A SIMPLE FAVOUR
Directed by Paul Feig (Freaks & Geeks, Ghostbusters, Spy, Bridesmaids) this is a big departure - stylistically speaking - for him. His previous films have been broadly aimed comedies, this outing is a lot more caustic and acidic in its tone and it feels more akin to black comedies such as the 1989 film Heathers. It’s sharp witted, dark and profane. It feels slightly like a comic re-working of Gone Girl, which is fine as a capsule description for people who know nothing about it but that said - it’s not perfect by any means. It has a few problems tonally – the film motors along its first two-thirds with double-crosses, triple-crosses and references to the French thriller Diabolique, all giving one the impression that the film is going to play out a lot more unexpectedly than it does. The way the last third of the film unfolds with such leaden predictability and broadly aimed silliness is something of a disappointment because I was really hoping that Feig would play a little more with the psycho-sexual buttons he pushes early on the film that give the relationship between Stephanie and Emily a lot more edge and a lot more dark possibilities than what ultimately plays out.
Performance-wise, Anna Kendrick is terrific as the buttoned-down, uptight mum whose suburban bubble is burst by the introduction of the world-weary and intimidatingly life-experienced Emily. As Emily, Blake Lively is commanding and aggressive, oozing crass barbed humour and a self-deprecating charm - she’s really great here, maybe better than I’ve seen her anywhere.
It’s a shame Feig didn’t stick the landing when it comes to the plot possibilities that seem endless at the films beginning. An ultra-chic French pop soundtrack adds to the cool and John Schwartzman’s cinematography keep things as crisp and cool as the dialogue. Enjoyable stuff.
THE FIRST
The First is about the first human mission to Mars and explores the challenges of planning and preparing for interplanetary colonisation. The story focuses on the astronauts as well as their families and significant others. It’s created and produced by Beau Willimon, who created the US version of House of Cards - and it’s been given a big budget, prestige treatment.
It stars Sean Penn who plays Tom Hagerty, an astronaut and the team leader of the mission, Natascha McElhone, who plays Laz Ingram, CEO of the commercial launch provider Vista and a large, predominantly female, cast. ‘Australia’s Own’ Melissa George also stars.
There isn’t - as yet - an Australian TV platform that’s designated to show this, but I’d expect that Foxtel would probably get hold of it somehow – it’s available to view on the US Based streaming platform Hulu, which, if you have a VPN you can watch now – otherwise it should be here pretty soon, so look out for it.