Carla Bruni - L'Amoureuse

I like this music video. French sounds great to me. I don't understand a word of it, I just like the sound of it!

Sunday at Mt Baw Baw #1

Click to Play

Visiting Mt Baw Baw with Mexican Visitors on Sunday 27th July 2008

Formats available: Microsoft Video (.avi), Flash Video (.flv)

Tags: mt, baw, australia, victoria, snow, winter, village

Before the Devil Knows You're Dead

This was a dark and facinating film. The characters, all despicable strangely sad due to their desperation. They made a bigger mess than you could see a way out of. The actors were great and the film well made. Not for the kiddies I might add.

Kate Bush Under Review

This British documentary about Kate Bush, was a series of interviews with both the artist and four 'experts' as well as partial clips of her more recognised songs. She came across in the interviews as humble and I enjoyed watching my favourite artist speak about her work over the years. I find her music endlessly facinating and moving.

This film will be shown at the MIFF again. Check the program for details. Parts of it are also available on Youtube.

Downtown Albury on a Saturday Night

Click to Play

July 2008 standing in the middle of the road in Albury looking toward the monument.

Formats available: Microsoft Video (.avi), Flash Video (.flv)

Tags: albury, main-street, cars, monument, night

I'm Not There

Todd Haynes ambitious portrait of the many lives of Bob Dylan is facinating if only for the device he has used. I enjoyed each of the characters depicted. It's worth watching. Realistically I think you would need more than 6 characters to make up the lives of anyone, yet I guess as public persona's go, this is acceptable. I enjoyed the music and the acting. Aussies Kate Blanchett and Heath Ledger take on a character each.

I recommend it.

The Painted Veil

This film was the kind of love story you can believe, complete with human frailties and errors. I want to read all W.Somerset Maugham's books now. It was so beautiful. The setting was great. It was set in China. The political and historical background was interesting. I loved the scene where the Nationalist soldier was negotiating/interpreting with the local warlord. It was clever.

I read 'The Moon and Sixpence' a couple of years ago and found it so rich in it's characters and their transformations and I found this story to be similar. They are very authentic....touching, human and moving.

I recommend this film. I totally enjoyed it.

TED: Chris Jordan: Visualising Excess

I love these kinds of visual displays. Chris Jordan makes a great pictorial display to question some of the paths Americans take. His musings could be applied equally here in Australia. I loved it. I showed it to a class on the last day of school and whilst they were working on other things - it had an impact running away in the background as it was. It stimulated some interesting discussion. Just the way I like it....

The Kite Runner

I loved the book 'The Kite Runner' by Khaled Hosseini, it was a great insight into human nature and the changes that have occured in Afghanistan. The film adaptation was great. I expected it to be more visually stunning though to be honest. The scenes I was looking forward to, the Kite festival and the Pomegranate tree, were not as vivid as I had imagined them, yet isn't that always the way when you read a book and furnish it with your imagination, the film usually disappoints in some way.
It has subtitles and was in all very enjoyable. I found the book illustrated more depth in the relationships as well.

Into the Wild

I absolutely loved this film. Sean Penn did the screenplay and directed it. It's based on a true story about a young man who adventures out into the world leaving behind comforts to travel and survive on his own smarts. It's a beautiful film, revealing natural and human treasures.
'Into the Wild' tells the story of my favourite kind of people. Self sufficient adventurers, I find very attractive. I highly recommend it.

Sex and the City

Went to see 'Sex and the City' tonight with a couple of girl friends. There was one man in the cinema. I felt sorry for him. It was very much like the TV show, I've watched enough random episodes to know who was who. It was light entertainment and I laughed a fair bit.

Indiana Jones and the Ageist Press

Every review I've read about the latest Indiana Jones film has made comment about the age of Harrison Ford. So what! I haven't seen the film myself, but my son and his mates went last night. They liked it. It was different, he said, possibly due to the aliens.

I find it kind of sad that the media has to make a big deal about the age of an actor in a film. I mean, big deal!

I will probably watch it on DVD in a few months time.

Tropfest Channel

Nine MSN and Tropfest have a site where you can watch this years films online. Watch the winning film "Marry Me" a love story. I liked it.

The Junior Tropfest winner is also accessible on this site.

Entries are open for Tropfest 2009.

Pangea Day

Saturday May 10th is Pangea Day. Watch films made by the world for the world. An amazing range of films that might just change your world. Get behind it.

Queenscliff Early Morning

Click to Play

Dawn at the Queenscliff, Victoria, Australia back balcony of the Queenscliff YHA.  

The Golden Compass

'The Golden Compass' is based on the fantasy novel 'Northern Lights' by Philip Pullman. It is the first in the trilogy 'His Dark Materials'. The production of the other two will apparently depend on the success of the first. People who have read the book are apparently displeased with the film. I am not one of them. I intend to read the book one day though.

I enjoyed the film. The acting and settings were great. I liked the fast pace and variety of action. I especially loved the song 'Lyra' written and performed by Kate Bush.

Juno

I enjoyed Juno. The characterisations were refreshing. I liked seeing the Paulie character, shy and railroaded by a stronger Juno. It was realistic of many young men at that age. The characters were well written.

The relationships were lovely and not stereotypic, yet more real than many screen relationships we've viewed.

For example the following dialogue:

Ultrasound Technician: I'm an ultrasound technician, maam.
Bren: Well, I'm a nail technician and I think we both ought to just stick to what we know.
Ultrasound Technician: Excuse me?
Bren: Oh, you think you're so special because you get to play Picture Pages up there? Well, my five year old daughter could do that and let me tell you, she's not the brightest bulb in the tanning bed. So why don't you go back to night school in Mantino and learn a real trade.
Juno MacGuff: Bren! You's a dick! I love it!

For once a step mother that doesn't suck!

For more great dialogue IMDB

My Pick for Top Gear Australian Audition

I am not into cars for the record. Quite impressed with Michael's clip. He's come a long way since "Carpark".

Tank Girl 1995

One of my favourite films 'Tank Girl'is based on a comic book by the same name. I showed some parts of it to my students in the last week of term as we were studying another film 'O Brother Where Art Thou' and looking at the similarities between 'The Odyssey' and these derivatives. It was fun, and she's an interesting female protagonist.

'Tank Girl' has a great sound track and is visually interesting. The setting 2033, a future where water has become a big issue was quite plausible to the students as well and the film has much to enjoy and muse upon.

Dan in Real Life

'Dan in Real Life' was an enjoyable romantic comedy about a guy who falls in love with his sisters girlfriend at a family gathering. I loved the family stuff in it most. Large family cultures are wonderful to me. As exasperating and trying as they can be to the family members, there is a real comfort and warmth that I experience in the large families I have belonged to.
I also enjoyed the 'single parent' with teenage daughter interactions. It successfully captured the awkwardness of a parent trying to work out the balance between putting your kids first and managing to have a personal 'grown up' relationship.
It's a truly funny and warm film, I recommend it.