Simon Baker, Tim Winton, Margaret Pomeranz, others, speak at Breath Sydney premiere

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Simon Baker, Tim Winton, Margaret Pomeranz, others, speak at Breath Sydney premiere

26 April 2018

A panel discussion with five individuals seated in front of a large screen displaying the promotional poster for the film

Earlier this evening I went to the Sydney premiere of Breath, trailer, the new film by Australian actor and director, Simon Baker (Instagram page).

The screenplay was based on the 2008 novel of the same name, by Australian author Tim Winton, who collaborated with Baker, and Gerard Lee, to adapt the novel for film.

Following the screening, Baker, Winton, and cast members Elizabeth Debicki, Ben Spence, and Samson Coulter, joined Australian film critic Margaret Pomeranz, to discuss the film. Surfing plays a big part in the story, with Winton amusing the audience with a number of board riding stories.

It was great, by the way, to be back (I keep saying that) at the Ritz Cinema in Sydney’s east. Thanks to Roadshow Australia for the invitation.

NOTE: This post was drafted on 26 April 2018 but published on 19 October 2026.

Queen of the Desert, by Werner Herzog, with Nicole Kidman, Robert Pattinson

31 May 2016

Scene from Queen of the Desert, depicting stars Nicole Kidman and Robert Pattinson.

Still from Queen of the Desert , a film by Werner Herzog.

Born in England in 1868, Gertrude Bell spent the early decades of the twentieth century travelling across the Middle East, in what is now Turkey, Lebanon, Israel, Syria, Iran, and Jordan. She was a writer, archaeologist, and explorer, and was much respected by both the British, and the peoples of the region. She also played a part in establishing latter day Iraq and Jordan.

In Queen of the Desert, trailer, the Werner Herzog (Invincible, Cave of Forgotten Dreams) made depiction of her life, she is portrayed by Nicole Kidman. Bell is desperate to flee the clutches of her stifled upper class life, and leaps at the opportunity to leave, when her father (David Calder) offers to send her to stay in Tehran with her uncle, the British ambassador.

Upon arriving, Bell is soon enamoured by the free-spirited way of life in the Middle East, and sets her sights on seeing as much of the area as possible, plus meeting the local inhabitants, and their tribal leaders. She also catches the eye of several British military and diplomatic personnel, including Henry Cadogan (James Franco), and T.E. Lawrence, also known as Lawrence of Arabia (Robert Pattinson).

Nicole Kidman meets Lawrence of Arabia? Who wouldn’t want to see a film where that happens? Maybe quite a few people, and it almost seems the producers were hoping this drawcard meeting would carry the story. Instead, Queen of the Desert presents as little more than a perfunctory re-counting of Bell’s exploits in the Middle East. The performances by the leads are competent, but I think audiences may be left feeling unsure what sort of film Herzog was trying to make.

Originally published Tuesday 31 May 2016. Updated Sunday 21 April 2024.

Sherpa, a documentary by Australian filmmaker Jennifer Peedom

18 March 2016

To many people Everest is a mountain to be climbed “because it is there”. Nepal is the country one must travel to in which to do so. Finally, the Sherpas, whom everyone has heard of, are there to carry climbers’ gear up and down the slopes. It is the misconceptions surrounding these people that Jennifer Peedom aims to counter in her latest documentary, Sherpa, trailer.

Indeed Sherpa is not some sort of mountain climbers lingo for baggage carrier, it is a name for an ethnic group of people, who refer to the mountain, they consider to be a deity, as Chomolungma. The Sherpas involvement with the foreign climbers is the source of much contention within their community however, something Phurba Tashi Sherpa can attest to.

Phurba is a veteran who has scaled the mountain more than twenty times. He recognises the necessity of the Sherpas’ work, and importance of the overseas climbers to the local economy. His wife, Karma Doma Sherpa, is more than mindful of the dangers associated with his work though, and hopes he will find another job, especially as her brother died on the mountain.

Sherpas work in what is regarded as the world’s most dangerous service industry, and Peedom’s spectacular documentary brings the risks of the job to the fore. They are exploited, and often shown little regard, by those intent only on reaching the top. Sherpa not only shows us unseen aspects of climbing Everest, but also accords the Sherpas with the respect they deserve.

Originally published Friday 18 March 2016, with subsequent revisions, updates to lapsed URLs, etc.

Brooklyn, a film by John Crowley starring Saoirse Ronan

8 February 2016

Eilis Lacey (Saoirse Ronan), a young Irish woman, seems set to live an ordinary life in Enniscorthy, on the south east coast of Ireland. Aware of Eilis’ potential, and the lack of opportunities in the country in the 1950’s, older sister Rose (Fiona Glascott), arranges for her to emigrate to New York, in Brooklyn, trailer, the latest feature of John Crowley (Boy A, Closed Circuit).

Eilis is all too happy to farewell her routine job, and spiteful boss, Miss Kelly (Brid Brennan), at a local bakery, and leap into the unknown. What she doesn’t initially count on though is debilitating home sickness, and a way of life not much different to the one she left behind. Even the support of kindly Irish priest, Father Flood (Jim Broadbent), seems to be of little consolation.

Things change when Eilis falls in love with young Italian-American plumber, Tony (Emory Cohen), and finally she begins to feel that she belongs in New York. A family tragedy however sees her return to Ireland, where her mother, and friends, pressure her to remain, forcing Eilis to make a difficult choice between her old life, or a future with Tony, in her adopted homeland.

Based on the 2009 book of the same name, by Colm Tóibín, Brooklyn is an engaging, albeit mildly predictable, tale of the struggles of an immigrant making a new life for themselves, far from home. This might have been a lesser story, if it were not for Ronan’s convincing portrayal of a person who has to decide which side of the fence the grass is greener on.

Originally published Monday 8 February 2016.

Wuher: A Star Wars Story, and other films you may not live to see

18 November 2015

If a single movie, Rogue One, a Star Wars “spin off” story, slated for release in late 2016, can be spawned by way of a few words taken from the opening crawl of A New Hope, then imagine what else seen in the six films released to date, has the potential to inspire? A point that’s not lost on current series producers, the Walt Disney Company:

And if the people at the Walt Disney Company, which bought Lucasfilm for $4 billion in 2012, have anything to say about it, the past four decades of Star Wars were merely prologue. They are making more. A lot more. The company intends to put out a new Star Wars movie every year for as long as people will buy tickets. Let me put it another way: If everything works out for Disney, and if you are (like me) old enough to have been conscious for the first Star Wars film, you will probably not live to see the last one. It’s the forever franchise.

I think Wuher, the gruff bartender in the canteen at Mos Eisley, is worthy of a film. In fact, I’m of the opinion that the significance of his role in the saga has been greatly understated so far. Read his profile. I think you’ll agree there’s far more to him than meets the eye.

Originally published Wednesday 18 November 2015.

Only the Dead, a documentary by Michael Ware, Bill Guttentag

16 October 2015

“Only the dead have seen the end of war” is a phrase Greek philosopher Plato is said to have uttered the better part of two and a half thousand years ago. They are words bluntly contending, that for some, combat is an experience they will always live with, no matter how much time, or distance, they place between themselves and the battlefield.

War does not only scar the belligerents, and the hapless civilians caught up in the middle of it, but also those whose part is considered ancillary, including medics and journalists. Only the Dead tells one such story, of Australian reporter Michael Ware, and is based on video footage he recorded while working for Time Magazine in Iraq, between 2003 and 2007.

Although American lead coalition forces quickly took control of Iraq, and ousted long-time leader Saddam Hussein, when they invaded in 2003, the real struggle commenced afterwards. Groups of insurgents, some backed by al Qaeda, began engaging in guerrilla warfare, using terrifying tactics that included suicide bombings, kidnappings, and beheadings, against the occupying army.

Gradually Ware was able to make contact with members of some insurgent groups. This eventually resulted in Abu Musab al Zarqawi, who was considered one of al Qaeda’s most vicious leaders, handing him video footage of their attacks against the occupying forces. It soon became apparent to Ware that the insurgents were far more organised than was first realised.

Co-directed by American documentary maker Bill Guttentag (Death on the Job, Nanking), Only the Dead is a harrowing, first-hand, account of the war in Iraq. It is also very much a personal story, and audiences are not only witness to some of the conflict’s most disturbing, horrific moments, but also Ware’s own dark, inner, turmoil.

Originally published Friday 16 October 2015.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier, a film by Anthony and Joe Russo, with Chris Evans

9 April 2014

Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), the diminutive man who was transformed into the far sturdier Captain America as part of a World War II experiment, probably wouldn’t have had the chance read George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984. Even if he had, it couldn’t possibly have prepared him for the state of surveillance some latter day leaders had in mind.

Corrupt government official Alexander Pierce (Robert Redford) is determined to implement a security program that will endanger more people than it claims to protect. Working with Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), and Falcon (Anthony Mackie), Captain America sets about trying to thwart Pierce’s plan.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier, trailer, co-directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, ticks over at breathless pace, yet still takes the time to flesh out a little of Steve Rogers’ character, while the story’s parallels with the world we live in today are blunt. Despite the sometimes heavy overtones, as escapist fare there isn’t too much to fault here.

Originally published Wednesday 9 April 2014.

Alone Time, a short film by Rod Blackhurst, with Rose Hemingway

27 September 2013

It looked like the perfect weekend away, camping in the wilderness, far from the stresses of the city and career. Until the twist at the end. That’s Alone Time, a short film by American filmmaker Rod Blackhurst, starring Rose Hemingway as Ann.

Based on actual such events by the way, but don’t read about it until you’ve watched the video.

(Thanks Sarah)

Originally published Friday 27 September 2013, with subsequent revisions, updates to lapsed URLs, etc.

Trailer for Before Midnight, by Richard Linklater, with Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke

9 April 2013

Richard Linklater, director of Dazed and Confused, A Scanner Darkly, and Bernie, collaborates once more with Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke to make Before Midnight, the third title in the Before Sunrise and Before Sunset, series of films.

No word of an Australian release as yet (I heard 13 June whispered as a suggestion), but in the meantime check out the trailer. I can’t say what piqued my interest in these films since first seeing them on DVD eight or nine years ago. Eurorail maybe? Peneda-Gerês? County Bondi?

It looks like he missed the flight…

Originally published Tuesday 9 April 2013.

Liberal Arts, a film by Josh Radnor, with Elizabeth Olsen, Richard Jenkins

10 December 2012

Say what you will about Liberal Arts degrees, ridiculed by some as glorified courses in general knowledge that effectively leave students without a real education, but like it or not, life, or the university of hard knocks, eventually makes degree holders out of us all. Even if our alma mater is one we never really graduate from.

This is something Jesse (Josh Radnor), discovers in Liberal Arts, trailer, also Radnor’s second directing effort following 2010’s Happythankyoumoreplease, when he returns to his former college for the retirement dinner of Peter Hoberg (Richard Jenkins), a professor he greatly respected during his days as an under-graduate.

Now 35, trapped in a job in New York that offers no fulfilment, and single again after another woman walked out on him, Jesse is delighted to be back on his leafy old stomping ground, at Ohio’s Kenyon College, once more. While dining later with friends of Peter’s, Jesse meets Zibby (Elizabeth Olsen), a 19 year old sophomore at the university.

In the days and weeks that follow, Jesse and Zibby discover, despite their age difference, that they have numerous shared interests through the hand written letters they exchange after Jesse returns to New York. And while both realise that a romantic attraction is forming, Jesse is reluctant to be any more than a friend to Zibby.

It is the reticence to see Jesse and Zibby, who, when in her element, appears to be wiser to the world than her older would-be beau, form a serious relationship, that takes away much of the substance Liberal Arts could have had. The question is though, was this out of a fear of offending certain viewer sensibilities, or not?

Otherwise Radnor’s second feature, even if it gets a little muddled along the way, bestows something of a general knowledge education in itself, and of course more, even if it regards so-called May to December romances as unheard of. But you haven’t lived, or languished, unless you’ve studied the Liberal Arts, and dated beyond your years, and that much it gets right.

Originally published Monday 10 December 2012, with subsequent revisions, updates to lapsed URLs, etc.

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