I've been attending the Melbourne International Film Festival since I was 17, managing between 10-20 films every year. I wouldn't call myself a film nerd or buff at all (tv is my passion), but I just like watching movies & enjoy the whole stupid film festival experience. It was always a dream to buy a Festival Passport & go all day, every day, for the duration, or until I develop a DVT, whichever comes first. So this year proved to be the right time & I booked my annual leave. I nearly had to cancel a few months ago when I severed a tendon in my index finger & had to take time off work, but my totally boss boss worked out a way for me to return 4 weeks earlier than planned, performing different duties, so I didn't have to dip into my annual leave. Cool story bro? Yep.
I'll be blogging the whole thing. As I'll only be home each day just long enough to sleep & shower, I've worked out a way to do the bulk of the posts before the festival even starts. I will make a daily post reviewing the films (all 87 of them) I've seen in 1-2 sentences. My husband Kyle will also be reviewing the films I see, except his reviews will be based on the title alone. He loves movies, however mostly older movies of a certain...persuasion. He does not keep up with the latest releases, has not read the festival guide, doesn't trawl IMDB, so he has no prior knowledge of any of the films that I'll be seeing, bar one (Ice T's Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap). I'll also include a brief run down of what the film's actually about to see how close Kyle got it.
Aaaaaand, for shits, giggles & judgement, here's our top five favourite movies of all time:
DeeDee
5. Duel (1971)
Kyle
(not in order, because he JUST COULDN'T DECIDE!1)
Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! (1965)
Now onto Day One!
Kyle's review based on the title alone: A coming of age story set in rural Pennsylvania.
Explores the challenges faced by a group of college graduates in this post-Bush
economy. 1/5 socialists.
According to IMDB: "A drama set in 1970s Sweden and centered on a young woman's experiences growing up in a home riddled with abuse and alcoholism."
What DeeDee thought: Rather depressing domestic violence drama. Filled in the time well enough.
Maori Boy Genius 1:30pm @ ACMI
Kyle's review based on the title alone: A fly on the wall documentary about a Maori Boy
Genius. Delightful & heart-warming, if a tad pedestrian. 2.5/5 hongis.
According to MIFF: "Pietra Brettkelly explores the life of gifted Maori teen Ngaa Rauuira
Pumanawawhiti, who’s trying to balance his academic aspirations with his
cultural duties."
What DeeDee thought: A lot more moving than I expected (possibly a personal bias because I kept being reminded of my grandmother). Beautifully shot & edited.
The Intouchables 4pm @ the Forum
Kyle's review based on the title alone: An inner city English teacher hits his head against
the wall for an hour & a half trying to teach a group of youths correct grammar. 2/5
Coolios.
According to IMDB: "After he becomes a quadriplegic from a paragliding accident, an
aristocrat hires a young man from the projects to be his caretaker."
What DeeDee thought: Favourite film of the day. I expected it to be touching & all that crap, but I didn't expect the many, many lolz. Rather good.
Moonrise Kingdom 6:30pm @ Greater Union
Kyle's review based on the title alone: Takes place mostly in the imagination of a young group
of childhood friends. When the moon rises, their adventures come to life. A
delightful summertime romp for the whole family. 1/5 brats.
According to IMDB: "A pair of young lovers flee their New England town, which causes a local search party to fan out and find them."
What DeeDee thought: Wes Anderson films have a tendency to be really Wes Anderson-y & this was no exception. Whenever I'm watching one, I feel like I'm waiting for the cutesy moments to get too much & drown my enjoyment, but it never happens & I always leave the cinema with a shit-eating grin on my face. Goddammit.
Kyle's review based on the title alone: A documentary about a Hollywood
bodyguard. Candidly shows the quiet desperation of a man who has spent his
career in the shadows of celebrities who couldn’t care less about him. 3.5/5 Whitneys.
According to IMDB: "Three magazine employees head out on an assignment to interview a guy
who placed a classified ad seeking a companion for time travel."
What DeeDee thought: Easily enjoyable, sweet, funny movie. The guy playing Jeff totally reminded me of Kenny Hotz, which only heightened my enjoyment.
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