hoopla.nu http://hoopla.nu film reviews, opinion and more en-us hoopla.nu http://hoopla.nu/images/banner_rss.jpg http://hoopla.nu LOL (Laughing Out Loud) ® We're assaulted by rapid-fire scenes, introduced to a dozen teenagers - who all look the same - and witness several montages in a row. I can only assume that the producer and editor are the enemies of the slow-burn feature. http://hoopla.nu/films/laughing-out-loud/LOL.html Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:43:56 +1000 http://hoopla.nu/films/laughing-out-loud/LOL.html   LOL (Laughing Out Loud) ®
We're assaulted by rapid-fire scenes, introduced to a dozen teenagers - who all look the same - and witness several montages in a row. I can only assume that the producer and editor are the enemies of the slow-burn feature.

Rating: Rating = 5
Review by Stuart Wilson
Hoopla Factor: Hoopla Factor = 7]]> The Blind Side The Blind Side is an embarassment to the voters who have decided it is worthy to compete with such brilliant films as The Hurt Locker and Inglourious Basterds - this has 'Midday Movie' written all over it, but is dressed in Hollywood finery such that people are inclined to take it more seriously than it deserves. http://hoopla.nu/films/the-blind-side/the-blind-side.html Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:00:21 +1000 http://hoopla.nu/films/the-blind-side/the-blind-side.html   The Blind Side
The Blind Side is an embarassment to the voters who have decided it is worthy to compete with such brilliant films as The Hurt Locker and Inglourious Basterds - this has 'Midday Movie' written all over it, but is dressed in Hollywood finery such that people are inclined to take it more seriously than it deserves.

Rating: Rating = 3
Review by Mark Lavercombe
Hoopla Factor: Hoopla Factor = 4]]> Up in the Air Perhaps it is unreasonable to judge the film negatively due to the hype surrounding it, but while it is a competent and entertaining piece, it doesn't quite have the chops to match Reitman's previous outing. http://hoopla.nu/films/up-in-the-air/up-in-the-air.html Sun, 07 Mar 2010 18:42:39 +1000 http://hoopla.nu/films/up-in-the-air/up-in-the-air.html   Up in the Air
Perhaps it is unreasonable to judge the film negatively due to the hype surrounding it, but while it is a competent and entertaining piece, it doesn't quite have the chops to match Reitman's previous outing.

Rating: Rating = 7
Review by Mark Lavercombe
Hoopla Factor: Hoopla Factor = 7]]> Skirt Day The script and direction mean that the characters are storming about yelling this and that with very little build up. Sonia cracks less than ten minutes into the film and whilst I wanted to knock some sense into her students myself, it was a little too soon to see her go over the edge. http://hoopla.nu/films/la-journee-de-la-jupe/skirt-day.html Sat, 01 Aug 2009 09:17:25 +1000 http://hoopla.nu/films/la-journee-de-la-jupe/skirt-day.html   Skirt Day
The script and direction mean that the characters are storming about yelling this and that with very little build up. Sonia cracks less than ten minutes into the film and whilst I wanted to knock some sense into her students myself, it was a little too soon to see her go over the edge.

Rating: Rating = 6
Review by Stuart Wilson
Hoopla Factor: Hoopla Factor = 6]]> Queen to Play The amiable tone and comfortable pacing ensure the lead actors are afforded every opportunity to capture ones attention, however, and Bonnaire in particular benefits from this generosity. http://hoopla.nu/films/joueuse/queen-to-play.html Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:57:45 +1000 http://hoopla.nu/films/joueuse/queen-to-play.html   Queen to Play
The amiable tone and comfortable pacing ensure the lead actors are afforded every opportunity to capture ones attention, however, and Bonnaire in particular benefits from this generosity.

Rating: Rating = 7
Review by Mark Lavercombe
Hoopla Factor: Hoopla Factor = 7]]> Welcome Writer/director Lioret has seemingly achieved his aim of raising the profile of the plight of illegal immigrants, with his film being nominated for many awards and highly successful at the French box office. That his characters and their tragic story are so masterfully realised is reward for his audience. http://hoopla.nu/films/welcome/welcome.html Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:49:08 +1000 http://hoopla.nu/films/welcome/welcome.html   Welcome
Writer/director Lioret has seemingly achieved his aim of raising the profile of the plight of illegal immigrants, with his film being nominated for many awards and highly successful at the French box office. That his characters and their tragic story are so masterfully realised is reward for his audience.

Rating: Rating = 8
Review by Mark Lavercombe
Hoopla Factor: Hoopla Factor = 8]]> First Snow The narrative is simply so Hollywood that one can't escape the comparison. The difference is in the little things - it still falls victim to the most obvious traps (apparently there's nothing funnier than seeing an overweight grandma on an out of control sled) but at the same time its rather straightforward intentions are pure. http://hoopla.nu/films/la-premiere-etoile/first-snow.html Tue, 02 Mar 2010 09:01:48 +1000 http://hoopla.nu/films/la-premiere-etoile/first-snow.html   First Snow
The narrative is simply so Hollywood that one can't escape the comparison. The difference is in the little things - it still falls victim to the most obvious traps (apparently there's nothing funnier than seeing an overweight grandma on an out of control sled) but at the same time its rather straightforward intentions are pure.

Rating: Rating = 6
Review by Stuart Wilson
Hoopla Factor: Hoopla Factor = 6]]> Valentine's Day Scattered moments in which the performers make something of the dross they're asked to perform can't make up for the long stretches of boredom and disappointment that must accompany any viewing of Valentine's Day. http://hoopla.nu/films/valentines-day/valentines-day.html Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:56:15 +1000 http://hoopla.nu/films/valentines-day/valentines-day.html   Valentine's Day
Scattered moments in which the performers make something of the dross they're asked to perform can't make up for the long stretches of boredom and disappointment that must accompany any viewing of Valentine's Day.

Rating: Rating = 4
Review by Mark Lavercombe
Hoopla Factor: Hoopla Factor = 4]]> Shutter Island Shutter Island doesn't really pack any scares, though at least this means we're not subjected to any cheap thrills with loud, inexplicable noises, as is often the case in lazy thriller and/or horror films. http://hoopla.nu/films/shutter-island/shutter-island.html Mon, 01 Mar 2010 11:45:28 +1000 http://hoopla.nu/films/shutter-island/shutter-island.html   Shutter Island
Shutter Island doesn't really pack any scares, though at least this means we're not subjected to any cheap thrills with loud, inexplicable noises, as is often the case in lazy thriller and/or horror films.

Rating: Rating = 6
Review by Stuart Wilson
Hoopla Factor: Hoopla Factor = 5]]> The Road (Stuart Wilson) The special effects are fantastic - this beats any of the more glamorous and showy dystopic visions hands down. The cinematography is completely devoid of warm colours (excepting some flashbacks); instead we are shown just how many shades of grey one can create. http://hoopla.nu/films/the-road/the-road.html Sat, 23 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +1000 http://hoopla.nu/films/the-road/the-road.html   The Road
The special effects are fantastic - this beats any of the more glamorous and showy dystopic visions hands down. The cinematography is completely devoid of warm colours (excepting some flashbacks); instead we are shown just how many shades of grey one can create.

Rating: Rating = 9
Review by Stuart Wilson
Hoopla Factor: Hoopla Factor = 9]]> The Road (Mark Lavercombe) This is an extraordinary portrayal of a post-apocalyptic world that removes all the 'glamour' from that phrase and replaces it with desolation, destruction and hopelessness. http://hoopla.nu/films/the-road/the-road.html#mark Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +1000 http://hoopla.nu/films/the-road/the-road.html#mark   The Road
This is an extraordinary portrayal of a post-apocalyptic world that removes all the 'glamour' from that phrase and replaces it with desolation, destruction and hopelessness.

Rating: Rating = 9
Review by Mark Lavercombe
Hoopla Factor: Hoopla Factor = 10]]> Coverage of the Alliance Française French Film Festival 2010 Stuart and Mark look over several of the 43 films being screened in the 21st anniversary of the French Film Festival. http://hoopla.nu/festivals/FFF10.html Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +1000 http://hoopla.nu/festivals/FFF10.html   Coverage of the Alliance Française French Film Festival 2010
Stuart and Mark look over several of the 43 films being screened in the 21st anniversary of the French Film Festival.





Feature article by Stuart Wilson &
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