Film No. 23 (2025) March 30th. 3:45 PM EVENT CINEMAS, Cine 8, Innaloo.
"The story begins, the night of March 30th, nineteen sixty eight". (Leo Fife begins his story for the documentary reflecting his life as a film-maker in Canada).
NOMINEE: Palme d'Or (Paul Schrader) Cannes Film Festival. (2025).
Lovers of U.S. independent film-making often have a favourite Paul Schrader film, don't they? For me it's THE CARD COUNTER. Sadly his latest, OH, CANADA, won't rank with my Schrader "favs", unfortunately.
Richard Gere's, Leo Fife says, "You haven't heard the half of it", to his wife Emma (Uma Thurman), early on here. He proceeds to tell his story, hellbent on revealing all (whatever that means). From here nothing really surprises either Emma or the viewer. I think Leo was either, a philanderer, or a mixed up man who could never settle on a course in life. He accidentally became a world renowned documentary film maker when some film he took (because he liked the colours he was seeing), revealed a dark secret. His documentaries were landmark commentaries revealing the truth behind, Agent Orange, the slaughter of baby seals, etc, etc. But the real story seems to be his private life - but who cares? I didn't. The narrative is muddled and it's not as though Fife was a real person.
Schrader can be highly original in the way he layers his films. His soundtracks are rich and indulgent. His characters are often complicated, and have substance. Here, the latter two qualities are in play, but unfortunately his message remains confusingly banal. 7GUMS.
Film No. 22 (2025) March 25th. 11:00 AM LUNA LEEDERVILLE, Cinema 1, Leederville.
"You're dangerous. You can not have my son" (Valerie's words cut her mother, Michelle, like a knife cuts through butter).
WINNER: Best Screenplay (Francois Ozon, Philippe Piazzo), Jury Prize at San Sabastian IFF.
Should we be suspicious of a woman Ozon sets us up to like and trust, but whose daughter (who is disdainful of her mother) falls to her death from her own balcony onto a pavement in Paris? I'm still not sure.
Aspects to Franscois Ozon's 22 year old, SWIMMING POOL, have stayed with me. It was a haunting film that left me with more questions than answers. WHEN FALL IS COMING, has Ozon leading us along a familiar path via yet another lady with secrets, Michelle (Helen Vincent), a retiree living a quiet life in a small village in Burgundy. Early scenes have us wondering how drama could evolve from watching Michelle, till her garden, make a call or two and, chop vegetables. Then like a ball of expensive yarn, the complications entwined in her past, her family, and her love for others, slowly unfurl. No soundtrack distractions or cliched signalling, just thoughtful storytelling. Oh - and questions to ponder after the screen goes black!
Ozon builds the quiet moments which drive his characters. Michelle is a woman of mystery, but Ozon reveals her gently. He's a craftsman with great respect for film lovers who accept the challenge of his work. 10GUMS.
Film No. 21 (2025) March 10th. 12:45 PM EVENT CINEMAS, Cine 4DX, Innaloo.
"Nothing was working out and I just wanted to be offa of Earth". (Mickey's voiceover as he explains his move to planet Niflheim).
Mickey 17 (Most box-office in 3 days; 2025) ... world wide $43M March.
Is Bong Joon-ho the director (international cred) with the most to say about the human condition, and the world's shortcomings? Possibly, but throw in the term most imaginative as well. Yes, for sure.
Here Bong remains political in his messaging. It's as though MICKEY 17 (17) is his "free swing" after his Oscar success of 2020 (PARASITE). 17 is silly on many levels, as we meet a servant, Mickey (Robert Pattinson), who has signed up to be expendable then "reprinted" (cloned) the next day if things don't work out. Yes, Mickey is working in a dystopian society led by a very strange ruler, (Mark Ruffalo) and his wife (Toni Colette). Mickey is on his 17th life when he disappears. Mickey 18 is produced only for 17 to reappear. And so the fun begins. See, I told you it was silly, but Bong uses this "left field" premise to build another tale, drilling down on colonialism, status, greed and loyalty ... the usual Bong mantra.
The problem for me is that so few of the ingredients really gel. Ruffalo and Colette are one dimensional buffoons without a real edge. The film is 20mins too long. Mickey's love for Nasha (Naomi Ackie) is hardly explored. The build to the end, and finally to climax, underwhelms. Plenty of critics are liking 17 ... what do I know? 7GUMS.
Film No. 22 (2025) March 12th. 6:30 PM PALACE Raine Sq, Cinema 6, Perth City.
"Well you can lie about everything. How can you tell the truth about anything?" (Clarissa tests boyfriend Freddie's conscience when it comes to his infidelities).
NOMINEE: Most Anticipated Thriller (Steven Soderbergh) Media Awards (2025).
How many feature films has Steven Soderbergh made since SIDE EFFECTS (2013)? The film he labelled, would be his last. Well, including his latest, BLACK BAG, it has been twelve. Changing his mind has been a bonus for us all!
Imagine Mr and MrsSmith (Pitt and Jolle) turning up in later life, as executives in a secret service operative. No longer in the field but royalty when it comes to knowledges. A younger, ruthless set of co-employees are snapping at their heals; disrespectful of their senior mentors and oblivious to the experiences their senior mentors have gifted them. George (Michael Fassbender) and Kathryn (Cate Blanchette) are brilliant as that loving, mature couple who are tested by their ruthless counterparts. BB is an old fashion romp that never wastes a moment; each scene ratchets up in a way that not even "the sphinctertightening" scene could steal the show! There, that should have your interest!
Think the sharp, 'whip-like' dialogue of SIDE EFFECTS and the swift, tense twists of any of the OCEANS adventures, minus 30 minutes of their run-time and you have an old fashioned classic caper film, that is BLACK BAG.9GUMS.
Film No. 20 (2025) March 5th. 1.15 PM LUNA CINEMA, Cinema 8, Leederville.
"We have to raise our voices, not be silent as if no human beings live here" (Basel makes his point to Hamdam as to why they need to document (film) everything).
WINNER: Best Feature Documentary (Basel Adra) The Oscars (2025).
If we take it that tolerance and empathy form the foundation for our belief system as human beings, then, the images depicted in NO OTHER LAND (NOL) are a brutal reality check on such an assumption.
In 2019 the Israeli Supreme Court designated that the West Bank region of Masafer Yatta become a military training ground. The fact that over 1800 Palestinians occupied that space seemed to matter little. NOL is an Academy Award winning documentary that will have you muttering the expletive WTF throughout. The occupants of Masafer have lived there all their lives. They have no other land. We witness bulldozers turning up, and within minutes mashing houses, businesses and even a school (students look on) into rubble. But despite the hate between these nations, the film is a collaboration between Palestinian, Basel Adra and Israeli, Yuval Adraham. Their friendship is exhilarating. Their conversations throughout the film plead for peace, for empathy among their own, for hope, quality of life, love, care and tolerance. And on top of this, there are their images! Unbelievable!
Film No. 19 (2025) March 4th. 6:30 PM EVENT CINEMAS, Cine 16, Innaloo.
"Yeh, Biscuit they used to call me; like Ginger Nuts. Cause I had ginger nuts". (Spit talks to his nephew, Tyler, about a subject of no consequence to anyone).
NOMINEE: Most Anticipated Aust. Comedy (Jonathan Teplitsky) Australian Writers Guild (2025).
Is the most salient point of this reboot, the inference that Johnny Spitieri is not as dumb as he seems? Either that, or why are refugees so disrespected in Australian culture? Or perhaps the message is that family is everything for those with so little.
The David Wenham fuelled, SPIT, is so choc-full of themes that it lost me along the way. But, it would seem I was one of only a few who felt that way. Most of the audience at the well attended preview I attended, were buzzing about this fun fairy-tale about a much loved character, who first gained legs (or thongs) 22 years ago in GETTIN' SQUARE (GS). Put simply, Johhny of GS was a thong wearing, physical, clown who made for many LOL moments. He's been overseas, evading the law, and others, after his GS escapades. Now he's back and Wenham weaves his magic with a slightly more thoughtful Johnny. He's returned to Australia and in detention after being deported from the UK. And, would you believe it, throughout the movie he's helping refugees (fellow detainees) and making connections with long lost family. He's still a clown. There are laughs but I just couldn't get engrossed in Spit, despite Wenham's brilliance.
It has taken 10 years for director Jonathan Teplitsky and Wenham to get SPIT made. Finance was the issue, and finally Queensland Film Fund and FilmAustralia produced the goods. Both believe the film will plough $8M back into the Qld economy. I hope it does. Spit is fun, it has heart and a pleasant enough twist. See it on a big screen. 7GUMS.
Film No. 18 (2025) March 3rd. 1:15 PM EVENT CINEMAS, Cine 9, Innaloo.
"He's not your friend. People like Warren only go down, and he'll take you with him". (Prison Liaison Colleen wises Mel up to who he should trust while inside).
WINNER: Awgie Award, Original Feature (Charles Williams) Australian Writers Guild (2025).
How does a first time feature writer/director (Charles Williams) gain the services of star performer Guy Pearce? Send him the script and have him so excited he offers to co-produce. That's how!
It's rare to see a prison drama revolve around the premise of a hardened juvenile inmate transitioning into mainstream prison life. Williams gives us Mel (Vincent Miller). We enter a Barwon-like gaol with Mel. And forget the sugar-coating served in HOW TO MAKE GRAVY, Mel has arrived to serve time with "the big boys". Prison Liaison, Colleen (Tammy McIntosh), has concerns for his safety, so she assigns Warren Murfett (Pearce) as his mentor. Briefly, we are lulled into believing that Murfett will heal most of Mel's "wounds". Not so. Murfett is far more wounded than Mel. His world revolves around survival and protecting his neck. Or could it be that his insecurities lead Mel to a new resolve? Pearce gives dimensions to Murfett which propel INSIDE to 4 star cinema. And while the Fantale, was a great idea, it lacked the punch it deserved.
INSIDE is not a "quiet night at the flix" pic. Pearce will attract a crowd, and so he should, but don't expect the Guy we most often get. Here you'll get a different perspective from an actor who knows his craft. Murfett has stayed with me since I met him. 10GUMS.
