Film Freak 2014 - Are we Officially Dating?

Or in the rest of the World known as "That Awkward Moment". The real only awkward moment is how unfunny this film actually is. Yes Zac Efron is growing into one of the most handsome men ever to live and he keeps his clothes off for a lot of this bro-mance film but even that and equally cute as pie Michael B Jordan (less top) don't save this sinking rom com.

Online it has been slammed however the box office has still done OK.

Look it's a Valentine's film and the last at my look of love and maybe the equal worst (tie with Labor Day) of the season. However Efron's sex scenes place it just behind the recently viewed and loved Endless Love.

Let's take a look at the trailer and y'all can make up your own mind:


Miles Teller does a better job here than The Spectacular Now, but only just, again wasted most of the time, however he really was the shining star from the recently rebooted version of Footloose.

So it's not all bad Zac Efron really is ageing well and Michael B Jordan has a body to die for, so it kept to a tight running time (like Jordan's stomach, mmmmmm) so I will pass this one at 2.5 Stars.

Tomorrow: BALI

Tomorrow the Blog hits holiday (Getaway) mode, it's Bali x2 time. Yes I am off at 10am tomorrow, wish me luck and just you wait for some images.

To my little Jen S good luck in the UK, to all the recent birthdays: HAPPY BIRTHDAY and all my unanswered texts, hello, sorry life will slow down after April 12.

See you all on the other side of the weekend or right here with some holiday antics!

xo

Film Freak 2014 - Wolf Creek 2

The Australian film industry has been a little slow lately and with this film taking the top spot on last week's top ten grossing films there may be more to come. Maybe Wolf Creek 3?

Now I do own the first one on DVD and it really was a first for Australia, a truly terrifying film that made you think twice about travelling to the outback. This second one actually felt a little lazy and a little dull in parts.

Yes it was scary but gore was again replacing suspense and basically there was nothing really new here, so if you think something groundbreaking is going to jump out at you, think again.



I did score up for the last film I reviewed (Endless Love) but this one I am being harsh on as I saw potential and I was so disappointed with the Australian film industry last year. There was so little to choose from and this year I am really hoping for more.

For a number 1 film a 7:10pm session really was not a session of choice for a lot of folk, in the large cinema I saw it in I would say there was no more than 30 people.

Look Ryan Corr gives a good performance and mate let's be honest it's so good you moved on from Packed to the Rafters, you are better than that. I wish Mick Taylor actually could have attacked the Rafters years ago, fuck that show was dull.

John Jarrett again is creepy as fuck but it's not new creepy it's a carbon copy of the original and with a bigger budget and more effects it's just kind of OK.

Ok star rating, it is a bit dull in parts but mostly their is edge of the seat stuff and a girl in the back corner of my session was reduced to tears and her boyfriend looked most embarrassed. So Wolf Creek 2 it's no Wolf of Wall Street, 2.5 pass stars.

Bali - Friday

See you there Rhonda + Ketut

Film Freak 2014 - Endless Love

Nearly at the end of the Valentines Day 2014 films I wanted to catch (see earlier review of Labor Day - oh boy it was a stinker - SPOILER ALERT) and I still need to see the new Zac Efron film.

This one Endless Love featuring the Magic Mike star Alex Pettyfer and relative newcomer Gabriella Wilde. It was very average but very average in a slightly trashy good way, take a look at the lusty trailer below:



So why has it such a terrible score on Rotten Tomatoes (currently sitting at around 14% approval rating) and you know what it is not that bad. I mean Joely Richardson is FAB and does Aussie Rhys Wakefield ever age? He still looks like he is 9. So it is hard to believe when he wants to marry a woman.

Anyway look I saw this in a smaller cinema with a big crowd and the crowd, laughed and made me feel like maybe these moments are a little funny but not laugh out loud moments.

So is it worth your $10? (no one needs to pay more than this - if you have a Telstra or Optus mobile account google $10 films) well actually yes, I can honestly say I enjoyed my 2 hours at the cinema with a nice hot skim latte.

I am going to rank this higher than I would at the end of the year when all the quality films make me a harder scorer. So here we go, Endless Love rates a truly teen loving 3 Stars.

Bring on BALI

Next Friday I will have my bags packed and leaving Sin City behind for 5 days. God I can't wait. So stick around for some holiday tips/posts and general holiday silliness.

I am trying to get back into the swing of regular posts too folks but I have been flat chat this last fortnight, farewells (bye Jen - all the best in the UK), birthdays, visiting Canberra, finishing up another boot camp and keeping it real - sugar free.

Yes another (small) month of no sugar, it's working a treat again and my thoughts and clarity are so much better than when I would indulge in dessert on a nightly basis.

I will keep all my dear readers updated on all things Bali and hopefully I will grab a film this weekend.

Until then happy Hump Day x

Film Freak 2014 - RoboCop

It's basically the male version of a Valentine's Film, i.e. their is no Endless Love story or no real romance, just man vs machine and lot's of guns. And thinking back to the original I never really got this concept, I wasn't as sold (as a child) on RoboCop like I was on say Gi-Joe. However I hear only good things about this film and I also wanted to support young Aussie Abbie Cornish.

After that DREADFUL film Sucker Punch I was hoping Abbie was on the way up and this really was a big improvement. Side note as well Samuel L Jackson's Patrick Novak character really reminded me of Andrew Bolt, scary huh.

And Michael Keaton, man age has not been kind to you, either you never wore sunscreen or you just don't look after yourself, cause mate and I mean MATTTTTEEEE you looked terrible in this film.

OK enough on the ageing of Hollywoods less than elite and Andrew Bolt. RoboCop will a sequel be made? Was the film any good? I reckon less watch the trailer together first:



Oh and PS I also missed the very beginning of this film and I HATE missing the start of films, it's literally one thing that drives me bat shit crazy. However I didn't seem to mind so much yesterday in Gold Class and when my skim latte hold the froth arrived.

Okay I am getting sidetracked like a mother fucker, I had a late departure from work and I was doing maths and my brain is like not coping and my head is bumping like a slut on heat.

Ok so let's just skip to the star rating, it's not going to be the best action film of 2014 and it won't be the worst, so let's just be fair and give it a traditional pass mark of 2.5 Stars.

Film Freak 2014 - Dallas Buyers Club

- Film released in 2013 and up for a bag load of awards.

There are some films that are just wonderful, leave the cinema and need to ring someone and say see this film, NOW! Dallas Buyers Club is one of those films. Matthew McConaughey has done some truly shit work (Fool's Gold, Tropic Thunder & Surfer, Dude to name a few) but this is just great and then Jared Leto, what a fantastic performance.

I have seen so much McConaughey lately, Wolf of Wall Street and the new series on HBO True Detective where he stars alongside Woody Harrelson. And man he is getting better with age.

After losing all the weight and buff of Magic Mike to now being a shadow of his former self he just acts the hell out of this role.

I did really just sit back and enjoy the great acting and great storyline. Dallas Buyers Club is just a special and necessary film, oh so well done and here is a look at what's up for viewers this weekend:



So this weekend if you have a spare two hours this is worth a look in, do yourselves a favour and see the new and improved Matthew McConaughey. Dallas Buyers Club rates a solid 4 shiny heartfelt stars.

So I am like totally loving Girls this season

A year that is well on the way now (how fast is 2014 going???) and the US networks (and our own - last night INXS V Schapelle cray cray!) in full swing of their 2013-2014 TV season and I must say I am less than impressed. Girls is great but Revenge man that shit is on the nose in it's third season, it's so dull and so lame that you would hardly think both shows are in their third year.

Girls is only getting better (and making choice soundtracks) and Revenge just feels like a shit 2014 Melrose Place remake.

The Walking Dead however is also FAB and in it's 4th year. I am so excited to watch the latest episode and True Detective is also finding it's feet. I am also still fond of Shameless although William H Macy kind of needs to leave, he is a bit dull now. No one likes an old drunk loser.

Looking HBO's latest 30 minute gay drama also is one of the worst new shows of the season and if it gets a second series I think it may very well be a miracle. You can't cancel quality shit like Enlightened and get lame gay dramas that are so 2001.

The Following has also packed a mean ass punch with it's opening second season episodes, I am totally all up for it and Arlene from True Blood making an entry was totally ace.

I just wish, wish Australian TV would leave dead reality franchises alone, So You Think You Can Dance was just so bland last night it was no surprise under 500,000 people sat through the rubbish. Biggest Loser is already on the way out and with the 7pm-8:30pm timeslot in this country littered with the Block, MKR and Channel Ten's epic flops it's only a matter of time before The Voice, X Factor all come singing, screaming and dancing back onto our reality driven screens, whilst let's only hope Australia's Got Talent is now well and truly done and dusted.

So there is my TV wrap and don't get me started on the return of Glee. Oh boy that show needs it's sixth season stripped away, I feel bad for Cory but Ryan Murphy seems well over these all singing, all dancing high school drama queens.

Rant, Over x

Film Freak 2014 - Labor Day

- Released at some festivals in 2013, but in the USA & here 2014

So this film has copped a bad rap prior to it's release and it sort of deserves it. The plot is terrible and Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin look kind of creepy together. I mean in the spirit of Valentines Day on Friday you have to give it a bit of a go but really it's sort of average and again the trailer sucked me in and totally tricked me.



Ok if your not as dense as me this might stick out like a sore thumb as a dud but not me. Oh boy, it was a hot day and you know a nice chill out leave the brain at the door and watch Dawson (aka James Van der WHO) try to be a cop with child. Random. One word, random.

So Labor Day with a lead into Valentine's Day a little scary opening weekend there was only 15 people (including me in the cinema) in the session I saw.

I think the future is a little bleak for this film and unless you have seen Her, Philomena, August Osage County, Dallas Buyers Club (preview screenings this weekend) or 12 Years a Salve.

So to the rating, 2 public holiday (when the fuck is the next one???) Stars.

The Weekend is HERE!

Greetings Dear Readers,

Schapelle is free, Beyonce is on my 64 inch TV singing that she is a Grown Woman and the weather is warming up, for the final month of Summer.

A big happy birthday to my wee little Winnie AKA Ninny and advance for my granny next week, bless.

I have neglected both blogs this week due to heaps going on so just a wee quick update. I already have a favourite song for 2014 and it happens to come from my Party Starter Album of 2013 (well sort of), want to know what it is:



And my first holiday for 2014 is now less than three weeks off, yes Schapelle is fleeing Bali and I am heading straight over there.

As for TV oh how good is season 2 of the Following and how good is the new season of Girls? Not to mention Lily Allen has new song #3 on the Soundtrack:



Yes back in 2009 Lily Allen's second release "It's Not Me it's You" was my album of the year, how will she go in 2014? Time will tell.

So keep up with the BLOG and I promise a lot of holiday moments, and to all my readers an advance happy Valentine's Day! XO

Film Freak 2014 - Her

- Film Released in 2013

So I was a bit nervous about this film, I mean I wanted to see it but I wasn't 100% sold, falling in love with Siri (or a more futuristic version) really? Well yes because Samantha has the sexy voice of Scarlett Johansson of course and let's be honest Joaquin Phoenix is not the most attractive lead male in Hollywood.

So Joaquin Phoenix and the voice of Scarlett Johansson is it enough to have you entertained for the 126 minute running time? Yes and a little bit of no. I found myself loving the film sick and then at times I found myself thinking thank god I did the 6:30pm session.

The movie by Spike Jonze is original and is great and Amy Adams and Rooney Mara are great in support roles.



So I am guessing if you have a spare couple of hours (plus trailers and ad's) this could be for you. And speaking of ad's here is a cool one for something heading to Sydney really soon:



So HER it's fun, makes you think for hours after seeing the film and almost maintained my attention for the majority of 2 hours. Her rates three lady stars.

FINALE: The Real Sydney Festival - 2014

So after hitting up Laneway Festival over the weekend, and most of my other guide to Sydney events are coming to a close, you can see a full list here. You can see my review of my Album of the Year winners HAIM over here and at the end of the year I look forward to bringing you the Real Sydney Festival 2015.

I will continue to over the year list and pop up the best and biggest events of the year here and for music related events over at Flashing off the Record.

Until then, it's Tuesday!

R.I.P Today/Tonight

How the fuck can my life continue without there exclusives, there great reporting and cross promotion to other HIT Channel Seven shows? I mean where will the MKR contestants talk about their future ideas, where will X Factor rejects and Beauty & the Geeks end up?

Oh today is a black day, this is just wrong. Tony Abbot, eyes off the ABC I want a fair and just service done here, reinstate Today Tonight back on Seven, this is insane. Australia had a show that was more Aussie than a meat pie and a lamington for dinner on a 40 plus degree day with sweat going down your bum crack.

Oh the tears will flow on my pillow tonight, please Mr Turnball as communication minister this must be overturned. I heart you Helen Kapalos.

1700+ Posts - HELL YEAH

After a few years, 1700 posts Randy Andy's Weak in Review has seen a lot, a hell of a lot. A lot of theatre, a lot of movies, listened to hours and hours of tunes and I am still ready for more films, more music (over on Flashing off the Record) and more views (Alan Jones style).

So what does 2014 behold? Well in 27 days I hit up Bali (again) fully business style though this time, yes Business Class over and back, hell yeah! Way more music lists, music news and all things music over at Flashing off the Record.

Also I am totally up for even more films than in 2013, 2013 saw me see a massive amount of films (some even twice) and this year promises to be the same.

So keep this page bookmarked, follow, get it on your iPhone and unlike Facebook slowing down, I ain't slowing down.

Until tomorrow, happy Lunar New Year (I know if your reading Mr Abbott you wouldn't know what that is so google it and while your at it stay away from the ABC please).

G night x