This month we are focusing on our neighbours across the ditch, premiering Aussie films every Friday night with the occasional headliner on Saturday evenings, and premiering the brand new series of Rake every Wednesday at 8.30pm.
My highlights this week feature one of my favourite Australian actresses, Toni Collette. I just love watching this woman – she can make me laugh and cry and is totally believable whether she’s playing it straight, quirky or mentally ill. Regardless of whether she takes on a leading or supporting role (often as a mother - The Sixth Sense, About a Boy, The Way Way Back, Little Miss Sunshine…) she always makes her presence felt. And as far as movie stars go - there’s something down to earth and genuine about Toni Collette.
Needless to say, she takes centre stage in my first highlight of the week.
This month we are focusing on our neighbours across the ditch, premiering Aussie films every Friday night with the occasional headliner on Saturday evenings, and premiering the brand new series of Rake every Wednesday at 8.30pm.
My highlights this week feature one of my favourite Australian actresses, Toni Collette. I just love watching this woman – she can make me laugh and cry and is totally believable whether she’s playing it straight, quirky or mentally ill. Regardless of whether she takes on a leading or supporting role (often as a mother - The Sixth Sense, About a Boy, The Way Way Back, Little Miss Sunshine…) she always makes her presence felt. And as far as movie stars go - there’s something down to earth and genuine about Toni Collette.
Needless to say, she takes centre stage in my first highlight of the week.
Starring: Toni Collette, Michael Sheen and Jason Spevack
Directed by: Dennis Lee
Premiering: Saturday 19th October, 8.30pm
Remote Record Here
Toni Collette stars in the quirky film Jesus Henry Christ, a Wes Anderson styled comedy about family dysfunction that co-stars Michael Sheen. Collette is well suited to this kind of material and, just as she did in Little Miss Sunshine and more recently in the delightful The Way Way Back, she is more than apt at handling quirky comedy and feel good drama. In Jesus Henry Christ she plays left wing single mother Patricia who is horrified her 10-year-old son, who happens to be a genius, decides to track down his biological sperm donor father (Michael Sheen). Quite frankly, comedic chaos ensues!
Starring: Vince Colosimo, Sigrid Thornton and Luke Ford
Directed by: Michael Rymer
Premiering: Friday 18th October, 8.30pm
Remote Record here
On a more hard hitting note, keep an eye out for Face to Face, an adaptation of David Williamson’s play featuring a first-rate ensemble cast whose characters’ lives are upended after a work place mediation session. David Williamson is Australia’s most acclaimed playwright and director Michael Rymer has cleverly adapted his play, keeping most of the action within the mediation room as a young man tries to justify his violent action against his ex-boss. Rymer also uses flashbacks that go some way to keeping the momentum of the various storylines going. It’s simply executed, but well acted and there’s plenty of work place issues and dirty laundry to be aired. A surprisingly effective, engaging film.
Starring: Ai Weiwei,
Directed by: Alison Klayman
Premiering: Thursday 17th October, 8.30pm
Remote Record here
Art, politics and social media come together in this enlightening documentary about China’s most famous contemporary international artist and dissident; Ai Weiwei. First time American filmmaker Alison Klayman met and gained unprecedented access to Ai Weiwei while working as a journalist in China between 2006 - 2010. Her documentary intimately uncovers his colourful personal life, his art practice, and his relentless political activism and use of social media to get his messages across, which leads to his arrest and detention. It’s an eye-opening story, and a remarkable feat in itself that Klayman managed to shoot this documentary and leave China with such revealing footage. This is my top pick for the week.
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