Sunday, January 31, 2010

GRAN TORINO

***** Clint Eastwood acts real tough. BUT, if you haven't seen this big shooting film, "you ain't seen nothing YET" . How about YOU Make your day and see this great film;
It forces the audience to watch a few people just like us grabbing solid toughness in desperation; In doing so it shows up the shallow and ineffecetive Noise and Bluster of the cheap immitations We get to see just what a few really tough choices look like .
Some people think the best thing to do is "the natural thing to do" - This film shows how inadequate that is . How though do we go beyond our emotions and try the immpossible . The natural instinct for revenge provides nothing but self justification and stupor on both sides; no way out seems possible ; The escalating war and hostilities in our homes and neighbourhoods would be depressing if it wasn't for the not so obvious kind of toughness discovered in this great film .
The film is a must see, with some great young heroes to inspire YOU . For more on doing the impossible CLICK HERE

Thursday, January 07, 2010

Treasures YOU can afford !

The Holiday DVD place on the Coast at Phillip Island had changed hands and was throwing out its old VHS to make way for the DVD's. As usual, I couldn't remember any reviews of the many mystery bag tattered covers bags that were now losing their appeal to everyone but me : I expected little, although i felt that like old records , wear could mean treasure !. I was therefore surprised to go to the desk with 21 tapes.
Amongst the great surprises was BIG MOMMAS HOUSE (proof that great comedy often has to work with the trash before you catch a glimpse of what's worthwhile; Darryl Quarles well written stuff is carried well by all; QUICK CHANGE is another 4 star comedy with great suspense;
BOX SETS The advent of series tapes for sale has meant we can follow some great series properly and without interruption. BALLYKISSANGEL tops our list of family engagements with guts ; with TO THE MANOR BORN and MOTHER AND SON good ways to wind down the day )
So you are saying - "I can't afford them" - us too . Try visiting your friends or neighbour; hint to your children that you would like them ; and setting up a library at your church - why watch rubbish when there are works of art around .
One movie to make you appreciate the good news was
called THE GOOD SOLDIER .Its a must see. a really powerful exploration of 2 couples in particular and the way their best intentions are not enough to get them to really enjoy their marriages . Not that they couldn't , just that they didn't. Tell me what you think if you see it ? Quite scary for its honesty and challenge to think deeply about the path to forgiveness and health.



Others we could recommend for reasonably mature children are " RUN FAT BOY RUN "and "NOTHING TO LOSE "- both great comedies with twists and turns over quite serious matters. Not sure why script writers feel obliged to overdo the swearing- KISS is always better although i have to confess that the chorus of "shut the F up" in NTL was powerfully used and purposefully well done !