PREVIEWFILMS.NET

The Time Travelers Wife (2009)

Date: Fri, 27 Nov 2009 01:16:11 GMT

Director: Robert Schwentke
Starring: Rachel McAdams, Eric Bana
Not read the book, so having a fresh take, found it a little confusing with only a few scenes that moved me. Rachel McAdams was brilliant, her performance saved the film. There was some chemistry between her and Eric Bana, but it felt mostly one sided, and ironically symbolic to the story.

From the best-selling book by Audrey Niffenegger this is the story of librarian Henry DeTamble (Eric Bana) who is suffering a genetic disorder that involuntarily sends him through time, appearing at various moments in the life of Clare Abshire (Rachel McAdams).

Is Henry some sort of pervert, I mean a nude guy hiding in the bushes trying to get the attention of a 6 year old girl...Um...one could take the point that he corrupts Clare's innocence at an early age by stealing her heart, or he needed her as the one constant thing in his turbulent life.
There is the usual time travel paradoxes throughout the film, but you have to let that go. A helpful idea is to treat Clare as the constant in the story, that way Henry's time line seems to make sense, also another symbolic meaning. I think I need to read the book now... DIDOMAN 5/9

SCIENCE FICTION

A Serious Man (2009)

Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 06:58:31 GMT

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Director: Joel and Ethan Coen
Starring: Michael Stuhlbarg, Richard Kind
Set in suburban Minnesota where the Coen brothers grew up, this is about a man's search for answers on why things have gone wrong in his life. Why me? A real insight into growing up Jewish in the late 60's, this comedy/drama is a take on the biblical story of Job. Funny and sad with some truths, I liked this movie. It brought me into their world.

Larry Gobnik's (Michael Stuhlbarg) wife wants to leave him, his brother is a failure, issues arise at work, his son's bar mitzvah approaches, one neighbor invades his land while another invades his desires. He seeks advise from Rabbi's and his lawyer (Adam Arkin), all with different views on Gods ways. But just as his work deals with scientific uncertainties so too does his life.

Coen movie's combine the everyday experiences of life and give it some meaning, and it's up to the audience to delve deeper for answers. I guess one should always react with simplicity to everything that happens to them and then finally when the truth is found to be just a bunch of lies, we die. So if you think you have everything in it's place and life is going just as you planned, along will come a 'ruach'... DIDOMAN 7/9

COMEDY

500 Days of Summer (2009)

Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:01:47 GMT

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Director: Marc Webb
Starring: Zooey Deschanel, Joseph Gordon-Levitt
A great romantic comedy. Independent, low key and quirky, this was a real pleasant surprise. Cleverly done, the story is delivered in non linear fashion over the 500 days of a doomed romance.

Summer (Zooey Deschanel) dumps Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) a greeting card writer who then begins to look back over their relationship for want went wrong. A great soundtrack featuring The Smiths and Regina Spektor to name a few, is cleverly integrated and feature not just during key moments throughout the film but even take over entire scenes.

Just as Tom looks back you too will be remembering earlier romances and linking together all the moments, good and bad that eventually didn't mean jack shit because you didn't like the same movie on that one moment in your life when it really mattered. Sometime you just know when it's right...
Yeah right!... DIDOMAN 7/9

COMEDY

2012 (2009)

Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 03:23:17 GMT

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Director: Roland Emmerich
Starring: John Cusack, Chiwetel Ejiofor
The Mayan civilization have got this calender (they have a few) called the Long Count, and on the Solstice 21st December 2012 it comes to an end. If it ticks over then don't forget next years calender from the your local delicatessen, BUT if it doesn't start the next cycle, say your prayers now.

An epic CGI extravaganza of a movie by the end of, you will wish the end of the world was nigh. Throughout the whole movie my hand was covering the mouth for a muffled 'Bullshit'. There are a lot of 'Just in the nic of time' moments, and far fetched corny scenes, but I loved it just the same.

The aligning of the planets have caused the sun to heat up the earth's core, causing the crust to crumble, and Jackson (John Cusack) has to get his family to Tibet. Woody Harrelson plays an eccentric doomsday pirate radio broadcaster and Danny Glover plays another black president in a disaster movie. Funny that. Anyway it's a a lot of fun with heaps of action, but I particularly liked the scruples behind who gets chosen to be saved so mankind can live on. All I got to say is start saving now...DIDOMAN 5/9

ACTION

The Box (2009)

Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:22:05 GMT

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Director: Richard Kelly
Starring: Cameron Diaz, James Marsden
Kelly just can't keep it in the box and has let it all out. The movie starts off as a normal thriller but slowly turns into an existential philosophical look at individual decisions and the effects they have on mankind (I think?)

Arlington Steward (Frank Langella) informs Norma (Cameron Diaz) and Arthur (James Marsden) Lewis they have 24 hours to decide if they want to push a button for a million dollars, but a stranger will die if done so. Based on sci-fi writer Richard Matheson's short story from the 70's.

More accessible than his previous films, but still one with many ideas that didn't push my buttons first time around, so a second viewing will definitely be needed. Kelly says, "I wanted to make a film that knocks you for a loop and leaves you with your head spinning, but sticks in your mind and leaves you wanting to revisit it and experience it again to search for more clarity".

And with some subtle references to playwright Jean-Paul Sartre, seen at the beginning of the film, clarity will not be so easily achieved as say watching re-runs of The Money or the Box... DIDOMAN 7/9

SCIENCE FICTION

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