Displaying items by tag: Chris Hemsworth

CRIME 101

US, 2026, 139 minutes, Colour.

Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Halle Berry, Barry Keoghan, Corey Hawkins, Monica Barbaro, Nick Nolte, Devon Bostick, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Taie Donovan.

Directed by Bart Layton.

The 101 of the title is actually the highway through Los Angeles. However, Crime 101 sounds like the title of the basic university course. And, those interested in high-class and well-planned heists are provided with what might be called plentiful tutorial material for their hoped-for careers. But ministers will sit back and enjoy it all.

Writer-director, Bart Layton, has adapted a novel by Daniel Winslow and has intended to make a big budget, strong cast, highly colourful Los Angeles drama. Which he does. Immediately we are introduced to Mike, Chris Hemsworth at his charming best, a gentleman thief, meticulous planning, no hurting anyone, but getting away with jewels. We get a glimpse of his patron, sounding more gravellyy-voice than ever, Nick Nolte.

Then we are introduced to the other key characters, Sharon, Halle Berry, 11 years with a high-class insurance firm, discussing with millionaires policies and planning for a society wedding; Mark Ruffalo as Lou, a veteran LA detective, dishevilled, expert profiling criminals but tending to be looked down on by the smarter professionals. Then, an entirely different character, Orman, Barry Keoghan (in so many films these years), a petty, very petty thug with some-confident violent attitudes, who has to follow Mike and report back on his plans – although he too sets up a rather messy bank robbery to build up his credibility.

There is something not quite right in the lives of each of the main characters and, gradually, they are brought together, Sharon and Lou  through self-help and yoga classes, Mike and Sharon because he investigates her being passed over, humiliated at her company.

This is all moving towards a buildup for the heist in the luxury Beverly Wilshire hotel, the millionaire and his fiancee, a safe full of cash, jewelry, a security expert coming from Europe – and some substitutions, to catch a thief, an intrusion from the violence Orman.

Bart Layton achieves what he set out to do, nothing more, nothing less – a Los Angeles crime action adventure, heists, investigations, car chases, identity switches, and entertainment.

1. The title, like a college course title, but along freeway 101?
2. All film traditions of crime set in Los Angeles? The classic traditions? 21^st-century version?
3. The Los Angeles settings, the opening credits, upside down, angles, the city, the highways, the lights, buildings…? Atmosphere? The streets and the poor sections? The contrast with the Beverly Wilshire, luxury hotels, insurance offices, police precincts, jewelry shops, yoga classes…, The musical score?
4. The background of the voice-over, self-improvement, the background from Mike, Sharon listening, the yoga classes, Lou present and learning, so it is and motivation for the characters?
5. The morning, the characters getting up, Mike, person, dress, driving, the car and the man in the boot, the shop, the owner, the jewels, the couriers, the fakes, the real jewels of the ankle, the gun, the pursuit, the confrontation, the robbery, the career shooting and a drop of blood in the car for later detection? Letting the man out of the boot? Mike and his robberies, never injuring anyone? Chris Hemsworth, screen presence, the building of a character and personality? The mystery?
6. Lou, status in the police force, old-style, theories, the network of authorities, looking down on him, work with his partner, his partner to bring with him, wanting to work with him? At the site of the various crimes? Lou and his theory, the 101? The man, eliminating various criteria and the remnant of crimes along the 101? Lou profiling the criminal? Lou, at home, his wife, intrusion, the later meeting, the anchor, his walking out, the apartment by the ocean? Going to yoga, the encounter with Charlotte?
7. Sharon, insurance, see her in action, with Munro and mistaking his wife or girlfriend, the wealth, the discussions about the insurance, the forthcoming wedding? Her age, early years, the promise of promotion, following her off, the men on the staff, the new associate, Fabio, taking Sharon’s job, the achievement and praise, Sharon later telling her the truth in front of the executive? Sharon listening to the tapes, the yoga? Living alone, sleep and its limitations? Upset?
8. Money, his age, and Nick Nolte character, raspy voice, the interview with Mike, controlling him? Mike and his rebellion? Wanting to keep his methods, get money, retire? Money and his son summoning All men, knowing Allman’s father, a different kind of criminal, tough, age, look, motorbike, following Mike, Mike observing him, removing the tracer on the car? Observing, Mike’s contact with the IT man, information about peoples access? All finally attacking him, brutally? The scene of the robbery in Santa Barbara, tough, the baby, the locked door, his anger, the victims, the robbery and his escape?
9. Mike, the car crash, discussions with Meyer, the date, the discussions, with high class, the mystery of his background? His reticence? The affair, continued seeing each other?
10. The information about Sharon, encountering her and was discussion about cars, at the Gallery, his arranging the meeting, his discussions with her, knowing all about her, her resentments, the standing for firm and integrity? The scenes of the office, passed over again, her contacting Mike, the explanation of the situation, the methods, the wedding, the insurance, the protection from Europe?
11. The conscience, going to Lou, giving him the information, Lou and the setup outside the jewelry shop, the boy, the shooting, the cover up, his being sacked? The reaction?
12. With, the plan, Mike and his taking the place of the security guard, the flight from Europe, the transition, Mike waiting, Lou taking the place of the guard, the conversation about Steve McQueen, bulletin chases, The Thomas Crown Affair and a gentleman thief?
13. All in, getting the job at the hotel, getting the number of the room, preparing to ?
14. The situation in the room, Mike, the emptying of the safe, the jewels, the gun? Lou pulling the gun, the confrontation, all in, the three games, the woman in fear, the shooting, the wording Munro, the death of Allman? The deals, Lou and his letting Mike go, his previous tracking down Mike’s family, the discussions with his mother?
15. The aftermath, Mike and the car, leaving, sending the photo, Maher and the photo of the family? Lou giving the the jeweller diamonds to show? At the yoga?
16. The gentleman thief, some integrity, writing background, the crime thriller, detection, the resolution?

CHRIS HEMSWORTH: A ROAD TRIP TO REMEMBER

Australia/US, 2025, 52 minutes, Colour.

Directed by Tom Barbor-Might.

The road trip of the title is a journey back into the past of Chris Hemsworth’s father, Craig Hemsworth, with incipient Alzheimers.

Chris Hemsworth is able to use his status and influence to finance this beautifully made documentary, his visit to his father, a genial man, Craig Hemsworth, who spent time in the Northern Territory in the 1980s, in a remote town, working with the indigenous men in capturing wild bulls. Supported by his wife, it was a significant time for Chris, born in 1983, and the family living in this territory setting.

In the 1990s, the family moved to Melbourne, Craig Hemsworth working in child protection. While Chris is at the centre of the film with his father, his mother, Leonie, makes many appearances and interview comments. It would have been interesting to have contributions from his two brothers, actors Luke and Liam Hemsworth.

Chris Hemsworth has a discussion with an expert on Alzheimer’s and the brain, Suraj Samtani, seeing him in conversation with Chris but also speaking directly to camera, especially with diagrams and interesting explanations of the structure of the brain, its activity, brain damage, especially for Alzheimer’s and the possible therapies to keep the ageing person’s brain active, personality alive, revisiting the past and memories, engaging in conversations.

However, it is clear from some of the discussions that the Alzheimer’s is advancing. Eventually, Chris Hemsworth does ask his father what he might fear, how he sees the future, the father not wanting to be a burden as he becomes more disabled.

The advantage of being a star celebrity is that Chris Hemsworth was able to organise the family home in Melbourne where they lived in the 1990s to be furnished and redecorated as it was at the time, getting his father to go back and relive remember those times.

Hemsworth rode motorbikes in the past, raising them, and he Chris ride through the Northern Territory outback, and great joy in rediscovering his indigenous friends from many decades earlier, a wonderful reunion.

As with his film roles, even Thor, Chris Hemsworth has a comfortable and easy screen presence and is able to take the audience with him. His father also has great charm and presence and elicits a great deal of audience interest, empathy as well as sympathy for what the future might be for him.

This is a National Geographic production.

FURIOUSA

Australia, 2024, 148 minutes, Colour.

Anya Taylor Joy, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Burke, Alyla Browne, George Shevtsov, Lachy Hulme, John Howard, Angus Sampson, Elsa Pataki, David Field.

Directed by George Miller.

Back in 1979, Dr George Miller surprised Australian audiences with his small-budget futuristic action film, Mad Max. Two years later he surprised the world with the sequel, Mad Max two, The Road Warrior. Then Beyond Thunderdome, quite a heritage. But, there was to be more. 2015, Academy Awards, Fury Road. And, here we are in 2024, 45 years later, enormous expectations for Furiousa.

For most audiences, expectations fulfilled – and then some!

We are back in the Wasteland, the vast deserts (Broken Hill locations), once again a post-apocalyptic world, a glimpse of a world of green and fruit, by and large welcoming territory, by contrast, communities of bikie gangs, the remnants of industry and fuel with Gastown, and an attempt at some kind of “civilisation” in a regime, The Citadel. At times, the visuals of the vast Citadel are overwhelming.

But, we met Furiousa in the form of Charlize Theron in Fury Road. This is her origin story. At first she is played, quite tellingly by very young actress, Alyla Browne, then, as the young adult, by Anya Taylor Joy. The oasis is infiltrated by some bikies, conflict, abduction of young Furiousa, her determined mother in full pursuit, and the beginning of the many, many battles.

The young Furiousa is brought by her captives to a weird bikie community lorded over (rather than ruled or governed) by a kind of Aussie Viking, whose utterances are a mixture of classic literature and banality, aptly named Dementus, and played with relish by Chris Hemsworth. But, for this reviewer, at times played in over the top cartoonish style. And, as with the other films, some of the warriors, one eyed, maimed, disfigured, rogue caricatures. But, Dementus, with a sense of the classics has a vehicle designed like a Roman chariot. And, in attendance, he has his sage, The History Man, tattooed with words and learning, played by George Sheftsov as a kind of Gandalf figure.

But, there are over two hours of action to go. Dementus has territorial ambitions. There are sieges of Gastown. Dementus challenges the leadership of The Citadel. No lack of opportunities for continued battles, it confrontations…

Furiousa herself confronts Dementus and finds a home and a haven in The Citadel, grows up, becomes involved in the defence.

The latter part of the film dramatises the conflict between the three communities, convoys of food to be transferred to Gastown in return for fuel. Which offers the opportunity, of course, for the huge trucks to cross the desert, pursued on land, and even from the air. The driver is played by Tom Burke and bonds with Furiousa. Yes, shet has to fulfil her dynasty, confront Dementus, a visualising of all the ways in which she could destroy him but we could not imagine his strange, ultimate fate.

There have been some critics who found that this was too much, over and over. And they lamented that George Miller has relied on CGI whereas, in the past, he showed he did not need them. But, for audiences, there is never too much and the CGI produces, of course, extraordinary effects.

George Miller will be 80 in 2025 but has let the world know that he has a sequel in mind..

1. 45 years of Mad Max? The origins,, small-budget,, successful, the sequels, years passing, Fury Road, acclaim and awards? Now the prequel?
2. George Miller, writing and directing, in Australia, in the US, this film in his 70s? His writing, flair and directing, budgets, locations, action and special effects? Musical score?
3. Audiences for Fury Road, the character of Furiosa, her origins, the world and the wasteland in which she lived and grew up?
4. The importance of the locations, Broken Hill, Hay, New South Wales? The range of sequences, desert, mountains, dunes? Vastness? The communities, initial prospering community, the threats from the wandering bikies, the visualising of Gastown? The visualising of the Citadel, vast? The detail?
5. Costumes, the tradition of the Mad Max films, bikies, masks, uniforms, primitive, designed? For each of the communities? The visual impact?
6. The action sequences, ever more spectacular, and exclusions, noise, audience response?
7. The opening, Furiosa and her sister, the fruit, the bikies, interfering with the bikes, the attack and Chase, the capture of Furiousa, her mother’s response, the other women, the determined pursuit, bikes the visuals of the dunes, the tracks, the young girl, mother shooting, deaths, getting the bike, continuing the pursuit?
8. The bikies entering their centre, disputes, rivalries, the thugs look, fights? The introduction of Dementus, visually, his presence, Chris Hemsworth, the look, the voice? The blend of educated and ignorant? In command, his Roman chariot-like vehicle? The History Man looking and sounding like Gandalf? Dementus and his reaction, response to Furious, her mother, the attack, captured, tied tortured, her doing to watching? The motivation for revenge?
9. Dementus and his cohort, on the attack, and Gastown, those in charge, the petroleum, the need for fresh food? Finding the wanderer from The Citadel, his information, Dementus and his group, confrontation, the visuals of those in charge, the high towers, the walkways, ropes and communications, the challenge, the man falling?
10. Response to the leaders of The Citadel, the leader, his mask, his aggressive sons, paintings and his heart, The People Eater in his suit, his advice? The combat?
11. Furiousa, masked, captured, observing, her escape, the authorities of the Citadel questioning her, her telling the truth about Dementus and her mother, refuge in The Citadel? Time passing, the transition, her motivation, not speaking, her escape, disguising herself as male, relied on in the work?
12. The years passing, the establishing of the three centres, the rivalries, the ambitions? The various attacks – and the narrative of film interspersed with the battles in combat?
13. The arrangement for the transition of food from The Citadel to the other centres, to Gastown in return for fuel?
14. The introduction of Praetorian Jack, the driver, his skills, the visualising of the attacks, the bikes, the cars, trucks, the use of smoke, red and green, the aerial attack?
15. Furious, and the convoy, revealing herself, her work with Jack, the battles and her skills? The motivations? The further journeys, talking with Jack, her having the map from the stars on her arm, the seed and hope? Jack urging her to freedom?
16. Convoys, the visit to Gastown, the upset, not getting the fuel, the return, the decisions of the authorities of The Citadel?
17. Dementus, his ambitions, his attack on Gastown, planned attack on The Citadel? Burning Gastown? The authorities at The Citadel, some wanting to attack, the fire and decoy?
18. Dementus, the attack, the fights? The convoy, Furiosa in the back vehicle? The siege, the fight, the shooting? The eventual taking of Jack and Furiousa? Jack and his being dragged behind the vehicle? Furiosa watching? Her defiance of Dementus? The escape to the car, the pursuit?
19. The buildup to the confrontation between Dementus and Furiosa, in the desert, his escape, the tent, her capturing him? The verbal conflict? Dementus and his attitudes, his death? The visualising of the possibilities for his death? Yet the final reality, the seed planted in him, the tree growing from him, the taking of the apple reminiscent of the opening?
20. Furiosa, near ready for the action seen in Fury Road?