To say that the Amish community is isolated from civilisation is like saying that the Hulk has anger management issues. The Amish don’t have the modern communications and resources that somehow seem necessary to us Westerners (but remain superfluous in our daily functioning) and that’s a realisation that seems to drive us crazy. Sadly it…
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The first movie in the Alien franchise; of the same name, was released in 1979, and set the bar for sci-fi and horror in the years to come with its original plot, strong characters and atmospheric filming. I can only assume you have a broad understanding of the plot of the film; seven employees of a big…
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Only a few weeks ago myself and a elderly couple devoured a heart-wrenching French film, The Hedgehog, inspired by the best-selling novel The Elegance of A Hedgehog - an insightful yet saddening story about the contrast between a child’s and a older woman’s perspectives on life. The first shot introduces us to Paloma Josse (Garance Le Guillermic),…
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Casablanca is one movie that even film buffs can agree is a classic. There aren’t many films like this – in any group of people, someone will always want to be the one with the ‘original’ opinion, i.e. the person that hates that thing you really like. (Because with Casablanca you can’t say you liked…
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“Why Can’t A Woman Behave More Like A Man?” “Oh, Henry Higgins, just you wait.” My Fair Lady (1964) is musical film version of a musical theatre adaptation of an earlier film adaptation of a play called Pygmalion. Exhausted yet? It stars Audrey Hepburn as Eliza Dolittle, a poor flower girl whose alarming low-class accent…
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The news that the budget was once again delaying increase to foreign aid spending was sad for Australia’s reputation as a burgeoning leader on the world stage. That is why I was especially uplifted to see ACMI, cinema 1, bursting at the seams by those eager to learn about human rights issues through the Human…
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Back To Stay (Abrir puertas y ventanas) is the debut film from Milagros Mumenthaler. The winner of numerous international awards (including best film at the 2011 Locarno Film Festival); it is ultimately a low-key family drama. It’s also a semi-autobiographical tale from this first-time director. The movie is actually a concentrated character study that…
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Big, bold and beautiful accurately describe the intense film quality of The Great Gatsby. Complete with mind-blowing situations, beautiful cinematography and intense dialogue, The Great Gatsby is a marvel on-screen, but falls short when it comes to real life connections. Based on the book by F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby follows the story of…
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Its opening weekend has been reported as a letdown at the box office, but onscreen, this new Australian film is anything but underwhelming. Drift has the all the realism and heartache we expect from local storytelling, and supporting the Australian film industry is only a fringe benefit of forking out for a ticket. The film…
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Disney has announced a new Princess: Merida from Pixar’s Brave. They’ve given her a makeover to celebrate the promotion, and many of her fans believe the company has robbed the character of her very being. Their anger has led to a petition with more than 93,000 signatories. When Pixar and Disney released Brave in…
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If Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper in a film together hadn’t already peaked my interest, the fact that it was directed by Blue Valentine’s Derek Cianfrance and scored by Faith No More front man Mike Patton sealed the deal for me. I was not disappointed. Nothing short of ambitious, and seemingly quite different, Cianfrance’s follow…
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There is something to be said about monkeys in films. Part cute and cuddly, part vicious and protective they have been continually reduced to predictable human stereotypes. King Kong, Mighty Joe Young or even the charming monkey Jack from Pirates of the Caribbean are all victims of this monkey stereotype curse which plagues the film…
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She struts onto the screen. Leather clutches her hourglass figure, squeezing her tight; her breasts billow out of her shirt. She seductively glances at the man before her. He is incapacitated by her fishnet stockings and whip, reduced to a drooling, drivelling, mess. She slinks towards him, strokes his cheek and melts him with the…
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Cinematographer and virtuoso Alice Stephens has a breadth of experience under her belt. At the ripe old age of 21 she has dabbled in analogue film, music videos, documentaries, short films and promotional videos. After a debut screening at Flickr Festival, Stephens has hit the ground running, turning her fervency for film into a nine-to-five…
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