November 26th 

American Utopia

CHIFF: Childrens' International Film Festival - Nov 27-Dec 13

Italian FF finally in Melbourne - 25 Nov - 9 Dec

Luckily I got to view some excellent cinema before I immersed into the world of jury duties, being one of three international jurors judging the 33rd Panorama of European Cinema, being hosted (online) in Athens. A shame you can't watch it from Oz, a bigger shame I'm not over in Greece as I would have been in a non-Covid world. Regardless, there's great cinema happening here in Melbourne. 

American Utopia
Dir: Spike Lee

Length: 105 mins

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lg4hcgtjDPc

© Universal  - stunning and transcendent

American band Talking Heads was around from 1975 until 1991. Lead singer David Byrne went on to recently write the Broadway hit musical American Utopia, featuring songs from the band and from his solo career. Now this fabulously popular musical is brought to the big screen under the guiding hand of eminent director Spike Lee, who makes a concert into something more amazing than you could ever imagine. How can I describe the feeling of uplift and  joyousness that this transcendent film brings? The film opens on an almost bare stage, which gradually fills with musicians. Byrne explains that it's all about the music, so no fancy sets or special effects - the musos are even all bare-footed. The overall effect is simply mesmerising. Extraordinary choreography enhances and complements every song. Percussion is a strong feature, vocal harmonies are superb, and this is an experience no music lover will want to miss (or anyone, for that matter). 

5 - unmissable

CHIFF: Childrens' International Film Festival
Nov 27 - Dec 13

Classic Cinemas, Elsternwick; Lido Cinemas, Hawthorn; Cameo Cinemas, Belgrave and Ritz Cinemas; Randwick Sydney

www.chiff.com.au

Words from the publicist: Now in its third year, CHIFF celebrates filmmaking from around the world for kids, families and the young at heart.  With a fabulous fun program featuring 20 of the best and latest films for children from the past year – all Australian premieres – this year CHIFF invites audiences to see familiar favourites on the big screen and discover bold new re-imaginings of classic characters, and also to ponder the world and our place in it, especially our relationship to nature and our fellow inhabitants, be they human, animal or mythical. 

. . . and now from me: I've been lucky to preview a few, and I mean fortunate, as these films are beautifully pitched to please both adults and youngsters. And after the many, many very serious films I've been indulging in this year, it's a great delight to wallow in something a little lighter, but with hidden depths. Those I review here are for slightly older kids, maybe 8 years and up, and with the ability to read sub-titles, all being European offerings. But for the littlies there are also plenty of terrific films like Moominvalley, Coconut the Little Dragon, Raggie and many more. The festival opens with a new version of the evergreen fave, Lassie Come Home, which I will review when it gets a mainstream release in a week or so.  

Fritzi: A Revolutionary Tale: This delightful animation tells a serious story of Fritzi, a young girl living in East Germany in 1989. Minding her friend's dog, she soon discovers the "holidaying" family has done a runner across the Berlin Wall to the West. Gradually Fritzi discovers her child's life in repressive communist Germany is worse than she thought, and she is drawn into being a part of history in the making. This is a smart and engaging way to get youngsters to understand a really seminal part of European history. Characters are highly engaging (and the dog is soooo cute!)

The Prince's Voyage: The Monkey Prince, proud and elegant, washes up in an unfamiliar land where only young Tom is able to understand him. Tom's parents are scientists, outcast for their beliefs that other monkey civilisations exist. Very much a parable, this is an exquisitely painted animation that carries great messages about tolerance and open-mindedness. The painterly style really reminds me of the Japanese Studio Ghibli work, of which I'm a huge fan.   

Phantom Owl Forest: 10-year-old Eia is sent for the holidays to a remote farm in Estonia, to be cared for by an old man, the identity of whom she only discovers as the tale progresses. He lives in a forest that is threatened by loggers, and together with new friends she takes up the environmental cause, and along the way discovers a large number of family secrets. This is a  delightfully warm-hearted story telling with a strong message.

Too Far Away: Ben's village is taken over by miners and he must move to a new home and school. A keen soccer player, Ben is both relegated in the team, and bullied, but when he befriends Tariq, a Syrian refugee, things look up. This film has many important social messages, not only to do with refugees, but also the power of friendship to heal and overcome prejudice. 

and finally it's here in Melbourne . . .

ST. ALi Italian Film Festival

The 21st ST. ALi Italian Film Festival presented by Palace will screen in Melbourne from 25 November until 9 December at the following locations: Palace Cinema Como, Palace Westgarth, Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay and Kino Cinemas.

For all the info and program details go to www.italianfilmfestival.com.au

Centrepiece film is  The Traitor, which scooped the pool at Italy's Donatello awards. It is the story of a Sicilian Mafia boss and features the marvellous Pierfrancesco Favino. For those disappointed the new live-action version of the classic Pinocchio starring Roberto Benigni won't be part of the festival, it is currently having a theatrical release in cinemas (and according to my fellow reviewer Melinda O'Connor, it's a winner!)

In case you missed this review a couple of months ago:

The Goddess of Fortune

© Italian FF - love, kids,
friendships - all in
turmoil 

A top pick and my strong recommendation for the festival is this wonderful award-winning film from director Ferzan Ozpetek (I adored his 2003 film Facing Windows). Boasting a stellar cast of Italy's top actors, it is the story of long-term partners Arturo (Stefano Accorsi) and Alessandro (Eduardo Leo), whose lives are disrupted when old friend Annamaria (Jasmine Trinca) reappears in their lives. Jealousies, disruptions, parental longings, and family secrets abound in this warm, witty delightful film that features terrific perfs from all, including the kids. 

4 - highly recommended

 November 19th 

The Burnt Orange Heresy

Fatman

MQFF Interrupted

IMAX reopens - review of Great Bear Rainforest

It's a huge time for film in Melbourne, with cinemas screening so many new films and those whose season was interrupted or never got off the ground. The choice is enormous. Catching up on them all is near to impossible. Not to mention a couple more film festivals coming online in the next few weeks: the Children's International Film Festival and the Japanese Film Festival. Stay tuned. 

The Burnt Orange Heresy
Dir: Giuseppe Capotondi

Length: 99 mins

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PMAlfrdQNI

Showing at various Melbourne locations - Google it!

© Sony - terrific cast in this taut thriller set
in the art world (shady part thereof)

Art dealer James Figueras (Claes Bang) visits the home of wealthy collector Joseph Cassidy (Mick Jagger) in Lake Como. His assignment is to acquire (think steal) a painting from reclusive artist Jerome Debney (Donald Sutherland). Taking his recent new squeeze Berenice (Elizabeth Debicki), James embarks upon a major deception. With a wonderful cast and terrific settings this is an entertaining thriller, which also has a bit to say about the less than legal side of the art world. Fans of Mick Jagger should relish his weird performance.  

3.5 - well recommended

Fatman
Dir: Eshon Nelms, Ian Nelms

Length: 100 mins

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z64XvPERZ50

© Icon - gun-toting Santa - what do you
expect from Mel?

A nasty spoiled brat Billy (Chance Hurstfield) is so disgruntled with his Christmas present he hires a hitman (Walter Goggins) to kill Santa (Mel Gibson). That's the plot in a nutshell, with a few extra twists added in: Santa is known only to locals in his North Pole town as Chris (think Kringle) and his wife is a gentle-natured, cookie-baking person of color (Marianne Jean Baptiste). As the hitman wends his way north, the US army co-opts Chris and his hardworking elves to do some (unspecified) secret job, with a lucrative contract promised. It's all rather nonsensical, but those who need a hit of Gibson as a gun toting, surly, unjovial man without a red suit, and not especially fat, may get something out of this.   

2.5 - maybe

MQFF Interrupted 
November 19th-30th online (mostly)

https://mqff.com.au/

17 feature films, 6 short film packages and a special event at the Coburg drive-in. All that and more is on offer as the Melbourne Queer Film Festival returns online, after it was rudely curtailed back in March. Check out the website for packages, films, and the entire program. The great thing this year is, you don't have to be in Melbourne to enjoy this fabulous festival, with the absolute best of queer film. 

IMAX reopens 

https://imaxmelbourne.com.au/

It's back - the world's largest and most immersive screen experience. IMAX is showing Oceans 3D: Blue Planet and Great Bear Rainforest. Coming very soon - Christopher Nolan's new film Tenet. 

Great Bear Rainforest
Dir: Ian Mcalister

Length: 41 mins

©  IMAX - don't try this at home! Getting up
close and personal with a white spirit bear

The Great Bear Rainforest on Canada's Pacific coast is one of the wildest places on earth, and the last intact temperate rain forest. Grizzlies, wolves and otters are there in abundance, as well as a bear sacred to the indigenous people of the area - known as the spirit bear (a sub-species of the American Black Bear). Local native Americans, appearing on film for the first time ever, protect the animals. As with most IMAX films this is all too short - I want to see much more of this inspiring area and its fascinating inhabitants, human and animal, but it's over almost as soon as it starts. Still, it's a great treat for nature lovers, especially bear buffs, though we don't see as much of the furry fellows as I'd have wished for.

3 - recommended

 November 13th

Ip Man: Kung Fu Master

British FF is here!

Melbourne cinemas reopen - a refresh on a few beauties hitting our big screens

It's a week of much rejoicing for lovers of film. Movie houses reopen (albeit with strictly limited capacity), but all you need to do is go online and you'll see how many zillions of films can now be caught up with on the big screen. I've refreshed your mind with a few I've already reviewed during lockdown and it remains to be seen how many I can now catch up with!

Ip Man: Kung Fu Master
Dir: Liming Li

Length: 84 mins

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f40JahDi1Uc

Showing at Lido Hawthorn in Melbourne (and everywhere else around the country!)

© Rialto - martial arts fans should get a buzz 
from the final of the franchise

When a popular franchise ends it's always a sad time for fans. The first Ip Man film of four debuted in 2008. Yu-Hang To has played the eponymous character (based on a real person) in most of them. This finale (which is actually a prequel) heads back to Ip's early days before he famously became Bruce Lee's martial arts teacher and was a policeman before the Japanese invaded China. The plot is perhaps secondary to the impressive look of the film, with its tight editing and frankly, quite stunning, cinematography. Fans of the genre won't be disappointed by the set fight pieces, with all the requisite moves (albeit totally unbelievable) and frenetic excitement. And there's even a touching subplot involving Ip's wife and baby son. I enjoyed it far more than I'd expected to.  

British Film Festival

10th-29th November

https://britishfilmfestival.com.au/

Presented by Palace, the festival opens with a reimagining of the delightful Noel Coward film Blythe Spirit with the always fabulous Judi Dench. The festival will feature 22 films, many with a female emphasis both in front of and behind the camera. This year's restored classics include The Elephant Man, Flash Gordon and The Ladykillers. 

I caught up with a cool doco for music fans, Rockfield: The Studio on the Farm, about a Welsh recording studio playing host to live-in legendary British bands. But more impressive is . . . 

The Racer: Tour de France fans will love this film, a fiction based upon the famous race, and an actual doping scandal that happened in 1998 when the first leg of the Tour was relocated to Ireland. The film captures all the thrills, spills and excitement of the race, as well as the absolutely driven commitment the cyclists have to win at any cost, legal or otherwise. Well acted, wonderfully shot with some heart-stopping tension, again I was surprised to be so engaged, given I have zero interest in cycle racing.   

For all the films, times and sessions in your state, (all at reduced capacity seating) check out the website. 

Cinema Nova reopens - check these out!

https://www.cinemanova.com.au/

What a joyous time for cinephiles. Nova is reopening, with strict Covid measures in place, and an absolute cornucopia of films to delight. Obviously, go to their website for the full run down and session times, but let me remind you of a few I've reviewed previously, and which I highly recommend  (especially if you gave up on reading about films during lockdown.)

Swallows of Kabul: Exquisite animation on two couples' lives under the Taliban

Le Miserables: Awards-winning tense tale of relationships between multi-racial groups and the police in Paris

La Belle Epoque: Whimsical comedy about a man who gets the chance to recreate a special era from his past. 

House of Cardin: Fascinating look at the life of fashion icon Pierre Cardin

Adam: Gentle story of female empowerment and friendship between a bakery owner and a homeless pregnant woman, set in Casablanca.

Melbourne cinemas reopen

...and of course all your other fave Melbourne movie palaces are also now open. My best suggestion is to check on their individual websites to discover what's showing, at what times.

 November 4th

Koko: A Red Dog Story

Alone

The Bay of Silence

This week's films are a varied collection. A heart-warming dog doco, a terrifying thriller, and a not-so-thrilling thriller. 

Koko: A Red Dog Story
Dir:  Aaron McCann, Dominic Pearce

Length: 78 mins

Available from Umbrella home entertainment 

Trailer: https://youtu.be/IRuC-gkCNJY

© Umbrella -  never work with dogs or children,
unless the dog is Koko. 

Australia and the world loved the 2011 film Red Dog. This delightful follow up is part mockumentary, part real doco, with a sprinkle of animation thrown in. The doco traces the making of Red Dog, with particular focus upon its canine star, Koko. We see reenactments of how kelpie breeder Carol Hobday (Sarah Woods) came to lend her favorite dog Koko to the filmmakers. We follow the funny, touching story of what it was like to train Koko for his role, and how the dog inexplicably became attached to producer Nelson Woss, (Felix Williamson) who was finally given Koko by Carol. Red Dog director Kriv Stenders is entertainingly played by Toby Truslove, and we also hear from the actual people involved in the hit film as they reminisce upon the entire challenging, but magical experience. With some fun background upon kelpies as a breed, and a look at the world of dog showing, there is plenty to enjoy in this movie that will delight dog lovers and movie lovers of all ages. 

Alone
Dir: John Hyams

Length: 98 mins

Available to rent NOW via Foxtel and Fetch

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoP2mJiCzWQ

© Rialto - alone on a country road at night . . . 
harmless fellow traveller or ...?

Jessica (Jules Wilcox) is grieving. Her husband has suicided and she is relocating her life to a remote area in the northwest of the country. En route, towing her life in a U-Haul van, she becomes aware of someone following her. What seems like a benign encounter with a nameless man (Marc Menchaca) at a service station, soon turns into something way more threatening, and Jessica will ultimately find herself running for her life. If you want a total diversion that will grip you from go to whoa, this could be it. Utilising evocative camera work to create threat and suspense, the director really knows how to keep an audience on the edge of their seat. Shots of towering forest canopies, dense woods, and headlights in the rear vision all help build the suspense. There is no heavy-handed horrific stuff; just a scenario that feels ultra real, and therefore all the more frightening. (Well, a few later scenes perhaps stretch credulity, but I'm cutting it some slack here.) Menchaca is perfect as Mr Unhinged, Wilcox plays fear mixed with resourcefulness, while a small cameo from Anthony Heald as a bloke in the wrong place at the wrong time, lends a much-needed pause for breath in what is a relentlessly nail-baiting story of the hunter and the hunted. 

The Bay of Silence
Dir: Paula van der Oest

Length: 93 mins

Available on DVD and various VOD platforms

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7mVOJrl1z4

© secrets from a woman's past are unearthed
after tragedy strikes

Will (Claes Bang of Netflix Dracula fame) gets the shock of his life when his wife Ros (Olga Kurylenko) seems to suddenly go mad, and runs away to France, taking her twin daughters and their baby son. Cue the delivery of a mysterious suitcase full of sleazy photos of Ros in her teen years, a dead baby, a false imprisonment for rape, and more other plot points than you can shake a stick at, and you have what could have been a tense psycho/sexual/drama thriller. Unfortunately it ends up more a muddled incomprehensible mess. Not even the brilliant Brian Cox (Succession) as Ros's creepy dad can lift the film. I love it when the critics go 50-50 on a film, and there are certainly a number on the Tomato-meter who praise it. To its credit the film looks terrific with impressive settings and cinematography. But for me the actors don't have the requisite emotion for the dramatic situations; perhaps the fatal flaw begins in the scripting. Disappointing, as it had potential.