The Eye

This Friday I’m on producer duty again on Cinemascape. The show features reviews of Gus Van Sant’s Paranoid Park, the space travel documentary In the Shadow of the Moon and my thoughts on the latest Hollywood remake of a J Horror classic The Eye. Despite the best efforts of Jessica Alba and some striking visuals, The Eye is a pointless, almost carbon copy of the Pang Brothers excellent original, that is derailed by a few ridiculous changes to the plot and some terrible narration. Where the Pang's film featured a sombre downbeat denouement that left the audience shattered after a massive calamity; the anodyne Hollywood happy ending that directors David Moreau and Xavier Palud have given us destroys any of the creepy effect that the film may have had. A shame as by all accounts their debut feature ILS is one to watch. Something was definitely lost in translation. Tune in to Eastside 89.7 FM at 6pm.

DVD liner notes

In a fun piece of news I’ll be providing the DVD liner notes for a couple of Samuel Arkoff classics from the Fifties..Reform School Girl and Sorority Girl. The films are being released by DVD label DV1 as part of their Dark Horse sub label and will be part of a collection of Arkoff’s film’s released by American international Pictures (A.I.P) More news as the project progresses and keep checking http://www.dv1.com.au/ for release dates.

The King of Kong

This Friday at 6pm I'll once again be gracing the airwaves on 89.7 for Eastside FM's Cinemascape. This week I'll be producing the show and reviewing one of my favourite films of the year so far The King of Kong. This David and Goliath tale to become the world's Donkey Kong champion has it all. The filmmakers must have been thanking the God's of the film world when they met the duo making battle to become the king of Donkey Kong. Billy Mitchell, the self proclaimed Video Game champion of the Universe, is the sort of character that documentaries are made for. An egotistical, arrogant megalomaniac with a penchant for BBQ sauce and voluminous hair do's is the antithesis of his competitor, Steve Weibe, the down on his luck family man who just wants to be good at something.
Mitchell on the other hand wants to be the King of the world. The supporting cast of arcade dwellers are a delightfully eccentric bunch and this clash of the video gaming titans has an hilarious effect on this retro clique who are more at at home playing Space Invaders and Pac-Man, than dealing with the real world. Whether you are an arcade junky or not; there is plenty to enjoy. The King of Kong, against the odds, is less a film about mustachioed Italian plumbers and pixelated monkeys and more a heartwarming story about the strength of the human spirit. Tune in to hear my review.

Priceless DVD Review

From the moment that the world set eyes on Audrey Tautou in Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s Amélie they fell in love. Her elfin beauty led to further cute performances in the likes of A Very Long Engagement and The Spanish Apartment but she was always a little pixie rather than a vision of lust. That has all changed with Pascal Bonnet’s Priceless.

Tautou plays Irene a gold digger with her eyes on the wallets of the rich. She becomes a trophy on their arm in exchange for diamonds, dresses and a decadent life style. Whilst in a hotel bar she drunkenly mistakes barman and waiter Jean, a hilarious performance by The Valet’s Gad Elmaleh, for a millionaire playboy and he is quite content to perpetuate the deception and lure her into bed. Before you can say volia, the hapless Jean is head over heels in love and Irene is on the streets after her previous benefactor found out about her discretion with the barman and cancelled her credit cards. The pair both head to the French Riviera where Irene bleeds the besotted Jean dry and he is left to follow in Irene’s footsteps and becomes a plaything of a rich French businesswoman. As Irene tutors Jean into the dark ways of the gold digger and how to get the most from your partner; her previously hard veneer softens and she realises that she is falling in love with Jean.

The Breakfast at Tiffany's comparisons are spot on. Much like Audrey Hepburn’s Holly Golightly; Tautou’s Irene is a beautiful and mischievous character that everyone can’t help but fall in love with but beneath the charm is a sad lonely sole who basically sells herself for money. This potentially sad tale is given a delightful French twist by a spot on script and fabulous performances from the two leads. You just can’t help but love with Irene, with the possible exception of the scenes when she pushes Jean to spend every Euro to his name.

Visually the film recalls Hitchcock’s To Catch a Thief and shares that film’s eye for the rich and beautiful. Priceless is a frothy, light concoction that will melt most hearts. Perfectly cast, Elmaleh is a revelation and Tautou proves, once again, what a captivating actress she is. Let’s hope she stays in France to make more films like Priceless, she doesn’t need any more films like The Da Vinci Code blemishing her record.

Extras include the Making of Priceless, deleted scenes, behind the scenes footage and the original theatrical trailer.

DVD available at www.madman.com.au

We're Going to Need a Bigger Boat

Very sad to hear of the passing of actor Roy Scheider, the star of one of my favourite films Jaws, on February the 10th last week. He also put in fabulous performances in Marathon Man, Klute, Cronenberg's Naked Lunch, 2010 and was nominated for an Oscar for his work in Bob Fosse's All That Jazz. He also got to utter one of the greatest lines in modern cinema; he'll be sorely missed.

Happy New Year

The New Year has marked flourish of activity on the Cinemascape Show. I appeared on the end of year round up show and in recent weeks I have reviewed the Coen brother’s fabulous No Country for Old Men and Julie Delpi’s 2 Days in Paris. Next week I’ll be producing the show and reviewing Juno. One of my film's of 2008 already, Jason Reitman's tale of teenage pregnancy builds on the promise of his earlier effort Thank You For Smoking and gives us one of the finest teen films since The Breakfast Club! The cast is extraordinary; Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jason Bateman and Jennifer Gardner all give career bests. The dialogue is witty and sharp, even bringing in discussions on who is the best horror director? Dario Argento or Herschell Gordon Lewis! The script by Diablo Cody marks her as a talent to watch. Everything about the film is effortlessly cool, even though they tried really hard.

The team will also be discussing Cloverfield which I also loved. Despite its derivative premise and the laboured use of the discovered video tape motif this 'Blair Witch meets Godzilla meets The OC' is fantastic. Yes the cast are all far too good looking and that camera’s battery life is supercharged to say the least but when that monster strikes and Manhattan is under siege this is a truly astonishing cinematic experience. For a pure adrenaline rush Cloverfield cannot be beaten and despite the hand held, shaky imagery this film just has to be seen in a cinema with a massice screen and huge sound system. To hear full reviews tune in on Friday 25th of January at 6pm on 89.7 FM.

In magazine news the next issue of Smoke & Mirrors will feature some of the interviews conducted on the set of The Ruins last year including director Carter Smith and stars Joe Anderson, Jena Malone and Laura Ramsey. The magazine also includes a chat I had with Alex Wuttke; CG Supervisor on Roland Emmerich’s forthcoming 10,000BC. The issue will hit the shelves in March.

Issue #136 of Shivers features more of my coverage of the Australian horror comedy I Know How Many Runs You Scored Last Summer and the next issue of Starburst will include my interview with director Jamie Blanks about his latest film Storm Warning.

Review of 2007

As we reach the end of 2007 I thought I’d look back at a few of my professional highlights.

I’ve been lucky enough to interview some amazing talent over the year; Jessica Alba and the cast of Fantastic Four, Willem Dafoe, Ethan Hawke, Franka Potente, Joe Anderson, Jena Malone, Claudia Karvan and director Jamie Blanks among many more have all made wonderful company. Set visit wise I’ve headed to Queensland to visit some amazing locations; in particular the beautiful mountain ranges of Carter Smith’s The Ruins. The filmmakers of Acolytes and Daybreakers both also made me extremely welcome and the film’s themselves show incredible promise so I’m very much looking forward to seeing those next year.

My ties with Shivers and Smoke & Mirrors magazines have gone from strength to strength and I still regularly contribute to Filmink and Film Review magazines aswell as reviewing DVDs for http://www.cinephilia.net.au/ and http://www.digital-retribution.com/. I’m particularly proud of my recent Danger Diabolik article in the wonderful Cinema Retro and my regular blog at http://www.frightfest.co.uk/.

I became a producer on Eastside 89.7FMs Cinemascape Show and have loved the challenge of putting the show together on a regular basis. The show has also put me in that wonderful position of seeing far too many movies this year.

Talking of which my top ten of the year is; in no particular order…..

No Country For Old Men
Pan’s Labyrinth
This is England
Eastern Promises
Priceless
Control
Black Sheep
Lucky Miles
Little Children
Death Proof

A special mention to Juno and The King of Kong which aren’t released down under until next year but will surely be in my top ten of 2008.

Anyway, that’s it for 2007 so Happy Christmas to everyone reading and see you in 2008!

Evel Knievel makes his last jump

Very sad to hear that Evel Knievel, the man who inspired the Seventies greatest toy has passed away. The death defying stuntman, renowned for his taste for adventure took motorcycle jumping to the masses; he tried to jump the Grand Canyon, headlined London’s Wembley Stadium and crashed into the fountains of Caesar’s Palace after flying 45 metres through the air. He broke almost every bone in his body, had 15 operations and starred in the motion picture Viva Knievel with Gene Kelly! Stars like Evel Knievel just don’t exist anymore, he’ll be missed. Here's some incredible footage of the great man's visit to Wembley.

Beowulf bears all

This Friday at 18:00 I’ll be producing Cinemascape on Eastside 89.7 FM. On the show this week we’ll be discussing Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Balls of Fury and I’ll be reviewing Beowulf. There is only one way to watch Robert Zemeckis’s latest excursion into performance capture animation and that’s in 3D at the IMAX. As a visual extravaganza it’s astonishing; as an engaging fantasy it’s a bit lacking but is does feature some unintentionally hilarious Austin Powers style placement of objects to hide the eponymous hero’s nether regions and Angelina Jolie as a naked water demon; what more could you ask for? To hear the rest of my thoughts, tune in later in the week

Rogue on the radio

This Friday I'll be producing the Cinemascape show on Eastside 89.7 FM at 6pm. The films being reviewed this week are David Slade's 30 Days on Night, Tell No One and I'll be passing judgment on Greg McLean's Rogue. Tune in if you're in Sydney!

Latest News

It’s been a busy few weeks so here’s a long overdue update…..
For any Sydneysiders listening you would have heard me produce last weeks Cinemascape show on Eastside 89.7 FM. I reviewed Anton Corbijn’s fabulous Control. This coming Friday I’ll be on the show again reviewing Quentin Tarantino’s Death Proof. Most will know that Death Proof was Tarantino’s half of his failed double bill experiment with Robert Rodriguez Grindhouse and much has been said that this is a lesser work by the director but I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed his petroleum fuelled schlock fest. A tribute to the films of Monte Hellman and the fleapits on 42nd Street, peppered with Tarantino’s trademark dialogue throughout; Death Proof, despite its failings, fits perfectly into the director’s oeuvre. Tune in at 18.00 to hear my review.

In the printed world, the last two issues of Shivers magazine have featured my work. Issue #134 includes my interview with Greg McLean about directing Rogue and Issue #135, the bumper Halloween issue, features my chat with Dave & Lou Elsey about creating the woolly terrors of Black Sheep. Both issues are available at http://www.visimag.com/. The December issue of Filmink will feature my interview with Franka Potente about her work in Richard Roxburgh’s Romulus, My Father. Finally the next issue of Smoke & Mirrors magazine will feature my interview with the makers of The Devil Dared Me To, the nearly semi true movie of New Zealand's most dangerous stuntman.

It's shaping up to be a busy time for major film’s shooting down under with X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Justice League of America, Mad Max 4 and Underworld 3 all being announced. I’ll be endeavouring to cover the making of these films in the coming months so I’ll keep you posted on progress.

A Mighty Heart

I have a mixed past with director Michael Winterbottom; I loved 24 Party People but hated 9 Songs so it was with excitement and trepidation that I approached his first major studio film A Mighty Heart. Starring Angelina Jolie as Mariane Pearl, wife of kidnapped Wall Street Journal correspondent Daniel Pearl; I'm happy to report that A Mighty Heart is an emotionally charged experience that holds the attention from beginning to end, despite the inevitability of their plight. Wonderful performances, combine with bravaura editing and location shooting in Karachi to produce a thrilling and moving look at the other side of the headlines. Listen to my thoughts on the film on Cinemascape tonight at 6pm on Eastside 89.7 FM.

Forbidden Lie$ on the radio

Later today, in about 15 minutes in fact! on Eastside 89.7 FM i'll be appearing on Cinemascape, the station's weekly show about the movies. This week I'll be passing judgement on Anna Broinowski's fabulous documentary Forbidden Lie$. The film attempts to discover the truth about the best selling book Forbidden Love and its author Norma Khouri. Whether fact or fiction, the film tries to uncover one of the biggest litary cons of this generation. If Khouri's best friend was murdered in an honour killing in Jordan or if her friend ever really existed. If you are reading this now and living in Sydney...tune in!

Hidden DVD review

As the film opens on its bleak static opening image, Hidden (Cache) immediately puts the audience on edge. But then Michael Haneke continuingly confounding thriller delights in not giving the audience what it wants. Seemingly taking its inspiration from David Lynch’s Teutonic nightmare Lost Highway; Hidden follows the Laurent family as they begin to receive videocassettes and childish, yet gruesome messages, through their post box. The tapes show footage of their daily routines, secretly filmed without their consent. Georges, a television celebrity, is obviously alarmed by this invasion of his families’ privacy and starts to investigate where these packages have come from. Little does he know that a dark secret that he has kept from his wife Anne and family may well be the clue to who is harassing his family.

Shot with minimal camera movement and a complete disregard for the principals of the thriller genre; Hidden is a refreshing change from the usual Hollywood fodder we are spoon fed in the name of entertainment. To reveal the film’s conclusion would do Haneke’s masterpiece a great disservice. Some viewers will be enthralled, some will feel cheated, some will be angry but everyone is made to think.

The performances are excellent; Auteuil was fabulous last year in the thriller 36 Quai des Orfèvres and he excels here in the role of Georges. His wife Anne is played by Juliette Binoche; best known for her work in Kieslowski’s Three Colours trilogy and Chocolat. This is serious adult entertainment, the underlying political agenda, a discussion on immigration in French society shows that Haneke small family portrait has the big picture in mind. Viewing his early work like Benny’s Video and Funny Games it’s obvious that Haneke revels in expanding the limits of cinematic art. Born in Germany, Hidden is the third of his films shot in France following Code Inconnu (Code Unknown), also starring Binoche and the critically acclaimed La Pianiste (The Piano Teacher.)

In an unnerving touch the film has no music giving the effect that the audience is also watching a home video of the Laurent families’ life. We are accomplice to the sinister figure who has been filming them. Not that the viewer knows who the villain of the piece is. In Haneke’s Hidden, the truth is there to be discovered, you’re just not going to find it quickly.

For full review check out www.digital-retribution.com

Lady Chatterley

Later today, Friday 14th, at the new time of 6pm I'll producing the latest Cinemascape show on Eastside 89.7 FM. This week I'll be reviewing Pascale Ferran's ponderous Lady Chatterely. Starring Marina Hands and Jean-Louis Coullo'ch; this French twist on DH Lawrence's classic English tome failed to create any spark between the two leads. A fatal mistake when the film revolves around their ensuing relationship. Tune in to hear the rest of my thoughts.

Latest News

In some very exciting news to kick things off, I’ll be heading to Queensland next week to visit the set of the Spierig brothers new film Daybreakers. The film stars Ethan Hawke, Willem Dafoe, Sam Neill and Claudia Karvan. Hopefully I’ll be chatting to most of the cast about working in what promises to be an intriguing entry into the vampire genre.

With the release of Black Sheep my interview with director Jonathan King has appeared in the latest issue of Filmink. I also previewed the film’s UK Premiere at this year’s Frightfest Festival on my regular blog interviewing Dave & Lou Elsey about their make-up work on the film.

The latest issue of Smoke & Mirrors has hit the shelves and as reported before features my articles on Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and the Kiwi horror film The Tattooist.

This Friday I’ll on the air again producing this weeks Cinemascape show on Eastside 89.7FM. This time around I’ll be reviewing Once; a wonderful film about falling in love and making beautiful music. If you are a fan of The Frames you are in for a treat as lead singer Glen Hansard gives his all in an amazingly raw and natural performance. Tune in at 17:30.

This is England

After a couple of years of reviewing films on Cinemascape, I have now donned headphones to become one of the shows producers. This Friday marks my debut as the shows host and I’ll be honouring the occasion by reviewing one of the film’s of the year thus far, Shane Meadows semi autobiographical This in England. Set in 1983, the film tells the story of a young boy called Shaun whose life is changed during his school holidays when he befriends a gang of skinheads. The film is beautifully played by the entire ensemble, especially Thomas Turgoose as Shaun. Roland Rat, Margaret Thatcher, Rubik's Cubes, the Royal Wedding, aerobics, Keith Chegwin; Meadows has filled his film with 1980s minutiae that gives this often grim tale an authenticity that is only heightened by the terrific soundtrack. The best British film about disenchanted youth since Tim Roth’s Trevor smashed his way through Alan Clarke’s Made in Britain; be prepared to be entertained, disturbed and shocked. The show will also feature reviews of Susan Bier’s After the Wedding and Jonathan King’s fabulous Black Sheep. Tune in to Eastside 89.7 FM this Friday at 17:30 to hear the show.

Mr Brooks

Tune in this Friday at 17:30 to Eastside 89.7 FM's Cinemascape show to hear my thoughts on the new Kevin Costner serial killer film, Mr Brooks. Against all the odds this is an enjoyable little chiller. Also starring Demi Moore and William Hurt; the film probably bites off slighty more than it can chew but at the centre of it all is an excellent performance by Costner as the eponymous Mr Brooks. Listen to the show to hear the rest!

As a footnote, the film has just been added to the line up for this years Filmfest Xtra at The Phoenix Cinema in East Finchley on September 2nd. Go to www.frightfest.co.uk for details and to check out my latest "Dave Down Under" column.

The Simpsons Movie

For anyone in the Sydney area I'll once again be appearing on Eastside 89.7 FM's Cinemascape Show. This week i'll be reviewing the long awaited The Simpsons Movie and I'm happy to say I loved it. The film is great fun; Homer and family deliver laughs a plenty as only the world's favourite disfunctional family can and I'm sure even the most die hard Simpsons obssessive will come out of the experience a happy camper. The show will also feature reviews of Michael James Rowland's fabulous debut feature Lucky Miles and Sean Ellis' less than successful adaptation of his own short film Cashback. Tune in at 17:30 for some lively cinematic debate.

Latest News

It’s been a busy couple of weeks for interviews. I had the pleasure of heading up to Queensland to visit the set of The Ruins; a new horror film based on the novel by Scott Smith, the man who wrote A Simple Plan. I chatted to first time director Carter Smith, make up man Jason Baird and the films stars including Jena Malone, better known to many as Donnie Darko’s girlfriend and Joe Anderson who played Peter Hook in the forthcoming Control. Anderson was heavily involved in the scene we saw being shot which involved a large rock, a saw and a frying pan. Anyone who has read the excellent source novel will know what I’m talking about.

The next issue of Smoke & Mirrors will include my interviews with Mark Coulier discussing his work on Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and director Peter Burger on his new Kiwi horror film The Tattooist.

Next week I will be interviewing some of the team behind the forthcoming Australian horror film Prey. I’ll be talking to the films two leads; Nathalie Bassingthwaighte, lead singer of band Rogue Traders, in her first film role and Jesse Johnson….son of Don! I’ll also be having a few words with the films effects producers at Sharp FX and director George Miller.

Finally I’ll be talking to Aussie director Jamie Blanks about his new film Storm Warning which I’ve been hearing very good word on from the guys over at Frightfest. Having hit the Hollywood trail directing Urban Legend, Cherry Falls and Valentine is great to see Blanks returning to his roots. He has some great things lined up in the future so I look forward to writing about those project soon.