Author: Natalie Teasdale

I want to share with other movie fans those amazing films that get under your skin and stay with you for days: the scary ones, the funny ones; the ones that get you thinking. With a background in creative writing, photography, psychology and neuroscience, I’ll be focusing on dialogue, what makes a great story, if the film has beautiful creative cinematography, the soundtrack and any movie that successfully scratches the surface of our existence. My aim is to always be searching for that ultimate movie, to share what I’ve found to be interesting (whether it be a great soundtrack, a great director or links to other information of interest) and to give an honest review without too much fluff. BAppSci in Psychology/Psychophysiology; Grad Dip Creative Arts and Post Grad Dip in Creative Writing. Founder of GoMovieReviews.

Knock At The Cabin

GoMovieReviews Rating: ★★★☆ (3.8/5)

Rated: M

Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan

Screenplay by: M. Night Shyamalan and Steve Desmond & Michael Sherman

Based on the book: The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay

Produced by: M. Night Shyamalan, Marc Bienstock, Ashwin Rajan

Starring: Dave Bautista, Jonathan Groff, Ben Aldridge, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Kristen Cui, Abby Quinn and Rupert Grint.

‘It’s time.’

There’s always the mystery, the waiting for the twist with M. Night Shyamalan movies – here, it felt like Shyamalan holding his nerve while adding touches, echoes of his previous films: the creaking of trees as the wind shifts through them while the characters wait and watch to see what monster will slowly come into view.

Instead of monsters, four people emerge. But it’s Leonard (Dave Bautista) who first introduces himself to young Wen (Kristen Cui). She’s catching crickets.

‘I’m just going to learn about you a little,’ she says.

Leonard helps. He’s good at catching crickets.

They’re going to be friends.

Until his three colleagues show themselves: Sabrina (Nikki Amuka-Bird), Adriane (Abby Quinn) and Redmond (Rupert Grint).

They’re holding weapons made from axes and sledge hammers.

Wen gets scared and runs back to the cabin, back to her two dads, Daddy Andrew (Ben Aldridge) and Daddy Eric (William Ragsdale). They’re a loving family. Andrew and Eric promise each other to always be together, no matter what.

So when Leonard and his colleagues tell them they have to make a terrible choice to stop the apocalypse, they will always choose their family.

Even if the intruders say they have the most important job in the world.

Are they ‘Jehovah witnesses?’ asks Ben.

Knock at the Cabin is a serious film, with brutal and bloody moments. The opening of sketches of crows and screaming faces. But the tension is offset with light moments like these doomsayer’s wielding weapons being possibly Jehovah witnesses.

Not laugh at loud funny, but light.

The impending doom and the bloody is also a contrast to flashbacks to family: the love, the honesty; when Andrew and Eric first met Wen.

It’s genuinely sweet and adds weight to the choice they refuse to make.

The pacing of the story shows restraint making this one of Shyamalan’s better quality films.

It’s a deceptively simple structure, most of the film set within the cabin, that builds just the right amount of tension while playing with expectation.

The delivery was there to support the idea of the story: not too funny, nor too violent, or too caught up in the drama of the family, just light touches to suspend the reality of the extreme premise of ordinary people faced with the idea of the world ending.

M3GAN

GoMovieReviews Rating: ★★★

Rated: M

Directed by: Gerard Johnstone

Story by: Akela Cooper & James Wan

Screenplay by: Akela Cooper

Produced by: Jason Blum, James Wan

Executive Producers: Allison Williams, Mark Katchur, Ryan Turek, Micael Clear, Judson Scott, Adam Hendricks, Greg Gilreath

Starring: Allison Williams, Violet McGraw, Ronny Chieng, Brian Jordan Alvarez, Jen Van Epps, Lori Dungey and Stephane Gameau-Monten.

‘She doesn’t look confused. She looks demented.’

I’m still trying to figure-out how I feel about this film, M3GAN.

There was certainly a lot of laughing: laughing at the cheese of this very realistic, 4-foot doll, Model 3 Generative Android, otherwise known as, M3GAN.

The doll character is made up of: human actor, VFX, animatronics and puppetry.

It was hard to take her seriously.

The premise of the film follows young Cady (Violet McGraw) when her parents are killed in a car accident, her guardian now her aunt Gemma (Allison Williams) who happens to work for a toy company, Funki as a roboticist.

The introduction of the film features her creation of virtual pets with what looks like false teeth.

She also has a prototype of a doll with a learning algo, so her responses come across as spontaneous, so the doll, M3GAN is more like a friend and protector than a toy.

And a perfect addition and substitute for all the parenting responsibilities that Aunt Gemma just doesn’t have time or the inclination for.

Left with the life-like doll who listens and protects, Cady becomes attached because M3GAN will protect her. No matter what.

It’s hard not to make comparisons with the reboot of, Child’s Play (2019), where the life-like Buddi doll doesn’t get possessed or start off being evil, but becomes a serial killer by mimicking what people do; by doing what he thinks his best buddy Andy wants him to do.

But here, the horror was downplayed leaning more into the creepy; but for me, the creepy came off as weird. But weird, and funny.

Hence my confusion.

Wan, producer and co-story creator says of screenplay writer, ‘‘Akela’s so smart, savvy and good at structure; she knew exactly the movie that I wanted to make. She is not afraid to push things that others might deem ridiculous or over-the-top. She understands that you must lean into concepts that might be a bit more farfetched to stand out from the crop of recent horror films.’

That push allowed some genuinely funny moments with the satire dripping from the broody look of, Cole (Brian Jordan Alvarez), assistant designer of virtual pets with false teeth (hilarious!); to that wonderful dark humour: ‘She’s not just surviving, she’s thriving,’ said by Funki CEO (Ronny Chieng) of Cady, now attached to the demented killer doll that is M3GAN.

It’s not all satire, with some foundational thought about attachment theory and the bonding arch of aunt and niece.

But what I really liked about Child’s Play was the techy aspect – there was no real attempt here except the read of facial expression to calculate emotional levels like fear, anxiety, trust, etc.

Director Johnstone notes, ‘We also had some wonderfully smart people weigh in on the script, such as Alex Kauffmann from Google. Through that process we were able to understand how these machines worked and pepper scenes with insights and verbiage that gave them legitimacy and unique perspective.’

I guess…

Overall, M3GAN was a fun watch that improved in the second half of the film.

There was a full circle to the story, of sorts, that was a little silly and definitely weird, with splashes of dark humour that outshone the scary.

I’m still chuckling about the cop explaining the discovery of a ripped-off ear and then apologising because he really shouldn’t laugh.

Nat’s Top 10 Movies for 2022

Another strange one for me this year. I haven’t been able to live in my home for the past three months, having to for-go screener reviews. My troubles are small, I know. And I hope that each and everyone is looking after themselves and keeping safe. The escapism of being emersed in the world of cinema has and will always be a sanctuary with some true gems this year, lifting and provoking thoughts about all the important stuff. There is more to life than the ongoing leak into my ceiling!

So, my Top 10 for 2022 it’s all about the layers of living this life – the depths of what’s hidden underneath, the most satisfying viewing when a story surprises, when the film comes full circle to, understand the question and the corresponding answer from the characters. This year, it was about understanding the why of the characters. That’s what kept me coming back, to fascinate, starting with:

10. Men ★★★★

Controversial, divisive, ambitious and thought-provoking in a beautiful setting that spoke of poetry; a backdrop to the journey of understanding, ‘men.’

9. Official Competition ★★★★

An unexpected journey that’s witty and enlightening. A satire with a criminal heart.

8. The Black Phone ★★★★

The pacing of this adaptation of Joe Hill’s short fiction piece led the way to a mysterious piecing of a dark puzzle that had me cheering for this supernatural thriller.

Special mention here of, Smile that I watched but didn’t review – was my best current release for Halloween viewing.

7. The Innocents ★★★★

A unique and poetic film about children who gain supernatural powers.

6. Three Thousand Years of Longing ★★★★

Beautiful on screen and thought-provoking – a classic tale that made the romance between a Djinn and human, relatable.

5. The Fabelmans ★★★★☆ 4.2

I kinda fell in love with The Fabelmans because there was something genuine in the feeling, the characters rounded-out without slapping the face with it.

4. Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore ★★★★1/2

There’s a perfect play of darkness and light as the story starts digging deeper: it’s funny, sometimes confronting, it’s explosive, dramatic and heart-warming.

I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next.

3. Fire Of Love ★★★★1/2

A fascinating documentary that’s both exciting and poetic, romantic and philosophical.

An experience that I enjoyed from the start to its poignant ending.

2. Everything Everywhere All At Once ★★★★1/2

Added to the Kung Fu fighting and humour there’s also a good foundation to the family drama so I had a good giggle, got a little teary, and was pleasantly surprised by edgy concepts held together with the use of chapters to give the movie structure.

If you’re reading this review, you’re more than likely going to go watch it and I highly recommend it: go watch it.

1. The Forgiven ★★★★1/2

Based on the novel written by Lawrence Osborne, the complicated idea of this abrasive Englishman willing to leave with the nomadic father of the boy he has just killed is the beginning of the unpacking of his complicated nature.

I’m a huge fan of John Michael McDonagh’s previous films, greatly enjoyed and included in my, ‘If you haven’t watched, you’re in for a treat,’ list: ‘The Guard (2011) and Calvary (2014) and like these previous films, The Forgiven is a quality film that will stay with you.

The Fabelmans

GoMovieReviews Rating: ★★★★☆

Rated: M

Directed by: Steven Spielberg

Written by: Steven Spielberg & Tony Kushner

Produced by: Kristie Macosko Krieger p.g.a, Steven Spielberg p.g.a, Tony Kushner p.g.a

Executive Produced by: Carla Raij, Josh McLaglen

Starring: Michelle Williams, Paul Dano, Seth Rogen, Gabriel LaBell and Judd Hirsch.

‘Movies are dreams.’

I think we can all safely assume, The Fabelmans is based on Steven Spielberg’s life.

Co-writer and director, I thought it was risky trying to get the right perspective to make a film about your own life. Yet, I couldn’t help but be charmed by this movie.

Put together over 16 years of interviews and ‘intense conversations and writing sessions that Spielberg only half-jokingly likens to “therapy,” Spielberg with playwright and screenwriter, Tony Kushner, ‘turned the defining experiences of his childhood into the fiction of The Fabelmans.’

Spielberg says, ‘Everything that a filmmaker puts him or herself into, even if it’s somebody else’s script, your life is going to come spilling out onto celluloid, whether you like it or not. It just happens. But with The Fabelmans, it wasn’t about the metaphor; it was about the memory.’

Opening in 1952, we see young Sam (Gabriel LaBelle) taken to his first moving picture.

He’s terrified.

His mother, Mitzi Fabelman (Michelle Williams) is enthusiastic.

His father, Burt Fabelman (Paul Dano) decides explaining the mechanics behind the film will make the watching less scary.

The Greatest Movie Ever Made is kinda scary for a kid, with train crashes and smashed cars flying through the air.

The Fabelman’s is a little hammy, with a forced brightness at the introduction.

Yet Sammy’s obsession with film starts right here. In understanding and recreating that train wreck. To regain control.

What starts with a 50s disposable charm, becomes something more.

It’s a coming-of-age film but also shines a light on the parents: the difficulties of marriage, of being an individual, of being free. Of knowing yourself.

It’s cheesy, funny, edgy and brilliant in the way the characters are revealed; the timing and sometimes raw emotion eased into existence so this family of: genius father, artistic mother, always-along-for-the-ride best friend Bennie (Seth Rogen), the three sisters and film making obsessed son, begins like a carbon copy to become an ocean. All to the music of Mitzi playing piano, flamboyant 50s jive, or the orchestral soundtrack of a film made by the young Sam, his eye always there, his understanding of effects learned like a revelation, his ability to draw emotion from his young actors made like an understanding of his own.

The whole drama of the film crept up on me, with small pops of humour like luggage falling from the back of a trailer or Uncle Boris (Judd Hirsch) home to grieve his dead sister (Sam’s grandmother), telling Sam, ‘She was your grandmother, so tear your clothes and sleep on the floor.’

I write notes during a movie to help keep track, to remember for my review later. And sometimes, when it’s a good movie, it sounds like this:

Moving pictures

Sleeping with an oscilloscope

Jesus is sexy

Shopping trollies spinning by

Everything happens for a reason

Something real not imaginary

Arizona

Metaphoric filming of a family falling apart

Thinking like an engineer

Movies are dreams you never forget

The audience clapping at the ending.

I kinda fell in love with The Fabelmens because there was something genuine in the feeling, the characters rounded-out without slapping the face with it.

And the audience clapping at a preview screening? That’s a rare treat.

Blueback

Rated: PG

Directed by: Robert Connolly

Written by: Robert Connolly

Based on the Book Blueback by: Tim Winton

Additional Writing: Tim Winton

Composer: Nigel Westlake

Produced by: Liz Kerney, James Grandison and Robert Connolly

Executive Producers: Andrew Myer, Robert Patterson, Eric Bana, Joel Pearlman, Joanna Baevski, Ricci Swart, Lorraine Tarabay, Nicolas Langley, Hayley Ballie, James Baillie, Michele Turnure-Salleo, Arthur Humphrey

Starring: Mia Wasikowsk, Radha Mitchell, Ilsa Fogg, Liz Alexander, Ariel Donoghue, Clarence Ryan, Pedrea Jackson, Eric Thomson, Eddie Baroo and Eric Bana.

‘I’ll keep him safe forever.’

Abby grew up in the water. She lived on the coast with her mother who fought every day to save Longboat Bay (filmed on the coast of Western Australia, Bremer Bay) from overfishing, dredging, destruction.

We’re introduced to the underwater world with a classical soundtrack (Nigel Westlake), the world of light through the blue water reflecting off a school of fish swimming, a stingray, a turtle. It’s majestic.

But with the discovery of bleached coral and Dora (young mother, Dora played by Radha Mitchell) chaining herself to bulldozers in protest, I thought I was heading into the doom and gloom of a bleak conservationist movie. So that underwater world took on a sinister aspect.

It’s a slow start.

Based the Tim Winton book, Blueback, there’s the classic Aussie way of life that threads the story of Blueback together: the school drop-off, the lovable Aussie larrikin Mad Macca (Eric Bana).

The coast, the water, the beach, the marine life is such a large part of being Australian there’s a reason we want to keep it, to protect it.

To give the marine life focus, Abby (teenage Abby played by, Ilsa Fogg) discovers a huge Blue Groper she names, Blueback.

He’s old and wise but he comes out of his underwater cave to play because he feels safe with her. And Abby will do anything to protect Blueback.

See below for more information about the beautiful and fascinating Blue Groper.

Fish in focus – Western Blue Groper | Western Australian Museum

The film evolves with flashbacks to Abby’s childhood (Ariel Donoghue as young Abby), growing up to a teenager with her mum. Born to be in the water, Abby becomes a professor (Mia Wasikowska as adult Abby) of marine biology, to continue to protect the wildlife she loves. Like Blueback.

‘Your home is dying, and I don’t know how to help.’

But there’s more to the tale than the message of how important it is to save our oceans, the story’s also about growing up, about home and what it means to be born with the ocean in your blood.

I couldn’t help but become attached to the life on the screen.

I admit to getting teary. In a good way.

Yes, it took a while to get into the story but there’s a difference here because instead of a bleak climate change message, I left the cinema feeling good. Feeling, hopeful. And we all need a bit of hope these days.

Puss In Boots: The Last Wish

Rated: PG

Directed by: Joel Crawford

Story by: Tommy Swerdlow and Tom Wheeler

Screenplay by: Paul Fisher and Tommy Swerdlow

Produced by: Mark Swift, p.g.a

Starring: Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek Pinault, Olivia Colman, Harvey Guillén, Samson Kayo, Anthony Mendez, Wagner Moura, John Mulaney, Florence Pugh, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Ray Winstone.

‘Puss In Boots is never afraid.’

He’s a fearless hero loved by all, most especially himself.

Puss (Antonio Banderas) has nine lives. But how many times has Puss in Boots died?

Thinking back there’s the card cheating death, the I can fly death… To name a few. He thinks, four?

No, it’s eight.

And now with a bounty on his head, nothing new, there’s a red-eyed wolf (Wagner Moura) tracking him that actually stands a chance at defeating the, until now charmed, Puss.

For the first time, this fearless ginger cat that can sing, dance and wield a sword like the best of them, feels his fur rise.

The red-eyed bounty hunter can smell his hear.

Puss in Boots, for once in his many lives, is afraid.

The Last Wish is another colourful explosion from DreamWorks; a side story to the Shrek Universe, the film is also introduced as a fairy tale.

And like the Shrek films, it’s a fairy tale with a difference: Goldilocks now Goldi and her three bears, Little Jack Horner now Big Jack Horner. Although, he still tastes pies by using his big thumb.

And then there’s the wishing star that falls from space to the earth.

To find the star is to find one last wish (hence the title) to be granted by the one who finds the star.

Everyone wants that wish.

Except for Perrito (Harvey Guillén). He’s a deranged chuahua who’s ridiculously happy with his lot in life when he really shouldn’t be.

Then there’s the old flame of Puss, Kitty Softpaws (Salma Hayek Pinault). She has her reasons.

And of course, Puss, who for the first time appreciating that his life may end, wants to wish to start his nine lives all over again.

That’s the foundation and running thread through the story – to be happy with what you have, to enjoy the one life given.

It’s all a bit sweet, Perrito, AKA the wanna-be-therapy-dog, hilarious.

But the humour didn’t always hit the mark for me.

There’s some adult moments with Puss not wanting to be a lap cat, his descent into the domesticated life of a pet illustrated to the soundtrack of, ‘The Doors’, This is The End.

And that red-eyed bounty hunter is genuinely creepy. In a good way.

The trio of SoftPaws, Puss and Perrito has a good dynamic to get through the challenges on their quest for that last wish; so the story although simple at times worked and sometimes not.

The twist of the traditional fairy tale characters didn’t always tickle: Goldi (Florance Pugh) and her three bear crime family just didn’t get there; although sweet, it was all a bit annoying.

My nephew and I agree on 3 1/2 stars: a good movie overall with explosive animation and not always funny bits.

Bones and All

Rated: MA15+

Directed by: Luca Guadagnino

Screenplay by: David Kajganich

Based on: Bones & All by Camille DeAngelis

Produced by: Luca Guadagnino, Theresa Park, Marco Morabito, David Kajganich

Cinematography: Arseni Khachaturan

Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Taylor Russell, Mark Rylance, Chloë Sevigny, Michael Stuhlbarg, Madeleine Hall, David Gordon Green and André Holland.

‘I didn’t mean to scare you.’

Bones and All is more drama than horror, where the focus is on the ordinary to make the monsters more believable.

Maren (Taylor Russell) is like any other teenager: she makes friends at school, plays piano, her dad (André Holland) sets a curfew. He locks her in at night.

That’s the first clue that something’s not quite right.

Then at a girls-night-in, Maren tears the flesh from the finger of her new friend. And it’s time to move on. Again.

Maren is an eater.

She’s pretty good at being on her own. When she goes in search of her mother (Chloë Sevigny), she finds out there’re other eaters out there. And they can smell if there’s another one around.

That’s when she meets Sully (Mark Rylance). With a matchstick in his mouth and a feather in his hat, he’s hard to miss.

Lee (Timothée Chalamet) is also an eater. But he doesn’t eat human flesh in his y-fronts like Sully. He dosses around, eats because he has to; and the rest of the time, he tries to be his normal self.

Lee’s the friend Maren never knew she could have.

They’re kinda sweet together. In between the eating.

There’s a strange poetry to the filming of Bones and All (cinematographer, Arseni Khachaturan), with shots like a tableau to illustrate moments of Lee and Maren’s journey: shots of blood, daisies in a glass jar, the empty rooms of a sanitised house, a beaded necklace left under a bed.

It’s quiet to make those moments poignant but also makes the journey slow and dry at times.

This is offset with the layering of Maren’s father, Frank’s voice on a cassette, telling her story; added together with flashbacks to nightmares as Maren and Lee struggle to be who they are, to be eaters. To eat people to live or the only other alternatives, suicide or being locked up.

Maybe love will save them.

It’s a point of difference, director Luca Guadagnino (some of his previous films: A Bigger Splash (2015) – loved it, Call Me by Your Name (2017) – award winning, and Suspiria (2018) – which I also enjoyed) giving the film a tone of normality; making the story about love, about the journey, about the ordinary, about the monsters.

With all the different threads and strangely quiet tone, it just didn’t quite pull together for me.

All the story’s there, but the tone didn’t hit quite right.

I enjoyed hearing the tapes from Maren’s father talking about her backstory, her origin more than the drama of it.

The film was made to make the eaters more human with a love story and family drama. They just happened to eat people – ‘how dare you make this harder.’

And we never find out why.

She Said

Rated: M

Directed by: Maria Schrader

Produced by: Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner

Executive Produced by: Brad Pitt, Lila Yacoub, Megan Ellison, Sue Naegle

Based on the New York Times Investigation by: Jodi Kantor, Megan Twohey and Rebecca Corbett and the Book, She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey

Screenplay by: Rebecca Lenkiewicz

Starring: Carey Mulligan, Zoe Kazan, Patricia Clarkson, Andre Braugher, Jennifer Ehle with Samantha Morton and Ashley Judd.

‘He took my voice that day, just when I was starting to find it.’

It’s sobering to remember back to the times before the #MeToo movement, the moment when women found a voice to say, enough.

And the spark that began that conversation, to begin to unpack the silence around the systemic abuse of women and the system that protected those that thought it was OK to sexual abuse women was the New York Times investigative journalists, Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor.

Based on the book, She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement, and the article written by the two journalists, Twohey and Kantor, ‘Harvey Weinstein Paid Off Sexual Harassment Accusers for Decades’ (2017), She Said the film, shows the events leading up to publication; the interviews with women silenced by pay-offs and shame and coverups.

Back to when Rose McGowan spoke, no, shouted what needed to be said, to try to fight the machine built to protect abuses while ignoring the abused or even inflicting more punishment on those who dared to speak out.

And so the silence continued.

Reminiscent of Spotlight (2015), the film follows Twohey and Kantor as they work through the research: the meetings, making calls, the reviewing with senior editors, the back and forth – have they got a story here? Are the rumors true? Will anyone go on the record against Harvey Weinstein?

As the executive running two of the biggest names out there, Miramax and the Weinstein Company, Weinstein was able to intimidate and silence survivors with settlements and non-disclosure agreements for decades.

But after an article in the New York Times was posted about the claims of abuse against Bill O’Reilly leading to O’Reilly being fired from Fox News (in 2017), they could say, as investigative journalists, their article made a difference. They were heard and when advertisers started to withdraw from Fox News, the powers that be were forced to take action.

And from that perspective, perhaps there was more to these rumors, making the story of Weinstein’s abuse was worth pursuing.

It’s an emotive story but shown through the clear-eyes of the journalists putting the story together.

Director Maria Schrader says. ‘It’s a very dramatic story, with strong characters up against steep odds and a powerful antagonist, crisscrossing the globe and jumping back and forth in time. This material was so rich to begin with, the task was teasing out its particulars, not heightening or overdramatizing what was already there.’

The abuse isn’t shown in the film, as Schrader notes, ‘I am not interested in adding another rape scene to the world,’ she continues. ‘We’ve had enough of them.’

Instead, the damage is shown by seeing a young Irish girl, 1992, excited to become part of the movie business as a runner, to flash forward to 2016, to see that same girl running down a busy street in New York with tears streaming down her face.

After so many pieces of the story filtering through the news over the years, it was interesting to see the linear picture, to see the story of Weinstein’s downfall and the beginning of a movement that literally changed the world.

I found the leads, Zoe Kazan and Carey Mulligan as the journalists, Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey in the film likeable, relatable; scary how the stories are relatable. And including Ashley Judd as herself (I’m a big fan of Judd and this just makes me admire her more) in the film and the audio taped while a wire was used to catch Weinstein in the act made an emotive storyline a powerful one.

Not a film I would normally enjoy watching, but there’s a careful constraint here, so the story can be heard rather than turning the audience away.

Mrs. Harris Goes To Paris

Rated: PG

Directed by: Anthony Fabian

Based on the Novel by: Paul Gallico

Screenplay by: Carroll Cartwright, Anthony Fabian, Keith Thompson, Olivia Hetreed

Produced by: Xavier Marchand, Guillaume Benski, Anthony Fabian

Starring: Lesley Manville, Isabelle Huppert, Jason Isaacs, Anna Chancellor, Lambert Wilson, Alba Baptista, Lucas Bravo, Rose Williams.

To make the invisible, visible.

It’s 1957 London – it’s foggy. Mrs. Harris (Lesley Manville) holds a package.

‘What’s it to be Eddy?’ She asks of the package, of her husband who’s been missing since 1944. ‘Good news? Or bad news?’

It doesn’t matter what a flip of a coin will determine. Mrs. Harris will always want to believe in the good.

One of her clients she cleans for, a want-to-be actress named Pamela Penrose (Rose Williams) tells her,’ You’re an angel. What would I do without you?’

Mrs. Harris wants for nothing; and puts up with a lot. She spends her time with best friend, Vi (Ellen Thomas), whom she met while building planes during the war.

Then while cleaning for Lady Dant (Anna Chancellor), Mrs. Harris sees it. The dress. The camera focusses on her face of wonder, the world around her a blur as she takes the lilac dress, handling the beading, her face glowing. It’s a Christian Dior, Lady Dant explains. ‘When I put it on, nothing else matters.’

Mrs. Harris dreams.

Then when life seems like it’s never going to get any better, she wins the Pools. That’s when she decides she does want something: she wants a Christian Dior dress, from Paris, for 500 quid.

Mrs. Harris Goes To Paris is superficially a lighthearted tale, showing the very best of human nature, while also exploring Sartre’s philosophy of existentialism in, Being and Nothingness (1943).

The theme of perception and nothingness is introduced when Mrs. Harris meets French model, Natasha (Alba Baptista) who’s found to be reading Sartre, who also wants to be seen, not in a wonderful Christian Dress, but as someone more than a pretty face. It’s that invisible being made visible thread that drives the film so yes, it’s about a woman wanting a beautiful dress but more than that, she deserves to be seen.

And the Parisians take Mrs. Harris and her down-to-earth humour and niceness and honesty into their hearts.

Because she’s a wonder, with cash to spend on a Haute Couture dress.

They love her for it.

She’s reminded, ‘Remember in France, the Worker is King.’

All except the manageress of the House of Christian Dior, Claudine Colbert (Isabelle Huppert) who resists the indelible Mrs. Harris.

Dior is exclusive.

There had to be some challenge to the story of the English cleaner who charms her way into the exclusive House.

I admit I got teary at times, mostly when Mrs. Harris was misunderstood or not seen, for being too nice but then to be understood, to bring the lightness up again; the film’s about an intelligent, honest and kind woman wanting to feel beautiful, to be acknowledged. And that always strikes a chord.

Yes, it’s a little frothy, the wonder in Mrs. Harris’s face as she swoons at the Dior dresses, but the dresses are beautiful and there’s a consistent dry humour that balances the sweetness.

This is a delightful watch with some thought-provoking moments if you’re looking for it, that lifts.

Bros

Rated: MA15+

Directed by: Nicholas Stoller

Written by: Billy Eichner & Nicholas Stoller

Produced by: Judd Apatow p.g.a, Nicolas Stoller p.g.a and Josh Church p.g.a

Executive Produced by: Billy Eichner and Karl Frankenfield

Score: Marc Shaiman

Starring: Billy Eichner, Luke Macfarlane, Guy Branum, Miss Lawrence, Ts Madison, Dot-Marie Jones, Jim Rash, Eve Lindley, Monica Raymund, Guillermo Díaz, Jai Rodriguez and Amanda Bearse.

‘Hey, what’s up?’

It’s a classic Grindr introduction. And all that’s required to hook-up.

But it’s not a relationship.

Bobby (Billy Eichner) doesn’t want a relationship. He’s independent, has his own Podcast and is an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community.

Bobby’s been around, he knows what gays are like: ‘I support them, I don’t trust them.’

Then he meets the super-hot, ‘grown up boy scout’, Aaron (Luke Macfarlane).

He doesn’t want a relationship either.

‘I hear your boring.’

‘Cool.’

They’re getting to know each other.

Directed by Nicholas Stoller (think, Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008) and Get Him to the Greek (2010)), Bros has the usual romcom formula, including the classic romcom run.

In the Q&A post screening at the Melbourne Premiere, yep, I was there. It was fun. Nicolas explains the decision behind the making of the film, ‘That it be honest, have a happy ending, and be really funny.’

And Bros has all those things.

Worth noting here that the entire cast in Bros is LGBTQ+ – an achievement Eichner noted in the discussion and highlighted how it was difficult for actors to land a role with their sexual orientation stating most gay roles were played by straight actors.

So there’s a genuine focus on the LGBTQ+ community in the film.

The film’s one of the deeper explorations into a gay relationship that I’ve seen, not being gay but being in a gay relationship – or, pretending not to want the relationship, the insecurities. Like it’s just the beginning to know who they’re supposed to be in a relationship.

It gets emotional, exploring topics I hadn’t really thought about before like injecting testosterone to look good and why are you complaining because you like me looking this way?

And there’s a fair bit of gay sex. Not so graphic to be porn, but enough to see the enthusiasm. And the feeling of lying on the warmth of another human’s chest.

I admit I didn’t get all the jokes or jargon. But there were plenty of moments that provoked a good belly laugh, appealing to my dry sense of humour – like Aaron and Bobby having a serious conversation while a guy tries to park his rent-a-bike in the rack, right in between the couple.

The look on the face. It just tickles.

Billy Eichner is great as Bobby: he’s dramatic and funny in his anger and love and emotion. Aaron describes Bobby as getting angry at things is your brand. Which is apt. And it has to be said, Luke Macfarlane as Aaron is hot. I’m sure he appeals to many all over the Kinsey scale.

There’s just a bit too much emotional drama for me, not because it was about a gay couple, it was actually refreshing to explore the different tone and issues to unpack surrounding a same sex couple; I just enjoyed the comedy more than the serious moments.

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