Change Your Image
Jim-399
Reviews
Anzacs (1985)
Aussie soap meets Band of Brothers
This was an excellent mini-series, packed with sub-plots, all revolving around the story of an Aussie platoon during the First World War. Comic relief is provided by the brilliant Paul Hogan as the wheeling-dealing private Pat Cleary, and a sense of realism is maintained through the narrative character of Roly Collins (excellently played by Christopher Cummins). The story never dips in interest and, I'm pleased to say, strives to keep an actuate journal of real events during the Great War from all battles; violent and political.
And if you want to know why the world has to thank Australia and New Zealand for their part in history, I advise you look out for ANZACS.
10/10
A Life Less Ordinary (1997)
A movie less ordinary . . .
This movie has to be listed amongst the 'only see it if everyone else wants to' category, very much along the same lines as 'The Usual Suspects' - not exactly a Hollywood blockbuster but a highly enjoyable yarn which, in this case, revolves around the lives of two very different people.
Celine (Diaz) is a rich debutante with a somewhat alarming penchant for firearms - very headstrong and, due to her fatcat mafia-esque father Naville (Holm), a woman who always gets what she wants. That is until her father decides that she had better get a job. Luck is at hand, however, in the shape of Robert (McGregor), one of Naville's luckless janitors who had recently been replaced by a robot. After a quick showdown with Naville, demanding his job back at gunpoint (which, surprise surprise, he doesn't get) he kidnaps Celine and hits the road. Unfortunately, Robert is such Nice honest chap, he finds a life of crime very difficult. Not so difficult for Celine who, for the first time in her life, has the opportunity to live.
Add to this formula two celestial cops (Lindo & Hunter) who are charged by the Archangel Gabriel to make Celine and Robert fall in love. However, their idea of getting people together involves putting them in enormous amounts of danger and stress - let's hope they never get a job with dateline!
The whole idea is original, funny and highly enjoyable. A good recommendation to anyone who fancies a mix between Sleepless in Seattle and Trainspotting.