Great week for film releases,
people. A feel good film that will leave you very hungry, an hilarious “so
wrong” comedy, and a reasonably decent period piece. There’s truly something for everyone. Go buy
a movie ticket this week and chill out for a few hours of fun.
(My movie Pick
of the week)
Chef
✪✪✪✪½
Opens
in Australia: 8th May 2014
USA: 9th May 2014
UK: 18th
June 2014
OUR THOUGHTS
Do not go to this film on an empty stomach. You
will come out starving. There’s a lot of loving food preparation, and its not
only interesting but mouth watering. A friend called it “food porn.”
Jon Favreau is a charm as Chef Casper along with
everyone else in the cast playing so well together. When they talk about
chemistry between actors this is a good example. Occasionally you get these
little gems out of Hollywood where the comedy is fun, the story simple but
genuine, and the actors all play well together. Robert Downey Jr. even makes an
unnecessary appearance, but, hey, he’s always good value.
First film, too, that I’ve seen that deals with
social media going terribly wrong and terribly right. Having seen this twice,
once on a smallish private cinema screen, and then again on a big screen, I
must say that something magical happened on the big screen. That magic caused
me to change my rating from three and a half stars to four and a half. The
audience at the screening applauded at the conclusion louder than I’ve heard in
a long time, too. This one deserves your money, and you will benefit from the
big screen experience.
If you wait for the DVD, you may find yourself
wondering what all the hoopla was about. Well it’s about seeing a film as it’s
intended to be seen—on the big screen. I recommend it with a hearty meal and a
glass of wine. Do not miss this delicious delight.
P.S. Stay for the end
credits. There is a great outtake.
STUDIO BLURB
Chef Carl Casper (Jon Favreau)
suddenly quits his job at a prominent Los Angeles restaurant after refusing to
compromise his creative integrity for its controlling owner (Dustin Hoffman),
he is left to figure out what's next. Finding himself in Miami, he teams up
with his ex-wife (Sofia Vergara), his friend (John Leguizamo) and his son to
launch a food truck. Taking to the road, Chef Carl goes back to his roots to
reignite his passion for the kitchen -- and zest for life and love. (c) Open
Road
Belle
✪✪✪
Opens
in Australia: 8th May 2014
USA: 2nd May 2014
UK: 13th
June 2014
OUR THOUGHTS
One of the most remarkable films last year was 12 Years a Slave. I saw it twice and, of
course, it won the Academy Award for Best Picture this year. Belle is a period piece addressing a
different issue with regards to slavery and the prejudice of the English based
on the color of skin. This story is told through the character of Belle who had
the good fortune to be born the illegitimate daughter of an aristocrat. She is
taken in by his family and enjoys the lifestyle that comes with that, although
she is still limited in her future because she is dark-skinned.
Although it is quite a nicely done film, it
doesn’t have the dramatic punch necessary to elevate it above what is probably
a film you can see on the ABC. It also dabbles in the same love triangle set
ups of a Jane Austen tale, as well as a retelling of an historic legal case,
and this causes it to feel muddled. Strictly for those who revel in historic
pieces with a touch of romance.
STUDIO BLURB
BELLE is inspired by
the true story of Dido Elizabeth Belle (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), the illegitimate mixed
race daughter of Admiral Sir John Lindsay (Matthew Goode). Raised by her
aristocratic great-uncle Lord Mansfield (Tom Wilkinson) and his wife (Emily
Watson), Belle's lineage affords her certain privileges, yet her status
prevents her from the traditions of noble social standing. While her cousin
Elizabeth (Sarah Gadon) chases suitors for marriage, Belle is left on the
sidelines wondering if she will ever find love. After meeting an idealistic
young vicar's son bent on changing society, he and Belle help shape Lord
Mansfield's role as Lord Chief Justice to end slavery in England. (c) Fox
Searchlight
Bad
Neighbours ✪✪✪✪
Opens
in Australia: 8th May 2014
USA: 9th May 2014
UK: 3rd May
2014
OUR THOUGHTS
When the publicist for a film stands up the front
of the theater and informs you that if your sensibilities are delicate consider
leaving now, then you know what kind of film you’re about to watch. I expected
to be offended, and I was. I expected I would be mouthing, “no way” and I did.
I expected I would hate it and give it 1 star, but guess what? I didn’t!
As much as many of the jokes were in bad taste,
the characters were over-the-top charactetures (unless I’m hanging around with
far too tame folk) and the running time was just a tad too long, I still loved
it. Its funny, irreverent, and probably packs as much bad taste as There’s Something About Mary did in the
nineties. But it has heart.
Seth Rogan and Rose Byrne, as Mac and Kelly Radner
living happily with their six-month-old who find they’re residing next door to
the frat house from hell, work well together as a credible couple. I give them
kudos alone for the breast-milking scene. Yes, they’ve gone there folks, and
there is footage.
Zac Efron as the president of the frat house,
Teddy Sanders, is wickedly arrogant and fun. Efron is doing a great job shaking
off the High School Musical persona. Girls,
there’s shirtless scenes!
Once the frat house gang decides that Mac and
Kelly are the enemies, there are some laugh-out-loud scenes as each neighbor
exacts revenge on the other. A few years ago, l lamented the nose-dive into
crassness our comedies had taken. I must be finally softening up. If you can’t
beat them, join them, especially when a script is as good as this one,
delivered by a cast who knows how to work the material. Seth Rogan is the go-to
guy for these films.
Go visit Neighbors.
Don’t eat too much or drink too much while watching or you might find it in
your lap during the hilarious scenes. With neighbors like this, you’ll be glad
you’re only visiting for a few hours.
STUDIO BLURB
Seth Rogen, Zac Efron
and Rose Byrne lead the cast of Neighbors, a comedy about a young couple
suffering from arrested development who are forced to live next to a fraternity
house after the birth of their newborn baby. Neighbors is directed by Nick
Stoller (Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Get Him to the Greek). (c) Universal
What have you seen this
week? Did you find our comments helpful or do you disagree? Share your thoughts
with us.
No comments:
Post a Comment