The poor people's cinema

by MATT QUARTERMAINE

CAN'T afford or can't be bothered going to the movies? Welcome to "The poor people's cinema"; the DVD! Forget the big tele, all you need is a movie with a big heart. Here are a few new releases you might like considering:

INSIDE MAN

Spike Lee is a film maker. The dude knows how to make films. "Inside Man" is Lee's first genre film, which has all the trappings of a director paying the bills by working for a studio. However unlike others who have dabbled with studios and fallen , the Spikester got a well-rounded script, fine actors, and interesting characters. Lee's fascination with racism is here too, playing on the police (and our) prejudices: Remember; never wear a turban to a bank robbery. Lee tells the story with economy, intelligence and courage. I won't spoil the surprises, but it's one of the cleverest heist films since "The Taking of Pelham 1, 2, 3." (The one with Walter Mathau and Robert Shaw, of course). A great night in.

GOODNIGHT AND GOOD LUCK

The road to DVD bargain bins is paved with good intentions. Co-written and directed by George Clooney, "Goodnight and Good Luck" is a film uses the McCarthy Communist witch hunt investigations of the 1950's as a warning about the terrorism paranoia of the 21st century. George remembered his soapbox, but forgot to bring characters, conflict and a storyline. Clooney is a charming actor, but a director who makes charmless films. Try watching one of his Coen brothers' films. Good luck.

Staring endlessly at the mass of DVD covers? Don't forget the cheap weeklies. Just because they're not brand new, doesn't mean they're not as good. I'll try finding one from different genres for you:

BATMAN BEGINS

Batman does begin by being scared of bats, so he confronts his fears and creates new ones for the bad guys of Gotham city. Christopher Nolan's (Momento) latest version of the Batman franchise starts seriously about a bloke whose Mum and Dad cop it in the alley (ooh Vicar!), but picks up when he dons the black cape and undies. Christian Bale, one of the best actors around, actually makes Bruce Wayne completely different to Batman in a very Scarlett Pimpernal fashion. "Batman Begins" is an enjoyable Batman film with a scary bad guy for a change, but really falls apart in the action scenes in which Nolan seems all at sea.

40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN

One of the first modern movies that claimed to be a comedy that actually made me and the Mrs laugh out loud for a change. Unusually for the "gross-out" comedies so popular at the moment, this one has heart and some fine ensemble acting. Goes on a bit long, but I'm informed by a movie geek mate (black-rimmed glasses, no outdoor activity) the Australian DVD release was the extended version, so look for the shorter one if possible.

HARD RAIN

Christian Slater and Morgan Freeman star in this nail biting 1998 heist thriller that slipped under the radar. An armoured car robbery goes horribly wrong during a massive rainstorm which breaks a dam. Set in a flooding town, as the water rises so does the tension. What makes this thriller thrilling is the hero and heroine doing everything sensible to try to avoid trouble, but they don't.

PITCH BLACK

Budget sci-fi movies means imagination has to be used instead of special effects. Check out the model of the solar system that reveals how long the planet stays dark, for an effect to raise tension that puts to shame any CGI blockbuster. Vin Diesel and Radha Mitchel star in this B-grade "Alien" rip-off that holds its own. Vin starred in the sequel (the Riddick Chronicles), but they left behind Radha, who brings home the acting bacon in Pitch Black. This Hollywood syndrome of leaving out the female star who can act led to sequels like the Indiana Jones movies without Karen Allen; all effects, no heart. Made in Australia, it makes your heart swell with pride as our best Aussie actors whack on an American accent (Babe anyone?) Any movie that kills Simon Burke in the first few minutes can't be all that bad either.

SABRINA (1954)

The romantic movie can bore the pants off me, and not in a good way, but in the hands of Billy Wilder this is great fun. Two rich brothers (Humphrey Bogart and William Holden) compete for the affections of the chauffeur's daughter (Audrey Hepburn). Sure Humphrey's is a tad too old for Audrey, but "Sabrina" has witty dialogue, funny visual gags and loveable characters. It also has something missing from most modern romantic movies (or modern movies full stop); charm!

6 September 2006

australianrules.com.au

Disclaimer