Mystify: Michael Hutchence

And last week's Friday night movie has been....Mystify: Michael Hutchence!

Original image located here. Accessed 26th July 2019

So this has been doing the rounds lately: a biographical documentary on former INXS frontman Michael Hutchence, made up of (mostly) home video footage and spoken accounts from the people how knew him.

Being a child of the eighties and an Australian, I was in the right place and the right time to bear witness to INXS achieving their superstardom. Thing is, I never got into INXS. Sure their songs were a constant presence on the radio, sure Hutchence's face was everywhere but I however, was more into the likes of Hoodoo Gurus, Midnight Oil and Icehouse. I had no idea of the headway INXS were making overseas and, as far as I was concerned, their music wasn't for me - but I will admit to a fondness for Beautiful Girl which, as bizarre as it may sound, I will forever associate with my Primary School leavers dinner XD
In recent years though, my indifference has been challenged and I'm finding something to like in INXS' music. So maybe there is something to be gleamed from this documentary?

Apparently so: Clearly this documentary is going out of it's way to humanise Michael and show him as he really was. I was interested to see how Michael was described as someone who functioned best when he was within a familial unit. I was intrigued to hear about his relationship with Kylie Minogue - particularly when Kylie's accounts are delivered with boundless enthusiasm. And even when we all know how the story ends, the tragic of it is still a kick to the teeth.
So in the end, if this documentary was aimed at humanising Michael and show him who he really was, this succeeded with flying colours.

Adam

And this week's Friday night movie has been....Adam!

Original image located here. Accessed 19th July 2019

As regular readers of this series would know, I will show favoritism for movies that feature characters that have Aspergers Syndrome. And this is one such case: A romance that shows a guy in New York, with Aspergers, meeting and falling in love with his neighbour.

It's not a bad movie. Its not the best movie I've seen but the portrayal of an Apsergerian is sincere and it's heart is in the right place. There are some moments that may be somewhat hard to swallow but in the end, the movie is indeed taking the romance seriously and the leads (Hugh Dancy and Rose Byrne) certainly give it their all.
Not a bad effort at all

Spiderman: Far From Home

And this week's Friday night movie has been....Spiderman Far From Home!

Original image located here. Accessed 12th July 2019

It must be a challenge to make a Spiderman movie. Because, in my mind, there are two things that make it so: a) Meeting the standard set by the Sam Raimi Spiderman movies (well maybe not 3) and b) once you get past that you still need to face the fact that the greatest Spiderman movie has been made in the form of Into the Spiderverse. So what can Far From Home do besides picking up the gauntlet?

To me what made Homecoming and the aforementioned Spiderverse succeed was that they didn't try to replicate the the Sam Raimi Spiderman movies favoring instead to do their own thing. And Homecoming confirms the wise-ness of that decision. Yep, this movie makes up yet another winner in the MCU stable.
Much has been said about how this is the first post-Endgame movie in the MCU and how the effects of it are being felt in-universe but for me the real treat is how this movie is steadfast in doing it's own thing with Spiderman and is doing things differently. It's great to see familiar situations discarded in favor of going in a different direction (personally you can only see Peter Parker whinge about his girl troubles and his absurd lengths to protect his identity before it gets reeaaaalllllllllll tiresome). And Mysterio is made into a character that can work.
All in all a superb movie and it would be interesting to see what happens next with this incarnation of Spidey (especially considering the mid and post credit sequences).

Toy Story 4

And this week's Friday night movie has been....Toy Story 4!

Original image located here. Accessed 5th July 2019

And thus the curtain falls on an odyssey twenty four years in the making - or at least I hope it's the ending because I can't see where Pixar can go from here.

There's not really a lot I can say about this: It's Pixar. It's Toy Story. It has the same laughs, heart and pathos we have come to expect from this series. Gabby Gabby is a fascinating character and we see some familiar faces develop in some interesting ways.
So really, not only does this movie has a good case for existing but it can certainly sit comfortably alongside it's older siblings.

One last thing: Duke is indeed a delight and was well-received by the audience when i saw this in the theater - but I have to wonder how many people, besides me, have made the connection to Ken Carter

Atlantis The Lost Empire

And this week's Friday night movie has been....Atlantis: The Lost Empire!

Original image located here. Accessed 28th June 2019

It has always always been my perception that the Disney Renaissance ended with The Lion King. Every movie that followed, at least until Tangled, has polarized opinion and would sooner be discarded by the Disney faithful and left in the trash heap alongside the sequels. Therefore it is something of challenge to find, as some would claim, a 'diamond in the rough' / 'underrated classic'.
Which now brings me to Atlantis: The Lost Empire, a movie I have put off until now. So could this be prove to be an underappreciated gem?

First things first: The animation is great. It may be a given considering this is Disney but the characters are expressive, full of energy and have some great designs. Speaking of which, there are some superb mech designs, some truly imaginative sequences throughout and everything rockets along at a cracking pace. And, if anything, this come across as an action movie - perhaps the purest action movie in Disney's animated canon.
Plus, as a sci-fi nerd, there is some amusement in having the voices of Spock and Susan Ivanova in the same movie.
However this is a movie of two halves: The first half does indeed move but at times it is difficult to keep up and not enough time is spent to process key plot advancements. The second half however is when things slow down and time can be invested in the plot. And there are some moments of astonishment that easily rank among Disney's best (the part when Kida approaches the Heart springs to mind) but it does leave me wishing such a pace was consistent.

Grumbling aside is this an 'underappreciated gem'? Maybe - but what i will declare this as an action movie and all the better for it

The King of Comedy

And this week's Friday night movie was....The King of Comedy!

Original image located here. Accessed 21st June 2019

As some of you who have been following this series may know, i ma something of a newcomer to the films of Martin Scorsese. And from the outset, this movie has a reputation of being an under-appreciated gem. This, along with comparisons being made to this and the recent trailer to the upcoming Joker movie, makes a compelling case to check it out.

Make no mistake: This is a triumph of unease. It is indeed unsettling but the best kind of unsettling (if such a thing exists) in just how subtle it is.
A lot of the movie rests on Robert de Niro's performance as Rupert. I am used to see Robert being tough guys and psychopaths and whilst he is playing a psychopath here he does so in a more subtle way: Rupert is indeed bonkers and mentally damaged but he does what he does with so much confidence - to a point where one would think it's bad thing.

But ultimately much like Taxi Driver, this a movie about the person trapped in isolation. The person who is in dire need of the basic human need of social interaction - only to go about it the wrong way. While this movie was made in 1983 it somehow still comes across as being relevant, over three decades later, in the internet age where everyone is hiding behind a screen, a keyboard and the mother-skirt of anonymity but will struggle beyond it.
Indeed, would it be amiss to say that i can see shades of people I know in both Rupert and Masha?

As for the Joker connection, I have to ask: is this DC's strategy of remaking older movies as superhero movies (after all, isn't Shazam a retread of Big?). That maybe the case but, as Incels/keyboard warriors/socially-maladjusted loners continue to be a talking point, maybe a movie about the isolated person could continue to have a place...

Free Solo

And this week's Friday night movie has been....Free Solo!

Original image located here. Accessed 14 June 2019

I think we all know this one: The documentary showing rock climber Alex Honnold climbing the El Capitan, a 900 metre cliff face in Yosemite National park, as Free Solo (as in no ropes, no support; just the climber, the cliff face and a guy with a black cloak and a scythe waiting at the bottom).

Three quarters of the documentary is dedicated to showing who Alex is and what kind of preparation he goes through. We see his background and get a glimpse into what kind of physical shape this guy is in, in order to face such a demanding task.

But really, everything leads to the final quarter which is ...astonishing to say the least. The camera work is jaw-dropping, the tension is unbearable and the effort Alex is putting in is monumental. Indeed, such a reaction is the kind that some action movies can only dream of.
Looking at the Wikipedia page of this movie, one notices a whole cabinet's worth of awards this movie has won. And it earned every last one of them.

2040

And this week's Friday night movie has been....2040!

Original image located here. Accessed 7th June 2019

So this movie has been doing the rounds lately: It's a documentary made by one Damon Gameau with his own take on climate change - which takes the form of presenting solutions that are currently available and seeing what would happen in 2040 if they were applied now.

When it comes to climate change, all I'm hearing is a whole lotta bad. Everyone's saying how irrevocably doomed we all are yet no one is offering an solution that doesn't involve accusation and anger. So it is welcome for someone to say that these solutions are possible, they should be implemented and they are ultimately beneficial. So yes, this documentary is indeed enlightening and Gameau has enough charisma and conviction to get his point across.
Could've done without his attempts at humor though (seriously that yoga gag got real old real fast).

But in the end I enjoyed this documentary and, as a call to arms, it is effective. Go see it!

Aladdin and the King of Thieves

And this week's Friday night movie has been....Aladdin and the King of Thieves!

Original image located here. Accessed 31st May 2019

It is indeed a given that the Disney sequels tend to be wretched and forgettable but for me, it was either this or the remake.

Okay serious now:
So this movie was intended to conclude both the movies and the TV series. And oh look! We have Robin Williams returning to voice the genie.
But for me, the real meat is, of course, the King of Thieves himself Cassim. He's fascinating character, he has the voice of John Rhys-Davies and the scenes where he is interacting, and bonding, with Aladdin were great. I heard Cassim has his fangirls and, it would appear, not without good reason.
Other than that, the animation tends to flip flop between terrible and imaginative, Jasmine gets sidelined, the genie hijacks the movie too often and some of the joke's don't work. I know the genie was based entirely around Williams' stand-up routine but here it comes across as 'too much of a good thing'.

Does this movie come across as soulless as Disney sequels are known for? Sometimes, but there are some good ideas and some interesting plot points. But such potential isn't truly realized.
It's not bad but could have been better

Won't You Be My Neighbor

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....Won't You Be My Neighbor!

Original image located here. Accessed 24th May 2019

As someone of the non-US persuasion, Fred Rogers has been something of an enigma. I never saw his show, I never grasped his life lessons and he was never consistently there dispensing wisdom and guidance when needed. Yet it would seem more than a few people in the US grew up watching Fred and still hold him in high regard, So maybe this recent documentary may introduce me to someone new?

Of course it can.
Much like the man himself, this documentary is honest in it's approach, showing it's audience (in particular to outsiders like myself) who Fred was and his beliefs. We see his commitment to Children's television, his implacable sincerity, his challenge before Congress when they threatened to cut funding, and just how willing Fred was to push the boundaries of what could be said on a Children's television program.
But i think the greatest impression this documentary imparts is Fred's tireless message in being yourself and finding self-worth. And in an age where everyone is falling over themselves to say what you can't do and what you can't do, such a message still resonates more than ever. In fact it's not just a message for children - some adults may benefit from such reassurance as well.

Mary and Max

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....Mary and Max!

Original image located here. Accessed 17th May 2019

Those who follow this series would know that i have a particular favoritism towards movies that aim to portray autism in a serious light. They are indeed rare and, as an Aspergian, welcoming.

Well firstly, the art direction is great and the dry humor is hilarious. Now with that out of the way, I have to say that this is so far the best representation of Aspergers Syndrome i have seen on celluloid. Not only does it portray the various aspects of it and explain how it effects the diagnosed, but it, more than anything, it shows the social awkwardness of being an Aspergian. It shows the disconnect from 'normal people' and an-all-too-human want to connect with other people.
And as for that last scene......I'm not crying YOU'RE CRYING!!!!!!!!!!

Willow

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....Willow!

Original image located here. Accessed 10th May 2019

Said it once and I'll say it again: The eighties were a fertile ground for fantasy movies and, given the passage of time, sport a more grungy/fascinating look in a post-Lord of the Rings world. And with rumors circulating that Disney wants to do a sequel of this IP I guess now is a good time as any to take a gander at this movie.

Hooo boy has this movie not aged well. Okay, sure any degree of high fantasy in a movie is better than none and there are some interesting ideas at work. But the special effects are indeed dated and look hideous - moreso considering this is from Lucasfilm/Industrial Light and Magic, whose experience in special effects have been better both before and since.
But ultimately, who is this movie for? To me, one gets the feeling it was made for an older audience than children but at the same time, it does come across as being somewhat cringe-worthy/condescending for both teenagers and adults.
Not bad but not that great either

Avengers Endgame

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....Avengers Endgame!

Original image located here. Accessed 3rd May 2019

I think we all know the drill by now: Anyone who has seen this movie is being tight-lipped about it. So much so that they will come down on anyone who gives away plot details like a tonne of bricks. I've previously viewed that seeing a particular movie can seem like a secret handshake but this is another level entirely.

So in the spirit of this, let me say one thing: After eleven years and twenty-one movies i expected nothing less than a triumph - and that's exactly what i got