Cut Print Review

The Hurt Locker (Review)

As the American presence in the Middle East continues, the toll begins to show on both political and personal grounds. It’s the latter that attention is brought to in Kathryn Bigelow’s Oscar-nominated film, as troops in Baghdad face their greatest fears.

During the Bravo Company’s year-long deployment in the Iraqi capital, Sergeant JT Sanborn (Anthony Mackie) and Special Owen Eldridge (Brian Geraghty) must deal with the death of team leader Senior Sergeant Matt Thompson (Guy Pearce). [...]

Edge Of Darkness (Review)

Thomas Craven is a man of impulse and no consequence. Your daughter being shot to death would do that to you. Especially if she was standing beside you on the front porch. So begins Mel Gibson’s first acting appearance since 2002, as a father seeking revenge (or answers) for his daughter’s death. As the second adaptation of a BBC series this summer (following January’s In The Loop), Edge Of Darkness holds a mix of British and American filmmaking, [...]

In the Loop (Review)

It’s in the natural order to see politicians lead journalists and the public in circles. Their job serves as spin to make the public feel good about who is representing them, and they are excellent in making us feel that we need whatever they provide. At the time of writing Adelaide sets a good example with their stadium debate: two parties promising different versions of the same outcome. Many think it’s the greatest prospect for the city yet; [...]

Bran Nue Dae (Review)

If most have the idea that an Australian musical isn’t plausible, then most wouldn’t know what they’re talking about. After all, Muriel’s Wedding is arguably a loose musical; with the ABBA soundtrack used as an emotional outlet. You can throw Priscilla: Queen of the Desert in there too. But since Chicago, Hairspray and Mamma Mia! making the successful transition from Broadway to Hollywood, the musical has stepped up a notch to become a potential powerhouse genre. Look at [...]

Sherlock Holmes (Review)

Robert Downey Jr is a very busy man. He has a lot to uphold amongst his Hollywood comeback, first donning the Iron Man suit and now almost certainly entering a second franchise with one of fiction’s most beloved characters. It’s funny then that the character of Sherlock Holmes hasn’t been a favourite in cinema; the bumbling detective now has one of the most known falsely quoted lines in history. Sadly but rightly so, said line fails to actually [...]

The Informant! (Review)

Steven Soderbergh’s had a busy 2009, first with the release of Che (parts One and Two), and then The Girlfriend Experience. His latest is The Informant!, different in style to both of these films but with a similar theme (of a human just trying to make their way in the world). To be a whistleblower and rat out your employers is a big ask on anybody; people like Erin Brokovich won their cases with no direct connection to [...]