WOMAN IN GOLD - review

WOMAN IN GOLD

Director: Simon Curtis

Cast: Helen Mirren, Ryan Reynolds, Daniel Brühl, Katie Holmes

Synopsis: Maria Altman, an octogenarian Jewish refugee, takes on the Austrian government to recover artwork she believes rightfully belongs to her family

Well, wasn't this a charming little film. If you don't know the story that this film is based on then my review might have a few spoilers, so just beware. I don't want to ruin it for you, but I might give a few little tidbits away as I'm talking about it. Not on purpose,, but it might just happen, so beware. Now that you've been duly warned, it's time for me to get right into it. 

Helen Mirren plays Maria Altman, a Viennese-born resident of Los Angeles, who fled the Nazi invasion, and lost everything that she held dear. Her family, her home, her family heirlooms, and some very lovely artwork, including a wonderful Klimt painting of her aunt, better known as Woman in Gold. The painting along with numerous others was stolen by the Nazis during the invasion. In 1998, she seeks the assistance of a young lawyer, the son of a long-time family friend and believe it or not, the grandson of composer Arnold Schoenberg. They take on the Austrian government to get back the property that is rightfully hers, a painting that she holds dear not for it's monetary value, but for what it means to her, when she sees the painting, she sees her beloved aunt and all the things she's lost.

Maria and Randy in front of Woman in Gold

There is a vaguely educational feel to the film, and there are some extraordinary flashbacks to Vienna in times pre and post invasion, and some flashbacks to a young Maria and her husband fleeing the invasion, which are not quite as heart-wrenching a I thought they might be, they are more heart-warming.

This film is impeccably directed by Simon Curtis, and the events are well narrated and do take you on the emotional journey of both Maria and Randy (Ryan Reynolds). Randy, who doesn't want to take on the project and then refuses to let go, and Maria, who gives up hope when the obstacles become too big.

A young Maria and her husband Fritz, fleeing Vienna

Mirren and Reynolds really shine in this film, there wouldn't have been many surprises for them, or many liberties they could have taken with their characters, given that this is a true story, but they both do a marvelous job.

The film was nice, and it was well executed and I'm not going to tell you anything else because if you don't know the outcome of this story, then I want you to discover it and enjoy it for yourself. You can do without spending 20-something dollars on it if there's something else you'd rather see, but it's definitely worth a watch.

Maria's aunt posing for Klimt

3 out of 5 for WOMAN IN GOLD

xoxo
The Blonde Bombshell

MAD MAX: FURY ROAD - review

MAD MAX: FURY ROAD

Director: George Miller

Cast: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, Hugh Keays-Byrne

OK, so I'm going to just come right out and say it. I didn't love MAD MAX: FURY ROAD. *pause for gasps of shock and disapproval*  That's right, I said it. Controversial isn't it? Someone even called me un-Australian. I'm pretty sure I'm the only person out there who didn't love it. The first time I saw it, I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was about it that I didn't love. So, I wanted a week and saw it again, but I still felt the same. So I waited another week, read some reviews, spoke to some people and waited for my feelings about it to change. They didn't and I'm still not 100% sure why that is. 

In a start desert landscape where hunamity is broken, two rebels just might be able to restore order: Max, a man of action and of few words, and Furiosa, a woman of action who is looking to make it back to her childhood homeland. 

the chase to bring Furiosa home begins

IMDB makes it sound good right? The trailer looks awesome right? The review are incredible right? Right. All of those things are right. I grew up knowing Mad Max, I loved MAD MAX and back thn I even loved Mel Gibson, I was so excited that George Miller was back with another installment of the franchise. I, like most other people, could not wait until FURY ROAD hit the big screen. Everyone was raving about it, I was buzzing with anticipation. It was clear the rest of western Melbourne was too, because it took me three goes to get into a session at my local cinema. I was so ready, so imagine my surprise when at the end of two hours, I wasn't really sure how I felt or why I couldn't just be like everyone else around me, raving like a lunatic about how awesome it was. 

I saw how great everything was - the casting, the directing, the narrative, the character arcs, the set, the costuming, the special effects. I saw all of that and I loved it. Miller has done an amazing job. Within about 3 minutes, we're in the middle of an intense high speed chase, there's dust storms, explosions and flashbacks to help cast our minds back to why Max is mad. It's glorious, it really is. I have no doubt in my mind that this films is going to bring about some major nominations buzz when the time comes. 

look at that - it's marvellous

So why? Why didn't I like it? Nay, why didn't I love it. I should have loved it. Everything was so on point, I just should have loved it. Upon reflection here's a four things I can come up with that have maybe impacted how I feel about MAD MAX: FURY ROAD; 

1) the hype - there was so much hype, maybe part of me couldn't help but wonder if it lived up to it

2) the goodness - maybe I wanted it to be a little bit less Hollywood blockbuster, and more grungy Australian film

3) the length - some of the chase scenes, although amazing to look out were drawn out - I would have left a bit more on the cutting room floor I think

4) Furiosa - raved about as an incredible feminist heroine, which she was, but in the end men did a bunch of the dirty grunt work, and made the final decision about where to go and what to do next. 

I wouldn't recomend running right out to see it, although because I've taken so long to write my review, you proably already have. I am probably glad that I didn't spend the 20-something dollars on it, although, I would say that it's almost worth it just for the SFX which are bloody phenomenal. Watch it, see what all the fuss is about. I'm not sorry I saw it, I maybe am sorry that I saw it twice though, I should have trusted my gut the first time round. 

2.5 out of 5

xoxo

The Blonde Bombshell