June 24th
Elvis
Lost Illusions
After Love (Streaming on SBS On Demand)
Vision splendid Outback Festival
What an exciting week it is with the release of the long-awaited Elvis biopic. Even if you were never a fan, get along to see it. Two other excellent movies are reviewed, one streamed and one on the big screen. Plus an out-there, outback film festival.
Elvis
Dir: Baz Luhrmann
Length: 159 mins
 |
© Warner Brothers/Universal - what a
brilliant film! The King lives on. |
The King is dead - long live the King!! Yes, the legend lives on, in glorious Baz-esque style, in this extravaganza film version of Elvis Presley's life. I barely can begin to convey to you just how much I loved this film, despite some churlish critics grumbling about its flamboyant, over-the-top style. The singer's life is framed through the eyes and voice-over of his domineering manager Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks). Parker, an illegal Dutch immigrant, came from a carnival background, and then went into music management. Baz exploits this to the full, his imaginative visual style evoking early in the film a crazy carnival feel of those innocent days in 1950s' America when Elvis (Austin Butler) first appeared on the country music program Louisiana Hayride. The film’s style is at times frenetic - non-stop
energy, vibrant visuals and driving music, as we see Elvis the child being influenced by the local Tupelo black musicians, (some stunning musical vignettes) through to taking the world by storm with his gyrations, loathed by conservatives who saw him as a near-Satanic influence. Although not a dead-ringer lookalike for Elvis, Butler is nothing less than remarkable in how he embodies the sensuality and sexuality of the king, his moves perfect, and some of the vocals even performed by him. A heavily prosthetically engineered Hanks is impressive as the manipulative Parker who had Elvis in a virtually co-dependent relationship. Olivia de Jonge as Priscilla Presley captures the sadness of being married to a person who lives for his fans rather than his family. The arc of Elvis's stylistic singing transformations, the return to his gospel roots, and his remarkable comeback in Las Vegas are well known to fans, and are truthfully recreated, especially with the iconic costumes. The film also brings out the poignancy and tragedy of Elvis's life, while the political and social climate of a changing America serves as a backdrop to the entire story. Elvis changed the face of modern music and is back to entertain us all over again in this fabulous film!5 - unmissable
Lost Illusions
Dir: Xavier Giannoli
Length: 149 mins
 |
© Palace - a stylish period piece
with a modern resonance |
Lucien de Rubempre (Benjamin Voisin) is an aspiring young poet working as a printer in rural France in 1821. He is having an affair with someone totally out of his league, the Baroness Louise de Bargeton (Cecile de France). She takes him to Paris but drops him like a hot potato when her upper-crust friends disapprove. In a post revolution era, Lucien lands a job as a journalist with a left-leaning newspaper, and soon discovers a world of corruption: where anything from theatre audience applause (or boos), to favorable reviews and articles, can be bought at the right price. Based on a novel by classic French writer Honore de Balzac, this is a film that feels almost current, despite its period setting. It definitely feels like the beginning of "fake news". Everything about the film feels vibrant and authentic, from the lavish period detail, to the costumes, the raucous newsroom behaviour, and the personal interactions between the characters. No-one is actually very likable, except maybe for the sweet actress Coralie (Salome Dewaels) with whom Lucien gets romantically involved. All the rest are either social climbing or back-stabbing. Amongst the wit, fun and mischief, there are some good life lessons about disillusionment and social climbing, all still relevant today.4 - highly recommended
After Love
Dir: Aleem Khan
Length: 89 mins
Streaming on SBS On Demand
 |
© BFI - delicately handled, subtly acted,
heart-rending story |
In the English port city of Dover, Mary (Joanna Scanlan), a convert to Islam, is suddenly widowed. Going through her husband's effects she makes a shock discovery that in fact Ahmed had an entire other life across the Channel in Calais, France. She sets out to discover more about her husband's alternate existence. Here is a gem of a film that supports my thesis that there are some brilliant offering on free-to-air SBS On Demand. The film has deservedly won many top awards, which is great to see for such a subtle and understated story, that is thematically rich and packs an emotional punch. Scanlan captures Mary's stolid quiet determination, in an acting showcase of how less is more, and how so much can be conveyed wordlessly. The plot device of her being mistaken for a cleaning lady is brilliant, adding a whole new layer to her discoveries. There are powerful contrasts between Mary's prosaic life in England and the more upper-class life led by single mother Genevieve (Nathalie Richard) and her son Solomon (Talid Ariss). Just as Ahmed had his secrets so do Mary, Genevieve and Solomon; nothing is exactly as it appears at first glance. This gentle film of deception, shared grief, and unlikely friendships is richly rewarding viewing.4 - highly recommended
Vision Splendid Outback Film Festival
24 June - 2 July - Winton Queensland
Calling film loving adventurers! If you've got a sudden urge to decamp from the southern freezing cold climes, why not trek/fly/drive/camel train off to the outback, and visit the most unique outback film festival in Winton Queensland. Winton has notably been used as a setting settings in such famous Aussie films and series as The Proposition, Total Control and Mystery Road. Showing some of the top Aussie films each day, along with other activities (think, Breakfast with the Stars each day at the North Gregory Hotel), the festival could be just the ticket to shake the winter blues.
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