simoneastman Reviews

The Extraordinary Tale of William Buckley: The great untold story of Australia's Robinson Crusoe (2010 TV Movie)

History Lesson that hits the mark

[7/10 · 9 March 2024]

A fair telling of the, yes, extraordinary story of William Buckley. The escaped convict who lived for 30 years in the land of the Wathurong people, in what is now Southern Victoria and lived to see the settling of Melbourne and the destruction of his Wathurong family and the indigenous way of life. Tribal scenes are convincingly recreated by mostly Yolngu actors from Northern Australia, The film doesn't shy away from the more brutal aspects of tribal life, including cannibalism and constant skirmishes. The historical commentary and indigenous context is fair minded if a little pedestrian. I'd have liked introduction to an extraordinary tale.

Spoiler Alert (II) (2022)

A gay sob story with wit and intelligence.

[9/10 · 28 August 2023]

Spoiler Alert: this film is a sob story with enough heart to draw tears from a Gorgon and enough wit and wisdom to rise above the cliches of the genre. Ben Aldridge is "ridiculously charming" as the hero of the film's title - the one every gay man wants to fall in love with. While Jim Parsons is the film's real hero. He shows it is possible to survive over a decade working on one of the world's most popular sitcoms and come out not only sane but a fine and brave actor prepared to take on challenging and emotionally complex roles. The supporting cast are pitch perfect and Sally Fields shines as Kit Cowen's mother. The material itself, drawn from Michael Auselio's memoir could have come across as cliched or simply camp, but this is a sensitively directed and moving film that makes us cry without being soppy and makes us laugh warmly and now as our leading man says - "I'll shut up".

Jeffrey (1995)

A Queer Delight that Doesn't Fade

[9/10 · 19 August 2022]

This very stagey film of a play is by turns corny, camp, preachy, moving and at it's best flat out hilarious. Set during the height of the Aids epidemic it is the fable of a gay man in New York who gives up sex and tries to withdraw from life. Filmed in short, rather disconnected vignettes it should have dated badly but somehow through it's courage, good natured energy and sheer camp braveness it remains funny, moving and revelant. Steven Weber may be annoyingly white Bread as the Jeffrey but this is in keeping with his character and is made up with wonderful performances by Patrick Stewart as the wise old Queen Stirling and Bryan Batt as his outrageous but never frivolous boyfriend. Cameos by the likes of Christine Baransky and Olympia Dukakis. All in all a forgotten gem and a queer delight.

Drift (I) (2000)

Go with the drift

[7 August 2022]

This small thoughtful low budget fiim, is awkward in so many ways. A young Asian writer living in Los Angeles leaves his boyfriend of three years after meeting Leo, another at a literary party. The connection he feels is based on their mutual love of horror films and romantic poetry and leads to a sexual attraction and affair. Or does it? As Ryan drifts between one lover and another finding solace in his straight best friend Matt and best girlfriend Carrie he begins imagining different versions of his stories. Through flash backs and time drifts he contemplates writing, horror films, relationships and yes the meaning of life. And despite its awkwardness, clumsy dialogue, low grade film and unventilated acting this is a film of ideas and challenges a film that is both touching and real. A film that in its own way matters.

Magical Nights (2018)

Curiouser Magic

[9/10 · 21 May 2020]

This film just worked for me on so many levels. On the surface it is a fast paced caper about three aspiring screenwriters who meet in Rome in 1990 and end up being investigated over the death of a washed up film producer at a time when Italian cinema was still in the thrall of a generation of ageing great directors and exhausted by commercial constraints and cynicism. Being a film about screenwriters it is full of verbal fireworks that will leave even the speedier subtitle reader flailing in its wake and being a film about Italian cinema it is full of philosophical asides and in-jokes th a cheerfully flee over my head as I went along for the ride. It is also a film about Italian people that is full of mishap, furious romantic misunderstandings, sharply observed misogyny. Lastly it's a film about life, the freewheeling camerawork follows our heroes fearlessly through cinemas and film sets, cafes, bars, hillside villas, basement apartments and the streets of Rome, it is a dizzying and chaotic ride ( the similarities to Fellini's La Dolce Vita are not accidental) But beneath all the business and sophistication this film is also s plea for a more engaged and observational cinema. It is a film that rewards curiosity and finds its heart.

The Tale of Ruby Rose (1987)

Rough Diamond

[3 September 2011]

This film may not be everyone, but for lovers of Australian cinema this film is well worth the effort. Yes the acting is a little stilted and the sound quality can be poor but it was made in the middle of winter in one of the most isolated spots on earth. The claustrophobia of the first half of the film is not easy to watch but it is completely genuine and makes complete sense in terms of the story and in terms of the conditions the makers of the film Similarly the hand held camera-work is not a stylistic tic but an absolute necessity of location and budget. The story is simple and unfolds slowly, but the harsh and beautiful location brings an intensity and a poetry that is quietly moving. This is not spectacular film making in the ordinary but it is nonetheless a courageous and beautiful film.