December 25th and best of . . . 2020

The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart

End of the Century - releasing Boxing Day

A Call to Spy - releasing Boxing Day

Hursto's BEST OF for 2020

Moonlight Cinema 

What a year! But what a great year for wonderful films, despite so few of them having been on the big screen. A big thanks to all my readers, and all my good wishes for a safe and enjoyable holiday season, happy Christmas, a better 2021, and a vaccine to let us all get on with life (and back to the movies with a carefree heart)!

Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart
Dir: Frank Marshall

Length: 111 mins

Showing on HBO and HBO max and various cinemas

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5tncybE7Wg

© Universal - super close harmonies,
wonderful melodies

Another stunning music documentary, this one traces the history of the super-group who started off as three toothy teen lads singing superb harmony. Archival clips are great, commentary from other musos insightful, and last man standing Barry Gibb adds a real touch of sadness to the whole thing, as he reflects upon his life without his beloved brothers. Homage is paid to the film Saturday Night Fever, the soundtrack of which relaunched their careers after a lull. Amazingly these guys wrote more than 1000 songs, many for other people, and whether you are a fan or not, this is a most worthy film to catch.

4 - highly recommended

End of the Century
Dir: Lucio Castro

Length: 84 mins

Showing: Exclusive to Cinema Nova

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAlBU6IzDHM

© Icon - essentially a story of what 
could have been

Argentinian Ocho (Juan Barberini) is on holiday in Barcelona from New York. He hooks up for some spontaneous intense sex with Javi (Raymond Pujol), only to realise they met 20 years before, when they were both still not out with their sexuality. There is something beautiful and a little melancholy about this film, as it navigates past and present, and the possiblilities of what could have been, all in a very understated way. The two leads who anchor the story are spot-on authentic, and the tale of missed opportunities could apply to anyone of any sexual orientation. Settings are lovely, and the director takes his time with each scene, creating both place and mood. What really happened is always under a question mark, as the boundaries of alternate outcomes in life are gently blurred.

4 - highly recommended

A Call to Spy
Dir: Lydia Dean Pilcher

Length: 124 mins

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

© Rialto - go women!

Based upon a true story, the film examines yet  another aspect of World War 2 I didn't know about - the recruiting of women by Britain as spies, charged to sabotage and build resistance movements in France. Head of the branch Vera (Stana Katic) is Jewish, and recruits two unusual women for her operations: Virginia (Sarah Megan Thomas) has a wooden leg, while Noor (Radhika Adpe) is a Muslim pacifist. The three leads and their motivations are the most interesting aspect of the story, yet somehow, I would have liked a little more edge-of-your-seat excitement in what should be a very tense tale. Nevertheless it's great to see the focus upon women in a war story.

3 - recommended

. . . and now for Hursto's Best of  2020

In this totally bizarre year I've managed to watch around 240 films! Many have been sent vie the net from distributors, many come from the plethora of film festivals that were forced online this year, and others are from platforms such as Netflix, Docplay and Foxtel. Some have been reruns from the past, and just a handful were viewed on the big screen back in the good old days before we knew of the dreaded Covid 19. Wrangling them into my so-called top 10 was impossible (too many good ones!) so I've made some general lists and observations. It has certainly been the year of the documentary for me, and, interestingly, a number of them are music docos. 

So . . . here goes (and in no particular order):

Top music documentaries:

American Utopia - filming of a concert that is both uplifting and inspiring featuring Dave Byrne of Talking Heads

Kinky Boots - vibrant, inclusive, filming of the Broadway musical 

Aznavour by Charles - from the French Film Festival, an insightful look at the life of the iconic singer

This Ain't No Mouse Music (Docplay) - examination of many genres of American music from blues, to Cajun and more

Echo in the Canyon: a golden window of song in LA in the mid 1970s

Top non-music docos:

Fantastic Fungi: Mushrooms, moulds and mycelium - more important to life than you'd dream - stunning cinematography

For Sama: Heartbreaking documentation of the Syrian war

My Octopus Teacher (Netflix): Befriending an octopus - who'd have imagined - eye-opening, gorgeous looking doco

Unfit: The Psychology of Donald Trump: Say no more!

Top feature films:

1917: That (supposed) one take of the soldier traversing the WW1 battlefields is unforgettable

Motherless Brooklyn: Edward Norton as a private investigator with Tourette's syndrome gives a knock-out performance

Babyteeth: My top Aussie film - teen/family drama

La Belle Epoque: Daniel Auteuille in a whimsical French story of revisiting the past

Top Animation: 

Swallows of Kabul with honorable mentions to Fritzi, a Revolutionary Tale (from the Children's Film Festival), and Shaun the Sheep - Farmageddon

And worth a mention . . .

House of Cardin (doco), Possessor (horror/sci-fi), Waves (family drama), Invisible Man (super scary), Leunig Fragments (doco)

Two stand-out films from my jury experience in the 33rd Panorama of European film:

Who Will be Eaten

Digger

Series streamed on various platforms:

Afterlife, Messiah, Succession, The Queen's Gambit, The Crown, Schitt's Creek, The Sommerdahl Murders

Moonlight Cinema

Website: www.moonlight.com.au

This wonderful (covid-safe thanks to many precautions) outdoor cinematic activity is off and running in most states, with Melbourne almost there. Visit the website for all the programming and details, and get on down to a patch of green to enjoy movies with friends and family.

Sydney: Centennial Park, until 4 April 2021

Brisbane: Roma Street Parkland, until 21 February 2021

Perth: Kings Park & Botanic Garden, until 4 April 2021

Adelaide: Botanic Park, until 14 February 2021

Melbourne: Royal Botanic Gardens, 7 January – 25 April 2021