Dad of Divas' Reviews: DVD Review - Around the Block

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

DVD Review - Around the Block

Around the Block
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About the Book
Random Media and Cinedigm are releasing AROUND THE BLOCK on Theatrical, DVD, VOD and digital platforms in August. AROUND THE BLOCK debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2013 and hit Australian theatres in June 2014. Theatrical opening will be August 1st, followed by VOD, DVD and Digital platforms on August 5th.

From Australian writer/director Sarah Spillane, AROUND THE BLOCK was an Official Selection at the Toronto International Film Festival 2013 and was also featured at the Beijing International Film Festival and the Newport Beach International Film Festival in April 2014, where Sarah Spillane received honors for Outstanding Achievement in Directing. Spillane also won an Australian Directors Guild Award for her screenplay of Around the Block before filming even began. Starring Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominee Christina Ricci, AROUND THE BLOCK is an inspirational drama that explores themes about breaking cycles and building dreams.

American drama teacher Dino Chalmers (Christina Ricci) moves to Sydney's Redfern district to be with her fiancĂ© and is hired by the local school in what may be the school's final term. Dino's passion for Shakespeare drives her vision of producing a school play as part of the Indigenous cultural program, and finds that 16-year-old Aborigine Liam (Hunter Page-Lochard) has a natural gift for performance. But there is a shadow over Liam's life, with his father in jail and his older brother determined to avenge the death of his uncle. With Dino’s encouragement as she faces tough choices in her own life, Liam confronts his past and eventually takes control of his future.



My Take on the Book
This was not what I expected, but still there was good acting. The challenge that I had with the movie was that there really were two plot lines going on which could have made the movie into two separate ones. Because of this sometimes one of the stories got put into second place, where if they were two, this would not have happened. There is some great dialogue and tension that underlines the characters and the actors do a solid job at portraying their characters for all of us. I felt that some of the characters did get a bit overshadowed in the film with Ricci's character and her issues, but that being said, it still was a strong film that will keep you engaged from beginning to end!



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