The Little Things

Official Australian release date: 18/2/21. Viewed: 21/2/21.
Director: John Lee Hancock
Actors: Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, Jared Leto, Chris Bauer
Genre: Drama / Thriller
Rating: M

‘The Little Things’ is almost a straightforward murder-mystery, with Deacon (Washington), a deputy sheriff in Northern California, picking up some evidence from LAPD, where he runs into Baxter (Malek) and Sal (Bauer) and ends up helping them with a murder investigation. We slowly learn more about Deacon’s past and how there might be some links between recent murders and cases that Deacon & Sal were investigating in the past.

It’s certainly not a thrill ride or full of excitement, but is a decently paced moody film, with a great score. Sparma (Leto) comes into it as a potential suspect. Each of the main three actors get a chance to shine in their own way, with Washington able to convey so much without words multiple times, and Leto does an excellent “creepy” with his gait & I assume contacts to make his pupils larger.

There is constantly little reveals which keep things moving. The third act is truly surprising and makes you ask “why!?” a few times and certainly doesn’t wrap up as you might expect. Nothing revolutionary, but an assured film that showcases some great actors showing off their chops.

Overall: Solid murder mystery, without any pizazz.

Gav's Rating: 3 stars.

High Ground

 

Official Australian release date: 28/1/21. Viewed: 7/2/21.
Director: Stephen Johnson
Actors: Simon Baker, Jacob Junior Nayinggul, Callan Mulvey, Sean Mununggurr
Genre: Drama / Thriller
Rating: MA

‘High Ground’ is a fictionalised glimpse into events that would have happened all the time in the 18^th, 19^th & even 20^th century, as the British colonised Australia. This film is set in the 1930s, in Arnhem Land and Kakadu, and follows one Aboriginal tribe’s fight for survival, particularly Gutjuk (Nayinggul), his uncle Baywara (Mununggurr) and grandfather Dharrpa (Marika), after the shocking intro scene we see in 1919.

Involved in the 1919 attack are Travis (Baker) and Eddy (Mulvey), both NT Police who report to Moran (Thompson). It’s interesting to see their varying amounts of tolerance for the locals, including when Walter (Pedersen) comes in from Queensland to help. Thompson does a good job of pretensions Monarch-loving toff, while Baker is understated. The film starts to move when Travis and Gutjuk are sent to find and bring in Baywara, where allegiances are tested.

The film’s rated MA for a reason and there are a few devastating scenes. But they’re put there to make us confront and acknowledge what happened in Australia for 150 years after white settlement. The film does this well by letting us see through Gutjuk’s eyes – Nayinggul does well as both a literal and metaphorical translator. Drones are used to great effect to capture the stunning scenery and the score and soundtrack are both good. Certainly not fun, but a well-made film and story.

Overall: Australian racial tension contrasted with natural beauty.

Gav's Rating: 3.5 stars. 

Occupation: Rainfall

Official Australian release date: 28/1/21. Viewed: 5/2/21.
Director: Luke Sparke
Actors: Dan Ewing, Jet Tranter, Lawrence Makoare, Daniel Gillies
Genre: Sci-Fi / Action
Rating: M

‘Occupation: Rainfall’ is a sequel to the low-budget Australian-alien-invasion film from 2018 – but this time it’s bigger and better – in all respects. Returning from the first film, attempting to save Sydney, are Matt (Ewing), Amelia (Tranter, in place of Jacobsen), Marcus (Go) and Dennis (Gerred), who are joined again by Peter (Morrison) & Bella (Stevens) in the third act. This time, they’re helped by General Abraham (Roberts), Wing Commander Hayes (Gillies), Captain Wessex (Coles Smith) and Gary (Makoare), one of the ‘greys’. The film wastes no time is setting up where things are – the aliens have essentially destroyed most of the world, and only small pockets of resistance remain, such as Sydney. The survivors then evacuate to the Blue Mountains.

Director Sparke has a much bigger budget this time, and isn’t afraid to use it, with the aliens being a good mix of costumes and CGI, and the spaceships and air battles are really well done. This is definitely not a Hollywood film, but he does well to blend all the film’s inspirations – ‘Star Wars’, ‘Avatar’, ‘Predator’ – into a mostly-cohesive whole. At the film’s core is Matt – hero from the first film who despises the “maggots” – being forced to team up with “Gary”, one of the aliens who is now on the humans’ side. Gary is also the most well-rounded character – and gets some good fight scenes too!

As always with Aussie cinema, it’s good to see local scenery, although a bit of it is CGI-Sydney in ruins! Still the Blue Mountains look nice – but I’m not sure why it’s not snowing there if it is snowing where the small village is, presumably near Jindabyne. Near the end, Bud (Jeong) and Steve (Issacs, another alien) provide some comedic relief and a futile battle takes place, leaving everything set up for a third film. Doesn’t always hit the mark, some stilted dialogue, but a good score, some well-made battles, believable alien villains, a bigger question of “do humans deserve our planet?” and an undercurrent of “what would I do in this situation?”

Overall: Mostly fun, action-packed sci-fi.

Gav's Rating: 3.5 stars.