Oceans 8 (2018) film review

Year: 2018

Running Time: 110 minutes

Director: Gary Ross

Writers: Gary Ross and Olivia Milch

Cast: Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter, Sarah Paulson, Rihanna, Mindy Kaling, Awkwafina, Richard Armitage, Dakota Fanning

Oceans 8 opens in Australia on June 7, 2018 and is distributed by Roadshow Films. Opening June 8, 2018 in the United States and distributed by Warner Bros.

Review by Nicki Newton-Plater

Oceans 8 is here to remind us that the female reboot is not just alive and well, but it is striving in it's  perfect health.

With the male dominated Oceans trilogy having lost it's legs and tiring out over a decade ago, Gary Ross along with co-writer Olivia Milch have revived the franchise with the same thrills we found with the original, but with a little more designer chic. 

Oceans 8 is joyous to watch as eight of entertainment's powerful female voices portray eight strong women who are even more interesting to watch than their male counterparts and far better dressed. The ladies team together to take on the impossible task of stealing one of the most expensive pieces of jewellery in the world during the glitz and glamour of the world famous Met Gala. The outcome of the heist may be extremely predictable and therefore not as suspenseful as it should be, but the organisation of the perfect crime is incredibly entertaining in it's fun and intelligent execution. 

While Sandra Bullock's Debbie Ocean, Cate Blanchett's Lou, Anne Hathaway's Daphne Kluger and Helena Bonham Carter's Rose Weil are the characters that are the most fleshed out, each lady has their own set of unique and distinct character traits and each is celebrated. The film speaks volumes about how there isn't one right way to be a strong woman and that being strong and independent doesn't mean belittling men nor does it mean said woman has to be physically powerful. The cast is diverse and embraces the beauty in minority groups, with specific focus on those in New York City. 

However much of a pun it may be, for some Oceans 8 may tend to flow a little too well with it not being overly intense or emotional. However, others may embrace this. The film is incredibly entertaining, easy to watch and enjoyable, especially with Blanchett's witty and well-timed dialogue and Hathaway's hilarious return to her comedic roots as a spoilt, pretentious socialite. It is a feast for the eyes with the outstanding costume design by Sarah Edwards of the ladies enviable wardrobes and Met Gala attire and exquisite production design by Alex DiGerlando. The recreation of the world of the prestigious Met Gala is aesthetically pleasing in every way with it's glamorous ambience, high-end fashion and overflow of A-list celebrities.

Oceans 8 is a whole load of fun and the type of reboot we crave where the filmmakers use the original as inspiration and not a chance to rehash a worn out story. 

8/10

Gravity (2013)

Year: 2013
Running Time: 91 minutes
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Writers: Alfonso Cuaron and Jonas Cuaron
Cast: Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, Ed Harris

Gravity is now showing in cinemas in Australia and is distributed by Roadshow. Opening in the USA on the 4th of October and the UK on the 8th of November 2013.

From the very first visual, you know you have entered into something very special with Gravity.

Alfonso Cuaron's latest film is extremely ambitious, but his risk has indeed paid off. Gravity is visual perfection accompanied by 90 minutes of on the edge of your seat tension. It reminds us of how something so beautiful can be the source of complete terror hundreds of kilometres above Earth. Even though there are some aspects of the screenplay which are not all they can be, these moments are forgiven as the rest of the film is so spectacular.

Medical engineer Dr Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) and astronaut Matt Kowalski (George Clooney) are undertaking a fairly straight forward routine maintenance on the space station when they are caught in a storm of satellite shrapnel. Their ship is destroyed and they are the only two survivors. They both begin their fight for survival on limited air and limited time.

Gravity is completely unsettling and extremely tense. The film begins with text reminding us that there is no air and therefore nothing to carry sound in space. It is completely silent and no existence can be made. It is the stuff that nightmares are made of. The enemy is all around you and you are on your own. Nobody can save you and your chance of survival is slim to none. This is what makes Gravity so terrifying as this is the situation Sandra Bullock's Stone finds herself in.

Yet for how terrifying the idea the fight for survival in this film is, it is just exquisite. Straight after the beginning text in the film comes one of the most amazing visuals ever seen in an opening of a film. As it is completely silent in space, there is no sound that accompanies an incredible panning out shot of the side of the Earth from space. After this breathless beginning, there are other absolutely stunning shots of the galaxy of stars and also more of the Earth is all it's glory below them. The end is also completely aesthetically pleasing. Director Alfonso Cuaron has ensured that the audience also see's this beauty in the optimum way. He employs 360 degree shots so that you are able to see both the characters and also plenty of the scenery. He has also made the interesting, but genius decision to allow the audience to be able to see exactly what Stone is seeing in particular key scenes. One particularly genius piece of film is when Stone is first separated from her ship and Kowalski and is spinning while she is trying to confirm a location. This puts the audience right in Stone's spacesuit and gives them the same sense of confusion and helplessness she feels from being thrown into the black, starry abyss. It is just unbelievable how far CGI has come and how it can make us feel as though we really are witnessing footage of outer space.

To be able to experience Gravity in it's full glory, it should absolutely be seen in 3D. There are so many films that have chosen to be made to accommodate 3D just because the technology is available. Gravity actually uses 3D to it's advantage and uses it so that it adds to the intensity of the film. Seeing Gravity on the biggest screen possible and combining 3D makes you feel like you are really in space and are feeling like you are being swallowed whole by the universe, much like the characters of Stone and Kowalski in the film.

This is a survival film, so the screenplay itself relies much more on film making methods rather than the story and script to create the tension. The script does allow for some cliché dialogue about survival that one would normally find in such a film. Also typical of the survival film is the unrealistic element of how much the lead can go through and not be beaten by it. However, who are we to say whether that is realistic or not considering the normal everyday person will never go into space so how do we know what would be possible and what wouldn't.

Sandra Bullock is to be given the highest praise for the film , not just because she gives a wonderful acting performance, but also because of how mentally and physically complicated the film and her character are. Bullock spends the majority of the film as the sole human being on screen and at only one point in time in the film does she have her feet on the ground. She is in a constant state of non-gravity and spends most of the film in her spacesuit. She does do an incredible job and gives a wonderful performance. George Clooney is good, but his character doesn't really give as much as what Bullock's does. He is likable and very funny, but one feels it is just George Clooney being George Clooney in space.

Gravity is an absolute cinematic spectacular. It is the one film you should definitely see in 3D this year to really get the full experience. Alfonso Cuaron has confirmed himself as one of the great filmmakers of our time with this beautiful film.

8.5/10




You may have also seen Sandra Bullock in...
The Blind Side as Leigh Anne Tuohy

You may have also seen George Clooney in....
The Ides of March as Mike Morris

The Blind Side

Year: 2009
Director: John Lee Hancock
Cast: Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, Quinton Aaron, Kathy Bates

In My Own Words
Big confession, I wasn’t a huge fan of Sandra Bullock until about 6:30pm today. Actually, I wasn’t a fan of hers at all. I found her roles too light and wishy-washy, if that is an accurate description of ones acting performances. But as of 8:40pm, I like her a lot more. I don’t know if I am completely convinced that she gives the performance of the year, but it is definitely the performance of her career. If there was an award called “Best Choice Of Role To Redefine Yourself As An Actor”, I do believe she should win that. I fear that she may win the Oscar for the reason that it is her best performance and members of the academy may get the two mixed up. I’m not saying that her performance in “The Blind Side” isn’t a great performance, because it is, but I don’t believe that it is the best performance by a female actor in 2009. I’m not entirely sure that “The Blind Side” should have been one of the 10 films nominated for Best Picture either, and again, not because it isn’t a good film, but it doesn’t quite compare to pictures such as “Avatar”, “The Hurt Locker” or even “Up”.

Yet....”The Blind Side” is a sweet and simple film, that made me want to go home and watch a football game. Too bad the rugby league season here doesn’t start until next weekend. It has been awhile since a good sports film has been released and it’s good to finally see one again. Definately one for the football fans.

These are my words and here is my review.

Review
“The Blind Side” is definitely the best sports film of the past few years. Although it can be quite simplistic at times, it is still enjoyable and Sandra Bullock does indeed give the performance of her career. For many reasons, it is almost “The Sandra Bullock Show”, but by no means is that a bad thing. The film is based on the true life story of footballer player Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron), who lived an under-privileged childhood as a result of a drug dependant mother and having to move from foster home to foster home. When he is lost for a place to live, he is taken in by the Tuohy family and is treated as one of their own. Michael shows talent as a footballer because of his huge size and he achieves more than he ever thought possible.

Even though “The Blind Side” deals with hard-hitting issues such as racism, drug abuse and poverty, it is quite light considering. The script is very simply written and at the beginning, is quite weak. Luckily, it gathers momentum and strengthens as the film goes on. Of course, we do feel sorry for Michael with all his turmoils, but it is known from the very beginning that “The Blind Side” is definitely a feel good movie so he will therefore break through. Being a fell good movie, it is predictable. The ending isn’t as victorious as it could be, but such is the problem with biopics, you can’t stray too far from the truth if you want to remain true to the story. However, even though this is a downfall, it is also an advantage for the movie. By making the movie softer than it could be, it opens up a bigger audience for the film. The audience doesn’t need to have a strong stomach or even be much of a sports fan to enjoy the movie. Of course, sports fans will love the movie, but the film is not just for sports fans by any means.

Sandra Bullock is, as everyone must know by now, the star of the film. She gives the best performance of her career in this film and it is unlike any other work she has ever done. Although she has tried her hand at dramatic films before, this is the role that best suits her acting capabilities and is definitely her most memorable. She is witty, driven and believable as Michael’s adopted mother, Leigh Anne. Quinton Aaron does well in his portrayal of Michael Oher. His character is quiet, yet shows much emotion just by using his facial expressions. The performance is sure to please the real Michael Oher by all means. Kathy Bates is witty and delightful as Michael’s tutor, Miss Sue and Tim McGraw is likeable, but at times boring, as Sean Tuohy.

“The Blind Side” will not win Best Picture at the Oscars next week, but it is definitely a feel good movie that will delight audiences. Sports fans will really enjoy all the football sequences, but non-sports fans will enjoy the acting and optimistic view of the movie that you can make something of yourself no matter where you come from. It is definitely worth seeing the film for a piece of light, but good viewing and to see Sandra Bullock give the performance of her career thus far.
7/10