Jojo Rabbit (2019) film review

Year: 2019
Running Time: 108 minutes
Director: Taika Waititi
Writers: Taika Waititi and Christine Leunens
Cast: Roman Griffin Davis, Thomasin Mackenzie, Taika Waititi, Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell, Rebel Wilson, Alfie Allen, Stephen Merchant

Jojo Rabbit is now showing in cinemas everywhere thanks to 20th Century Fox. 

The concept of Jojo Rabbit as an anti-hate satire is proving to be a hard one for many people to grasp. Despite this being the categorisation given to the film by it's filmmaker, Taika Waititi, it is perhaps not the best choice of words as it implies that we should be seeing something as awful as Nazi occupation in Germany as being funny. Thankfully, this is not what Waititi is attempting to achieve despite his choice of words.

Jojo Rabbit is an incredibly moving coming of age story that takes place during one of the darkest times in history. It is a tale of savouring the innocence of youth in Germany during the second World War, when boys were forced to be men and girls and women alike were forced to abandon their hopes and dreams. Jojo Rabbit draws extraordinary comparisons to 1940's The Great Dictator, another film which was criticised for it's controversial subject matter by many and praised by others for it's brilliance.

In 1940, Charlie Chaplin released The Great Dictator, his film which announced in spectacular style that The Little Tramp was no more. Chaplin not only directed the film, but also starred in the film as two characters who were victims of mistaken identity. One of these characters was a dictator of a fictional country, Tomania and was named Adenoid Hynkel, a character that is unmistakably based on Adolf Hitler. As the film was released before World War II, Chaplin received an incredible amount of criticism for not only making fun of, but also demonising a world leader in a time when Hollywood was quick to blacklist outsiders. Chaplin himself identified as an atheist, but Sydney, his older half-brother whom he was very close to, was Jewish. However, The Great Dictator was nominated for 5 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor in A Leading Role, and received wide acclaim, as well as the intense criticism.

Fast forward to 2019, Taika Waititi's Jojo Rabbit is met with much of the same reception as The Great Dictator, although Waititi is far less subtle in his portrayal of Hitler than Chaplin was. The film has rattled those who feel that nothing about World WarII was comical, and that it should not be portrayed that way. This could not be more true, making light and encouraging an audience to laugh at one of the worst time periods in the modern world would be a terrible idea for a film. However, Waititi is certainly not asking you to do this. The eccentric filmmaker is himself of Jewish descent on his mother's side, so it is highly unlikely that he would be wanting to make Hitler or life in Germany during the war humourous.

Jojo Rabbit is a view of Nazi Germany through the eyes of a ten-year-old, an age where boys and girls tend to start trying to prove they are older, but still have the mind and wonder of a child. Roman Griffin Davis gives a magnificent breakout performance as Jojo, a young boy in Germany who's family has been torn apart by the war. At such a impressionable age, he has been conditioned to believe that the Nazis are the true heroes of the war and that Jews are a type of otherworldly evil. Jojo is really just like every other ten-year-old, and particularly one who does not have a male influence in his life as he is being raised by his mother, Rosie (Scarlett Johansson).

His hero is Adolf Hitler, who he constructs in his mind to represent everything he is missing in his life as a result of missing his father and brother. Hitler (portrayed by Waititi as a middle finger to the long deceased dictator, who would be turning in his grave knowing that a Polynesian Jew is playing him) becomes his imaginary friend. He is playful, comical, supportive and comforting, things which children crave in their life. History tells us that Hitler was not any of these things, but all he is the visualisation of Jojo's imaginary friend, as he was a type of untouchable celebrity to German children growing up in the occupation. It would not be too far-fetched to believe that there were many children during this time who were just like Jojo and seeing Hitler as their imaginary friend.

The darkly comical side of Jojo Rabbit is not just reflected in Hitler, but also in the characters who are part of the Nazi regime. In particular, Captain Klezendorf (Sam Rockwell), Fraulein Rahm (Rebel Wilson), Finkel (Alfie Allen) and Deertz (Stephen Merchant) are all given humourous qualities and are found in comical situations. It is here that Waititi has taken on a practise that is not uncommon to Quentin Tarantino. In his films such as Inglorious Basterds, Django Unchained and Once Upon A Time in...Hollywood, Tarantino takes on history and adds his form of black comedy to these villains to expose the nonsensical nature of their evil. Waititi has done this with the Nazis in Jojo Rabbit. He, like many others, sees this group of people as being idiotic as well as evil, and relishes in the chance to expose them for what they are/were. Another point that is to be made where the comedy in Jojo Rabbit is concerned, is that it is important to understand Waititi's brand of humour. The filmmaker has had an incredible career thus far due to his very specific and original brand of comedy that resonates through his films. It is unlikely that if you are not a fan of his previous work, that you will enjoy this satire.

Something else which Waititi is an expert at in his films, is the theme of family. In Jojo Rabbit, he once again takes on this subject with an endearing combination of love that is as whimsical as it is heartbreaking. Jojo Rabbit is classified as a comedy, but it absolutely does not shy away from the harsh reality of the time. It addresses the loss of innocence in the children, grief, terror and unrelenting frustration felt by families during the time period.

Like The Great Dictator before, Jojo Rabbit is a wonderful achievement in film-making. However, it is important to understand where Taika Waititi is coming from to be able to completely recognise that we are not being asked to laugh at Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany to lessen to severity of the war. We are being asked to see World War II through the innocent and untainted eyes of a child.

9/10

Dunkirk (2017) film review

Year: 2017
Running Time: 106 minutes
Writer/Director: Christopher Nolan
Cast: Kenneth Branagh, Mark Rylance, Tom Hardy, Fionn Whitehead, Cillian Murphy, James D'Arcy, Aneurin Barnard, Harry Styles, Jack Lowden, Tom Glynn-Carney, Barry Keoghan

Dunkirk will be released in Australia by Roadshow Films on July 20 and in the United States by Warner Bros Pictures on July 21. 

When it comes to his films, Christopher Nolan is no stranger to winning the approval of audience's and critics alike. Yet with Dunkirk, he takes this admiration to a whole new level.

Dunkirk is a major cinematic force with Nolan's masterful storytelling and phenomenal direction. The film is a stunning piece of art that retells a well known piece of history in an unique, intense and enthralling way. While Dunkirk is being hailed as Nolan's finest film to date, it does not need to be grouped together with his past films in order to be considered a stroke of genius.

The events which took place on the beach at Dunkirk are considered to be a miracle. The prospect of a mass evacuation of over 300000 British troops on the French beach during World War II initially seemed impossible due to the lack of resources needed for a rescue. This story has been taught in classrooms all over the world as part of WWII studies and there have been several retellings in popular culture. However, none quite like Dunkirk. 

The film is a tense and intriguing time lapse of three equally important facets of the most important day at Dunkirk- land, sea and air. Dunkirk is not a typical war narrative, as it represents just a snapshot in time and is driven entirely by the theme of survival. For the soldiers waiting on the beach, they were defenceless against the enemy. There was no way of fighting back against the bombers from the ground. The film shows the desperation of the soldiers as they fight for their life and how far people will go to stay alive. It also looks at how survival itself is heroic and is something that is to be celebrated, not scorned.

The inherent nature of films that deal with survival is that they must be suspenseful. Whether the viewer knows who will survive or not is irrelevant. Dunkirk is so intense that it often makes one forget to breathe. The film is just the perfect example of everything coming together to get the most out of it's screenplay. Nolan brings a trio of moments of warfare terror together all at once at regular intervals throughout the film to build tension to the highest level, with the help of Hans Zimmer's brilliant score and phenomenal sound editing. These scenes come with incredible sweeping shots of Dunkirk and astonishing cinematography by Hoyte Van Hoytema of land, sea and sky.

It is easy to look at the characterization in Dunkirk the way you would at other feature films, in which case it would be exceptionally weak. We come away knowing very little about each of the main characters.This would usually mean we feel no emotional connection towards anybody in the film and do not care whether they survive or not. However, the lack of identity of each of the characters serves a purpose here.

There were 400000 soldiers stranded on the beach at Dunkirk hoping for a miracle that would allow them survive and find their own way home. It didn't matter who these soldiers were at home, while they were at war they were all stripped of their identity and nameless and faceless in the eyes of the enemy. During those final days at Dunkirk, it was all about survival no matter who you were and where you were from. Most of the soldiers cast are physically alike to emphasise this point. Despite the lack of character in the film, there are some wonderful performances with Mark Rylance, Kenneth Branagh and Tom Hardy being stand-outs.

Dunkirk is stunning filmmaking. While it is confronting and incredibly intense, it is gratifyingly so thanks to Christopher Nolan's outstanding direction and creative vision.

9/10

Wonder Woman (2017) film review

Year: 2017
Running Time: 141 minutes
Director: Patty Jenkins
Writers: Allan Heinberg (screenplay and story), Zack Snyder and Jason Fuchs (story), William Moulton Marston (Wonder Woman created by)
Cast: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, David Thewlis, Robin Wright, Connie Nielsen, Danny Huston, Elena Anaya, Lucy Davis, Ewen Bremner

Wonder Woman is released in Australia on June 1 (Roadshow Films) and the United States on June 2 (Warner Bros Pictures).

Wonder Woman is being hailed as a triumph by many as it has seemingly brought the DC Universe back from the depths of critical despair it has found itself in.

However, it's success is not at all dependant on it's superiority to Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad. Although it is not at all a stretch to say that Patty Jenkins' film has restored confidence in the Warner Bros DC Universe, nothing takes away from the fact that Wonder Woman is thrilling, smart, unexpectedly sweet and most importantly, ground-breaking.

The strength of Wonder Woman lies collectively in Patty Jenkins' flawless direction, Allan Heinberg's strong screenplay and Gal Gadot's perfect portrayal of the superhero we have all been waiting for. The intriguing origins story of Justice League member, Wonder Woman and her alter ego, Diana Prince (although it doesn't seem to be much of a secret in this film that one is the other)  brings together the settings of the idyllic island of Themyscira and the dread of World War I, as she finds her destiny and comes to understand what is worth fighting for in the world of man. While not completely airtight, Heinberg's well-written screenplay makes the story of the inspiring warrior princess compelling and intriguing.

While Wonder Woman first graced the pages of comic books back in the 1940's and was a hit on the small screen in the 1970's with Lynda Carter, finding her place in cinema has been a problematic affair. A film with Wonder Woman at the helm has been in development in one way or another since 1996 with many different directors and actors involved. It's been a long wait, but a wait that has been well worth it as Patty Jenkins is the perfect director for the film and Gal Gadot the perfect leading lady.

Jenkins direction is absolutely exquisite. However well-written Heinberg's screenplay is, there is so much that when transferred to the screen could have come across as extraordinarily cheesy and overdone, but with Jenkins' direction seems almost natural and astonishing. One example of this is the scene when Diana first becomes her superhero self as she walks in the revamped Wonder Woman suit through the trenches in slow motion. Even describing this gives the impression that it could well be painful to watch. Yet, the way Jenkin's directs this scene makes it absolutely breathtaking when combined with the haunting musical score by Rupert Gregson-Williams and stunning cinematography by Matthew Jensen. It is such an important moment in the film and it is executed to perfection.

This is only one example of how Jenkins is able to set her film apart from other films of the superhero genre. These days, superhero films are generally a showcase of mind-blowing special effects and exhibitions of how they be used to create the most spectacular action sequences. Wonder Woman isn't unlike this by any means, but what makes it's fast paced and impressive action scenes even more so is that they are spread out through the film rather than piled on top of one another like so many other films. This point of difference makes Wonder Woman taking on her enemies even more exciting to watch and as incredible as her fighting scenes are, they do not feel like an assault on your senses.

And it is not just the spectacular action that makes Jenkins and Gadot the perfect team. Together they make Wonder Woman so much more than a female superhero who can outplay any villain regardless of gender, although she is definitely this too.

When we first met Diana Prince in last year's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Gadot stole every scene she was in. However, the Diana from that film is a very different one than what we see here and this is a much welcomed difference.

Wonder Woman is the perfect origins story as it not only makes you understand the character more, it makes you connect with her. As Diana moves from her homeland where she is royalty and where gods were worshiped, to London and the world of man, she struggles to adapt to social etiquette. Hilarity ensues as she learns basic cultural differences and in particular, the ice cream scene is quite adorable. Her dialogue during this time could have been over-emphasised (especially considering she is a princess) and the comedy been goofy and forced. Yet, Gadot is so natural, genuine and endearing. She is not only likable, she is lovable. You truly care about her and want her to be victorious. Her reason for being a fighter and a hero is admirable and beautiful, which is something you can't normally say for superheroes in film.

Wonder Woman need not be compared to other DC films for it to be hailed as a success. It is the superhero/action film that we have been waiting for. With it's wonderful hero and brilliant direction, Woman Woman is a grand achievement in a genre where it is becoming harder to please audiences.

9/10

Allied (2016) film review

Year: 2016
Running Time: 124 minutes
Director: Robert Zemekis
Writer: Steven Knight
Cast: Brad Pitt, Marion Cotillard, Jared Harris, Lizzy Caplan

Allied is now showing everywhere and is distributed in Australia by Paramount Pictures.

Robert Zemekis' Allied is undeniably spectacular to look at, but does not have the suspense nor intrigue which such a promising story with it's incredible pairing of Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard deserves.

The year is 1942 and as the war rages on, a Canadian intelligence officer, Max Vatan (Brad Pitt), arrives in Casablanca to embark on a deadly mission with a beautiful French Resistance fighter, Marianne Beausejour (Marion Cotillard). The two pose as a married couple, but they cannot fight the strong attraction they feel towards each other and fall in love. When they return to England and marry, all is idyllic until Max is told that Marianne is under watch as she is believed to be a German spy. If she is found guilty, Max must be the one to end her life.

Allied looks and sounds like something very exciting. The plot is definitely intriguing and the teaming of Robert Zemekis with Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard is thrilling. However, something has really gone amiss with this promise. Allied presents a case where the story is better than the screenplay, as it's execution is rather slow and tedious at times. The film is currently being marketed as and really should be a romantic tale that is laced with intrigue and suspense, but is a disappointment as it falls short of this due to the underwhelming screenplay and an unfortunate and rare flat performance by Brad Pitt.

Pitt is capable of far more than what we see here in Allied. His performance is rather lifeless when it should be intense and full of emotion, especially in the face of uncertainty over his love and life. It seems as though Zemekis has directed him this way so that his performance is more subtle than overtly emotionally powerful, but considering how epic the rest of the film (besides the screenplay) is, Pitt should be able to show up. On the other hand, Marion Cotillard gives her consistent best in the role of Marianne and plays the role of the suspected femme fatale wonderfully.

Besides Cotillard, the saving grace of Allied lies in the visual aspects of the production. The film has been drawing comparisons to Michael Curtiz's classic, Casablanca for it's sense of nostalgia and, more obviously, for it's location. The production design by Gary Freeman is fantastic and shows the North African city in the romantic light just right for the film and is especially atmospheric. Joanna Johnston's costume design is absolutely sublime, especially for Cotillard's Casablanca wardrobe. Her design pays homage to classic film starlets and especially that of Ingrid Bergman (Cotillard's Casablanca lunch outfit which is very much like what Bergman wore as Isla in Casablanca).

Allied has been made on a grand and epic scale with a great deal of promise, but it falls short of it's potential with it's lack-lustre screenplay and unfortunate direction.

6/10

Hacksaw Ridge (2016) film review

Year: 2016
Running Time: 138 minutes
Director: Mel Gibson
Writers: Robert Schenkkan and Andrew Knight
Cast: Andrew Garfield, Teresa Palmer, Hugo Weaving, Rachel Griffiths, Vince Vaughn, Sam Worthington, Luke Bracey, Luke Pegler

Hackshaw Ridge is now showing in cinemas everywhere and is distributed in Australia by Icon Film Distribution.

Mel Gibson's Hacksaw Ridge is frightfully graphic, violent and confronting, but ultimately life-changing in the most beautiful of ways and an absolute triumph in filmmaking.

Hacksaw Ridge is the story of the unlikely American World War II hero, medic Desmond Doss (brilliantly poratrayed by Andrew Garfield). Doss was a man, who because of his strong religious beliefs, refused to carry firearms during the war much to the disgrace of his superiors and fellow soldiers. However, despite being unarmed he was able to single-handedly save 75 men during the Battle of Okinawa and become the first Conscientious Objector to be awarded the Medal of Honour.

The story of Desmond Doss is truly incredible in itself, but the screenplay written by Robert Schenkken and Andrew Knight along with Andrew Garfield's inspired performance give greater depth, understanding and respect to the character and his heroics. Doss was not a traditional war hero by any means in that he would not go into war with any type of weapon because as a Seventh Day Adventist he believed that thou shalt not kill. It is a beautiful thing how strong in his faith Doss was and how his faith was what gave him the strength to carry all the men he saved to safety on his own. The understanding of his character and his beliefs are strengthened for us in the way the film shows us his past and the events leading up to his enlistment. The superb character development allows one to feel close to and empathize with Doss and whether you agree with his beliefs or not, you still understand and respect them which is a thought that is more than relevant in everyday life.

Andrew Garfield completely shines as Doss and is so far the role of his career. He gives a performance which is wonderfully restrained in the right parts and is incredibly moving and intense when it also should be. He completely embodies the role of Doss and makes him likable, relatable and into the hero who always has the audience on his side wanting to cheer for him.

While it is loving towards the character of Desmond Doss, Hacksaw Ridge is still an astonishingly brutal, but realistic piece of war cinema. The Battle of Okinawa is terrifying in every sense of the word as it is accompanied by a sense of dread and suspense formed by the horrifyingly graphic visuals and the implication of sudden and random bloody death. It requires a great amount of will power not to look away at all throughout the final third of the film as it is so incredibly confronting and graphic. It is hard to call any of these visuals anything pleasant, but the cinematography by Simon Duggan is truly exquisite. From the opening scene, the film is beautifully shot and entrancing with it's slow motion shots and spectacular war-torn landscapes.

Despite it's hard edge, Hacksaw Ridge is also rather romantic thanks to the beautiful chemistry between Garfield and Teresa Palmer, who plays Doss' wife, Dorothea. The two resonate whenever they are on screen together and it is the type of old-fashioned love many people only dream about now. Hacksaw Ridge is also a career high for Palmer, as it is to date the best performance of her career. Just like Garfield, she is likable and incredibly sweet and sensitive. Hugo Weaving and Rachel Griffiths, who play Tom and Bertha Doss also give tremendous performances.

Hacksaw Ridge is the best war film to have been released in years. It is gritty, unforgiving and relentless, but at the same time inspirational, moving and entrancing.

9/10

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (2016) film review

Year: 2016
Running Time: 112 minutes
Director: Glen Ficarra and John Requa
Writers: Kim Barker (based on the book "The Taliban Shuffle: Strange Days in Afghanistan and Pakistan" by), Robert Carlock (screenplay)
Cast: Tina Fey, Margot Robbie, Martin Freeman, Alfred Molina, Christopher Abbott, Billy Bob Thornton, Sheila Vand, Stephen Peacocke, Nicholas Braun

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot is now showing in cinemas everywhere and is distributed by Paramount Pictures.

Many have questioned how Whiskey Tango Foxtrot can be a comedy about war, as there is nothing funny about what is happening out there in the world of armed forces at the present time. The truth is that Whiskey Tango Foxtrot is not a comedy about war, but a film about war that features comedic aspects about the absurdity of life. In understanding this and watching the film with this mindset, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot is incredibly enjoyable and entertaining with an outstanding screenplay which gives an unrelenting view of the lives of those at the war, but not in the war.

Before American Kim Baker (Tina Fey) is hand-picked by her employer to become a war correspondent on the ground in Afghanistan, she is stuck in a rut supplying news stories for the pretty people to report on air and in a relationship that doesn't seem to be going anywhere. Once she arrives in the Middle East, her world suddenly becomes a series of risky and dangerous events that start to become unnaturally accepted as normal. With the companionship of British reporter, Tanya Vanderpoel (Margot Robbie) and Scottish photographer, Iain MacKelpie (Martin Freeman), Kim starts to feel as though Afghanistan is her home despite the love/hate relationship she forms with the country.

Based on the book "The Taliban Shuffle: Strange Days in Afghanistan and Pakistan" by Kim Barker, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot can be described as a cross between M*A*S*H and The Hurt Locker with a journalistic slant. At it's core, it's main theme reflects that of The Hurt Locker which is that war is like a drug as it becomes increasingly addictive. In Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, we come to understand that the journalists reporting from the site of combat become addicted to the thrill of pushing the boundaries to get the biggest story they possibly can. In what the film calls "The Kabubble", they lose touch with reality and start to see certain things as being normal when away from the war they would be considered extremely dangerous and risky.Yet, their lives back in their home cities are no longer satisfying and they crave the rush of living on the edge. It is a common perception that the best journalists will do anything to get a story and this film does symbolise this, but this can become a life-threatening state  mind when in a country like Afghanistan.

While Whiskey Tango Foxtrot is based on the experiences of reporter Kim Barker during her time in the Middle East,  it is not a retelling of her memoirs. The book is indeed the basis for the film, but the liberties taken by screenwriter, Robert Carlock allow for the film to become a representation of those who are in a war zone, but not taking part in combat itself. The liberties taken increase the tension of the film so to make it slot into the war genre with the intensity you would expect to find in such a film.  The Afghanistan recreated on film is gritty with a sense of resonating instability. The production design is very well done and combined with the superb cinematography makes the film rather atmospheric.

What makes Whiskey Tango Foxtrot humorous despite it's serious themes, is it's representations of the absurdity of life and the comedic undertones of culture shock. It is a case of the common notion of it wasn't funny at the time, but is so looking back on it. The character of Kim Baker goes from her mundane New York life to being launched into the complete opposite of everything she knows in Afghanistan. The way she is treated as a woman is completely shocking to her, but also the way people respond to her ways as a western woman is equally shocking. Like all culture shock, it is something which is not amusing when you are experiencing it, but the retelling of it to an outsider takes on an unintentional comedic aspect.

It is this combination of intriguing and emotional storytelling capturing a sense of unease and constant danger met with clever wit and humour that does not feel inappropriate which makes Whiskey Tango Foxtrot such a success. When you find something in the film amusing and are able to laugh at it, it does not feel as though you are not taking a serious situation lightly. The things which are humorous are naturally so, but nothing takes away from the severity of war and the danger that the press on the ground put themselves through for a story.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot is Tina Fey's best film role to date. As Kim Baker, she maintains her witty and clever demeanour that she has become so well known for and much of her comedic dialogue is noticeably Fey-esque. However, unlike many actors so well known for comedy that take on a dramatic role and have the audience feeling as though they are about to make a joke even in the most serious of moments, Fey slides into the dramatic scenes with utter ease and is completely natural. She truly shines as Kim Baker and becomes a character who is enjoyable to watch as well as relatable and empathetic.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot is a fresh take on the war film with a great deal of unique personality. It does not compromise the severity of war and the risks and dangers to those so close to combat, but remains graceful in it's witty and clever execution.

8.5/10

The Railway Man (2013)

Year: 2013
Running Time: 116 minutes
Director: Jonathan Tepiltzky
Writers: Eric Lomax (autobiography), Frank Cottrell Boyce and Andy Paterson (screenplay)
Cast: Colin Firth, Nicole Kidman, Stellan Skarsgard, Jeremy Irvine, Hiroyuki Sanada, Sam Reid

The Railway Man will open in Australian cinemas on the 26th December and in the United Kingdom on the 1st January 2014.

The Railway Man is one of the most extraordinary stories to be told on screen in the past year.

War changes men in ways in which those who haven't experienced the horrors of battle will never understand. For those who became prisoners of war and lived to tell the tale, how do you move on from something like that and find closure? The true story of Eric Lomax is unlike any you have heard before and is brilliantly adapted for the screen in The Railway Man. While the story is incredible, the cinematography, flawless acting and wonderful direction bring the spirit of the story to life and make it an incredibly emotional experience.

We first meet Eric Lomax (Colin Firth) on the train ride in which he meets the love of his life, Patricia Wallace (Nicole Kidman). The two fall madly in love with each other and are married. It doesn't take Patti long to realise that she has married a very disturbed war veteran and when she tries to talk about his past experiences with Eric, he shuts her out and tells her never to ask him again. It is only when she approaches his lifelong best friend, Finlay (Stellan Skarsgard) that she realises the horrors he has experienced and both her and Finlay know there is only one way Lomax can get past this trauma. Finding and taking his revenge on the man who was responsible for his torture.

While The Railway Man is set largely during WW2, it is not the typical war film as it is set away from battle. Jonathan Tepiltzky's film shows the horrors of being a prisoner of war with Lomax being captured and being forced to work on the "Death Railway", the railway in between Thailand and Burma. The scenes set during this time can be quite graphic and are a reminder that it wasn't only on the battlefield that nightmares were made. It shows the different ways men lived with the horrors they had seen and how different men coped in different ways.

The Railway Man is a very emotional film. It has the ability to make you feel very uncomfortable and is quite distressing, but it is the final 10 minutes of the film that are incredibly overpowering. Lomax's story has a completely unique and extraordinary ending that can teach everyone a huge lesson regardless of whether you have experienced a situation like Lomax's or not. There will be some who will feel that this story is a little far fetched, even though it is a true story. What happened to Lomax at the end of the film is extraordinary and not many other people, if any would have experienced thing. That is what makes this story so amazing and breathtaking on the big screen.

The cinematography takes away nothing and adds everything to the film. Tepiltzky has the talent of making the audience feel as though they are standing right next to the characters rather than being an observer from afar. During the scenes in which they are making the railway, you can feel the heat and stickiness of the climate, but you can also feel on an emotional level the dread and misery in the air. While in the scenes with Lomax and Patti at home, you can smell the salty air and feel the chill of the Scottish coast and countryside. It is also a beautiful period piece that truly captures the times in which it is set.

Colin Firth is once again brilliant in this film. From the very first scene you can see that his mind is not always in the space he is physically in and that he is a very troubled and disturbed man. His final scenes are incredible with Lomax's enemy, Nagase, who is played by Hiroyuki Sanada. Sanada, although not in the film for a considerable amount of time, is also brilliant. When he is faced with Lomax, you immediately see in him a man who has been able to convince himself over the years that he is an innocent, but struggles to maintain that once he is there with this man. The scenes with Firth and Sanada are wonderful, and the chemistry these two form is wonderful.

Nicole Kidman is also wonderful as Patti. She and Firth work so well on screen together and her final scene where she finally comes to the realisation of what her husband has really been through is beautiful. Stellan Skarsgard is also very good. His Finlay doesn't overtly show his emotions in the way Lomax does, but his controlled manner even shows glimpses of his inner torment.

The Railway Man is one of the best told stories on screen of the year. It combines great storytelling with magnificent film making It will not leave you with a dry eye, but will leave you filled with wonder.

9/10



You may have also seen Colin Firth in.....
The Kings Speech as King George VI

You may have also seen Nicole Kidman in.....
Stoker as Evelyn

Zero Dark Thirty

Year: 2012

Director: Kathryn Bigelow

Cast: Jessica Chastain, Jason Clarke, Joel Edgerton, Mark Strong, Kyle Chandler, Jennifer Ehle, James Gandolfini

Before I begin my review….

Well, well, well. A week before the 85^th Academy Awards and we make it to one of the more controversial nominees, Zero Dark Thirty.

The film which claims to give an accurate representation of Osama Bin Laden’s manhunt and death, has come under fire from the CIA and other sources depicted in the film.  It has been claimed by these sources that the film is not as accurate as what it proposes, but director, Kathryn Bigelow and writer, Mark Boal have come out defending their film. Boal quoted “It is a movie. I’ve been saying from the beginning that it is a movie. That shouldn’t be too confusing”.

I see why the CIA and other people feel the need to express what was and wasn’t completely accurate in the film, but what Zero Dark Thirty does is not unlike every other film which is based on real life events. There are certain things which are always added and exaggerated for dramatic effect so the film remains entertaining.

Many have believed that the controversy the film has created has hurt its chance at receiving any of the awards at this year’s Oscars. Personally, I think it may play a tiny part, but, as Boal said, it is a film and it is being judged at the awards as a film and not on its publicity.

Although I think Zero Dark Thirty is a very good film and it is one of the five films that really has a good chance of winning Best Picture, I am not convinced it will. I would love to see Kathryn Bigelow win her second Best Picture Oscar and I can’t help but feel that she is another director whom the academy have made a mistake leaving out of the nominations. So my final word on the matter is that it is another film I would love to see win, but I don’t think the odds are in its favour.

Then there is the amazingly versatile and brilliant Jessica Chastain who is up for Best Performance by an Actress. She is very deserving of her nomination and is also deserving of her first Oscar. However, it is a tough race to the finish with her and Jennifer Lawrence neck and neck. Chastain’s performance is a lot more subtle than Lawrence’s .Personally, I would love to give Chastain an award just for the person she comes across as every time you see her on TV. She seems incredibly down to earth and so appreciative of everything that happens to her. She has sparkle in her and she just makes you want to sit down with her and have a conversation that leaves you both in hysterics.

Review

Don’t be fooled, Zero Dark Thirty is not Kathryn Bigelow’s last film, The Hurt Locker.

Although the two may look similar on the outside due to their locations and war themes, Zero Dark Thirty storyline flows through the film and gains momentum as it progresses. It is a thrilling ride and proves that even if the world knows the end of the story, that isn’t an excuse for lack of suspense.

After September 11 2001, the CIA starts the greatest man hunt in history for the man behind it all, Osama Bin Laden. CIA agent, Maya (Jessica Chastain) is sent to Pakistan to interrogate detainees in the quest to track down Bin Laden’s whereabouts. She obsessively searches for the man and his closest confiders for eight years before there is finally a breakthrough that she believes leads directly to the place where Bin Laden has been hiding all these years.

Films based on true events are often expected not to be suspenseful or thrilling as such because you know how they are going to finish. However, Zero Dark Thirty does not fit into this category. The film is incredibly tense at times and the final 20 minutes is nail-biting. Bigelow has the uncanny ability to not rely on a musical score to be the provider of suspense and create tension by letting the audience know early on that high pressure moments can come from nothing. She therefore keeps the audience on the edge of their seats because they are not sure what is going to happen next.

The script is very in depth and you feel as if you can’t miss a word of what the characters are saying because you might miss something. This is another amazing thing for a film which is over 2 and ½ hours long. You would think with that length that there would be lots of moments of nothing, but writer, Marl Boal has packed nearly eight years into this film and there is plenty to go through. Every scene means something for the film, whether it be in the progression of the story or in character development and growth.

The editing is brilliantly done and at some points, the cinematography can be really quite beautiful. The vision of the helicopters in the night sky over Pakistan is breath taking.

Jessica Chastain is a wonderful leading lady. She exhibits perfect growth in her character by going from an almost meek girl on her first days of interrogation, to being emotionally and mentally exhausted and then completely gaining momentum to take control of the whole project. She is relatable and the audience builds a relationship with her. You want her to succeed and care about her.

Mark Strong and Kyle Chandler also give very good performances and create great support for Chastain.

Kathryn Bigelow has done it again with Zero Dark Thirty by providing us with another fantastic movie that has the ability to give you the unfortunate outcome of a sore back or neck from unbelievable tension.

9/10



References
New York Daily News
The Telegraph

Beneath Hill 60

Beneath Hill 60
Year: 2010
Director: Jeremy Hartley Sims
Cast: Brendan Cowell, Steve Le Marquand, Harrison Gilbertson

In My Own Words
I am so ashamed that it has taken me 7 months into Movie Critical’s existence to review my first film from my homeland, Australia. It really is very sad how little media attention Australian films receive here in Australia. One would think that they would be insanely popular, but no. I am a big supporter of Australian film as I do believe that there are great Australian filmmakers out there, but the problem is that the Australian film industry is nowhere near as successful of has as much financial support as other countries. According to Screen Australia’s website “Get The Picture”, the total box office expenditure of 2009 was $1087.5 million, with only $54.8 million of this being made by Australian films. 349 films were released in Australian cinemas last year and only 46 of these were Australian films. I can only hope that this review will encourage more Aussies to go and see more home grown movies, and that it will encourage overseas readers to watch out for Australian films at their local cinema.

“Beneath Hill 60” has recently been brought by UK film distributor, Momentum Pictures, which is great news meaning that the world will get to see more great Australian cinema. One of the problems that many Australian films face in being taken abroad is that the films do not appeal to the global audience. However, I do believe that this will not be the case with “Beneath Hill 60”. Yes, there is a lot of Australian slang used in the film, but first and foremost it is a war film based in World War I and has greater appeal than just Australians. It is the best Australian was film since “Gallipoli” and there is no reason why it shouldn’t be considered for the Australian Film Institute Awards in 2011. For our overseas readers, I also have to say that this film was released just in time for Anzac Day here in Australia. ANZAC stands for Australian New Zealand Army Corps and 25th of April is the day that we pay tribute to all the soldiers that have fought for Australia. “Beneath Hill 60” was released on April 17th and was perfectly timed for this occasion.

These are my own words and here is my review.

Review
A good war film is never an easy ride, as “Beneath Hill 60” proves. It can be completely gut wrenching and tear jerking at times, not to mention completely suspenseful. The hardest part of this film, and indeed any war film, is realising that it is not all just make believe, that there are people out there who have and will continue to experience these horrors. “Beneath Hill 60” is based on the true story of Captain Oliver Woodward (Brendan Cowell), who finds himself on the western front in World War I, working in the underground tunnels below Hill 60. Here, he and his group of soldiers work in the tunnel system to try and carry out the biggest man made explosion to date.

Like many war films, this film shows the horrors of war and how war takes its toll on the soldiers. There are some very emotional and hard-hitting moments, and many scenes that are not for the faint hearted. However, the setting of the underground tunnels does set this film apart from the stereotypical war film of fighting on land, although there is this as well. The script is very well written and tells the story of these soldiers in such a way that it is enthralling from start to finish. The film is very suspenseful, yet the first half is more suspenseful than the second. It seems like the first half and the second half are almost two storylines, but nevertheless, both are good in different ways. The cinematography is good for the most part, but the special effects are not quite as lifelike as what one would hope. The musical score and sound are also fantastic, as is the ability of director, Jeremy Hartley Sims to recreate the warfront and early century Australia.

Brendan Cowell is the star of “Beneath Hill 60” and gives the standout performance of the film. He carries himself beautifully throughout the whole film and shows the change in his character as the film goes on. He is able to be the tough soldier, the smart mouthed new guy, the gentleman and the mentally wounded ex-soldier all in one film and carries each persona out perfectly.

“Beneath Hill 60” may be too much for some people to watch, as it is gory in the way which war films are and can be very upsetting. It shows the ways in which war affects soldiers emotionally and how boys come back from war as men and no man comes back the same as they left. However, it is a beautifully made film and definitely one to be seen and praised.
8/10

The Men Who Stare At Goats

The Men Who Stare At Goats
Year: 2009
Director: Grant Heslov
Cast: George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Jeff Bridges, Kevin Spacey

In My Own Words
Despite “The Men Who Stare At Goats” being released in Australia this week, I actually got to see this film while I was in the United States last month. I love Australia, but I hate how long it can take films to get here sometimes. I understand the reason why it is so, but it still doesn’t make it any less annoying when you are dying for a film to arrive here. It took all my might not to buy “The Hurt Locker” on DVD when I was over there so I could watch it at the cinemas when it arrived here. I guess I have to sacrifice some things living in a beautiful country! Although I would love to live in the states as well.

Anyway, that’s enough about me and now onto the film. I really enjoyed this film for the big reason that it is completely different from anything I have seen in a long time. I am all for originality in film and I feel like standing up and cheering when I see something different. Maybe we should all watch this film after we watch “The Hurt Locker”, not so we can learn to laugh at war, but just so we can relax after it. I have not read the book which this film is based on by Jon Ronson, but I have been told that it is extremely funny. It does depend on what type of comedy you like as to whether you will enjoy it though. Some people will find it weird and just plain silly, or even a bit hard to follow. If you like intelligent comedies with a touch of quirkiness and silliness, then you will love this movie. In other words, if you like the Coen brothers, then chances are you will like this film.

These are my own words and here is my review.

Review
The majority if people will be able to realise what type of film this is just by looking at the title “The Men Who Stare At Goats”. Despite the silliness of the title and the comedic nature of the film, this film and the book of the same name which it is based on are in fact true stories. The fact that the film is based on a piece of non-fiction makes it even more intriguing, if not totally bizarre. Journalist Bob Wilton (Ewan McGregor) arrives in Iraq to cover the war, but instead ends up coming across Lyn Cassidy (George Clooney). Cassidy is an ex member of the New Earth Army, a group of soldiers who claim to have psychic abilities. Wilton is drawn into the world of these soldiers as he learns all the ropes and learns what it takes to fight with your mind rather than with weapons. This film is one that many people will find confusing and downright strange, but others will find hilarious. There are some very funny moments and it is likely that if you find the beginning scene funny, you will find the rest of the movie hilarious.

The movie is completely refreshing and original. It can be a bit slow and a bit tedious at times, but is otherwise quite well done. However, it can be quite confusing and the ending does not feel as conclusive and as fitted together as what it should be. The story is indeed intriguing, but it is unclear as to whether director Grant Heslov is making fun of these soldiers or supporting them. Audience members will leave trying to figure out whether what they saw was based on fact, or was it making fun of what these soldiers believed? However, Heslov does do a very good job in directing this film. The arid scenery is amazing and the recreation of war torn Iraq is definitely noteworthy. The screenplay is well put together and script very witty and humorous. The choice of cast is also a winner. It could not be anything but with the four main male cast members each being marvellous actors in their own right. George Clooney is both hilarious and charming in his role of Lyn Cassidy. Ewan McGregor takes on a type of role that we have not seen him in for quite awhile, that of the inferior come superior. It is like he is playing the flip side of his Star Wars role of Obi-Won Kenobi and does so extremely well. So well that it makes you want to see him in more roles such as this. Jeff Bridges is a favourite in the film and Kevin Spacey, as usual, plays the role of the bad guy with perfection. One just has to feel sorry for the goat, but no animals were harmed during the filming of this movie. So, great performance by the goat who plays dead.

A war/comedy hybrid movie does not come along very often, so this movie is a rarity. “The Men Who Stare At Goats” is refreshing and original, but also quite bizarre. It will not be a movie that everyone will find funny or that everyone will like, but it is good clean humour crossed with quirkiness. Fans of Clooney will definitely love this movie, fans of animals, especially goats, may not like it as much.
7/10