February 21
Stan & Ollie
Undermined: Tales from the Kimberley
Transitions Film Festival

This week sees one highly entertaining release, plus a selection of docos, (several within an important festival), which deal with issues that should be of concern to all. 

Stan & Ollie
Director: Jon S Baird
Length: 97 min

© entertainment One - a delight, with two 
wonderful performances

I was never a fan of the sort of slapstick comedy Stan Laurel (Steve Coogan)  and Oliver Hardy (John C Reilly) were famous for. But it doesn't stop me loving this sweet, funny and poignant film, about two once-famous comedians trying to make a comeback. Although the duo made 107 film appearances between 1927 and 1950, by 1953 they were past their prime. With Ollie's health failing, the pair go on a tour of Britain to attempt to reignite their popularity. This film works well on a number of levels - the recreation of the many popular routines the pair had down to a fine art is so impressive - Coogan and Reilly totally inhabit the characters. As well as the poignancy of how changing times eventually diminish even the world's most popular duo, it is also about the love between the two men. They could always make each other laugh, and, despite past clashes and estrangement, ultimately the bond endures. With Shirley Henderson and Nina Arianda as their wives, and Danny Huston as the hard-boiled Hollywood producer, the cast is nicely filled out, but the spotlight shines front and centre on the pair who gave so much to the world of Hollywood comedy.
4 - highly recommended!

Undermined: Tales from the Kimberley
Director: Nicholas Wrathall & Stephanie King
Length: 100 min
Exclusive to Cinema Nova, Classic Elsternwick

© Umbrella - will the people and the landscape in 
such an iconic area be destroyed?

The Kimberley, one of the world's last great wilderness areas and home to 200 remote Indigenous communities is under threat from mining, pastoralists and irrigated agriculture. This disturbing doco looks at the complex issues involved in attempting to integrate Native Title with business interests, and inclusion of Indigenous people in those business projects. Excellent commentary is given by Indigenous leaders, who are battling to preserve their homelands in what seems like yet another blatant landgrab by greedy companies. The vast cattle stations, and pristine coastline are strikingly impressive to view on the big screen, but the dramas going on at grass-roots level have the potential to threaten and ultimately destroy everything. With interesting characters, important issues and spectacular landscapes this is a worthy and important film for all Aussies to see.
3.5 - well recommended 

Transitions Film Festival
21 Feb - 8 March
Cinema Nova
For info and tickets, visit: https://www.transitionsfilmfestival.com/

© Transitions FF - The Human Element  - visually
stunning, horrifically scary

Subtitled "Visions for a Better World", this festival showcases "ground-breaking documentaries about social and technological innovation, revolutionary ideas and trailblazing changemakers that are leading the way to a better world."
There couldn't be a more important time for films of this nature to be coming out - films with the potential to change people's thinking and hopefully save the planet! But you need to be quick as most show only for one session. So head to the website (above) and choose what you want to see, or better yet get a season's ticket. I'm lucky to have already previewed several.
The Point of No Return: This doco tracks an almost unimaginable first - the flight of a plane around the world using only solar power. Discover the genius behind the idea, the two brave pilots, and be inspired that such thinking could revolutionise the planet. (Showing tomorrow, 21st Feb)
System Error: Our planet's resources are finite, so why do economists keep hollering about the word growth? This doco investigates what makes our financial system tick, exposing many of the wool-over-the-eyes ruses economists use to lure people in. Even respected academicians declare that a growing economy cannot last for ever. Scary stuff - great food for thought. (Showing 22 Feb)
The Human Element: This film has impressed me deeply. Famed photographer James Balog goes on a world odyssey with his camera, documenting the planet and its changing response to the four elements: water (dramatic floods and sea level rises); fire (wildfires the likes of which we've never seen); wind (hurricanes and typhoons of devastating magnitude); earth (volcanoes, coal mines causing catastrophe). He proposes that there is a fifth element - the human one, that has changed everything. Taking a very understandable and simple approach, Balog counterpoints his stunning visuals with the catastrophic reality of what is happening to our planet. (Showing March 1, but plan for it and get your tickets early!)
The festival is 4.5 - wholeheartedly recommended