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QPIX STUDENTS ARE TROPFEST FINALISTS
Graduates of QPIX’s 2011 Diploma of Production course have won their way into the finals of TROPFEST, the world’s largest short film festival, with their student production PHOTOBOOTH. Set in the Afghanistan conflict, PHOTOBOOTH is one of a sequence of...
'Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu' Out February 10
(Nationwide)
Over The Fence Comedy Film Deadline
(Nationwide)
Rottofest 2012: Call For Entries Now Open!
(Nationwide)
latest news
Geoffrey Rush Joins Tropfest
The acclaimed actor and newly-crowned Australian of the Year, Geoffrey Rush, will be a key player in 2012’s Tropfest activities.
Naomi Watts To Play Princess Diana
The Aussie actress is set to play the people’s princess in an upcoming film that chronicles the final two years of Diana’s life.
Sullivan Stapleton Signs On To ‘300’ Prequel
The Aussie actor has beat out the competition to land a role in the upcoming blockbuster.
James Cameron Loses Long Time Australian Collaborators
Producer Andrew Wight and cinematographer Mike deGruy lose their lives in a helicopter crash.
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The Last Song Reviewed... Twice!
Our two interns checked out the latest film starring teen sensation Miley Cyrus. Will their reviews indicate two vastly different responses or will it be unanimous: Cyrus should stick to her alter ego, Hannah Montana? Find out by reading on...
Tiana Stefanic's review
As the latest in a production line of films based on novels by the ubiquitous author Nicholas Sparks, The Last Song is sure to appeal to the same audiences who flocked to previous adaptations of his formulaic weepies including A Walk to Remember (1999), The Notebook (2004), Nights in Rodanthe (2008) and soon to be released Dear John (2010).
Tween sensation Miley Cyrus stars as Veronica ‘Ronnie' Miller, a rebellious teen who must reconcile with her estranged father over a summer reluctantly spent at his beach house on the picturesque Tybee Island in Georgia. Her emotional rollercoaster of a summer break features an intense teenage romance, baby turtles, the healing power of music and realisations about the importance of family.
After perfecting the disaffected surfer look with roles in Aussie soaps Home and Away and Neighbours, young actor Liam Hemsworth convincingly plays a supportive boyfriend here in his first major feature role. Just like brother Chris, who impressively made his Hollywood debut in the 2009 blockbuster Star Trek, Hemsworth has a magnetic screen presence and the potential to shine in more challenging roles in the future. He frequently appears shirtless, providing eye candy for the teenage audience wishing to distract themselves from the unrelenting cheesiness of Ronnie's journey to maturity.
By contrast, the big screen debut of Cyrus as a character other than Hannah Montana is sorely lacking in depth and conviction.
Despite its shortcomings, the coming-of-age story is nicely realised and the film features standout performances by the always reliable Greg Kinnear (as Ronnie's father) and talented newcomer Bobby Coleman (as her younger brother). Aside from Cyrus' presence and some cringeworthy moments, this is a capably realised and entertaining film.
Sam Kilborn's Review
Author Nicholas Sparks has become a household name thanks to his soppy novels which have been adapted to box office success. Unfortunately his latest offering, The Last Song, directed by Julie Anne Robinson (Grey's Anatomy), will make you cry for an entirely different reason - Miley Cyrus has effectively sabotaged what could have been a rather intriguing film.
The story revolves around seventeen-year-old Veronica ‘Ronnie' Miller (Cyrus), who is forced, with her younger brother Jonah (Bobby Coleman), to live with her estranged father Steve (a solid Greg Kinnear) at his Southern beach house. Sounds like a drag, right? The film soon unfolds into a Notebook style summer romance between Cyrus and volleyball playing jock, Will (Liam Hemsworth), and needless to say romance suddenly turns to tragedy in one of the few truly moving scenes of the film.
The character of Ronnie was a part specifically written for Cyrus, which makes the teen-sensation's confusion between human turmoil and a constantly snarled upper lip extremely irritating. The audience are left to wonder how effective The Last Song could have been with a different leading lady.
Despite monumental flaws in the film, The Last Song will likely prove a box office smash due to the commercial value of Cyrus, and it somehow manages to flow through until its emotionally spurious resolution with only a few grimaces.
As Cyrus half heartedly confirms in the film, "The truth only means something when it's hard to admit!" Well, I think there is one truth we all must admit - Cyrus was more believable as Hannah Montana.