Reviews 1083 results

Brisbane International Film Festival – Aquarius: Dreamers, tree-huggers and radical ratbags Movie Review

The festival was created with the help of the National Union of Australian University Students and Nimbin was their third edition after events in Sydney and Melbourne. It was, however, the first event under the Aquarius moniker. Its stated intent was to celebrate alternative thinking and sustainable lifestyles and lasted for ten days. It is credited for starting Australia's hippie movement. This doco tells the story through archival footage and interviews with event organisers, perform...

Saturday Night Movie Review

It has been said that if you remember anything about the seventies, you weren’t actually there but as a teenager staring at the television set with disbelief as the original live broadcast burned itself into my brain cells, the memories are still vivid. The characters that made up the cast had such strong on-screen personalities and the comic routines were so outrageous for their time. The moral pendulum that swings in both directions time after time was actually being influenced by a TV ...

Brisbane International Film Festival – Teaches of Peaches Movie Review

The documentary Teaches of Peaches tells this story in her own words and the words of friends mixed with archival live footage and well-known video clips. Her journey has been a fascinating one and her bravery in not following expectations shows a true punk rock spirit. Few in the music business have been this courageous or immune to the expectations of others. Her concerts are such a joyous communal experience because they are so inclusive. Looking out into her audience will defy your ...

Brisbane International Film Festival – Rumours Movie Review!

How crazy you might ask. Well, there are wanking zombies who put out fires with the climax of a circle jerk, an adjunct who climbs on top of a giant brain and self-immolates herself and Cate Blanchett with one of the worst faux German accents ever put to film. Oh, and the leader of Canada sports the type of ironic man bun that would put any barista to shame. The seven leaders of the free world are presented as almost petulant children and it’s funny to see them act so juvenile and ...

Venom: The Last Dance Movie Review

The stakes are high this time with the end of the world as we know it at risk. It’s all explained before the opening credits even roll and after the film’s end it still makes no sense but that’s part of the fun. Hardy who carries with him a reputation for achieving a certain level of seriousness is a lot of fun to watch as the ever-unwinding human caught with this unwanted passenger.   //   Chiwetel Ejiofor relishes the chance to play military hard-man Rex Strick...

Hellboy: The Crooked Man Movie Review

Joining the fun is a new actor playing the big guy by the name of Jack Kesy who has the swagger and world-weary chat down pat. He is joined on the journey by scientist Bobbie Jo Song (Adeline Rudolph) and a Junior G-Man who is dispensed with almost immediately. When their monster in a box escapes, they end up wandering through the local lands trying to find it.   //   The film is roughly split into two parts: the wandering part and the battle against the devil and his ...

Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story Movie Review

Reeve, who started his acting career in the theatre was plucked from relative obscurity by landing the role of Superman over a large number of Hollywood hopefuls including Neil Diamond! Landing this gig was a double-edged sword though and he suffered from being typecast as the man of steel for the rest of his active acting career. It forever limited him in the choice of acting roles offered to him.   //   The fame that came from being the lead in Richard Donner’s film ...

The Black Mass Movie Review

Bundy was one of the US’s most prolific serial killers and the true number of his victims will never be known after his execution by electrocution in 1989 in a Florida State Prison at the age of 42. His intelligence and good looks were advantages to him in securing his victims but this film plays against that perception. The Bundy character (called Patrick in this work) is played by Jeremy London as an awkward and socially inept person. His attempts at human connection always come up ...

Joker: Folie à Deux Movie Review

The story picks up after the events of the first film with Arthur Fleck AKA Joker tucked away in Arkham Asylum (which is now styled to look like Alcatraz Island). The system is trying to prove his competency to stand trial. He is treated quite questionably there, especially by a guard named Jackie Sullivan played by the always excellent Brendan Gleeson. While there he comes in contact with Lee Quinzel (Lady Gaga).   //   Their relationship provides the main thrust of the ...

My Old Ass Movie Review

Elliott (Maisy Stella of the TV show Nashville) is a girl in transition. She is finding her way in the world and many things remain undecided. Her sexuality is fluid as is her comfort to the life laid out in front of her. She dreams of leaving her hometown and bristles under the direction and limited opportunities afforded by its small population.   //   Into this mix of conflicting emotions comes a night like no other. While tripping on mushrooms with her two best gal ...