The Wedding Ringer (January 2015)

Official Australian release date: 22/1/15. Viewed: 20/1/15.

Director: Jeremy Garelick

Actors: Kevin Hart, Josh Gad, Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting, Olivia Thirlby, Ken Howard

Genre: Comedy

Rating: MA

‘The Wedding Ringer’ has a terrible title, but actually surprised me – it was very funny! Consistently! A very simple premise: Groom-to-be has no friends, literally has to buy a Best Man, mishaps ensue. The reason this film works is down to the two very likable leads – Gad as Doug & Hart as Jimmy/Bic. They have very different comedic sensibilities, but work great together on screen – I feel this is the first time we’re seeing each of them begin to reach their potential. They’re both much more charming, relaxed and believable than they were, respectively, in ‘Wish I Was Here’ and ‘Ride Along’.

The script isn’t terribly inventive – it’s nothing not seen in ‘Hitch’ or ‘I Love You, Man’ – but it does have a great pace, a very solid cast and never gets unfunny for too long. The ending is kind-of obvious – there’s a little twist – but the 10-strong support cast (including the seven hired groomsmen) makes each scene fun to watch. Some great set pieces – meeting the family for the first time, the gridiron match, the Bucks Party, the dance-prep – which let all the cast play a part.

I really enjoyed this and have to give it a good rating because the film did precisely what a comedy sets out to do – make you laugh! Sure, some stupid moments, but I definitely spent the majority of the film laughing or smiling, and there’s some heart thrown in to boot. I look forward to what Hart does over the coming decade…

Overall: Very enjoyable comedy – ticks all the boxes.

Gav's Rating: 4 stars. 

Unbroken (January 2015)

Official Australian release date: 15/1/15. Viewed: 15/1/15.

Director: Angelina Jolie

Actors: Jack O’Connell, Domhnall Gleeson, Finn Wittrock, Takamasa Ishihara

Genre: Drama / Action

Rating: M

‘Unbroken’ is a great film, helped immensely by the fact it’s based on an almost-unbelievable true story. Laura Hillenbrand’s novel was one of the best I’ve read in the last three years and while the movie isn’t quite as great (they never are!), the story of Louis Zamperini (O’Connell)’s extremely eventful life from 1936–1945 truly needs to be seen to be believed. Quick synopsis: he learns to run, goes to the Olympics, joins the U.S. Air Force during WWII, is shot down, stranded at sea (for seven weeks!), eventually captured by the Japanese and spends over two years in a POW camp. Sounds impossible, but what’s more astonishing is that he then went on to live for another 70 years!

Jolie’s directing debut is solid, with some nice transitions from the current to his past and the narrative moving along at a good pace for the first 90min. my one issue with the film is that the final 45min or so drag a little, as although there’s plenty going on during his time in the POW camps (i.e. mostly inhumane torture), the film seems to lose a bit of it’s spark. Brisbane/Moreton Bay does a good job of standing in for the South Pacific too!

This is not so much a film about war, as about survival, courage and hope. There’s so many times when he could have just given in and let all the terrible things happening to him defeat him, but he doesn’t. It’s truly amazing to know it actually happened! The ending is handled well and the actors – particularly Ishihara as the psychopathic ‘Bird’ – are solid.

Overall: Astonishing true story told in enjoyable fashion.

Gav's Rating: 4 stars. 

Birdman (January 2015)

Official Australian release date: 15/1/15. Viewed: 11/1/15.

Director: Alejandro Iñárritu

Actors: Michael Keaton, Edward Norton, Emma Stone, Zach Galifianakis

Genre: Drama

Rating: MA

‘Birdman’ is an interesting film, but also a movie about a Broadway play – not the most invigorating subject. The concept of a former Comic Book Movie Star trying to re-start his acting career on Broadway is certainly unique, and the film has a great look – especially the way it’s filmed to look almost as if it’s one continuous shot. There’s a few laughs, but this is definitely not a comedy.

Keaton (Riggan) is great and ably supported by Stone (Sam, his daughter), Norton (Mike – happy to get around in underpants or his birthday suit for most of his scenes) & Watts (Lesley, his co-stars), although Galifianakis is a little wasted. Even though the cinematography is good, the fact it’s basically one shot means there’s a fair bit of wasted time as we follow characters down hallways. Probably could’ve been a 100min film, rather than two hours. The other thing I found annoying was the drum/cymbal fills – they’re in his mind, but are very distracting.

It’s essentially about ego and the driving force behind actors. Sure, Riggan is a more delusional character than most actors (hopefully!), driven by his insecurity. As the critic says to him: “you’re not an actor – you’re a celebrity”. Burn. The ending is, like the whole film, different, but not completely satisfying.

Overall: A curious insight into acting and vanity.

Gav's Rating: 3.5 stars.