Australia at the Movies: The ultimate guide to modern Australian cinema

by David Stratton

Australia's leading film critic reviews (almost) every Australian feature film from 1990 to 2020.

Australia's best-loved film critic David Stratton reviews (almost) every feature film from the past three decades in the ultimate guide to modern Australian cinema.

From The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert to The Dry, from The Big Steal to The Drover's Wife, he tells us why they're worth watching, and reveals fascinating behind-the-scenes details. There is something for road movies and coming-of-age movies; comedies and love stories; rural noir and gritty urban movies; flourishing First Nations cinema; horror, zombies and science fiction; movies for families and for children; international co-productions, and much more. He's seen them all, and he knows every director, producer and actor.

Australia at the Movies is the indispensable companion for every cinema it's where you'll find your next favourite movie.

'I greatly enjoy his sheer delight in cinema, which communicates itself effortlessly in every review.' Bruce Beresford

'He has introduced us to films and filmmakers … from the grandest to the tiniest low-budget debut with intelligence, humour and passion.' Gillian Armstrong

'Stratton's sense of cinema and storytelling is bar none, as far as I'm concerned.' Warwick Thornton

'Thank you for introducing us to great movies and great directors.' Bryan Brown

'A critical and affectionate assessment of Australian films between 1990 and 2020...And it's not just criticism – there are anecdotes galore.' - Sydney Morning Herald

'He brings a wealth of expertise and flair to this encyclopaedic enterprise, arranged thematically to cover all genres – as well as a whole lotta love for the art, the artists and those wonderful people out there in the dark.' - The Age

Kindle Edition

First published October 29, 2024

About the author

David Stratton was born in 1939 in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, UK. At the age of nineteen he founded the Melksham and District Film Society. He emigrated to Australia in 1963, where he quickly became involved in the local film scene, he was the Director of the Sydney Film Festival for seventeen years.

During his career at SBS, David was the feature film consultant, presenter of movies, and of course co-host of the highly successful The Movie Show with Margaret Pomeranz for a record eighteen years. Since 1983, David had been a film critic for Variety (published in Los Angeles), a commissioner of the Australian Film Commission, a film critic for The Australian and a lecturer in film history at the University of Sydney. He was also the author of THE LAST NEW WAVE and THE AVOCADO PLANTATION.

David had served on several international film festival juries, including the Berlin International Jury (1982); the Montreal International Jury (1982); and the Venice International Jury (1994). He was also President of FIPRESCI (International Film Critics) Juries in Cannes (twice) and Venice. He was a past president of the Film Critics Circle of Australia.

David's long list of awards and achievements include:- 60th Anniversary Medal by the Festival du Film de Cannes (2007)- The Chauvel Award by the Brisbane International Film Festival (2007)- Raymond Longford Award of Australian Film Institute (2001)- Commander of Order of Arts and Letters by French Government (2000). David was also the co-host of At The Movies on ABC TV.

Reviews

[Tim Waters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Encyclopaedic knowledge of Australian movies displayed in this book. Fascinating & eye opening to see the depth of Australian movies - plenty to now go and enjoy.

[Andrew Lynch · Rating 1 out of 5]

David, babe, just drop the Letterboxd dets and stop wasting everyones time and paper with boring and repetitive and poorly worded reviews

[Michael Atkins · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pointless - might as well just have existed as a Letterboxd list.