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The Woodsman
2006-07-30 10:57:00
Given the subject matter, it is not all that surprising that this is an uncomfortable, creepy and difficult film to watch. Kevin Bacon stars as a recently released paedophile who is trying to readjust to society having just spent 12 years in jail. I found it very difficult to enjoy this film due to the moral issues it raised throughout. Whilst at times it is possible to feel some sympathy for the main character, I don't think the viewer is ever truly convinced he has reformed his ways (or will ever reform his ways) and so the connection is never bridged. I really did not enjoy this film but it was interesting to see a movie deal with such a difficult issue.Movie reviews, book reviews, theatre reviews
More About: Wood , Woods , The Woodsman

Oleanna
2006-07-28 14:49:00
I had read bits and pieces about this film over the years but I had never really known what it was about. The movie is essentially a 3 act play with only two speaking parts - that of the Professor and his student. As the film progresses and various accusations are made you really need to work hard to think through your own interpretation of events. It is certainly a thought provoking and at times confronting movie. However even as the tension builds, nothing had prepared me for the final 5 minutes of the film as the rational characters unravel. I don't want to spoil this for anyone by saying what happens but I do thoroughly recommend this movie - just be prepared for something a little different.Movie reviews, book reviews, theatre reviews
More About: Lean , Anna

Syriana
2006-07-15 01:26:00
I had really been looking forward to seeing this movie since it had such good reviews and George Clooney had won the Best Supporting Oscar. As much as I love George, I don't think he deserved the Oscar for this role. I liked the movie but, and it is a big but, I found it very hard to follow. I just accepted about a quarter of the way through that I did not know who all the various key players were going to be or how they fitted in to the film in any great depth, and went with it anyway. Perhaps that is the reality - the international oil trade is messy with lots of people involved and noone really understands the whole picture. I do recommend this movie but be prepared to work while watching it.Movie reviews, book reviews, theatre reviews
More About: Syria , Syrian

Shopgirl
2006-07-09 08:02:00
This is a classic thinking person's chick flick. I really, really loved it. There were many times in the film that I could not predict what was going to happen in the next scene, let alone how it would end. Steve Martin is brilliantly creepy and somewhat unpredictable in this dramatic role with not a shred of slapstick to be seen. Claire Danes is also divine. The ending was as it should have been, but that did not stop me having a tear or two. Well worth seeing.Movie reviews, book reviews, theatre reviews
More About: Girl , Shop

9 Songs
2006-07-08 06:21:00
I did not make it all the way through this film. It was not that I was being a prude (since the R rating is not there for nothing) but it is was just boring. In fact I watched this film with a guy (who you would have thought would have appreciated the sex scenes!) and he fell asleep!!The film shows the ultimate decline of a relationship - warts and all - but it is very slow in places and I think the music (and sex scenes) dominated the film far too much. I don't really recommend this film unless there is nothing else at the video shop to rent.Movie reviews, book reviews, theatre reviews
More About: Songs , Song

The Audrey Hepburn Story
2006-07-05 01:59:00
This film is a typical made-for-TV biopic. It is not bad, but it is very long (almost 3 hours) and incredibly, it does not portray Audrey Hepburn 's life story as all that interesting. Jennifer Love Hewitt does seem to have a good resemblance to Hepburn which helps, but all in all it is fairly mundane. Worth watching if there is absolutely nothing else on TV.Movie reviews, book reviews, theatre reviews
More About: Story , Stor , The A , Tory

Napoleon Dynamite
2006-07-02 14:11:00
I know this is a cult classic but I just could not get into it (and in fact did not finish the movie). I thought there were some hilarious moments and the characters are just sooooo incredibly daggy it is wonderful, but there was just no plot - in fact nothing seems to happen at all. I was waiting for the hook to keep me interested but it was not forthcoming. In the end there is only so much of Napoleon's bizarre personality that you can cope with. I just can't agree with all the fans of this strange film and other than a quick look to see how odd Napoleon is, don't bother watching.Movie reviews, book reviews, theatre reviews
More About: Dynamite , Pole , Mite , Leon , Nami

My Architect : A Son's Journey
2006-07-02 14:06:00
This is a relatively interesting documentary about a son determined to find out about his famous, but absent, father. The most interesting part of the film is the fact that the famous architect in question had three families running at once - in the same town - but noone seems to have known about it or questioned it too much later. The movie tends to spend too much time on his buildings rather than his fascinating dysfunctional family life. Nevertheless, it is interesting and also sad since the son of the film never really knew his father. Worth a quick look.Movie reviews, book reviews, theatre reviews
More About: Journey , Archi , Architect

America's Next Top Model - Cycle 6
2006-06-30 14:52:00
I have been holding out on reviewing TV shows but I can do so no longer. I am going to 'out' myself as a real lover of reality TV. It is just so easy and mindless to watch.Anyway, I have just finished watching the final episode of America 's Next Top Model - Cycle 6. I have a strange addition to this show. I have seen all the previous series as well - sad, but true.In the final episode, Danielle is crowned America's Next Top Model. I was floored - I was utterly convinced it was going to be Joanie and I still think it should have been. I think if Joanie had not been a carbon copy of last years winner she may have had more of a chance. Was anyone else out there surprised that Danielle won?Cycle 6 also saw Jade crash onto our TV screens. I am still trying to work out what she is on. Regardless, at least she was one of the more entertaining model wanna-be's they have had on the show. I am looking forward to watching Cycle 7 but they seem to show the series in Australia at least a ye...