Geek of Oz

What’s that, a wacky high-concept single-camera almost one-take feeling movie? Well that must be our boy Steven Soderbergh doing what he does. His latest Presence didn’t entirely work for me, but it’s not without its charms.  Presence skillfully positions the audience into the perspective of an ethereal being, which is attached to a particular house by way of traumatic events. We witness a young family move into the home and go about their daily lives. Soon after, it’s apparent that the family is dealing with a series of ongoing issues. Although novel, these relationships aren’t that compelling to watch unfold.  So why didn’t this work for? Simply put, I found the perspective more of a distraction than an aid to the storytelling. I kept catching myself being too aware that there’s a camera person in the scene, effectively breaking that magical bond we’re all seeking with movies. It was a constant reminder of the artifice of it all. Notwithstanding that, I appreciate the swings...

Over the past few years I’ve had my hands full with a couple of small life milestones. You know, having our first kid and completing a law degree. Now with a smidge more time on my hands, I’d like to get back to jotting down some thoughts on the films I watch. Far from an in-depth analysis, more just contemporaneous notes to figure out if I liked it or not. Better Man from director Michael Gracey ( The Greatest Showman ) details the life and escapades of everyone’s favourite former-bad-boy Robbie Williams.  Having Robbie Williams represented as a CGI monkey in a biographical movie probably shouldn’t work, but ultimately it does. More on that later. Although the visual effects border on patchy now and then, the concept thankfully papers over the shortcomings of Better Man .  Unlike the obscenely sanitised Bohemian Rhapsody, Better Man doesn’t shy away from the darker corners of Williams’ story. We’re treated to every pint sculled, line snorted, relationship trashed and the res...

It is the book that has taken Australia by storm, with the author frequently popping up on national television and radio to be quizzed about his new release and a topic we all love – the Hottest 100.   If the media buzz doesn’t convince you, the book’s cover almost certainly will. Pull quotes by none-other-than Paul Dempsey (Something for Kate), Odette, Alex Dyson and Tyler Jenke speak to “a visual and hilarious detailing of Australian music history”. It is agreed that “Clarke’s knowledge, humour, and passion for the poll is the tribute Aussie music needs.”  Having now read the book myself, I can tell you outright: the hype is entirely justified.  ‘Shoulda Been Higher’ is nostalgic, nerdy and deeply funny. It is somehow both chock-a-block with stats and completely fascinating – not a combination I have witnessed previously, of that you can be sure. Tom W Clarke approaches the Hottest 100 with the studiousness of an academic, the joy of a comedian and the anecdotes an...

Nia DaCosta’s Candyman (2021) serves both as an examination of intergenerational trauma, and as a portrait of the scars left by gentrification. Just as Leigh Whannell’s The Invisible Man was a metaphor for domestic violence, DaCosta’s Candyman grafts issues of racial and social inequality onto the frame of a slasher film. Simply put, Candyman is hands down one of the best films of the year. Sadly I’m well aware of my limitations as a reviewer. In fact I’ve never even considered myself a reviewer as such, just a guy who loves films. By all this I mean, this is exactly the type of film which makes me wish I could expertly convey my appreciation for the craft on display. So keeping that in mind, I kindly request that you make time for this one. IMDB describes the film as “ A "spiritual sequel" to the horror film Candyman (1992) that returns to the now-gentrified Chicago neighborhood where the legend began. ”  Given every film nowadays seems to be an audition for the next Marve...

  A thriller about a family on a tropical holiday who discover that the secluded beach where they are relaxing for a few hours is somehow causing them to age, reducing their entire lives into a single day... M. Night Shyamalan’s latest mind-bending, twisty-turny effort Old , fails to live up to the best of his filmography. Perhaps he’s unfairly labelled as the twist guy, but we don’t get to choose our monikers in this life. His career has justifiably been built upon an ability to pull the rug out from under the audience, which perhaps has left us a little jaded over the years.Twists and turns are always appreciated, but they must be in service of the plot or character development. Sadly here the inevitable reveal didn’t really serve either.  Old primarily takes place on a idyllic beach, where a group of strangers are experiencing a phenomenon of accelerated ageing. I’ll be frank, there’s an intriguing kernel of a story at the heart of Old , it’s just never fully realized. The...

A British drug lord tries to sell off his highly profitable empire to a dynasty of Oklahoma billionaires. The Gentlemen heralds Guy Ritchie's return to his well trodden tropes of fast-talking, well-tailored British gangsters and for me it worked to great effect. Your mileage may vary on Ritchie as a director, but you can’t deny that over the years he has cranked out some real bangers. Now let me be very clear, The Gentlemen is loosely based on the model which made his other gangster films successful. And when I say loosely based, it’s probably safer to say it’s the exact same model. The only real key difference is the pacing, which is considerably slower than his usual offerings. I admired the sense of restraint on display, for me it showed Ritchie’s growth as a storyteller. The quick editing and frantic action, has been replaced with a more methodical way or wandering through the narrative. For the most part, the film centres around street-savvy journo Fletcher...

1917 has the best opening act of 2019. To be blunt, it’s cinematic a masterclass. Sadly despite the obvious craft on display, my mind wandered as the film progressed. After some wrestling with my thoughts, I’ve been able to confirm why this is; the film is touted as a “one shot film”, meaning that it is presented as if there are no cuts or editing and we follow the action in real time. Which isn’t in fact the case, because there are subtle cuts and edited moments. My issue isn’t so much the authenticity of the one shot claims, it’s that I find the technique distracting and instead of immersing me in the action, has almost the complete opposite effect. The film follows two young British soldiers in World War 1 given the unenviable task of crossing enemy territory, in order to hand deliver a message which will save the lives of hundreds of fellow soldiers. The film serves as a testament to the sacrifice and bravery displayed by thousands of soldiers who paid the ultimate price ...

The Furies follows rebellious high school students Kayla (Airlie Dodds) and her best friend Maddie (Ebony Vagulans) who find themselves abducted by a sinister presence. Kayla wakes up in a box in the middle of a forest with no idea how she got there, and no idea of Maddie’s whereabouts. She soon realises she is not alone – men in terrifying masks are stalking six other young women in the woods. As the threat of more killers closes in, Kayla races to save as many girls as she can. But when the girls turn on each other, Kayla's killer instinct is unleashed and she does whatever it takes to survive and seek revenge on her abductors. I tend to avoid horror films. Not for any highfalutin cinematic reason mind you, but because I'm a scaredy cat. I don’t particularly enjoy jump scares and pushing the boundaries of gore effects ain’t my jam. Now I’m not begrudging those who dig the genre, it’s each to their own. With that in mind, I'll muster the courage to bring you my tho...

Years following the events of "The Shining," a now-adult Dan Torrance meets a young girl with similar powers as his and tries to protect her from a cult known as The True Knot who prey on children with powers to remain immortal... On paper Mike Flanagan’s Doctor Sleep faces an immense challenge. Firstly it’s a sequel to arguably one of the most iconic horror films of all time; with a devout, sometimes fanatical fanbase ( Room 237 ). Not to mention it’s dropping a mere 39 years after its predecessor. Next hurdle, it weighs in with a hefty runtime (155mins), which can test the patience of cinema goers. Plus the film must navigate the treacherous waters of familiarity versus ingenuity; showing reverence to The Shining , without being slavish to its iconography. Despite all this, Flanagan manages to deliver a wholly satisfying experience. For the record I haven’t read The Shining or Doctor Sleep . Now I’m not the biggest fan of The Shining . I appreciate the cra...

Maleficent and her goddaughter Aurora begin to question the complex family ties that bind them as they are pulled in different directions by impending nuptials, unexpected allies, and dark new forces at play. Director: Joachim Ronning (Kon-tiki, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell no Tales) Starring: Angelina Jolie, Michelle Pfeiffer, Elle Fanning, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Sam Riley, Ed Skrein and Harris Dickinson. So five years ago (that hurts to type) I remember coming out of Maleficent with a resounding sense of apathy. You can check out what I mused here , but basically I found it to be a misstep for Disney. Jump cut to today and I’m back, smack bang in the apathy jacuzzi again. Soaking up all the wasted time and resources of a staggeringly lacklustre film. Now don’t get me wrong I’m a Disney baby through and through. Give me that castle animation and stirring rendition of Wish Upon a Star intro any day of the week. But, even with my mouse tinted glasses on, I can’t...

I had to watch this film on a day when the universe was clearly conspiring against me, resulting in one of those awful days. Luckily for me, Finding Your Feet momentarily arrested me from whatever existential crisis I was experiencing. Such is the undeniable charm of Richard Loncraine’s latest offering. After exposing her husband’s cheating ways, Sandra (Imelda Staunton) moves in with her estranged sister Bif (Celia Imrie). Bif’s tiny flat is a world away from the life of luxury Sandra is accustomed to. In an attempt to rekindle Sanda’s zest for life, Bif drags her along to a community dance class. From there Sandra gradually remembers to embrace simple pleasures in life she’d long forgotten to savour. While it won’t win any awards, Finding Your Fee t is a serviceable, run-of-the-mill film which does what it needs to do. It’s a bunch of veteran British stars you’ll easily recognise, all putting in honest work. My only really complaints were that It’s possibly fifteen to ...

I , Tonya has that elusive energy that more biopics should go searching for. An interesting examination of the cycle of violence which haunts so many victims of domestic violence. Margot Robbie delivers another fine performance. High energy, lots of laughs and a killer soundtrack. Decent night at the movies. Tick in every box. I , Tonya is in theatres everywhere. If you see the film and want to discuss it further, feel free to drop a line in the comments below or come over to our Facebook page to have a chat. 8/10 - Stu  - Stu

A cover-up that spanned four U.S. Presidents pushed the country's first female newspaper publisher and a hard-driving editor to join an unprecedented battle between journalist and government - IMDB Director: Steven Spielberg Writers: Liz Hannah & Josh Singer Starring: Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Bob Odenkirk, Bradley Whitford, Sarah Paulson, Tracy Letts, Bruce Greenwood, Jesse Plemons, David Cross and many more. In Cinemas: January 11th. Even though Steven Spielberg’s latest film The Post  is set in the 1970s, it carries two important lessons still highly relevant today: protecting the rights of the press, and the importance of gender equality. Despite not being an overly subtle affair, I couldn’t resist the inherent charm of this film. From a certain corrupt Mayor of Amity Island to the meddling shadowy government figures in Bridge of Spies, ; Spielberg has often taken aim at those in power. Yes, they make for easy-cookie-cutter villains. But maybe that’s beca...

This year I’m trying to change up how I present my reviews. Hopefully they’ll be more along the lines that if you liked X, then you should check out Y. They’ll be lighter on in terms of plot details and I guess more like a consumer report. If this works for you I’d love to hear from you in the comments below. During the early days of World War II, the fate of Western Europe hangs on the newly-appointed British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who must decide whether to negotiate with Hitler, or fight on against incredible odds. Director - Joe Wright Starring - Gary Oldman, Kristin Scott Thomas, Lily James, Ben Mendelsohn & Stephen Dillane In cinemas - January 11, 2018 After so many transformative performances, I’m starting to forget what Gary Oldman actually looks like. Mr Oldman’s ability to immerse himself into a performance is second to none. So who better to do turn to to capture a new take on Winston Churchill? Joe Wright’s latest film, Darkest ...

Earlier this year I made the foolish claim that President Trump wouldn’t be President by year’s end. To make matters worse, I chose to wager on this preposterous assertion with fellow Geek of Oz crew member Chris. If El Presidente was gone, Chris would have to read and review The Art of the Deal by Trump, and if he wasn’t, I would finally check out Tommy Wiseau’s The Room . Sigh. Damn you Trump! Fair to say this brings to an end my betting career on global politics. I’d always resisted seeing The Room , for the simple fact that I don’t need to intentionally watch bad films. I never ventured into the “it’s so bad it’s good” realm of the cinematic galaxy. It’s just not for me. Now in fairness to  The Room , I attended a special screening at a local cinema, who have been doing it for 4 years. Packed house. I threw the spoons. I yelled at the screen. I endured the horrific performances. Suffered through brain-numbing writing. Nearly threw up at the awkward sex scenes. But...

November releases have torpedoed my top 10! Thanks to the directorial debuts from Greta Gerwig ( Lady Bird ) and John Carrol Lynch ( Lucky ), my top 10 needs some serious rearranging. Other notable watches this month include Blade of the Immortal from Takashi Miike, Downsizing from Alexander Payne and Kenneth Branagh’s Murder on the Orient Express . As we inch closer and closer to the end of the year, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed watching my list evolve over the past 11 months. Can’t wait for the December releases, apparently there’s some Star Wars movie coming … To check out my top 10 month by month, feel free to check out my other lists from earlier in the year. As always, I’d love to hear about your favourite movies in the comments below or come over and play at our Facebook page . January February March April May June July August September October - Stu Top 10 as of the end of November: 1. Lady Bird 2. Land of Mine 3. Call Me By Your Name 4. Good Time 5. Get ...

Reese Witherspoon is having a moment and it’s a pleasure to see. It is so satisfying to witness that the actress who gave us the utterly original and terrifying, Tracy Flick, has still so many more surprises for us. That super sharp, full of intensity, scarily Machiavellian high-school girl (perhaps sociopath) promised an actress who does not hold back. Reese commits fully and with real vigour and we have seen this over and over again in roles like Legally Blonde  (the original is still so fun), Walk the line , Vanity Fair and more. Recently the critically-acclaimed and Emmy award winning TV series Big Little Lies which is sensational, as well as her role in it. In Home Again Reese has returned to the romantic comedy genre which she has championed in her career many times and sadly, to some questionable results. I know Sweet Home Alabama  is a favourite among many but sadly it did not ignite me. I am quite fond of Just Like heaven  with Mark Ruffalo (don’t j...