InMyTribe

Being a fan of the original 72' film I was looking forward to this miniseries - how disappointing. The premise was quite good (although poorly executed) about terrorists on board blowing a hole in the hull of the S.S. Poseidon. After that, it's flail city as a bunch of has-beens and never-was actors slip and slide along walls, ceilings and staterooms. Steve Guttenberg gives arguably the worst performance in his not-so illustrious career as a weak, philandering husband of Alexa Hamilton. Bryan Brown and Tinarie Van Wyk-Loots play a TV producer and a reality TV singer respectively with little conviction. Brown's character even asks the little brat (the son of Guttenberg & Hamilton) to film their escape. The CG effects are average (especially when the boat starts to capsize the water in the pool stays put ?!?). Without an all-star cast there is no building tension in the entire production. Even if you ignore the gaping holes in the story (the group climb three decks and are swimming underwater while the ballroom is still dry) the editing is so bad that you are not sure where they are in the ship or how they even get to the hull. When one of the characters asks where to tie the end of the rope I felt like saying "how about the scriptwriters neck?" The one bright spot in the whole mess is Alexa Hamilton as Rachel Clarke. Her performance (while not spectacular) manages to convey her bitterness at her two-timing husband while trying to keep her family together (if you ignore the hokey bit where she sends an e-mail Christmas list as a may-day). 2 stars for Alexa, that's all.

Insightful and full of wit, Tears Before Bedtime is the directorial debut of Kevin Klehr, who ventures into the world of S & M Sydney style. With a relaxed interviewing style Klehr puts his subjects at ease, getting a minefield of information and insights from the inhabitants of a world which is rarely seen or reported. His interviewees range from a dominatrix who runs her own parlour in the suburbs to the 'stars' of the Hellfire Club, Sydneys oldest nightclub. The star of the doco is undoubtedly Mistress Sinna, who obviously enjoys her profession. She takes Klehr through her parlour and describes the various equipment that goes with it. Highly Recommended 10/10

OCL is one of those small independant films that I am constantly recommending to friends. Min (Sara Browne) has just been fired from her job at a Deli and has just found out her boyfriend is having an affair with her room-mate. So she finds herself without a boyfriend, without a place to live and no job. Her best friend Jaz (Astrid Grant) finds her a place to stay and a new job..."Now only if we can find you some regular sex you can walk down the street without a bag over your head". Min has also got a sick father to deal with and she is always on the phone to her mum about him..."You found his thermometer where ??? Bulls**t!!!". OCL is a film that deserves repeat viewings and the cast is excellent, especially Sara Browne, Nicholas Bishop (as Min's sexually adventrous new room-mate) and Lisa Denmeade (as Claire, her foul-mouthed friend). Highly recommended.