Short Reviews #23 

The Good Shepherd
The Good Shepherd (2006)
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Well fashioned but very cold fictional look at the inner workings of the early days of the CIA. Robert De Niro steps back behind the director’s chair for a second time with much authority and control over the rather complicated subject matter and screenplay. This film feels very much like a cold war novel brought to life, with fear and espionage playing effectively throughout. The film runs close to 3 hours and when the main character is pretty much emotionally detached throughout, it tests your willingness to sustain involvement. But I guess that’s what De Niro is trying to say about members of the CIA – that patriotism takes precedent over everything else in life and how it affects the lives of family. Matt Damon plays a decent enough everyman in an ultra low-key performance. Angelina Jolie, Michael Gambon, Alec Baldwin, John Turturro, William Hurt and De Niro all provide excellent support along the way, despite their limited screen time. And it was nice to see Joe Pesci back on screen after an 8 year absence. If you like your thrillers low key, intelligent and you have a lot of patience, you’ll find The Good Shepherd extremely rewarding.

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0
 
Wednesday, January 31 2007
 
Film Review
 

Don’t Judge A DVD By Its Cover 

Children of Men Comparison
Case in point. The Children of Men Australian (and UK) DVD cover. I reviewed this film a little while back and it disappeared from movie screens incredibly fast. But this godawful cover design really promotes the film as B-grade, throwaway entertainment. I’m sure all the effort the filmmakers put into the immense visual detail of the film is heavily disgarded when someone who walks into their video store, knowing very little about the film, puts it down because it looks cheap and nasty.

And I’m not just saying this because I’m a designer myself but if you look at the big picture in terms of what people will rent/buy, I guarantee this cover will get overlooked by something more professionally packaged than this. Why they didn’t just use the poster art which is a hellva lot more interesting and eye grabbing than the final result. Yes it’s pretty clear someone in their marketing department isn’t doing a very good job.

Apart from all this, I highly recommend you at least rent the film and hope a better DVD comes long in the future. If anything, the DVD reveals how they did the amazing long takes and visual effects in the film.

 
 
5
 
Monday, January 29 2007
 
Film General
 

Kick, Push - Lupe Fiasco 

Lupe Fiasco
Lupe Fiasco
After hitting an amazing BBQ on Australia Day afternoon, I headed down to St Kilda to check out Lupe Fiasco at the Prince of Wales. The place was pretty packed, I arrived a little late and surprisingly no photo pit. I hate having to make my way to the front of the punters with no photo pit for easy access but most were cool to let me take a few snaps for a couple of songs and then get out of their way.

I watched about half of the gig before heading back out to a party but I doubt anyone who was there was disappointed. I didn’t see Jill Scott at all during the first half but if anybody was there (or at the BDO shows), maybe you can shed some light on that info?

 
 
2
 
Monday, January 29 2007
 
Music General
 
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