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mark-benson
Reviews
Shark Beach with Chris Hemsworth (2021)
Way too superficial - just a pop-doc
Considering this is 44mins long there could have been some real insight provided in this documentary but it just seems to sell itself on having Chris Hemsworth's dreamy voice and big arms and assumes that's enough to make it a good program. Mick Fannings appearance seemed to be purely on the basis that him and Chris are mates, whereas his part could have been reduced to, no more than, a 1 minute clip.
The light insights into the newer drum lines were probably useful to anyone who hasn't been on the DPI website or any of the Australian state shark conservation websites, which maybe most of the audience to be fair but there is zero distinction between 'dangerous' sharks and the more tame/placid ones. Indeed Bull sharks and Tiger sharks are not even mentioned once. Instead the film covers just two very different types of sharks (Whites and Nurse), and for the majority of the program continues to just refer to 'sharks' quite generically as if they are all the same which is a far cry from reality. Val Taylors input was also a nice-to-have but I think her upcoming film should provide a significant amount more insight than her short part in this program.
The Iron Lady (2011)
Truly disappointed and quite angry
This film had so much potential to open peoples eyes to one of the most influential politicians of the time and all it does is focus on an elderly persons slide into dementia.
Approximately two thirds of the film is spent on the post 2003 era (post Dennis Thatchers death) with Thatcher wandering round her flat, talking with her daughter, hallucinating about Dennis, throwing clothes out etc etc. Not only is this thoroughly depressing but it is also so frustrating as you are forced to sit through Streep doing her "I want an Oscar, I want an Oscar" sales pitch.
There were so many highly charged/globally reported moments and periods throughout her prime minister-ship which were just brushed over or completely skipped - the poll tax (which attracts about 5mins of the film), the miners strikes (less than 5 minutes), the Iranian embassy siege (no mention of at all), the Falklands war (maybe 15 minutes but deserved so much more), the policy of privatisations (minimal), and crucially the impact her leadership had on the country (nothing). And this is before raising the events that developed her into the women she was - all that is provided here is a few flashbacks to her father speaking in public. There is no real mention of her fight for the leadership, nothing on her career before politics, and very little about her developmental years (university etc).
In summary it just seems this film was out to try and get in the running for as many Oscars as it could and they didn't care if they screwed any one over to get there.
Not only is Margaret Thatchers retirement private but her declining health should not be used as an opportunity for someone to get in the running for an Oscar. Have some respect!
If they were after a film which created an emotional reaction they certainly succeeded.