Flicks from Down-Under

[Phillip]

i got back around to THE SQUARE tonight - tried to watch it a while back and couldn't get into it - i'm glad i came back to it - there was a lot to like. great twisty script in the tradition of something like A SIMPLE PLAN, where the caper goes wrong and sets off a chain reaction of misfires and disasters.

it took a while for me to synch with david roberts - the male lead - with but by the end i wondered if he was playing this close to the chest, tongue in cheek thing - posting some humor that may have more resonance for australian audiences and consequently went over my head - but the more i watched the more i liked what he was doing ... i wasn't crazy about the music, a little too icy for me, but otherwise i was most pleased to rediscover this fine thriller from down under.

[Mawgojzeta]

Ariadna wrote: "I just watched The Black Balloon, I liked it, really nice little film, although Phillip, you're right about the 'recycled material'.
But The Square really kept me on the edge!! great movie!!
Next..."


It took me forever (!!!) to get a copy of "The Black Balloon". Loved it.

Adding your other two listed movies to my watch-list. Their descriptions are interesting to me.

[Kim Marie]

I'm wondering if anyone else has seen The Sapphires and if so did you enjoy it as much as I did. I've long admired Deborah Mailman but was surprised at how well Jessica Mauboy performed alongside such a seasoned actress. Of course the singing was wonderful!!

[Sam]

Phillip wrote: "you mean watch master and commander...in synch?

sure, i'm game. name a date. i have a lot coming in the next few weeks, but i always have time to slip a film in the dvd player...

cheers!"

:o) our first movie viewing ...

when are we gonna have our next one pg ...

got an aussie flicks on your list?

[Sam]

Kim Marie wrote: "I'm wondering if anyone else has seen The Sapphires and if so did you enjoy it as much as I did. I've long admired Deborah Mailman but was surprised at how well Jessica Mauboy performed alongside ..."

it is a really cute little film Kim Marie ... some great aussie talent for sure

[Phillip]

i'm ready to watch MASTER AND COMMANDER - at your urging, sam. i'll have to find it - it's probably available on schmectflix ... let me know.

[Phillip]

at sam's *other* urging - to watch a film from down under - i had to pull FLIRTING off the shelf and give it a whirl again (the only other films i have in my collection are early peter weir films - must amend that). i love this movie! - i think the fact that tandiwe has to go back to uganda at the end raises the emotional (and social) fabric to something more than just your typical teen flick/coming of age story. it's has a depth that you usually don't find in american films of the same genre.

[Sam]

Phillip wrote: "i'm ready to watch MASTER AND COMMANDER - at your urging, sam. i'll have to find it - it's probably available on schmectflix ... let me know."

nah - i don't wanna watch that pg ... let's watch something else ... does schmectflix have THE YEAR MY VOICE BROKE?

[Phillip]

Sam wrote: "nah - i don't wanna watch that pg ... let's watch something else ... does schmectflix have THE YEAR MY VOICE BROKE? ......"

they do not. damn!
another suggestion?

[Ariadna]

I'm not sure if I talked about TOP OF THE LAKE on the movies we have just watched thread, but I just can't get over Jane Campion's mini-series. It's one of the best TV shows (if you can call it TV show) I've seen in a while. Only 7 episodes with Holly Hunter (looking like Campion with long grey hair), the amazing Peter Mullan, David Wenham and -weird casting, I read Paquin was pregnant at the time- Elisabeth Moss doing an amazing job (I've never liked her in Mad Men).
Highly recommended.

[Julie]

Ariadna wrote: "I'm not sure if I talked about TOP OF THE LAKE on the movies we have just watched thread, but I just can't get over Jane Campion's mini-series. It's one of the best TV shows (if you can call it TV ..."

I'm a big fan of Jane Campion's work, as well as Holly Hunter, so I'm going to try and find this.

[Baxter]

Ariadna wrote: "I'm not sure if I talked about TOP OF THE LAKE on the movies we have just watched thread, but I just can't get over Jane Campion's mini-series. It's one of the best TV shows (if you can call it TV ..."

I've seen the first two episodes so far, and totally agree. Great stuff.

[JC Canale]

It has probably been mentioned here before but WAKE IN FRIGHT,1971 (stupidly re- titled OUTBACK and released only at a single crappy theater in the US during a snow storm, big reason why it remained obscure until a few years ago) it's a great Australian film, even though it was directed by a Canadian (yes, the same one that brought us Rambo and Weekend at Bernie's :\ ), Australian critics have considered it as a close example of the Outback experience. For many years the film was considered lost (it didn't have a wide release either in theaters or TV) until its producer started a hunt for the negatives which he found in the storage room of a small theater somewhere in the middle of the States, the container with the material was to be destroyed a few days after. The negatives were in decay conditions, and after a long and difficult restoration process they ended up with a beautifully photographed picture from the Outback (now even in BlueRay I think).

It's one of the only two films that have been shown twice at Cannes. In 1971 (where it left Scorsese surprised), nominated for the Palm and in 2009, heritage film. The other film is L'Avventura.

[Phillip]

hey, thanks for recommending WAKE IN FRIGHT .. sounds like something i would like. i'm a fan of WALKABOUT, for sure.

and thanks to folks for posting on TOP OF THE LAKE (although i was told it was called BOTTOM OF THE LAKE). i have heard great things about it. i'm heading to my queue to see if it's available.