The film directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu (Birdman and Babel) tells a story based on a book by Michael Punke called The Revenant: A Novel of Revenge. The book was inspired by the life of a 19th century fur trapper named Hugh Glass. The trapper profession during Glass’ lifetime was highlighted by an existence of extreme hardship from both the harshness of the land and the extremes of the weather.

During an excursion collecting fur pelts in the unsettled wilderness of the Louisiana Purchase, Glass is mauled by a bear and basically left for dead. He clings to life and thus begins an amazing journey back to the land of the living. He faces dangers at every step of the way. You as an audience member get to the point where you think that he just can’t catch a break as he encounters life-threatening moments from the flora, fauna and human elements in his surrounds.

The acting performances are stunning, the direction spot on and the landscape never short of awe inspiring, this is a story that needs to be seen twenty metres wide in a dark room. It’s work but the rewards are real.

Rob Hudson
www.foxmovies.com/movies/the-revenant

When Winehouse broke out in the early noughties, she really stood out. Here was a jazz singer that wrote incredibly personal lyrics, had great vocal chops and delivered them with a looseness that ran counter to a lot of jazz singer’s rigid professionalism. That she was a hot mess only added to the original appeal.

The film was made in the beginning with the family’s full approval but as the final cut came together their disapproval became pronounced and it’s easy to see why as her father is portrayed as poorly as any stage dad ever has. His narcissistic approach to his daughters crash course on cliché artist demise is infuriating. Yes Amy had a self-destructive streak but was there no one in her entourage that could provide counsel? Could no one help her see her humanity slipping away?

There is a line in the film that encapsulates this sorrow when Winehouse (clean at the time) states that in the midst of all the celebrations of her Grammy night success she finds it’s so boring without drugs. Some view talent as a curse, some as a saviour but with the draconian and profitable nature of talent of this level, it’s infuriating that this story gets told so often.

Rob Hudson
www.amy-movie.com

Its timeline starts from the beginning of time and quickly accelerates to the swinging sixties and as such makes for some very funny history lessons. It also rewards those looking for popular culture references with a wide range of improbable moments. The soundtrack is also fantastically period appropriate and the filmmakers spared no expense in securing the original songs by the original artists. The licensing fees must have been through the roof.

The core of the action eventually settles in London and takes full advantage of the Royal family, British culture and the liberal and conservative attitudes of the time. The set design is colourful in the way a lollie shop is colourful and focusing the film on just the trio of minions, Kevin, Stuart, and Bob makes their individual characters stand out.

Getting the mix of adult and children friendly humour just right is never easy and in this regard Minions excels. This is a film that the whole family can enjoy together and one that will lead to very few embarrassing questions for the parental units on the drive home.

Rob Hudson
www.minionmovie.com.au