eric bana – NZ Film Freak

The Time Traveller's Wife film review poster

Director: Robert Schwentke
Writer: Bruce Joel Rubin. Based on the novel by Audrey Niffeneger
Released: August 2009
Starring: Rachel McAdams, Eric Bana, Ron Livingston
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A heart-breaking story about, not the person who leaves, but the person who’s perpetually left behind.

I like this unusual perspective, particularly since time travel is such an attractive, but foreign concept. Yet, the story is focused on the more human and deeply relatable themes.

The Time Traveller's Wife review in library I’ve heard the book is fantastic – I’m going to read it this summer. But, the movie is exquisite. If you haven’t seen or read The Time Traveler’s Wife, the low-down is that a man is a time traveller and his wife is not. The time traveller, named Henry (Eric Bana) can’t control his travelling, so his impromptu disappearances and reappearances become a way of life for his wife Clare Abshire (Rachel McAdams).

Clare: I’ve been here for two weeks wanting to talk to you. What do you want to talk about? How bad it feels to sit here and wait for you?

My favourite song in the movie is Love Will Tear Us Apart by Broken Social Scene. It plays during the wedding, where Clare is to marry Henry – currently a nervous, attractive young man. But just before he is to be at the alter, he time travels. Within minutes, his grey-haired, older self appears to take his place – becoming the person Clare marries. The Time Traveller's Wife film review at wedding

I love time travel, so the intricacies and non-linear storyline is like cotton candy and lollipops and rainbows and unicorns for me.

Even if you’re not a time travel nut, most people will appreciate how well the movie portrays the sense of loss. As when a loved one goes away, it’s usually harder for the person left behind to pick up the pieces and carry on. The Time Traveller's Wife film review at restaurant
Every time Henry disappears, the camera stays on Clare; left to finish dinner by herself, left to spend Christmas on her own, left to unpack in their new house by herself – unsure whether to sit and wait, or to continue regardless.

On a shallow note, Rachel McAdams is so gorgeous in this film, I can’t even look at myself in the mirror after watching this movie without despairing.

A beautiful, tragic and magical tale, of two people who try to have a normal life, in the most abnormal of circumstances. Told in a straight-forward, beginning to end fashion, but with a non-linear character. A classic “big ball of wibbly wobbly, timey-wimey… Stuff.” (Dr. Who reference there…)

For people who love romance and drama, but who find chick-flicks boring.

Jodie’s rating: 8/10

Director: Scott Derrickson
Writers: Scott Derrickson and Paul Harris Boardman (screenplay), Ralph Sarchie and Lisa Collier Cool (story)
Starring: Eric Bana, Édgar Ramírez, Olivia Munn, Sean Harris and Joel McHale
Released: July 2014
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Was this supposed to be a black comedy?

I had been told Deliver Us from Evil was on par with The Conjuring. But I honestly can’t say this was the case. It was a suspenseful, supernatural thriller, but not something that would keep you up at night.

Apparently based on ‘true events’ of a New York cop Ralph Sarchie (Eric Bana) who encounters demonic forces. The mysterious cases quickly become bizarre and laughable.

Reading up about the true events of this cop, I think the only ‘true’ parts that were used in the film was his name and characteristics. There’s an interview on Youtube where he says most of the “possessed” people he encountered turned out to have mental issues.

In the film we follow Sarchie as he slowly unravels the peculiar happenings of what turns out to be people with demons in their houses. Throwing children into lion dens at the zoo, cat worshiping, scratching at walls, and croaky voices was just some of the fun that ensues.

A tad too typical of a horror, with the characteristics of a scary movie thrown in even if it doesn’t fit. Like when the daughter suddenly has the urge to wind the musical jack-in-the-box before she goes to bed. Because we all know how creepy the combination of children, musical boxes and darkness is.

I couldn’t take it seriously because of the weird choice of music that face-plants you back into reality. Imagine getting into a super tense part in the movie and then have the theme song ‘People Are Strange’ by The Doors blasting. What a way to snap you out of it!

The acting was a bit average, particularly the 6-year-old daughter, whose toys come to life at night. I felt like I was in a mash-up of The Ring and Toy Story.

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Quite frankly, I couldn’t keep a straight face when the demonised people were talking, I wasn’t scared of the dude who ate his own leg either… I was just grossed out. And the final exorcism went on for way too long. I fell asleep toward the end of that scene.

Finally, the religious messages of how non-believers are screwed and your only hope for protection is by converting to a life of God in some form, was a tad over-kill!

A few things will make you jump, but overall it wasn’t scary or creepy… Just weird.

Jodie’s rating: 4/10