Cinema revi ews
ENTERTAINMENT
BY JOHN CAMPBELL
opens thursday!
GFEFSBM m MNT QSFTFOUT
Sat 8th Nov
MA
FEDERAL HALL
Dinner from 6.30 PM Film starts at 8 PM federalfilmsociety.com or tel 6684 9313
RISE OF THE UNDERDOG
PRIDE
The sad truth is that Australian movies are shot on a budget that is like an oily rag compared to the petrol guzzlers of even middle of the road Hollywood productions – the big studios spend more on PR than local filmmakers can muster for cast and crew. The results are obvious at first glance – and unfortunately first glance wins the box office. The imported feature is louder and glossier and studded with stars, whereas our efforts are treated as black sheep. The great shame of it is that a really terrific movie such as this struggles (usually unsuccessfully) for a general release while the mob knock each other out of the way to see Liam Neeson or Denzel Washington or any other production-line hero killing people by various graphic means. Writer/ director Mack Lindon’s film is based on personal experience. Will (Nathan Wilson) goes from afternoon barbie to pub to chemically-ratted clubbing. The next day he is arrested by the police and accused of raping the girl whom he took home. It’s all clearly and economically shown in the opening sequence, but without revealing what exactly happened. Will is found guilty and sentenced to six years’ imprisonment and the bulk of the story deals with how, while awaiting an appeal, he copes with jail and forges a mutually rewarding and abiding friendship with Jimmy (Martin Sacks in a fabulous performance), a tattooed tough old lag. It’s an intimidating environment and Lindon pulls no punches in his depiction of the claustrophobic, dog eat dog atmospherics. Will, slightly built and with a background as a nurse, is at first an easy target, but under Jimmy’s wing he learns the ropes and discovers that his fellow inmates are not stereotypical bad guys, but individuals with posturing strengths and weaknesses and emotional yearnings. Events outside, where lawyers are working on Will’s behalf, are more in line with a TV legal drama and if Lindon allows wishful thinking to guide his hand towards a rosy denouement, then that’s okay too. Gripping and real.
What a fantastic movie – and guess what? The heroes don’t carry guns! True. When it ventures into the realm of social history and comment, cinema can easily become tendentious to the point of preachiness, but director Matthew Warchus and writer Stephen Beresford have avoided that pitfall by treating a serious issue with equal parts earnestness and ebullience, gravity and humour. The 1984 miners’ strike in Britain was a long and bitter struggle between labour and doctrine-driven Thatcherism. A cohort of activist gays and lesbians in London saw a connection between their pariah status and that of the downtrodden miners. Led by Mark Ashton (Ben Schnetzer), they mobilised to form a fund-raising support group for the families of Onllwyn in Wales. Because their overture of comradeship was not universally accepted by a community in which homosexuality was still considered a perversion, the story explores the ways in which opposites can attract and co-operate for the betterment of all. Ordinarily, the themes addressed here are dealt with in sombre colours, dour soundtracks and joyless set pieces. But this is irresistibly upbeat. The unforeseen emergence of AIDS is a grim backdrop, but there is a lot of love at play as bridges are built and unlikely allies enriched by immersion in the other’s natural environment. We are reminded that, if our common humanity is encouraged to fulfil its potential for generosity, there IS such a thing as society. A wonderful cast – Bill Nighy and Imelda Staunton abandon their usual self-parody – with the wives and mothers of Onllwyn nearly stealing the show as they are caught up in the belated bloom of feisty feminism in the blokey valleys. If you have reached the point of utter despair with our government of slime-coated, blue-tied, fork-tongued troglodytes, as they abase themselves before the overdogs of wealth and privilege while simultaneously shafting anybody who does not fit into their narrow, plutocratic, white world, then take in this movie as a tonic. It’s galvanising, heart-swelling and absolutely true in everything it says. See it, live it.
John Campbell
John Campbell
North Coast news daily: www.echonetdaily.net.au
Thu 6 Nov - OPENING NIGHT! 7:00pm - Testament of Youth Fri 7 Nov 6:15pm - A Long Way Down 8:30pm - Jimmy’s Hall Sat 8 Nov 12:15pm - When the Queen Came to Town 2:00pm If... 4:30pm The Sea 6:30pm What We Did on Our Holiday 8:30pm - Testament of Youth Sun 9 Nov 12:45pm - Miss Julie 3:30pm - Mr. Turner 6:30pm - ‘71 Mon 10 Nov 6:30pm - God Help the Girl 9:00pm - Snow in Paradise Tue 11 Nov 11:00am - When the Queen Came to Town 6:30pm - The Love Punch 8:30pm - Darling
Wed 12 Nov 11:00am - When the Queen Came to Town 6:30pm - Miss Julie 9:15pm - Lilting Thu 13 Nov 6:30pm - The Sea 8:30pm - A Long Way Down Friday 14 November 6:30pm ‘71 SPECIAL EVENT! 8:45pm - A Hard Day’s Night Sat 15 Nov 12:00pm - The Italian Job 2:15pm - Billy Liar 4:30pm - What We Did on Our Holiday 6:30pm The Love Punch 8:30pm - Mr. Turner Sun 16 Nov 12:00pm - When the Queen Came to Town 1:45pm Zulu 4:30pm The Hooligan Factory 6.30pm - The Imitation Game CLOSING NIGHT!
Palace Byron Bay 6-16 Nov britishfilmfestival.com.au
TUESDAY
4 NOV to
WEDNESDAY
12 NOV
MOVIE CLUB PRICES Adult $12.00 / Golden $8.50
opens thursday!
6-16 Nov Palace Byron Bay www.britishfilmfestival.com.au
EMIRATES BRITISH FILM FEST (No Free Tix) THU 6: 7:00 - Testament of Youth (OPENING NIGHT) FRI 7: 6:15pm - A Long Way Down 8:30 - Jimmy’s Hall SAT 8: 12:15 - When the Queen Came to Town 2:00 - If... 4:30pm - The Sea 6:30pm What We Did on Our Holiday 8:30pm Testament of Youth SUN 9: 12:45 - Miss Julie 3:30 - Mr. Turner 6:30pm - ‘71 MON 10: 6:30 - God Help the Girl 9:00pm - Snow in Paradise TUE 11: 11:00am - When the Queen Came to Town 6:30pm The Love Punch 8:30pm Darling WED 12: 11:00am When the Queen Came to Town 6:30 - Miss Julie 9:15pm - Lilting Opera De Paris: THE BARBER OF SEVILLE (CTC) (No Free Tix) Sun 9: 1:00 Wed 12: 11:00 THE VATICAN MUSEUMS 3D (CTC) (No Free Tix) Sat 8: 12:30 Wed 12: 12:45 THE ALBARE QUNITET LIVE PERFORMANCE (No Free Tix) Wed 5: 7:30pm (Tickets $45)
PRIDE (M) (No Free Tix) Tue 4: 11:30, 4:20, 6:45 Wed 5: 11:50, 4:20, 6:45 Thu 6: 10:00, 1:25, 4:00, 6:30 Fri 7: 9:45, 1:25, 4:00, 6:30 Sat 8: 9:50, 2:10, 7:25 Sun 9: 10:20, 3:50, 6:50 Mon 10: 1:30, 4:30, 6:50 Tue 11: 12:50, 3:55, 6:15 Wed 12: 1:30, 2:10, 6:40 THIS IS WHERE I LEAVE YOU (M) Tue 4: 9:20, 2:00, 6:55 Wed 5: 11:40, 2:15, 9:10 Thu 6, Fri 7: 9:00am Tue 11: 10:30 Wed 12: 9:40am GONE GIRL (MA15+) Tue 4: 4:10, 9:10pm Wed 5: 1:45pm Thu 6: 12:20, 3:45pm Fri 7: 12:10, 3:45 Sat 8: 9:40am, 3:20pm Sun 9: 10:15, 9:15pm Mon 10: 9:00, 3:50pm Tue 11: 3:25pm Wed 12: 3:50pm THE IMMIGRANT (M) Tue 4: 10:55, 1:45, 6:30pm Wed 5: 9:30am, 12:20, 6:30pm
INTERSTELLAR (M) (No Free Tix) Thu 6: 12:45, 3:20, 6:20, 8:50pm Fri 7: 12:45, 3:00, 6:20, 8:50pm Sat 8: 12:10, 4:15, 6:10, 9:20 Sun 9: 12:40, 3:40, 6:10, 8:40 Mon 10: 11:55, 3:10, 6:35, 9:10 Tue 11: 12:45, 3:15, 6:20, 8:40 Wed 12: 11:50am, 3:00, 6:10, 9:00pm BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP (MA15+) Tue 4: 9:00am Enjoy our licensed bar
KILL THE MESSENGER (M) (No Free Tix) Tue 4: 11:15, 4:35, 9:20 Wed 5: 9:20, 4:10, 9:20 Thu 6, Fri 7: 11:10, 9:30pm Sat 8: 9:50, 9:45pm Sun 9: 10:30, 9:20pm Mon 10: 11:20, 9:40 Tue 11: 10:20, 9:30pm Wed 12: 4:25, 9:20pm
Lavazza Espresso Coffee
THE JUDGE (M) Tue 4: 1:30, 9:00pm. Wed 5: 9:00am Thu 6, Fri 7: 10:00am Mon 10: 9:10am Tue 11: 12:35pm A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES (MA15+) Tue 4: 9:00am All sessions are correct at the time of publication. Current session times at: palacecinemas.com.au Gift cards are the perfect gift
Group Bookings available
108-110 Jonson Street, Byron Bay 6680 8555 | www.palacecinemas.com.au
The Byron Shire Echo November 4, 2014 35