At first, mistrust falls on both sides but Roy (Foster) still has traces of his humanity left and he sees some form of redemption in protecting Rocky (Fanning). The two become a trio when Rocky helps her younger sister escape the squalid home that were both raised in.

The criminality in the film is never glamorised. These deplorable acts are presented as ugly, raw and senseless. The effect of stripping the perpetrators of their humanity is never shied away from. There is an underlying sadness however that remains throughout.

Foster and Fanning are at first seen as fairly predictable characters but reveal more and more nuance as the story unfolds. This transition is where most of the interest in the film lies. There are few surprises along the way and a bittersweet ending but it’s a journey worth taking.

Rob Huson
www.iconmovies.com.au

With the late attachment of Duncan Jones as director, things looked good. Jones’ previous film, Moon, showed a sure hand at the helm and spoke well of the potential for a story with depth. The open book nature of the fantasy genre also informed a world of vast possibilities. In final results, this did not quite pan out.

Self admitting to absolutely no knowledge of the video game, the movie’s lack of ability to establish a believably mythology was a real stumbling block for me. It wasn’t helped by a general vocal mannerism that made almost all of the dialogue difficult to hear and understand. In the fantasy world the film lives in, the necessary CGI was also quite disappointing.

Seeing the film on an opening night time slot was a definite plus as the audience (seemingly made up of a large percentage of gamers) seemed to really enjoy themselves and this communal feeling was an infectious addition. Seen in isolation though Warcraft is a confusing and hard to follow mess.

Rob Hudson
www.warcraftmovie.com.au

The film places a bit too much emphasis on the viewer having a working knowledge of the actual story as it introduces important characters with little or no explanation. For the uninitiated, this leads to a bit of confusion. For those familiar with the story, it’s effective film making that doesn’t slow down the pace with unneeded explanations or back-stories.

Ben Foster does a good job as Armstrong even though he doesn’t look that much like him (the archive race footage comprised of mostly side and rear views is effective, the face on shots not so much). Foster does however excel at capturing Armstrong’s cruelty, viciousness and dishonesty.

For those that followed the cheating saga with a keen interest, The Program is a rewarding cinema experience. For those that have little previous knowledge, please take someone along that knows the story. A little knowledge goes a long way in the enjoyment of this entertaining film.

Rob Hudson
www.theprogrammovie.com