The Shawshank Redemption Review

The Shawshank Redemption

Release Date: 15th February 1995 - Australia

Production Companies

Castle Rock Entertainment (presents)

Distribution

Roadshow Films

Genre: Drama

Rating: MA15+ (Not Suitable for Young Children)

Runtime: 142 minutes

Budget: $25,000,000

Box Office Gross: $73,300,000 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

Andy Dufresne is a hot-shot banker from New England. He is in Shawshank State Prison after being convicted of murdering his wife and her lover. He meets a fellow inmate

named Red Redding, who he

befriends and together, the

two find solace and

redemption through acts of

virtue.

Cast

Tim Robbins - Andy Dufresne

Morgan Freeman - Red Redding

Bob Gunton - Warden Norton

William Sadler - Heywood

Clancy Brown - Captain Hadley

Gil Bellows - Tommy

Mark Rolston - Bogs Diamond

James Whitmore - Brooks Hatlen

Larry Brandenburg - Skeet

Neil Giuntoli - Jigger

Brian Libby - Floyd

David Proval - Snooze

Joseph Ragno - Ernie
Jude Ciccolella - Guard Mert
Paul McCrane - Guard Trout

Scott Mann - Glenn Quentin
Frank Medrano - Fat Ass
Mack Miles - Tyrell
Brian Delate - Guard Dekins
Don McManus - Guard Wiley
Donald Zinn - Moresby Batter
Bill Bolender - Elmo Blatch
Dion Anderson - Head Bull Haig
Ken Magee - Ned Grimes
Claire Slemmer - Bank Teller
James Kisicki - Bank Manager
Renee Blaine - Andy Dufresne's Wife
Alfonso Freeman - Fresh Fish Con
Jeffrey DeMunn - 1946 D.A.

Crew

Writer/Director - Frank Darabont

Based on the Short Novel "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption" - Stephen King

Script Supervisors - James Ellis Deakins and Sioux Richards

Executive Producer - Liz Glotzer

Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager - David V. Lester

Producer - Niki Marvin
Casting Director - Deborah Aquila

Production Designer - Terence Marsh

Art Director - Peter Landsdown Smith

Set Decorator - Michael Seirton

Costume Designer - Elizabeth McBride

Director of Photography - Roger Deakins

First Assistant Director - John R. Woodward
Stunt Coordinator - Jerry Gatlin

Special Effects - Bob Williams

Film Editor - Richard Francis-Bruce

Supervising Sound Editor - John Stacy

Production Sound Mixer - Willie D. Burton

Re-Recording Mixers - Michael Herbick,

Robert J. Litt and Elliott Tyson

Music - Thomas Newman

Awards

1995 Academy Awards
Best Picture - Niki Marvin (Nominated)
Best Actor in a Leading Role - Morgan Freeman

(Nominated)
Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material
Previously Produced or Published - Frank Darabont

(Nominated)
Best Cinematography - Roger Deakins (Nominated)
Best Sound - Robert J. Litt, Elliot Tyson,

Michael Herbick and Willie D. Burton (Nominated)
Best Film Editing - Richard Francis-Bruce

(Nominated)
Best Music, Original Score - Thomas Newman

(Nominated)

Review

THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION was seen and admired by many film buffs. The IMDB website rated it as #1 among the top 250 films. A well-renowned cinematic iteration of a book by Stephen King, it beats a few movies based on his other works like Stand by Me, The Shining and Misery. It accomplishes pure significance and love for the modern film industry. The film suffered from poor advertising during its release. Then, re-airings on television quickly changed that into a pop-cultural phenomenon. Unsurprisingly, SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION was one of the year's best movies, eligible to win the Best Picture Oscar and got snubbed by Forrest Gump. I also point out that The Lion King should have had this distinction if it had earned the award nomination.

A prison drama about two inmates who struggle to regain their hope and freedom from a corrupt prison, director Frank Darabont has never filmed a Hollywood big-budgeted picture. And this is his first foray into the motion picture industry. It's his known directional debut as Frank was moving on to direct other projects, most of which would be filmed years later.

Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman hand out their sensational performances in a movie like SHAWSHANK. Their roles as inmates consider one is a rogue and another is a seasoned veteran. They both have a friendship that is at the heart of the story. It is a shame that none of these two well-known actors won the Best Actor award, which now goes to Tom Hanks for his titular role in Forrest Gump. Bob Gunton was perfect as the corrupt warden, and Clancy Brown for his supporting role as the ruthless guard. The music from Thomas Newman was hauntingly beautiful and moody and, without a doubt, is the best composition he has written for a feature film.

It was a genuinely moving movie that's known as a timeless masterpiece. Age hasn't affected SHAWSHANK as the film was highly regarded and continued to inspire us. It's highly recommended for those new to Stephen King and will watch it for the first time.

Star rating: (10/10) Best Movie Ever

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Muriel's Wedding Review

Muriel's Wedding

Release Date: 29th September 1994 - Australia

Production Companies

House & Moorhouse Films

Film Victoria (developed and produced with the assistance of)

CiBy 2000

Film Queensland (developed with the assistance of)

Pacific Film and Television Commission (developed with the assistance of)

Australian Film Commission

(project developed with the

assistance of)

New South Wales Film and

Television Office (produced

with the assistance of)

Distribution

Roadshow Films

Genre: Comedy/Drama

Rating: M (Not Suitable

for Young Children)

Runtime: 101 minutes

Budget: $9,000,000

Box Office Gross: $15,765,571 (Australia)

Plot Summary
All her life, Muriel Heslop was a socially awkward woman who wanted to get married but had never dated anyone because of her domineering father, who is a politician. Even her more socially adept friends ostracise her. After being shunned, Muriel meets a fellow outcast. The two move from their small town to the city of Sydney, where Muriel changes her name and

begins the painstaking task

of remaking her life to suit

her imagination.

Cast

Toni Collette - Muriel Heslop

Rachel Griffiths - Rhonda Epinstalk

Bill Hunter - Bill Heslop

Sophie Lee - Tania Degano

Daniel Lapaine - David Van Arkle

Jeanie Dryman - Betty Heslop

Matt Day - Brice Nobes

Gabby Millgate - Joanie Heslop

Roz Hammond - Cheryl

Gennie Nevinson - Deidre Chambers

Belinda Jarrett - Janine

Pippa Grandison - Nicole

Daniel Wylie - Perry Heslop

Chris Heywood - Ken Blundell

Susan Prior - Girl at Wedding

Nathan Kaye - Peter 'Chook' Vernell

Cecily Polson - Tania's Mother

Rob Steele - Leo Higgins

Genevieve Picot - Store Detective

Richard Sutherland - Constable Saunders

Steve Smith - Constable Gillespie

Katie Saunders - Penelope Heslop

Dene Kermond - Malcolm Heslop

Kuni Hashimoto - Akira

Ken Senga - Victor Keinosuke

Annie Bryon - Rhonda's Mother

Richard Morecroft - Himself

Barry Crocker - Himself

Crew

Writer/Director - P.J. Hogan

Associate Producer/First Assistant Director -

Tony Mahood

Associate Producer - Michael D. Aglion

Producers - Lynda House and
Jocelyn Moorhouse
Choreographer - John O'Connell

Production Designer - Patrick Reardon
Art Director - Hugh Bateup
Set Decorators - Glen W. Johnson and
Jane Murphy

Costume Designer - Terry Ryan

Director of Photography - Martin McGrath

Camera Operator - David Williamson

Production Manager - Catherine Bishop

Stunt Coordinator - Rocky McDonald

Special Effects Coordinator - Ray Fowler

Film Editor - Jill Bilcock

Assembly Editor - Jane Moran

Sound - David Lee, Glenn Newham,

Livia Ruzic and Roger Savage

Original Music - Peter Best

Review

Of all the movies produced in Australia from the past to recent years, Priscilla, The Castle and Mad Max are considered the nation's top films. One movie, in particular, is MURIEL'S WEDDING. It came out in the same year as Priscilla. The film is an Aussie melodramatic comedy that can be black and painful (at times). It showcases the topical elements of Australian society and engages viewers in its themes of acceptance. Containing heartbreak and awkward laughter with songs from ABBA impacts the film as optimistic and melancholy. It succeeded that the film isn't a romantic comedy as the title suggests, with Toni Collette as its titular female character and Director P.J. Hogan doing a terrific job caricaturing a shameless world in a black comedy.

Collette gets a moment of applause as the social misfit who longs to get married and struggles with her issues. Aussie legend Bill Hunter was fantastic as the rotten political father who mistreats and ignores his family. Rachel Griffiths is a supporting player in their lives, and so is Jeanie Dryman for portraying Muriel's put-upon and depressed mother.

MURIEL'S WEDDING is a fantastic and memorable movie that is inspiring for a broad audience. I highly recommend it to viewers who enjoy Australian comedy and drama.

Star rating: (8/10) Very Good Movie

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The LEGO Batman Movie Review

The LEGO Batman Movie

Release Date: 30th March 2017 - Australia

 
Production Companies 

Warner Bros. Pictures (presents)

Warner Animation Group
DC Entertainment
RatPac-Dune Entertainment (in association with)

LEGO System A/S (in
association with)

Animal Logic (feature
animation)
Vertigo Entertainment
Lin Pictures
Lord Miller

Distribution 

Roadshow Distribution 

Genre: Animation/Family

Rating: PG

Runtime: 104 minutes


Budget: $80,000,000

Box Office Gross: $311,950,384 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary 

There are big changes brewing in Gotham, and if he wants to save the city from The Joker's hostile takeover, LEGO Batman may have to drop the lone vigilante thing, try to work with others and maybe, just maybe, learn to lighten up. (Source - Metro Cinemas) 


Voice Cast

Will Arnett - Bruce Wayne/

Batman

Rosario Dawson - Barbara Gordon/Batgirl

Ralph Fiennes - Alfred
Pennyworth
Siri - Puter

Michael Cera - Dick Grayson/
Robin

Zach Galifianakis - The Joker

Jenny Slate - Harley Quinn
Jason Mantzoukas - Scarecrow
Conan O'Brien - The Riddler
Doug Benson - Bane

Billy Dee Williams - Two Face
Zoe Kravitz - Catwoman
Kate Micucci - Clayface
Riki Lindhome - Poison Ivy/Wicked Witch of the West
Eddie Izzard - Voldermort
Seth Green - King Kong
Jemaine Clement - Sauron
Ellie Kemper - Phyllis
Channing Tatum - Superman
Jonah Hill - Green Lantern
Adam Devine - The Flash
Hector Elizondo - Jim Gordon
Mariah Carey - Mayor McCaskill
Lauren White - Chief O'Hara/

Various

Crew
Director - Chris McKay
Batman Creators - Bob Kane and Bill Finger
Superman Creators -  Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster
Story/Screenplay - Seth Grahame-Smith
Screenplay - Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, Jared Stern and John Whittington
Executive Producers - Benjamin Melniker, Michael Uslan, Will Allegra, Matthew Ashton, Brad Lewis, Steven Mnuchin, Zareh Nalbandian and Jill Wilfert
Producers - Roy Lee, Christopher Miller,
Phil Lord and Dan Lin
Co-Producers - Jon Burton, Ryan Halprin,
John Powers Middleton and Amber Naismith
Production Designer - Grant Freckelton
Head of Story - Trisha Gum
Animation Supervisor - Rob Coleman

CG Supervisor - Damien Gray

Lighting Supervisor - Craig Welsh

Stereoscopic Supervisor - Fabian Mueller

Head of Camera - Behzad Mansoori-Dara
Film Editors - David Burrows, John Venzon
and Matt Villa
Music - Lorne Balfe

Review

A self-referential, playful and lighthearted take of Batman was an interruption from the gloomy and dour interpretation that many fans see in the comics, films, games and TV shows. Unlike the few that came before this film the others were too campy and colourful like the 1966 Adam West film and the last two films from the Burton/Schumacher quadrilogy - 'Batman & Robin' was the worst of them all. Many movies of the Dark Knight stayed true and come close to the original tone until now. Because of the worldwide phenomenon of 'The LEGO Movie' that rejoiced younger audiences into playing their Lego versions and sets. While the older audiences and even parents relive their childhood memories of their block building years. 'THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE' isn't quite as entertaining as the original movie that spun-off from its success. It definitely has shown a softer side of Batman to young kids that were too young to watch the darker versions. It puts the fewer recent entries like 'Batman v Superman' into shame.

The voice acting, humour and animation hasn't been largely diminished as the feature would have prided itself to be. Actor/comedian Will Arnett returns to do the voicing of the caped crusader as he clearly enjoys being silly with it unlike George Clooney. Zach Galifianakis voices the Joker as much saner than Jack Nicholson, Jared Leto and the late Heath Ledger's previous interpretations. Michael Cera was enthusiastic as Batman's boy-wonder sidekick Robin. I was very disappointed that a lot of Batman's known rogues gallery were underused. Particularly Two-Face who was voiced once again by Billy Dee Williams. The actor hasn't had a good chance to portray this villain's complex personalities as he only portrayed his good side as Harvey Dent in Tim Burton's 'Batman'. But when Tommy Lee Jones took over this character from him and turned it into a comically exaggerated version of Two-Face. The original actor was unneeded until he was on the right track of voicing the character but only for a minimal screen-time. 

Many of the villains that were not from the DC universe were certainly out of place for a movie like 'LEGO BATMAN'. These include -  Lord Voldermort, Sauron, The Daleks, etc shouldn't be added as they should belong only to the other franchises. It's more disappointing that the producers decide not to let Ralph Fiennes return as the dark wizard from the 'Harry Potter' series, even though he is busy voicing Alfred.

In my opinion, 'LEGO BATMAN' is probably not the most serious movie in the Batman genre and neither the best. It has many allusions to remind older fanatics that this film self-parodies the image of the masked vigilante. This would be a surprise twist to many viewers who were into Batman. This movie is suitable for all ages.

Star rating: (7/10) Good Movie

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Beauty and the Beast (2017) Review

Beauty and the Beast

Release Date: 23rd March 2017 - Australia

Production Companies

Walt Disney Pictures
Mandeville Films

Distribution

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Australia

Genre: Family/Musical/

Fantasy

Rating: PG

Runtime: 129 minutes


Budget: $255,000,000

Box Office Gross: $1,264,064,386 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Belle is a girl who yearns to live outside her small provincial French town. While often dealing with the unwanted affections of the vain Gaston. The Beast is a prince cursed by a spell placed by the Enchantress until he learns to love another and earn their love in return.

When Belle's father, Maurice, trespasses into the Beast's castle after taking a wrong turn, Belle offers to take her

place instead as his prisoner.

Cast

Emma Watson - Belle

Dan Stevens - Beast

Luke Evans - Gaston

Kevin Kline - Maurice

Ewan McGregor - Lumière

Stanley Tucci - Maestro Cadenza
Emma Thompson - Mrs. Potts
Ian McKellen - Cogsworth

Gugu Mbatha-Raw - Plumette
Audra McDonald - Madame Garderobe
Nathan Mack - Chip

Josh Gad - LeFou

Hattie Morohan - Agathe/Enchantress

Adam Mitchell - Young Prince

Haydn Gwynne - Clothilde
Ray Fearon - Pere Robert

Gerard Horan - Jean the Potter

Adrian Schiller - Monsieur
D'arque

Harriet Jones - Queen

Henry Garrett - King

Zoe Rainey - Belle's Mother

Daisy Duczmal - Baby Belle

Jolyon Coy - Young Maurice
Jimmy Johnston - Tom
Dean Street - Dick
Gizmo - Froufrou
Clive Rower - Cuisinier
Thomas Madden - Chapeau
Alexis Loizon - Stanley

Crew

Director - Bill Condon

Based on the 1991 Animated Film "Beauty and the Beast" Animation Screenplay - Linda Woolverton

Based Upon the Original Tale - Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve (Uncredited)
Based Upon the Original Story Revision - Jeanne-Marie Le Prince de Beaumont (Uncredited)
Screenplay - Stephen Chbosky and Evan Spiliotopoulos
Executive Producers - Don Hahn and Thomas Schumacher

Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager - Jeffrey Silver
Producers - David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman

Co-Producer/Visual Effects Producer - Steve Gaub
Co-Producers - Jack Morrissey, Greg Yolen and Alexander Young

Co-Producer/Unit Production Manager - Jeremy Johns

Creative Consultants - Gary Trousdale
and Kirk Wise
Casting Director - Lucy Bevan
Production Designer - Sarah Greenwood

Supervising Art Director - Niall Moroney
Set Decorator - Katie Spencer
Costume Designer - Jacqueline Durran
Makeup & Hair Designer - Jenny Shircore

Beast Designers - Dave & Lou Elsey

Prosthetics HOD Mould Maker -

John Schoonraad

Director of Photography - Tobias A. Schliessler

Camera/Steadicam  Operator - Lorenzo Senatore

Camera Operator - Jonathan 'Chunky' Richmond

First Assistant Director - Barrie McCulloch

Key Second Assistant Director - Matthew Sharp
Second Unit Director - Thomas Napper

Choreographer - Anthony Van Laast

Stunt Coordinator - Adam Kirley
Special Effects Supervisor - Paul Corbould
Special Effects Co-Supervisor - Gareth Wingrove

Special Effects Coordinator - Benjamin Vokes

Visual Effects Supervisors - Kyle McCulloch

and Kelly Port

Visual Effects Supervisors: Framestore -

Glen Pratt and Richard R. Hoover

Senior Animation Supervisor: Digital Domain -

Steve Preeg

Animation Supervisors: Framestore -

Dale Newton and Spencer Cook

Character Effects Supervisor: Digital Domain -

Nathan Fok

Virtual Production Supervisor: The Third Floor -

Casey Schatz

Pre-Visualisation Supervisor: Digital Domain -

Scott Meadows

Songs: Music/Score - Alan Menken
Songs: Lyrics - Howard Ashman and Tim Rice
Editor - Virginia Katz

Supervising Sound Editor/Sound Designer -

Warren Shaw

Production Sound Mixer - John Casali

Re-Recording Sound Mixers - Michael &

Christian P. Minkler

Vocal/Music Producer/Supervisor -

Matthew Rush Sullivan

Songs Arranger and Conductor/

Additional Music - Michael Kosarin

Score Arranger/Additional Music/

Supervising Music Editor - Christopher Benstead

Review

In 2017, two anticipated movies are currently grossing at the box office as they are yet to finish screening in theatres. The first of these movies was the remake of Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Because it was hyped and follows the success of Disney's previous live-action iteration of The Jungle Book, this newly enchanted version is a much preferable film to the feature-length adaptation of Power Rangers. The new version is surprisingly faithful to the storyline of the animated incarnation made about 26 years ago during the Disney Renaissance. It's almost magical but doesn't quite have the enchantment of the original 1991 film. The music and singing in the new release do not match the original's well-known and loved compositions. The whimsicality also gets toned down for the remake, adding a few subplots and new songs to give the movie its newfound invigoration.

Emma Watson has done a great job moving away from her fame in Harry Potter as the beautiful bookworm Belle. She has a fine singing voice because the previous actress who voiced Belle in Disney's original version had trained her. Dan Stevens was wonderfully clever in his CGI form as the monstrous Beast. Luke Evans was good at being the vain and arrogant Gaston, even though his character is not like the one we see in the animated feature. Even Ewan McGregor, Josh Gad, Kevin Kline, Ian McKellen and Emma Thompson have their moments as the other characters. The costumes and props are amazing. The visuals are outstanding and seem more advanced than the 2D animation.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST's remake was darker and more complex than the original version, which was lighthearted and tame, like any Disney animation. It's not dull nor lazy, and fans may grow tired of Disney's trend of remaking their classics. Even the upcoming version of The Lion King isn't going to be any better. Overall, I did enjoy it while in theatres. It stands as a semi-decent and must-see film.

Star rating: (7/10) Good Movie

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Viva Las Vegas Review

Viva Las Vegas

Release Date: 20th May 1964 - USA 


Production Companies

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (presents)

Jack Cummings Productions (Uncredited)

Winters Hollywood Entertainment Holdings Corporation (Uncredited)

Genre: Musical/Romance

 
Rating: G

Runtime: 85 minutes

Budget: $1,000,000 (estimated)

Box Office Gross: $9,442,967 (USA)

Plot Summary

Lucky Jackson, an all-musically gifted race car driver, is in Las Vegas and wants to score enough money to purchase a new engine for his race car so he can win the Grand Prix. After encountering a beautiful swimming instructor, Rusty and considering staying around longer, Lucky loses his winnings in the hotel pool, which forces him to remain in Vegas long enough to earn back his dough. Now, he also has to win Rusty's heart. Unfortunately, so does Elmo, his slick racing enemy.

Cast

Elvis Presley - Lucky Jackson

Ann-Margret - Rusty Martin

Cesare Danova - Count Elmo Mancini

William Demarest - Mr. Martin

Nicky Blair - Shorty Fansworth
Jack Carter - Casino Performer (Uncredited)
Teri Garr - Dancer (Uncredited)
The Jubilee Four - Themselves (Uncredited)

Crew

Producer/Director - George Sidney

Writer - Sally Benson

Producer - Jack Cummings

Art Directors - Edward C. Carfagno and
George Davis
Set Decorators - Henry Grace and George W. Davis

Costume Designer - Donfeld

Makeup Supervisor - William Tuttle

Hair Stylist - Sydney Guilaroff

Director of Photography - Joseph F. Biroc

Choreographer - David Winters

Film Editor - John McSweeney Jr.

Recording Supervisor - Franklin Milton

Music - George Stoll and
Robert Van Eps (Uncredited)

Review

I wasn't exactly into the legendary Elvis Presley, aka The King. He was one of the great musicians of rock and roll. I preferred Michael Jackson and The Beatles to hear their catchy tunes and inspiring ballads. I did listen to a few tracks of Elvis and covers from music streaming and a few mixed CDs, namely the title track from one of his lighthearted musical comedies, VIVA LAS VEGAS. I didn't even watch the movie before it was on a feature session at Parkes Shire Library when I first visited the Parkes Elvis Festival. A popular hit film of 1964, which came out with the King's few other musicals and A Hard Day's Night from The Beatles, VIVA LAS VEGAS is a wildly entertaining classic that many fans considered his all-time-best movie. The film is jam-packed with flashy musical numbers and a sensational racing climax from start to finish. Several people have seen Elvis sing and dance in films, televised appearances and stage concerts, but this is the most fun he ever had in a feature since Jailhouse Rock.

Elvis and Ann Margaret pulled the strings of their romantic chemistry. Based on what I have heard, they had an off-screen relationship. Although much of this is true, it works for the better.

In all, VIVA LAS VEGAS is a bonafide classic and brings out the best in his style of music. I highly recommend this film to those who are fans of Elvis's music.

Star rating: (8/10) Very Good Movie

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