White House Down film review

It's an action film with more guns and explosions than named characters, but it is also a smart film and the violence is balanced with humour, cameraderie, politics and a sweet father-daughter story.  

There are several strands that make up the story, and these are each revealed in a clever way; such that there is suspense and satisfying pay-offs, and the strands come together in a natural way.  I would not fault the story at all.  The strongest feature of this film, though, is that the relationships between characters are real and interesting.  Channing Tatum has some wonderful connections with his scene partners, but the one that makes the film is his bond with Jamie Foxx.  The two tussle for power, and find their common ground and watch each others' backs and it is a beautiful thing.  They are funny too.  It was just a shame they could not find an excuse to rap together while dodging bullets and killing bad guys.  Oh yeah, the death count is pretty high.  That is where I tend to struggle with such action-heavy films.  Why all the death?  Why shoot to kill?  Isn't wounding sometimes enough?  Why even use guns?  But the thing I liked about this film is that the gunfire actually felt justified.  And the issue of non-violent peace negotiation is at the heart of the story.

So, this film just works.  The overall tone is fantastic and cheesy, but accept that and there is a lot to enjoy.

See this film to witness a believable dynamic duo.  Who needs superpowers or fancy gadgets when one can simply Channing all over one's Tatum.

Speaking in Tongues theatre review

Speaking in Tongues is the sort of play that has earned Silo its reputation for presenting bold plays with rich material for its cast.  This production is slick and stylish, and securely acted.  It is what we have come to expect from Silo and I enjoyed it.

It is a play that provides much food for thought, particularly about relationships.  It acknowledges the complexity of marriage and our glimpses into several relationships point to relatable issues, while entertaining.

The cast of four are all adept at natural characterisation, and I was particularly impressed with Oliver Driver, who gives us three very different characters, and makes them all interesting and interestingly vulnerable.  The quality I felt was lacking from all performances was spontaneity.  The play is carefully staged, and much of it requires measured performances from the actors, but there was also room for some less guarded moments.  As it was, there were no surprises.  It would have been the icing on the cake to see some raw emotion.

But that's just my minor quibble.  The play is rather outstanding, and Silo present a polished production with excellent production values.  The Herald Theatre has never looked so much like a real theatre!

See this play and lose yourself in a yarn of intertwined relationships and the fallout that can come from taking risks.  

After Miss Julie theatre review

Something to do with a love triangle...I don't know.  The most forgettable play I have seen in a long time.  It just never got going, and then it stopped.

Production values were pretty standard, and Dena Kennedy's easy presence was a delight to behold, but beyond that there is very little to say.

Don't go near this play.

Stoker film review

Chan-wook Park's first English language feature film proves that his style translates just fine.  The language of his films is very much a visual one, and his ongoing collaboration with cinematographer Chung-hoon Chung is one of the most exciting in the film industry today.

The world he creates for Stoker is one of Gothic beauty, observed in ultra-amplified sound and intensified colour.  This is one of the most beautiful films I've ever seen, so the absorbing characters and their surprising story is an added bonus.  It's a morbid tale, though, so it won't be to everyone's liking.  It seems Park excels best in such twisted mysteries.

Mia Wokawski and Matthew Goode turn in outstanding performances while Nicole Kidman relies on her usual bag of tricks. 

See this film for a visual feast.  I found it refreshing to see a story told in such a bold, interesting way.