Movie Picks 11/7/18

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THE ONE TO WATCH: 

Isle of Dogs -  9 out of 10

Wes Anderson at his beautiful best, his eye for detail and the right visual has been revered for as long as I can remember but it truly is something to behold in this gorgeous display. The animation from start to finish is simply magnificent and has that usual quirky Anderson feel behind it, which really separates the film from any other animated movies you will see out there.

The casting is also absolute perfection with Bryan Cranston, Bill Murray, Edward Norton and Jeff Goldblum at the helm of a gang of dogs voices. All bringing their own unique personalities to the characters, something that really elevates this tale. The dogs are cast out of civilisation to their own island over fears of contamination, all created by the evil rulers who have managed to turn their owners against their pets and are left to fend for themselves.

It may sound basic but it is without doubt the story that grips more than anything, clearly helped along by the talent which brings it to screen. Witty, heartfelt and clever, Anderson and Roman Coppola have given us a true modern classic, which is a dream for the eyes. 

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Love Simon - 8 out of 10
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You've got to feel sorry for Simon more than anyone because if it wasn't for a film like Isle of Dogs coming along, then this one would have been a pretty good shout for the top spot! But we will have to give it a pretty damn, respectable, close second. This film was bloody brilliant. A very modern and surprisingly funny rom-com, which really does seem to tap in to the psyche of the teenage mind. Dealing with friendship and love, especially difficult when you believe you need to hide your true self because of your sexuality. 

This film really has a beautiful story blended with humour that also shouts a proud and firm message; be who you want to be and you have to love that, regardless of your orientation. The cast was perfect, Nick Robinson as the title role, Simon, was simply brilliant in conveying the difficult period we all face in our teen years, however especially so in this case as he hides his identity from those closest to him. The cast around him are no slouches either, Jennifer Gardner and Josh Duhamel are excellent as Simons parents, and the casting of his friends also are absolutely spot on, particularly Logan Miller who plays the annoying but ultimately loveable Martin.

I really didn't expect much more than a cheesy teen rom-com here but it had so much spirit and it was presented so well that I think this will be appreciated a lot more. And for some it will be essential viewing.

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Traffik - 7 out of 10 

Bit of a throwaway thriller this, certainly nothing you haven't seen before but still a perfectly enjoyable ride if you have a spare hour and a half. This follows the story of a couple off for a romantic weekend away who unfortunately stumble into danger with a gang of bikers. Plenty of decent enough displays on show make this a good watch, but Paula Patton as our main heroine Brea gives a particularly great display. 

Although it may seem like a run of the mill predictable plot, it has a good few jumps for you along the way, and due to the subject matter this is lined with, it really doesn't follow the thriller by numbers pattern you would expect in the plot. Certainly toward the end the message is clear for all to see about the reality that this film was laced with.

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Rampage - 7 out of 10

Over the top action - check
Big monkey - check
Dwane "the fucking rock can do no wrong" Johnson - BIG CHECK

This has no right to be scoring 7. Some of you may think I have lost the plot here, but I honestly believe in that score for sheer audacity and entertainment value. This reminded me of those utterly stupid but cant help love them movies like "Congo" or "Anaconda" and a lot of credit for the sheer love I have for this film is owed to the Rock. I am racking my brain to think of the last film the peoples champion was in that I didn't love. He has turned into a staple of good humour and good action, this is about as stupid and ridiculously over the top as it comes but it was just so damn fun to watch with the man on screen.

For fans of the Walking Dead we also have him teaming up with Negan, or in this case maverick special agent Harvey Russell, played absolutely superbly by the brilliant Jeffrey Dean Morgan. They even managed to create a catchphrase between them. It was almost like Die Hard with a big fucking CGI monkey.... oh and a big CGI wolf and a big CGI.... was that a fucking crocodile with tusks? did that wolf just fly??? Just fucking watch this now, you'll feel 20 times more stupid but 40 times more exhilarated.

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Sweet Country - 7 out of 10

Fantastic little Australian style Western here.

Has everything normal Western fans will crave, that sandy feel and those long old trek sequences where they either have to find someone or escort someone. In this case they are hunting down an Aboriginal farmhand who is reported to have killed a white man. Some absolutely fantastic dramatic displays on offer here and like any good western the story is paramount to keep interest and this one is brilliant.

This may not be to everyone's tastes I know, but certainly for western fans like myself this is a fresh and different look to the stereotypical cowboys and indians with the great backdrop of 1920's australia as the setting rather than North America.