New (& fairly recent) Oz films

Melbourne opera is bringing a production of Madam Butterfly to my tiny town.
Shocked

Mumpad does custodial duties for the Arts centre so we get to sneak in and watch from the wings rather than paying $70 each. Very Happy

The day before cup day.

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Wow!
An evening of Kultcha! You'll have to report back on that, dadpad.
Never been to the opera, myself, can you believe?

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Recently I read that Phil Noyce is to direct the filming of Tim Winton's Dirt Music.
Now that's something to look forward to!

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mumpad says she liked the book. Its not a happy ever after story and will be interesting to see how it translates to the big screen. Cold_Erin didnt like it at all couldnt get into the book and didnt finish it.

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I'm with mumpad on this one. I'm a huge Winton fan, though I know many folk who claim he is too damn depressing & avoid his books like the plague! I actually see him as optimistic! I like all his stuff about redemption, compassion for the under-dog & so on ..... Anyway, I can't wait to see how this one will translate into film & I think Phil Noyce might just make a reasonable fist of it.

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Finally, I got to see Ten Canoes tonight. On video, not at the cinema. (It came & went too fast & I missed it!)

The blurb on the DVD cover describes this film as "a parable of forbidden love". Anyway, I really enjoyed it. Fascinating to learn so much about ancient aboriginal culture explained (so beautifully & with such whimsy & humour) by the narrator, David Gulpilil). The "death scene" where Minygululu prepares to die & performs the ritual death dance (to reunite with his ancestors) in his dying moments was just stunning. And the the landscape of central Arnhem Land & the wetlands ...! Beautiful! I would have loved to have seen this film on the big screen!

".....The film was shot in the remote crocodile-infested swamps of northern Australia and stars a clutch of untrained actors.

In the tribal times, a thousand years ago in the northern territory of Australia, Dayindi (Jamie Gulpilil) covets the youngest of his brother Minygululu's three wives, as he has no wife of his own.

As they make their canoes to travel across the swamp, Minygululu tells Dayindi a story from the mythical past about another young man who wanted his brother's youngest wife for himself; a story of love, kidnapping, sorcery, bungling mayhem and revenge gone wrong....."

http://www.indielondon.co.uk/Film-Review/ten-canoes-preview-and-awards-win

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Not a film at the cinema, but an Oz TV movie on the ABC tonight. Curtin. "The story of Australia's wartime PM. Recalls an intriguing era for the country" - according to my AGE TV guide. Looks interesting and starts in about 10 minutes. (8:30 pm)

... & then at 12:05 also on the ABC, In the Winter Dark - 1998 film of Tim Winton's disconcertingly spooky novel. Sadly, too late for me.

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Did anyone else watch Curtin on Sunday night? I'd be interested to know what you thought of it.
I found it engrossing & thought William McInnes was terrific in the lead role.

http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2007/04/20/curtinmain_070417052139146_wideweb__300x430.jpg

William McInnes and Noni Hazelhurst in Curtin.

Sydney Morning Herald review:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/tv-reviews/curtin/2007/04/20/1176697066056.html

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I discovered this review of Jindabyne in one of my NYT email updates tonight. It's opening in NY & Los Angeles today. Last year, when it was released in Oz, dlowan & I had a bit of a discussion about it! ( few pages back in this thread.)
The director of Jindabyne is Ray Lawrence, who also directed just about my favourite Oz film ever - Lantana.:

Murky Emotions Floating to the Surface
By A. O. SCOTT
Published: April 27, 2007/NYT

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/04/26/arts/27jind600.1.jpg

In this Australian film opening today in New York and Los Angeles, Laura Linney plays a wife upset by her husband's reaction to a corpse.Opens today in New York and Los Angeles.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/27/movies/27jind.html?_r=2&8mu&emc=mu&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

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http://www.infilm.com.au/reviews/images/noise2.jpg

So many rave reviews like this one:

...Noise is so many things at once: a quietly enlightening character piece, a social study of conscience and decency, a catch-the-killer police story. It finds new angles and directions as it rolls along, never simplifying for the dumb-dumbs in the audience and constantly enlightening its complications and grey areas with fresh perspectives as it progresses. Interpret the film as an allegory or a metaphor, or just sit back and enjoy the ride. It's a sublimely harrowing cop movie and a powerful psychological thriller that refuses to succumb to conventional definitions. Don't miss it.

I was expecting really big things from Noise. I'm genuinely sorry to say that it didn't quite live up to expectations. This film had a lot going for it but (for me, anyway) didn't quite achieve its potential. Brendan Cowell (Love My Way)was convincing as Constable Graham McGahan. Other performances were equally creditable. The sound track & visuals were moody & intriguing, but somehow the plot let things down. So many different threads at work at one time, each showing promise but most not really delivering. This was director Matt Saville's debut effort. Down the track he'll probably achieve some terrific Oz films. As a first effort I'd describe Noise as promising, but flawed.

http://www.infilm.com.au/reviews/noise.htm

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The next Oz film on my list. Previewed this weekend at the Nova in Carlton & showing soon:

http://www.yourmovies.com.au/static/media/x300/166971_166933_romul.jpg

Romulus, My Father:
Based on Raimond Gaita's critically acclaimed memoir. It tells the story of Romulus, his beautiful wife, Christina, and their struggle in the face of great adversity to bring up their son, Raimond. It is the tale of a boy trying to balance a universe described by his deeply moral father, against the experience of heartbreaking absence and neglect from a depressive mother. It is, ultimately, a story of impossible love that celebrates the unbreakable bond between father and son.

http://www.yourmovies.com.au/movies/?action=movie_info&title_id=33196

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I must have gotten the preview date at the Nova wrong, because here is a report from today's paper about the world premiere! It's at Castlemaine, a country town in Victoria, Oz, where Romulus, My Father was filmed. Nice little story. Very Happy

:

Welcome to Castlemaine, entertainment capital of Australia

http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2007/05/27/js28n_ericbanya_wideweb__470x309,2.jpg

Director Richard Roxburgh (left), Eric Bana (middle) and Kodi Smit-McPhee at the premiere of Romulus, My Father , based on the book by Raimond Gaita.
Photo: Angela Wylie
Larissa Dubecki
May 28, 2007/the AGE

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msolga wrote:

So many rave reviews like this one:

...Noise is so many things at once: a quietly enlightening character piece, a social study of conscience and decency, a catch-the-killer police story. It finds new angles and directions as it rolls along, never simplifying for the dumb-dumbs in the audience and constantly enlightening its complications and grey areas with fresh perspectives as it progresses. Interpret the film as an allegory or a metaphor, or just sit back and enjoy the ride. It's a sublimely harrowing cop movie and a powerful psychological thriller that refuses to succumb to conventional definitions. Don't miss it.

I was expecting really big things from Noise. I'm genuinely sorry to say that it didn't quite live up to expectations. This film had a lot going for it but (for me, anyway) didn't quite achieve its potential. Brendan Cowell (Love My Way)was convincing as Constable Graham McGahan. Other performances were equally creditable. The sound track & visuals were moody & intriguing, but somehow the plot let things down. So many different threads at work at one time, each showing promise but most not really delivering. This was director Matt Saville's debut effort. Down the track he'll probably achieve some terrific Oz films. As a first effort I'd describe Noise as promising, but flawed.

http://www.infilm.com.au/reviews/noise.htm

Ah...I loved it.

But the person I went with moaned about it not having anything to say.

I get what you mean, Msolga....but I guess I saw it as being subtle about how it developed stuff.

Are those your words, in the second paragraph?

Oy...did you know the Cohen doco was shot in Sydney? (Well, I don't know if the iinterview sequences were).

Again, I liked it, my companion didn't again.

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Yep, those were my words, Deb. I was attempting to be an objective reviewer! :wink:
Actually I was trying to figure out why I like so much of the film (& really wanted it to succeed) but ultimately it found unsatisfying, or unresolved. I figured that there was just too much going on. A few interesting ideas (which appeared to be important initially) but didn't really lead anywhere, appeared to be dropped, or were frustratingly unresolved. Still, that's probably preferable to dead boring & predictable?
What did you think of the ending?

You mean the Leonard Cohen film? (I'm Your Man)
Yes, I did know that. Really enjoyed it.

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I see that Romulus, My Father (see posts above)did very well at the recent AFI (Australian Film Industry) awards.

I finally caught it on DVD a couple of weeks ago & thought it was wonderful, though it made me feel quite melancholy.
Eric Bana as the father and Kodi Smit-McPhee as his son were both very convincing in their roles & well deserved their AFI awards for acting, I think.

http://www.abc.net.au/atthemovies/img/2007/ep15/rom01.jpg

Another thing I loved was the landscape, the sense of place, which was such a strong feature of the film. It seemed such familiar territory, yet a strange, lonely & alienating place as well ... which it no doubt was to to these migrants from Europe.

Here's what David & Margaret had to say about Romulus, My Father, some time ago:

http://www.abc.net.au/atthemovies/txt/s1912077.htm

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Why have I never looked at this thread before????? Sorry msolga Embarrassed

Last one I saw was Death In Brunswick,a good left-field,black comedy.
Lantana,Look Both Ways and Jindabyne are in the post from EZY Smile

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barrythemod wrote:

Why have I never looked at this thread before????? Sorry msolga
Last one I saw was Death In Brunswick,a good left-field,black comedy.
Lantana,Look Both Ways and Jindabyne are in the post from EZY

Welcome, Barry (the mod! - I like that! Very Happy

)

Absolutely no need to apologise. One can't watch every interesting film on the planet. (But wouldn't it be great it we could?)

I've read your thread & your contributions to film/DVD watching.

I suspect your film interests are not all that much different to mine. A good film is a good film, no matter where it was produced. I suspect you'd agree.

I also suspect you'll really enjoy these 3 films! (A lot of catching up since Death in Brunswick! Very Happy

)

Do let us know how you find them, OK?

ps .... You're allowed not to like them as much as I did! :wink:

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Ezy came up trumps delivering all 3 DVD's two days before Christmas.Look Both Ways I enjoyed,once I got used to the animated bits.BUT Jindabyne and Lantana blew me away.Especially when I discovered that they were both directed by Ray Lawrence,who has only made 3 films and between them,they have won 14 awards! This guy really knows how to direct character driven storys! Lantana is IMHO just as good as the Oscar award winning Bable.
Gonna put in an order for his first film Bliss

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barrythemod wrote:

Ezy came up trumps delivering all 3 DVD's two days before Christmas.Look Both Ways I enjoyed,once I got used to the animated bits.BUT Jindabyne and Lantana blew me away.Especially when I discovered that they were both directed by Ray Lawrence,who has only made 3 films and between them,they have won 14 awards! This guy really knows how to direct character driven storys! Lantana is IMHO just as good as the Oscar award winning Bable.
Gonna put in an order for his first film Bliss

"Bliss" is bloody interesting.

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(BM)

(Saw Children of the Revolution years ago, figured there must've been something interesting going on, saw Welcome to Woop Woop!, figured there may or may not have been something interesting going on down there...)

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