Film No. 16 (2024) February 23rd. 1:15 PM PALACE Raine Sq, Cinema 4, Perth City.
"I'll be back soon, sweetie." (The words Rubens says, as he touches the cheek of wife Eunice, fully believing he would soon be back in the bosom of his family).
WINNER: Best Performance by a Female Actor (Fernanda Torres) The Golden Globe Awards.
In a world where dictatorial regimes continue to plague countries in contemporary times, does I'M STILL HERE (HERE) remind us, how middle-class life can so simply be, "torn to threads" without good reason? You bet!
Director Walter Salles (MOTORCYCLE DIARIES) takes us into the lives of the wonderfully functional Paiva family rollicking on the beaches of Rio in 1970. We'd hardly believe Brazil was under authoritarian rule; a military sensitive to any disgruntled individuals. Ruben Paiva, an ex congressman and family man, came under military focus and disappeared from his family. HERE then becomes the story of how Eunice (Fernanda Torres) suffers the indignity of arrest and the frustration of not knowing the whereabouts of her husband, while remaining the resilient, stoic mother of a bright, vibrant young family. This is not a "based on a true story" tale, THIS IS A TRUE STORY. Salles knew the family. The Paiva's only son, Marcello, wrote, I'm Still Here, in collaboration with his mother, Eunice. It's a personal story and Salles has made it personal. The film's pace will alienate some. Not me. I was gifted a freedom filled, happy life in an uncomplicated democracy (Australia). HERE is a salient reminder to be thankful.
It's rare for a film to be nominated for a Best Film and Best International Film gong at the same ceremony (The Oscars). However, the gong may go to Torres for Best Lead Actress. Three days on, I can't get the image of Eunice out of my mind. 11GUMS.
Film No. 15 (2025) February 19th. 9:30 PM EVENT CINEMAS, Cine 6, Innaloo.
"I know it's going to sound cheesy, but from the moment we locked eyes there was a spark". (Iris explains to Josh how she felt at their first meeting).
WINNER: Directors to Watch (Drew Hancock) Palm Springs Int FF. (2025).
Is COMPANION (C) a better entertainment experience when seen unincumbered by watching trailers and reading reviews? For me, the answer is a wholehearted, yes. C is an ocean of refreshing ideas soaked in blood!
No spoilers here. Perhaps you are a lover of thrillers with lashings of horror - so long as they present new and exhilarating ideas which both surprise and shock. If so, then, COMPANION, is for you. Sophie Thatcher's Iris will captivate you into believing she is something she is not. Her perfect boyfriend, Josh (Jack Quaid) and his supportive friends will have you thinking, how can this vanilla drama amount to anything? You will find you couldn't have been more wrong. Read no further, go see it!
Drew Hancock usually writes and directs middle of the road T.V. fiction (SUBURGATORY). This is his feature debut. I'll be looking out for more of his big screen creations. Universal are loving C. 10GUMS.
Film No. 14 (2025) February 18th. 6:30 PM PALACE Raine Sq, Cinema 6, Perth City.
"Our retirement years were meant to be golden. But he's just sitting there!" (Tiina Hammer tells her son what life is like with her husband Lars who has lost his zest for life).
NOMINEE: Best Documentary (Filip & Fredrik) International Catholic Film Critics Association .
I liked DEN SISTA RESAN (DSR), English title, THE LAST JOURNEY), but when watching it, how do we decide what's contrived and what's real? Well, one doesn't really, but we take a guess, and then in the end, it doesn't matter.
Filip Hammer and Fredrik Wikingsson are Sweden's version of Hamish and Andy (Australia); a fun comedic duo who have grown on a nation (Sweden) and who are generally accepted as harmless, if not slightly "wet". The idea of a documentary depicting one of those comedians (Filip) connecting with his father (Lars) in a way that would move a nation (and beyond), is the idea that drives this partially contrived documentary. Is it more promotional spin for the duo's brand, or a fun vignette to warm the heart? The answer is - it's both. This very entertaining 90 minutes of feature film making is wonderfully humorous, empathetic, thought provoking and most of all, original. And while the boys are key to the road trip, Lars is the star, and they never try to steal his limelight.
We all, as we age, treasure childhood memories of good times, created, with love, by our parents. They may not be there when we'd like to thank them. DSR reminds us to "drink" in all that our parents are to us while they are still with us. 9GUMS.
Film No. 13 (2024) February 10th. 7:00 PM PALACE Raine Sq, Cinema 1, Perth City.
"This supervision of an election is a duty I thought I'd never have to perform." (Cardinal Lawrence is in shock as he deals with the death of The Pontiff and accepts this new role bestowed upon him).
WINNER: Best Ensemble Cast (Edward Berger) Critics Choice Awards. NOMINEE: Best Motion Picture (Edward Berger) Oscars.
Does a conclave represent the best backdrop to understanding the politics involved in electing leaders? It's hard to argue otherwise ... CONCLAVE is both insightful and beguiling in this sphere.
British author, Robert Harris, wrote the novel of the same name. The film adaptation tells the story, entertainingly. Director Thomas Berger (ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT) using the talents of Peter Straughan (screenplay) has created a "potboiler" full of intrigue, tension and reflection, and with a fulfilling twist. The exquisite skill of Ralph Fiennes as Cardinal-Dean Lawrence leads us through the dark tunnels needing to be navigated in this forced lock-down. All the Cardinals from around the world coming together to elect a new pope, leading to an arm-wrestle between the Progressives and the Traditionalists. Questions to be asked are: Do those who covet the job disqualify themselves because of their ambition? And, do women have a role in this process?
This very polished film sparkles. Tucci, Lithgow, Rossellini and Fiennes buff the quality of Berger's vision, but the soundtrack by Volker Bertelmann (VB) rivets us to our seats. Of all it's Academy nominations (8), I hope VB gets to hold an Oscar high. 11GUMS.
Film No. 12 (2025) February 3rd. 6.30 PM LUNA WINDSOR, Cinema 1, Nedlands.
"I know what it requires. I've been in the fields for years!" (Barbe-Nicole states her case to the prospective investors keen to buy her fields).
"NOMINEE: Audience Award (Thomas Napper) Toronto Film Festival." (2023).
Some of the best stories being told in contemporary times relate to women overcoming male dominated business environments, to not just succeed, but to unleash new and creative leadership methods. So what of the story of a woman who revolutionised the Champagne industry in the 18th century?
Here we have the story of Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin, better known as Widow Cliquot, the name behind the label Veuve Clicquot attached to very expensive bottles of bubbly. If you are an historian in awe of the achievements of this madame of industry, before her time - then the film will likely disappoint. WIDOW CLICQUOT (WC) is more a double pronged love story. Widow, Barbe-Nicole, is less depicted as a steely woman of substance but more as a competent, strong, likable, even gullible female who loved and lost and then loved again as she battled adversity to achieved her goals. Director ThomasNapper (JAWBONE) is an experienced director of engaging TV series. WC is a strong but gentle drama. It has a 'soap' quality. A quality soap, mind.
The flashback aspect to WC's "bubbly" persona wear thin. The fact her first love was a tortured soul (bipolar, perhaps) is understood. Not even love could calm his mind. We got the gist of this early on. I was keener to learn more of her empathic methods for conquering a male dominated industry, while working on mending her broken heart. It's a good yarn, never the less. 9GUMS.
Film No. 10 (2025) February 2nd. 5:00 PM EVENT CINEMAS, Cine 3, Innaloo.
"It's not about politics, it's about emotions". (Production boss Roone Arledge reacts to questions about his focus on an upcoming US v Cuba contest).
NOMINEE: Best Original Screenplay (Moritz Binder, Tim Fehlbaum, Alex David) The Oscars (2025).
There was a time, when the question was "where were you when the Olympic Village (1972) was stormed by terrorists?" Since 9/11 the aura surrounding Sept 5, '72 has diminished. SEPTEMBER 5 is a stark reminder that little seems to have changed in Palestinian/Israeli relations ...
The events of September 5 are made more remarkable because 900 million people watched the drama unfold in their own living-rooms. In most western nations, colour images flickered. This tightly bound feature tells the story behind how, and why, so many people were able to sit and view the barely believable reality of what was unfolding. Swiss film-maker Tim Fehldaum (THE COLONY) brilliantly balances file footage with dramatic theatrical re-enactment. The ABC network, via its on-site sports unit led by Roone Arledge (Peter Sarasgaad), Marvin Bader (Ben Chaplin) and producer Geoff Mason (JohnMagaro) brought the tragedy of Sept 5 to the world. This is how they did it. Even when we know the outcome, the tension is electric.
I was 14 on September 5, 1972. Television was an invention new to our family lounge room. Watching these men with guns, doing as they pleased, was frightening. It was a coming of age moment for me. SEPTEMBER 5 shines a light on how journalism revealed a hard-truth, responsibly, but not without risk. 11GUMS.
Film No. 10 (2025) February 1st. 11.00 AM LUNA CINEMA, Cinema 1, Leederville.
"I was looking for meaning and depth and finished with dullness and self indulgence!" (The words of a film critic, who shall remain nameless, as she sought to sum up her QUEER experience).
WINNER: Best Actor (Daniel Craig) National Board of Review (2024).
Why did I attend this screening of QUEER, when I promised myself, 33 years ago (NAKED LUNCH), I would never waste my time in front of another William H Burroughs tale? Well I didn't actually know it was a Burroughs' tale until I'd settled in the dark of the cinema.
I'm a heterosexual male who has enjoyed many films depicting gay lust and love on screen, MY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDRETTE, LOVE LIES BLEEDING, CAROL, and PRIEST, to name a few. While the lustfulness in certain scenes of QUEER are confronting, they fit with the voraciousness of Daniel Craig's, William Lee. It was the loose ended, classic "Burroughs tripping" scenes with which I could not connect. There was squirming, and walk-outs in our preview. If we (my wife and I) hadn't been with friends, (who it turned out, thought the same as us) we would have walked back into sunlight. I could not warm to QUEER. Self indulgent and plain boring was my take.
Most of the accolades (80% of its award nominations and wins) for QUEER are for the performance of Craig. For an actor of his stature, this could have been a risky career move, but he wholly succeeds in the role. 6GUMS.
_poster.jpg)
