Displaying items by tag: Catherine McClements

MY OXFORD YEAR

US, 2025, 116 minutes, Colour.

Sofia Carson, Corey Mylchcreest, Dougray Scott, Catherine McCormack, Harry Trevaldwyn, Esme Kingdom, Nikhil Parmar, Poppy Gilbert.

Directed by Allison Burnett.

My Oxford Year is a romantic comedy. Its central characters are in their 20s so that is the target audience.

It begins well but moves into very familiar material, touches of the cliche, touches of the trite in establishing a relationship, moving to emotions and jealousies, and then a final reveal which changes the perspective on the characters. And, it has a finale which, on the evidence of the narrative, seems impossible – or highly improbable.

The focus is on a young woman, with a good job at Goldman Sachs but who has had had a dream of studying literature in Oxford. She is from New York, a Hispanic family. When she arrives in Oxford, she is overwhelmed and the film offers scenes of Oxford, nostalgic for those who have been there, attractive for those who have not. She is Anna, played by Sofia Carson.

A car drives by, driving through a puddle and splashing her - entrenching. Then she encounters the driver, obviously wealthy, with a friend, hiding from a woman in a fish and chip shop. Interactions between Anna and Jamie, played by Corey Mylchreest (who, in fact, is five years younger than Sofia Carson). She goes for her lecture for the professor she wanted to listen to who has had a new job and, the new professor is Jamie. So, some prickly episodes, battle of the sexes.

When she is put upon in her first visit to a pub, he comes to her rescue, taking her to his favourite kebabs shop, and, too instantly, she is kissing him. After some hesitation they begin a relationship, too soon for credibility, declaring that each of them just wants to have fun.

There are some academic moments, some glimpses of classes and reading of poetry and interpretation, some tutorials, but very little insight into her academic career over the months which means that her becoming the professor at the end of the film defies credibility.

So romantic comedy and its variations in the Oxford context, with scenes of the anniversary Ball, the races on the Thames, atmosphere. But, something of a break, Anna and jealousy, discovering the truth about Jamie, his health, the death of his brother, alienation from his father. The tone of the film then does become much more serious leading to clashes, reconciliations, illness and death.

There may be an appeal to younger audiences but older audiences may well become impatient with characters and development of the themes.

THE SURVIVORS

Australia, 2025, 6X 50, colour.

Charlie Vickers, Yerin Hat, Robyn Malcolm, Damian Garvey, Eloise Rothfield, Miriama Smith, Johnny Carr, Martin Sacks, Jessica De Gouw, Thom Green, Benedict Hardie, Catherine McClements, Don Hany, Julian Weeks, Jaime Ureta, Ian Bliss.

Directed by Cherie Nolan, Ben C. Lucas.

The survivors is a television series based on a novel by Jane Harper, a well-respected Australian novelist, with film versions of her two films, The Dry and its sequel and the Dried 2.

This reviewer had read The Survivors. The screenplay is well-written, bringing all the characters to life, all the main episodes and interactions from the novel are on the screen. The casting is excellent, and satisfying for readers of the novel.

The setting is the Tasmanian Coast photographed spectacularly, a motif throughout the film, especially storms and high waves and danger. The focus is on the town, where everybody knows each other, experiencing a tragedy 15 years earlier, a rescue boat overturned as it sought to help a stranded teenager on the cliffs. At the same time, a 14-year-old girl had also disappeared, her body never recovered.

The rescued young man, Ciaran, returns home to his parents, his severe mother, an excellent performance by Robyn Malcolm, and his father moving into dementia, also an excellent performance from Damian Garvey. Ciaran is played by Charlie Vickers. He is married to a wife of Korean origin who had also grown up in the town.

There is resentment towards Ciaran who has been absent for 15 years. There is also the family, mother and sister, of the girl who disappeared – and a strong performance from Catherine McCammon’s as the mother. The members of this cast include the local restaurant owner who son what was died in the accident, his resentful grandson, another brother, a lecturer visiting, and a young woman working in the restaurant who was investigating the story of the girl who disappeared. Early in the piece she is murdered – and the film works well as a murder mystery, a success of range of suspicious characters, the establishment of alibis, a dramatic revelation of the murder at the end.

Well worth watching in itself – and satisfying for fans of Jane Harper’s work.

1. The novels by Jane Harper, the variety of settings, from The Dry to the Tasmanian Coast? Film versions? Television series? Australian characters, locations, imagery, language, relationships, crime?
2. The Tasmanian settings, the town, the coast, the beaches, the majestic cliffs, the caves? Homes, streets, restaurants? The sports club? The countryside to Tasmania? Hobart, the city, the prison? The musical score?
3. The adaptation of the novel, the key elements of plot, character? A successful presentation and interpretation of the novel? The satisfying casting? Performances?
4. The town, a melancholy history, everybody knowing each other? The background of 15 years earlier, the young men and their friendship, the parents, Brian has the sports coach, his sons, pride, captain and the boat, friendship with Toby, Julian and his running the cafe? Trish, her daughters, Olivia and the relationship with Keiran, Gabby, 14, her friendship with Mia? Keiran and his friendship with Sean and Ash? The series presenting each character distinctively, effect of cinema portraits for the interactions?
5. The episode, Keiran and the cave, the sudden storm, Toby and Finn in the boat, coming to his rescue, the boat overturning, their deaths? The effect on the families, the memories? Keiran being blamed for calling them to rescue him, resentme nts, especially his mother, his father urging him to go to Sydney?
6. The setup of the situation in the present, Liam, Toby’s son and his continued resentments against Keiran, staying with Verity, taking Keiran’s place in the family? His relationship with Julian? Ash, the relationship with Liv, his drug dealing? Friendship with Sean? Trish, by herself, her memories of Gabby, wanting her still alive, the issue of the backpack, throwing them into the sea to sew if the tide would bring them in, hopes for recovery of Gabby’s body? Trish and her moving to Melbourne, her return?
7. Keiran, married to Mia, their meeting in Sydney, the birth of Audrey? Keiran returning after so many years, people’s reactions and blame? The ambiguous behaviour of his mother? Her love of the baby? Brian, the setting in of dementia? Tensions within the house?
8. Brontë, photos, working at the restaurant, her project, investigating the past, specially Gabby’s disappearance, discussions with Mia? Drugs from Ash? Interviews with the various members of the town, her project, her body being found on the shore?
9. The screenplay, the variety of suspects for her murder, the buildup for each one, then the alibis, questioning motivations? Not giving so much attention to the actual killer, emerging more towards the end, in the final revelation and motivations?
10. The focus on Brian, the past, teacher, trainer, scenes of training the children? Love for Verity, her continued care? The dementia, on the beach, the lift home by Julian, the DNA from Bronte, his arrest, to Hobart, the accusations, his bewilderment? Keiran and his understanding of what really had happened? Verity, her continued support, the visit to Brian before he went to prison? The bail hearing and his return?
11. The character of Verity, tough-minded, her devotion to Finn, the accident, her resentment towards Keiran, making life hard, his father urging him to leave? His return, the difficulties, with each parent, interactions with Mia and his love for her, the relationship with liv, the final revelation that she was at the cave, that she called the boat, that he shielded her from any blame? The gradual revelation of this truth? Mia, upset, suspicious of the relationship, her behaviour?
12. The suspicions on Ash, the phone, live having taken Bronte’s phone, giving it in, Ash and the relationship, the phone offering him his alibi?
13. The author, his reputation, sacked from the University, writing the history of the town, Bronte’s admiration, sharing the photos with him? Mia, coming to see him, her admiration, his help, giving her the material, his pass and her reaction? The photos of his stalking? Interrogated by the police? Ash and his resentment because of the buying of the house, Ash in the garden, the author changing it, the men going into the shed to find the paint, the fight?
14. The buildup to the Memorial, the football match, the dedication of the club, the speeches by Julian and Verity, Trish coming with Liv and Mia, everybody present?
15. The police, and Verity, her single-mindedness, suspicions, behaviour, defending Bronte’s memory, the coming of her parents, the sadness, the evidence? Her assistant and his more sympathetic approach? The range of interrogations and questions, charges, evidence? Chris, the local policeman, earnest, the discussions, interviews, evidence, looking at the photos and surveillance clips? George, policeman of the time, the gradual revelation that he concealed the evidence of Bronte’s backpack and throwing it in the sea, talking with Verity, Trish and her upset – and her accosting him and Julian in the middle of the ceremony?
16. The further investigations, Bronte’s photo, her initials on the cave wall, indication of her presence? Keiran, going to the cave with the photo, wanting Ash to come but not able, going with Sean, the examination of the cave, the initial scratched out, Keiran’s gradual realisation, Sean and his behaviour, the struggle with Keiran, the digging up of the camera and the computer, the soil comparisons, focusing on Ash’s garden, the conclusion about Sean, the police going, his being arrested? Verity and Mia, concerned about Keiran, his eventually coming out? The arrest and interrogation of Sean?
17. The finale, Bronte’s parents, Trish with Liv, Ash and Liv, Mia and Keiran, Verity and Brian, walking along the shore, and the toast to Bronte?
18. A satisfying drama of relationships, a satisfying murder mystery and solution?

TOTAL CONTROL/ SERIES 3

Australia, 2024, 6 x 60 minutes, Colour.

Deborah Mailman, Rachel Griffiths, Rob Collins, Wayne Blair, Wesley Patten, Huw Higginson, Anthony Hayes, Steph Tisdell, Benedict Hardie, Rosie Lourde, Lisa Hensley, Jozef Beer, Catherine McClements, Fayssal Bazzi, Maya Stange.

Directed by Wayne Blair, Jub Clerc.

The first series of Total Control made such an impact in 2019 that in 2021 the second series went to air on the ABC. Deborah Mailman as Alex Irving, politician, the central character, won many awards. Rachel Griffiths was a strong presence. There were dramatic complications about First Nations people, Alex and her life in Queensland, in Parliament, dependence on Rachel, their clashes. This was developed in the second series, also developing the relationship between Alex and her brother Charlie, Rob Collins, leading to strong tensions. There was also the relationship between Alex and her son, Eddie, Wesley Patten. And there was a great deal of political conflict.

This is taken for granted in the third series, Alex initially seen in Queensland, with her new advisor, very patient and sympathetic Jolie, Steph Tisdell. Alex is campaigning, challenging the government for floods in the North. This sets a pattern for her behaviour throughout this series, as an independent in the House of Representatives, outspoken, always challenging, confronting the new prime minister of a minority government, played by Wayne Blair (who also directed three episodes). She clashes with her brother Charlie, now married, his wife expecting, his working for the prime minister on policy and documents.

And, there is the continuing relationship, friendly and hostile, with Rachel, the latter wanting an alliance of independent members, difficulties in finance, possibilities of corruption, investigative journalist with threats. And there is the continued concern of Alex for her son, his being in Canberra, at a special school, involved in protests against racism, planning to be an exchange student.

There is also the issue of Alex’s health, her incessant work, collapse, surgery, secrecy.

The fifth episode is well worth seeing, parliamentary sitting, Alex warning the prime minister that she would be a threat, proposing amendments, the cause of social justice for the young, trapping the prime minister and his relentless advisor, Sharon, Lisa Hensley, getting the support of the boisterous leader of the opposition, Anthony Hayes, only to outwit him to get support for further amendments which the government is forced to accept.

One of the best of Australian television series.

1. The title, Alex, have Total Control of herself?
2. The popularity of the series, Australian life, society, First Nations people, politics, corruption, Canberra?
3. The value of the miniseries, six hours to develop characters and themes?
4. Deborah Mailman as Alex Irving? The three series? The origins, her journey, Queensland, aboriginal, the past, relationship with her mother, crisis and her mother appearing to her, her relationship with Charlie, relationship with her son, Eddie? The opening, the floods in Queensland, the need for aid, government inaction? Her visit, her assistant, representations to the government? Political will? The intervention of the Queensland government, opening the Winton Medical Centre, the irony of her mother and illness, delayed, her death?
5. Alex, her age, career, ups and downs, out of the Senate, House of Representatives, relationship with Rachel over the years, relationship with Paul? Paul as Prime Minister, First Nations, minority government, the crossbench, the Greens? Alex and her associations? Her courses, youth justice, the arguments with Paul, the dinner with him and her family, clashes with Charlie? Relationship with the opposition leader, using him, outwitting him? Her reliance on Jolie, price, the bond, the talk, Alex not wanting Jolie to pester her? Her health situation, secretive, the discussions with the doctor, the need for an operation, going to Queensland, the secrecy, collapse, her relationship with Dominic, driver and security, his challenging her – confidant, the later evening, dancing, the kiss? Alex has driven, her moods, strict mother, advised to be free with her son?
6. Rachel, the past, her leadership, losing government, the crossbench? Forming the alliance? The think tank? Nick and his influence? Matt, the opposition, her wanting to influence him? Her relationship with Alex, up and down, the visit for to discussions? Lobbying for boats? Rachel and the encounters with Marian, the interview, the material for the article, Rachel wanting the injunction, collaboration with the Greens, the think tank, the finances? Kathleen, the discussion, Helena, wanting to support? Her being the source of Marian’s information? Kathleen hacking Marian? Rachel and the confrontation? Rachel and her voting record? Peter and his advisory role, constant? Alex and her anger with Rachel, Rachel saying she was not above suspicion? Alex justifying herself and abandoning Rachel?
7. Paul, Prime Minister, aboriginal background, political savvy, the minority government, personal involvement, strengths and weaknesses? The parliamentary sittings and abuse?) Sharon, tough attitudes, advice, strategies? The relationship with Alex, the conflicts? Alex challenging? Charlie, his job, writing, the deadlines, policies? Charlie and his outburst against Paul, the aftermath? Alex and her visits, the threats, the setting of the house of parliament, her amendments, Paul being trapped?
8. The picture of the opposition, the gung ho leader, his abuse of parliamentarians, the Speaker correcting him? Conservative, his following? Supporting Alex, a new amendments, his being trapped, his eyes harsh attitudes towards youth? The walkout of his members who did not support him? Matt, principals, urged by Rachel, the rebel group, part of the alliance?
9. Eddie, his age, Queensland background, life and friends, at home there? In Canberra, the school, private school, the students? Skipping school, friends, elitist groups? His protesting, the bigoted security guard, filming him, his being arrested, Alex ambushed by the media? Her reaction? Taking him to Queensland? Her not telling him about her health? The friend whom he supported with the filming, the police, going to the party, Charley driving them home, drinking, drunk, sick? Supported by Dee? Her pregnancy, waters breaking, driving her to the hospital, his presence, support, calling the baby Eric? His wanting to be an exchange student, the decision coming through, Iceland? His demanding honesty from his mother?
10. Charlie, relationship with Alex, family, in Canberra, the previous attack on Alex and himself, the stabbing, the racist attack, the court case, the racists interview and apology? Charlie and his relationship with Dee, her pregnancy, nice couple, her professionalism, his job, the deadlines, the timing, policies? Phone calls with Alex? His outburst against Paul? His decision to go to therapy, the meetings? Late for the birth? Decisions about the future, haven’t Dee and her job, going back to Winton, the possibilities of New York?
11. Jolie, the big woman, motherly, advisor and confidante to Alex, Rachel offering her the job, concerned about Alex’s health? Thank advice? The final decision about parliament?
12. The Parliamentary sequence, the Speaker getting ready, the formalities, the rowdiness and the Speaker intervening? The issue, the amendments, the reactions, Alex and her presentation, having the floor, Paul and Sharon, the opposition initially supporting, Alex outwitting them, her speeches, the divisions, the press response? The success? The press and the accusations of corruption? Her collapse?
13. The issue of corruption, Marion in her article, the accusations against Helena, her resigning? Rachel offering supply? Marian leaving the confidential dossier for Alex? The press conference and her honesty, the final confrontation with Rachel? The alliance, and Matt announcing Alex as leader?
14. The finale, Alex talking to camera, about aboriginal leadership, accusations and challenges to the audience?