Father Geek here with the return of our AICN Downunder Report and the lovely Tamsin... Of course the really big news concerning film down under is that Peter Jackson's "LOTR: Fellowship of the Ring" is being embraced worldwide by critics and fans alike, and looks to be headed to a monumental global release. The techies, artists, writers, makeup crews, musicians,
and all the others down there that helped Peter bring the world this story from the printed page to the living, breathing, motion picture screen can indeed be very proud of all their work the last few years on this epic project. It is nothing short of astonishing. Absolutely astounding, breathtaking filmmaking! Annnnnnd you can quote ol' Father Geek on that. Truely one of the greatest films of all time, from any country, in any genre! I've seen 10's of thousands of movies in the 50+ years that I've been haunting motion picture palaces and film festivals, and the best of those films only approach this motion picture.
Most of the films I consider truely "Great Motion Pictures" are several decades old; Casablanca, King Kong (33), Citizen Kane, The Adventures of Robin Hood, The Maltese Falcon, Wizard of Oz, Red River, Treasure of the Sierra Madre, Whales' Invisible Man and Bride of Frankenstein, The Gold Rush, Tarzan and his Mate, It Happened One Night, The General, Notorious, Rope, Shadow of a Doubt, Strangers on a Train, High Sierra, White Heat, The Searchers, The Black Swan, Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, even Gone With The Wind, Singing in the Rain, and Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. In the more recent past these include; Lawrence of Arabia, The Godfather, Jason and The Argonauts, The Ten Commandments, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Day The Earth Stood Still, 7th Voyage of Sinbad, Ben Hur, 2001, Paths of Glory, On the Waterfront, The Conversation, Doctor Zhivago, Wages of Fear, Ran, 8 1/2, Spartacus, Juliet of the Spirits, Zulu, The Exorcist, The Empire Strikes Back, Blade Runner, and Raiders of the Lost Ark. I've been waiting my entire film viewing life to find a film to eclipse these. That quest now has a new high water mark. In Father Geek's mind, all things considered, FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING surpasses them all. We are indeed privileged to be able to view this masterwork. This IS what cinema is all about! My heart felt thanks to all involved!Now, on to Ms. Tamsin...
Tamsin here... Just finished recuperation after an intensive 8 day film shoot. I think the average hours spent sleeping on this film shoot was roughly two for the entire crew. Anyhoo, here is a brief report for this week. I won't be able to write again for two weeks because I'm heading off to Thailand for a documentary research trip. I
will be back 26th of December.
DOWNUNDER REPORT #15
THE SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL
The techies, artists, writers, makeup crews, musicians,
and all the others down there that helped Peter bring the world this story from the printed page to the living, breathing, motion picture screen can indeed be very proud of all their work the last few years on this epic project. It is nothing short of astonishing. Absolutely astounding, breathtaking filmmaking! Annnnnnd you can quote ol' Father Geek on that. Truely one of the greatest films of all time, from any country, in any genre! I've seen 10's of thousands of movies in the 50+ years that I've been haunting motion picture palaces and film festivals, and the best of those films only approach this motion picture.
Most of the films I consider truely "Great Motion Pictures" are several decades old; Casablanca, King Kong (33), Citizen Kane, The Adventures of Robin Hood, The Maltese Falcon, Wizard of Oz, Red River, Treasure of the Sierra Madre, Whales' Invisible Man and Bride of Frankenstein, The Gold Rush, Tarzan and his Mate, It Happened One Night, The General, Notorious, Rope, Shadow of a Doubt, Strangers on a Train, High Sierra, White Heat, The Searchers, The Black Swan, Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, even Gone With The Wind, Singing in the Rain, and Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. In the more recent past these include; Lawrence of Arabia, The Godfather, Jason and The Argonauts, The Ten Commandments, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Day The Earth Stood Still, 7th Voyage of Sinbad, Ben Hur, 2001, Paths of Glory, On the Waterfront, The Conversation, Doctor Zhivago, Wages of Fear, Ran, 8 1/2, Spartacus, Juliet of the Spirits, Zulu, The Exorcist, The Empire Strikes Back, Blade Runner, and Raiders of the Lost Ark. I've been waiting my entire film viewing life to find a film to eclipse these. That quest now has a new high water mark. In Father Geek's mind, all things considered, FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING surpasses them all. We are indeed privileged to be able to view this masterwork. This IS what cinema is all about! My heart felt thanks to all involved!Now, on to Ms. Tamsin...
Tamsin here... Just finished recuperation after an intensive 8 day film shoot. I think the average hours spent sleeping on this film shoot was roughly two for the entire crew. Anyhoo, here is a brief report for this week. I won't be able to write again for two weeks because I'm heading off to Thailand for a documentary research trip. I
will be back 26th of December.
DOWNUNDER REPORT #15
THE SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL
In the more recent past these include; Lawrence of Arabia, The Godfather, Jason and The Argonauts, The Ten Commandments, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Day The Earth Stood Still, 7th Voyage of Sinbad, Ben Hur, 2001, Paths of Glory, On the Waterfront, The Conversation, Doctor Zhivago, Wages of Fear, Ran, 8 1/2, Spartacus, Juliet of the Spirits, Zulu, The Exorcist, The Empire Strikes Back, Blade Runner, and Raiders of the Lost Ark. I've been waiting my entire film viewing life to find a film to eclipse these. That quest now has a new high water mark. In Father Geek's mind, all things considered, FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING surpasses them all. We are indeed privileged to be able to view this masterwork. This IS what cinema is all about! My heart felt thanks to all involved!Now, on to Ms. Tamsin...
Tamsin here... Just finished recuperation after an intensive 8 day film shoot. I think the average hours spent sleeping on this film shoot was roughly two for the entire crew. Anyhoo, here is a brief report for this week. I won't be able to write again for two weeks because I'm heading off to Thailand for a documentary research trip. I
will be back 26th of December.
DOWNUNDER REPORT #15
THE SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL
Tamsin here... Just finished recuperation after an intensive 8 day film shoot. I think the average hours spent sleeping on this film shoot was roughly two for the entire crew. Anyhoo, here is a brief report for this week. I won't be able to write again for two weeks because I'm heading off to Thailand for a documentary research trip. I
will be back 26th of December.
DOWNUNDER REPORT #15
THE SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL
THE SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL
A number of Australian films have been selected to screen at the Sundance Film Festival next year.
Shorts:
Australian films selected for the Sundance Shorts Program are:
CURVE.
INDEFINIABLE MOODS, directed and produced by Kathryn Smith.
INJA (Dog) - directed by Steve Pasvolsky and produced by Joe Weatherstone.
THE PITCH - directed by Nash Edgerton and produced by Louise Smith.
TASTE - directed by Lisa Dombroski and produced by Nell White.
TREE - directed by Eliza Johnson and produced by Rachel Clements.
Features:
AUSTRALIAN RULES (directed by Paul Goldman, produced by Mark Lazarus and starring Nathan Phillips, Luke Carroll and Lisa Flanagan) will have its premiere screening in the World Cinema section. Based on Phillip Gywnne's award winning novel Deadly, Unna? the film is "a contemporary story about two communities, the Goonyas (whites) and the Nungas (blacks), and the one thing they have in common - the local Australian Rules football team". AUSTRALIAN RULES is Paul Goldman's feature directorial debut but his prior directorial credits include the documentary RITUAL HABITUAL, about the 1996 Big Day Out rock concert and he was co-director of Photography on John Hillcoat's GHOSTS OF THE CIVIL DEAD (1988). AUSTRALIAN RULES will be distributed in Australia by Palace Films and represented internationally by Beyond.
Rachel Perkins' short feature ONE NIGHT THE MOON will screen in the Native Forum section.
NICOLE NEWS
This sounds more like a throw-away line with Nicole, but according to TV Week (a wonderfully reliable and informative magazine...ha!) Nicole might be up for a role in HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS. Her reported words, "If I could get them on the set, I'd be Supermum!". There must be an easier way for Nicole to take her children onto the set without having to act in the film!
MOULIN ROUGE NAMED FILM OF THE YEAR
A good start for MOULIN ROUGE in the "Oscar race" as it was named film of the year by the National Board of Review. Cate Blanchett was named best supporting actress for her work in THE MAN WHO CRIED, THE SHIPPING NEWS and LOTR. Naomi Watts was one of two actors to win the best breakthrough performance for her work in MULHOLLAND DRIVE.
LANTANA received a special mention for excellence and Fred Schepisi's LAST ORDERS received the best ensemble performance award.
DON'T PEEK
The horror movie, DON'T PEEK, is currently being shot in Victoria. Starring Chaney Kley (LEGALLY BLONDE) and Emma Caulfield (BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER), DON'T PEEK tells the story of "a man who has to confront his fears and past to save a young boy from a smalltown killer." It will be written and directed by first-timer, Jonathon Liebesman, and coproduced by Blue Star Pictures and Distant Corners Entertainment.
Father Geek here...This just came to me at Geek Headquarters in Austin...
It was cool to see DON'T PEEK mentioned on the AICN Down Under report. But I just thought I'd update you on some misinformation. Jonathan Liebesman is directing the film. Great talent and cool guy. But I wrote the film -- based on a short film I directed for Distant Corners called "Tooth Fairy." I write comic books as well as films.
Just wanted to update and inform. Feel free to check out my website for some details including the Daily Variety article that broke the news.
Best-
Joe Harris...
www.josephharris.com
Now back to Tamsin's column...
SOME NEWS FROM MOVIEHOLE
A sequel to the flop Aussie horror flick CUT which starred Molly Ringwald and Kylie Minogue has just been greenlighted. CUT DEEPER will be filmed next year by Spice Factory (UK), Beyond and Mushroom Pictures. It's expected that the original masked killer will return to cause hovoc. No word on casting as yet, or Australia's involvement. Thanks to Clint at Moviehole
KAY COTTEE MOVIE
Starring Radha Mitchell (PITCH BLACK) and directed by Richard Franklin (HOTEL SORRENTO, PSYCHO 2), VISITORS was inspired by the AUSTRALIAN around-the-world yachtswoman Kay Cottee. Cottee, who was the first woman to sail solo unassisted and non-stop around the world in 1988, was being consulted for the $5 million film. Cottee's most harrowing experience was when her yacht, First Lady, overturned and she was washed into the Southern Ocean. While clinging to two safety lines from the 11.2-metre craft, she was able to flip it and hoist herself aboard. Franklin says most of Visitors is set in the calm of the Indian Ocean, where Mitchell's character, Georgia Perry, is stranded.
VISITORS is expected to be released late next year.
