This is pretty much how I spent the past weekend...in my element, lying on the couch.
The newest
film from the Working Dog team (The
Castle, The Dish) is a bit of a different vibe for them, but I really enjoyed
it. There are plenty of shit romantic comedies that you can get your hands on
(mainly cast with Kate Hudson) but there aren’t a lot of decent Australian romantic
comedies out there, was the last (good) one Muriel’s Wedding?
Any
Questions for Ben, follows Ben, (if you didn’t realise) who is played by Josh
Lawson, a man in his mid to late twenties, who is facing a quarter life crisis.
He earns a shitload of money in marketing, but he dropped out of law school,
and has since never stayed in the same job for more than six months, and has
lived in seven apartments in five years with his two best friends, Andy (who
has even less ambition that Ben) and Nick (who out of the three seems to have
his shit together the most, living with his girlfriend, played by Felicity
Ward).
Josh Lawson
(Thank God You’re Here), is nudging
his foot in Hollywood’s door (Showtime’s House
of Lies, The Campaign) plays Ben
to perfection, considering the role was written for him, and probably with him
(the script is credited to Rob Sitch, Santo Cilauro and Tom Gleisner, all men
in their 50s writing about what it is like to be in your mid-twenties –
although when they were in their mid-twenties they were making the best sketch
comedy show Australia has ever produced The
Late Show – one would think I might have come into this review bias) this
was probably expected.
The
supporting cast are all great, particularly Ed Kavalee’s “Aussie Bronze” Olympian
archer who with his bleached blonde hair, and odd demeanour, makes him seem
like a mid 90s surfie/pedophile.
There is an
Ernest Hemingway quote at the beginning of the film, that I didn’t take any
notice of (see previous blog post), but I’ve since looked it up (aka Google’d
it) for this post, it says “Never mistake motion for action” which is pretty
much bang on about Ben’s journey throughout the film.
The soundtrack (credited to Jane Kennedy for picking the songs) is pretty kick arse too - although I wish they hadn't of put Silverchair song Straight Lines in there, seemed out of place, and I really do hate that song!
The soundtrack (credited to Jane Kennedy for picking the songs) is pretty kick arse too - although I wish they hadn't of put Silverchair song Straight Lines in there, seemed out of place, and I really do hate that song!
Jessica (my fiancé)
and I watched this movie in complete darkness in our home, and this is the way
this movie needs to be watched. It is fucking scary! Our lounge room is in the
middle of our house, with the kitchen and hallway leading to the front door
behind us, while watching this movie, set in a pitch black house where you don’t
know when and where the scares are coming from, you can’t help but look over
your shoulder, just to make sure what that random noise was (usually the refrigerator.....maybe
I need a new refrigerator?).
Apparently
this is a remake of film from Uraguay, LA CASA MUDA, but I don’t care, I’m not
going to watch that film to see what is better, I enjoyed this one. LA CASA
MUDA gimmick was that the 88 minute long film was one long take, as the scares
and tension build throughout the film. The American version follows the same
gimmick, but although they are clever, there are several subtle cuts throughout
the film.
Silent House
follows (literally) Sarah, played by Elizabeth Olsen (yes of “those” Olsen’s –
although this one can act) who has gone up to her family’s lake house with her
father and uncle to pack it up as it is for sale. When Sarah is left alone,
that is a few curious noises throughout the house build to a very tense and
very scary film. The ending is a bit “meh” and seems to come out of nowhere,
but overall the movie has you on the edge, and afterwards having you play rock,
paper, scissors with your fiancé, as to who should get up and turn the light
on, just incase it wasn’t the refrigerator making those fucked up weird noises.
It was a
remake. Of Footloose. That is all.
Picks up
where Season 1 left off (SPOILER ALERT), after the murder of John Luther’s
ex-wife, and after the murder of his wife’s killer, Alice Morgan, played by
Ruth Wilson, who reminds me of an evil Emma Stone (I’ve never met Emma Stone,
but I assume she isn’t evil, if she is though, the above statement should read
“who reminds me of a normal Emma Stone”), is being interviewed for killing
Luther’s ex-wife’s killer.
It is a BBC
production, with the brilliant Idris Elba (HBO’s The Wire, Prometheus)
playing Detective Chief Inspector John Luther. The following is derived from the always
reliable (right?) Wikipedia. I’m lazy remember...
John Luther is a Detective Chief Inspector
working for the Serious Crime Unit in season one, and the new Serious and Serial Crime Unit in
season two. A dedicated police officer, Luther is also a genius.
He is obsessive, possessed, and sometimes dangerous in the violence of his fixations.
But Luther has paid a heavy price for his dedication; he has never been able to
prevent himself from being consumed by the darkness of the crimes with which he
deals. For Luther, the job always comes first. His dedication is a curse and a blessing,
both for him and those close to him.
I strongly
believe that this show, and BBC’s Sherlock are the two best British shows on
television at the moment, although admittedly, I don’t watch a lot of (current)
British television; I did grow up watching a lot of British comedies, mainly Mr
Bean, Monty Python, The Young Ones, & Blackadder, and more recently, The
Office, Extras, The In-betweeners, Black Books & Spaced.
If you
haven’t checked this show out, I really urge you to. The first season is only 6
episodes long, and the second season is only 4. I knocked over the second
season in one sitting - Find the time!
Please feel free to comment below, either on the above films/tv shows, or my shitty review skills....
Please feel free to comment below, either on the above films/tv shows, or my shitty review skills....
