This week as Winter takes a grip on the Sydney evenings, there are four new offerings to get you out to your local movie theatre with the best value in town, and let's face it - what better value than just $20 to keep you entertained in a warm dark place for a few hours as you gaze in awe at a giant screen and listen to events unfold in glorious ear thumping surround sound. So with two sequels - one to that iconic 80's Johnny Depp Police staged small screen dramedy reset for the big screen, and the other a recent Dreamworks animated treat that is a mash-up of dinosaurs, dungeons, dragons and Viking delinquents. Then we have a Euro atmospheric character-driven suspenseful twist 'n' turn thriller tale, and an original rock 'n' roll road trip featuring a singer songwriter muso sporting a giant papier-mâché noggin that never reveals the true noggin that lurks beneath.
So once again a real diversity of offerings - get out and see a movie, and then let me know what you think!
FRANK (Rated CTC) - This is not your typical Rock 'n' Roll road trip movie, because this Rock 'n' Roll road trip movie features an offbeat singer musician who constantly and incessantly wears a giant papier-mâché head. As such 'Frank' is played by Michael Fassbender (although you wouldn't know it!) who is front man for his band 'The Soronprfbs' (yes, the spelling is correct!) who just happen to catch the watchful eye of Jon (played by Domhnall Gleeson) who is a wannabe musician too, but is starved of any kind of motivation or inspiration to make anything of himself and his fledgling musical career . . . until he meets the weird, whacky and wonderful Frank! Jon attempts to infiltrate the band when their keyboard player has a nervous breakdown, but does the band really want to be infiltrated? Frank is in search of the perfect sound and his obsession drives him to the point of near insanity whilst looked upon by Jon and the other band members (joined by Maggie Gyllenhaal as Clara). This will not be for everyone, and some might find it frustrating, annoying and disconcerting but it is likely to provide a different point of view of a struggling genius trying to come to terms with his musical demons!
THE TWO FACES OF JANUARY (Rated M) - a Directorial debut from former Screenwriter Hossein Amini (scribe behind the impressive
'Drive') who has crafted a tale that flicks between the Athens, Crete and Istanbul of 1962 as tour guide cum hustler Rydal (played by Oscar Isaac) is drawn into the web of wealthy American couple Chester (played by Viggo Mortensen) and Colette (played by Kirsten Dunst) when a sudden unexpected act of violence reveals that all is not quite what it, and who they all, might seem. As the web of intrigue, drama and suspense moves along the plot takes on a darker edge as all three characters reveal their flaws, their secrets and their desperation to bring their situation to a climax with edge-of-your-seat consequences.
22 JUMP STREET (Rated MA15+) - after the successful and iconic TV series of the late 80's that largely hatched the career of one Mr. Johnny Depp, it was almost inevitable (by today's standards) that a movie version would hit the silver screen sooner or later. And so it was in 2012 that Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill hit our big screens with the cop characters 'Jenko' and 'Schmidt' respectively. After the capers of that first instalment of this movie franchise a second had to be, and so the hapless cops are at it again on college campus this time and undercover to crack a crime ring operating somewhere within the frat-pack. When each undercover cop gets distracted and side tracked by other interests on campus they have to reconcile the value of their own relationship/partnership, and hopefully draw the right conclusion in time to thwart the crime syndicate, deal with the criminal element and get student life back on the straight & narrow. No doubt there will be guns, explosions, chases, token T&A, bad language aplenty, and questionable conduct all around which should make this a sure fire hit . . . if you're 17 years of age!
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2 (Rated PG) - with a $500M box office haul globally the 2010 sleeper hit
'How to Train your Dragon' was bound to spawn a sequel for the Dreamworks Studio, and is now the meat in the sandwich of a trilogy, with the final instalment due a few years from now. Featuring the voice talents of Jay Baruchel, Cate Blanchett, Gerard Butler, Djimon Hounsou, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse and America Ferrera amongst others, the same expertly animated crew from that first outing are back once again. This time though those wet behind the ears youngsters have grown up somewhat and are now well into their teens. Five years has elapsed on screen and in the Viking Village and 'Hiccup' and his trusty dragon steed 'Toothless' need to venture forth into the big bad world and discover what's out there beyond the village, for themselves. Their journey of discovery leads them into danger needless to say which results in a battle to preserve the peace and save the future of both men and dragons. With top notch animation, more dragons newly created than you could ever poke a stick at, and humour aimed squarely at the adult market too, this is sure to be a crowd pleaser for lovers of the genre, and the earlier film.
What's not to like here this coming week? With something for almost everyone, young and young-at-heart, and the funny or the serious there has got to be something here to tempt $20 out of your pocket, and, if you combine that investment with a mega cup of the brown fizzy stuff and a choc top then you have a night to remember!
Enjoy the movies - see as many as you can!
-Steve, at Odeon Online-
Back to my favourite movie theatre last night - the Cremorne Orpheum Picture Palace, to see recently released 'THE TWO FACES OF JANUARY' based on a Patricia Highsmith novel first released in 1964. The scene is set and we are escorted back to 1962 Athens and straightaway we have a film that feels of that era - character driven, sharp suits, stylish locales, sun drenched scenery, glamorous couple, playful rogue and thoughtful dialogue. Almost Hitchcockian, but written and Directed by Hossein Amini in his first such outing, following his penning of the impressive 'Drive'.
Here he has assembled Viggo Mortensen and wife Kirsten Dunst (Chester and Colette MacFarland respectively) and Oscar Isaac (as Rydal) - the three linchpins of this tale. Holidaying Long Island residents husband and wife Chester and Colette meet US tour guide to the hapless tourists, Rydal, in the vicinity of The Acropolis, and so begins an unlikely relationship that unfolds over a week or so between Athens, Crete and Istanbul.
Following 24 hours or so of social niceties and tours of the real Athens, Rydal inadvertently catches Chester in a somewhat compromising position. What ensues is an unfolding story of misdemeanours, misadventures and mistrust as we get to know the three protagonists, and they all seek to gain the upper hand for fear of exposure, and the consequences that would inevitably follow. Out of desperation the action takes us from Athens via ferry boat to Crete where further misfortune awaits, and then onto Istanbul for the final chapter and the conclusion of the story.
