The Plot Thickens

The Movie Club: J. Edgar

2012-01-30T08:00:00.000+11:00

I'll admit Clint Eastwood had some explaining to do after Hereafter. And thinking about that alongside his newest endeavour J. Edgar, it's obvious Eastwood is still pondering legacy. Over on The Movie Club, Mel, Oscar and I touch on this as we discuss the history, the subjectivity and the make up that went into this telling of FBI's infamous founder.

Brooks and Mara

2012-01-29T23:36:00.000+11:00

Pinterest is my current obsession, and I just noticed the similarity between these two photos.

Louise Brooks and Rooney Mara, you're both class acts.

Source: alicetynan.com via Alice on Pinterest

Source: google.com.au via Alice on Pinterest

Trailer: Wish You Were Here

2012-01-24T13:57:00.000+11:00

Exciting news! Wish You Were Here now has an Australian theatrical release date: 5 April 2012.

Kieran Darcy Smith's debut feature recently had the honour of opening the Sundance Film Festival. Now, I've been trying to avert my eyes from reading reviews or buzz before seeing the film myself, but it seems those Blue Tongue boys have the golden touch.

Synopsis:

WISH YOU WERE HERE is a psychological drama/mystery starring Joel Edgerton and Teresa Palmer. Four friends lose

themselves in the fun of a carefree South East Asian holiday. Only three come back. Dave and Alice return home to their young

family desperate for answers about Jeremy’s mysterious disappearance. When Alice’s sister, Steph, returns not long after, a nasty
secret is revealed about the night her boyfriend went missing. But it is only the first of many. Who amongst them knows what
happened on that fateful night when they were dancing under a full moon in Cambodia?

Australian release date: 5 April 2012

Interview: Jason Segel & Kermit the Frog (The Muppets)

2012-01-16T08:00:00.000+11:00

The Muppets are back! After a dozen years in the cinematic doldrums, Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and the gang (I won’t presume to play favourites – *cough* – Beaker – *cough*) are bringing their beloved brand of singing, dancing and general shenanigans to the silver screen. Championing their return as co-writer and co-star is Jason Segel. This won’t come as a surprise to anyone who giggled through 2008’s Forgetting Sarah Marshall (also penned by Segel) and its climactic Dracula rock opera, with puppets. Segel is definitely the right man for the job.

And Segel was the man I bumped into as I stepped out of the elevator for The Muppet’s junket in Sydney.

“Alice Tynan!” he declared, complete with a big Hollywood grin.

“Errr…..” I was incredulous. How does Jason Segel know my name, let alone recognise me?!

Then I remembered the tweet I’d sent out, and we both smiled and nodded, “Twitter.”

Yup, that’s the power of Twitter my friends.

The actual interview was similarly surreal. You’ll note my wide-eyes and giddy smile as I regressed to five-year-old glee at the childhood dream-come-true of sitting across from Kermit the Frog. Fortunately you get a similar experience in the cinema watching The Muppets. If you’re anything like me you’ll walk out with your cheeks hurting from smiling so much.

Enjoy!

The Muppets interview from TheVine on Vimeo.

Published on TheVine
Australian release date: 12 January 2011

The Movie Club: Hugo

2012-01-13T08:00:00.000+11:00

Scorsese's love letter to cinema:

To watch Hugo is to rediscover the magic and wonder of cinema. It’s really as simple as that. Martin Scorsese’s stellar adaptation of Brian Selzick’s gorgeous graphic novel uses the latest 3D technology to celebrate the very beginnings of cinema. Indeed, though outwardly a children’s fable about an orphan finding his place in the world, Hugo is so beautifully conceived that it should win over even the most stoic of 3D skeptics.

Join me, Trespass Magazine’s Beth Wilson and Girlfriend Magazine’s Lauren Smelcher Sams as we take a trip back to 1930s Paris to fall in love with Hugo, and enjoy an unforgettable lesson in film history from the master, Mr. Scorsese.

The Movie Club: Transmission Films

2012-01-06T16:51:00.001+11:00

Kicking Cinema into Gear

If you like your films with brains as well as beauty, then it’s high time you were introduced to Transmission Films.

Since they launched in 2008, this independent Australian distributor has been shaking up the local cinematic landscape, bringing the works of filmmakers like Pedro Almodóvar, Woody Allen, Lars von Trier and David Lynch to our silver screens.

Join me as I chat with Transmission Films Managing Directors Richard Payten and Andrew Mackie about revving up* Australian cinema audiences in 2012.

*"Many inches of Michael Fassbender" will well and truly do that!

Watch the Movie Club episodes on Burning Man and The Eye of the Storm

The Big Issue: The Hot Seat

2012-01-03T12:48:00.001+11:00

Summer and cinema go so wonderfully well together. They are sultry, sibilant tones. But let’s be honest: it’s really all about the air-conditioning. Who hasn’t made that sweaty dash to escape the summer sun for a couple of hours of popcorn crunching thrills and spills? Then there are school holidays to consider, when the kids have gone prune-like from the pool and start nipping at heels for alternative forms of entertainment. And come Christmas, the dire need to escape relative-infused revelry is just the thing to get bums on cinema seats. Or, in a more civilised fashion, there are the plethora of outdoor cinemas that pop up every summer, where you can revel in the long, warm nights, a glass of wine and some cinema under the stars.

So whether you’re escaping the heat, avoiding your relatives, entertaining the kids or kick starting your brain, here’s the lowdown on summer near the silver screen...

Boxing Day Bonanza

It’s well worth asking Santa for cinema vouchers this year, because Boxing Day is going to be a doozy. First up we have the staggering Steven Spielberg double bill: the deliriously anticipated The Adventures of TinTin and the slightly tougher sell, War Horse. With TinTin Spielberg letting his imagination run away with him in his dazzling use of performance-capture technology. Fans of Hergé's beloved series won’t be disappointed by this boisterous romp, a world away from the battlefields of World War 1 where War Horse is set. Still, this Lassie-esque story may well hoof at your heartstrings.

Other big names this Boxing Day include George Miller’s Happy Feet 2 3D, which will surely set toes a’ tapping. The Iron Lady will set tongues wagging about Meryl Streep’s Oscar chances, as the stellar actress coifs up to play former UK PM Margaret Thatcher. But Streep will have a bit of competition from Glenn Close in Albert Nobbs, which is an impeccably made but frustratingly slight tale of a fastidious woman passing as a male butler. It's beautifully acted, but ultimately lacks cinematic scope.

Matt Damon could use a butler or at the very least some serious help on the hom front as he stars with Scarlett Johansson in We Bought a Zoo. This is based on Benjamin Mee's bestselling 2008 memoir (he rally did buy a zoo!), the film adaptation has received heartwarming treatment by director Cameron Crowe (Jerry McGuire, Almost Famous).

Ben Stiller is the final big gun this Christmas, though mercifully this isn’t another of the Focker franchise. Instead he’s teamed up with Eddie Murphy, Matthew Broderick and Casey Affleck for this Bernie Madoff-inspired, Tower Heist. This film follows a group of hardworking guys taking revenge on a fraudster who fleeced them of their pensions.

School holiday hits:

Kid-friendly films this summer include the dashing Puss in Boots (8 December). Though not as strong, this Shrek spin-off will probably clog up letters to Santa with pleas for kittens. Then there’s Dolphin Tale (15 December), which fits squarely in the Free Willy camp, although Morgan Freeman makes for an interesting draw card. Less appealing is Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (1 January): those squeaky voices can’t be good salve for sore heads come New Years Day. But on the other hand, The Muppets (15 January) are absolutely worth getting excited about. This frisky and uproariously fun reunion of our favourite puppets will leave you smiling like Fozzie Bear.

Escape the relatives:

Fleeing the nest means you’re in desperate need of popcorn and mindless distraction, so Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol (15 December) has got to top your escape agenda. Tom Cruise always serves up a high-octane action jaunt, but for the forth M:I film, he’s doing so with animation auteur Brad Bird (The Incredibles, Ratatouille) at the helm. Now this we have to see.

Much less pressing, but suitably mindless is New Year’s Eve (8 December). It looks as thoroughly silly as its predecessor Valentine’s Day (2010), but there’s still something about Garry Marshall (Pretty Woman) and a great swathe of Hollywood stars (Katherine Heigl, Zac Efron, Sarah Jessica Parker and even Robert DeNiro), that might manage to sparkle.

Stop the sunstroke:

If you need to fight off the sun-soaked drowsiness and kick-start your brain, then look out for Martha Marcy May Marlene (19 January - nb. now 2 February). This festival darling might star an Olsen sister (Elizabeth), but it’s an utterly electric psychological thriller about a girl who escapes from a cult. More cerebral drama comes from Danish provocateur Lars Von Trier's latest film, Melancholia (15 December). Hauntingly beautiful visuals and a career best performance from Kirsten Dunst make this dark adventure a must see. As is Tinker Taylor Soldier Spy (19 January). The brilliant adaptation of John le Carré 1974 novel sports some of Britain’s best acting talent. Gary Oldman, Colin Firth and Tom Hardy deliver nothing short of a cinema master class.

So there's your entertaining, escapist, extraordinary summer of cinema sorted. Let's hope the air-conditioning holds up.

Published in The Big Issue #395

Top 10 of 2011

2011-12-31T18:05:00.001+11:00

Happy New Years Eve everyone! As we farewell 2011, it's time to take stock of the year in cinema. Once again the marvellous Matt Ravier has polled Sydney critics for their best films of the year, so be sure to head over to A Life in Film to see the top 20 released and unreleased films, as well as all the great wrap ups. It turns out both my #1s take poll positions - winner!

Here are my lists, with links to reviews where possible:

BEST RELEASED:

Drive

Bill Cunningham New York

Melancholia

The Tree of Life

Black Swan

Cave of Forgotten Dreams

Midnight in Paris

Incendies

Bridesmaids

Jane Eyre

BEST UNRELEASED:

Martha Marcy May Marlene

A Separation

Shame

Hugo

Tomboy

The Arbor

Tiny Furniture

The Forgiveness of Blood

Attenberg

How to Die in Oregon

Another cinematic year has shot by and I’m left grappling with my sieve-like memory: Black Swan was released in 2011, right? Indeed I feel a bit sorry for the films from early in the year, especially lighter fare like Tangled or Rango - both of which I was giddy about at the time – as they seem to have found themselves elbowed out by art-house behemoths like Tree of Life and Melancholia. In fact it strikes me that my list reads a little like a who’s who of art-house snobbery, so forgive me! I promise films like The Guard, The Trip and even True Grit were vying for position on this list. And what of local cinema? The brilliant Burning Man, the delightful Griff the Invisible or Fred Schepisi’s impeccable The Eye of the Storm definitely deserve honourable mentions. As does Snowtown…for haunting my nightmares. Bring on 2012 (minus the apocalypse, please!)!

So there you have it. Have a very Happy New Years Eve everyone (whatever you do, don't waste it watching New Year's Eve!)! Here's to many many more film fun times in 2012.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T19:16:00.001+11:00

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Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas!

Here's to eating, drinking and enjoying all the merriment the holiday season has to offer. And of course I'm looking forward to oodles of film fun in 2012.

But why wait til then? I'm just back from another delightful family celebration and kicking back with this guy on Blu Ray - can you pick it? (If you know me you probably won't even need to look!).

Giveaway: The Iron Lady

2011-12-21T16:30:00.002+11:00

It's Christmas come early! Well, errr, actually late depending on how Australia Post goes - but regardless, thanks to Icon Films I'm delighted to have some tickets to give away for The Iron Lady.

The marvellous Meryl Streep has already garnered a Golden Globe nomination for her performance, so you'd better catch this film to keep ahead of all the Oscar buzz.

Synopsis:

London, 2008. In her well-appointed apartment, the elderly former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher prepares breakfast for her husband Denis, as she has every morning of their married life. It’s not until Margaret’s personal aide bustles in that we see that Margaret sits at the table alone. Denis is alive only in her imagination.

Once described in life as “always present, never there”, Denis is still present for Margaret. Is he a loving memory made flesh? A manifestation of her grief? Or perhaps her conscience, taking her to task?

Locked in the infuriating inaction of retirement and battling ill health, Margaret is ambushed by memories. Fragments of her private life and of her premiership crowd in to her mind and she relives them in vivid detail. As she struggles to maintain her equilibrium, Denis teases and needles her. The struggle, the triumphs, the betrayals – in the end, what did she achieve? When all is said and done, was it worth it?

THE IRON LADY is the story of a woman who came from nowhere to smash through barriers of gender and class to be heard in a male dominated world. It is a film about power and the price that is paid for power, a story that is both unique and universal. THE IRON LADY stars Academy Award-winners Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher and Jim Broadbent as her husband, Denis.

To win one of FIVE double passes to see THE IRON LADY, simply email me (subject: THE IRON LADY) with your name and address. Winners will be notified by reply.

Australian release date: 26 December 2011

Interview: Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Chris Miller (Puss in Boots)

2011-12-20T08:00:00.000+11:00

Back over on TheVine, I had great fun interviewing Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek and director Chris Miller about their animated feline prowess in Puss in Boots.

Unfortunately I was suffering from a horrid fever and tonsillitis, but it turns out my state of semi-delirium was quite appropriate for talking to Antonio and Salma, who had done over 700 interviews! Hat's off to them for being so delightfully animated (sorry), after such an epic press tour.

Published on TheVine
Australian release date: 8 December 2011

The Movie Club: Melancholia

2011-12-19T12:36:00.000+11:00

[Insert Metaphor Here]

Yes, the metaphors are quite literally the size of planets in Lars Von Trier’s Melancholia. But by God does he pull them off.

With a knockout performance from Kirsten Dunst, a luminous Charlotte Gainsbourg and a stellar supporting cast in Kiefer Sutherland, Charlotte Rampling and John Hurt, Melancholia is the most artfully devastating dyad of depression. But it’s also not without a sense of humour…

Indeed Giles Hardie, Ben McEachen and I have a world of fun discussing this beautiful film, and maybe, just maybe, we wade in on the metaphors!

Limelight Magazine: Melancholia

2011-12-16T14:33:00.000+11:00

The gravitational force of depression is devastatingly and magnificently explored in Lars von Trier’s Melancholia.

By dividing his focus between the fates of two sisters, Von Trier explores the inner melancholic demons that plague Justine (Kirsten Dunst) on her wedding day, and the manifold fear Claire (Charlotte Gainsbourg) holds towards the strange, eponymous planet that appears to be bearing down on Earth.

Von Trier also manages to outdo the jaw-dropping beauty of Antichrist’s operatic opening, with Melancholia’s first frames unfolding in an utterly stunning, ultra-slow motion sequence.

Dunst and Gainsbough are simply glorious on screen. Their effortless performances are masterfully supported by an enviable ensemble, which includes luminaries Charlotte Rampling and John Hurt, a wantonly underused Alexander Skarsgård, and an uncharacteristically effete Kiefer Sutherland. Audiences will no doubt pick their favourite of the film’s two parts, with Justine’s wedding feeling like a distilled, perfected version of Jonathan Demme’s Rachel Getting Married, while Claire’s angst builds towards the film’s transcendent climax.

There is nothing subtle about the metaphors at work here, especially as von Trier steeps his film in Wagner’s epic tones. But depression as apocalypse is both a horrifying and beautiful sight to see, making Melancholia a piece of cinema that will leave you reeling.

4 1/2 Stars

Published in the December Issue of Limelight Magazine

Australian release date: 15 December 2011

Interview: Brad Bird (Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol)

2011-12-15T08:00:00.000+11:00

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I was already starstruck enough at the prospect of interviewing Simon Pegg, but to sit down with Brad Bird as well?! Of course I film geeked out! In fact, you'll get to see a bit on camera, as the brilliant, Academy Award winning director wraps up our conversation with a fun dose of film history.

Big high fives to my marvellous brother James for helping me learn the ropes of video editing.

Enjoy!

Published on TheVine
Australian release date: 15 December 2011

Interview: Simon Pegg (Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol)

2011-12-14T13:14:00.000+11:00

Yes I got to interview Simon Pegg!! So much excitement! (Though alas I couldn't really justify gabbing about Spaced...another time perhaps.)

And even more exciting is the fact that you can actually see the interview (below or over on TheVine) because I've finally had a crack at video editing. I still have much to learn and finesse (be kind!), but I'm hoping this will be the beginning of a whole new chapter.

Published on TheVine
Australian release date: 15 December 2011

The Movie Club: New Year's Eve

2011-12-12T14:52:00.001+11:00

Yes yes I know The Movie Club is supposed to be about recommending the best in film, and New Year's Eve definitely doesn't fit the bill! But it did afford Melissa, Scott and I the opportunity to chuckle over why the celebs flock to these ensemble films, as well as chat about our favourite cinematic ensembles.

And to that end I cannot BELIEVE I forgot to mention Robert Altman! Cinema gods smite me!

If you can forgive the glaring omission, then watch the episode below and feel free to share your fave film troupes over on our Facebook page.

The Movie Club: Attack the Block

2011-12-09T08:00:00.000+11:00

Over on The Movie Club Melissa Wilson, Scott Ellis and I had lots of fun reminiscing about Spielberg's E.T, and busting out some dodgy South London accents to review Joe Cornish's fantastic debut Attack the Block.

Enjoy, innit!

Burning Man

2011-12-08T15:39:00.001+11:00

No, this film isn't about a bunch of rich hippies getting stoned in the Nevada desert. Burning Man is a beautifully wrought and fiercely subjective kaleidoscope of anger and grief, directed by Jonathan Teplitzky (Better than Sex, 2000). Matthew Goode gives a searing performance as Tom, a simmering Bondi chef who explodes in fits of road rage, drinks like a fish and tries to shag around. Tom’s young son Oscar (an impressive debut by Jack Heanly) is relegated to the sidelines, and Karen (Essie Davis) gets on his case about it.

Why has Tom gone off the rails? Eventually Teplitzky lets us in, temporally jumping backwards and forwards through a series of punchy vignettes. We meet the vivacious Sarah (Bojana Novakovic) and slowly Tom’s self-immolation makes sense. Goode and Novakovic are utterly devastating together on screen, although grief comes more convincingly to Goode than anger, which never entirely resounds. But as a portrayal of a phoenix rising from the ashes, Burning Man is a must see.

4 stars

Published in The Big Issue #394

Watch The Movie Club episode on Burning Man

Limelight Magazine: Restless

2011-12-07T20:27:00.001+11:00

After his devastatingly arresting death trilogy (Gerry, Elephant, Last Days), Gus Van Sant takes a gentler look at the flipside of life with Restless. From the pen of first-time screenwriter Jason Lew, this poignant love story stars Australian Mia Wasikowska and newcomer Henry Hopper (son of Dennis) as a pair of outsiders drawn together by their shared fascination with death.

After meeting gate-crashing a funeral, Enoch and Annabel quickly become inseparable, whiling their days away deep in wilfully alternative conversations, while gadding about in an array of over-styled vintage outfits. But each has a sobering secret, and as their love burgeons amid the spectre of death, their fresh-faced youth becomes a potent reminder to embrace the time we have left.

Sweet but slight, Restless frustratingly feels like minor Van Sant. Though Wasikowska shines and Hopper makes a strong debut, Danny Elfman’s rather twee score does them no favours, nor does the screenplay’s more obvious notes on death and dying. Enoch’s imaginary friend – a WWII Kamikaze pilot (Ryo Kase) – is curiously saddled with the emotional heavy lifting, which ultimately prevents this tale from tugging much at the heartstrings.

2 1/2 Stars

Published in Limelight Magazine

Australian release date: 1 December 2011

The Movie Club: X

2011-12-05T18:44:00.000+11:00

Oops, I'm tardy posting this Movie Club episode of the fun chat Scott Ellis and I had with X director Jon Hewitt.

Click below to hear about the free production value that comes with shooting in Kings Cross! And no, I don't know what was going on with my fringe.

X is in cinemas now.

The Ides of March

2011-11-28T12:44:00.001+11:00

With echoes of Machiavelli, a Shakespearean title, and a slather of Sun Tzu, George Clooney’s The Ides of March is a punchy portrait of contemporary politics. But let’s get this out of the way up front: this is no Julius Caesar. In fact, Clooney might just have namedropped a little more than he can muster, for while brilliantly acted and thoroughly watchable, this political drama doesn’t quite manage to be as smart and savvy as it wants to be.

Based on the semi-autobiographical play Farragut North by erstwhile idealistic political staffer Beau Willimon, Ides (from a Washington Metro station to a Shakespearean reference, take the name change for what you will) traverses the professional coming-of-age of suave press secretary Stephen Meyers (Ryan Gosling). Meyers is a true believer: passionately working for campaign manager Paul Zara (Philip Seymour Hoffman) on the charismatic Governor Morris’ (Clooney) Presidential campaign, with the duo neck deep in the Ohio Democratic primary. Running the rival Democratic camp is the bristling, Karl Rove-esque Tom Duffy (Paul Giamatti), who spies Meyers’ fresh-faced talents and makes a play to woo him over to his side. And while Meyers wrestles with this offer, he is entirely more enthusiastic about accepting a date with the beautiful and forthright young intern Molly (a scene-stealing Evan Rachel Wood).

Rounding out this dream cast is a messy-haired Marissa Tomei, playing a sassy New York Times reporter, Max Minghella as Meyers’ ambitious underling and a characteristically cool Jeffrey Wright as Senator Thompson, the man who has both sides vying for his campaign winning endorsement. Include Alexandre Desplat’s brilliantly brooding score and this is total Oscar-bait casting. Fortunately for Clooney, everyone brings their A-game.

Although, just as the film pivots around the comparison between Meyers’ youthful idealism and Zara and Duffy’s flabby, haggard cynicism, one can’t help but notice Gosling getting schooled by both Giamatti and Seymour Hoffman. It’s quite the sight to see, as these two character actor lions deliver pitch-perfect performances, with just the right amount of scenery chewing. But Gosling is gracious, and nevertheless manages to carry the film with impressive ease. Nuanced and intelligent, his performance is by no means all about the designer stubble and clenched jaw, though those two feature rather prominently.

Obvious too are some of Clooney’s allusions. The Governor’s ‘Believe’ campaign poster is straight out of the Obama/Shepard Fairey playbook, while Molly and Meyers’ potent nightcap is shot with a clear nod to Stephen Soderbergh’s sultry hotel bar scene in Out of Sight. More than anything though, The Ides of March has set tongues wagging about whether Clooney will one day throw his hat in the presidential ring (he says not).

It’s impossible to explain just how the film falters in the third act without venturing into spoiler territory. More useful then, is the notion of viewing The Ides of March as a film noir: broad, dramatic brushstrokes, a femme fatale, and a plummeting fall from grace. In fact, this really isn’t too long a bow to draw, as Clooney and his cinematographer Phedon Papamichael seem to do a stylistic bait and switch from the first two acts’ verisimilitude to the heavy shadows and noirish hallway that leads Meyers to his political showdown. But even these conventions can’t mask the frustratingly blatant psychological change Meyers undergoes in the final act. Clooney needed to dial him back a notch or three, for Gosling gets dangerously close to Drive territory in his transformation.

As a portrait of power, hubris and the systematic corruption of integrity, The Ides of March makes for compelling viewing. It’s well-crafted, wonderfully scored and solidly acted across the board. But, Mr. Clooney, beware calling your film The Ides of March if you don’t have an impeccable script, worthy of Shakespeare.

- Three stars

Published on TheVine
Australian release date: 24 November 2011

ABC702: We Need to Talk About Kevin and Burning Man

2011-11-25T13:56:00.001+11:00

While we're talking about Burning Man today, I'll finally get around to posting my review from last week's appearance on ABC 702 Mornings. The delightful Sarah MacDonald was hosting, so we had a really good chat/group therapy session reviewing the harrowing We Need to Talk about Kevin as well as the splendid Burning Man.

Enjoy!
ABC702 Review9 by alicetynan

I can also recommend listening to Francine Stock's brilliant interview with Tilda Swinton over on The Film Programme. Swinton gives some great insights on the process of adapting the book and internalising the story. As a bonus Francine also has an intriguing chat with Sleeping Beauty director Julia Leigh.

Australian release dates: 17 November 2011

The Movie Club: Burning Man

2011-11-25T11:49:00.001+11:00

Why so furious?!

Fuelled by anger, grief and a truckload of road rage, Burning Man is a must see film.

Australian writer-director Jonathan Teplitzky (Better than Sex) combines a brilliantly fractured narrative with a stunning shallow focus aesthetic to lock audiences in with his anti-hero, Tom (played be the marvellous Matthew Goode).

Ok, Tom is a bit of a bastard, but Teplitzky eventually lets us know why. So join me, Ben McEachen and Giles Hardie as we step around any spoilers to rave about this searing drama.

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T11:33:00.001+11:00

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Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Ok, so it's not an Australian holiday, but thanks to my wonderful American sister-in-law, I get to appreciate the wonders of family endorsed overeating and general turkey revelry. Mostly though, I appreciate the opportunity to stop and be thankful - which is something I definitely do more often these days - and today I have so much to be grateful for.

Big virtual high fives and hugs for all!

Here are a couple of gorgeous Charley Harper illustrations to celebrate the day. I know my other marvellous sister-in-law, Kate, will just love them.

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Moneyball

2011-11-22T17:49:00.001+11:00

Australians already have enough trouble with baseball, so a baseball drama that spends hardly any time on the field seems like a tough sell. But Moneyball was penned by dialogue guru Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network) and stars Brad Pitt, so while it’s definitely more talky than sporty, it’s also quite brilliant.

Pitt brings gravitas and nuanced charm to the true story Billy Beane, the general manager of Major League Baseball team, the Oakland A's. Frustrated at loosing players to richer teams, Beane and his number-crunching Yale economics grad recruit (Jonah Hill) take a statistical approach to selecting players during the 2002 season, ultimately making an unexpected play for the World Series.

Director Bennett Miller (Capote) maximises his talents here, while funnyman Jonah Hill is a remarkable straight man. Philip Seymour Hoffman is comparatively underused as Bean’s gruffly incredulous coach, Art Howe, yet both he and the game of baseball itself punctuate all the statistical chat well.

Smart, witty and impeccably produced, Moneyball is the thinking person's sports film.

4 stars

Published in The Big Issue #393

Australian release date: 10 November 2011