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- These reviews include some giveaways of selected titles. Enter separately as often as you want for as many as you’d like.
- Read Ian's star interviews and other reviews here.
- HOW TO ENTER FOR THE GIVEAWAYS | If there is a giveaway there will be a question at the bottom of the review. Read it carefully and email your answer to ihorner@pnc.com.au with the name of the prize as the subject. Include age if under 18. Include postal address and phone number which may be needed for age verification. Spelling and creativity are important but you must get the answer/s right. Open only to entries from Australia. All winners notified by post, names published on this page. Full terms and conditions at the bottom.
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★ INDEPENDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE | sequel on BD, DVD & download
REVIEW | There was a time when sequels would be timely. Clearly, Roland Emmerich was waiting two decades for digi FX to develop to the point where they’d allow him some real fun. And the effects here are amazing (including an unforgiveable steal from Alien), but he’s left a few things out – like good dialogue, a story you can follow and Will Smith. What was so good about the 1996 original, a naive Saturday-matinee sense of adventure, has been jettisoned for whiz-bang flashing lights, and the film only comes alive when Jeff Goldblum is on screen. Which is much of the time, thankfully – he makes the whole film watchable. It’s very derivative, and not just from its own predecessor; one of the aliens is suspiciously like an outsized BB8. The token senior gay couple do more for stereotypes than inclusion, which is disappointing for the out gay director. And for a world that’s become so united and so at peace in the last 20 years why had they been developing such stupendous sophisticated weaponry, huh? Also back are Bill Pullman, always good, and Judd Hirsch, the late Robert Loggia (the film is dedicated to his memory) and Star Trek’s Brent Spiner. Neighbours alumnus Liam Hemsworth completely fails to register in the youth lead, though not for want of trying, he’s just competing with too much smoke and mirrors. As he did before, Emmerich inserted a localised shot for Aussie audiences – always a nice touch. Flawed fun. Rated M.
Available now in the Apple Store.
On 4K BD, 3D BD, BD and DVD on October 19 (Fox Home Entertainment).
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★ FRANCIS THE TALKING MULE and MA & PA KETTLE | complete DVD boxsets
REVIEW | Nope, there’s nuthin’ new under the sun. The rubber-faced lithe-limbed Donald O’Connor was the sidekick to a talking donkey in a bunch of hit comedies in the Fifties. Legend has it that O’Connor was livid the series was such a hit and he was tied to it. There have been worse roles for actors. Like unemployment. And he’s so good in it. Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride had low-key movie careers until their big-screen sit-com in the Forties and Fifties gave them whole new fame in later life. And both franchises lived on when the big screen had to make way for the burgeoning small screen: Francis spawned Mister Ed, with the mule becoming a horse, and the Kettles spawned The Beverly Hillbillies, and the rest is history. They're still fun to watch with the kids, who’ll be surprised to know their great-grandparents had such screen heroes! Go on, put the Kettles on. G (general audiences), Shock Home Entertainment.
Q | Which greatly loved rain-soaked MGM musical made Donald O’Connor forever famous? (3 DVD boxsets of six Francis the Talking Mule movies and 4 DVD boxsets of six Ma and Pa Kettle movies to win, courtesy Shock Home Entertainment. CONTEST CLOSED
A | Singin’ in the Rain, directed by Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly (who did the dance sequences).
WINNERS | Sarah Ellwood, of Waverley, Tas; Steven Jenkins, of Kearns, NSW; Vanessa Jones, of Eagle Vale, NSW; and Chris Shai-Hee, of Carlingford, NSW.
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★ BEWITCHED: THE COMPLETE SERIES | Series 1-8 In DVD boxsets
REVIEW | WIN all eight series of this classic comedy on 35 DVDs. Elizabeth Montgomery, daughter of ’40s movie star Robert Montgomery, twitched her way to fame as the surprise hit witch of the ’60s, with her scene-stealing mother Endora (Hollywood veteran Agnes Moorehead). Endora: “Samantha, I will not stand here and be insulted by something which is 94 per cent water.” Darrin: “Oh, yeah? Well, what about something which is 100 per cent hot air?” Co-star Dick York was suddenly, and without explanation, replaced by Dick Sargent as Sam’s mortal husband Darrin Stephens due to a bad back mid-way through the show's run. Apparently viewers accepted it without question. Ironically, Sargent initially auditioned for the role of Darrin but couldn’t accept the role due to conflicting schedules. The host of guests included future Lost in Space stars Bill Mumy (as Darrin turned into a little boy) and June Lockhart, future The Brady Bunch star Maureen McCormick (unbilled, as a little Endora), Raquel Welch, Maurice Evans (as Maurice the warlock) and Jose Ferrer (narrator during the first season). G (general audiences), Shock Home Entertainment.
Q | Which Australian actor played Samantha in the 2005 mess-of-a-movie remake? (4 x 35DVD boxsets worth $79.95 each to win.) CONTEST CLOSED
A | Nicole Kidman.
WINNERS | David Bowen, of Cambridge Gardens, NSW; Deidre Edwards, of Smithfield, NSW; Lorna Monteiro, of Ellenbrook, WA; and Jade O'Shea, of Shepparton, Vic.
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★ DR STRANGELOVE or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb | Blu-ray & DVD
REVIEW | At the height of the Cold War, when the world was trembling, as it still does, at the threat of the Bomb, then-young filmmaker Stanley Kubrick made one of cinema’s most effective anti-war films, and it's a comedy. Brilliant Peter Sellers (in various roles) and the marvellous George C. Scott get entangled in international diplomacy and beautiful lines: “I said, no fighting in the War Room!” Sterling Hayden goes rogue and orders B-52s to launch a missile attack on the Soviets so British military attache Sellers tries to thwart it by getting the code to reverse the order but the general shoots himself, taking the code with him, leaving the US President (Sellers again) and chief advisor Scott to figure out how to stop the bomb. Sorta like a Catch-22 version of The West Wing, as Robin Williams would’ve played it. A real classic, now on Blu-ray. The critics called it a “shattering sick joke”. You’d laugh yourself silly – if it weren’t so serious. Oh, laugh anyway. PG (adult themes), Via Vision Entertainment.
Q | Stanley Kubrick was always a head of his time. What is his classic sci-fi film set in 2001 but shot in 1968? (2 Blu-rays and 3 DVDs to win.) CONTEST CLOSED
A | 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
WINNERS | Ayesha Azeem (DVD), of Rooty Hill, NSW; Phillip Cunningham (DVD), of Mount Druitt, NSW; Dan Graham (BD), of Crows Nest, NSW; Barry Johnson (BD), of Sans Souci, NSW; and Melanie Whittle (DVD), of Wannanup, WA.
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★ I LOVE LUCY COMPLETE | DVD boxset
REVIEW | The word “classic” is bandied about so easily it’s lost its meaning, but I Love Lucy is a genuine classic – groundbreaking, tightly written and, above all, funny! It was the first TV show to have a multi-camera setup and to use a live studio audience. Where would Will & Grace be without those? Relive those unforgettable moments of TV history – when Lucy makes a TV commercial for Vitameatavegamin and gets slowly plastered because the secret ingredient is alcohol! Or when Lucy and Ethel trade places with Ricky and Fred to be the bread-winners for a week and work on the conveyor belt in a chocolate factory. Or when they add a little too much yeast in the home-made bread and the family loaf fills the entire kitchen. All nine seasons on 34 discs are available for the first time in Australia. Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance (she was actually younger than Lucy but contractually had to carry a few extra pounds), William Frawley and a host of name guest stars, including Groucho Marx, Bob Hope, John Wayne, Tallulah Bankhead. G, Shock Home Entertainment.
Q | Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz formed their own production company, Desilu, to make I Love Lucy and Desilu later made which groundbreaking science fiction TV show featuring Captain Kirk and Mr Spock? (4 x 34DVD boxsets to win.) CONTEST CLOSED
A | Star Trek.
WINNERS | G. & A. Hili, of Sans Souci, NSW; Alaa el Khaligi, of Glenwood, NSW; Graham Elphick, of North St Marys, NSW; and Jimmy Setiadi Ho, of Blacktown, NSW.
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★ GRANDMA | DVD
REVIEW | Paul Weitz, who wrought such heartbreaking, triumphant moments in About a Boy (remember Toni Collette in that film?) has written and directed another unforgettable script, this time for the remarkable Lily Tomlin who delivers a brilliant performance along with Marcia Gay Harden and Julia Garner, the others in this prickly triangle of three generations. Granddaughter Julia sets things in motion when, desperate, she knocks on grandma Lily’s door for a loan for an abortion. But Lily’s young gay lover has just walked out on her and left her penniless so grandma and granddaughter hit the road to put the hard word on friends and family. The scene where Lily berates Julia’s young boyfriend for not wearing a condom will have you standing and cheering! As indeed will the whole film. This is just a great movie, with a great message of loving your kids no matter what they get up to. And always being there, no matter what. With Sam Elliott, Judy Greer. M (mature themes, coarse language), Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Q | Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, currently Grace and Frankie on Netflix, first worked together on what 1980 hit comedy? It was directed by an Australian, to boot. (5 DVDs to win.) CONTEST CLOSED
A | Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin co-starred with Dolly Parton in 9 to 5 (1980), co-written and directed by the late Colin Higgins, who was from Sydney.
WINNERS | Deidre Edwards, of Smithfield, NSW; Jan Mullan, of Castle Hill, NSW; Vishnu Naidu, of Parramatta, NSW; Ross Powell, of Bella Vista, NSW; and Melanie Whittle, of Wannanup, WA.
- Read Ian’s exclusive interview with Lily Tomlin for Grandma and Grace and Frankie here.
- Read Ian’s previous interview with Lily Tomlin for Web Therapy with Lisa Kudrow here.
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★ BURNT
REVIEW | Artificial, but fun, look inside the high-powered competitive world of cooking at high-class restaurants. Clearly based on the odious Gordon Ramsay (who was chef consultant here), Bradley Cooper plays a chef trying to claw back to his previous standing, if not surpass it, by gaining another coveted Michelin star. Someone please tell him (and Ramsay) you don’t do it by shouting and being a pig to your staff. Beloved Maggie Beer once told this writer: “The energy in the kitchen is transferred to the food and to your dining room so there’s no room for ranting and raving when you cook!” Sienna Miller is great as the chef forced to work for Cooper, Brothers and Sisters’ Matthew Rhys plays Reece (names are hard to come by), a rival chef, who gets some sheer awful lines: “You're better than me. But the rest of us need you to lead us to places we wouldn't otherwise go.” Gawd. For all that, it’s a load of fun. If twaddle. M (mature themes, coarse language), Roadshow Entertainment
Q | Which Walker did Matthew Rhys play on Brothers and Sisters? (2 Blu-ray+dig and 2 DVDs to win. CONTEST CLOSED)
A | Matthew Rhys played lawyer and political campaign manager Kevin Walker on Brothers & Sisters.
WINNERS | Ann Galvin (Blu-ray), of Seven Hills, NSW; Lindal Nathaniel (DVD), of Riverview, NSW; Carol Selvarajah (Blu-ray), of Kingswood, NSW; and Maureen Woodbury (DVD), of Boxhill, NSW.
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★ HOLDING THE MAN
REVIEW | Tim Conigrave and John Caleo met at high school in Melbourne, fell in love and began a lifelong relationship – that was cut brutally short by AIDS. They died within a year or so of each other and in that time Tim wrote a book about their decade together, finishing it just days before he died. The book was turned into a hit play, now a hit movie. This is one of the finest films ever made in this country, with excellent performances by Ryan Corr and Craig Stott, with standout support from Guy Pearce, Geoffrey Rush, Kerry Fox. Neil Armfield has done a brilliant job of directing this heartwarming, devastating story. You will cry. Buckets. MA15+ (strong sex scenes, nudity), Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (Transmission Pictures)
Q | Who wrote the original book Holding the Man? CONTEST CLOSED
A | Tim Conigrave wrote the now-classic memoir Holding the Man (1995).
WINNERS | G. Hughes (Blu-ray + paperback), of Blackheath, NSW; Barry Johnson (Blu-ray + paperback), of Sans Souci, NSW; Jade O'Shea (DVD + paperback), of Shepparton, Vic; and Vivienne Tran (DVD + paperback), of Burwood, NSW.
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★ THE MAN FROM UNCLE
REVIEW | Guy Ritchie's ambitious remake of the campy Cold War TV comedy drama from 1964 tries hard to be now and relevant and often succeeds. Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer work hard as Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin but strangely don't live up to Robert Vaughn and David McCallum. And Hugh Grant will never be Leo G. Carroll as their boss, Alexander Waverly. But Alicia Vikander is stylish and elegant as the leading lady with brains – that's a switch – and it's easy to see how her career is going from strength to strength. She almost steals The Danish Girl and right now she's shooting the next Bourne movie with Matt Damon. This UNCLE is a light affair, in all departments. Cavill actually replaced Tom Cruise, who would've been insufferable, when Cruise opted for Rogue Nation instead. It’s better without him. M (violence), Warner Bros (Roadshow Home Entertainment)
Q | What does "UNCLE" stand for? OK, Google it if you must. (2 Blu-ray+digital and 1 DVD to win) CONTEST CLOSED
A | “UNCLE” stands for United Network Command for Law and Enforcement.
WINNERS | Deidre Edwards (DVD), of Smithfield, NSW; Barry Johnson (Blu-ray), of Sans Souci, NSW; and Melanie Whittle (DVD), of Wannanup, WA.
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★ PSYCHO: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION on Blu-ray
REVIEW | When Hitchcock was making his famous series Alfred Hitchcock Presents, instead of breaking for Christmas he decided to put his crew to work. He chose Robert Bloch's book based on a macabre real-life murder case and shot it over the holidays. It turned out to be one of the most famous films ever made. Anthony Perkins, then 28, is brilliant, and so is the rest of the cast, but it's Hitchcock's film, through and through. Janet Leigh is a secretary who nicks $40,000 from work, runs out of town, holes up in an off-the-track motel and . . . well, let's just say, Hitchcock – despite the bleakness of the storyline – is having fun with his audience by breaking every rule in the book. (Spoiler alert:) Can you imagine a film that kills off its lead character just a few minutes into the story? That's just for starters! This (mostly) Blu-ray boxset contains the original film plus the two sequels plus Gus van Sant's shot-for-shot 1998 remake of the original and the two-disc The Psycho Legacy. Awesome value.
Watch the world's most famous trailer . . .
Q | What's the name of the character played by Anthony Perkins? Hint: It's a play on the word "normal". (Three 5BD+3DVD boxsets of Psycho: The Complete Collection to win) CONTEST CLOSED
A | Antony Perkins played Norman Bates in Psycho.
WINNERS | Darren Farkas, of New Beith, Qld; Michael Miller, of Ebenezer, NSW; and Lorna Monteiro, of Ellenbrook, WA.
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★ INSIDE OUT
REVIEW | Sometimes the simplicity of animation can cut to the chase and reveal stuff live action just can't. Did you cry at Up? You're in strife here. Young Riley's family moves house and the little girl is plunged into a whirlpool of mixed emotions. We go inside her head to see how Joy, Anger, Sadness, Fear and Disgust all make a play to run her life and, suddenly, life seems so simple to us sophisticated folk, so much so you'll be moved to tears to see your own life unravelled and solved as you reflect on the life of Riley. This is marvellous moviemaking, unpretentious and breathtaking in its simplicity and profundity. And the animation itself is sheer genius! Worthy of an Oscar, or three. That'd be a first for animation. Voice talents include Amy Poehler as Joy, Kyle MacLachlan and Diane Lane as Riley's parents and Frank Oz in a cameo as a guard's subconscious. PG (mild themes), Disney Pixar (Disney Home Entertainment)
Seen the new Star Wars trailer? Watch it with Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust . . .
Q | Kyle MacLachlan played Orson Hodge on what desperate show about suburban housewives? (two 2Blu-ray+dig and two DVD+dig to win) CONTEST CLOSED
A | Desperate Housewives (2004-12). Kyle MacLachlan was on the show from 2006 to the end.
WINNERS | Janelle Comrie (DVD), of Belrose, NSW; Kelly Crollick (DVD), of Maroochydore, Qld; Anh Du (Blu-ray), of Bankstown, NSW; and Nicola James (Blu-ray), of Harrisville, Qld.
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★ CINEMA REVIEW | FLORENCE AND THE UFFIZI GALLERY
REVIEW | Not even the earnestness of this production can dampen the splendour of the artworks collected in this one amazing Italian city in the top half of Tuscany. There are actually two main galleries in the town: the Uffizi, with 45 halls overflowing with art including works by Botticelli, Michelangelo, Titian, Raphael and Caravaggio, and the Accademia, originally planned to be a gallery of just Michelangelo's works but he's only got a small section now. Admittedly, the star of that section is David, a hard act to beat.
The rivalry between the two is unspoken, but bubbling just below the surface are the claims by the one that the Uffizi's The Birth of Venus by Botticelli is the greatest artwork in the world, at odds with the Accademia's claims about its pride and joy, David. Visitors to the city hunt them both out. A highlight of the film is a preview of the restored Adoration of the Magi by Da Vinci. It's a shame the film doesn't give screen time to the city's glorious food, the markets, the streets, the music — and the light which bathes the city at twilight, causing the Renaissance stone buildings to glow as though golden. But an 85-minute movie was never going to be able to do more than whet your appetite. It succeeds because it makes you ache to go back!
■ Florence and the Uffizi Gallery (exempt from rating) at Palace Norton Street (November 21-22), Palace Verona (November 21-22), Riverside Theatres Parramatta (November 21-29), Event Cinemas (selected cinemas), Village Cinemas (November 25, noon, selected cinemas). Dendy Newtown (November 25, 10am) and Mount Vic Flicks (November 26, 11am).
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★ TOMORROWLAND
REVIEW | Teenager Britt Robinson has to save the future. It's a hard job but someone's gotta do it. Just as well she's got George Clooney on hand to help, though he's reluctant. He had all the optimism kicked out of him when he was a geeky kid who developed jet packs for disbelieving science judge Hugh Laurie. But 60 years later it's crunch time for the planet. Can he be forced to Do the Right Thing? Is his name George Clooney? This is a palatable tale of eco-responsibility that may not have set the world on fire but it's heart's in the right place, the artwork is stunning and Clooney is always worth watching. The futuristic buildings were shot at the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, Spain, and enhanced digitally. Writer-producer-director Brad Bird worked on The Simpsons for nine years, before making The Incredibles and The Incredibles 2 (due in 2019). PG (mild science-fiction violence, coarse language), Disney Home Entertainment
Q | Whom did George Clooney play on ER, the show that launched him? (2 DVD+digital, 1 Blu-ray+digital to win) CONTEST CLOSED
A | George Clooney played Dr Doug Ross on 109 episodes of ER. He starred from 1994 to 2000 and returned for the end of the show in 2009.
WINNERS | Sandra Cartwright (Blu-ray), of Miller, NSW; Anne Collison (DVD), of North Richmond, NSW; and Jade O'Shea (DVD), of Shepparton, Victoria.
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★ SUITE FRANÇAISE
REVIEW | A timely film honouring the undying spirit of the French, it's a powerful story based on life in rural France during the German occupation of World War II, all tied together by a fragment of music, from which comes the title, and based on WWII writer Irène Némirovsky’s bestseller of the same name. It was to be a series of five volumes but after writing the first two the author was arrested for being a Jew and detained at Auschwitz, where she died in 1942. Her daughter, Denise Epstein, found the manuscript after her death but refused to read it for 50 years, fearing it would be too confronting. Finally, when packing up her mother's things to be archived she plucked up the courage to read it and was profoundly moved, She submitted the manuscript to a publisher instead who eagerly released Suite Française as a single volume in 2004. It was a bestseller in France.
The focal point is the cross-boundaries affair between the young French wife whose husband is away fighting the Nazis and the German soldier the household is forced to billet. Though this basic plot has been filmed several times, notably with Glenda Jackson and Oliver Reed in The Triple Echo, this version is very well done, with exemplary performances by Michelle Williams as the lonely wife shattered by revelations about her absent husband and Kristin Scott Thomas as her hard-as-nails mother-in-law, also her landlord. It was shot in Paris and Belgium and is a must-see. You'll note echoes of Anne Frank. MA15+ (strong violence), Roadshow Home Entertainment
Q | Michelle Williams has an extraordinary long list of major film credits but she got her start as Jen Lindley on which long-running mildly controversial teenage TV drama? (3 DVDs to win) CONTEST CLOSED
A | Michelle Williams starred in 128 episodes of Dawson's Creek, from 1998 to 2003.
WINNERS | Sandra Cartwright (DVD), of Miller, NSW; Anne Collison (DVD), of North Richmond, NSW; and Jo Kidd (DVD), of Bligh Park, NSW.
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★ MUSIC DOCO | AMY
REVIEW | Amy Winehouse is not a punchline, and that's the message loud and clear from this exceptional doco painstakingly constructed from news clips, phone video, performance footage, paparazzi shots — anything the filmmakers could get their hands on. It's an intimate portrait of a star who shied away from the press and tried to keep herself hidden but because her life was spinning out of control she became fodder for merciless tabloids and talkshow hosts jumping on the dump-on-Amy bandwagon. The sad thing is that if she hadn't had such a glorious original voice she would never have become so rich and famous and hounded by the dropkicks who surrounded her and clamoured to feed off her. Her life was crammed with other ironies, too, most obvious being her smash hit Rehab.
They tried to make me go to rehab but I said "No, no, no" / Yes, I've been black but when I come back you'll know, know, know / I ain't got the time and if my Daddy thinks I'm fine / He's tried to make me go to rehab but I won't go, go, go . . .
Was she pleading for help? Was she laughing at those around her? If only she'd had the last laugh. She died, burnt out, at 27. Her landmark album Back to Black won five Grammys; she was the first British woman to win that many. Years later many are still discovering her music. There's a horrible moment in this film when we watch, feeling enthralled, repelled, superior, to the throng of cameras and mobile phones following her down a side-street, engulfing her, swallowing her alive . . . and then we realise the very footage we're watching was being shot by that same fierce pack of animals. MA15+ (strong drug themes, coarse language), eOne Home Entertainment
Q | How many Grammys did her album Back to Black win? (3 DVDs to win) CONTEST CLOSED
A | Amy Winehouse's second and final studio album Back to Black (2006) won five Grammys in 2007, for record of the year (Rehab), song of the year (Rehab), best new artist, best female pop vocal performance (Rehab) and best pop vocal album (Back to Black).
WINNERS | Elizabeth Andrews (DVD), of Werrington Downs, NSW 2747; Dan Graham (DVD), of Crows Nest, NSW 1585; and Meagan Sweet (DVD), of Hobartville, NSW 2753.
Watch Rehab . . .
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★ CLASSIC | THE LADY FROM SHANGHAI
REVIEW | One of those classic Hollywood films where the off-set stories are even better than the sumptuous film itself. Orson Welles was due to open a stage show with his theatre company but they were broke so he pushed Columbia into a deal in which he agreed to write, produce, direct and star with his wife, Columbia's hot property Rita Hayworth, in a film version of the novel If I Die Before I Wake he'd found at the last minute. Then, of course, he had to make the film. This is the result. It's a moody, hypnotic and stunning tale of passion, betrayal and murder at sea, shot on Errol Flynn's yacht Zaca — and Flynn skippered the yacht for the film crew. You can even spot Flynn himself in the background of the scene at the restaurant. Hayworth was never lovelier and Welles is, as ever, a huge presence.
Ever the perfectionist, Welles had almost finished shooting when he decided to repaint a whole set. Studio executive Jack Fier refused to authorise payment so Welles and some mates did the paint job themselves, leaving a sign: "The only thing we have to fear is Fier himself." The union crew arrived next morning and went on strike until Fier paid them anyway. Fier left a sign: "All's well that ends Welles." This is the long-awaited Blu-ray version and Welles would've loved it, as will you. PG (adult themes, low-level violence), Columbia Pictures (Madman Home Entertainment)
Q | Orson Welles was 26 when he wrote, acted and directed which classic film, nominated for nine Oscars, winning best script? It was based on media magnate William Randolph Hearst. (5 Blu-rays to win) CONTEST CLOSED
A | Citizen Kane (1941), considered by many movie-lovers and critics to be the finest film of all time.
WINNERS | Barry Johnson (Blu-ray), of Sans Souci, NSW; Emily Martin (Blu-ray), of Richmond, NSW; Chris Shai-Hee (Blu-ray), of Carlingford, NSW; Rick Thelian (Blu-ray), of Fairfield Heights, NSW; and Rob & Loretta Vaccari (Blu-ray), of Prairiewood, NSW.
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★ MAGIC MIKE XXL
REVIEW | Magic Mike upsized is big in every department except maybe the story, but it's the scenery that's the main attraction. It's missing the twists and turns of the original and any character development at all, making it pretty flat. Channing Tatum (also producer) has one magnificent sequence early on (watch it below) when his feet won't stay still as the music from his workshop radio awakens the moves of an electric dance routine after three years in retirement. Inspired, he hooks up with the old Kings of Tampa for one last shot at stripper glory, taking a few breathless moments of time out along the way with Jada Pinkett Smith and Andie MacDowell, both wasted. Seriously missing Matthew McConaughey. Steven Soderbergh again produced it and also shot and cut the film, inexplicably using his usual pseudonyms in both cases ("Peter Andrews" and "Mary Ann Bernard".) A guilty pleasure, and it never claims to be rocket science. MA15+ (strong coarse language, sexual references), Warner (Roadshow Home Entertainment)
Q | Channing Tatum has just been signed to 23 Jump Street, the third movie based on which TV show with Johnny Depp? Hint: Get your numbers right! (1 DVD to win) CONTEST CLOSED
A | Johnny Depp's TV show was 21 Jump Street (1987-1991). The three movie spin-offs are 21 Jump Street (2012), 22 Jump Street (2014) and the upcoming 23 Jump Street. Depp had an unbilled cameo in the first movie as Officer Tom Hanson — the role he played on the TV show.
WINNER | Caressa Muir (DVD), of Busby, NSW.
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★ AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON
REVIEW | Master sci-fi director Joss Whedon (remember Buffy the Vampire Slayer?) is faced with a nightmare problem here: he's got no less than Robert Downey junior, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, James Spader, Samuel L. Jackson and Don Cheadle in lead roles and a host of classic action heroes for them to play and he must give them all equal screen time and give them each something worthwhile to do and pick up the story from where the previous film left off and set up the next one, all without losing a beat. And he does it! And it's a really fun ride. Even if it's impossible to work out what on earth (or elsewhere) is going on. Original creator Stan Lee pops up as himself in a fun cameo. M (action violence), Marvel (Disney Home Entertainment)
Q | Which of the nine stars listed above is Australian and on which Aussie soap did he get his big break? (2 Blu-ray+Digital HD and 2 DVD+Digital HD to win) CONTEST CLOSED
A | Australian actor Chris Hemsworth got his break on Home and Away as beach boy Kim Hyde (2004 to 2007). He returns as Thor in Avengers: Age of Ultron.
WINNERS | Kathryn Cauchi (Blu-ray), of Londonderry, NSW; Stacey Crook (DVD), of Windsor, NSW; Will Tran (DVD), of St Johns Park, NSW; and Qui Fong Truong (Blu-ray), of Bankstown, NSW.
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★ BLACK OR WHITE
REVIEW | Kevin Costner, at 60, proves he's every bit as good as he ever was, if not better, in this true story that's been very well told. He and his wife had looked after their granddaughter Jillian Estell all her life but when his wife is killed in a car accident the little girl's maternal grandmother Octavia Spencer (see clip below) challenges him in court for custody. There are pressures to turn the whole thing into a battle of racial prejudice but the movie resolutely refuses to tread that cliched path and instead finds the real heart and soul of a complex situation, without skirting problems on all sides. Costner has a drink problem, the grand-daughter's father has a drug problem; nothing's straightforward. The acting is top-notch; Costner is excellent (he also produced the movie) and Spencer is amazing, and the little girl at the heart of it is wonderful. M (mature themes, violence, drugs, coarse language), eOne Home Entertainment.
Q | Kevin Costner directed his first movie at 35 (he's since directed two more) and it was nominated for 12 Oscars, winning seven. What was it? (1 DVD to win) CONTEST CLOSED
A | Kevin Costner's first movie as director was Dances with Wolves (1990) — and subsequently The Postman (1997) and Open Range (2003).
WINNER | Sue Sturt, of Green Valley, NSW.
Grandmother Octavia Spencer pulls her no-good son into line, the little girl's father . . .
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★ BOYCHOIR
REVIEW | Eleven-year-old Garrett Wareing has a great talent for singing and is all at sea when his alcoholic mother, a single mum, suddenly dies in a car crash. His dad arrives on the scene, reluctantly, and shoots him off to a boarding school where he can follow his musical passion. But what he really wants is an adult's approval and encouragement. He won't get much of that either from choirmaster Dustin Hoffman who's not easily impressed. "Your clock is ticking kid," Hoffman says to the boy, who responds: "Well your clock is ticking too, old man."
He does get help from a young teacher (Glee's Kevin McHale) and a measure of it from the school board, run by Kathy Bates. This a very worthwhile story which avoids all the pitfalls of a Struggle of the Week TV movie, thanks to a good script and the usual masterful acting we expect from Hoffman and Bates. It was inspired by the real life American Boychoir School in New Jersey. With Debra Winger, Josh Lucas, Ezzie Izzard. Well worth watching! PG (mild bullying violence and themes), Becker Film Group.
Q | Of his seven Oscar nominations, Dustin Hoffman won his first Academy Award for which movie opposite 30-year-old Meryl Streep? CONTEST CLOSED
A | Robert Benton's Kramer vs. Kramer (1979).
WINNERS | D. Connolly (Blu-ray), of Regents Park, NSW; D. Edwards (DVD), of Smithfield, NSW: M. Killeen (Blu-ray), of Green Valley, NSW; and L. Vaccari (DVD), of Prairiewood, NSW.
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★ DOCO | THE KILLING SEASON
REVIEW | Much has been said about Kevin and Julia's tussle for the top job, but this is pretty much the final word. ABC journalist Sarah Ferguson and producer Deborah Masters sift through hundreds and hundreds of hours of news footage and conduct fresh new interviews with the main players to cobble together an impressive insight into the last days of the one and the first days of the other — in fact, the last days of them both. It's alternately gripping and horrifying, and completely riveting, regardless of who you voted for. And never forget, Kevin did say sorry. Three episodes on two discs. M (mature themes, coarse language), Roadshow Home Entertainment (ABC Home Entertainment)
Q | How many times was Kevin Rudd prime minister? CONTEST CLOSED
A | Twice — from 2007 to 2010 and again in 2013. He was the first former prime minister to return to the office since Robert Menzies in 1949.
WINNERS | Les Creamer, of Quakers Hill, NSW; B. Johnson, of Sans Souci, NSW; and Emily Martin, of Richmond, NSW.
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★ CAKE
REVIEW | For way too long Jennifer Aniston comedies have been all hard work (ours) and of very little consequence (hers). It's clear now that was through no fault of her own. Finally, she delivers a totally awesome performance in a truly remarkable film. And she had to produce the film herself in order to get a break at a decent project. All credit to her! This is the very simple account of that period of time, it can be brief, it can be longer, between the moment when something so devastating happens that it renders you completely numb, lifeless, when you feel there is no point carrying on, and that first tiny glint of hope that maybe you can put one foot in front of the other . . . It takes the whole movie for that smallest spark to break through for Aniston — and it comes out of the blue, when a dear friend offers a piece of home-made cooking and the clouds begin to break. You will be in tears way before that moment, and you will share the triumph of that extraordinary simple gesture. And all those who know depression, and those who love someone who knows it, will understand, and weep. MA15+ (strong coarse language), Roadshow Home Entertainment.
Q | Whom did Jennifer Aniston play on Friends? CONTEST CLOSED
A | Rachel Karen Green.
WINNER | Nerida Cochrane (DVD), of Kurrajong, NSW.
BONUS WINNERS | Roadshow Home Entertainment cancelled the release of Cake on Blu-ray and we did not offer Blu-ray prizes. But we had such a great response to this competition for the DVD, Roadshow have given us three extra DVD prizes, which go to: Cherilyn Blaydon (DVD), of Kurrajong, NSW; Amy Goddard (DVD), of Penrith, NSW; and Nicolle Lewis (DVD), of Hobartville, NSW.
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★ LUCKY THEM
REVIEW | One of Australia's greatest actors has moved on quite a way from her school drama classes at Blacktown Girls High! This time Toni Collette is playing a rock journalist who's more interested in rocking than writing — not impressing her editor Oliver Platt, who assigns her to solve the mystery of the disappearance from the public eye of a rock star . . . who just happens to be her ex. Can she rewrite her own past? Not one of Collette's greatest films, but she makes anything worth watching. With Thomas Hayden Church. M (coarse language, sex scene), Shock Home Entertainment.
Q | Which Toni Collette hit movie was set at Porpoise Spit? CONTEST CLOSED
A | Muriel's Wedding (1994), with Rachel Griffiths and the late great Bill Hunter.
WINNERS | Karen Hardaker (DVD), of Bligh Park, NSW; Marisa Kaun (Blu-ray), of East Kurrajong, NSW; Joanne Kidd (Blu-ray), of Bligh Park, NSW; Lisa-Marie Phipps (DVD), of Pitt Town, NSW; and Sue Pierce (DVD), of Bossley Park, NSW.
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★ THE FORGER
REVIEW | A stunning character drama about a gifted artist (John Travolta) who fakes famous paintings for a living, all the while struggling with the expectations of his perceptive but distant dad (Christopher Plummer), while he works like crazy to close the gap with his own teenaged son (Tye Sheridan) before they both run out of time. A gripping emotional story that holds you right to the end. Well worth watching. Try to ignore Travolta's ridiculous little goatee beard. M (mature themes, violence, coarse language), Becker Film Group.
Q | John Travolta played Danny opposite Olivia Newton-John in which famous 1970s musical hit? CONTEST CLOSED
A | The original Grease (1978).
WINNERS | Nerida Cochrane (Blu-ray), of Kurrajong, NSW; D. Edwards (DVD), of Smithfield, NSW; B. Johnson (Blu-ray), of Sans Souci, NSW; Michelle Killeen (DVD), of Green Valley, NSW; Lisa-Jayne Mills (Blu-ray), of Fairfield East, NSW; Rhoda Mitchell (DVD), of Londonderry, NSW; Katrina Stubbs (Blu-ray), of Woodridge, Qld; M. Whittle (DVD), of Wannanup; WA.
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★ BEYOND THE REACH
REVIEW | Michael Douglas again demonstrates what a great actor he is in this unusual modern western in which he plays a wild-game shooter who hires young tracker Jeremy Irvine to go with him into the Mojave Desert. But someone gets shot and Douglas tries to frame his young offsider for murder. Douglas (who also produced the movie) steals every scene he's in; he's completely compelling, if a tad over the top. It's a remake of the 1974 TV movie Savages with Andy Griffith and young Sam Bottoms, but this one's better. M (violence, mature themes), eOne Home Entertainment.
Q | Who is Michael Douglas's famous actor father? CONTEST CLOSED
A | Kirk Douglas.
WINNERS | L. Mills (Blu-ray), of Fairfield East, NSW; K. Stubbs (DVD), of Woodridge, Qld; and M. Whittle (DVD), of Wannanup, WA.
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★ DOCO | BETWEEN A FROCK & A HARD PLACE
REVIEW | When Terence Stamp, Guy Pearce and Hugo Weaving jumped on the bus in drag to head for the heart of Australia they had no idea their careers would be boosted big-time and this small-budget outrageous little film would be taken to heart not only by Australian filmgoers but audiences world-wide. That was 21 years ago. This new doco, recently screened on the ABC, is now on DVD and well worth a look. It features interviews with the cast and crew, including writer-director Stephan Elliott and star Guy Pearce — both of whom we also interviewed (see link below) — and poses the question: just how far have we come in the last 21 years? M (coarse language, brief nudity), ABC Home Entertainment (through Roadshow Home Entertainment)
Q | Who, or what, is Priscilla in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994)? CONTEST CLOSED
A | Priscilla is the tour bus.
WINNERS | B. Johnson, of Sans Souci, NSW; Matthew Pounsberry, of Emu Plains; and M. Whittle, of Wannanup, WA
- Read Ian's interview with Stephan Elliott and Guy Pearce here.
- Read Ian's previous interview with Guy Pearce here.
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★ HAMMER HORROR COLLECTION
REVIEW | Three classics from the Hammer House of Horror have gone to Blu-ray. The studio's only werewolf film, The Curse of the Werewolf (1961, M, mature themes), has Oliver Reed (pictured) revisiting Lon Chaney's 1941 role as The Wolf Man and he does it with relish. Clifford Evans narrates the film even though his character, Don Alfredo, never saw what happened in the first 20 minutes and, theoretically, has no idea what he's talking about. No matter, it's fun. Only thing missing from The Brides of Dracula (1960, PG, parental guidance) is Dracula. Horror veteran Peter Cushing is legendary Dr Van Helsing who sets out to destroy a bloodsucker who's after a pretty young schoolteacher. "He was my son. Now he's only a beast of the night!" laments the baroness, like many a teenager's mother. Then it's Ingrid Pitt's turn in The Vampire Lovers (1970, M, mature themes), variously playing Marcilla, Carmilla and Mircalla — or maybe she just couldn't spell her own name. She also gets the best poster tagline: "She's the New Horror from Hammer!" Shock Home Entertainment
Q | Oliver Reed did some of his best work in a handful of famous films for director Ken Russell. Name one of them. CONTEST CLOSED
A | Oliver Reed was directed by Ken Russell in Women in Love (1969), The Devils (1971) and Tommy (1975). You only had to name one.
WINNERS | A set of 3 Blu-rays to each winner: K. Battley, of Cremorne; and A. Smith, of Kensington, Vic.
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★ AMERICAN SNIPER
REVIEW | A matter-of-fact unembellished account of how contemporary warfare reduces a soldier to a machine, forcing him to lose consciousness bit by bit of the things that keep him human while over-developing and distorting his sense of duty to other things. Clint Eastwood's film of the autobiography of real-life celebrated Navy SEAL Chris Kyle has been criticised for glorifying war — but only by those who miss the whole point of the film. Yes, it's subtle, nuanced, and Eastwood doesn't hit you over the head. He shouldn't have to. The dehumanising process of war hangs like a dead weight through the whole film and the postscript is like the last final thud. After the sniper with 160 confirmed kills and dozens of medals and citations to his credit has come home and rebuilt his life, dedicating himself to rehabilitating other soldiers: "Chris Kyle was shot while trying to help a soldier." Ennio Morricone's sublime brass music over the end credits will have you in tears (listen to it at the link below). Wonderful acting by Bradley Cooper (also producer), Sienna Miller as his longsuffering wife and support roles featuring Brothers and Sisters' Luke Grimes. MA15+ (strong themes and violence), Roadshow Home Entertainment
Q | What was Bradley Cooper's hit 2012 drama in which Robert deNiro and our own Jacki Weaver played his parents? CONTEST CLOSED
A | Robert deNiro and Australia's Jacki Weaver played Bradley Cooper's parents in David O. Russell's Silver Linings Playbook (2010).
WINNERS | C. Aisbett (DVD+digital), of Rouse Hill, NSW; Dan Graham (Blu-ray+digital), of Crows Nest, NSW; Richard Chau (DVD+digital), of Greenfield Park, NSW; and L. Pham (Blu-ray+digital), of Prairiewood, NSW.
Listen to the moving final track, The Funeral . . .
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★ THE IMITATION GAME
REVIEW | During World War II the Germans encrypted their directions for troop movements and attack plans, changing the code every midnight, so the Brits had 24 hours to crack the code . . . or start again at midnight. Every night. Codebreaking is exhausting enough without such restraints. Along comes the nerdy Alan Turing who realises human endeavour alone will never crack it so he invents the world's first computer which breaks all the codes. By doing this he shortened the war by some years and saved thousands of lives. But because he was secretly gay the British government chemically castrated this genius – scientist, mathematician, ultra-distance runner who's considered the father of theoretical computer science and artificial intelligence – to "cure" him and he died, broken and humiliated, of suicide at 41. After giving the world so much. Benedict Cumberbatch is extraordinary as Turing, Keira Knightley, surprisingly, every bit as good as a fellow worker and supporter. This is an important film, even more so because it's so well made. It was up for eight Oscars (taking best script). M (mature themes), Roadshow Home Entertainment.
Q | Benedict Cumberbatch voiced Necromancer in three instalments of which Peter Jackson epic movie series based on writing by JRRR Tolkien? CONTEST CLOSED
A | The three films based on The Hobbit, which were An Unexpected Journey (2012), The Desolation of Smaug (2013) and The Battle of the Five Armies (2014).
WINNERS | Barry Johnson (Blu-ray+digital), of Sans Souci, NSW; Belinda Le (DVD+digital), of Greenfield Park, NSW; and Rob Vaccari (DVD+ digital), of Prairiewood, NSW.
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★ MAPS TO THE STARS
REVIEW | Julianne Moore, brilliant as always, gives us an incisive look at Hollywood vacuousness in David Cronenberg's take on Tinsel Town, supported ably with equally quirky performances from Australia's Mia Wasikowska, Twilight's Robert Pattinson and always reliable John Cusack. It's not laugh-out-loud, more cringe factor, and Moore's courage is formidable; few stars of her calibre would let the camera into the toilet with her! She manages the outrageous with aplomb. The actors here redefine dysfunctional in a way that'd make Meryl Streep in August Osage County very proud. MA15+ (strong themes, violence, sex scenes, coarse language), eOne Home Entertainment
Q | Mia Wasikowska also played Julianne Moore's daughter in which hit 2010 movie with Annette Bening? Hint: The title came from the 1965 hit by The Who. CONTEST CLOSED
A | Australia's Mia Wasikowska previously played Julianne Moore's daughter in The Kids Are All Right (2010).
WINNERS | Taak Chau (DVD), of Greenfield Park, NSW; Lisa Pham (DVD), of Prairiewood, NSW; and Loretta Vaccari (Blu-ray), of Prairiewood, NSW.
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★ MY OLD LADY
REVIEW | ''You've inherited an apartment in Paris!'' But, sadly, for Kevin Kline the windfall comes with extras. In the form of a curmudgeonly old tenant, Maggie Smith. And under an obscure French law she cannot be turfed out or moved on. What's a disappointed American in Paris to do? Enter Dame Maggie's elegant daughter, Kristin Scott Thomas. There's your answer! This is a sweet film, with glorious camerawork around Paris, nicely drawn characters, as likeable as they are crochetty, and lots of red wine. Written and directed by Israel Horovitz, 76, from his own play, and just his second film. M (mature themes), eOne Home Entertainment
Q | The wonderful Kristin Scott Thomas is most famous these days for starring in magnificent French films but she shot to fame in 1994 as a guest at the first wedding in which British comedy about weddings and funerals? CONTEST CLOSED
A | Mike Newell's Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994).
WINNERS | D. Edwards (DVD), of Smithfield, NSW; K. Cowper (DVD), of Oatley, NSW; and B. Johnson (DVD), of Sans Souci, NSW.
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★ PRIDE
REVIEW | You will choke up at the end. Guaranteed. Thatcher came to office in 1979 and in her first three years Britain lost two million manufacturing jobs. Then in 1984 she announced 20 mines would be closed as part of the long-term plan to shut down 70 pits. Mass walkouts and large-scale industrial turmoil followed and the nation slumped under the weight of it all, with no end in sight. Not everyone was on the miners' side. Mine-workers and their families were pilloried in some quarters, as they ran out of food because there was no pay coming in. Meanwhile, over in one tiny corner a bunch of gay activists said we understand what it's like to be marginalised by society and the press. So they took up a food collection for the miners and their families. The burly mine-workers had more in common with the gays than they suspected but steadfastly refused charity from a bunch of queers and perverts. Until, forced by hunger more than anything else, gradually several swallowed their pride and embraced the only group in the community to extend unequivocal, if unlikely, support. This film is that true story. It's a heartwarming production in every department and delivers a profound kick in the guts. Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, Dominic West, Mark Ashton, Andrew Scott and everybody else is excellent. M (mature themes, coarse language, sexual reference, brief nudity), eOne Home Entertainment
Q | In which film did Bill Nighy play an ageing rocker who had a surprise smash hit with a spoof of the Wet Wet Wet song Love is All Around, originally featured in Four Weddings and a Funeral? CONTEST CLOSED
A | Richard Curtis's Love Actually (2003).
WINNERS | S. Hayes (DVD), of Mittagong, NSW; B. Johnson (DVD), of Sans Souci NSW; and A. Kettniss (Blu-ray), of Paddington, Qld.
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★ THE LOOKALIKE
REVIEW | It's a long way from Carrie's Manolos and Cosmos, and John Corbett has fun playing a drug lord in this dark and menacing little drama set and shot in moody New Orleans. It's hard to keep up with the bodies while dodging bullets but husband-wife producer-director Richard Gray and producer-writer Michele Davis-Gray have turned out quite a serviceable thriller. Watch for the Apply guy, Justin Long (he and his brother Christian also get producer's credits, heaven knows why). With Jerry O'Connell, Gina Gershon, John Savage. MA15+ (strong violence), Anchor Bay Home Entertainment
★ ★ ★ THE LOOKALIKE BDs + DVDs PERSONALLY SIGNED BY SEX AND THE CITY STAR JOHN CORBETT ★ ★ ★
- Read Ian's interview with John Corbett here.
Q | What were the names of the characters played by John Corbett on (a) Sex and the City and in (b) My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002) and the rumoured sequel My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2? (5 Blu-rays and 5 DVDs personally signed by John Corbett to win. CONTEST CLOSED – John Corbett has two movies now shooting, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 and My Dead Boyfriend, and he's currently filming in Canada. He apologises for the delay in signing our prizes and will be onto it as soon as he gets home. Some things are well worth the wait and John asked me to pass on his thanks for your patience.)
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★ THE LOVE PUNCH
REVIEW | While not exactly managing a knockout king hit, a tremendous cast work hard to deliver the biggest punch they can when divorced couple Emma Thompson and Piercing Brosnan, on the brink of eternal separation and poverty, plot to retrieve their retirement funds in Paris from the shark who plundered their company and stole their nesteggs. They enlist the only support they can get – the equally wonderful Celia Imrie and Timothy Spall. A shame none of them could find a better script. And it's not that the writer can't write good dialogue. Thompson: "I think that liking a husband is much more important than loving him, actually [note the film reference]. Love is easy to fall into. Liking is much harder. Think of your wedding as a driving test. You take it, you pass, and then you really start to learn how to drive. Or you crash." Watch for Marisa Berenson (Liza Minnelli gave her English lessons in Cabaret), now a classy 68, as Clothilde. M (coarse language); eOne Home Entertainment.
Q | Emma Thompson was totally amazing as Karen in Love, Actually (2003), especially tearing up in her bedroom after getting her Christmas present. In that film, who played Harry, her dastardly husband with the roving eye? CONTEST CLOSED
A | Alan Rickman.
WINNERS | C. Aisbett (Blu-ray), of Rouse Hill, NSW; C. Borg (DVD), of Butler, WA; and Melanie Whittle (DVD), of Wannanup, WA.
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★ THE LITTLE DEATH
REVIEW | The title is a literal interpretation of the more delicate French euphemism le petite mort; there's little delicacy in the film, either, but it's a mostly fun little Aussie flick made by, and starring, Queenslander Josh Lawson who's made a name for himself working for white-collar scoundrel Don Cheadle on US cable hit House of Lies. His brother Ben, who was on Neighbours, is also in the film as Glenn. It more or less explores sexual fetishes in suburban middle-class Australia. It's no Fifty Shades, which could be a good thing. The first chapter opens with Bojana Novakovic asking Lawson to rate her. Well, that's what he thinks she said. Also stars Lisa McCune, Damon Herriman, Kim Gyngell, Zoe Carides. MA15+ (strong sex scenes, sexual references, coarse language); eOne Home Entertainment.
Q | Which Blue Heeler did Lisa McCune play? CONTEST CLOSED
A | Constable Margaret "Maggie" Doyle.
WINNERS | Emily Martin (DVD), of Richmond, NSW; K. Stubbs (DVD), of Woodridge, Qld; and J. Watson (DVD), of Morphettville, SA.
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★ CLASSIC TV | DR QUINN, MEDICINE WOMAN
REVIEW | Dr Quinn complete series 1-6 hatbox collection. The much-loved groundbreaking series about the new doctor in town out in the old west and the townsfolk who were shocked when Dr Mike Quinn turns out to be Dr Michaela Quinn. But the world didn't end – and neither did this series, for six years plus several TV movies. Jane Seymour was brilliant as the hard-workin' woman who tamed sickness, cowboys, baddies, wild animals and viewers all round the world. M (mature themes, violence); PG (mild themes, violence), Via Vision Home Entertainment.
★ ★ ★ DR QUINN DVDs PERSONALLY SIGNED BY JANE SEYMOUR ★ ★ ★
- Read Ian's interview with Jane Seymour here.
Q | Two decades before Dr Quinn, Jane Seymour was 22 when she got her big break as Solitaire, the Bond girl, opposite Roger Moore in which film? Win Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman complete series 1-6 hatbox collection, personally signed by Jane Seymour. CONTEST CLOSED
A | Guy Hamilton's Live and Let Die (1973).
WINNER | Margaret Grossel, of Bossley Park, NSW. Consolation prize: C. Aisbett, of Rouse Hill, NSW.
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★ COOKING TV | JAMIE OLIVER
REVIEW | Jamie Oliver Home Christmas Collection + Save with Jamie: Series 2 + Jamie & Jimmy's Food Fight Club: Series 2 | One of the originals, and one of the very best, of the current crop of TV chefs, Jamie Oliver has released a great six-disc boxset for holiday entertaining, comprising Jamie Cooks Christmas, Jamie's Christmas, Jamie's Family Christmas, Jamie's Best Ever Christmas, Jamie's Christmas with Bells On and Jamie at Home: Christmas Special – all great titles in their own right – plus a bonus Jamie Oliver apron. Along with the second series of both Save with Jamie and Jamie & Jimmy's Food Fight Club. It's an endless supply of inspiration and encouragement for cooks of all levels. Not bad for a young Brit chef who couldn't even afford clothes when he started out as the Naked Chef! Trivia: He and wife Juliette named their kids Daisy Boo Pamela Oliver, Poppy Honey Rosie Oliver, Buddy Bear Maurice Oliver and Petal Blossom Rainbow Oliver – Poppy and Daisy make a special guest appearance to help Dad in one of the Christmas DVDs. M (mild sexual references); PG (mild coarse language), Shock Home Entertainment.
Q | In what country was Jamie Oliver born? CONTEST CLOSED
A | Jamie Oliver was born in England, in Clavering in Essex, on May 27 in 1975 (he turned 40 in 2015).
WINNERS | Each of the three DVD sets listed above (including the holiday six-pack) plus apron to: D. Edwards, of Smithfield, NSW; B. Johnson, of Sans Souci, NSW; M. Killeen, of Green Valley, NSW; and Sagarita Richards, of Beaumont Hills, NSW.
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★ THE TRIP TO ITALY
TRAVEL REVIEW | Put yourself in this picture – breakfast on the terrace, crisp mountain air, sipping wine, overlooking the glorious Italian alps! Against this heady backdrop the hugely entertaining Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon bicker and argue and do hilarious spot-on impressions of Michael Caine, Christian Bale, Humphrey Bogart as they traipse across some of the most stunningly beautiful regions of Italy. Brydon's conversation with a mummy at Pompeii is so funny. Originally made as a six-part TV series and then re-cut into the hit movie for cinemas. Written and directed by Michael Winterbottom who made Angelina Jolie's mighty movie A Mighty Heart. M (sexual references, coarse language), Madman Home Entertainment.
Q | Steve Coogan recently wrote and starred in which heartbreaking movie about an Irish mum (Judi Dench) trying to find her grown child whom the nuns took from her when a toddler? DVDs of the original six-part TV series of The Trip to Italy plus Blu-rays of the edited movie version to win. CONTEST CLOSED
A | Steve Coogan wrote, and starred with Judi Dench, in Philomena (2013).
WINNERS | Craig Elfenbein, of Bruce, ACT; A. Lee, of Bexley North, NSW; and C. Shai-Hee, of Carlingford, NSW.
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★ BROKEN BONES + THE ROVER
CD REVIEW Broken Bones | The star of Priscilla, LA Confidential, Memento, Mildred Pierce and The King's Speech makes his very long-awaited debut as a professional musician, writing and performing some amazing stuff here. Tracks include Storm, Taste and the title track. Available on CD and vinyl, at outlets including JB Hi-fi and Sanity.
plus
DVD REVIEW The Rover | In Australia of the future, after The Collapse, Guy Pearce is forced to pair up with a wounded Robert Pattinson, his opposite in every respect, to go cross country to track down the scum who stole his car. Written and directed by David Michôd who made Animal Kingdom with Pearce. Stunning, ferocious, unforgettable. MA15+ (strong violence, coarse language), Roadshow Home Entertainment.
★ ★ ★ BROKEN BONES CDs PERSONALLY SIGNED BY GUY PEARCE ★ ★ ★
- Read Ian's interview with Guy Pearce here.
Q | Whom did Guy Pearce play in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994)? Win Guy Pearce's Broken Bones CD (personally signed by Guy Pearce) plus The Rover. CONTEST CLOSED
A | Guy Pearce played Adam Whitely, alias Felicia Jollygoodfellow, in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994).
WINNERS | 1st prize: Cathie Aisbett (DVD + signed CD), of Rouse Hill, NSW; B. Johnson (BD + signed CD), of Sans Souci, NSW; and Kelly Jones (BD + signed CD), of Eschol Park, NSW. 2nd prize: D. Edwards (signed CD), of Smithfield, NSW; and Arthur Lee (signed CD), of Bexley North, NSW.
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★ DEVIL'S KNOT
REVIEW | Moody, impeccably acted real-life drama of three teenagers, the West Memphis Three, who may or may not have been framed for the brutal murder of three little boys in a swamp. A perfect study of paranoia and frustration in a small Southern town that prefers closure to justice. Reese Witherspoon adds another unforgettable Southern woman to her repertoire, and Colin Firth is powerfully understated as the private investigator set to save the whole situation . . . but who finds both hands tied firmly behind his back. M (mature themes, crime scene images, coarse language), Icon Home Entertainment.
★ ★ ★ DEVIL'S KNOT PRIZES PERSONALLY SIGNED BY DIRECTOR ATOM EGOYAN ★ ★ ★
- Read Ian's interview with director Atom Egoyan here.
Q | Who stars in director Atom Egoyan's next film The Captive? (HINT: Click the above link to read our interview to find out.) (Blu-rays and DVDs personally signed by director Atom Egoyan.) CONTEST CLOSED
A | Ryan Reynolds stars in Atom Egoyan's The Captive.
WINNERS | C. Borg (signed Blu-ray), of Butler, WA; Brendon Chambers (signed Blu-ray), of Belconnen, ACT; Mark Gee (signed DVD), of Cambridge Park, NSW: A. Lee (signed DVD), of Bexley North, NSW; and K. Stubbs (signed DVD), of Woodridge, Qld.
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★ WAR STORY
REVIEW | The elegant Catherine Keener is excellent as a warzone photographer still in shock after what she's seen first-hand during a stint in Libya. It's a difficult film about a difficult job. She brings as much dignity as pain, conveying both with a look and a glance instead of pages of dialogue which other actors would need. With Ben Kingsley. M (mature themes, coarse language, sex scene), Accent Films Home Entertainment.
★ ★ ★ WAR STORY PRIZES PERSONALLY SIGNED BY CATHERINE KEENER ★ ★ ★
- Read Ian's interview with Catherine Keener here.
Q | In 2011 Catherine Keener played the long-suffering daughter of ageing hippie Jane Fonda in which movie directed by Australian Bruce Beresford? (Blu-rays personally signed by Catherine Keener.) CONTEST CLOSED
A | Catherine Keener played Jane Fonda's daughter Diane in Peace, Love and Misunderstanding.
WINNERS | Caitlyn Borg, of Butler, WA; Michael + Lara Gladwin, of Hughes, ACT; I. Miljak, of Fairfield, NSW; P. Murphy, of ACT; and Jake Thomas, of Douglas Park, NSW.
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★ EDGE OF TOMORROW
REVIEW | ‘‘I’ll be back!’’ Kitted up like Terminators, Tom Cruise follows Emily Blunt back in time to a battle he must win. He fails, so he’s sent back, and back, and back. And back. It’s hard work saving the planet. Some of the digi stuff is a bit dodgy but this sci-fi Groundhog Day is awesome fun! M (science fiction violence, infrequent coarse language), Roadshow Home Entertainment.
Q | In which movie did Renée Zellweger say to Tom Cruise "You had me at hello"? CONTEST CLOSED
A | Cameron Crowe's Jerry Maguire (1996).
WINNERS | Danielle Carvey (Blu-ray), of Wattle Grove, NSW; D. Edwards (DVD), of Smithfield, NSW; Alioshar Guo (DVD), of Canley Heights, NSW; and Arlene Smith (Blu-ray), of Kensington, Vic.
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★ CONCERT | DIANA KRALL: LIVE IN PARIS
CONCERT REVIEW | One of the most talented, dynamic, loveliest jazz performers, Diana Krall enthralls Paris, which ain’t easy, with wonderful versions of Let’s Fall in Love, The Look of Love, Cry Me a River and so many others. G (general), Shock Home Entertainment.
Q | Diana Krall is married to which well-known English singer-songwriter? [Hint: He borrowed his stage name from Elvis Presley.] CONTEST CLOSED
A | Diana Krall's husband is Elvis Costello.
WINNERS | D. Connolly, of Regents Park, NSW; M. + L. Gladwin, of Hughes, ACT; C. Hayes, of Sanctuary Point, NSW; S. King, of McMahons Point, NSW; and Liz Perry, of ACT.
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★ CLASSIC TV | PICKET FENCES
REVIEW | Sheriff Tom Skerritt deals with the unlikeliest of problems in otherwise very normal small-town suburbia. M (violence, mature themes, sex references), Madman.
★ ★ ★ PICKET FENCES DVD SETS PERSONALLY SIGNED BY TOM SKERRITT ★ ★ ★
- Read Ian's interview with Tom Skerritt here.
Q | Tom Skerritt has been married to Sally Field twice on screen — once in a movie with Shirley MacLaine, Julia Roberts and Dolly Parton and once in a TV series with Rachel Griffiths and Calista Flockhart. Name the movie AND the show. CONTEST CLOSED
A | Tom Skerritt was married to Sally Field in the movie Steel Magnolias (1989) and also on the TV show Brothers & Sisters (2006-09).
WINNERS | D. Connolly, of Regents Park, NSW; M. Killeen, of Green Valley, NSW; Ivanka Miljak, of Fairfield, NSW; A.D. Perry, of Bruce, ACT; and C. Shai-Hee, of Carlingford, NSW.
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★ SUNSHINE ON LEITH
REVIEW | Exhilarating, affirming, tender, funny, thoroughly entertaining film of the stage musical built on The Proclaimers’ hits, with a fantastic cast who all sing on tune and in time. Once you’ve seen it you’ll happily walk 500 miles to see it again, and 500 more. PG (mild themes, violence, sexual references), eOne Home Entertainment.
Q | Leith is a district in which British country — and still a part of Britain since the referendum! CONTEST CLOSED
A | Scotland.
WINNERS | D. Connolly, of Regents Park, NSW; Peter Gillman, of Bruce, ACT; M. Killeen, of Green Valley, NSW; Aimei Lee, of Bossley Park, NSW; and Kelly Malcolm, of Moorebank, NSW.
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★ THE FACE OF LOVE
REVIEW | Robin Williams is magnificently understated in this absurd tale made compelling by great acting. Annette Bening is marvellous as a widow who can’t move on when she meets her late partner’s (Ed Harris) look-alike, crushing Williams’ long-held hopes of asking her out. M (mature themes), Reel/Rialto.
Q | Robin Williams got his start at 27 as a TV alien named what? CONTEST CLOSED
A | Mork from Ork, on Mork & Mindy (1978-82).
WINNERS | Leanne Lu, of Cabramatta, NSW; and Alexandra Vella, of Horsley Park, NSW.
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★ CLASSIC TV | VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA
REVIEW | Series 1 and 2 (16 discs) of Irwin Allen’s submarine drama, set thousands of leagues below sea-level but shot closer to land. PG (mild themes, violence, coarse language), Madman.
Q | Producer Irwin Allen is famous for a string of sci-fi TV shows. Which of them featured Will Robinson, a robot and Doctor Smith? CONTEST CLOSED
A | Lost in Space (1965-68), revived as a movie in 1998, with William Hurt, Gary Oldman and Matt leBlanc.
WINNERS | Deidre Edwards, of [Doctor] Smith-field, NSW; A. Lee, of Bossley Park, NSW; and Katrina Stubbs, of Woodridge, Queensland.
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★ TRANSCENDENCE
REVIEW | Novel and interesting sci-fi, if not entirely successful, in which Johnny Depp (pictured) becomes a, er, computer. Rebecca Hall is excellent as his wife who’s desperate to connect with the eDepp when her husband’s usual body is disposed off. Depp is always good, even if the film wanders a bit between gripping and silly. It’d be a great sequel to Her, in which Scarlett Johansson almost became a computer, and Lucy, in which she did. Some terrific camerawork. M (science fiction themes, violence), Roadshow Entertainment.
Q | Johnny Depp got his big break at 24 playing Officer Tom Hanson on what? Clue: He also reprised the role — unbilled — in the 2012 big-screen remake. CONTEST CLOSED
A | 21 Jump Street (1987-91).
WINNERS | Sharryn Azevedo (DVD+digital), of Prestons, NSW; Michelle Killeen (Blu-ray+digital), of Green Valley, NSW; and Sandy Nguyen (DVD+digital), of St Ives, NSW.
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★ CLASSIC MUSIC | A HARD DAY'S NIGHT
REVIEW | John, Paul, George and Ringo in the first of their three movies (if you include Yellow Submarine) prove they can’t act but this restored 1964 film is a priceless presentation of tracks which would become timeless: All My Loving, Can’t Buy Me Love, I Should Have Known Better, She Loves You and the title tune. Worth it just for those. M (low-level coarse language), Umbrella Entertainment.
Q | The Beatles made their second film in 1965, the year after A Hard Day's Night, also directed by Richard Lester. What was it? CONTEST CLOSED
A | Richard Lester's Help! (1965).
WINNERS | Dianne Connolly, of Regents Park, NSW; Allan Kelb, of Liverpool, NSW; David Perry, of Bruce, ACT; T. Rodgers, of Winmalee, NSW; and Chris Shai-Hee, of Carlingford, NSW.
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- TERMS AND CONDITIONS IN FULL | If there is a giveaway there will be a question at the bottom of the review. Read the question very carefully and email your answer to ihorner@pnc.com.au with the name of the prize as the subject. Note closing dates. You must include your age if under 18. No Fairfax Media staff or relatives are eligible to enter. Include your postal address and a phone number which may be needed for age verification. These are competitions of skill, not chance. Spelling and creativity are important but you must get the answer/s right! Only open to entries from Australia. All entries will be judged. The judges' decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. All winners will be notified by post and names published on this page.
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