Lewis’ book follows the reinvention of baseball by using computer and statistical analysis to achieve the desired individual results and bypasses the traditional way that teams scouted players and as a topic of a ‘sports movie’ presented quite the challenge. It’s to the filmmaker’s credit that a subject that could have resulted in a very dry cinema experience has been turned into such a warm human examination.

The acting is excellent throughout and Brad Pitt continues to fill out an ever evolving and interesting resume of acting jobs while Johan Hill is quite effective in one of his first serious roles. There are no real heroes or villains in the piece but that still doesn’t prevent you from rooting for Pitt’s character, Oakland A’s manger Billy Beane as he tries to reinvent the team.

In the same way that The Social Network turned zeros and ones into an engaging topic, Moneyball succeeds as both human drama and as a case study of how science changes both our business and leisure worlds. Regardless of your like or dislike of the actual game itself, Moneyball will provide a very entertaining time. As for motivating one to watch an actually game, the conundrum remains intact.

Rob Hudson
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How this happened is no real mystery. First it must be said that out of the ten or so people I spoke to before the screening, none had actually seen even a single episode of the eighties era television show, so the slate seems to be clean for a new interpretation with no baggage of having to adhere to fans that know every nuance of the original. The film also steers firmly into the direction of parody and as such takes as many swipes at eighties era society as it does the television of the time.

The casting is contemporarily comic and Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum are well cast as Tweedledee and Tweedledumber. The comedy often times veers dangerously close to being cringe worthy but as is the want of films of this type, it throws so many jokes and comic set ups your way that eventually they start to strike the mark. The camaraderie of the two leads is also engaging.

With so many films getting the green light because of a tie in with an existing audience (i.e. remakes and the comic book hero genre) it’s interesting that a film got made about a show that not a lot of people seem that interested in. Without the subsequent high profile career of the originals show’s main actor, it would seem 21 Jump Street would have been relegated to the scrap heap of TV history but instead it has been given life into a new millennium.

Rob Hudson
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It’s a sign of the expertise at work here that the 180 minute long film literally flies by. It’s also helped along by Leonardo DiCaprio’s most manic performance yet. If you thought he was full on in Django Unchained, he ramps it up ten fold here. Quite a few of the support cast members also turn in career defining roles. This includes Jonah Hill, who get the mix of powerful and pathetic just right and Aussie soap star Margot Robbie’s clothing optional performance that proves her place on the big screen.

A number of critics have taken Scorsese to task for glorifying all the drug use and sexist behavior. They must have been watching another film because never has a film showed so vividly how this kind of hedonist lifestyle fuelled by debauchery and excess leads to empty and hollow lives, big money or not. If you read about the real world characters from this period in Wall Street’s history it might even be considered tame by comparison.

In the 365 days that have just gone past (2013) it was a year in film that set a high water mark for both great films and great performances. Even in this crowded company, The Wolf Of Wall Street stands out and should be included in anyone’s list of must see movies.

Rob Hudson
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It is so surprisingly crude, crass, creative, outrageous and funny, it is literally like nothing you have ever experienced before. It will also provide a great test to see how easily you are offended. It pushes things so far, it becomes a new paradigm. Its R rated status is complete vindicated and I would have loved to have ease dropped on the conversation of explanation between the father and his very young son that I saw attending the preview screening.

The story is set in a Super Market and is told from the standpoint of the items on the shelves. This set up and the animation medium gives the writers, Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg and Jonah Hill complete freedom to indulge their every whim. There are many times during the film’s 89 minute running time that you ask yourself; how high were these guys when they came up with this stuff.

If you are a film aficionado or even just have a passing interest in movies, you have to see this. Get past your aversion to the animated medium and add this one to your lexicon of films. You may be offended but you will laugh and you will remember this. However the question does remain, where will films have to go to become more outrageous than this.

Rob Hudson
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When casting this story, one that is based on true events, the filmmakers followed the tradition of the funny man and straight guy. No guesses needed to know whom Jonah Hill and Miles Teller end up playing. Hill in particular, returns to a role we’ve seen numerous times before and the unfortunate result is the film ends up playing out like a poor man’s version of The Wolf Of Wall Street.

There are moments of true humour and more than a few situations that are extremely scary but the story sits uncomfortably between those two worlds. Teller is effective and seems to be more and more comfortable trying to carry a film. Cast support is also efficient.

Reading up on the real characters that make up this true-life story, one is left with the feeling that the actual circumstances were not quite as humours as the ones that exist in the film. It seems it might have made a more effective film if it was based more in fact or outright farce.

Rob Hudson
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Viewers with a basic knowledge of cinema history will be paid dividends as the references to a glorious past arrive with regularity. From references like the dance extravaganzas of Busby Berkeley to the screwball comedy of Cary Grant, the love and respect is up on the silver screen for all to see.

A familiar cast of characters is evident and Josh Brolin, George Clooney, Frances McDormand and Scarlett Johansson are just a few regulars that do justice to the always-impressive words of the brothers. There are also the usual underlining themes that give even a period piece like this relevance to today. The screenplay also features some classic Coen characters and the now almost pre-requisite absurd situations to mull over.

The Coen’s trend of following heavy fare with that of a more whimsical nature is intact and Hail, Caesar! is much less demanding than 2013’s Inside Llewyn Davis. It’s subtlety and irony might be lost on some but it’s a worthy addition to the Coen’s canon.

Rob Hudson
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MID90s follows Stevie, a thirteen-year-old in 90s-era LA who spends his summer navigating between his troubled home life and a group of new friends that he meets at a Motor Avenue skate shop.

“Unflinching with an absorbing aesthetic, Mid90s is proper coming-of-age; terrifying, fleeting and funny with pathos to spare.”
– FrewFilm

“For most of the ride, Mid90s feels like an accurate time capsule – and a relatable journey even if you’ve never been on a skateboard in your life.”
– Chicago Sun-Times

“Writer-director Jonah Hill shows the joy and warmth that comes in finding true kindred spirits in a pre-social media era.”
– Us Weekly

Coming April 4 exclusively to Palace James St – Fortitude Valley
www.palacecinemas.com.au

Three meditations are now available in the free Smiling Mind app to coincide with the release of The LEGO Movie 2 in Australia on March 21. The meditations voiced by beloved minifigures Emmet and Lucy draw on Emmet’s eternal optimism to give kids the tools for a healthy mind and outlook. They also explore the topics of self-acceptance, self-compassion and empathy, all themes from the movie. The app is available to download from the App Store or Google Play Store.

CEO of Smiling Mind, Dr Addie Wootten, said, “Children love movies and story-telling and we know the significant, and scientifically proven, benefits children experience from meditation, so, this is a great way for us to combine the two. Kids need to be engaged and what better way than having the voice of some of their favourite characters help them focus on the meditation.”

“Smiling Mind is always looking for innovative ways to deliver content that is accessible and aims to change lives through positive pre-emptive mental health tools. We have no doubt that this will be the start of a very exciting collaboration that will see children’s favourite movie characters come to life in such a positive way,” Dr Wootten said.

Emmet agrees. “When I’m not busy building awesome LEGO stuff, battling space aliens and saving the world with my best friend Lucy, I like to take a few minutes to reflect on what’s really important,” he stated. “These easy-to-follow meditations from Smiling Mind help me get in touch with the power of my thoughts so I can always try to be my best self.”

www.thelegomovie.net

Most would be familiar by now with the main storyline behind the series, that of the young boy Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) who befriends a dragon and forever changes the way his Viking tribe sees these majestic beasts. The movies have been consistently satisfying from a story telling aspect and each new edition adds that little bit more to their ethos.

In this, the last addition, we get to see Hiccup become a man and take over his duties as leader of the tribe (after the death of his father in the previous film). This transition has been incremental and feels natural. That aspect of the story has never been forced and the films have benefited greatly from that approach.

Humans living side by side with beasts and dreams of a utopian society have been behind some fantastic stories throughout time and you can add the How To Train Your Dragon films to that list. As a storytelling medium, the computer generated image has seldom be used to such great effect.

Rob Hudson
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How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World – final film in the beloved trilogy will be in Australian cinemas before anywhere else in the world on January 3rd!
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