Sunday, January 11, 2015

Review - The Water Diviner


The Water Diviner
Unlike his character who seemed to miraculously find anything simply by “feeling it”, Russell Crowe’s latest cinematic release struggles to find anything. The audiences are left felling very little at all.

Despite being based on true events in the years following ANZAC troops landing and fighting at Gallipoli it is NOT a war story. It is a romance, a love story between Russell Crowe and himself.

As director it appears that his only direction was “this scene needs a close up…of me and my mole.” In the absence of engaging story or great acting there were endless close ups of Crowe looking off into the distance and speaking in deep and sombre tones.

He can also dig really large holes by hand in super human time.

The story is predictable, by the time Crowe’s character as checked in to the Turkish hotel it is clear that there will be two main story arcs, the arcs themselves are disappointingly predictable.

Thank God, or should it be Allah for Yilmaz Erdogan and Cem Yilmaz. Their acting and depth of character provided much needed relief from the Crowe-fest.

The war flash-backs were brutal and gripping. The acting was powerful and full of raw emotion, all of which was sadly missing from the real-time gun battles between the Greeks and the Turks. It was also refreshing to have the Turkish actors speaking Turkish to each other. So many history films, particularly war films have the opposition speaking in English with a hint of accent and occasional mumbled word in their native tongue.

On the plus side the gourmet choc top was really enjoyable and the seat was comfortable.

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