Leigh Paatsch's guide to movies

Sam Riley as Sal Paradise and Garrett Hedlund as Dean Moriarty in On the Road. Picture: Supplied

LEIGH Paatsch takes a look at the blockbuster hits, and some of the misses showing in cinemas now.

ARBITRAGE (MA15+), Man on a ledger, US, 107 min

A ripping drama set in the parallel worlds of high finance and low ethics. A brilliant performance by Richard Gere (yes, Richard Gere!) is what keeps all stocks rising. He plays a corrupt New York tycoon racing against time to cover-up both a $400 million hole in his company's accounts, and the sudden death of his secret mistress.

The shifty, shapeless morality of this character becomes a force unto itself as the film wears on, as we wait to see what he will get away with, and how he can live with himself as he does so. Great support work from Susan Sarandon (the wronged wife) and Tim Roth (a rightly suspicious police detective). ***1/2

BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD (M), Heads above water are heads held high, US, 91 min

"The entire universe depends on everything fitting together just right," says the narrator of this unique and utterly breathtaking drama. The speaker is a six-year-old girl named Hushpuppy (remarkable newcomer Quvenzhané Wallis), and only a fool would question how she has acquired this wisdom at such a young age. The evidence put forward byBeasts of the Southern Wild is all too convincing as it is.

The film is set on the flatlands of Louisiana, where Hushpuppy and her not-so-well-off neighbours are about to face a flood of biblical proportions.

The youngster's powerful survival instinct and the unifying spirit in the surrounding community are depicted in a highly unorthodox, yet directly mesmerising manner. The whole experience is like a dream come to life, with little Hushpuppy doing all she can to stop it from ending in a nightmare.

Filmed with an amateur cast and staged with astonishing imagination and emotion, this is undoubtedly one of the great movie experiences of the year. Do not miss. *****

BERNIE (M), A happy-go-lucky homicide, US, 104 min

Nothing short of a remarkable experience : a feelgood film about first-degree murder. This here's the true story of Bernie Tiede (played by Jack Black), a mighty popular feller up north-east Texas way. How popular?

Well, Bernie done went and shot an old lady in the back. Killed her stone dead, he did. Now this didn't bother the good people of Carthage none. Many of them smalltown folk still reckon that mean old biddy (Shirley MacLaine) had it coming. In their book, Bernie did the wrong thing, but went about it the right way.

This astonishing tale is related in a faux-documentary style, with many actual Carthage residents who know and love Bernie (now in jail) doing much of the talking.

The way they explain how events unfolded makes the absolutely unforgivable come across as, well, kind of understandable. A uniquely engaged and engaging movie, one of the year's best, no less. Co-stars Matthew McConaughey. ****

DIARY OF A WIMPY KID : DOG DAYS (PG), No bark, no bite, still fetching, US, 88 min

Though we are now several chapters into the movie memoirs of the world's most popular young nerd, the DOAWK franchise remains as broadly entertaining (for the 8s-to-12s) and bearable (for their parents) as ever.

It is the summer holidays, and series mascot Greg (Zachary Gordon) is having his temperature raised by the sheer prettiness of classmate Holly (Peyton List).

Meanwhile, Greg's dreaded older bro Rodrick (the ever-amusing Devon Bostock) has his own designs upon Holly's older sis. While the featured players get thrown under the bus repeatedly for the sake of sight gags and slight gags alike, they are still yet to wear out their welcome. **1/2

THE EXPENDABLES 2 (MA15+), Beware of old dogs let off the leash, US, 95 mins

A near-lethal shot of testosterone administered through the eyes, full of strange-looking men aged 50 and above. Best brace yourself for scenes where lights are too bright, or shirts have come off.

Many of these cinematic geriatrics look as if they've got their local plastic surgeon on speed-dial, and a jar of human-growth hormones in the fridge.

I might also add that The Expendables 2 is a horrible action picture that is horribly entertaining. Sylvester Stallone (66 years of age) and his posse of past-their-prime pulverisers - led by Chuck Norris (72), Arnold Schwarzenegger (65), Bruce Willis (57), Dolph Lundgren (54) and Jean-Claude Van Damme (51) - have a grand old time revisiting their former gories. **1/2

HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA (PG), Always accommodating, US, 103 min

There's a wow factor to this fresh and vibrant animated comedy that just does not let up. It all starts with the madcap premise : the notorious vampire Count Dracula now runs a luxury resort for ghouls, ghosts and gremlins.

Business is booming. Until the establishment plays host to its first human guest, a typical American backpacker. Bursting with great ideas, mild scares and plenty of laughs, this is A-class family entertainment that gives the new Madagascar a serious run for its money. Maybe not the first choice for small children, but anyone over 6 will have a ball.

Stars the voices of Adam Sandler, Selena Gomez. ***1/2

KATH & KIMDERELLA (PG), Cash-in crashes out, Australia, 86 min

The much-vaunted movie version of the mega-popular Aussie TV hit Kath & Kim falls well short of the hype. The novelty value of seeing the foxy mother-and-daughter combo taking their suburban high-jinks to sophisticated Europe wears off very quickly.

Die-hard fans starved of K&K on the small screen will lap this up out of gratitude, but everyone else should steer well clear. Nice supporting character work from Rob Sitch as a sleazy Euro-royal, but that's about it. Stars Jane Turner, Gina Riley and most of the series regulars. **

LOOPER (MA15+), History rewritten as a death sentence, US, 115 min

An ambitious, adrenalised sci-fi thriller that is all brains and all brawn, almost all the time.  First, the brains bit. Looper is a time-travel movie, with some head-spinning theories going on about how time machines can used by gangsters to get rid of their enemies. Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays Joe, a hitman in the year 2044  whose latest assignment is to kill his future self.

Bruce Willis is the older Joe, and he is not about to let his past self get away with murder. What follows (and it is easier to follow than it sounds!) is a quality chase movie of some considerable sophistication. Indeed, in a gripping final act, Looper locks into a mood that is at once contemplative and compelling.

That imposing, multi-directional plot converges at a place where you will be engrossed and even moved by what comes to pass. With just his third feature, Looper's writer-director Rian Johnson reveals himself to be the most exciting and unorthodox filmmaker to splash into the mainstream since Christopher Nolan. ****

 MADAGASCAR 3 : EUROPE'S MOST WANTED (PG), Big-time animal attraction, US, 93 min

It is not often you can say the third instalment of an already-successful cartoon franchise is the best one yet.
So you just have to doff your hat to a job very, very well done.

Unlike other all-ages series that have settled on a formula as a licence to print money - yes, that means you, Ice Age - the latest adventures of the Madagascar gang set a new benchmark for how an animation sequel should be executed.

A vibrant set of visuals pop off the screen with tremendous use of colour and movement. The dialogue is snappy - as are the jokes - and can be equally enjoyed by kids and their parents alike. Recommended. ***1/2

MOONRISE KINGDOM (PG), Two wronged run to make it right, US, 94 min

The year is 1965, on a remote American island known as New Penzance. Two precocious 12-year-old pen pals have run away together.

One search party is spearheaded by a bumbling scout leader (Edward Norton). Another is acting on the say-so of the only cop on duty (a wonderful Bruce Willis).

This scrappy and rather absurd chase scenario is not to be taken lightly, and cannot be rejected out of hand. There are wise emotional truths, and beautifully rendered tinges of humour and sorrow expertly woven throughout.

A truly unique delight from writer-director Wes Anderson (Fantastic Mr Fox). Co-stars Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton. ****1/2

MONSIEUR LAZHAR (M), A winning way to handle a loss, Canada, 92 min

Though the hurting is in plentiful supply, it is all about the healing in this sincerely moving classroom drama from Canada.

A group of primary schoolers reeling from the recent tragic death of their favourite teacher is gently guided through the mourning process by a mysterious new staff member. Lazhar is an Algerian refugee who has bluffed his way into a teaching job, but is blessed with a gift to connect with students that puts his better qualified peers to shame.

Exquisitely acted (especially the younger cast members) and scripted, this recent Oscar-nominated production is a genuinely moving and memorable screen experience.

Stars Mohamed Fellag, Sophie Nelisse, Emilien Neron. ****

ON THE ROAD (MA15+), Eyes on the road, ponder., US, 140 min

Well-read types of a certain age or inclination will be unable to resist the intense gravitational pull of this adaptation of the seminal Jack Kerouac novel.

To get the most from the long and winding ahead, some knowledge of the book (or at the very least, its reputation) is compulsory. If so, this aimless, hedonistic trek around (and around) the USA in the late 1940s will indeed captivate and sedate in equal measure.

Taking turns at the storytelling wheel are aspiring writer Sal Paradise (Sam Riley), and his best friend and muse, the rebellious Dean Moriarty (Garret Hedlund). This two-man mutual admiration society bounce from bar to boxcar, or from bebop club to Benzedrine fix, without a care in the world. Co-stars Kristen Stewart, Kirsten Dunst. ***

RESIDENT EVIL : RETRIBUTION (MA15+), Resident Evil : Repetition, US, 93 min

Until Milla Jovovich goes and grows a permanent pot belly, there will be Resident Evils on a regular basis. And so Milla slips into a skin-tight rubber unitard, slaps on a grimace, and slinks menacingly through another 90 minutes of ultra-violent 3-D sludge.

If anyone out there is still counting, we have now hit episode five in this based-upon-a-videogame saga. Jovovich's Alice (imagine Jason Bourne as a futuristic female recruited from a modelling agency) is still at war with Umbrella Corp. As she undoubtedly will be this time next year. *

RUBY SPARKS (M), Be careful what you wish for, US, 103 min

Imagine having the ability to sculpt and script your perfect partner, right down to the last detail. What could possibly go wrong? Calvin (Paul Dano) is a lonely young novelist with a big reputation, and an even bigger case of writer's block.

That is until he pens a short story starring a dream woman of his own design, who somehow miraculously comes to life. Her name is Ruby (Zoe Kazan). She is the epitome of everything Calvin has ever wanted in a partner.

Don't get too hung up on how Calvin was able to type up a living, breathing human being. The magic underpinning this unprecedented turn of events is all but ignored. Instead, the film builds steadily into a rather clever commentary on the efficiencies and balances taken for granted in modern relationships.

Brave, unorthodox and thoroughly engaging stuff. ***1/2

THE SAPPHIRES (PG) Good value extracted from an unpolished gem, Australia, 95 mins

It is all too easy for a homegrown, unashamedly feelgood affair like The Sapphires to be damned with faint praise. However, what The Sapphires does well - blending stirring music interludes with genial comedy and a touch of drama - it does very well indeed.

The film is based on the real-life adventures of an Aboriginal girl group of the late 1960s, whose talents took them all the way from a quiet rural settlement to the war-ravaged jungles of Vietnam.

The ever-dependable Deborah Mailman and Irish rising star Chris O'Dowd (Bridesmaids) rescue the rough-edged film from its wonkier moments with some clever comedy interplay.

All other shortcomings are invariably forgiven whenever the hyper-talented Jessica Mauboy gets near a microphone, and the film's winning selection of soul standards and original tunes fire up. ***

THE WATCH (MA15+), Low-priority surveillance, US, 101 min

To get anything worthwhile from The Watch, best bring along a lot of patience and forgiveness, and leave your long-term memory at home.

For if you begin to remember how funny stars Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn used to be, their new movie can get kind of sad at times.

The pair spearhead a numbskull neighbourhood watch group that somehow stumbles upon an imminent alien invasion.

Many of the so-so jokes focus on the deluded dynamics afoot inside Stiller and Vaughn's mini-militia, of which Jonah Hill (wasted as a disturbed weapons nut) and The IT Crowd's Richard Ayoade (a standout as a kinky Brit just in it in for the chicks) are also key members. **