Falling Brick

The Reader

2009-09-23T15:25:00.002+10:00

'The Reader' was full of surprises for me. Films can really challenge you sometimes and this was full of challenges for me. My favourite review was from Peter Galvin on Filmink. I'm not sure what I was expecting but it was an experience to watch.

Hancock

2009-08-16T16:03:00.003+10:00

I had no idea what Hancock was about. My partner picked it. I really enjoyed it. It's about a 'superhero' with a big publicity problem. There were some obvious things going on in it, yet the twist totally took me by surprise. I enjoyed it.

The Boat That Rocked

2009-08-14T19:27:00.001+10:00

'The Boat That Rocked' is a film I know I will watch again. I viewed it on DVD this week and even the deleted scenes were enjoyable. It is based on an era in the late 60s when pirate radio stations brought music to the UK. It was a comedy with lots of great music and a rebellious spirit. I enjoyed it. For a variety of reviews, check out Rotten Tomatoes.

I want the The Boat that Rocked soundtrack.

Martian Child

2009-07-31T15:37:00.004+10:00

John Cusack is great in this film. I expected more comedy, it was funny, but not in the way I expected. It was a touching story about a science fiction writer, grieving for his wife, who adopts a kid who thinks he's from Mars. A perfect match. It's also a great story that questions 'Is it good to be like everyone else?'. Just what I needed today.

There are many beautiful moments in this film. I loved it.

My Year Without Sex

2009-06-07T13:30:00.003+10:00

An Australian film that was a total pleasure to watch and amused me for days. It's full of funny and yet touching moments. This is Sarah Watt's second feature film and I will certainly be watching everything she makes having also enjoyed her first 'Look Both Ways'. I enjoy her characters and the warmth of her exposure of every day life. Some of my favourite moments are just little moments in the film such as in the call centre when the guy on the phone is trying to convince the customer that he's in Australia. It's fully of insights into our modern lives. I highly recommend this film. The actors are great, especially Matt Day, very likeable.

A great soundtrack with some of my favourites such as The Audreys and Little Birdy tracks.

Create an Ad Competition

2009-02-13T19:15:00.002+11:00

I am getting a few emails from various sources about competitions and rather than forward them to all the past students interested in this kind of thing, I will put them here and those interested can get them.

So the latest is to make a Doritos ad and win $20 000.

Details here.

Burn After Reading

2009-01-08T01:21:00.005+11:00

Disappointing... I love Cohen Brothers.

Whilst it received some favourable review, one of my favourite reviewers David Denby sums up what I felt about it. Could be due to my expectations!

Twilight

2008-12-30T00:56:00.004+11:00

If it wasn't for the young people who hang out at my house raving about this film, I probably would have waited until it came on DVD. They went to see it two nights in a row and raved about the 'Edward' character, at least the girls did... totally smitten. One of them commented that orange (fake tan) is out and white is in, so hopefully that film will be responsible for a reduction in skin cancer with this generation!

I have read the book and found it slow to begin with, but the last chapters were quite gripping. Fortunately the film concentrated mainly on the best bits of the book and I was pleasantly surprised. The natural beauty in the film was amazing. I loved the scenery, the kids were pretty typical of real kids and the film was quite convincing on some levels. The special effects left a little to be desired, but on the whole I enjoyed it.

The friend I went with hadn't read the book, yet enjoyed the film. The critics have been luke warm in their appreciation and it is after all a very teenage story. I like this quote from David Denby (The New Yorker) "A genuine love story might be difficult for a young audience to handle, but this fantasy is blissful madness—an abstinence fable sexier than sex."

Quantum of Solace

2008-12-11T21:34:00.003+11:00

There has been a shift I believe. Quantum of Solace is about revenge and is a sequel to 'Casino Royale'. I remember seeing that film at Wollongong in a theatre that had a very filthy ceiling when Andy and I holidayed there in 2007. I enjoyed it thoroughly.

Back to this experience though, my son and I discussed how different it was and I think reviewer Noah Berlatsky from the Chicago Reader sums it all up nicely. Having said all that, it was enjoyable if not expected. By the way, really cool is Judi Dench!

Your Hearts a Mess by Gotye (Portable Film Festival animation)

2008-11-11T20:04:00.002+11:00

The Portable Film Festival has this animation of my current favourite song 'Your Hearts a Mess'. The Portable Film Festival is a great place to watch all kinds of films from around the world.

I think Gotye is great. I just learnt that he's from Australia and in an article I read about him, he listed Kate Bush's 'Cloudbursting' in his top 10, so I think I'm a fan. Check out his blog.

August Rush

2008-11-09T21:45:00.005+11:00

If you want to be totally transported by a modern fairytale, pick this. Sure it's a huge suspension of reality, but just the kind I love. The music connects the orphan with his talented musician parents, comparisons can be made to the Oliver Twist tale. I really enjoyed it.

I must also confess I find Jonathon Rhys Meyers quite attractive.
As with many films of this nature, critics weren't impressed, but viewers rated it higher.

A suspension of reality in the opposite direction to last night's movie. Balanced me out!

Planet Terror

2008-11-08T21:01:00.000+11:00

I loved Deathproof and have only tonight managed to watch 'Planet Terror'. I started to watch it once, but the horror genre is not my thing and I got a bit put off by the zombies. After a conversation with my son, I had another attempt tonight. It was great. I am glad I persisted. The final scene was my favourite though. Great characters as you can expect from Rodriguez.

Marie Antoinette (2006)

2008-11-02T23:54:00.003+11:00

Fluffy, light and delicious. Historically innacurate with a great sound track. This Kirsten Dunst film was exactly what I was in the mood for tonight. I love the colour and costume. The food and scenery were great as well. Let them eat cake indeed.

TED: James Nachtwey Prize Wish

2008-09-28T13:40:00.004+10:00

The Wish

Watch James Nachtwey's talk on TED talks. I have to warn you though, if you are human, you will probably cry.

Hey Hey it's Esther Blueburger

2008-09-26T21:39:00.003+10:00

This Australian film about a teenage girl is great. It is funny and sad and I really enjoyed it. Great actresses and characters I am familiar with.

The Waitress

2008-09-06T20:58:00.006+10:00

The Waitress is another romantic comedy recommended by a bloke. There are some really funny parts to it and the romance is believable. The misery a little too real for me, however it did have divine pies in it and a happy enough ending. I liked this review, What I Watched Last Night: Waitress.

My favourite part I think was the lack of enthusiasm for the pregnancy, yet the joy at the birth. I think this is sometimes the way it is and yet it's not really an often confessed reaction.

Lars and the Real Girl

2008-08-29T19:40:00.002+10:00

This film was recommended to me by two guys and because it's a romantic comedy and I love these men, I couldn't wait to see it. It's not every day men recommend the romantic comedy genre. I should have known there would be a blow up doll involved!

Seriously though, it is a touching story and much more than a funny love story. If only there were communities like that. People that didn't judge or become repulsed by peoples weirdness. Communities that tolerated and cared instead of medicating or ignoring others pain.

It was a beautiful story and I highly recommend it.

Run Fatboy Run

2008-08-26T23:01:00.004+10:00

I would never have picked this DVD if it weren't for my sister's recommendation. The title didn't appeal to me at all. She dropped the names 'Hot Fuzz' and 'Shawn of the Dead' as a comparison and I couldn't resist. This romantic comedy had some very funny moments. It was a little more mainstream than the other two, but still quite funny and enjoyable.

Dennis is not as fat as the title suggests, but quite flabby in the heart muscle, yet completes a marathon to demonstrate an ability to commit to the woman he left pregnant at the altar.

My favourite review is Claudia Puig's.

Adelaide December 2007

2008-08-23T03:02:00.001+10:00

Click to Play

Arriving in Adelaide the weekend before christmas. I wasn't expecting rain as I disembarked from the Indian Pacific.

Formats available: Microsoft Video (.avi), Flash Video (.flv)

Tags: adelaide, rain, summer, australia, trip, travel

In Bruges

2008-08-21T19:32:00.003+10:00

This black comedy was a very hilarious watch. It is definately for a mature audience, with lots of swearing, killing, drugs and a little sex. It's funny and dark and I really found myself feeling a lot of affection for the child murderer, which is the last thing I would expect from myself. It was full of random little amusing surprises, even if predictible in it's plot at times. I'm really not even sure what it was that endeared him to me....

My favourite review is by Tasha Robinson.

There Will Be Blood

2008-08-13T22:34:00.004+10:00

This film is great without a doubt. There are wonderful scenes and remarkable scenery and Daniel Day Lewis does a fine job. I marvelled at how the baby in the beginning scenes survived in such a polluted environment.

My favourite review is by Richard Schickel in Time. Not many negative reviews to be found on this one.

The Darjeeling Limited (2007)

2008-08-07T19:18:00.003+10:00

In the beginning I felt this is a silly film, but not really silly enough to be truly funny most of the time. Interesting yet not totally convincing characters. I couldn't actually concentrate on it. It annoyed me some of the time. Most used word itinerary. Not one of my favourite words.
Then I was drawn in and it began to get me in. It became more interesting and plausible. Then enjoyable.

My favourite review is Roger Ebert's.

Carla Bruni - L'Amoureuse

2008-08-02T13:47:00.001+10:00

I like this music video. French sounds great to me. I don't understand a word of it, I just like the sound of it!

Sunday at Mt Baw Baw #1

2008-07-31T20:20:00.001+10:00

Click to Play

Visiting Mt Baw Baw with Mexican Visitors on Sunday 27th July 2008

Formats available: Microsoft Video (.avi), Flash Video (.flv)

Tags: mt, baw, australia, victoria, snow, winter, village

Before the Devil Knows You're Dead

2008-07-28T20:15:00.003+10:00

This was a dark and facinating film. The characters, all despicable strangely sad due to their desperation. They made a bigger mess than you could see a way out of. The actors were great and the film well made. Not for the kiddies I might add.