Red Dog - film review

Starring: canine Koko, Josh Lucas, Rachael Taylor, Noah Taylor, Keisha Castle-Hughes, Luke Ford, John Batchelor, Rohan Nichol, Arthur Angel 
Director: Kriv Stenders
Classification: PG, 92 mins. Australia
Distributor: Roadshow

Family Comedy, Drama.

Who would of thought a dog could portray such a range of emotions! This is so wonderfully filmed, acted and directed it was pure pleasure to watch. Hurrah for an Australian film to capture both the colloquial, cultural, and at the same time a believable story that makes you laugh and cry without the usual cliches.

Adapted from the novel of the same name by award-winning author Louis De Bernières, Red Dog is a legendary story of a charismatic kelpie who unites a male dominated mining community in Pilbara region of north-West Australia in the 1970s. Red Dog is a friend to all, but loyal to only one.

I don't want to spoil it for you by telling you more, though invite everyone to experience it for themselves. A thoroughly feel good film that has the added bonus of celebrating the uniqueness of Australian multi-culture - especially in the setting of 70s white Australia policy. The balance is perfect.

WIN WIN - film review

Starring Paul Giamatti, Amy Ryan, Bobby Cannavale and Jeffrey Tambor, .
Directed by Thomas McCarthy.
Classification: M (Course Language), 106 mins. USA.
Official Site: http://www.foxsearchlight.com/winwin/

Dramatic Comedy

 Not your usual Hollywood RomCom - Win Win is a film primarily a drama with comedic moments of family based absurdities. Totally believable situations occur when Mike Flaherty (Paul Giamatti), an attorney that's having cash flow problems, is assigned by the court to represent an elderly man - Stephen Vigman's (Jeffrey Tambor) welfare. Unable to locate the Vigman's only daughter, though he doesn't try too hard, Mike takes on the guardianship role as a way of earning extra income. Trouble arises when the Vignman's grandson Kyle (Alex Shaffer) turns up to live with his grandfather, though Mike has already placed him in a retirement home.

The drug addict mother of Kyle, Cindy (Melanie Lynskey) is the catalyst of Mike's moral dilema. Mike, conflicted, must create a win win situation for all concerned.

The casting was brilliant, and though there were a few funny threads throughout, to me this film represented the questioning of morality and ethics in this new economic crisis-filled world. The ending emphasis', a bit too blatant, asking 'what would you do in the same situation'?

Still, it's the only comedy in town... screening nationally.

Pina 3D - film review

Germany (2011) 106 mins - Documentary

To quote Pina Basch: "What are we longing for? Where does all this yearning come from?" this documentary follows the energy of emotions through the expression of dance. The film isn't a linear chronology of Pina's life events, rather the exploration of her drive to create and express what is it to be human.

Wim Wenders, using 3D technology, expertly captures the dancers' vividly in all their emotionally states of performance dance. I felt their emotions from love to distress and everything in between. As a documentary this film is definitely a 'show and not tell', with very little interview and dialogue, leaving it up to you to just experience it! A revolutionary approach to a doco and leaves you pondering the quote (above) from Pina.

The performance spaces are breathtaking, the music is energising and I left the cinema both exhausted and delighted - and immediately headed to the Opera House to book the Spring Dance performance of her work Out of Context!

Whether you're a fan of contemporary dance or not this is one experience you shouldn't deny yourself.

Now showing at Dendy, Palace and other selected cinema's. Enjoy!