Sunday, August 17, 2008

AFI Screenings

Each year, AFI members get to vote on their favourite films and a number of free screenings are arranged to enable members to see these films. There seems to be quite a large number of films screening this year that I haven't seen. I've arranged them according to those I've seen, those I want to see and those that I haven't seen (but not sure whether they're worth seeing).

I've listed them accordingly below, and if anyone has any tips, for or against, I'd love to hear your comments.

For what it's worth, none of the films I've seen overly impressed me. The three titles I'd like to see have had good word-of-mouth and I'm going to prioritise those. Of the others, I have some pretty strong negative feelings towards several, but there's others I'm just not too sure about. That's either because I've heard conflicting reports, or because I've heard nothing about them.

SEEN
The Jammed
September
Not Quite Hollywood
The Independent
Death Defying Acts
The Black Balloon

WANT TO SEE
Three Blind Mice
The Tragedy of Hamlet Prince of Denmark
Men's Group
Salvation
The Square

All My Friends Are Leaving Brisbane
Bitter & Twisted
Black Water (maybe)


HAVEN’T SEEN

The Tender Hook
Five Moments of Infidelity
Ten Empty
Beyond Our Ken
Gabriel
Rats and Cats
Punishment
The Plex
The Oasis
Green Fire Envy
Cactus

Unfinished Sky
Children of the Silk Road

Hey Hey it's Esther Blueburger

14 comments:

Glenn Dunks said...

I think you will be safe in skipping Gabriel. Considering it's been on DVD for a long time, I imagine you'll continue to fight another day without it.

I am really looking forward to seeing Hamlet, Black Water, Three Blind Mice, Men's Group, Bitter & Twisted and The Tender Hook.

I wish I could see The Square considering the great reviews, but there's a little issue of the "one day in September" that I cannot miss if my team (er, Geelong) makes it.

Also, it's The Plex not The Flex :P

Glenn Dunks said...

Oh, I'm also wondering what happened to Son of a Lion. It's considering Australian, right?

Paul Martin said...

Thanks Glenn, typo fixed. I've added The Square to the list of films I will try to see, as well as Paul Cox's Salvation. Son of a Lion is Australian; I'm not sure why it's not on the list. I've heard mixed reviews but will try to see it anyway. The guerilla-style film-making appeals to me. The Tender Hook has an upcoming release, but it's nice to catch a free AFI advance screening.

Glenn Dunks said...

Are you a member though? It's only open to AFI members because it's release is still pending.

Paul Martin said...

Yes, I'm an AFI member. I was looking at the AFI guide that came in the mail yesterday. The films that haven't been released yet are open to AFI members only. The other screenings are open to the public, but free for AFI members only.

Anonymous said...

I bite my thumb at the Tender Hook.

Add B&T to watch list. Be interested to hear what you think of BW; you may like it better than you think.

Anonymous said...

I bite my thumb at the Tender Hook.

Add B&T to watch list. Be interested to hear what you think of BW; you may like it better than you think.

Paul Martin said...

Syms, I checked out the review of Bitter and Twisted that you posted the link to on the ATM website and it definitely looks like it's worth a look. And thanks for the tip not to see Tender Hook. With time a scarce resource and with a glut of film choices, it's good to filter some out.

Black Water may be worth seeing, but I don't know if I can fit it in. Maybe I will, but probably not.

Anonymous said...

Hi Paul I really enjoyed All My Friends are leaving Brisbane when it had a very limited Q&A screening at ACMI last year. My review is on www.imdb.com

Glenn Dunks said...

Black Water is the title I'm most anticipating, actually.

Paul Martin said...

Thanks for the recommendations, guys. FWIW, check out my Outlook calendar for September. I haven't even entered the many retro films at the Italian film festival, nor any contemporary ones, nor any of the Jim Henson films I want to take the kid to see. It's looking pretty intense.

Anonymous said...

While you are in the mood, why not go out and vote in the IF Awards too. Only a month to go before deadline, and you can really push for films that you like that might be ignored by the AFI members.

Paul Martin said...

Simon, I vote each year for the IF awards, though right now, there's nothing I want to vote for. I think that will change after the AFI screenings as I'm sure some of those I want to see will beat anything I've seen thus far (from Australia).

Paul Martin said...

The following info just arrived in my inbox. The AFI has announced additional screenings of the above films. You'll find the information in full on their website, and the bits that interested me are below.

BITTER & TWISTED (NEW!)
Bitter & Twisted has just announced that it will release on September 18 at the following cinemas:
Melbourne: Brighton Bay Cinemas
Adelaide: Palace Nova
Sydney: Palace cinemas and the Chauvel (tbc)
There will be sneak previews on Sat 13 Sept and Sun 14 Sept at all venues.

Special AFI member deal: AFI Members will recieve free entry to the sneak previews of Bitter & Twisted on Sat 13 Sept and Sun 14 Sept upon presentation of their membership card. Official website


MEN'S GROUP (NEW!)
Men's Group will have its theatrical premiere at the Sydney Theatre, 22 Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay, at 7pm on Thursday 18 September, 2008.
Dress: Opening night attire
Cost: Pay as you feel!

Men's Group will then screen for one week only at the Chauvel Cinema in Paddington, 22-28 September. Official website