World of KJ :: View topic - Festival Thread: Australian Film Festival

Quote:

LANTANA, in retrospect...
...is rising in my estimations.

At first viewing I think I read the murder case a bit too literally. My visceral response was "what a cop-out ending," but randomly, today, I've reconsidered.

Entertain my thought process for a minute. I was in the super and got to thinking of War of the Worlds. Now this isn't a slam on Worlds, but just a consideration for the ending. From what I hear, the son survives a massive explosion to be reunited in a happily-ever-after type scenario. Now this is all good and fine, but in a moment of bitterness I thought, "Wouldn't it be funny if there was an additional ten minutes of footage showing the family fall apart after pulling through the adversity of an invasion?" I guess there are already ventures into the collapse of human behavior (they can get pretty ugly) noted in the movie, but they only run so deep.

People have a way of responding differently to situations of high stress and threat. While one of these ways could very well be an incredible reversion to barberianism and suvival of the fittest, there are also more mild reactions of self-interest, as well as intense unification that holds only as long as the immediate situation exists.

And this is when Lantana suddenly popped into my mind.

Its actually not a cheap cop-out ending once I realize that the movie had little to do with either the case of Hershey's Dr. Valerie's midnight dissappearance, not did it have to do with the murder of her and husband John Knox's daughter a year earlier. It had to do with the range of responses to adversity.

This is the story of three men, actually, and has little to do with any of the women in their lives. Each one exhibits different behavior when dealing with adversity. LaPaglia pulls out a very subtle study of detective Zat. More of his time is spent contemplating his liason with a neighbor, as well as his intense turn-off by having to investigate Valerie's dissappearance. The jogging nose bleed scene was uncanny. A simple expression of the stress he was under, and how he comes clean at the end after having indirectly experiences the marital woes of Valerie and John.

On the other hand, John has suffered ten-fold under both his daughter's murder, his wife's public spree (and book) about the experience of their failing marriage after the fact, and the suspicions that he is the primary suspect in Valerie's death. The couple is a case-study in how "things fall apart." They are alienated by what has happened to them since being together, and no longer relate on the most basic levels. He wants his daughter's death to remain bottled up, a private affair, and Valerie has gone public in the name of therapy and communal support. It really hard to watch, but insightful in its foil of Zat's familial relationships.

The third man, of course the neighbor Nik, is yet another person directly involved in the turn of affairs, and his actions offer the gray range. For fearing of giving too much away, lets just say he is concerned for his own and his family's welfare, but he's not altogether vicious or unsympathetic. In fact he's a very sympathetic and giving character who just mishandles evidence and experiences out of fear.

The three of them together combine for a gem of a commentary on human experience and action. Perhaps Lantana has grown riper with age since I last viewed it three years ago? And I'm sure there are some holes in my memory which gloss over the narrative, but I found all three characters to be unsettling. None of them were preachy, nor were they clearly defined. They didn't really stand as allegorical figures of gender, violence, or any other subject, but were great character studies without definitive "solutions."

Really, in retrospect I find this movie to be one of the best of 2001, and its a shame more people haven't seen it.

Author:	getluv [ Sat Sep 17, 2005 3:09 pm ]
Post subject:	Festival Thread: Australian Film Festival
Ok, i have decided to start this thread early, so it gives you a chance to look for them when the festival starts in around a fortnight. To make it fun, i will be using Aussie slang and spelling. AUSTRALIAN FILM SELECTION Crocodile Dundee Crocodile Dundee II Looking For Alibrandi The Castle Muriel's Wedding Babe Strictly Ballroom The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Dessert The Dish The Man From Snowy River Latana Gallipoli Mad Max Mad Max II Head On (1996) Alexandra's Project The Tracker Ned Kelly Rabbit Proof Fence Bad Boy Bubby The Boys Undead Japanese Story Fat Pizza Romper Stomper Cosi Bootmen Swimming Upstream Chopper BMX Bandits Bangkok Hilton Recommendations: Very Recommended: Muriel's Wedding The Castle - (learn more about the Aussie battler) Rabbit Proof Fence Crocodile Dundee Bad Boy Bubby Chopper Genre recommendations: Horror/Aussie Humour: Undead Teenagers: Looking For Alibrandi Toilet Humour: Fat Pizza Thriller: Alexandra's Project Nicole Kidman with bad hair: BMX Bandits True Story: The Dish Kids: Babe Highly Recommended Australian Films coming to a theatre near you that you have to see!!!! (US release date) Somersault - -drama- October 28 Little Fish (Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving) -drama- TBA Fall 2006 Oyster Farmer -drama- out on DVD soon Three Dollars (24's Sarah Wynter) -drama- TBA 2006 Look Both Ways -drama- TBA 2006 The Proposition (Guy Pearce) - -western/UK production- February 2006 *Wolf Creek* - horror/slasher/true story- November 18 Irrisistable -thriller- (Susan Sarandon, Hugo Weaving) - TBA 2006[/u]

Author:	COMICGUY [ Sat Sep 17, 2005 3:12 pm ]
Post subject:
I have never seen Rabbit Proof Fence , but my favorite singer ,Peter Gabriel does the entire soundtrack I believe.

Author:	getluv [ Sat Sep 17, 2005 3:17 pm ]
Post subject:
COMICGUY wrote: I have never seen Rabbit Proof Fence , but my favorite singer ,Peter Gabriel does the entire soundtrack I believe. RPF is strongly recommended such a good film, that reveals the attrocities the Australian Government committed years ago, and that are still covering up until this date.

Author:	Impact [ Sat Sep 17, 2005 3:24 pm ]
Post subject:
Yay crocodile dundee!

Author:	getluv [ Sat Sep 17, 2005 3:48 pm ]
Post subject:
Impact wrote: Yay crocodile dundee! the film that makes naive Americans think we all have pet crocodiles in our backyard.

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Festival Thread: Australian Film Festival http://worldofkj.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=12700	Page 1 of 2

Author:	Impact [ Sat Sep 17, 2005 3:50 pm ]
Post subject:
getluv wrote: Impact wrote: Yay crocodile dundee! the film that makes naive Americans think we all have pet crocodiles in our backyard. and you dont! im just kidding get luv!

Author:	getluv [ Sat Sep 17, 2005 3:59 pm ]
Post subject:
Impact wrote: getluv wrote: Impact wrote: Yay crocodile dundee! the film that makes naive Americans think we all have pet crocodiles in our backyard. and you dont! im just kidding get luv! well in my home state, my family has a beach house, where crocodiles literally come to your backdoor. But they are only salt water crocs. i.e. your death is like torture, Fresh Water crocs put you out of your misery in 5 seconds.

Author:	getluv [ Sun Sep 18, 2005 1:02 am ]
Post subject:
Australians in Hollywood (upcoming movies) Nicole Kidman - Fur (June 06), Invasion ('07) Cate Blanchett - Babel (TBD '06), The Good German (TBD '06), sequel to Elizabeth (TBD '06) Eric Bana - Munich (Dec 25), Lucky You (March '06) Geoffrey Rush - Munich (Dec 25) Radha Mitchell (Melinda and Melinda) - Silent Hill (April '06) Hugo Weaving - V For Vendetta (March '06) Melissa George (Amityville Horror, TV's Alias) - Derailed (November 11), Turistas (TBD '06) Toni Collete - In Her Shoes (October 7) Miranda Otto Heath Ledger - Brokeback Mountain (December 9), Casanova (December 25) Hugh Jackman - X-men 3, Wolverine, The Libertine Guy Pearce Simon Baker - Somthing New (Feb 3 '06) Australians you will know soon: Kate Beahan - FlightPlan (released next week), Untitled Sarah Michelle Gellar supernatural-thriller Peter O'Brien - Untitled Sarah Michelle Gellar supernatural-thriller Ryan Kwanten - (was in the WB's Summerland) - Silence (TBD 2006) Christopher Egan - untitled Romantic Comedy spoof Australian Actors who weren't born in Australia Naomi Watts - Stay (October 21), King Kong (December 14) Russel Crowe Mel Gibson Australians on your TV: Jesse Spencer - TV's House Julian McMahon - TV's Nip/Tuck, Fantastic Four 2 Jacqueline MacKenzie - TV's 4400 Portia Di Rossi - TV's Arrested Development Important Filmmakers: Baz Luhman (Moulin Rouge) Phillip Noyce Robert Luketic (Legally Blonde, Monster-In-Law) - Dallas (TBD) Leigh Whannel/James Wan - creators of "Saw", Whannel also badly played Adam - Silence (September 2006) Recent Hollywood Films filming/filmed: House of Wax Stealth Superman Returns (June 30) Ghost Rider (July 14) Warner Bros shoots a lot of their films in Australia

Author:	Amos [ Sun Sep 18, 2005 1:39 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Festival Thread: Australian Film Festival
getluv wrote: Bangkok Hilton Excuse my immaturity but

Author:	Impact [ Sun Sep 18, 2005 12:17 pm ]
Post subject:
Getluv you forgot about mel gibson an actor who was born in new york who people seem to think was born in austrailia cause he moved there when he was 12.

Author:	Maximus [ Sun Sep 18, 2005 12:21 pm ]
Post subject:
No Croc Dundee in LA? But seriously, Gallipoli is one of my favorite movies, so I am very glad you mentioned it! Gibson was great... damn sad ending, too!

Author:	dolcevita [ Sun Sep 25, 2005 3:22 pm ]
Post subject:
Getluv, what did you think of Lantana? It's one of the few movies I've seen that grew on me in retrospect. I had mixed feelings about it after the initial viewing, and now I think its a much smarter movie than its given credit for. I will post this from another thread: Quote: LANTANA, in retrospect... ...is rising in my estimations. At first viewing I think I read the murder case a bit too literally. My visceral response was "what a cop-out ending," but randomly, today, I've reconsidered. Entertain my thought process for a minute. I was in the super and got to thinking of War of the Worlds. Now this isn't a slam on Worlds, but just a consideration for the ending. From what I hear, the son survives a massive explosion to be reunited in a happily-ever-after type scenario. Now this is all good and fine, but in a moment of bitterness I thought, "Wouldn't it be funny if there was an additional ten minutes of footage showing the family fall apart after pulling through the adversity of an invasion?" I guess there are already ventures into the collapse of human behavior (they can get pretty ugly) noted in the movie, but they only run so deep. People have a way of responding differently to situations of high stress and threat. While one of these ways could very well be an incredible reversion to barberianism and suvival of the fittest, there are also more mild reactions of self-interest, as well as intense unification that holds only as long as the immediate situation exists. And this is when Lantana suddenly popped into my mind. Its actually not a cheap cop-out ending once I realize that the movie had little to do with either the case of Hershey's Dr. Valerie's midnight dissappearance, not did it have to do with the murder of her and husband John Knox's daughter a year earlier. It had to do with the range of responses to adversity. This is the story of three men, actually, and has little to do with any of the women in their lives. Each one exhibits different behavior when dealing with adversity. LaPaglia pulls out a very subtle study of detective Zat. More of his time is spent contemplating his liason with a neighbor, as well as his intense turn-off by having to investigate Valerie's dissappearance. The jogging nose bleed scene was uncanny. A simple expression of the stress he was under, and how he comes clean at the end after having indirectly experiences the marital woes of Valerie and John. On the other hand, John has suffered ten-fold under both his daughter's murder, his wife's public spree (and book) about the experience of their failing marriage after the fact, and the suspicions that he is the primary suspect in Valerie's death. The couple is a case-study in how "things fall apart." They are alienated by what has happened to them since being together, and no longer relate on the most basic levels. He wants his daughter's death to remain bottled up, a private affair, and Valerie has gone public in the name of therapy and communal support. It really hard to watch, but insightful in its foil of Zat's familial relationships. The third man, of course the neighbor Nik, is yet another person directly involved in the turn of affairs, and his actions offer the gray range. For fearing of giving too much away, lets just say he is concerned for his own and his family's welfare, but he's not altogether vicious or unsympathetic. In fact he's a very sympathetic and giving character who just mishandles evidence and experiences out of fear. The three of them together combine for a gem of a commentary on human experience and action. Perhaps Lantana has grown riper with age since I last viewed it three years ago? And I'm sure there are some holes in my memory which gloss over the narrative, but I found all three characters to be unsettling. None of them were preachy, nor were they clearly defined. They didn't really stand as allegorical figures of gender, violence, or any other subject, but were great character studies without definitive "solutions." Really, in retrospect I find this movie to be one of the best of 2001, and its a shame more people haven't seen it.

Author:	getluv [ Sun Sep 25, 2005 4:11 pm ]
Post subject:
Dolcevita thats how I and a lot of people feel about Lantana. 'Lantana' on my first viewing left me puzzled. (However, i was 15 when I first saw this). I saw it again last year (then 18) when i bought the DVD, and its one of those films that leaves you thinking more about these characters. Nearly all these relationships are filled with lies and deceit, however they are forgiveable lies, and its interesting to look at these characters and their reactions to certain situations and past events. It has such a powerful script helped by incredible performances. That is why i had to put this film in the Australian Film Festival. I to had trouble with the ending of War of the World, its one of the worst endings since The Village, however not bad enough to warrant an F like i gave The Village. Its funny how sometimes your mind thinks about "what would happen to them later, if the film didn't end". 'Lantana' to many Australian critics, is one of the best Aussie movies ever produced. Its disappointing that not many people have seen this. Dolcevita, i recommend you see 'Alexandra's Project' and 'Little Fish'. They are incredibly similar in certain aspects to 'Lantana'.

Author:	dolcevita [ Tue Sep 27, 2005 10:35 pm ]
Post subject:
getluv? I just remembered something. Early Peter Weir is all Australian correct? He's from there, shot there, used Australian actors/actresses? If so, you must watch Picnic at Hanging Rock. Really its such a fascinating movie to me, and I'd want to discuss it with you. I went on my libraries catalogue today to find Little Fish, and they didn't have it, so I'm going to try a video store I know that's got a very extensive collection.

Author:	kypade [ Tue Sep 27, 2005 10:38 pm ]
Post subject:
No, (s)he must watch The Last Wave (as must you, dolce, as must everyone). Speaking of which, I think I wanna watch it again, too. Admittedly, I haven't seen Picnic at... but, still. Point stands.

Author:	getluv [ Fri Sep 30, 2005 2:07 pm ]
Post subject:
since its October in my part of the world now. Who is going to watch some aussie films. Everyone gets a vegemite sandwich if you don't.

Author:	dolcevita [ Sat Oct 01, 2005 1:27 pm ]
Post subject:
Almost got my hands on The Last Wave (didn't realize it was a Weir film) and Children of the Revolution. Getluv, Children of the Revolution had all the famous actors and comedians I know today. Sam Neil, Rachel Griffiths, Geoffrey Rush, Judy Davis. But I've never really heard anything about it. Is it actually...funny? Also, trying to find Little Fish, since you suggested Lantana fans might find it interesting. Thanks.

Author:	dolcevita [ Sat Oct 01, 2005 9:35 pm ]
Post subject:
Well, saw The Last Wave by Peter Weir today, and I'd be interested to know why you're not a big fan or his work getluv. Last Wave is a mixed bag for me, so I'm just going to cover a few thought points as they come to mind. This was the second of his earlier works I've seen and the two both have alot in common. THEY'RE FREAKY AS HELL! Picnic at Hanging Rock deals with the supernatural as well and I almost think Weir believes in stuff. There's no other way he could make such upsetting films to watch. David Burton's dream visions that precurse the aboriginal trial work. They're even more upsetting when he learns from his father that he forsaw his mothers death as a youth. The visual sequences he has of the pouring water, coupled with the extended bad weather, really had me edgy. Weir is the master of suspense even when he's saying nothing. The hailstorm in the beginning, and the boy that cuts his neck with the broken shard of glass from the window. What was that all about? Simply a sense of forboding. Weir leaves that touch everywhere he goes. But somewhere after the trial, that sense leaves and is surpassed by a hokey sacred chamber under the swere system, and everything becomes to literal and tribal. I liked it up until the point where Burton establishes there are still tribal Aboriginals living in the city. Through that point, its a discourse of politics, anthropology, mysticism, and most importantly...obsession. One can't tell if Burton has just become obsessed with the case or if there's really magic in the air, and that's when Weir is at his best. Once he's firmly established there is magic in the air, it starts to feel a bit more third rate. Unfortunately that's the last twenty minutes of the movie, so I left on a mediocre note. Hanging Rock worked better because it was never "answered" why and where the girls disappeared to. When Weir tries to explain the visions, the trial case, and everything down to the magic stones, he loses himself.

Author:	getluv [ Sat Oct 01, 2005 2:27 pm ]
Post subject:
LITTLE FISH will be released theatrically next year. Its the new Cate Blanchett film. But Alexander's Project is really fascinating. I will check out The Last Wave I'm not a big fan of his work.

Author:	dolcevita [ Sat Oct 01, 2005 6:43 pm ]
Post subject:
Well, after trouble finding a rental place, I'm kicking it off with Last Wave, and I'll look for Alexander's Project for next weekend!

Author:	Dr. Lecter [ Sat Oct 01, 2005 10:33 pm ]
Post subject:
Along with the Italian festival this one will be the other I'll participate in because the movies for these two are the easiest to get. I plan to see: The Dish Crocodile Dundee (never seen it fully!) Crocodile Dundee II Muriel's Wedding Rabbit Proof Fence Chopper

Author:	getluv [ Sat Oct 01, 2005 11:59 pm ]
Post subject:
If anyone uses Netflix, here is the link to Alexandra's Project. http://www.netflix.com/MovieDisplay?mov ... kid=181036

Author:	getluv [ Sun Oct 02, 2005 12:04 am ]
Post subject:
dolcevita wrote: Well, saw The Last Wave by Peter Weir today, and I'd be interested to know why you're not a big fan or his work getluv. Last Wave is a mixed bag for me, so I'm just going to cover a few thought points as they come to mind. I don't like his work because it doesn't work for me. The Truman Show is an exception. The reason why it doesn't work for me is he goes to 'sentimental' and it never pulls it off for me. Its usually forced. Dead Poets Society a clear example.

Author:	dolcevita [ Sun Oct 02, 2005 12:09 am ]
Post subject:
getluv wrote: dolcevita wrote: Well, saw The Last Wave by Peter Weir today, and I'd be interested to know why you're not a big fan or his work getluv. Last Wave is a mixed bag for me, so I'm just going to cover a few thought points as they come to mind. I don't like his work because it doesn't work for me. The Truman Show is an exception. The reason why it doesn't work for me is he goes to 'sentimental' and it never pulls it off for me. Its usually forced. Dead Poets Society a clear example. Well, I think you'll like Picnic at hanging Rock then, but that's the only one I know that really stays away from that. i think that's part of the problem here. The ending, becomes too melodramatic. The thing about melodrama is, its very transparent. Nothing left to question, just emotion at face value. Up until the end of the trial, its hard to tell if he's overreacting or what. Its more psychological suspense, which i love, mixed with incredibly disturbing dream sequences. But then it starts playing out a bit too simply. Dead Poet's Society is probably my least favorite Weir movie, but I think it was his "cross-over" one. Afterwards he went on to do Truman Show and Master and Commander which were much better.

Author:	getluv [ Sun Oct 02, 2005 12:13 am ]
Post subject:
PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK is an iconic film, one of the earliest films that looked at Aboriginals. But forgot to include, and will add. Must check it out. Most films that involved Aboriginals have been very well done. Here is some more if anyones interested: AUSSIE RULES RADIENCE THE TRACKER and RABBIT PROOF FENCE. The last 2 should be more accessible.

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