Cruella Review

Cruella

Release Date: 27th May 2021 - Australia

Production Companies

Walt Disney Pictures

Gunn Films

Marc Platt Productions

Distribution

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Australia

Genre: Family/Comedy/

Crime

Rating: PG

Runtime: 134 minutes

Budget: $200,000,000

Box Office Gross: $233,503,234 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

Before she became Cruella de Vil, Estella had dreamed of becoming a fashion designer. She had the ambition, creativity, and talent to achieve this. She befriends a pair of thieves who admire her appetite for mischief. Together, they make a life

for themselves on the

streets of London. One day, Estella soon catches the eye of the narcissistic Baroness, a fashion legend, who lands her a perfect job, allowing her to live out her dreams of becoming a top fashionista. However, a course of events set in motion will cause Estella to embrace her wild side and become the raucous, stylish, and revenge-bent Cruella.

Cast

Emma Stone - Estella/Cruella

Emma Thompson - The

Baroness

Joel Fry - Jasper

Paul Walter Hauser - Horace

John McCrea - Artie

Emily Beecham - Catherine/

Maid

Mark Strong - John the Valet

Kayvan Novak - Roger

Kirby Howell-Baptiste - Anita Darling

Jamie Demetriou - Gerald

Niamh Lynch - Liberty Shop Girl

Andrew Leung - Jeffrey

Ed Birch - Baroness Head of Security

Dylan Lowe - Mean Ginger

Abraham Popola - George

Leo Bill - Headmaster

Ninette Finch - Lady

Sarah Crowden - Beehive Lady

Tom Turner - The Baron

Sid Sagar - Mark

Tim Steed - Frederick

Tipper Seifert-Cleveland - Estella (12 yrs)

Maeve & Nell Chadwick -

Estella (Toddler)

Billie Gadsdon - Estella (5 yrs)

Ziggy Gardner - Jasper (12 yrs)

Joseph MacDonald - Horace (12 yrs)

Florisa Kamara - Anita (12 yrs)

Bobby - Bubby

Bluebell - Wink

Crew

Director - Craig Gillespie

Based Upon the Novel "One Hundred and One Dalmatians" - Dodie Smith

Story/Executive Producer - Aline Brosh McKenna

Story - Kelly Marcel and Steve Zissis

Screenplay - Dana Fox and Tony McNamara

Executive Producers - Glenn Close,

Jared LeBoff, Emma Stone and Michelle Wright

Producers - Kristin Burr, Andrew Gunn and

Marc Platt

Co-Producer/Unit Production Manager -

Mark Mostyn

Casting Directors - Lucy Bevan and Mary Vernieu

Production Designer - Fiona Crombie

Supervising Art Director - Martin Foley

Set Decorator - Alice Felton

Costume Designer - Jenny Beavan

Hair and Makeup Designer - Nadia Stacey

Director of Photography - Nicolas Karakatsanis

Supervising Location Manager - Ali James

Choreographer - Adam Murray

Stunt Coordinator - Jason Hunjan

Fight Coordinator - Vincent Wang

Special Effects Supervisor - Steven Warner

Special Effects Co-Supervisor - Stephen Hutchinson

Special Effects Coordinator/Buyer - Anna Krawczyk

Visual Effects Supervisor - Max Wood

Film Editor - Tatiana S. Riegel

Supervising Sound Editor - Mark P. Stoeckinger

Sound Designers - Alan Rankin

and Ann Scibelli

Sound Designer/Re-Recording Mixer -

Martyn Zub

Production Mixer - Paul Munro

Re-Recording Mixer - Ron Bartlett

Music - Nicholas Britell

Music Supervisor - Susan Jacobs

Score Recordist and Mixer - Geoff Foster

Review

Many people saw 101 Dalmatians when they were young, depending on which version: the Disney animated classic or the 1996 remake. However, the only thing in the movie that terrifies them the most is the villain, Cruella de Vil, a fur-obsessed villainess who will stop at nothing to get what she wants, even when she tries to skin a few Dalmatian puppies to make fur coats. The animated incarnation is the one that they remember best. Not even Glenn Close's portrayal could capture the character's mannerisms. While I haven't compared the two versions of Cruella and reviewed much of the 101 Dalmatians movies, CRUELLA will be an opportunity to delve into the character we all fear and love to hate.

The film did not belong to the ongoing tradition of Disney live-action remakes, though it might as well have been part of it. It provides a unique spin on the titular character, offering empathy through her backstory, whereas previous iterations are villainous and petty. It isn't the first time Disney has done this sort of thing; it did so in Maleficent. I didn't realise, after watching the movie, that Glenn Close was one of the executive producers involved. CRUELLA is a family-friendly heist film packed with pathos and dark comedy, which Disney would never include in a few of its live-action offerings. It has an involved storyline that explains everything, and I admire the movie's production values.

Emma Stone was a perfect choice for Cruella, and despite fans finding her version of the character too soft and not wicked enough, her performance is hypnotic. Emma Thompson was dapper as she played the icy fashion designer Baroness, who was far more sinister than Cruella. Even Mark Strong was great as the valet. The costume design is superb, and the film has a great soundtrack with songs from Queen, ELO, and The Clash.

Some people have favourably compared this movie to another tragic-villain origin story, Joker, but it's less violent and cynical. However, CRUELLA is an entertaining film.

Star rating: (8/10) Very Good Movie

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Ocean's Eleven (2001) Review

Ocean's Eleven


Release Date: 10th January 2002 - Australia

Production Companies
Warner Bros. Pictures
Village Roadshow Pictures (in association with)
NPV Entertainment (in association with)
Section Eight
WV Films II
St. Petersburg Clearwater Film Commission

Distribution
Roadshow Films


Genre: Crime/Comedy

Rating: M

Runtime: 117 minutes


Budget: $85,000,000

Box Office Gross: $450,717,527 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary

Danny Ocean, a thief/con artist, has recently been released from prison. To earn his parole, he's assembled a team of eleven accomplices to pull off the biggest, most daring, and most elaborate heist in the century, which involves three casinos in Las Vegas.

Cast
George Clooney - Danny Ocean
Brad Pitt - Rusty Ryan
Matt Damon - Linus Caldwell
Andy Garcia - Terry Benedict
Julia Roberts - Tess Ocean

Bernie Mac - Frank Catton

Don Cheadle - Basher Tarr

Casey Affleck - Virgil Malloy
Scott Caan - Turk Malloy

Elliot Gould - Reuben Tishkoff

Carl Reiner - Saul Bloom
Eddie Jemison - Livingston Dell
Shaobo Qin - Yen
Joe La Due - Billy Tim Denham
Scott L. Schwartz - Bulldog, the Bruiser

Lennox Lewis - Boxing Opponent (Cameo)

Wladimir Klitschko - Boxing Opponent (Cameo)

Jerry Weintraub - High Roller (Cameo)

Henry Silva - Boxing Spectator (Cameo)

Angie Dickinson - Boxing Spectator (Cameo)

Wayne Newton - Boxing Spectator (Cameo)

Siegfried Fischbacher - Boxing Spectator (Cameo)

Roy Horn - Boxing Spectator (Cameo)

Larry Merchant - Boxing Spectator (Cameo)

Holly Marie Combs - Herself (Cameo) (Uncredited)

Topher Grace - Himself (Cameo) (Uncredited)

Joshua Jackson - Himself (Cameo) (Uncredited)

Steven Soderbergh - Vault-Bombing Thief

(Cameo) (Uncredited)

Barry Watson - Himself (Cameo) (Uncredited)

Shane West - Himself (Cameo) (Uncredited)

Crew
Director of Photography/Director - Steven Soderbergh
1960 Story - George Clayton Johnson and

Jack Golden Russell
1960 Screenplay - Harry Brown and

Charles Lederer
Screenplay - Ted Griffin
Executive Producers - Bruce Berman,

Susan Ekins and John Hardy
Producer - Jerry Weintraub
Co-Producer - R.J. Louis

Casting Director - Debra Zane

Production Designer - Phillip Messina

Art Director - Keith P. Cunningham

Construction Coordinator - Chris Snyder

Set Decorator - Kristen Toscano Messina

Property Master - Steven B. Melton

Costume Designer - Jeffrey Kurland

First Assistant Camera: "A" Camera - Barry Baz Idoine

Unit Production Manager - Frederic W. Borst

First Assistant Director - Gregory Jacobs

Second Second Assistant Director -

Basti Van Der Woude

Special Effects Coordinator - Kevin Hannigan

Visual Effects Supervisor: Cinesite -

Thomas J. Smith

CG Supervisor: Cinesite - Serge Sretchinsky

Film Editor - Stephen Mirrione

Lead Sound Editor - David E. Stone

Re-Recording Mixer/Supervising Sound

Editor - Larry Blake

Foley Artists - Dawn Fintor and

Alicia Stevenson

Music - David Holmes


Review

It all started in 2001 with Steven Soderbergh's remake of OCEAN'S ELEVEN, a fun and sophisticated popcorn flick with a superb storyline and an ensemble cast. I have seen this caper a few times, including at a drive-in, where I watched it for a second time. I never got to see the sequels (except Ocean's Eight) or the original that featured the "Rat Pack" players, such as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Peter Lawford, and Sammy Davis Jr. This movie doesn't have many surprises. The cinematography is acceptable, the humour is witty, and the pace is good.

The all-star cast is terrific, with George Clooney and Brad Pitt headlining, alongside supporting players like Matt Damon, Julia Roberts, Elliott Gould, Carl Reiner, and Casey Affleck. The only problem with the acting is Don Cheadle. He adopted a fake English accent for his role, which is one of the worst I've ever heard.

While it is considered the granddaddy of all cinematic heist movies, OCEAN'S 11 is a no-brainer. It is thoroughly enjoyable to all audiences. If you're looking for a great heist movie, now is the time to watch it.

Star rating: (8/10) Very Good Movie

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The Italian Job (2003) Review

The Italian Job 


Release Date: 21st August 2003 - Australia


Production Companies
Paramount Pictures
De Line Pictures
Working Title Films

Distribution
Paramount Pictures Australia


Genre: Crime

Rating: M

Runtime: 110 minutes 


Budget: $60,000,000 

Box Office Gross: $176,070,171
(Worldwide) 


Plot Summary
A gang of robbers, lead by
career criminal Charlie
Croker, create the largest
traffic jam in Los Angeles
history, giving them time to
pull of a theft of gold bullion.
They get away in their Mini
Coopers, which are small
enough to drive on sidewalks
so they can make a clean get
away before the traffic jam
clears. (Source - IMDb)


Cast
Mark Wahlberg - Charlie
Croker
Charlize Theron - Stella
Bridger
Donald Sutherland - John
Bridger
Jason Statham - Handsome
Rob
Seth Green - Lyle
Yasiin Bey - Left Ear
Edward Norton - Steve
Christopher Moore Jr. -
Young Left Ear
Joel Homan - Young Charlie
Olek Krupa - Mashkov
Gawtii - Skinny Pete

Franky G - Wrench

Crew
Director - F. Gary Gray
Based on 1969 Screenplay - Troy Kennedy-Martin
Screenplay - Donna & Wayne Powers
Executive Producers - Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner and Wendy Japhet
Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager - James Dyer
Producer - Donald DeLine

Casting Director - Sheila Jaffe
Production Designer - Charles Wood

Art Directors - Doug J. Meerdink and Mark Zuelzke

Set Decorator - Denise Pizzini
Costume Designer - Mark Bridges
Director of Photography - Wally Pfister
Second Unit Director/Stunt
Coordinator - Kenny Bates
Stunt Coordinator - Kurt Bryant
Co-Stunt Coordinator - Steve Kelso
Special Effects Designer - Eric Allard
Special Effects Supervisor - Mike Edmonson

Special Effects Coordinators - Stefano Corridori
and Joe D. Ramsey
Visual Effects Supervisors - Bruce Jones
and Cosmas Paul Bolger Jr.
Visual Effects Consultant - Peter Donen
Film Editors - Richard Francis-Bruce and
Christopher Rouse
Music Supervisor - Kathy Nelson
Co-Music Supervisor - Julianne Jordan
Music - John Powell 


Review
I have heard about that there were two versions of 'THE ITALIAN JOB', one in particular is the 1969 British classic which I didn't watch and the other is the 2003 American remake which I have seen three times. People often say that the remakes are never as good as the original, whether or not this is true, I don't know. This modern version was a semi-decent heist movie.

The plot was driven in more ways than one by suspense and comedy and contains action sequences like the robbery in Venice and the Mini Cooper car chase. Whilst not wanting to give it away, there is a scene involving a safe and a DIY trick that is particularly memorable. Sure, Michael Caine doesn't make an appearance in this remake, but it's still good-looking with Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, Jason Statham, Edward Norton, Mos Def and Seth Green as cast members. Their performances were first-rate and easily the best actors in the feature were Def, Green, Statham and Norton. The movie itself required no digital effects since it was mostly filmed in Italy and America.

Even with its star-power, 'THE ITALIAN JOB' is worth-watching. Whether or not you have seen the original, you'll be entertained by F. Gary Gray's recent interpretation.

Star rating: (7/10) Good Movie

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Now You See Me 2 Review

Now You See Me 2


Release Date: 2nd June 2016 - Australia

Production Companies

Summit Entertainment (presents)

K/O Paper Products

TIK Films (in association with)

Distribution

eOne

Genre: Crime/Thriller

Rating: M

Runtime: 124 minutes

Budget: $90,000,000

Box Office Gross: $334,901,337 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

One year after outwitting

the FBI and winning the

public's admiration with

their Robin Hood-style

magic spectacles,

The Four Horsemen

appear for a comeback

performance, aiming to

expose a tech magnate's

wrongdoings. Enter

Enter Walter Mabry, an

IT prodigy and the

mastermind behind the

Horsemen's vanishing act.

He threatens them into

carrying out their most

impossible heist yet. The

only way to clear their

their names and expose

the mastermind behind

it all is to pull off one

last, unprecedented

stunt.

Cast

Jesse Eisenberg - J. Daniel

Atlas

Daniel Radcliffe - Walter Mabry

Mark Ruffalo - Dylan Rhodes

Woody Harrelson - Merritt/

Chase McKinney

Lizzy Caplan - Lula

Dave Franco - Jack Wilder

Morgan Freeman -

Thaddeus Bradley

Michael Caine - Arthur Tressler

Jay Chou - Li

Tsai Chin - Bu Bu

William Henderson - Young Dylan

Richard Laing - Lionel Shrike 

Sanna Lathan - Deputy Director

Natalie Austin

David Warshofsky - Agent Cowan

Henry Lloyd-Hughes - Allen

Scott-Frank

Brick Patrick - Chase McKinney

Zach Gerard - Hannes Pike

Ben Lamb - Owen Case

Jim Pirri - Eye Voice

Savannah Gutrie - Herself 

Crew

Director - Jon M. Chu

Based on Characters - Boaz Yakin and Edward Ricourt

Story/Screenplay/Executive Producer - Ed Solomon

Story - Peter Chiarelli

Script Supervisor - Anna Worley 

Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager - Kevin De La Noy

Executive Producers - Louis

Leterrier and Qiuvin Long

Producers - Alex Kurtzman,

Roberto Orci and Bobby Cohen

Co-Producer - David Copperfield

Casting Directors - Deborah

Aquila and Tricia Wood

Chief Magic and Mentalism

Consultant - Keith Barry

Production Designer - Sharon Seymour

Supervising Art Director - Stuart Kearns 

Art Directors - Stephan Dobric,

Martin Foley, Dominic Masters,

Stephen Swain and Remo Tozzi

Concept Artists - Kelton Cram,

Matt Savage, Constantine Sekeris,

Jessica Sinclair, Randolph Watson

and Chris Caldow 

Set Decorator - Judy Farr 

Costume Designer - Anna B. Shepard

Hair/Makeup/Prosthetics Designer - Frances Hannon

Prosthetics Supplier - Mark Coulier 

Director of Photography - Peter Deming

Director of Photography: Second Unit -

Peter Robertson

"B" Camera Operator: Second Unit -

Jonathan 'Chunky' Richmond 

First Assistant Director - Richard Whelan

Choreographer - Christopher Scott 

Stunt Coordinator/Fight Arranger - Mark Mottram

Picture Vehicles Coordinator - Alex King 

Special Effects Supervisor - Stephen Hutchinson

Special Effects Floor Supervisor - Alistair Williams 

Special Effects Consultant - Neil Corbould

Visual Effects Supervisor - Matt Johnson

Visual Effects Supervisor: Cinesite -

Nicolas Chevallier 

Computer Graphics Supervisor: BLIND LTD -

Andrew Booth

Editor - Stan Salfas

Supervising Sound Editors & Sound Design -

John Marquis and Nancy Nugent Title

Sound Effects Editors - Robert Kellough,

Jason W. Jennings, Greg Ten Bosch and

Eric Norris 

Production Sound Mixer - John Casali

Re-Recording Mixers - Will Files and

Andy Koyama 

Music - Brian Tyler

Music Supervisor - Randall Poster

Review

Magical, thrilling, and deceptive are ways to describe NOW YOU SEE ME 2 and the original movie (click here). However, the sequel is slightly more complex and struggles to meet the high expectations the first film set. It loses the original's charm and its element of surprise. NOW YOU SEE ME 2 takes too many risks by adding more complexity and implausibility to the plot with frequent, unbelievable twists. Director Jon M. Chu doesn't take this as seriously when adding drums to the sequel to this Ocean's Eleven-style heist thriller, compared to Louis Leterrier's flashy, theatrical interpretation of its predecessor.

Many actors from the original have returned to the top-notch ensemble cast, except for Isla Fisher, who was absent and did not reprise her role as the female lead. Lizzy Caplan fills the role Fisher vacated as the female member. She brings plenty of sass and energy. Woody Harrelson not only returns to portray one of the four magicians but also plays the character's long-lost identical twin brother in a dual role made especially for him.

In addition to co-starring with the leading actors, Daniel Radcliffe is no longer the famous Harry Potter. Instead, he plays a crucial role as one of the baddies out to expose the Horsemen and their activities. His performance is a sheer, maniacal pack of menace, and nothing can prevent the actor from having a successful future after his success with the Harry Potter series. The magic tricks feel less grounded than in the previous film, because the sequel relied heavily on CGI rather than practical effects.

I always thought that NOW YOU SEE ME 2 would be better than the original in more ways than you could imagine. The plot and execution could have used some work if it had not involved confusion. Overall, NOW YOU SEE ME 2 is nowhere near as good as the original, and people should see it if they liked its predecessor.

Star rating: (6/10) Fair Movie

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Tower Heist Review

Tower Heist


Release Date: 26th December 2011 - Australia


Production Companies
Universal Pictures

Imagine Entertainment
Relativity Media (in association with)
Rat Entertainment

Dentsu (presented in association with)

Distribution
Universal Pictures Australia

Genre: Crime/Comedy

Rating: M

Runtime: 100 minutes

Budget: $85,000,000

Box Office Gross:

$152,930,623 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

Josh Kovacs, a Queens
native, has managed one of
New York City's most
lavish, secure residences
for the past ten years. With
his keen eye, he notices
no mistake. In the poshest

suite at the top of Josh's

building, Wall Street

tycoon Arthur Shaw is under

house arrest for stealing $2

billion from his investors.

investors. Who is most

affected by his fraud? The

tower staffers were the ones

whose pensions he supervised.

As Arthur's escape from

justice nears, Josh enlists

Slide, a petty crook, to

plan the nearly impossible:

stealing what they believe

is hidden in Arthur's

guarded condo. These

amateur robbers know

the building better than

anyone, despite their

inexperience. They had

been scouting the place for

for years, but they didn't

know it.

Cast

Ben Stiller - Josh Kovaks

Eddie Murphy - Slide

Casey Affleck - Charlie

Alan Alda - Arthur Shaw
Matthew Broderick - Mr. Fitzhugh
Stephen McKinley Henderson - Lester
Judd Hirsch - Mr. Simon
Tea Leoni - Special Agent Claire Denham
Michael Pena - Enrique Dev'Reaux
Gabourey Sidibe - Odessa
Nina Arianda - Miss Iovenko
Marcia Jean Kurtz - Rose
Juan Carlos Hernandez - Manuel
Harry O'Reilly - Special Agent Dansk
Peter Van Wagner - Marty Klein Esq.
Zeljko Ivanek - Director Mazin

Lynne Rossetto Kasper - Radio 

Host (Voice)

Annika Pergament - NASDAQ News Reporter (Voice)

Clem Cheung - Kwan

Robert Downey Sr. - Judge Ramos

Max Russell Pratts - Kid in Lobby

Nathan Malnik - Kid in Lobby

Spencer Malnik - Kid in Lobby

Jarod Malnik - Kid in Lobby

Julie Vilanova - Kid in Lobby

Cynthia Patsos - Kid in Lobby

Kate Upton - Mr. Hightower's Mistress

Marilyn Kim - Mrs. Jin

Judianny Compres - Rita

Omar Nicodemo - Tower Security

Dylan Ratigan - News Reporter

Allie Woods Jr. - Mr. Newhouse

Johnny Tran - Huang

Monika Plocienniczak - TV News Reporter

James Colby - Special Agent Huggins

Edward Noone - Special Agent

Frank Pesce - Riker's Prison Guard

Annie Park - Girl in Mall

Christina Jacquelyn Calph - Victoria's Secret Saleswoman

Kevin Pariseau - Swarovski Jewellery Salesman

Desmin Borges - Modell's Sneaker Salesman

Jessica Szohr - Sasha

Brian Distance - Tower Security Officer

Village - Tower Security Officer

Les Papp II - Tower Security Officer

Michael Stratton - Tower Security Officer

Chris Rivaro - Doorman

Craig Castaldo - Radioman

Heavy D - Court House Guard

Veronika Korvin - Maid

Robert Clohessy - Parade Cop

Jan Owen - Mrs. Cronan

Lucky Park - Lucy the Dog

Robert Christian - Arresting Special Agent

Mark Phillip Patrick - Arresting Special Agent

Paul Hickert - Arresting Special Agent

Kelvin Davis - Arresting Special Agent

Christopher Breslin - Arresting Special Agent

Ty Jones - Shaw's Prison Guard

Ted Lochwyn - Shaw's Prison Guard

Madison Knopp - Charlie and Sasha's Baby

Troy Hall - Delivery Man

Julie T. Pham - Huang's Wife

Bojun Wang - Huang's Son

Juanita Howard - Mr. Newhouse's Wife

Bob Roseman - Josh's Prison Guard

Crew
Director - Brett Ratner
Based on Concept - Eric Ehrenhaus
Story - Adam Cooper and Bill Collage
Story/Screenplay - Ted Griffin
Screenplay - Jeff Nathanson

Unit Production Manager/Executive Producer -

Bill Carraro
Executive Producer - Karen Kehela Sherwood
Producers - Eddie Murphy, Brian Grazer

and Kim Roth
Production Designer - Kristi Zea

Art Director - Nicholas Lundy

Set Decorator - Diane Lederman

Costume Designer - Sarah Edwards

Makeup Department Head - John Cagilone Jr.  
Director of Photography - Dante Spinotti

Unit Production Manager - Carla Raij

First Assistant Director - James M. Freitag

Second Assistant Director - Tudor Jones
Second Unit Director/Stunt Player - G.A. Aguilar
Stunt Coordinator - Jery Hewitt
Special Effects Coordinator - Steven Kirshoff

Visual Effects Supervisor - Mark Russell
Visual Effects Producer - Ginger Theisen
Visual Effects Consultants - Michael L. Fink

and Adam Howard
Editor - Mark Helfrich

Supervising Sound Editor - Warren Shaw

Production Sound Mixer - Tod A. Maitland

Re-Recording Mixers - Michael Minkler

and Andrii Trifonov

Supervising Foley Artist - Gary A. Hecker  
Music - Christophe Beck

Review

2011 ended the holiday season on a high note with the fun, ordinary caper comedy TOWER HEIST. I finally set aside some time to indulge in this comedy. I'm not going to lie. I did my hopes up. It certainly wasn't as clever and elaborate as other heist movies. The storyline is exhausting and has become overused, probably because the writers were running out of ideas. However, some aspects of the film are appealing, particularly certain comedy scenes. One such scene involves a hotel maid ramming a trolley into a security agent, knocking him out cold. Unfortunately, the amusing scenes are too few and far between. Another flaw is its slow pacing. It moves too slowly, which can make it boring.

TOWER HEIST boasts a stellar cast. Comedy film buffs will be happy to see some of their favourite comedic actors. The cast delivers commendable performances, especially Eddie Murphy, who is universally "hilarious" in anything he does. Director Brett Ratner is well known for his action and comedy films, which he executes with skill and flair. However, he's lost his touch.

The problem with TOWER HEIST is that it's not memorable. I can't remember any particularly memorable scenes, except for a few. I wouldn't be motivated to watch it again. If you like heist movies, Ocean's Eleven is the mother of this sub-genre.

Star rating: (6/10) Fair Movie

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Malcolm Review (Australia Day 2016)

Malcolm


Release Date: 2nd October 1986 - Australia


Production Companies
Cascade Films
Film Victoria

Distribution
Umbrella Entertainment


Genre: Comedy/Crime

Rating: PG

Runtime: 90 minutes


Budget: A$1,000,000

Box Office Gross: $3,842,129 (Australia)


Plot Summary

Malcolm is an inventor, awkward and shy, but he has a gift for making unbelievable devices. One day, while building his tram engine, he loses his job and is forced to take in a few tenants for accommodation to help pay the bills. He gets Frank, a small-time crook, released from jail and his girlfriend, Judith, to move into his home. His mechanical expertise, combined with Frank's criminal knowledge, as the trio pulls off the most outrageous heist of the decade.

Cast
Colin Friels - Malcolm Hughes
John Hargreaves - Frank Baker

Lindy Davies - Judith
Chris Haywood - Willy

Charles 'Bud' Tingwell - Tramways Supervisor
Beverly Phillips - Mrs. T

Judith Stratford - Jenny

Heather Mitchell - Barmaid

Tony Mahod - Tram Conductor

David Letch - Restaurant Hoon #2

Mike Bishop - Armed Guard

David Johnston - TV Announcer

Katerina Tassopoulos - Jenny's Mother

Ian McFayden - Model Shop Salesman

Ian Shrives - Split Car Cop #1

David Wm Gray - Split Car Cop #2

Roy Edmunds - Highway Patrol Cop #1

Johnny Raaen - Highway Patrol Cop #2

Peter Hosking - Bank Nightwatchman

Laurie Dobson - Bank Guard #1

Bill Stacey - Bank Guard #2

John Kazantzidis - Cleaner #1

Antonios Baxevandis - Cleaner #2

Denise Scott - Willy's Wife

Don Bridges - Postman

John Bishop - Park Worker

Rex Callahan - Milkbar Cop

John Kelly - Warehouse Cop #1

Peter Nicol - Warehouse Cop #2

David Bradshaw - V.K.C

Lou Richards - Himself - Football

Commentator (Voice) (Uncredited)

John Stanton - Armed Guard (Uncredited)

Crew
Producer/Casting/Director - Nadia Tass
Mechanical Devices Designer and

Constructor/Writer/Producer/Director of
Photography - David Parker

Script Consultants - David Allen

and Robert Marchand

Associate Producer - Timothy White
Executive Producer - Bryce Menzies

Costume Designer - Linda McGuigan

Mechanical Devices Designer and

Constructor - Steve Mills

Mechanical Devices Designer and

Constructor/First Assistant Director -

Tony Mahood

Camera Operators: Second Unit - Clive Duncan,

Ian Jones and Rob Murray

Unit Manager - Chris Haywood

First Assistant Director - Tony Mahood

Second Assistant Director - Paul Grinder

Stunt Coordinator/Stunts - Bill Stacey

Special Effects - Brian Pearce

Visual Effects - Peter Stubbs
Film Editor - Ken Sallows

Assistant Film Editor - Simon James

Sound Editors - Craig Carter and

Dean Gawen

Sound Mixers - Bruce Emery and

Roger Savage

Music - Simon Jeffes


Review

Hello again; many of you didn't watch MALCOLM (or, at least, you would have mistaken it for MALCOLM X). It is not the movie about a historical figure that you expect. It is a different movie made in Australia in late 1986. It is a comedy caper of sheer inventiveness, ingenious in its setup, but based on comedies from an era before MALCOLM, which was way ahead of its time. You might miss a few jokes on MALCOLM. I liked how the filmmakers perfected the robbery sequences with these amusing gadgets and a split vehicle. Filmmaking can't get better at pulling these fake robberies, bent with sheer comic genius.

I liked how they portrayed the title character as someone with a knack for building these machines and a keen interest, who suffers from Asperger's or high-functioning autism (thanks to Colin Friels's performance). The character, profound yet naive and comical, is the primary focus.

It's been quite a movie. I've revisited it 13 years after I last saw it. MALCOLM is a semi-decent, low-budget comedy that isn't quite as clever as the movies we've seen in theatres and on television. By Aussie cinematic standards, it's simple that the film comes close to being a great movie produced in the land of Down Under, so cheers, mates!

Star rating: (7/10) Good Movie

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Now You See Me Review

Now You See Me

Release Date: 8th August 2013 - Australia

Production Companies

Summit Entertainment (presents)

K/O Paper Products

SOIXAN7E QUIN5E

See Me Louisiana

Distribution

Hopscotch Films

Genre: Crime/Thriller

Rating: M

Runtime: 116 minutes

Budget: $75,000,000

Box Office Gross: $351,723,989 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

A troupe of illusionists known as The Four Horsemen mesmerises audiences with their dazzling magic shows while pulling off daring heists against corrupt business leaders and showering them

with stolen profits.

FBI Special Agent Dylan is determined to bring the magicians to justice and stop them before they pull off an even bolder heist. However, he must work with Alma, an Interpol detective he immediately suspects. In desperation, he turns to Thaddeus, a famous magic

debunker, who claims

the bank robbery

involved disguises and

video tricks. Dylan and

Alma can agree on

thing: the Horsemen

must have someone on

the outside. The key to

ending the wizard's

crime spree is to find

him (or her). But who is

this outside person? Is it

Thaddeus? Or Alma?

Or is this just magic?

Cast

Jesse Eisenberg - J. Daniel

Atlas

Mark Ruffalo - Dylan Rhodes

Woody Harrelson - Merritt

McKinney

Isla Fisher - Henley Reeves

Dave Franco - Jack Wilder

Morgan Freeman - Thaddeus Bradley

Michael Caine - Arthur Tressler

Mélanie Laurent - Alma Dray

Michael Kelly - Agent Fuller

Common - Agent Evans

David Warshofsky - Cowan

José Garcia - Etienne Forcier

Jessica Lindsey - Hermia

Caitriona Balfe - Jasmine Tressler

Stephanie Honore - Atlas Groupie

Conan O'Brien - Himself (Cameo)

Diego Mero - Dylan (12 Years Old)

Elias Koteas - Lionel Shrike (Uncredited)

Crew

Director - Louis Leterrier

Story/Screenplay/Executive Producer - Boaz Yakon

Story/Screenplay - Edward Ricourt

Screenplay - Ed Solomon

Executive Producer - Michael Schaefer

Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager -

Stan Wlodkowski

Producers - Bobby Cohen,

Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci

Magic Inspiration - David Copperfield
Head Magic Consultant - David Kwong
Chief Mentalist and Hypnotism Consultant -

Keith Barry

Production Designer - Peter Wenham

Supervising Art Director - Thomas Valentine

Art Director - Scott Plauche

Art Director: Additional Photography -

Andrew Neskoromny

Set Decorator - Beauchamp Fontaine
Costume Designer - Jenny Egan

Directors of Photography - Mitchell Amundsen

and Larry Fong

Aerial Directors of Photography: Second Unit,

New York - Hans Bjerno and Dylan Goss

Helicopter Pilot: Second Unit, New York -

Frédéric North

Unit Production Manager: Additional

Photography - Udi Nedivi

First Assistant Director - Joe Camp III
Second Unit Director/Stunt Coordinator

(Uncredited) - G.A. Aguilar
Additional Unit Director/Senior Visual Effects

Supervisor - Nicholas Brooks
Stunt Coordinator - Stephen A. Pope

Stunt Coordinator: Second Unit - Rick Le Fevour

Fight Coordinator - Chuck Jeffreys
Special Effects Coordinator - Guy Clayton
Special Effects Coordinator: New York - Jeff Brink

Visual Effects Supervisor: ILM - Craig Hammack

Visual Effects Supervisor: Image Engine - Andrew Chapman

Visual Effects Producer - Thomas Elder-Groebe

Executive Producer: ILM - Jill Brooks

Visual Effects Executive Producer: Image Engine -

Shawn Walsh

Digital Model Supervisor: ILM - Russell Paul

Editors - Robert Leighton and

Vincent Tabaillon

Sound Designer/Re-Recording Mixer -

Steve Boedekker

Additional Sound Design - Will Files

Supervising Sound Editor - Jonathan Null

Re-Recording Mixer - David Parker

Foley Supervisor - Frank Rinella

Foley Artists - Ronni Brown,

Sean England and Andrea Gard

Music - Brian Tyler

Review

This film was astonishing, and I didn't expect it to be good at first. However, it dazzled me with its twists and turns. NOW YOU SEE ME is a stylish, entertaining, and compelling fusion of a heist plot with stage magic and trickery. I didn't realise how fresh the premise felt compared to the other blockbusters. The characters pull off a devilish, Robin Hood-style robbery, complemented by a magic show that reflects their stylised personalities. Director Louis Leterrier crafts an engaging, complex, intriguing storyline that blends mystery, suspense, fun, and magic, keeping viewers hooked from start to finish. The film isn't as flawed as critics made it out to be, except for its thin characterisation and twist ending, which I can agree with.

Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Michael Caine, Mark Ruffalo, and Morgan Freeman all committed fully to their roles and delivered the acting money could buy. While Cillian Murphy or Jim Sturgess could have played the lead, Eisenberg was more than capable. The ensemble cast's chemistry is terrific, particularly among Eisenberg, Harrelson, Fisher, and Franco, whose interactions create a fun, energetic dynamic.

I appreciate this big-budget, elaborate film with its ingenious aspects. It isn't a sci-fi caper like Inception, where you enter people's dreams. It just showcases elaborate illusions and tricks. If you enjoyed this film, you should watch similar magic-themed non-heist movies, The Prestige and The Illusionist, for obvious comparisons to NOW YOU SEE ME.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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