March 21st
Destroyer
Swimming with Men
Maria by Callas
More from MQFF

Cops, swimmers, opera stars and playwrights - they are all here in this week's reviews. Dare I say, as always - something for everyone. 

Destroyer
Director: Karyn Kusama
Length: 123 min

© Madman - Kidman as you've never seen her in
a strong crime/redemption story

Erin Bell (Nicole Kidman) is a hard-bitten LAPD cop with a past. Years ago, undercover for the FBI and infiltrating a gang, she was involved in a bank robbery, the upshot of which pretty much destroyed her spirit. Now that someone from her shady past has re-emerged, she must trawl through her own history to bring perpetrators to justice and come to terms with herself and the losses in her life. The thing viewers will no doubt discuss most here is how unglamorous Nicole looks in this role. It's almost a distraction. But there's no denying she acts really well, and director Kusama has a way of portraying the seedy, grimy side of LA life that is really compelling. Toggling between the past years and Erin's present, with a soundtrack to enhance the respective eras, it's a film that will suit those wanting strong crime drama crossed with a tragic story of self-examination and redemption.
3.5 - well recommended!

Swimming With Men
Director: Oliver Parker 
Length: 96 min

© Icon - British fare, with some really good 
stuff  plus plenty of predictability

Eric (Rob Brydon) is going through a mid-life crisis. He believes his wife (Jane Horrocks) is having an affair and he is sick of his boring job as a top accountant. But then he finds new meaning to life when he joins a group of middle-aged men who are hoping to form an all-male synchronised swimming team. Touted as a "feel-good movie", it should certainly please those looking for something VERY light and predictable. It is chock-fill of the typical British tropes and one-liners that try to be funny but fall short. However, despite it being corny and trying too hard to be another Full Monty, there is something of a sweet heart to the film. I really enjoy that it presents a different picture of men and masculinity; these guys are kind, supportive and even affectionate to their friends - what a breath of fresh air! Plus the fact that none of them is buff or especially trim, but all are happy to get about in their togs, happy in their bodies and the water. Plus of course Rob Brydon is always good to watch. I'm almost tempted to call it a recommend.
2.5 - maybe!

Maria by Callas
Director: Tom Volf
Length: 119 min

© Sony - Maria Callas was 
arguably the world's best 
operatic voice

This is a must see for opera lovers, and even non-opera lovers (like me) will get so much from this excellent documentary. Using only archival footage and interviews featuring the great opera singer Maria Callas, it reveals an intense and talented woman who gave her all to her public and every performance she ever did. The doco traces briefly her early life, then focuses on her extraordinary career, dogged by paparazzi who followed her every move and press who slammed her for anything they saw as less than perfection. Her heartbreak at the hands of Aristotle Onassis is covered, but it's her own exquisite voice, speaking and singing, that reveals utterly the talent and depth of passion in this iconic woman.
3.5 - well recommended!

more from . . . Melbourne Queer Film Festival
Until March 25 (oops - wrote wrong dates last week)
Village Jam Factory, cinema nova, ACMI
For other states, times and ticketing visit  https://www.mqff.com.au

With encore screenings abounding, make sure you check the website to see what's on, plus the forthcoming weekend still has many more excellent first release films to see. 

© MQFF - Terrence with actor Nathan Lane in an
inspiring doco showing that creativity has no age limit

Every Act of Life: Here's a must for lovers of theatre - a splendid doco on the prolific writer Terrence McNally. His career has spanned six decades and he's won more awards than you can shake a stick at for plays, and the scripts for musicals. Always comfortable in his own gay identity, he wrote some of the first openly gay characters. Interviews with McNally (still writing at age 80) plus many more from the likes of Angela Lansbury, Edie Falco, Nathan Lane, are simply entertaining and inspiring.