Reviewed by GREG KING Documentary Director: Catherine Scott. A favourite on the film festival circuit, this inspiring and humane and heart-warming documentary shows that there are very real and effective alternatives to juvenile detention in helping turn around the lives of troubled teenagers. In the northern NSW town of Armidale, jackaroo Bernie Shakeshaft has established… Continue Reading »
BOOK WEEK
Reviewed by GREG KING Director: Heath Davis Stars: Alan Dukes, Susan Prior, Rose Riley, Tiriel Mora, Airlie Dodds, Toby Schmitz, Khan Chittenden, Steve Le Marquand, Thuso Lekwape, Maya Stange, Nicholas Hope, Jolene Anderson, Rhys Muldoon. This black comedy/drama follows a bad week in the life of Nick Cutler (Alan Dukes), a lecherous, misanthropic, boozy, rude,… Continue Reading »
BACKTRACK BOYS – interview with Catherine Scott
by GREG KING BackTrack Boys is an observational documentary that features the rough talking, free-wheeling jackaroo, Bernie Shakeshaft, and the youth program he runs from a shed on the outskirts of Armidale, NSW. The film follows Zac, Tyrson and Rusty, three troubled boys, as they hit the road with Bernie’s legendary dog jumping team and… Continue Reading »
DON’T WORRY, HE WON’T GET FAR ON FOOT
Reviewed by GREG KING Director: Gus Van Sant Stars: Joaquin Phoenix, Jonah Hill, Rooney Mara, Jack Black, Udo Kier, Kim Gordon, Beth Ditto, Mark Webber, Tony Greenhand, Carrie Brownstone. The late US cartoonist John Callahan is not a household name, and is largely unheard of outside of the United States, which makes this quirky and… Continue Reading »
JIRGA
Reviewed by GREG KING Director: Benjamin Gilmour Stars: Sam Smith, Sher Alam Miskeen Ustad, Mohammad Mosam, Kefeyat Lag Humani. This low budget drama is the sophomore feature film from Australian writer/director Benjamin Gilmour, and follows his 2007 drama Son Of A Lion, which was set in post 9/11 Pakistan. Gilmour is familiar with the region… Continue Reading »
YOU WERE NEVER REALLY HERE
Reviewed by GREG KING Director: Lynne Ramsay Stars: Joaquin Phoenix, Ekaterina Samsonov, Alex Minette, Judith Roberts, John Doman. Glaswegian filmmaker Lynne Ramsay’s moody and grim films have always dealt with damaged characters (We Need To Talk About Kevin, etc) and difficult and confronting subject matter. Her fourth feature is no different. You Were Never Really… Continue Reading »