Movie review: Goddess

Enthusiastic: Laura Michelle Kelly. Source: Supplied

Leigh Paatsch, The Daily Telegraph, reports

Movie review: This chirpy little Australian-made feelgood affair goes quite well in its own happily unpretentious way.

The crucial need-to-know for most intrepid film goers will be the unavoidable fact Goddess is a musical. An original musical at that, chock full of tunes your ears have never heard before.

While I'm no card-carrying fan of musicals myself, I can honestly report Goddess should not be dismissed just because its lead character has the potentially annoying habit of suddenly breaking into song.

To the film's credit, its accessible plot has a very relevant reason for all the wanton warbling.

What's more, the songs themselves are actually quite catchy - if middle-of-the-road pop a la Mamma Mia! is your thing.

British import Laura Michelle Kelly stars as Elspeth, a housewife in rural Tasmania who finds fame and fortune when her video blog goes viral.

With her husband (Ronan Keating) often away working in Antarctica, Elspeth (an aspiring singer-songwriter in her youth) kills all that spare time performing her own compositions to a webcam stationed in her kitchen.

Elspeth's ditties are generally jaunty, genial grizzles about cleaning house and rearing kids, which soon has the whole world logging on and nodding knowingly in unison.

The Elspeth phenomenon soon gets the attention of a cynical Sydney advertising guru (Magda Szubanski), who whisks her up to Sin City to become the face of a new lady-friendly campaign of some sort.

As daft as the premise proves to be, this likeably lightweight movie never works its way out of the viewer's good graces.

The key is the sheer infectious enthusiasm Kelly brings to her role. Though the supporting ranks are packed with corny turns, she does not allow the real warmth and sincerity of her performance to subside for a moment.

--

Goddess [PG]

Rating: 3/5

Director: Mark Lamprell (My Mother Frank)

Starring: Laura Michelle Kelly, Ronan Keating, Magda Szubanski, Dustin Clare

"Vocal, viral, very nice"

Australian musical Goddess a hit with audiences at box office

Laura Michelle Kelly plays a housewife who finds an international audience via her webcam in Goddess. Source: Supplied

Vicky Roach, The Daily Telegraph, reports

Goddess, the kitchen-sink musical starring British actress Laura Michelle Kelly, Ronan Keating and Magda Szubanski, hit the right note with Australian audiences at the weekend.

Following in the footsteps of song-driven crowd-pleasers such as Bran Nue Dae and The Sapphires, the film took $500,000 and the No 4 spot, overtaking Oscar-favourite The Silver Linings Playbook in its seventh week at the box office.

Kelly, who originated the role of Mary Poppins in the stage musical, stars as an isolated housewife who finds an international audience via her webcam.

Stan Walker's feature debut, Mt Zion, also punched above its weight. The Kiwi drama had the highest screen average ($7,755) of any film in the Top 20.

Oz the Great and Powerful remains at No. 1, with Jim Carrey and Steve Carell's The Incredible Burt Wonderstone at No. 2.

The figures were a welcome boost for the Australian box office after a disappointing start to the year. The cricket film Save Your Legs, with Stephen Curry and Brendan Cowell, and the AFL film Blinder performed well below expectations.

Movie review: Goddess

Enthusiastic: Laura Michelle Kelly. Source: Supplied

Leigh Paatsch, The Daily Telegraph, reports

Movie review: This chirpy little Australian-made feelgood affair goes quite well in its own happily unpretentious way.

The crucial need-to-know for most intrepid film goers will be the unavoidable fact Goddess is a musical. An original musical at that, chock full of tunes your ears have never heard before.

While I'm no card-carrying fan of musicals myself, I can honestly report Goddess should not be dismissed just because its lead character has the potentially annoying habit of suddenly breaking into song.

To the film's credit, its accessible plot has a very relevant reason for all the wanton warbling.

What's more, the songs themselves are actually quite catchy - if middle-of-the-road pop a la Mamma Mia! is your thing.

British import Laura Michelle Kelly stars as Elspeth, a housewife in rural Tasmania who finds fame and fortune when her video blog goes viral.

With her husband (Ronan Keating) often away working in Antarctica, Elspeth (an aspiring singer-songwriter in her youth) kills all that spare time performing her own compositions to a webcam stationed in her kitchen.

Elspeth's ditties are generally jaunty, genial grizzles about cleaning house and rearing kids, which soon has the whole world logging on and nodding knowingly in unison.

The Elspeth phenomenon soon gets the attention of a cynical Sydney advertising guru (Magda Szubanski), who whisks her up to Sin City to become the face of a new lady-friendly campaign of some sort.

As daft as the premise proves to be, this likeably lightweight movie never works its way out of the viewer's good graces.

The key is the sheer infectious enthusiasm Kelly brings to her role. Though the supporting ranks are packed with corny turns, she does not allow the real warmth and sincerity of her performance to subside for a moment.

Kath, Kim and Baz to rejuvenate box office after slow year

Great Aussie hope ... The Kath & Kim Filum. Photo: RTP Films

Garry Maddox, The Age, reports

WITH at least three potential hits, last year's underwhelming box office for Australian films - except for Red Dog - is expected to improve this year.

Figures released by Screen Australia show last year's Australian releases took just $42.9 million - 3.9 per cent of the annual box office. But commercial prospects look bright for The Kath & Kim Filum, the romantic comedy Any Questions for Ben?, the Working Dog team's return to filmmaking after The Castle and The Dish, and Baz Luhrmann's star-powered The Great Gatsby.

Last year's results, dominated by Red Dog's exceptional $21.3 million, were down on the previous year's 4.5 per cent but still well above the record low of 1.3 per cent in 2004.

The acting chief executive of Screen Australia, Fiona Cameron, believes the wedding comedy A Few Best Men, shark attack horror film Bait 3D, musical The Sapphires and Ronan Keating comedy Goddess are also potential hits.

Other prospects include the Toni Collette comic drama Mental and the Sundance selection Wish You Were Here.

While Cameron expects the slate to top the 4 per cent mark this year, she won't predict a figure, citing Screen Australia's investment in culturally significant films whose impact often transcends box office results.

The Australian share of the box office has cracked 10 per cent only five times in the past 35 years, with Crocodile Dundee driving the record 23.5 per cent in 1986.

In a year when the total annual box office dipped 3 per cent to $1.094 billion, Screen Australia is citing other measures of success for Australian film, including sales to 19 territories for the sexually charged drama Sleeping Beauty after its world premiere at Cannes and 12 territories for the Tasmanian drama The Hunter after its Toronto festival debut.

The 3D cave-diving thriller Sanctum also grossed more than $100 million worldwide.

Also, the federal government agency claims 72.7 million ''downstream'' viewings for Australian films on DVD, online, pay TV and free-to-air TV, although cinema box office and international sales still largely determine financial success.

The challenge for small-scale Australian films with modest marketing budgets has only increased as the cinema business has polarised into ''events'' at both ends of the spectrum - blockbuster franchises in multiplexes and acclaimed films in arthouses.

But Red Dog's success shows how much audiences respond to even low-profile Australian films when they work creatively and are marketed strongly.

''They put together a warm, friendly, accessible script,'' Cameron says.

''Accessibility shouldn't be a dirty word.''

Pop judge has new act to grind

X marks the swap ... successful singer and TV judge Ronan Keating has turned his hand to acting.

Sarah Whyte, The Sydney Morning Herald, reports

Singer and talent-spotter Ronan Keating will soon face new critics.

The music industry is entering a brave new world this year, according to the Irish singer Ronan Keating.

Subscription music websites, the shrinking of traditional media and the rise of social networking sites are just some of the challenges forcing change on the industry, the judge of The X Factor says.

''It looks like that's the way it's going to go and it's scary and it's tough but you have to embrace it,'' the former Boyzone singer tells S from his home in Ireland.

''Record companies made a big mistake [in] not embracing the internet when it first happened,'' he says.

Television talent shows such as The X Factor and Australian Idol therefore come into their own to find new talent, Keating says.

''I think it's great … when the record companies are struggling and there's not enough money out there to go and discover people,'' he says.

''If you're an up-and-coming star and you want to do well, then a show like The X Factor is really important.'' But he would say that, wouldn't he?

A former winner of The X Factor, Keating protege Altiyan Childs didn't make the most of his opportunities and was instead mired in controversy last year. But Keating defends him. ''He is a bit left of centre but he has talent and he's different and that's what we were looking for and that's what the music industry needs,'' he says.

Keating is making a few changes of his own - eyeing up the even tougher film industry.

''I've gone to a lot of auditions over the year and I've just never been ready and I have never been good enough,'' he says. ''[But] I feel over the last two years, I've grown into my skin and feel comfortable … to prove to people that I can act.''

Last year he scored his first acting gig in the musical Goddess, due to be released this year.

Keating realises the transition from musician to actor is no easy move.

''It's harder for someone, like a singer, to prove they can be an actor because people immediately want to say, 'Oh, he's no good,''' Keating says. ''Someone like Harry Connick jnr has totally established himself as an actor, probably more than a singer … Jon Bon Jovi has made some films along the way and he's done well.''

Ronan Keating performs at the State Theatre on the January 26 and 27 during his Australian tour. For ticket information, go to ticketmaster.com.au.

Magda on a silver screen roll

Magda Szubanski will appear in the new Australian film Goddess, as well as Santa's Apprentice and The Kath and Kim Filum. Source: Herald Sun

Vicky Roach, The Herald Sun, reports

EVEN Magda Szubanski is surprised by the direction her career has taken.

"I never thought I would still be putting on silly wigs and voices at this stage in my life," says the comedian, who turned 50 this year. "But as long as people want to watch me, I'll keep doing it. Besides, I'd be pretty useless at anything else."

While popular wisdom suggests that good roles become scarcer for women as they age, Szubanski says her career has never been better.

"In some ways, things are opening up for me more," she says from the set of The Kath and Kim Filum, now shooting in Melbourne.

Szubanski reprises her role as dedicated netballer Sharon Strzelecki in the feature-length adaptation of the popular television series, during which she accompanies the foxy ladies from Fountain Lakes on a whirlwind trip to Italy.

"It has been lots of fun," she says. "We have all the old tribe back together again."

This year Szubanski joined Ronan Keating and English actor Laura Michelle Kelly on the Sydney set of the musical romantic comedy Goddess, in which she plays an advertising executive. And this month sees the US premiere of Happy Feet Two, in which Szubanski again gives voice to Miss Viola, and the Australian release of Santa's Apprentice, where she plays the big man's efficient secretary.

Szubanski might have dropped several dress sizes since fronting Jenny Craig, but she still has a soft spot for cuddly characters such as Beatrice Lovejoy.

"I love playing those warm, homey characters," says Szubanski, who played Farmer Hoggett's wife in the two Babe films. She is a sucker for good family films, too. "Santa's Apprentice is like doing a version of Babe or Happy Feet. These films become part of family folklore. I absolutely love doing that kind of thing - it's so joyous."

Santa's Apprentice is now showing; Happy Feet Two opens on Boxing Day; Goddess is scheduled for a 2012 release.