The story revolves around the space race of the mid-sixties and the contribution of three extraordinary female African Americans.  Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monáe are outstanding as the three leads and their intelligence and humour illuminates every scene they are in. Their quiet (and sometimes not so quiet) dignity show a resolve few posses.

The Space Race as it was called back then really was a race as the threat of communism and the fact the Russians had the early lead led to America green lighting an unheard of amount of money to something so esoteric. Many scientific advancements, ones with real commercial value came of the period, but back then it was more an ideal of pure politics. Regardless of the true government intension, the blend of science and human endeavour really did lift the masses.

Many people question the on going exploration of space and see the missions that led up to men landing on the moon as some quaint historical artefact but if there has been a time where mental motivation is needed, it is now. This period in history highlights how a government reaching for the stars can lift the aspirations of its people. Hard to see anything this inspirational coming out of Trump America in the next four years.

Rob Hudson
www.foxmovies.com

In the early years, The Beatles cut their teeth playing an insane number of live gigs (highlighted by their time in Germany) but once they became known worldwide, did not play live that often. Eventually they stopped playing live altogether and became a studio only band. This was before the reform to play benefits industry caught on, so even that didn’t bring them back together again.

Howard’s film focuses on their last great flurry of live gigs and liberally uses live footage from that period (cleaned up to a pristine standard) as well as recent interviews with both Paul, Ringo and others. The camaraderie of the four mop tops comes through with great effect and it looks like they did a pretty good job of dealing with the immense interest in their every utterance.

Of special note during the film’s current theatrical run is the screening of the complete Shea Stadium concert as a coda to the film and this is not to be missed. It shows just how crazy the crowds actually were and how engaging the band was on stage (especially John Lennon’s sense of absurdist humour). The filmmakers have done an amazing job of restoration and the sound and vision is outstanding. Catch the film now during it very limited run.

Rob Hudson
www.thebeatleseightdaysaweek.com

The Beatles: Eight Days A Week The Touring Years is based on the first part of The Beatles’ career (1962-1966) – the period in which they toured and captured the world’s acclaim. Ron Howard’s film will explore how John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr came together to become this extraordinary phenomenon, “The Beatles.”

It will explore their inner workings – how they made decisions, created their music and built their collective career together – all the while exploring The Beatles’ extraordinary and unique musical gifts and their remarkable, complementary personalities. The film will focus on the time period from the early Beatles’ journey in the days of The Cavern Club in Liverpool to their last concert at Candlestick Park in San Francisco in 1966.

To enter this great competition just fill in the entry form below. Please note – these tickets are for a specific screening only and can not be exchanged or refunded. The winners will need to be available on Friday September 16 at 6:30pm in Brisbane to be able to attend this screening at the Palace Barracks Cinema.

Competition will be drawn 11 September 2016, winners will be notified by email.

No twin brothers could be more different than Reggie and Ronald Kray and Hardy plays them both so effectively with only small make up tricks and big acting chops. Browning plays Frances Shea a girl from around the neighbourhood who falls in love with and eventually marries brother Reggie.

The story told through her eyes gives the proceedings a more human tone and gives the tale a feel of authenticity that is tinged with great sadness. This approach helps raise the film above being a mere gangster yarn. It’s also great to see so many recognizable British character actors in one place.

As successful films based on real people often do, Legend creates a genuine interest in these real-life characters that can be easily feed. Both Wikipedia and John Pearson’s engaging book on which the movie is based (The Profession Of Violence) are great places to start.

Rob Hudson
www.legend-the-movie.com

It should be noted that Eastwood’s film is not a musical but rather features performances of The Four Seasons’ music to signpost defined periods within the band’s chronology. Correspondingly, the film is perfectly suited for those who love The Four Seasons music but do not possess a commensurate love of musicals (like me!) and as such appeals to a slightly different market. A smaller market it would seem given the film does not appear to be as successful as its theatrical predecessor.

John Lloyd Young reprises his Broadway performance and is a good choice. He sounds much like Frankie Valli and he delivers an excellent acting performance as well. Admittedly he is restricted somewhat by his baby face – he still looks like a kid as he gets older – but the changes in his personality as he ages is well defined and well delivered.

Performances by the other band members, Vincent Piazza, Michael Lomenda and Erich Bergen are also good. And local Don Christopher Walken is, well, an icon. Enough said.

Eastwood takes ample artistic license with the presentation of the songs. Songs are, at times, used to reflect the feelings of the band members rather than the precise timeline in which they are featured. Indeed the timeline generally can be difficult to pinpoint. Few dates are given within the film; instead we’re left with mostly style cues to roughly determine the time period where each event takes place. This is smart as it helps guide us through the emotional narrative of the film but a documentary this is not.

Curiously, what is probably The Four Season’s most enduring hit, December, 1963 (Oh What a Night), is not featured within the narrative of the film – though it is included as part of a whole-cast musical reprise at the film’s conclusion. Presumably this is because that song was recorded in the mid 70’s by a different Four Seasons line-up than is the focus of Eastwood’s film and Valli only sings but a portion of that song. So, again, this is probably a smart decision.

Jersey Boys is one of those stories that looking from the outside you think, ‘wow, these guys had it so great’, only to find that underneath it all it was actually a bit shit. In this regard the story is life affirming insofar as it reminds most of us how good our relatively boring lives really are. But beyond the darker side of the story presented, Jersey Boys remains a fun toe-tapper; a reminder of great music passed; and a reminder of fun times in our youth.

Stuart Jamieson
www.jerseyboysmovie.com