Oscar only wanted one thing in life: to be great. A master
illusionist in a traveling circus, he dazzles audiences with tricks that leave
you breathless and make you jump out of your seat. But when a storm of doubt
fills a crowd in Kansas, Oscar takes his bag of tricks and trusty hat into a
hot-air-balloon and escapes their grasp leading him into the eye of the storm,
crashing into the realm of a wonderful new land – the magical land of ‘Oz’,
where everything is what it seems.
The Story
Based on L. Frank Baum’s novels, it obviously has to follow
the plot of the original story. Nevertheless for those of you who haven’t seen
it, it bears a resemblance to the 1939 film, The Wizard of Oz, minus the Dorothy, Toto, The Lion, The Scarecrow
and The Tinman. (Seeing as I did not see Wicked,
nor read the novel, I’m not sure how close this is to Gregory McGuire’s
portrayal of the story.) Pretty much, Oscar (pseudonym: ‘Oz’) is caught in a
tornado, like Dorothy, and after saying a desperate prayer to God, he finds
himself in a mystical land called (conveniently), Oz. After landing in Oz, he
finds himself in the middle of a witch war where he is suddenly told that he would be Oz’s saviour from the Wicked
Witch.
Now, for any of you who have ever seen The Wizard of Oz, this storyline is pretty much the same. They took
out the singing and dancing along with the main characters and replaced them
with great special effects and the original supporting characters became the
main characters. I’m serious – they even have Oz characters resembling Kansas
characters like the 1939 film. I can’t really say too much about the story
without telling you guys too much or comparing it to the 1939 film.
Special Effects
I will commend the special effects team for creating a
beautiful Oz. The colours were so vibrant and the images were so sharp that Oz
really was a land that crossed reality and imagination. I can see how some
scenes in the beginning would be perfect in 3D, but I’m still not convinced
with whether or not the rest of the film would have been any different in 3D.
But kudos to the team!
The Cast
James Franco – I
have to be honest and say that this hasn’t been is best performance, but that doesn’t mean he was terrible. I thought
he was brilliant in making the clear distinction when he was acting like Oz and when he was just
Oscar. Obviously, it was clear that Michelle Williams’ characters were suppose to
trigger truth in him, but it was nice to see that Franco made it clear that
when Oz was performing he was not very convincing – dazzling, but not
completely convincing, while Oscar wasn’t performing, he was actually greater
that he saw himself to be, or strived to be.
Mila Kunis – Was a
brilliant Theodora. Out of everyone in the film, she was the most convincing.
Battling between two natures, Kunis’ performance allowed the audience to ask
whether or not she was the Wicked Witch or whether she was who she said she was,
and believes she is – a Good Witch. Kudos to Mila for a brilliant performance.
Michelle Williams
– Playing a blast from Oz’s alternate universe of the girl who got away, it’s
inevitable that the chemistry between Williams and Franco was flawless. She was
an excellent Glinda / Annie and was a great supporting role to Franco as she
took on board the role of the only person who saw through Oscar both as Annie
and as Glinda.
Rachel Weisz –
Much like Kunis, I thought Weiz was a brilliant Evanora. You were constantly
questioning whether or not she was good or evil. Being the King’s right-hand-woman,
you instinctively believe that she is good, but at the same time, something
makes you doubt her. I think she was a brilliant support to Kunis and
opposition to both Williams and Franco.
Overall
There’s nothing really new in this film, story wise, but it
is a beautiful film that leaves you thinking about the deception of life and
whether or not you’ve every been fooled by fancy gifts, kind words or even
dazzling tricks that leave you empty. It also makes you think of your own
reasons in doing and saying things, reminding you that though you may fool the
world, even those who truly love you, the only person you’re really fooling
through and through is yourself.
Although the rain came in small dosages, it was not enough
to dampen the crowd that had been waiting to see the beloved ginger live in
concert. Rachel and I got to the Sydney
Entertainment Centre and the line for the floor area was already arching
its way towards Hay Street. But the night was not about the wet weather, it was
simply about a different kind of rain – the pouring down of cheers, (at times)
tears and ultimately, incredible music.
Guest Reviewer – Getting to Know Rachel
Moiand the Lovely, Rachel
I've been an Ed Sheeran fan
for two marvelous years. I love all of his songs, but I think my absolute favourites are: Wake Me
Up, Kiss Me and Lego House. I
can't choose between the three there is something about each song that I find extremely
beautiful. If I met him in real life, I would tell him how much I truly love
his music.
The Venue – Sydney Entertainment Centre
I mentioned in my video that I was a little shocked that Ed
was playing at such a large-scale arena rather than an intimated theatre
setting that I had imagined. Regardless of my thoughts, Sheeran blew my
expectations and showed everyone in the arena that it didn’t matter the scale
of the venue, the music and the atmosphere is just as good – maybe even better.
I have to say, ‘Kudos!’ to the security at the centre for
their vigilance in keeping everyone on the floor hydrated, safe and well
controlled.
(NB: Guys, if the
centre security is telling to move back and stop being silly please listen and
obey them. They’re doing it for your safety, rather than ruining the fun.)
* Rachel’s Thoughts:I thought the
venue was relatively okay. It would of been better if it was smaller – more
intimate – but he brought the album to life and involved the audience. *
The Support Acts – Gabrielle Aplin and Passenger (aka. Mike Rosenberg)
The support acts undoubtedly set the mood for the show, and
for Ed’s chosen acts, I have to say, they definitely set an incredible vibe for
everyone in the lead up to Ed’s set.
GabrielleAplin started the night beautifully with
her simple acoustic set that left the crowd speechless at times. Unfortunately,
she had to stop mid-song to remind the crowd to calm down a bit so that their
fellow gig-goers would stop ‘passing out in front of her’. Nevertheless, she
continued her song and finished her set with a humble thanks and a beautiful
exit that left the crowd itching for more.
Passenger, unlike
Aplin, decided to test our participation by allowing us to sing along with him
and even commanding us to listen to the Sound
of Silence. We were all excited to hear that he was once a Sydney-sider and
actually used to busk a few streets away a while back, so the set felt more
like meeting an old friend. There was without a doubt a surge of expectation as
Rosenberg came to the end of his set, yet we enjoyed the high that he left us
before Ed hit the stage.
Overall, both Gabrielle Aplin and Passenger were perfect
support acts for the night. I enjoyed both sets and thought they complimented
Ed’s set brilliantly.
* Rachel’s Thoughts:His supporting
acts, Gabrielle Aplin and Mike Rosenberg, were amazing. Gabrielle had very
sweet beautiful voice. Mike was very humorous with his songs he played which
entertained and hyped the audience for Ed. *
The Show – One Man Band
If anyone has seen Ed Sheeran perform, then we all know that
it’s not just about his signature guitar with a ‘+’ drawn unto it, it’s also
about his trusty loop-pedal. Explaining that he ‘hadn’t come around to making a
band’ for his tours, he told us that he was – ideally – his own band.
Hitting the stage with his current single, Give Me Love, the stage resounded with
the epic genius of the musician and lyricist, Ed Sheeran. The moment the first
few strokes of his guitar vibrated throughout the centre the crowd roared in
recognition and excitement, raising their voices in time with the lights that
revealed the beloved ginger-haired artist.
Proceeding with his third single from his debut album, Drunk filled the arena with melodies
that came from both the microphone and the crowd. By the time Ed settled into, U.N.I. the whole arena had their vocal
cords warmed and challenged by the rapping that we were all attempting to keep
up with. My mood was a little dampened by the lady behind me who asked Rachel
and I to sit down because she (was the only one sitting down in her row and)
‘couldn’t see,’ nevertheless, I complied and sat for the rest of the set. Grade 8 demonstrated the amazing
connection between music and graphics as Ed showed us how everything he did
with his guitar made a ripple effect that projected jagged lines on the
Tetris-like screens behind him.
Taking the volume down, Ed requested us to be quiet for the
next song with a story about how a guy was punched at the back of his head at
one of his shows for not complying to the request – just to clarify a fan hit
another fan, Ed didn’t hit his fan. Although there were a few people who almost
got to that point after three ‘universal “shhh’s”’, Wayfaring Stranger captured the silence and turned it into
brilliance, so much so, Ed was able to sing without a the mic and reach the
very back of the arena like an ancient bard reciting his poem to the masses.
Small Bump had us
back singing along which launched an incredible high by the time Ed played his Nina Simone cover, Be My Husband, having us joining in at the chorus, regardless of
our gender. The excitement went up a notch, even if the silence was once again
requested, and we chanted for Gabrielle to come back on stage and join Ed for Kiss Me. The duet was beautiful and gave
the song a deeper meaning as the male and female vocals danced around the arena
in the hush of the crowd.
Setting us up for more fun, Ed said he was ‘so excited that
he was just going to keep adding songs to the set list’ and so with no
complaint for us, he went into Goldrush
with a little addition of Bob Marley’s, Don’t
Worry, Be Happy, just to highlight how much he was enjoying the show. With
a koala thrown unto the stage, Ed decided it was time to take things down again
and serenaded his new friend, Nathan (‘named after the Angry Boys character’), with Wake
Me Up.
But as the set was coming close to its end, we were again
chanting, but this time, it was for Mike. With the crowd still buzzing for
more, we were told to turn the excitement down a little for another duet, this
time one of Mike song’s, My Heart’s On
Fire. Incredible mix of voices left the crowd in awe until, a kangaroo was
thrown on stage and Lego House came
to close the set with voices once again resounding throughout the arena.
The Encore – More Than Enough
I was waiting for You
Need Me, I Don’t Need You all night. I couldn’t wait to see him tear up the
speakers with his incredible loops and his lyrics passionately resonating throughout
the arena. I expect this song to go off due to the scale of the centre and was
so excited to be part of the dramatics that I had seen at the iTunes Festival. After he ended this
song I thought that was it, but when the crowd had settled after the applause
that rose at the end of You Need Me, I
Don’t Need You, we were all gob-smacked in silence as Ed played The Parting Glass that he attached to Give Me Love on his album. At the end of
that song, our applause became roars again as The A Team filled the speakers. The night ended with a unified
melody and a general satisfaction that we had seen greatness that night.
Overall and Rachel’s
Final Thoughts:
* My highlight of the entire
concert was when he sang the end of Wayfaring
Stranger without a microphone; the audience panicked at the shock but
quickly fell silent again. It was very intimate; it felt like a private concert
just for you. For him to sing without a microphone with an audience of 12,000
to hear him loud and clear was incredible. There was nothing I didn't like
about the show. It was absolutely perfect. The concert was purely about the music.
It wasn't fancy it was just about bringing music to life and giving the
audience simple, but perfect show. If I could re-live the concert, I would
absolutely love to see Ed preform Wayfaring
Stranger again. It was phenomenal. Hearing his voice without it being
amplified through out the arena was unbelievable. It felt as if he was singing
it to you and only you. It gave me goose bumps! *
I enjoyed the night and was glad to have shared it with
Rachel. She’s a big fan and the excitement leading up and afterwards was
priceless. One thing I really enjoyed about the show was the fact it was the
first show that made me realise what concerts are about – the music. Not fancy
sets, high-wiring acts or confetti and fireworks – although those great
elements of a great show too, but sitting there, watching one man or woman with
their guitar or piano commanding the attention of a whole arena with their nothing
but their music – phenomenal.
Rehabilitation. It’s one word that many people associate
with ‘troubled’, ‘addicted’, ‘out of control’ and overall ‘defeated’. But for
Pat (Bradley Cooper), rehabilitation is about sorting out the problems;
breaking through the rut that comes with the thrill; taking control of every
situation and excelsior – staying
positive and finding the silver lining.
The Story
It’s about a guy who comes out of his eight-month
rehabilitation plea with the courts and is attempting to find a way to mend his
marriage before it’s too late. Little does he know that everyone, including his
estranged wife, already believes it’s too late. Regardless of what anyone says,
Pat continues his self-made routine to ‘better himself’ to get back into the
good books with everyone he’s done wrong by. He’s find a silver lining in past
situations by doing things in the present for the ultimate silver lining of a
perfect and whole future.
Silver Linings
Playbook is ideally about meeting your goals and proving to those around
you that they can be achieved. It’s also about realising that no matter how far
or how much you run away from the past, the things that got you to the point of
losing control will always come back unless you don’t find a way to deal with it.
Sure, it takes often takes the most unexpected person to see it in you to show
you, but why not take hold of that insight and wake up to the reality that
sometimes, it’s just a case of moving on that matters rather than trying to go
backwards to go forwards.
Overall, as simple and predictable as the movie was, I
enjoyed the process that got them there. In a movie about ‘getting better’ and
‘being better’ you need to appreciate the process of getting to the silver
lining, rather than the problem that stumps you from seeing any hope in the
first place.
The Cast
Bradley Cooper –
Although Mr Cooper did not walk away with an Oscar on Sunday night, I must say his portrayal of a determined,
rehabilitated overcomer was inspiring. I loved that he showed the symptoms of
someone with bipolar but stayed true to his character’s goal of seeing the
better things in life. There was never a point at which he was over the top in
raging-out, but you always saw him attempting to really take control of the
anger. His portrayal really did coincide with overall message of the film.
Jennifer Lawrence
– Well deserving of her Oscar,
Lawrence shows us that same feisty nature that we saw in X-Men. This time around we see her stripped and bear emotionally as
her character, Tiffany, is both the rage that Cooper’s character is attempting
to control and the relief that they’re both looking for. As the leading lady,
she commands every scene as well as beautifully balance the leadership with
Cooper in order to depict both their individual diagnosis and the cure that
binds them together.
Robert De Niro –
Unlike Lawrence’s character, De Niro’s character, Pat Sr., is the portrayal of
simply the diagnosis or a patient that doesn’t want to be cured. Pat Sr. rages
when he wants; fusses over the little things when he wants; is irrational when
he wants; and ideally, is all about wants. He’s the perfect contrast between
the two. If Cooper is control and Lawrence is both equilibrium and unevenness,
then De Niro is rampant.
Overall, the characters in this film are a display of the
collision between control, equilibrium and rampancy. It really showcases that
no person is any more sane or insane than the other. Point is, there’s a silver
lining, and there’s always a game plan on how to get there; it’s hard work, but
in the end, it’s worth it.
Overall
It’s a simple movie about simple people living hard lives.
The only negative aspect that I found was the swearing in it – I mean I saw
that point in it, but they could’ve done without the excessive use of the
‘f-word’. Pre-warning (I mean the rating says it all, but anyway…), this film
does have the characters talking very bluntly about sexual encounters that
their characters have been involved with. Now I say this because some people
walk in and either think nothing of it or freak out about it, so I wanted to
give you guys a heads-up if you’re thinking of seeing it. Mind you, the film
makes it as vague as possible, but it there’s enough description to create an
awkward silence – legit, even in the film – if it wasn’t important for the
story development then I would be bagging it out, but I can see why it’s
important, and like I said, it’s as vague as it can be. Nevertheless, it was a
good film. Not sure if I’d see it again, but I can see why it received it’s
nominations and achievements at last Sunday’s Oscars.
If you're in a relationship or if you're single, everyone has a playlist to herald in the special day. And I hope if you're single your playlist should ISN'T titled, "Forever Alone", it should be titled, "I Am Loved".
So no matter if you're in a relationship or single, I hope this playlist will pump up your Valentines Day!
YOUR LOVE IS A MYSTERY
Hawk Nelson
CRAZY LOVE
Hawk Nelson
ALL FOR LOVE
Hillsong United
THE WONDER OF YOUR LOVE
Hillsong
OUR GOD
Chris Tomlin
***
GIVE ME LOVE
Ed Sheeran
SHE WILL BE LOVED
Maroon 5
FALLING IN LOVE
McFly
LAST FIRST KISS
One Direction
LOVE IS EASY
McFly
And that's it! I hope no matter where you are in the world you're having an awesome Valentine's Day and celebrating it with people that you love the most. Remember, loving someone isn't just for a single day - you should love them the same EVERYday.
It’s 1949 and LA is swarming
with opportunities. For the young and full of hope, it’s the land of endless
promises for fame. For the married, it’s the perfect place to settle down and
build their families. But for Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn), ex-boxer turned
gangster, LA is his kingdom.
War veteran, Sergeant John
O’Mara (Josh Brolin), is adamant that the mistakes good men made in the past
would not be repeated in his future. Fueled with the desire to give his family
the paradise he promised, he takes on the gangster king until the bitter end.
The only problem is, there
seems to be a fine line that separates the gang-lord from the Gangster Squad.
The Story Line
It’s your typical 1950s detective / cop film. Lots of
shooting, car chases, damsels in distress and inevitably, lots of blood.
There’s also that small love story that ties everything down so that the good
guys get their bad guys.
What I like about this film though is the fact that
you begin to question who the good guys are. It questions the ethics of
enforcing the law by breaking the law – even if you are the law. It also
highlights the sacrifices men are willing to make for the good of all men as
well as the lengths that men are willing to take for self-exultation.
All in all, though the storyline followed the formula
of any detective-cop film, it’s brilliance and uniqueness was delivered in the
aspects of human nature that the film chose to emphasise.
The Cast
Sean Penn – His portrayal of Mickey Cohen was brilliant. He played the role
so well that you could hate him as well as love him all at once. For me, I was
both scared and awed by the way he portrayed the gangster king. Scared, because
I personally felt threatened by what he was able to do by just one command; and
awed by the power that he wielded over everyone in the town. Obviously, I
thought Penn’s portrayal was so realistic that I was hoping to see him behind
bars!
Josh Brolin – Brolin’s performance made me hate him more that love him. He was a
great example of that fine-line between good and evil. Although his intentions
were noble, his actions were just as questionable as Cohen’s. Brolin portrayed
O’Mara as the typical shell-shocked war hero who wanted to see bad men go down and
won’t stop until his victims were wallowing in their defeat. His performance
was a brilliant display of good being questioned by evil.
Ryan Gosling – Often
the comic relief in this film, Gosling is nothing short of excellence as he
plays the playful member of the squad. He also plays O’Mara’s right-hand man,
Sergeant Jerry Wooters. Although his character demanded humorous undertones, in
a film so dark it could do your head in at any moment, Gosling was also able to
portray the conscience in a world full of blurry lines.
Overall
Gangster Squad is a beautiful
display of power play and how good and evil can come from one person, depending
on the choices that they make. The whole cast deliver amazing performances and
it’s jam-packed with action that you’d be crazy to blink or shut your eyes to
miss a thing.
NB: This film is
NOT for anyone who hates the sight of blood. It opens with a bloody scene that is not for the faint-hearted.
