June 17th
The Kitchen Brigade
Jurassic World Dominion
The Frozen Ground (streaming on Netflix)
100 Days with Tata (streaming on Netflix)
For those movie lovers reluctant to leave the comfort of home, either through Covid and flu fears, or the winter chill, know that more and more terrific films are turning up on streaming platforms, so I will try to bring you at least one each week. But of course there are also always some excellent offerings turning up on your giant cinema screen.
The Kitchen Brigade
Dir: Louis Julien Petit
Length: 97 mins
 |
© Madman - immigrants and cooking make
for a sweet story |
Cathy Marie (Audrey Lamy) is a top chef who leaves her fancy job due to disagreement with the boss. Desperate for work she takes a position in a "charming" small restaurant, which turns out to be the cafeteria for a hostel housing young refugee boys awaiting the results of their visa applications to settle in France. Under the gentle guidance and encouragement of hostel manager Lorenzo (Francois Cluzet), Cathy gradually wins the boys' trust and has them not only helping in the kitchen, but aspiring to become a chef like her. Indeed this lightweight comedy is reasonably predictable in its plotting, and at times the narrative seems to zoom along so fast it almost gets ahead of itself. But, it is sweet, nicely acted and has a strong compassionate heart. Audiences get an insight into the difficulties many immigrants face, and the youngsters make for enjoyable movie companions.3 - recommended
Jurassic World Dominion
Dir: Colin Trevorrow
Length: 146 mins
 |
© Universal - the gang's all back - what could
they be looking at? |
Can you believe the first film in the dinosaur franchise, Jurassic Park, came out in 1993? Now the franchise concludes and for the last time, we can revel in these fantastic beasts, a real tour de force of animatronic magic. 27 individual dinos have been created for the film, 10 of them never seen in the previous films. Let's not bother too much about the actual plot, as there is plenty that smacks of the previous films, but suffice to say it's a non-stop roller coaster ride of nail-biting adventure and ridiculously unbelievable escapes from the literal jaws of death. You do need to know that in this film dinosaurs are free to roam and live among the human population (aargh!!) At times the film feels like it's been injected with elements of Indiana Jones and James Bond. Your fave characters from the previous films are all here, some reunited for the first time in 29 years, with Dr Grant (Sam Neill) and Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern) being front and centre. There is the requisite hi-tech company, masquerading as a force for good, but with a sinister agenda. There is also quite some resonance for current issues - the idea of dinosaurs let loose and living among humans actually reminds me of a virus let loose to tyrannise the earth. The dodgy tech company Biosync also deals in seed production and genetic engineering, very reminiscent of Monsanto's attempts to control world agriculture. And the character of Maisie Lockwood (Isabella Sermon), a child cloned by her scientist mother raises all those thorny issues of what cloning means for humanity. Jurassic World Dominion achieves what it sets out to do - give us big screen entertainment, with a soupcon of underlying food for thought on genuinely important issues like: can humanity survive? I gotta say, I enjoyed the ride. (Note: very little kids may find it scary!)3 - recommended
The Frozen Ground
2013
Dir: Scott Walker
Length: 105 mins
Streaming on Netflix
 |
© Netflix - Cage and Hudgens play
well off each other in this crime movie. An
oldie but a goodie |
Alaskan cop Jack Halcombe (Nicolas Cage) is on the trail of a serial killer. He is convinced the perpetrator is seemingly ordinary married bloke Robert Hansen (John Cusack), but can't assemble the evidence. That is, until he co-opts the help of Cindy (Vanessa Hudgens), a prostitute who was lucky enough to have escaped the clutches of a killer. This movie is based upon the true story of an Alaskan serial killer, and is shot in that state, bringing a truly bleak chilling feel to the suspenseful drama. Cage fans gotta love the earnestness he brings to this role, tinged with a compassionate underbelly. Cage and Hudgens play well off each other. For fans of a solid police procedural this should satisfy. And talking of fans, don't forget to check out The Cage Gage (https://www.flicks.com.au/cagegauge) in which Luke Buckmaster gives an in depth ranking of every Cage film from 1-99. 3.5 - well recommended
100 Days with Tata
Dir: Miguel Angel Nunoz
Length: 82 mins
Streaming on Netflix
 |
© Netflix - delightful - compassionate, sweet,
with an important message |
Miguel Nunoz is a man of many talents. An actor and singer, he made a monumental decision when lockdown came to Madrid. Forsaking his work, for 100 days he locked himself down with Tata, the 93 year-old sister of his grandmother. Tata (real name Luisa Cantero), became the focus of Miguel's life, as he cared for her, and along the way just happened to turn her into a huge Instagram star. This delightful doco is new to Netflix, and is an extraordinary testament to the power of love. These relatives, separated by decades, obviously feel such love and respect for each other, it brings enhanced life and purpose to them both. There is so much unadulterated joy in this doco, but it is also a salutary insight into just how much commitment it takes to care for an aging person. (Something our powers that be could take note of?)4 - highly recommended
No comments:
Post a Comment