Abby’s mother Dora (Radha Mitchell in the early years) is a firebrand who fights the good fight and tries to keep tourism out of her beautiful seaside community. The teenage Abby (Ilsa Fogg) follows in her mother’s footsteps and becomes a staunch activist for protecting the ecosystem of Australia’s reefs.

During her teen years, she befriends a large blue grouper, which she names Blueback. This giant fish spurs her on and buttresses her desire to protect the inhabitants of the ocean. Her childhood is impossibly idyllic and she grows up with an undiminished passion to help.

Being unbelievably principled at such a young age while also being the most perfect daughter strains credibility. The film also oddly does its best to bleach the drama out of its most dramatic scenes. It relies on you being swept away by the natural beauty of the ocean and it’s quite successful in that manner. The story though could have used a more assertive approach to be more memorable.
Rob Hudson
www.facebook.com/roadshow/

When the quiet reef at her coastal hometown is threatened by commercial fishing operators, Abby and her activist Mum take on poachers and developers to save her friend.

BLUEBACK is a feature film adaptation of Tim Winton’s best-selling and critically acclaimed novella; a universal fable for all ages about friendship, family and the power of one young girl to make a difference.

BLUEBACK is an Arenamedia production with major production investment from Screen Australia in association with Screenwest, Lotterywest and the Western Australian Screen Fund, and is financed with support from Film Victoria, with Soundfirm. The producers gratefully acknowledge the support and assistance of the Great Southern Development Commission.

BLUEBACK is directed by Robert Connolly and stars Mia Wasikowska, Radha Mitchell, Ilsa Fogg, Liz Alexander, Ariel Donoghue, Clarence Ryan, Pedrea Jackson, Erik Thomson, Eddie Baroo and Eric Bana.

BLUEBACK is coming to Australian cinemas on January 1, 2023.
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When the quiet reef at her coastal hometown is threatened by commercial fishing operators, Abby and her activist Mum take on poachers and developers to save her friend. Blueback is a feature film adaptation of Tim Winton’s best-selling and critically acclaimed novella; a universal fable for all ages about friendship, family and the power of one young girl to make a difference.

Blueback is an Arenamedia production with major production investment from Screen Australia in association with Screenwest, Lotterywest and the Western Australian Screen Fund, and is financed with support from VicScreen, with Soundfirm. The producers gratefully acknowledge the support and assistance of the Great Southern Development Commission.

Blueback is directed by Robert Connolly and stars Mia Wasikowska, Radha Mitchell, Ilsa Fogg, Liz Alexander, Ariel Donoghue, Clarence Ryan, Pedrea Jackson, Erik Thomson, Eddie Baroo and Eric Bana.

Blueback is coming to Australian cinemas on January 1, 2023.

www.facebook.com/roadshow/

This vivid approach isn’t just limited to the visuals either. The landscapes and creatures are integral to a story that also expands the mind. One thinks that the story’s original author Lewis Carroll might have gotten hold of some of the Blue Caterpillar’s best stash before pen was put to paper.

Australian actor Mia Wasikowska as Alice, starts out as a dour young girl sent off to marry a man she doesn’t love and through the magic of the story becomes a luminous woman ready to take on the world. It really is a girl power tale for the ages (maybe minus all the drug references though). Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter gets to channel all his inner craziness and is a real scene-stealer.

Having read the original text so far back in my past I can’t attest to any of its devotion to the original story, I can only state that giving someone with as much imagination as Tim Burton free reign to capture the vision in his mind’s eye has helped to create one of the most visually arresting films of all time. It’s also to the film’s credit that the storyline is every bit the equal to the visual extravagance.

Rob Hudson
www.facebook.com/DisneyAUNZ

It must be said that the film looks fantastic and features visuals never before seen but the plot and action staging is so predictable, it drains all the energy out of the experience. In some genres this would not drive the knife into the heart but with the horror/thriller genre nothing is worse than predictability.

Also not helping is the film score by Fernando Velázquez that telegraphs emotions with such an obvious touch. It’s a shame really as the cast, which includes Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain and Charlie Hunnam do a serviceable job with what they have been given.

If this was a film by anyone other than Guillermo del Toro, it would be far easier to accept its shortcomings, but the man knows how to deliver the goods even when it’s a very commercial project. This is one film I will have to see again in hopes that the second time around the great visuals and solid acting will save the day.

Rob Hudson
www.crimsonpeakmovie.com.au

Adapted from Flaubert’s classic novel, Madame Bovary tells the tragic story of Emma, a young beauty who impulsively marries a small-town doctor to leave her father’s pig farm behind.  But after being introduced to the glamorous world of high society, she soon becomes bored with her stodgy mate and seeks excitement and status outside the bonds of marriage.

This sumptuous period drama features a superb cast including Mia Wasikowska (Jane Eyre, Tracks), Rhys Ifans (Notting Hill), Ezra Miller (We Need to Talk About Kevin), Paul Giamatti (Sideways, Cinderella Man), Laura Carmichael (TVsDownton Abbey) and Henry Lloyd-Hughes (Anna Karenina).
www.transmissionfilms.com.au

Competition will be drawn 08 July 2015, winners will be notified by mail.

This vivid approach isn’t just limited to the visuals either. The landscapes and creatures are integral to a story that also expands the mind. One thinks that the story’s original author Lewis Carroll might have gotten hold of some of the Blue Caterpillar’s best stash before pen was put to paper.

Australian actor Mia Wasikowska as Alice, starts out as a dour young girl sent off to marry a man she doesn’t love and through the magic of the story becomes a luminous woman ready to take on the world. It really is a girl power tale for the ages (maybe minus all the drug references though). Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter gets to channel all his inner craziness and is a real scene-stealer.

Having read the original text so far back in my past I can’t attest to any of its devotion to the original story, I can only state that giving someone with as much imagination as Tim Burton free reign to capture the vision in his mind’s eye has helped to create one of the most visually arresting films of all time. It’s also to the film’s credit that the storyline is every bit the equal to the visual extravagance.

Rob Hudson
www.disney.go.com