films and cinemas

HOT: Cheri, Palace Como, 299 Toorak Rd, South Yarra

August 24, 2009 ⋅ Post a comment

Cheri marks the cinematic return of my favourite Catwoman, Michelle Pfeiffer, as the courtesan Lea de Lonval in turn of the century France. Before I get into the proper film review, I just want to say one thing. Pfeiffer looks amazing for 50. She’s always been beautiful, of course, but with age her face has [...]

NOT: District 9, Greater Union, 131 Russell Street, Melbourne

August 23, 2009 ⋅ 3 comments

I don’t like sci-fi. However, RM convinced me to see District 9 after selling it to me as ‘not your typical sci-fi movie’ but an allegory on the treatment, discrimination and segregation of immigrants and refugees in First World countries. Someone in my book club once argued that sci-fi shouldn’t just be dismissed as a [...]

HOT ALERT: Week of 24 August 2009

August 23, 2009 ⋅ Post a comment

Get ready readers! This week’s the beginning of the Melbourne Writers Festival and I will be attending three sold out events: live broadcast of ABC1′s Q&A on 27 August; filming of the ABC’s popular First Tuesdays Book Club on 28 August; and Chris Tsiolkas, author of The Slap in conversation on 30 August. What else [...]

HOT: Avatar, IMAX Melbourne, Rathdowne St, Carlton

August 21, 2009 ⋅ 2 comments

Before you fantasy/sci-fi geeks get all excited out there, today I didn’t actually get to see Avatar months ahead of its worldwide release in December (December 17 in Australia, to be precise).What I did get to see was a 20 minute preview of scenes from the hotly anticipated 3D IMAX film from uber-director James Cameron, [...]

NOT: Adam, Kino Cinemas, 45 Collins St, Melbourne

August 19, 2009 ⋅ Post a comment

Who would have thought that my junk TV obsession, America’s Next Top Model, would actually be educational viewing? Thanks to cycle 9 of the series, I know all about Asperger’s Syndrome (or at least how Asperger’s Syndrome and being a model/spokesperson don’t really mix). So I was intrigued about the premise for the film Adam, [...]

HOT OR NOT? Cedar Boys giveaway

August 14, 2009 ⋅ Post a comment

Cedar Boys ‘is an authentic, compelling and adrenaline charged ride into the lives of young men of Middle Eastern decent today in Sydney, Australia. It’s the real world – a side we haven’t seen’. You can expect a review of this new Australian film in the coming weeks on MEL: HOT OR NOT, but in [...]

HOT: Balibo, Cinema Nova, 380 Lygon St, Carlton

August 13, 2009 ⋅ Post a comment

Based on Jill Jolliffe’s book Cover-up (now republished as Balibo with extra chapters and information by Scribe Publications), Balibo is a searing and dramatic film about the true story of the lead-up to the Indonesian invasion of East Timor in 1975, and an Australian journalist’s search for the truth. The film crosses three perspectives and [...]

HOT OR NOT? Kambing Jantan giveaway

August 10, 2009 ⋅ Post a comment

The Indonesian Film Festival is coming to Melbourne 11-20 August. If you’d like to go, I have a free ticket to Kambing Jantan for Saturday 15 August at 5:30pm at the Capitol Theatre, Swanston St. Just pop me an email at jetsettingjoyce@gmail.com with your details before midday this Wednesday and I’ll express post it to [...]

NOT: Antichrist, Greater Union, 131 Russell St, Melbourne

August 8, 2009 ⋅ One comment

MIFF #14: Lars von Trier’s latest film Antichrist has been dividing viewers ever since its debut at Cannes this year. Some seasoned critics at Cannes walked out, outraged by the genital mutilation presented in squeamish detail, yet Charlotte Gainsbourg won the best actress award at the same festival. With its reputation of graphic violence, initially [...]

HOT: The Loved Ones, Greater Union, 131 Russell St, Melbourne

August 7, 2009 ⋅ Post a comment

MIFF #13: The Loved Ones was one of a handful of Australian films receiving their world premieres at MIFF and the raucous crowd screamed, clapped, laughed and cheered their way through this gruesome and macabre film in appreciation. Brent (Xavier Samuel), a good looking teenage boy, has a beautiful sexy girlfriend Holly (Victoria Thaine), and [...]