href="mailto:merrick@aintitcool.com">Merrick here...

Here's Latauro with entertainment news from the Land Downunder, where where beer does flow and men chunder.

Here's Latauro...

If you're going to try, go all the way. Otherwise don't even start.
This could mean losing girlfriends, wives, relatives, jobs. And maybe your
mind. It could mean not eating for three or four days. It could mean
freezing on a park bench. It could mean jail. It could mean derision. It
could mean mockery, isolation. Isolation is the gift. All the others are a
test of your endurance. Of how much you really want to do it. And you'll do
it, despite rejection in the worst odds. And it will be better than anything
else you can imagine. If you're going to try, go all the way. There is no
other feeling like that. You will be alone with the gods. And the nights
will flame with fire. You will ride life straight to perfect laughter. It's
the only good fight there is.

AICN-DOWNUNDER

Once again, I gotta show my true colours and profess my true identity
as a complete "Doctor Who" geek. Totally obsessed with it. Doesn't mean I
can't tell the good from the crap, though. My obsession doesn't hinder my
ability to judge each episode on its individual merits.

That said, this Saturday the ABC here in Australia will begin the new
series beginning with "The Christmas Invasion", the first full episode
featuring David Tennant as the Doctor. I gotta tell you, it's my favourite
episode of the series. Ever. The fannish purist part of me hates myself for
saying it, but it's brilliantly-written, building anticipation and
introducing the Tenth Doctor in the most satisfying way possible. The BBC is
one episode away from the Series Two finale, and there's some incredible
stuff to look forward to. (New Zealand begun playing the new series only a
few days ago.) So if you've never watched the show before, I implore you to
give it a go. Just try this one episode and see what you think. Trust
me.

Okay, cheers for the indulgence. Now onto what you actually came here
for...

NEWS

The three or four of us who thought Ang Lee's HULK was brilliant (we
had purple pants made up for meetings) have been listening with varying
degrees of concern and anticipation to the talk about which direction the
sequel will take. The popular theory was that they were going to start from
scratch, ignoring the first film as well as SUPERMAN III and IV (apparently
everyone's doing it now). Now, according to href="http://www.moviehole.net/news/20060707_arad_on_the_next_hulk_movie.html"
target=_blank>Moviehole and href="http://www.moviehole.net/news/20060707_arad_on_the_next_hulk_movie.html"
target=_blank>Superhero Hype Boards, Avi Arad has told SFX Magazine that
Bana isn't necessarily out, as we all thought he might be. Sure, Bana hasn't
heard a word out of the production despite the contract clause requiring him
to return for the sequel if the right strings are pulled, but it's not a
definite denial. So, hot off the presses: producers haven't ruled out
considering Eric Bana for a role in HULK 2! And to think people told me I
wouldn't be able to find anything to write about this week... pfft!

Are you an actor whose career is diminishing a little? You want some
publicity to spruce up your IMDb trivia page? Take a holiday to New Zealand.
Every actor who visits the islands inevitably finds themselves rumoured to
be in the next Peter Jackson production. Now before you book your ticket, Mr
Schneider, and find yourself linked to the part of Covenant Grunt, it
doesn't always result in a role. Sure, Denzel Washington turned up in New
Zealand as was suddenly playing the dead girl in THE LOVELY BONES, but the
truth soon outed. Washington told New Zealand newspaper href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3716639a1860,00.html"
target=_blank>The Dominion Post that he was actually meeting with Mr
Jackson to discuss the possibility of Weta Digital doing the effects for the
next film Denzel will be directing. href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0427309/" target=_blank>IMDb has his next
film listed as THE GREAT DEBATERS, a true story about a man in 1935 who
inspires students to form a debating team. And I'm guessing there's a dragon
or griffon or something in there, or will be once Weta's done with it... Big
up to scooper "HC" for the heads-up.

Variety is reporting that the Weinsteins have picked up US
distribution rights to LIKE MINDS, a serial killer film starring Richard
Roxburgh and Toni Collette. Hang on, what? How did I miss this? Oh yes, the
Australian film industry's complete inability to build up any sort of
pre-release anticipation of our product. That's how. Well, the film, which
was made for $8million (approximately one hundred and seventy-four times
larger than the median) will premiere at this year's Melbourne International
Film Festival, and find its way to Australian cinemas come October.

The FFC just approved the budget for DISGRACE, an adaptation of J. M.
Coetzee's South African novel about a professor who has an affair with a
student and becomes embroiled in post-Apartheid politics. John Malkovich
will play either the professor or the student (no, it's the professor). The
script was written by Anna Maria Monticelli (LA SPAGNOLA) and the film will
be directed by Steve Jacobs (also, funnily enough, LA SPAGNOLA). Filming is
set to begin... NOW!

Finally, there's a big non-controversy not-quite-brewing about LORD OF
THE RINGS. Remember those films? We're not done with them yet. The other
week, target=_blank>we told you about (or reminded you of) the new DVD
editions that will combine the theatrical editions with the extended
cuts. Well, included on the DVD will be barely-before-seen documentaries
about the making of the film from NZ filmmaker Costa Botes (who co-directed
FORGOTTEN SILVER with Jackson). What's the problem? New Line made some cuts
to the documentary without consulting Botes. Such cuts include Orcs singing
"Stand By Me" (cut for music rights reasons), actors swearing a lot, and
shots containing certain volcanoes that New Line had promised the local
Maori population it would not show on film. Judging by Botes's reaction,
it's like cutting the shark out of JAWS or the unintended funny out of THE
DA VINCI CODE. If you're up for a double or triple dip, you can witness the
massacred footage this August. Cheers to href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3719624a1860,00.html"
target=_blank>stuff.co.nz and href="http://www.black-magic.co.nz/home/?p=215" target=_blank>Black
Magic.

AWARDS, FESTIVALS AND SCREENINGS

2006 MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

At 11am, tickets went on sale. At 11:15am, I'd booked most of my
films. At 11:30am, I was on the phone to the MIFF operator asking why my
bookings hadn't worked. It was a rich, full day for everyone involved.
Nevertheless, if you're not sick of AICN-D's Melbourne-centricity because
you yourself live in Melbourne, you might want to start making your
bookings. There are far too many unmissable films playing this year;
quitting your job may not be a stupid idea. Head to href="http://www.melbournefilmfestival.com.au/2006Festival"
target=_blank>http://www.melbournefilmfestival.com.au/ to make your
bookings.

4TH ANGRY FILM FESTIVAL

AFF is getting bigger (and angrier) with each passing screening. This
coming Tuesday (July 11th), the festival returns to 393 Brunswick Street,
Fitzroy (First Floor). Rock up at 7:30pm, have your $10 ready ($8
concession), and check out the films that made the cut. For more info, check
out target=_blank>http://www.angryproductions.org.

THE GARTH METHOD

Australian feature comedy THE GARTH METHOD has been getting quite the
reception around the traps... so much so that the film is now playing
regularly here in Melbourne. Want to rock along and enjoy a satirical
mockumentary, simultaneously supporting a local filmmaker and a worthy
charity, and, on top of all that, enjoy a beer during the film, head to href="http://www.www.thegarthmethod.com"
target=_blank>http://www.thegarthmethod.com and follow the
instructions.

9TH REVELATION PERTH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

AFTERLIFE, a nine minute film from director Dean Francis, will play at
the West Australian film festival this July. The following month (August,
for those who've begun the weekend's drinking), the film will scoot over to
the US to play at the Palm Springs International Short Film
Festival.

BOX OFFICE

The Stan of Meel enjoyed its solitary week as king of the box office
before its inevitable swindling by pirates (both internetty and Johnny
Deppy). As for spot number two, Creationists have another card up their
sleeve: try as it might, science can not explain why anyone went to see Adam
Sandler's CLICK. (Conversely, you could use this same evidence as proof of
the non-existence of God. Debate it in talkback below!)

1. SUPERMAN RETURNS

2. CLICK

3. OVER THE HEDGE

4. target=_blank>CARS

5. THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS: TOKYO DRIFT

RELEASED THIS WEEK

Wim Wenders sends Sam Shepard in search of Harry Dean Stanton, Amy
Adams is impregnated with an Oscar nomination (take a second to picture
that), Jerry Bruckheimer is given the keys to Fort Knox, Kiefer Sutherland
has twenty-four hours to end/start bloodshed between the British and the
Maoris, and Colin Friels shoots some guys.

DON'T COME KNOCKING

JUNEBUG

target=_blank>PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST

RIVER QUEEN

target=_blank>SOLO

REVIEWS

It's not like I don't have enough reviews for you below, but there
should have been one more. Car trouble prevented me from seeing the new
Australian film JINDABYNE, which I'd been looking forward to for a while.
For those who don't know, it's about a group of friends who go on a fishing
trip, find a dead body, and don't report it until their trip is over. For
those (like me) who thought it sounded a lot like one of the plots from
Robert Altman's SHORT CUTS, it is: both films were based on the short story
by Raymond Carver. Anyway, I'll try to catch it soon and get a review
up.

FACTOTUM

I wasn't sure if I should review this or not. By the time I got around
to using the in-season passes, FACTOTUM was pretty much in its final days.
What would be the point in reviewing it if nobody would then have the chance
to see it? Anyway, yesterday I noticed that it hadn't come out in the US
yet, so for once, Yanks, this one's for you. Happy Independence Day.

I didn't know who Charles Bukowski was before I saw this film. I've
since learned he's something of a counter-culture icon; an author I probably
should have heard of by now. Still, you don't need too much background info
going in. Matt Dillon is Henry Chinaski, a man who -- through circumstance
or choice -- cannot hold on to a job. He switches work nearly as often as he
switches women, and the only consistency in his life (aside from drinking)
seems to be his writing. He's always writing stories and sending them in to
the literary journals he considers worthy, though never with any
success.

If you're wondering what the plot is, that's pretty much it. In fact,
when my companion complained that the film had no resolution, I pointed out
that there was nothing to resolve. The film is more of a character study
than a narrative, and it takes great joy in lingering in its own world. The
problem is that it spends a little too long lingering, and even the more
patient viewers will find themselves wishing for a little more action. And
by "action", I don't mean car chases, but... well, anything really.

Beyond the lack of narrative drive, however, the characters themselves
are pretty interesting (which is a good thing for a character piece).
Dillon's Chinaski isn't always the nicest guy in the world, and you don't
always like him. In fact, there are some specific scenes where you'll
downright hate him. Still, watching him interact with any of the characters,
from Lily Taylor's Jan to Marisa Tomei's Laura to Fisher Stevens's Manny,
fascinates you. He's such a strangely insular character, you're drawn in
wondering how on Earth he's going to react. Not to draw too lazy a
comparison, but it's a bit like the anticipation whenever a character
approaches Johnny Depp's Raoul Duke in FEAR AND LOATHING: he's so insulated
in his own world, you have to see what he's going to do when somebody normal
tries to engage him. Now, Chinaski isn't anything like Duke, but he
definitely has his own ideas about the world and how it works.

Thinking back on the characters, it occurs to me how delightfully ugly
they all are. Not so much that it'll put you off the film, but everyone you
meet (rich, poor, happy, successful) is fairly pathetic in their own right.
Nobody really seems happy in their own life (not even Real Estate Agent Joss
Whedon Lookalike). It is, I presume, a characteristic of Bukowski's work,
because there's something so terrifically integral about it, as if merely
showing you these characters is the whole point. Which, as I think I
established before, it is.

If you're a fan of character studies, this one is pretty good. Dillon,
Taylor and Tomei are all on top form, as you'd need to be for a film like
this. I still think director Bent Hamer could have put a little more work in
to keep things moving, but overall it's an interesting film that easily
deserves a look.

THE BOOK OF REVELATION

There's a balancing act that you experience with some films. A year or
two back I attended a somewhat questionable screenwriting seminar with a
producer and screenwriter from America (it was a gift from a family member,
so I felt compelled to attend). They quite confidently stated that an
audience will make up its mind about a film within the first minute of
screen time. I spent a long time thinking about that concept, weighing it
against my own experience and the experience of people I knew, until I
decided that it was complete bollocks. THE BOOK OF REVELATION goes for 117
minutes, and I'm still not sure what I thought of it. It's a film I couldn't
quite put my finger on; I wasn't sure where it was going. It was well made,
sure, but I was waiting for that titular moment of revelation that would
dictate whether I'd enjoyed the film or not.

As it turns out, THE BOOK OF REVELATION is a somewhat ironic title.
Nothing is directly revealed, and there's not really a book. It doesn't
really answer the questions it raises, but I'm not one hundred per cent sure
it raises those questions in the first place.

Director Ana Kokkinos says the film is "not easily categorised and
defined". That's true as an audience member, but part of me wonders if
Kokkinos had a point to make with this film. She says the film is about
reversal: man as victim, woman as perpetrator. I'm struggling with this
concept, because I'm not sure if the manner in which it was explored
justified the film at all. I'm not saying it didn't -- I won't, in this
review, describe the film as pointless or meaningless -- but I'm honestly
searching through my memory of it so I can discover if there was one that I
missed completely.

I won't delve too far into the plot. The basic premise is described
above in the quote from the film's director; you don't really need much more
going in. Superficially, it's terrific. All the acting (particularly that of
Tom Long, Colin Friels, Greta Scacchi and Deborah Mailman) is impressive;
the cinematography is rich; the score is superb. All the surface elements
were there, which is a good thing given I don't know whether I would have
survived to the end without them. Most films are required to have a point,
and to at least let the audience in on what that point is at some point.
Without that point, that purpose, you need something to keep us hanging on.
Yes, there's a mystery of sorts here, but you realise almost immediately
that it's not one that will be explicitly solved. Consequently, the elements
that keep you in your seat throughout are those aesthetic qualities (acting,
cinematography, etc).

I'm also curious as to whether this film counts as pornography. It has
some pretty explicit images. A quick check of the accepted definition says
that pornography is sexually explicit material intended to cause arousal.
REVELATION is fairly, well, revealing when it comes to the sexual
abuse of our protagonist, but I don't think that -- like Winterbottom's 9
SONGS -- it's supposed to arouse us. Sure, there'll be people who will be
turned on by its particular brand of masochism (just like there are people
who will get turned on by Imax nature documentaries about squirrels mating),
but it'll be a small minority. It's disturbing stuff (especially at 9am...),
and the only group who are really going to get off on it will be the
Australian Family Association. Somehow, I think REVELATION will get a lot of
free press from the AFA, who will no doubt set out to protect children from
a two hour art-house film they'd otherwise be clamouring to see. Ahem.
Sorry, a bit off-topic there...

I had absolutely no idea what I was in for going into this film, and,
ideally, that's how all films should be experienced (I only skimmed over href="http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=23686" target=_blank>the
review AICN-D published a couple of weeks back because it contained such
massive spoilers). While I'm not sure if I enjoyed it, or if I missed the
point entirely, or if it really had a point to begin with, I do want to
recommend it. Many films of this nature have one singular screenwriter. This
film had two (Kokkinos and Andrew Bovell), and it was based on a book by a
third party (Rupert Thompson), so we can be fairly sure that it wasn't an
entirely insular and self-obsessed process. I mean, with two screenwriters
there must have been discussions about the point and the direction and the
meanings. Somewhere, someone must know why there was a pressing need to make
this film. Some of you are going to hate it, some of you are going to love
it, but it's worth going in to discover which way you'll go. It's a film
that deserves a healthy amount of debate, and I'd really like to hear some
more takes on it.

The film premieres at the Melbourne Film Festival, and will be
released around the country in August.

COURT OF LONELY ROYALS

If there's one thing that SOLO made me realise, it's how much this
country is lacking in good genre films. Sure, there's a place for the
teenage-girl-living-in-the-outback-going-on-a-journey-of-self-discovery
films, but those places seem to be every third spot in the local release
schedules. Why aren't we funding a more diverse range of local
films?

Rohan Michael Hoole's COURT OF LONELY ROYALS does something that may
throw you at first: it has an interesting premise. Shocking, no? The film
begins at a cafe with a sign stating: "Trespassers will be executed." It's a
sign that appears to be cute until we're suddenly introduced to its
literalness. This is one of those films that feels like it's set in the very
near future, or perhaps even a very similar alternate reality. Politics and
law enforcement are a lot heavier-handed, and seem to work in opposition to
the criminal fringe elements whilst still using it when convenient. The
story centres on three people whose moral centres are fairly ambiguous. They
engage in prostitution and murder; jobs that prevent them from really
connecting with anyone, no matter how hard they try.

This film has a style all its own. The end credits thank a lot of
well-known directors who were clearly big influences to Hoole, but there's
no direct aping. The fantastic opening sequence sets up a jarring,
disjointed style that appropriately reflects the lives of the characters,
and this style is continued throughout the film (though, thankfully, it
pulls back before it becomes overwhelming). The colour palette is pushed in
every scene, and we're left with a world that doesn't look quite right. I
found it amusing watching Melbourne in the GHOST RIDER trailer, but seeing
my home city in COURT just feels wrong. There's something disturbing about
the way the town is presented, something unwelcoming. It fits the mood of
the film perfectly, and sets up the film's world better than any expository
dialogue could ever hope to do.

Years ago, my friends and I hired a bunch of videos (as we did every
weekend) and watched as many as we could before we fell asleep. The last
film of the night was THE USUAL SUSPECTS, which we knew nothing about at the
time. All my friends fell asleep early on (it was pretty damned late), and I
found myself fighting to keep my eyes open. The now-famous end sequence of
that film was so powerful that it actually pulled me out of my stupor.
Imagine the sleepiest you've ever been without being asleep, then watching
the end of SUSPECTS for the first time. I knew I'd witnessed something
powerful, but I didn't know what it was. That's almost what COURT feels
like. There's a disjointedness to the film that's reminiscent of Wong
Kar-Wai's FALLEN ANGELS: you feel like you're being pulled either into or
out of a dream even as you're staring at the screen. I know I missed many of
the salient details, but it didn't matter; the film had pulled me in and I
was just standing around, checking out the world. Imagine you're playing a
link-up video game with some other people. While they're off fighting the
big battles, you're over in a corner admiring the scenery and just checking
everything out. I know it's an exceedingly nerdy analogy, but that's the way
I watched the film. I can pick up story details and the specifics of plot
mechanics in a second viewing.

The film certainly clicks along at a good pace without any significant
dips in the narrative, but the highlights are the opening sequence and the
closing scene. The ending of the film appeared, at first, to be a fairly
stereotypical indie film ending, and I felt the film losing me. Then
something happened, and it changed gears. I don't want to overhype the
ending because it's best enjoyed without expectations, but the final scene
is so delightfully understated that the entire film was, in my estimation,
raised up a few notches. There's an unexpected subtlety to it, and I still
can't figure out if it was incredibly depressing or incredibly hopeful. No
doubt you'll all come away with your own interpretations.

Hopefully, this marks the beginning of a new trend in Australia:
filmmakers with something to say, and the talent to say it. Keep your eyes
open for this one.

NEXT WEEK

- James Caviezel to star in a sequel to his 2003 film THE HIGHWAYMEN,
this time hunting down a British character actor who's killing off his
competition in THE NIGHYWAYMEN

- Jamie Foxx and Kanye West to star as a pair of millionaires who set
out to save Broadway and diss hos who are only after their cash in GOLD
DIGGERS OF 2007

- Michael Apted signs on to a new film due for release in 2068, the
documentary 112 UP

Peace out,

Latauro

AICNDownunder@hotmail.comB>