Rock N Roll Nerd
Back in 2004, Tim Minchin was a ranga from Perth who wrote weird satirical songs that record companies didn't know how to market. Then he had a makeover! (I love makeovers.) Rock'n'roll eyeliner! Chemically straightened hair teased up, like Russell Brand! Unbuttoned shirts! And get this: it totally worked.
Outrageous Fortune
I may sound like a terrible turncoat, but let's face it, New Zealand is punching well above its weight. So much good stuff comes out of the place; The Clean, Bad Taste, a bunch of people that move to Melbourne and we claim as our own, way more stuff than you expect from our trans-Tasman cousins.
Focus on Johnnie To
In Hong Kong, Johnnie To's films are such blockbusters that he's credited with single-handedly keeping their entire film industry afloat. But here? Any film that's not in English gains a weird arthouse sheen, and you'll have to head to ACMI's latest retrospective to see what the fuss is about.
There are twelve examples on show from Johnnie To's prolific career, but maybe start with the trailer to 2001's Fulltime Killer.
WALL-E
Why does everyone love Pixar? Exhibit A: when Pixar became aware of footage showing someone who cried every time the hero of their latest film simply said his name, they flew her to the wrap party. They're that awesome.
Director Andrew Stanton's last masterpiece was Finding Nemo and it opened with the massacre of almost an entire family of baby fish.
Not Quite Hollywood
It's ironic that some of the most recognisable faces in Not Quite Hollywood are American. Why does Quentin Tarantino know more about Australian genre cinema than we do? A nationwide awkwardness about our own film history has distracted us from this stash of glittery fool's gold for far too long.
Young at Heart charity screening
If you hate Battle of the Choirs, but you like old people, Sonic Youth, and wish to help the homeless, then here's a date for your diary. MIFF and Rooftop Cinema present a charity screening of Young at Heart this Wednesday night on the roof. It's not one of those docos where you will sit there thinking, awww, look at the old people singing the rock 'n' roll - they're so heartwarming.
MIFF - Artist Docos
The popularity of the music documentary section of MIFF may lead many - like your idiot housemate - to assume that this is all the doco program has to offer. Not so! If he proves difficult to convince, take him to see these; if he refuses, get a new housemate.
Surely there is nothing less foreboding than the saccharin pop of ‘80s sweetheart, Tiffany.
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