplev, the acclaimed director of the original The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, makes his American theatrical debut with the new action thriller, DEAD MAN DOWN. Colin Farrell and Noomi Rapace star as two strangers who are irresistibly drawn to one another by their mutual desire for revenge. The film co-stars Academy Award (R) nominee Terrence Howard and Dominic Cooper, from a screenplay by J.H.Wyman (Fringe). (c) Film District

Camille Rewinds ★★★^½
Camille redouble (original title)
Opens in Australia: 2^nd May 2013
Other Countries: Release Information
Perth, Australia: See at Luna Cinemas

OUR THOUGHTS

It’s bright and breezy and Peggy Sue Got Married (1984) but with the French propensity for theatrics and humour.  It’s not a classic but still a sweet tale of remembering new love and the promise it brings and asking how can we maintain and cherish that through life’s ups and downs.

STUDIO BLURB

Abandoned by her lifelong love for a younger woman on New Year's Eve, 40-year-old struggling actress Camille awakens in a hospital bed as a 16-year-old girl again, and vows to save herself from the heartache that awaits her in the future. Camille was just a teenager when she fell in love with Eric, and had a baby. Flash forward 25 years, and the man she thought she would grow old with is walking out of her life. When Camille gets the chance to do it all over again, she decides to avoid Eric, and change her future. But before long she's falling for Eric's boyish charm all over again, an unexpected development that puts a serious wrinkle in her brilliant plan. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi