Australian Penthouse

THE BAADER MEINHOF COMPLEX

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DIRECTOR: ULI EDEL
STARS: MORITZ BLEIBTREU, MARTINA GEDECK, JOHANNA WOKALEK, BRUNO GANZ

THE political turmoil in Germany in the late 1960s and 70s is accurately depicted in this engrossing historical thriller.

When prominent left-wing journalist Ulrike Meinhof (Gedeck), disillusioned with her government and her marriage, joins an anti-authoritarian student movement, she comes to admire its leaders, Andreas Baader (Bleibtreu) and his manipulative girlfriend Gudrun Ensslin (Wokalek). Together, they form the Red Army Faction (RAF), taking increasingly violent measures to get their point across. Believing itself to be the spearhead of a revolution, the RAF attracts plenty of fanatical followers along the way, but tension within the group ultimately leads to its downfall.

Bruno Ganz does a great job as the police chief who’s tasked to capture the terrorists, and the film is meticulous in its detail. The Baader Meinhof Complex is definitely worth the time and effort. Filmmaking at its best.

BODY OF LIES

DIRECTOR: Ridley Scott
STARS: Russell CrowE, Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Strong
Warner Home Video

ROGER FERRIS (DiCaprio) is a CIA Middle East operative and man-on-the-ground in the War on Terror.
His role is to track down an Osama bin Laden terrorist cell led by the elusive al-Saleem. Screwed by the behind-the-scenes puppetry of CIA Near East Director of Operations Ed Hoffman (a delightfully rotund and insular Crowe)
at every turn, Ferris seeks the assistance of Jordanian Intelligence via the charismatic Hani Salaam (played to perfection by a scene-stealing Strong) to help him track down al-Saleem and prevent the next terrorist bomb attack.

Based on the novel of the same name by journalist David Ignatius, Ridley Scott provides an enthralling and even-handed take on the War on Terror without the jingoistic touches usually artlessly employed by Hollywood.

MAN ON WIRE

DIRECTOR: James Marsh
STARS: Philippe Petit, Annie Allix, Jean-Louis Blondeau
MADMAN ENTERTAINMENT

THE true story of Frenchman Philippe Petit, who free-walked a highwire between New York City’s World Trade Center towers on August 7, 1974.

The documentary features interviews with Petit, his muse Annie, his co-conspirators, and the police who witnessed the record-breaking effort. This is more than a tale about a man on a highwire; this is a raw, honest and invigorating documentary about a man who realised his destiny, who pursued an urge so primal and unrelenting that nothing else mattered but the attainment of his goal.

Despite massive odds, intense security and numerous warm-up attempts (including stunning footage of Petit walking between the towers of the Sydney Harbour Bridge), this inspiring, thrilling and feel-good doco proves that men need not apologise for following a dream that involves them alone.