March 19th
Happy New Year Colin Burstead - mainstream release
The Hate U Give - showing on Foxtel 
Date Night - showing on Foxtel
The Two Popes - feature film showing on Netflix
Messiah - series on Netflix

Dear readers, like all the world I am in a state of shock, fear and disbelief at the rapid developments of the last few weeks. I am so sad for the hard-working folks from recent festivals like the Melbourne Queer Film Festival and the French Film Festival, who have now had their events cancelled due to Coronavirus. And I know there are many others who have been toiling away in readiness for further festivals that probably won't see the light of day for some months. Not to mention all the regular publicists, cinema staff, programmers and everyone who does such a fabulous job to bring so much entertainment into our lives. 

 I could rave on and probably say nothing new that isn't already being said, so let me say what I am now plotting, as cinema after cinema closes, and the regular previews for movie reviewers are being postponed and cancelled. If there is a mainstream release showing and I am in a position to preview it I will attempt to still do so. Meantime, for those of you progressively housebound, and able to watch the many wonderful streaming channels, (or TV on demand) I intend to give a recap of films I've seen in the past, some from years ago, and some more recent. Occasionally I will throw in my thoughts about a series I've managed to see that I think is well worth catching. 

To my regular readers I wish you to stay healthy and safe, and I hope you will get some enlightenment and subsequent fun from my recommendations. So, until we can recline in those comfy movie-theatre seats again, happy watching at home. 

PS forgive the formatting - fishing stuff out from the past and readjusting causes me some problems!  
  

Happy New Year Colin Burstead

Dir: Ben Wheatley

Length: 95 min
Screening at  - Nova, Lido, Classic

© Dry British humour, and family dysfunction 

in abundance

Colin Burstead (Neil Maskell) has rented a grand English estate mansion to gather up his extended family to celebrate the New Year. As each relative arrives we get snippets of insight into their natures - all bringing baggage, but none more so than the black sheep of the family David (Sam Riley). As the party progresses hostilities emerge, secrets are blown open and, as with many such scenarious, much goes pear-shaped. People tend to love or hate this idiosyncratic style of British humour. I certainly enjoyed it, with each character having something realistic that people can relate to. Very cleverly, the director manages to flit from scene to scene, room to room, person to person, sometimes with only a line or two spoken. Somehow this approach builds up the plot and an overview of how the party is progressing, and what the dynamic is between each character. The humour is dry, acting terrific, and for fans of the genre the film should please. (Fans of Tywin Lannister from Game of Thrones, look out for Charles Dance as Uncle Bertie, decked out in skirt and smart earrings!)  
3.5 - well recommended!

The Hate U Give

From my top ten 2019
Director: George Tillman Jnr
Length: 133 min

© Fox - A film to make you angry
 - racial injustice yet again

This film blew me away. Based upon a young adult novel, it is the story of Starr (Amandla Stenberg), a black teen at a white private school, living almost a dual life with two distinct styles of presenting herself to the world, her schoolgirl "white" self, and her ghetto black self. All is going well until she is sole witness to her childhood pal Khalil (Algee Smith) killed by a white policeman. As tensions mount within the rival black gangs in her neighbourhood, and within the black community as a whole against white injustices, Starr must decide if she has the courage to stand up and speak out. There are simply too many issues and themes to enumerate in this important, gripping and moving story, but Tillman handles them deftly, never preaching, but never shying from the hard truths of what hatred means, both between the races and within a neighborhood. The title comes from a song by murdered rapper Tupac Shakur, THUGLIFE (The Hate U Give Little Infants F...s Everyone). How relevant is this in a world, regardless of color, that still hasn't learned that lesson. The performance by Stenberg moved me to tears, (and every other cast member is simply brilliant), the rampant ignorance and prejudice enraged me, the family connections inspired me, and overall this is one mighty fine movie, not just for young adults but all of us.

4.5 - wholeheartedly recommended!

Date Night

Released 2010

Director: Shawn Levy
Length: 88 min

© Carrell and Fey in top comic form - Wahlberg
mega-buffed!

Phil and Claire Foster (Steve Carrell & Tina Fey) are your average thirty-something  couple from New Jersey. Their lives have descended into marital boredom, with work and kids draining all excitement. Once a week they attempt a date night, hoping to reignite some spark. One night, hoping to get into a New York fancy restaurants and being turned down, they hear that someone hasn’t turned up for their reservation. So when they take the reservation, a serious case of mistaken identity sets in. Chased by gangsters, encountering corrupt cops, and turning for help to one of Claire’s old real estate contacts Holbrooke, the Fosters experience a date night to remember! For my taste, this is actually pretty funny stuff, no doubt brought to better-than-average standard by the excellent comedic pairing of Carrell and Fey who work exceptionally well together. The rest of the cast add just the right balance of fun – Taraji P Henson is one of the few straight cops, William Fichtner plays the sleazy District Attorney, James Franco has a terrific bit part as a hippy-cum-crim blackmailer, Mark Ruffalo is wasted in a tiny role, while Mark Wahlberg almost steals the show as Holbrooke, seen mostly without a shirt, buff, sexy and implacable - a great foil for the manic Fosters who keep pounding on his door pleading for help. I’ve never been a big rap for car chase scenes but there is one in here that almost seems new and fresh. I really fell about laughing. Overall the film moves along at a cracking pace, with plenty of wit, action and outright laughs.

The Two Popes
Director: Fernando Meirelles
Length: 125 min
Elsternwick Classic, Lido Hawthorn and Cameo Belgrave - then to Netflix

©  Netflix -  top performances from two 
powerhouse actors. 

Jorge Bergoglio (better known as Pope Francis, and played by Jonathan Pryce) went from being a superior in the Jesuit order in Argentina in the mid-1970s, to the position of cardinal, and ultimately Pope in 2013. This extraordinary film looks at Jorge's story, with the focus upon his meetings with his predecessor, Pope Benedict (Anthony Hopkins). Together the men discuss the future of the church, and reveal their misgivings to each other. A dark part of Jorge's past is revealed, concerning the time of the military dictators in Argentina, and Jorge's alleged complicity with them. I didn't expect to love this film as much as I do, but with searing performances from two brilliant actors, and a story full of compassion, many moments of humour, and important moral questions, what's not to love? There's no stuffiness or stodginess here; the true story encompasses several time periods, maintaining interest, giving intriguing insights into Argentinian history, its poverty and brutality, as well as a sneak peak into the interior of the Vatican. Even if you eschew religion, you cannot help but be impressed by the basic humanity, (even moments of ordinariness), displayed by the popes, along with great humility and wisdom. This is a rare insight into the inner workings of a faith followed by 1.2 billion of the world's people, and how its leaders are trying to keep it modern and relevant.

4 - highly recommended!

Messiah

10 episodes - 43 minutes each

©  Netflix -  rivetting stuff, charismatic lead actor

This totally addictive series of 10 episodes is a thriller with a goodly dose of religious and political overtones. It’s important not to blow too many critical plot points, so let’s try to pique your interest without giving away too much. In Damascus a street preacher (played by the charismatic Mehdi Dehbi) preaches to a crowd that their city will be safe from ISIS. When that comes to pass he leads a group of followers to the Israeli border where they are stranded, causing an international incident, and he is arrested. By now his devotees are calling him Al Masih – the Messiah. He subsequently escapes from prison and incredibly disappears. The CIA are called in to help the Israelis find him. Eva Geller (Michelle Monaghan) heads up the investigation. Meanwhile a small Texas town has just been hit by a tornado. Al Masih inexplicably turns up there and interest in him and allegiance to him grow rapidly. Ok, no more said of this involved and intriguing plot. The series seems so relevant to the world today (well, the world just pre-Corona) with its themes of refugees, blind allegiance to religious cults, the (remote) possibility that a person of peace could influence war-mongering politicians, and of course the big one – just who is this man? Con artist or something infinitely more miraculous? Dehbi is a glorious screen presence, the plot never flags, production is immaculate and this is one to either savour, or just binge straight through.