Author: James Partridge

Must Watch: Exhilarating New Zealand Sci-Fi Short ‘Mis-Drop’

Posted by | Jun 20, 2014 |

How do you make a believable ‘high-concept’ sci-fi movie on a low budget? Upcoming Wellington director Ferand Peek’s has the answer: “Do it in one shot”. His indie short Mis-Drop is an exhilarating thrill-ride that, when it’s over, makes you want to take it again. Set 300 years in the future, a forensic accountant is reviewing the video stream from a mercenary’s drop-pod which was damaged during a colonial invasion. We join Jason Glen on his first mission, as he is strapped into a coffin-like pod and loaded into a drop-ship like a torpedo, ready to fire. Through his pod-camera, we watch his fear and confusion during the ship’s white-knuckled plummet through the atmosphere of an alien planet. Everything about this short is spot on. It’s a take on the drop ship run from many a sci-fi film, yet it’s fresh and unique. We’re essentially looking at Jason’s face the entire film, yet the cinematography and clever effects make you feel like you’re right in the middle of the action. But it’s the performances that really draw you in. Elliot Travers is superb as the rookie merc – you really believe it’s his first drop – and he is well supported by live actors Maria Walker and Larry Rew. The ensemble voice cast that makes up the rest of the merc troup is great – convincing vets hazing the new...

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Cinema Release Round-Up: 12 June

Posted by | Jun 12, 2014 |

The Jump Street boys are back! But if university hijinks with Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill aren’t your bag, there’s also a lively Irish biopic, some Filipino romance (and, no, not the seedy kind), a Viggo Mortensen thriller, some royal ballet, and King Lear directed by Sam Mendes. The choice is yours! . Opening today: . 22 JUMP STREET……FILM OF THE WEEK USA | 112 minutes | Action, Comedy Directors: Phil Lord and Chris Miller (The Lego Movie, 21 Jump Street, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs) Cast: Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, Ice Cube, Jimmy Tatro, Wyatt Russell, Dave Franco, Jillian Bell, Amber Stevens, Craig Roberts “Infiltrate the dealer. Find the supplier.” The boys are back for more but this time they’re off to Uni, where new friendships not only threaten the case but also their special bromance. Apparently better than the original…and that was pretty damn funny. Distributor: Sony Pictures . GOOD VIBRATIONS UK, Ireland | 100 minutes | Biography, Drama, Music Directors: Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn (Cherrybomb) Cast: Liam Cunningham, Jodie Whittaker, Dylan Moran, Richard Dormer, Killian Scott, David Wilmot, Andrew Simpson, Adrian Dunbar In this biopic, rebellious Terri Hooley makes music not war in 1970s Belfast after opening a record store called Good Vibrations on the most bombed half-mile in Europe – becoming the unlikely leader of a motley band of kids and punks...

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Cinema Release Round-Up: 5 June

Posted by | Jun 5, 2014 |

Fantail. A small bird commonly found in New Zealand? No. A great Kiwi film everyone should see! Also out this week: another Tom Cruise-lead sci-fi blockbuster, a Swiss spy thriller, a love story to make you cry, a Bollywood actioneer, more live opera, and an adrenaline-fueled alpine doco. . Opening today: . FANTAIL……FILM OF THE WEEK New Zealand | 79 minutes | Drama Director: Curtis Vowell (debut feature) Cast: Sophie Henderson, Jarod Rawiri, Stephen Lovatt, Jahalis Ngamotu Tania works the graveyard shift at a service station to save money to take her brother Pi to Surfers and reconnect with their father. But one night a cheeky little bird ruins everything and Tania pays the ultimate price for being a hero. Fell in love with Fantail at last year’s NZIFF. Go see it! Distributor: Curious Films . EDGE OF TOMORROW USA | 113 minutes | Action, Sci-Fi Director: Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity, Jumper) Cast: Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Bill Paxton, Lara Pulver, Jeremy Piven, Charlotte Riley, Jonas Armstrong, Madeleine Mantock A rookie recruit, who’s stuck in a time loop, is forced to repeat his last day of a war with alien invaders…until he meets a highly-experienced soldier who can help him use his temporal displacement to win the war. This look damn good. I hope it delivers on its promise. Distributor: Warner Brothers . HOLIDAY (aka HOLIDAY: A SOLDIER...

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Lense Flare crowned 48Hours Grand National Champion. Watch their winning short ‘Pants on Fire’ here.

Posted by | May 31, 2014 |

Last night in Auckland the Rialto Channel 48Hours 2014 Grand National Champion was crowned. 2007 Champions Lense Flare, with their musical comedy Pants on Fire, took home the top award and a prize pool worth over $60,000. Musical is undoubtedly one of the hardest categories but Lense Flare have picked up both their titles from that category – top effort. Check out their hilarious winning entry: the story a girl (Britta Brandt) who goes to extraordinary lengths to meet her fantasy guy (Johnny Barker) but must keep her rather suspect matchmaking exploits a secret: Over the weekend of the 4-6th of April, more than 700 teams throughout the country embarked on another furious 48 hours of filmmaking. It’s an epic event which carries the mantra “Write – Shoot – Cut – Survive”. 14 of the top regional entries were chosen to compete for national honours – reviewed by an international panel of judges. Hosted by Josh Tompson (of Cash Converters fame), the gala awards included special guest presenters Taika Waititi, Jonny Brugh and Jemaine Clement from the upcoming feature film What We Do in the Shadows. Runner Up prize went to Wellington’s Noise and Pictures for their intense and claustrophobic Rubble. Third place went to A Lesson on Probability from Team Mexico. To watch the national and regional winners, check out the 48Hours screening room – here. Big congrats...

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Cannes 2014: Film Round-Up

Posted by | May 30, 2014 |

My first Cannes Film Festival has come to a close and it was nothing short of incredible. Talk about being a kid in a candy store! Along with immersing myself in the film market, press conferences, functions, event screenings (Pulp Fiction on the beach!) and parties, I got to see so many films that will not come to New Zealand for 6 to 12 months. I have written reviews for some of the best (click here) but thought it would be cool to do a quick round-up of all the films I saw – the ones I’m allowed to talk about anyway – with my initial reaction scores out of 10. I was also fortunate to see a few films from the market but you’re sworn to secrecy…and I really want to be allowed back next year. . Admit One Films of Cannes 2014: . BEST FILM Force Majeure – 9.5/10 . LOVED Charlies Country – 9/10 Foxcatcher – 9/10 Mr Turner – 9/10 Red Army – 9/10 The Salt of the Earth – 9/10 Lost River – 8.5/10 . LIKED Clouds of Sils Maria – 7.5/10 Jimmy’s Hall – 7/10 Leviathan – 8/10 The Rover – 6.5/10 Timbuktu – 8/10 Two Days, One Night – 7.5/10 Wild Tales – 7/10 White God – 8/10 . OK Maps to the Stars – 5/10 The Homesman – 6/10 The Salvation...

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