Movie review - "Fly Me to the Moon" (2024) ***

 Sweet romantic comedy with a strong idea - background to the Moon landing - and theme - about selling, and the truth - is an enjoyable watch. It didn't have to close $100 million, this should've been a $40 million film. Maybe too much plot in the last act.

Movie review - "Captain America: Civil War" (2016) ***1/2

 The Marvel gang can be annoying with their hair transplants, pilates physiques and perfect teeth but this is a super slick very well done movie, admirable in its action scenes and way it juggles so many characters. Dull villain, manufactured heart (Stark's parents were murdered, etc), brilliant airport fight sequence.

Tom Holland steals the show as Spiderman.

Movie review - "Sing 2" (2021) ***

 Like an old school musical - a rickety book (about putting on a show in a Las Vegas type city) - but packed full of songs and charm. Looks great on the big screen with all that colour and detail. I liked the mother pig with all her piglets getting a big chance. A lot of the voices felt familiar - well, they were played by stars. Chelsea Peretti is the talent scout, Bono is the lion singer, Spike Jonze is the assistant. When you see Wes Anderson did the voices you realise a lot of the cool kids are here. It was fun.

Movie review - "Marriage Story" (2019) ****

Very good acting. Maybe Scarlett Johansson was outclassed by the others at times but she did pretty well. Intense scenes. Great supporting turns from Ray Liotta and Laura Dern especially - they felt like Hollywood agents as much as lawyers: bombastic, aggressive but not inaccurate Liotta, and nice but nasty Dern, taking her shoes off in the office and talking about her book.

Also strong were Julie Hegarty (so great to see her in a high profile movie), Alan Alda, Merrit Weaver, Wallace Shawn. The character of Driver's mistress was sketchy (she seemed to go from casual root to "I love you" quite quickly). Occasionally sometimes it felt "gag-y."

But it's strong. It's passionate. It's very specific but that gives it universality. Maybe don't watch it with your partner.

Movie review - "Iron Man 2" (2008) **

I heard it wasn't very good and it isn't. I watched it for completion's sake. The photograph is lovely and the cast is strong but it's not exciting. It just feels made for money.

Gwyneth Paltrow and Scar Jo are wasted - they even wear identical clothes. Mickey Rourke is kind of fun as a villain but his character is rote. Garry Shandling isn't allowed to do anything much.

There's no sense of fun, danger, excitement. Robert Downey's X factor isn't exploited. I mean, it's in focus and all that.

Movie review - "Avengers Endgame" (2019) ***1/2 (warning: spoilers)

So much has been written about this I'll just throw in random thoughts:
- they pulled off a very difficult act but then Marvel figured out what so many other super hero groups didn't... to make the stories human and personal and add humour
- there's a lot of hair piece acting in the film
- I didn't like it as much as the first... the surviving people were mostly pretty dull... the first third was awkward (surely Thanos' head could've been cut off in part one?) but the second half picks up
- loved fat Thor - finally a Chris Hemsworth part I can relate to
- if the future is changed then wouldn't that mean Robert Downey Jnr's kid would die?
- I did cry at Downey's death but I did see this on a plane
- Gwyneth Paltrow looks silly in an iron man costume but I guess it was effective to have her there at the end
- Michelle Pfeiffer's cameo is weird
- What happened to the romance between Hulk and Natasha?
- missed Dr Strange vs Iron Man most of all
- Very rousing when all the Avengers get together.

Movie review - "Avengers: Infinity War" (2018) **** (warning: spoilers)

A genuine marvel, if you'll excuse the pun - how they pulled off such a juggling act, which so much expectation and so many characters to service. And they did, big time.

How? Well the basic story is super duper simple - bad guy wants stones. Easy to follow. They focus on character work - a few characters in particular who have depth, so at the end when everyone "dies" it means something: there's the father-son relationship between Tony Stark and Peter Parker, the rivalry between the egomaniacs/basically same character Stark and Dr Strange, the romances between Vision and Scarlett and the Star lord and Gamora, and the father-daughters relationship between Thanos and Gamora.

Characters like Black Widow, Steve Rodgers, Black Panther, etc take more of a back seat, which is entirely appropriate. Thor has a great moment with a semi nervous breakdown. Plenty of smart lines, and extremely well done action sequences.  A very good movie.

Movie review - "Scoop" (2006) **1/2

Minor league Woody which you might have resented paying $15 for at the cinema but at home free on TV it's fine. The one real dash of inspiration comes when Ian MacShane dies (off screen) and pops up on the ferry to the land of the dead... then he drops his knowledge off to Scarlett Johansson and kind of plops out of the movie. It's Scarlett playing Nancy Drew with magician Woody Allen.

Like many later Woody movies there's elements from his earlier ones - Manhattan Murder Mystery in particular but also New York Stories (the magic segment). Romola Gorai pops up to suggest young Scarlett have an affair - and that's it. Seriously that's her role.

Scarlett is winning and pretty - as is Hugh Jackman, who plays the main suspect. It has pleasing locations and photography and Woody isn't bad. Admittedly my expectations were so low after hearing so many bad things about this but I enjoyed it.

Movie review - "The Avengers: Age of Ultron" (2015) **

Something inside me snapped while watching this film: I'm over Marvel. Over their smug, quippy films with their really good actors playing cutouts, with their celebration of fascist values not very artfully disguised, with their top secret organisations constantly recruiting new super heroes for their nefarious means.

This feels like a stock episode of a very expensive TV show. They only kill off one major person, someone we barely know. There's a little bit of urst between Scarlett Johanssen and Mark Ruffalo but not much; I expected Jeremy Renner's wife and kids to be killed or at least threatened, but they aren't - so why introduce them; they don't even kill off the villain they just keep introducing more and more characters; there's a little bit of conflict between the Avengers but not much. Joss Whedon has said he was inspired by The Godfather II - well, Fredo was killed in that film, and mum Corleone died... nothing that big happens here.

The action sequences feel generic. Everyone looks as though they eat well and go the gym. There's no emotion and lots of unpleasant political undertones. The cast is very strong and there are some bright lines.

Movie review - "Her" (2013) ****

I was resistant seeing this because all the hipsters seemed to like it, and I have an instinctive aversion to cool group movies, and Spike Jonze is very much in the cool group, but it's lovely. Simple and lovely with Joaquin Phoenix falling in love with the voice of Scarlett Johanssen - both a very good. The characters in the film don't really judge Phoenix for what he does, and the twist is she falls for him more than he goes for her.

I did struggle to believe Phoenix's job - writing letters for people. Didn't feel like a real job felt like something people do in movies. Excellent support cast eg Chris Pratt, Amy Adams, Olivia Wilde.

Movie review - "Chef" (2014) *** (warning: spoilers)

Entertaining quasi-indie film about a movie director (sorry, chef - Jon Favreau), who is frustrated that the studio (sorry, restaurant owner - Dustin Hoffman) won't let him make the films (sorry, food) the way he wants, preferring to use establish tropes and things that have worked before (sorry, dishes). He gets in a slanging match with a movie critic (sorry, food blogger), and gets inspired to make an independent movie (sorry, food truck) like he used to. He has a devoted film crew (sorry, chef crew) and despite being a tubby man he is able to bang the hot actress (sorry, waitress - Scarlett Johansson) and has to get backing from an independent movie financier (sorry, his ex wife's ex husband - Robert Downey Jnr).

Favreau has stated this isn't autobiographical because in real life he's not divorced or estranged from his child - but in this movie he actually gets along very well with his child (they keep throwing in lines of dialogue how they don't but in every scene they seem to get along great) and he has the best relationship with an ex wife I've ever seen in a movie - so much so that at the end of the movie they're back together, without even a real scene showing them reconnecting.

Okay I'm starting to sound mean and I didn't intend that. This is a sweet film - yes, about the struggles of a millionaire film director, and it goes on too long, and is strict wish fulfillment (eg "critics and the public will like you if you just follow your heart"), but there is lots to admire: a big heart, a star studded cast (Downey Jnr's turn is particularly hilarious), a heavily hispanic feel in terms of food and art direction (something still not common in Hollywood films), and some excellent food porn. It's one of the most cleverly made indi films I've seen - a personal movie but stuffed full of things to entertain you if you're not into that personal message: movie stars, good foods, and interesting visuals. Aussie filmmakers take note!

Movie review - "We Bought a Zoo" (2011) ***

A film that is so sweet and good natured with such a big heart that at times you really don't mind it's flaws - the length (two hours), ambling narrative, the fact it really should have played greater attention to subplots and been made in England. That country seems to suit these stories more, with its animal love and abundance of character actors and great experience in ensemble drama, than Hollywood, with it's emphasis on heroes journeys. There's also the fact that Matt Damon isn't really that terrific in ordinary guy parts - there's nothing wrong with his acting, you just wish they'd found a young Tom Hanks or gotten Tom Cruise to do it - a star who can coast on their personality more.

But it is sweet, full of emotion, stuff like "all you need are 20 seconds of pure courage" really work, the love of a man for his dead wife is well conveyed (although it must be easier when Scarlett Johansson is there as a replacement). Cute kids and animals and young teen romance.  Impossible to dislike.

Movie review - "The Avengers" (2012) **** (warning: spoilers)

To think we were stuck with all those David Koepp adaptations over the years when Joss Whedon was around to bring comic book adaptations to life. It's one of the best big screen versions of a comic book I can think of - smart, funny, and it mostly spanks along. It does drag for a bit around the two thirds mark - there was a lot of hanging around on that big ship, and in common with many of these spectacles I found the destruction and action wearying after a while because it didn't seem wedded to anything real.

One of the unwritten rules about blockbusters is a friend of the hero needs to die around the two-thirds mark - since we know none of the Avengers are going to cark it, I figured it would either be Clark Gregg or that woman from How I Met Your Mother (who I didn't spot straight away - I had to google her afterwards), and I was right. They don't do much with the concept of Captain America being in the modern era, which one would have thought was rich fodder, but maybe they're holding that off for his own sequel. Thor is good for a few laughs, but he's a foreigner so doesn't have that much stake in Earth. 

The meatiest roles go to Iron Man (which is the best part really because it's got the best lines - he also gets a romance plot with Gwyneth Paltrow), Hulk and Black Widow. The Black Widow stuff with Hawk seemed a little under developed but then I haven't seen Iron Man 2.

Scarlett Johansson is sexy but not terribly convincing as a woman of action. Mark Ruffalo is superb at the Hulk, and gets to take part in the best action sequence - despatching Loki. Great to see on the big screen. Hopefully Whedon will make several blockbusters, as I feel he's more needed in the movies than TV as there are plenty of good TV shows still out there but few films.

Script review – “Match Point” by Woody Allen

I wasn’t sure if this was a shooting script or post production (the title didn’t say) – but it includes all those “hi” “ok” “how are you” bits that were in the film. Indeed, this is a strikingly flabby, long script with some really clunky dialogue. Young people talking about opera, unconvincing discussions about business. If it was from a first time writer I imagine the studios would justifiably want it given a solid edit. They’d also note it rips off Crimes and Misdemeanours a lot. But it was from Woody Allen – and the result was one of the biggest hits of his career.

It’s still not a bad story – the central theme about the importance of luck is an intriguing one (interesting Woody thinks about this as he’s one of the hardest working filmmakers in the world today, all about work, work, work – but he’s received a due amount of good and bad luck in his life). Allen succeeds in getting into the skin of Chris, the tormented tennis pro, and Nola, the crazy, sexy aspiring actress (a number of variations of her have appeared in his scripts over the years). A decent work, which was filmed and acted very well, but not a masterpiece.

Movie review – “He’s Just Not That Into You” (2009) ****

Sweet, well made romantic comedy which benefits from being an ensemble piece, thus can be a bit less predictable in its final couplings. This takes on lots of aspects of male-female relationships – what men really mean when they’re talking to women, adultery and compromise within marriage, the role of urban legends in creating female expectations.

A very likable all-star cast – Kevin Connolly could have a real career ahead of him as a character lead, and Justin Long continues to impress with every performance he gives. Ben Affleck is a little irritating but he’s not in it very long; it’s nice to see Jennifer Aniston play a role that suits her age for a change; Bradley Cooper is a bit creepy but that suits his part; Drew Barrymore doesn’t have a very big role – I was wondering why she didn’t play the one taken by Gennifer Godwin, maybe she felt she was too old. 

The film could have explored the “she’s just not into you” dynamic as well – the phenomenon of guys chasing after woman; they touch on it a little with the Connolly-Scarlett Johansson relationship but it’s far more weighted towards the martyrdom of women. But then, the film knows its demographic. Great to see a rom com not set in frigging New York City.

NB Godwin does a tremendous bit of acting – when Long tells her some hard fact of life about men she does this wonderful double take, her eyes bugging out. A good female friend of mine does just the same thing – wonderful.

Movie review – “Vicky Christy Barcelona” (2008) ***1/2

Woody makes another decent film during his sunset years – who would have thunk it? Match Point wasn’t a fluke after all. As with that film, one can’t help feeling that he was invigorated by a change in locale – in this case Spain. Apparently the Spanish government paid for a whack of the budget (via their film fund), annoying many Spanish filmmakers, and while I can sympathise with them, to be fair they’ll probably get their money back on this one, and also it’s a fantastic ad for Spain. The photography is gorgeous and pretty much every scene has the characters in a stunning house or great restaurant, or looking at some scenery. Throw in some attractive movie stars and a breezy air and you don’t mind the long running time and flabby nature of the piece. Well, not that much.

Javier Baderm is perfect as the womanising painter – who else could have played this role if the actor had become unavailable – and Penelope Cruz is terrific as his crazy ex (she’s a 110% better actor in Spanish). Scarlett Johansson is beautiful and in good form, too, as a typical Allen younger character, i.e. a love hungry crazy up for any sort of adventure (eg Juliette Lewis in Husbands and Wives, Scarlett in Match Point, Rhada Mitchell in Melinda and Melinda). Rebecca Hall is beautiful too as her friend although her performance is a bit iffy. Maybe I was having a hard time adjusting to her speaking voice or something. She was a little flat. The guy who played her fiancée was really bad. This is a film that needed a star – Badern, Cruz and Johansson are, Hall isn’t. (It’s like a film for a young Mia Farrow and Diane Keaton, but while they got the young Mia they couldn’t find the young Diana).

This is the first Allen picture in ages too which young people, especially young women, could enjoy – it doesn’t talk down to them and Allen seems to have affection for his characters. It doesn’t strike the false notes that pop up in so many of his other recent films. It probably could have done with a comedy subplot with a young Woody working at the American consulate or something – but Woody is too old now and who can play a young version of him?

Movie review - "The Prestige" (2006) ***1/2

Bit of a story to watching this: went to the cinema to watch something, anything - ended up going to Eragon, couldn't go past 15 minutes (Girl Zone hero who can't act, dragons, important stone, evil king - it was like something written and made by a computer), so decided to see something else. It was George St in Sydney - 16 theatres so could find something, right? Well, we'd seen Casino Royale and The Departed, couldn't face A Scanner Darkly or Saw III. Eventually picked this and didn't regret it.

Chris Nolan is a top director even when not at the exact top of his game - the film has a beautiful look, and fairly spanks along with some non-linear editing. Chris Bale and Michael Caine come off best from the cast - Hugh Jackman is a bit too naturally nice, and Scarlett Johannson, while looking splendid in a series of outfits, still comes across a bit high school musical. I kept wishing that Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff played the leads. You'll probably spot the twist but I still found it satisfying.

Movie review - The Black Dahlia (2006) **

James Ellroy isn’t the easiest writer to adapt but LA Confidential proved it can be done – that was superior in every way to this effort, which botches an atmospheric tale despite the talent of people involved. LA Confidential had vivid characters and a plot that, while tricky, could be followed – this should have both those things but has neither.

Casting doesn’t help – Josh Harnett is way too vanilla and lightweight for his role (crying out for Bob Mitchum, or a young Russell Crowe or even Heath Ledger); ditto Scarlett Johansen – the two of them seem like kids in a high school play. Even Hilary Swank falters, too, though she’s a bit better; Aaron Eckhardt is better as well, though his descent into obsession is poorly developed. 

There are far too many shots of people smoking (it just gets irritating) and people wear costumes and hairstyles like they’re costumes not clothes. Brian de Palma’s films often have a slightly operatic, non-realistic touch - sometimes it works, here it doesn’t. 

The supporting actors do not save the day, and many scenes are awfully staged (like the final denouement). The film looks handsome, there is some well staged action and a creepy sequence where Hartnett finds the murder sight. But the film is a bit of a mess and a big disappointment.

Movie review - "In Good Company" (2006) **

Paul Weitz proved his chops with About a Boy and this had a terrific topic for satire: a middle aged man (Dennis Quaid, perfectly cast) finds himself with a new boss (Topher Grace, also perfect) who is half his age... then finds the new boss pursuing his daughter (Scarlett Johannson, perfectly fine performance wise but too Scarlett Johannson to be ideally cast). 

The result is disappointingly flat - the fangs are dulled, the laughs few and far, the drama tepid. It is well acted, but feels like opportunity missed: Quaid has to take out a second mortgage so that Johannson can move out of home... because she feels like it???... So she can study at NYU??? Study creative writing at NYU??? 

The character of Quaid's wife is under-used, ditto Grace's (Selma Blair, again playing the other woman). The film earns points for not getting Grace and Johannson and the end and for not making Grace's character a stock villain or hero. Its all intelligent, just flat.

Movie review - "Match Point" (2006) ***

I didn't find this the masterpiece some have claimed, but I enjoyed it - I certainly didn't experience the feeling of disappointment I've had with every new Woody film since the mid 90s. It's wonderful to see Woody outside of New York (if only he'd dump the credits and the music) although he treats London the same cinematically as Manhattan - plenty of restaurants, theatres, art galleries, houses in the country.

The story is basically a remake of the Martin Landau section of Crimes and Misdemeanors, dragged out for two hours (there is even an equivalent of Sam Waterston's rabbi - a tennis pro that Rhys Myers confesses to) - it feels as though it could use a subplot, and that there are too many scenes. It also has occasionally clunky moments of dialogue which feel like "Woody doesn't really know how people talk".
But there are advantages: Scarlett Johanssen and Jonathan Rhys Myers are really good (it's the first time I've liked Rhys Myers in anything); they give the film a genuine sexual charge and some scenes - particularly making love in a rain storm - are the most erotic in any Woody Allen film; there is accomplished acting throughout the cast and a lovely twist at the end.