Film Review: War Horse

War Horse. Rated M (war violence and themes). 146 minutes. Directed by Steven Spielberg. Screenplay by Lee Hall and Richard Curtis. Based on the novel by Michael Morpurgo and the stage adaptation by Nick Stafford.

Steven Spielberg’s grand, career-long study of the qualities of redemption – mostly, as in Schlinder’s List, based on the sins of others – reaches a particular kind of zenith with this magnificent film about a young man’s life-long bond with his horse, Joey. Having witnessed its birth, Albert Narracott (a singularly impressive debut from Jeremy Irvine, pictured) soon finds himself breaking-in the yearling – and the long first act of War Horse is a fastidious telling of the formation of this extraordinary relationship, which culminates in a miraculous feat of farming. On the eve of World War I, Joey is sold to the British cavalry and a distraught Albert promises him that once the war is over, he will come and find him and bring him home.

Based on Mr Morpurgo’s novel and Mr Stafford’s stage adaptation for the National Theatre of Great Britain (now its fourth year of performances), Mr Hall (Billy Elliot) and Mr Curtis’s (Love Actually, Bridget Jones's Diary, Notting Hill) screenplay neatly accounts for the involving episodes from Joey’s life and manages to contain what might have been an unwieldy, rambling odyssey into a mostly captivating and emotional drama.

The work of the team of horse trainers – including Bobby Lovgren and Gold Coast-based Zelie Bullen – ensures that the four-legged stars (a total of fourteen horses were used to play Joey) are the absolute standouts. The astonishing sequence when Joey faces off with a tank before running for his life through the trenches and ending up in No Man’s Land rates as the cinematic sequence of the year – and could probably only ever have been brought to the screen by a master filmmaker and storyteller like Mr Spielberg and his frequent collaborator, cinematographer Janusz Kaminski (Saving Private Ryan, Schindler's List).

While it certainly over-cooks its ending, War Horse remains an incredible cinematic achievement – and a richly rewarding film experience you will remember forever.

This review was commissioned by the Geraldton Newspaper Group.

Film Review: Dolphin Tale and Festive Season Previews

The 2011 cinematic year winds up with the excellent Dolphin Tale and a collection of eagerly-anticipated festive season releases.



Dolphin Tale (PG)
Only the hardest of hearts will not melt at some stage during this beautifully-made film about a boy’s love for an injured dolphin. Nathan Gamble (The Dark Knight, Marley & Me) is exceptional as Sawyer Nelson – a shy boy whose life is literally turned upside down when he helps rescue a dolphin that has been washed ashore, tangled up in a crab trap.

Based on a true story – and starring ‘Winter’ the actual dolphin hero of the story (pictured above with Mr Gamble) – Dolphin Tale packs a big, emotional punch. Gamble receives excellent support from Harry Connick Jr, Ashley Judd, Cozi Zuehlsdorff and Morgan Freeman, while Austin Stowell (as Sawyer’s cousin Kyle) carries off the weighty subplot about an injured soldier returning from the war with a fine performance of understated sincerity.

It is impossible to deny the impact that Winter had, and continues to have, on people who have their own particular physical challenges to conquer – and actor-turned-director Charles Martin Smith, quite understandably, focuses entirely on the strength of the performances and is handsomely rewarded for his faith. It’s equally impossible to recall a film that could honestly be described as perfect family entertainment – and while Karen Janszen and Noam Dromi’s screenplay occasionally comes perilously close to drowning in earnest sentimentality, it is young Mr Gamble’s outstanding performance and an absolutely determined little dolphin that, combined, take us somewhere very special indeed.

Puss in Boots (PG)
Second only to The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1, Puss in Boots has proven itself to be an undisputed winner at the box office, and is entirely worthy of its success. A solid screenplay and exceptional 3D animation, combined with the voices of Antonio Banderas (Puss), Salma Hayek (Kitty Softpaws) and Zach Galifianakis (Humpty Dumpty), has ensured that this Shrek spinoff is enjoying a life of its own. Like Dolphin Tale, Puss in Boots delivers a richly layered story in the grand tradition of storytelling for children, with more than enough subtle innuendo to keep the adults equally as entertained.

Happy Feet Two (PG)
More 3D mayhem – this time with an endearing cast of penguins – is promised when George Miller’s sequel to his Academy Award-winning Happy Feet (2006) is released on Boxing Day. Elijah Wood (best-known as Frodo Baggins in The Lord of The Rings trilogy) returns as the voice of Mumble, and is joined by Robin Williams, Hank Azaria, Brad Pitt and Matt Damon – to name just a few of the Hollywood A-listers whose voices will no doubt help bring Mr Miller’s gloriously imagined penguin colony to life again.

War Horse (M)
If there is a director who can be relied on to bring a big picture epic to the screen in all its magnificence these days, then that director would be Steven Spielberg. Based on the novel by Michael Morpurgo, War Horse is the story of young Albert Narracott’s (Jeremy Irvine) horse Joey who serves in the army during World War I. The novel was also adapted for the stage (enjoying hugely successful runs in London and New York), with a production due to open in Melbourne in 2012. While it’s impossible to judge a film on the strength of its promotional trailer, there can be no denying that War Horse looks as though it will be every bit as involving as the pre-release anticipation would suggest.

We Bought a Zoo (PG)
In case you hadn’t noticed, the big theme of the festive season release schedule is animals – and We Bought a Zoo is about as animal-centric as you could possibly get. Based on a true story, the film stars Matt Damon as the recently-widowed Benjamin Mee who buys a derelict zoo (and all its animals) and moves in with his two young children Rosie (Maggie Elizabeth Jones) and Dylan (Colin Ford) to resurrect it. Directed by Cameron Crowe (Jerry Maguire, Almost Famous), the film also stars Scarlett Johansson as zookeeper (and love interest) Kelly Foster.

The Adventures of Tintin (PG)
When Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson (The Lord of The Rings, King Kong) are at the top of their game, you can be guaranteed of something special – and this 3D adventure has all the hallmarks of being a hugely popular choice for the holidays. Based on the comic books created by Belgian artist Hergé, The Adventures of Tintin uses state-of-the-art performance capture technology to record the actors’ movements before they are rendered into digitally animated characters. The technology has come a long way since The Polar Express (2004), and Jamie Bell (best known as Billy Elliot) plays the young journalist Tintin. And yes, there’s an animal involved – Tintin’s trusty dog Snowy.

This review and festive season previews were commissioned by the Geraldton Newspaper Group.