An Exciting Month Ahead with a Big Announcement!

From the desk of Leah Calnan, Director of Metro Property Management

It's with excitement and enthusiasm that we announce the joining of 'One Property Consulting and Estate Agents' of Ashburton with us here at Metro Property Management.

 

The joining of the two businesses is part of the expansion plan of even more suburb coverage across Melbourne. With well over 2000 properties under management and now close to 200 suburbs covered, why wouldn't we be the logical choice for expert property management services?

 

We also welcome the amazing knowledge and skill set of team members Kristy Lubransky, Nivek Dunne and Kaye Tait.

 

I am looking forward to meeting all our new clients and am excited about bringing many new elements to their property management experience now and into the future!

 

Until next time...
 

Metro's Monthy Movie Review

Each month a team member of Metro writes a movie review to share with you. And this month team member Marie Dunkhorst has reviewed the movie ‘21 and Over'. Directed by: Jon Lucas and Scott Moore, Starring: Miles Teller, Justin Chon and Sarah Wright.

If you haven’t watched a bad movie this year yet, this is the ONE.

You’ll get the 'American Pie' version of 'The Hangover' just on a much smaller budget. When Miller (Skylar Astin) and Casey (Miles Teller) take out their best mate Jeff, played by 'The Hangover’s' Justin Chon, what a magnificent choice for his 21st Birthday, the night before his big medical school interview. As you can imagine everything gets out of control.

'One beer' turns into a night of excessive drinking and soon they don’t know where they are anymore or how to get back home to Jeff’s place. A wild search starts and the boys find themselves in the most random places and situations. The writers of “The Hangover” (that wasn’t surprising now, was it?) have tried hard to make 'gross-out' situations hilarious. For most teenagers this movie might actually be kind of funny, but for us, people in the adult world, a 'full on' drunk on a riding bull spewing his guts out is not even close to being funny.

My verdict: Don’t waste your time.

Metro's Monthly Movie Review

Each month a team member of Metro writes a movie review to share with you. And this month team member Melissa Venn has reviewed the movie ‘Identity Thief’. Directed by: Seth Gordin, Starring: Jason Bateman, Melissa McCarthy, Amanda Peet, Robert Patrick & Eric Stonestreet.

I have to admit I’ll see pretty much anything with Jason Bateman in it. I have liked him since the TV show ‘Valerie’ in the 80’s (wow showing my age there, but I was little) and then after seeing Melissa McCarthy was in this film too I was sold! I loved Melissa in ‘Bridesmaids’ and her physical humour and awkwardness found her way into this film too!

You can’t go into this film expecting too much, I didn’t and I left feeling I got what I came for. There's nothing too deep and meaningful here, some big chuckles and a nice ‘lesson learnt’ type of ending and that’s what I got. If you want more than that then this may not be the film for you. I spotted a review the other week and the reviewer seemed annoyed at the plot being similar to other films he’d seen and the movie being predictable well,  I think he was taking this film and perhaps himself a little too seriously.

The story goes that Sandy Patterson (Bateman) has his identity stolen by a con-woman Diana (McCarthy) whom has an empty existence of shopping to keep entertained, to feel worthwhile and to gain friends in her lonely life. The real Sandy has started a new high paying job when a bad police check comes back he realises his identity has been stolen. He is kept from starting his high paying finance job until he can prove it’s not him and clears his name.

After trying the police and frustrated with their lack of urgency Sandy decides to take matters into his own hands and seek out Diana ‘Sandy’ himself. What ensues is a storyline that involves Bateman tracking down female 'Sandy', forcing her to agree to come back to his work to tell his boss he is not the criminal and in doing so there are car chases, rattle snake incidents, an interesting rendezvous with another man and McCarthy and so much more. There are life lessons learnt along the way but they aren’t too ‘in your face’ and sappy, just nice and you will like the ending.

I really feel this could be a film you could wait to see on DVD but it is a chuckle so make sure you see it one rainy day. I’m sure we will be seeing more of Melissa McCarthy in films to come, her ability to make a fool of herself is endearing and Bateman as always never fails to come to the ‘comedy party’.

I give it a rating of 7/10

Metro's Monthly Movie Review

Each month a team member of Metro writes a movie review to share with you. And this month team member Jenn Williams has reviewed the movie 'Silver Linings Playbook'. Directed by: David O. Russell, Starring: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro & Jacki Weaver.

With it's fabulous cast, left of centre storyline & opening scene in a State Institution, Silver Linings Playbook is a rom-com of a different type.

You can't help but feel empathy for main character Pat Solitano (played by the handsome Bradley Cooper) as he tries to rebuild his life after 8 months in a State Institution. His obsession to reunite with his wife at times can be frustrating as you watch him miss the "signs" from new found friend Tiffany Maxwell (Jennifer Lawrence) who is rebuilding her own life.

With a football obsessed family, a dance competition & a blossoming friendship, 'Silver Linings Playbook' has a little bit of something for everyone, the Dirty Dancing style "lift" definitely won't be forgotten!

A beautiful & strangely light hearted movie about staying positive despite the challenges life throws at you.

Metro's Monthly Movie Review

Each month a team member of Metro writes a movie review to share with you. And this month team member Marnie Smith has reviewed the movie 'Flight'. Directed by: Robert Zemeckis, Starring: Denzel Washington, Don Cheadle, Kelly Reilly, John Goodman & Melissa Leo.

Denzel Washington hasn't put a foot wrong in his plethora of leading roles over the years and 'Flight' is no different.

Playing the role of Captain Whip Whitaker, an arrogant airline pilot who lives a lifestyle of drugs, copious amounts of alcohol and conscionable discern for consequences. Denzel is both convincing and infuriating.

You find yourself emotionally connected from very early on. Feeling the pain and frustration of those trying to help someone who won't help themselves. While the underlying physics of the heroic landing appear somewhat questionable, so too does the role of Whip. I found myself undecided between hero and villian as the investigation into the days proceeding the crash reveals the ugly truth of addiction.

Captain Whip finds himself entangled with a recovering addict. One might presume this would have a positive impact on the emotionally turbulent hero. Instead, Whip finds himself spiralling out of control with fear, guilt and denial reaching an all time high.

Ultimately, the truth sets us free. However, this certainly is not a feel good flick.
My recommendations; don't go with a pilot and don't wear a white top if you are going to eat a choc top.

I give this movie a 14/20.
My pilot friend gives 18/20, although anything with an aircraft is an easy way to score points with that one!

Metro's Monthly Movie Review

Each month a team member of Metro writes a movie review to share with you. And this month our Director Leah Calnan has reviewed 'Wreck it Ralph'

Movies and school holidays go hand in hand, so this week I enjoyed 'Wreck It Ralph' with my three children.

Firstly when you get there you need to get over the initial shock of the movie ticket prices, which is then followed by the "How much is the popcorn moment"??? So once we got past this, we were ready to sit down and enjoy another Disney movie.

A Disney movie is always a wonderful experience, and having spent time in Disneyland a little while ago, I always find it exciting when I have the opportunity to sit back and see how incredibly talented the people behind Disney really are.

What I didn't realise was, 'Wreck It Ralph' was in fact an actual game played in arcades just as the movie shows. Thanks to Gen Y for updating me on that one!! Anyway, Ralph decides he no longer wants to be a 'baddie'.  He wants to be a 'goodie' because no one invites him to parties,  he lives at 'The Tip' and he doesn't really have any friends. So he goes off to join another game in the arcade where he can show the people from his game that he can be a 'goodie'. However that adventure goes somewhat 'pear shaped' because whilst becoming a 'goodie', he ends up taking 'baddies' into a third game within the arcade.

But, don't despair - like all good movies there is a happy ending but with a few more twists, turns and lots of lollies and sweet things along the way (you will understand when you see it). I must say Jane Lynch makes the movie. You simply cannot take 'Sue Sylvester' (from the TV Show Glee) out of her voice!!!

So on behalf my children, they have provided the following opinion ratings on the movie, Cooper rates the movie 19/20,  Jack rates the movie 13/20 and Liam says its 12/25.

Take the kids and see what you think for yourself...

Metro's Monthly Movie Review

Each month a team member of Metro writes a movie review to share with you. And this month team member Kylie Jacobs has reviewed 'The Sapphires' Directed by: Wayne Blair, Starring: Deborah Mailman, Chris O'Dowd & Jessica Mauboy.

I typically love the big blockbuster movies, packed with stars and most likely costing more to make than what they earn. However as I get a bit older I'm realising that they are all pretty much the same. In saying that, with 2 young children I don't get to the movies too often so I am somewhat sceptical when going to see some of the smaller budget movies for fear of wasting my time. 'The Sapphires' was definitely not a waste of time! I absolutely loved this movie. It made me laugh, cry and left me wanting more!

From a Murray River Aboriginal mission to Vietnam, 'The Sapphires' tells the true tale of four Koori songbirds who in 1968 are flown to the war-zones of South Vietnam to perform for the American troops. While the film explores the obstacles Indigenous women experienced during 1968 Australia, the leading women were never painted as victims, but rather empowered, bold heroines. The film is not afraid to tackle the serious issues and while there are some moments that pack a severe emotional punch the overall tone remains positive and upbeat.

The soul classics throughout are fantastic! The music is structured around the story line rather than the other way around making it a movie about music rather than a musical itself.

Performances across the board are spectacular but it is Chris O'Dowd (from the popular blockbuster 'Bridesmaids') who ties it all together with a his infectious humour.

Definitely a must see!!