Geek of Oz

Thanks to its voluminous cast, This is Where I Leave You has an 'overcrowded elevator' feel about it. I couldn't help picturing a maximum capacity sign, wondering which of the surplus characters I'd happily jettison to give everyone else some room to move. With so many moving parts, the film is forced to the juggle multiple plot lines where nothing particularly interesting was explored, which left me wondering what the point was. The Altman family is reuniting in the wake of their father’s untimely passing. Despite being an atheist, Papa Altman's dying wish is that his family sits Shiva in order to bring everyone together for some much needed family time. The family's woes are a veritable smorgasbord of dysfunction, with each member’s problems topped by the next. Given this is a family reunion flick, one by one they start to find the happiness that's been eluding them through the love and support of their ... Sorry I just threw up a little. The film ...

Bad Neighbours gives you the opportunity to sneak in some laughs before the louder Michael-Bay-esque nonsense-blockbuster films start stomping our way, yes Spider Man 2 I’m looking right at you! Over The past few years, it’s been fairly slim pickings on the comedic front, with arguably only five or six films leaving a lasting impression, namely Ted, Bridesmaids and 21 Jump Street. Now Bad Neighbours isn’t the second coming, but it’s an entertaining film which delivers more than it’s fair share of genuinely funny albeit juvenile moments. If you’re not offended by the odd vibrator, breast pump or venereal disease joke then this film could be right up your alley. Mac and Kelly Radner (Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne) are new parents who have just bought their dream home and are slowly coming to terms with their newfound sense of responsibility. Their newly-built “grown up” world is turned upside down when a local fraternity moves in next door and decides to turn the joint into party cent...

In the spirit of full disclosure I will happily admit I did not watch James Wan’s Insidious back in 2011 because I came down with acute blindness…my car broke down that day…no wait my dog died… alright already it’s cause I’m a scared-y cat when it comes to such films. Luckily with some recent horror classics under my belt I boldly walked in to Insidious: Chapter 2 and only shrieked twice from behind my seat but keep that between you and me. Whilst it’s an entertaining film it all felt a little too familiar, partly because it has so many references to other films of the genre but also because James Wan has already released The Conjuring this year, which Ali reviewed to moderate praise.

With Tim Winton's critically acclaimed THE TURNING hitting cinemas today, Madman Films have supplied us with a handful of clips that highlight exactly why this film is receiving rave reviews. This is nothing short of extremely exciting and innovative filmmaking and as an added bonus, it's Australian.

If you thought that The Great Gatsby was a great Australian release, you were dead wrong. While it was directed by an Aussie and shot locally, there wasn't much more to it than that. The Turning, however, looks as though it could be one of the greatest Aussie releases in recent memory. Based on Tim Winton's anthology of short stories, The Turning showcases 17 directors telling 17 stories, each of which is blessed to have some incredible Australian actors on board such as Hugo Weaving, Cate Blanchett, Rose Byrne, Mia Wasikowska and many more. Described as being blunt yet sophisticated, The Turning is an extremely exciting Australian production.

Gosling and Cooper deliver spellbinding performances as their lives intertwine in this dramatic powerhouse of love, death, crime and punishment. There is no simple way to explain this film. It is part love story, part thriller, part action and all drama. There is not a single weak performance from the entire cast and Cianfrance’s direction and script are superb in their ability to be astounding and understated in equal measures, an achievement unto itself. In a movie that could easily be made into two separate films, Cianfrance has been able to seamlessly tie the two parts together with great effect leaving the audience full to the brim. This is not a happy movie, I’ve just gotta say that. There are times when I was cringing to the edge of my seat; I just wanted it to end but the ability of all the actors to convey their emotions without overacting was a beautiful thing and it kept me interested and engaged throughout, that and an intriguing story.