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[Rec] - R
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This is the film "The Blair Witch Project" should have been. Shot in the over-abused handheld camera mode, this little gem manages to re-invent the Zombie flick in 75 short minutes. The pace is unrelenting...we follow a TV documentary crew filming an episode of "While We Sleep" about firemen, nothing new here but the way the film unfolds, with new and inventive "BOO" scares, is masterful and with an ending that will blow your mind, makes this one of the finest horror films in the last few years. See it before the sucky U.S. remake "Quarantine"
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November 20, 2009
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N/A
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Wake in Fright (Outback) - Unrated
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I find it fascinating that the same director that unleashed "Weekend at Bernie's" upon the world also gave us this masterpiece. Everything about this film is landmark...the sweeping cinematography, the crisp editing, the attention to detail is staggering. Peckinpah's "Straw Dogs" and Boorman's "Deliverance" share the same terrain of one man's descent into hell. Donald Pleasance's alcoholic, educated "Doc" is intoxicated fun as the films philosophical standpoint. Jack Thompson's first role and Chips Rafferty's last, this great film is enjoying a recent restoration and re-release after decades in limbo. A true classic given a well deserved welcome back!
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November 13, 2009
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N/A
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Them (Ils) - R
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Tense thriller in the vein of "The Strangers" with a light sprinkle of "The Blair Witch Project". The two leads are dynamite, it seems the French have an endless supply of these hot, young actors. My only quibble, how can a young school teacher and a struggling writer afford such a sprawling French mansion!
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November 6, 2009
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N/A
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Dead Man's Shoes - Unrated
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Shattering revenge flick makes all the right moves and presses all the right buttons. Great twist at the end....The jerk who made "Hannibal Rising" should have watched this before he sat in the director's chair. This is how you do a revenge film!!
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November 5, 2009
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N/A
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The Wind That Shakes the Barley - Unrated
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Crisp direction from veteran Ken Loach gives this dark slice of Irish history a vivid sense of what it was like for both sides, the British and the Irish republicans. Surely Cillian Murphy is now the finest Irish actor working today. His performance here is both honest and compelling.
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October 30, 2009
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N/A
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The Combination - Unrated
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Disappointing directorial debut from the great David Field[Ghosts of the Civil Dead, Two Hands] appears like an under-written "American History X". Performances range from one-note to poor. Surprisingly, David and lead actor George Basha worked on the script for seven years before they were happy with it. A wasted opportunity!
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October 16, 2009
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N/A
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Låt den Rätte Komma In (Let the Right One in) - R
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Lush, dreamlike meditation about childhood, growing older and learning the cute girl next door is a vampire.....absolutely delicious!
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October 16, 2009
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N/A
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Sheitan (Satan) - Unrated
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This one almost went underneath the radar. I picked it up for the humble price of $13.99 at J.B. Another near-masterpiece of French horror know-how. Only a few directors can balance comedy and horror. Vincent Cassel fans will rejoice his talents here however it's the films punkish energy and relentless pace which will enthuse horror fans. The perfect pizza & beer flick!!
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October 13, 2009
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N/A
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The Last House on the Left - R
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A suspenseful, atmospheric, solid thriller on its own terms. The original 1972 film was an ineptly made exploitation film [Wes Craven suggests it was a comment on Vietnam]. This 2008 re-imagining is in a class of its own: taut direction, believable characters and stylish visuals. Alongside "Dawn of the Dead" as one of the better remakes.
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October 13, 2009
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N/A
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Martyrs - R
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The best way to approach this film is with no expectations and you will be justly rewarded. The Director wrote this in a fit of depression and the bleakness shows. Simply the most original, bravest and uncompromising film this year.
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October 9, 2009
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N/A
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Gomorrah (Gomorra) - Unrated
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A tad disappointing after all the dust has settled. Sure some nice locations but over two hours of documentary stylistics I expected a little more. "City of God" did this material much better.
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October 7, 2009
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N/A
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Inglourious Basterds - R
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Only Tarantino could make us titter at one of the darkest themes of our time. He gets to show off his knowledge of early German cinema and once again he proves himself to be a casting agent like no other. Christoph Waltz is a standout as the oily Colonel Landa but the entire cast relish their roles. Brad Pitt demonstrates great comic skills ala "Snatch" and splatter wunderkind Greg Nicotero gives us some sensational blood-letting tricks. Fellow director Eli Roth [Hostel] is menacing as the Nazi-killin' "Bear Jew" and great use of Bowie's "Putting out Fire". Delicious dialogue & stylish art direction all adds up to 152 minutes of classic Q.T. action!!
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October 3, 2009
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N/A
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American Psycho - R
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Fans of Bret Easton Ellis's novel must have counted their blessings when the title role went to Christian Bale and not Leonardo DiCaprio. The most chilling thing about his character may be that he admires the "professionalism" of Huey Lewis and the News. Apart from a grotesque chainsaw scene, gore is kept to a minimum so as not to detract from the films satirical take on the 80's. The only trouble is that after a while the film, like the novel, suffers from what can only be described as overkill [pun intended]. As usual, Bale immerses himself in the role.
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September 25, 2009
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N/A
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Beautiful - G
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This film angered me. A bad idea and a wasted cast. Imagine the David Lynch classic "Blue Velvet" re-written as a mediocre episode of "Home & Away". You get the picture? Performances are generally horrible, only Peta Wilson remains unscathed and the usually reliable Deborra-Lee Furness [see "Jindabyne"] delivers a grotesque caricature. It's a shame that in a year that was overall a good one for Australian films, rubbish like this gets funding.
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September 19, 2009
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N/A
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Acolytes - Unrated
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Aussie serial killer flick dressed up as an indie-arthouse film. Hip teenagers stumble across girls body in the woods and attempt to blackmail suburban killer Joel Edgerton into killing their rapist. If the Ivan Milat telemovie is still on the cards Edgerton has to be a shoe-in.
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September 15, 2009
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N/A
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Dogs in Space - R
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They say if you remember Woodstock you weren't actually there. Well, if you weren't in a band and on the dole you didn't witness the 80's, anyway this Aussie slice-of-life captures the attitude, atmosphere and odours very well in the fact we were self-obsessed, shallow "Countdown" watching bastards! Get the new 2-disc edition with the metal, powdercoated case with the excellent documentary "We're Living on Dogfood".....DVD Gold!!
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September 11, 2009
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N/A
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A Complete History of My Sexual Failures - Unrated
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If your self-esteem is feeling a little past it's use-by date this little "mockumentary" will bring you up to George Clooney level. Watch Director Chris Waitt go from depressed, gormless twit to happy gormless twit. Chris interviews ex-girlfriends to examine how it all went wrong with brutal and hilarious results. Above all else a very brave experiment of self-examination. Watch for the Beer & Viagra sequence and Chris' mum using the C-word!
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September 9, 2009
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N/A
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Heckler - R
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Revealing documentary featuring top U.S. comics explaining why both critics and hecklers shit them up the wall. Although flawed, there is some good insight to be found here. Watch out for the great Bill Hicks having a "moment".
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August 31, 2009
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N/A
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Balibo - Unrated
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Shattering, true account of the Balibo Five. Angry screenplay with terrific performances make this low budget thriller a winner. Authentic 70's production design.
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August 31, 2009
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N/A
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Eraserhead - Unrated
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David Lynch's first major film portrays the bizarre relationship of "Henry"[Jack Nance, who kept his hair in the same frizzy state for the entire five year shoot] and "Mary X"[Charlotte Stewart] when they are told they are the parents of a helpless, mewling, phallic-necked baby creature. Essentially about the horror of procreation, it's full of subliminally sexual, nightmarish images of tiny bleeding chickens, exploding womb sacs and Henry's slowly plummeting severed head. There are echoes of "Un Chien Andalou"[1929], as though Lynch had allowed that film's dark dreams to fester and mutate through Henry, the hysterical Mary, the bandaged fly-blown baby and the putty-faced Radiator Lady of Henry's imagination.
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August 24, 2009
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N/A
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Requiem for a Dream - R
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Darren Aronofsky's follow-up to his groundbreaking "Pi" is a portrait of addiction, disturbing in the achingly emotive performances and in its suggestion we could all go down that road. Ellen Burstyn is Sara, whose addiction to sugar and television becomes an addiction to diet pills as she tries to lose weight to enter a tv game show. Her son, Harry [Jared Leto] is addicted to heroin, as is his girlfriend Marion [Jennifer Connelly]. This is not your typical drug-addicts-cleanup story, this is a stunning, brutal account of where addiction can lead all of us!
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August 23, 2009
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N/A
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District 9 - R
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Fuck Me, What can I add that has not already been said? This film explores the human struggle in "action movie" terms. Racism, greed, corruption, poverty, war, disease, strength, courage, friendship, honour and love, they are all here. See this now!
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August 22, 2009
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N/A
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Frontière(s) (Frontier(s)) - NC-17
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Stylish, atmospheric entry in the "Torture-Porn" genre. This French production pays tribute to the classic "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" where as this time the family run a country hotel and indulge in crossbreeding, sadism, cannibalism and other modern values. The nice twist here is that instead of the "Father" being a lifeless old crone, he is the delusional Nazi war criminal still hellbent on the "Final Victory" and creating the Master race! This fucker makes Hannibal Lecter look like a pussy. Watch out for the bolt-cutter sequence...oooer!
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August 22, 2009
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N/A
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Kidulthood - R
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Solid if dry slice of life in Britain about the consequences of a suicide of a bullied teenage girl. Great young cast give 110%
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August 21, 2009
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N/A
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Adulthood - Unrated
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Good followup to "Kidulthood". Teenage Bully Sam is released from prison and shows regret and remorse for what he has done.
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August 21, 2009
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N/A
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269 ratings
119 reviews
