I love my country very much. National pride has never struck me as being a particularly large part of Australian culture, simply because most of us are too laid back to give much concern to oaths of allegiances and flag folding and so forth. I'm still not entirely sure what date Australia Day falls on, I couldn't name more than five past Prime Ministers, and I probably know more about American and British history than I do about our own. Still, when it comes down to it, Australia is a pretty great place to live: we've got a stable economy, free health care for all, some interesting looking animals and of course, Australian Rules Football, which quite frankly is superior to any other football code you care to name.
However, as awesome as Australia is, we do often get shafted when it comes to movies. Sure, we get all the big releases at the same time as everyone else - Harry Potter, Star Trek, Wolverine and so forth - but the smaller films often have massive delays in their theatrical releases, and sometimes they pass us by altogether. Even worse is the travesty that is Region 4 DVDs being stripped of special features, and our inability to access Hulu and other free streaming sites (then again, internet service is so poor in this country that even if it wasn't region locked it'd still take us two days to watch a 20 minute episode of 30 Rock).
Anyway, prompted by the recent conversation I had with two movie bloggers from the United States on the LAMBcast (the new podcast of the Large Association of Movie Blogs), I thought I'd hit the ol' IMDb to check out the release dates for a couple of the smaller yet still critically acclaimed films of 2009 that are yet to hit screens down under, so I could both draw attention to them for my Aussie readers who are looking for a decent flick now the summer (or should I say winter) blockbuster season has come to a close, as well as to have a good old fashioned moan, which is something that I believe everyone, no matter what their nationality, likes to do. What follows are the five films I am looking forward to the most.
5. MOON
From first time director Duncan Jones, Moon tells the story of an astronaut (Sam Rockwell) who lives alone on a mining colony on the moon, kept company only by an all purpose robot with the calm yet sinister voice of Kevin Spacey. I love movies set in space, and this low budget sci-fi/thriller looks as though it has does a great job of exploiting the eerie setting for all it's worth. Enhanced by what is sure to be another haunting score from Clint Mansell (the composer on Requiem for a Dream) and a reportedly great performance from Rockwell, who is basically the films only cast member, Moon looks to have the makings of a modern paranoid sci-fi classic in the vein of Silent Running or 2001.
Moon will be in theatres in Australia from October 8th. You can view the trailer here.
4. THE BROTHERS BLOOM
I still haven't seen Brick, director Ryan Johnson's first feature film, but I cannot wait to see his follow up, a quirky, light hearted con caper with a cast of fantastically under-rated actors including Mark Ruffalo, Adrien Brody and Rachel Weisz. This movie looks like a great time at the theatre, reviews have been glowing, and Johnson's reputation as a stylish film maker precedes him.
The Brothers Bloom will be in theatres in Australia from November 12th. You can view the trailer here.
3. WORLD'S GREATEST DAD
With no scheduled release, I would be surprised if we ever see this movie in Australia, which seems to me like a massive shame, given that everything I have heard about it has been positive. I love black comedies, and this movie looks like it's about as dark as they come. The movie has a big twist that comes about twenty minutes in that I won't reveal seeing as it isn't even hinted at in the trailer, which still manages to give a good tonal impression of the film, and promises a long awaited return to excellence from Robin Williams.
Words Greatest Dad currently has no Australian release date. You can view the trailer here.
2. THE HURT LOCKER
Everyone is singing the praises of this movie, a high octane, gritty, intense and apparently extremely realistic Iraq War action film from veteran action director Kathryn Bigelow (Point Break). Movies about this particular war have never really been successful, and so I cannot wait to see one that finally got things right. The movie nearly went direct to DVD here in Oz, and then it was slated for a theatrical release this October. Sadly, it has been pushed back to next year, so until then I remain dizzy with anticipation.
The Hurt Locker will be in theatres in Australia from February 4th 2010. You can view the trailer here.
1. IN THE LOOP
Since I first got the complete Yes Minister boxset for Christmas many years ago, I have loved a good political satire. Based on a British TV series that has actually been called a modern version of Yes Minister, In The Loop tells the story of a simple miscommunication between British and American governments, and the disastrous political fallout that follows. The trailer is brilliantly put together, and the movie looks absolutely hilarious.
In The Loop will be in theatres in Australia from December 24th. You can view the trailer here.
However, as awesome as Australia is, we do often get shafted when it comes to movies. Sure, we get all the big releases at the same time as everyone else - Harry Potter, Star Trek, Wolverine and so forth - but the smaller films often have massive delays in their theatrical releases, and sometimes they pass us by altogether. Even worse is the travesty that is Region 4 DVDs being stripped of special features, and our inability to access Hulu and other free streaming sites (then again, internet service is so poor in this country that even if it wasn't region locked it'd still take us two days to watch a 20 minute episode of 30 Rock).
Anyway, prompted by the recent conversation I had with two movie bloggers from the United States on the LAMBcast (the new podcast of the Large Association of Movie Blogs), I thought I'd hit the ol' IMDb to check out the release dates for a couple of the smaller yet still critically acclaimed films of 2009 that are yet to hit screens down under, so I could both draw attention to them for my Aussie readers who are looking for a decent flick now the summer (or should I say winter) blockbuster season has come to a close, as well as to have a good old fashioned moan, which is something that I believe everyone, no matter what their nationality, likes to do. What follows are the five films I am looking forward to the most.
5. MOON
From first time director Duncan Jones, Moon tells the story of an astronaut (Sam Rockwell) who lives alone on a mining colony on the moon, kept company only by an all purpose robot with the calm yet sinister voice of Kevin Spacey. I love movies set in space, and this low budget sci-fi/thriller looks as though it has does a great job of exploiting the eerie setting for all it's worth. Enhanced by what is sure to be another haunting score from Clint Mansell (the composer on Requiem for a Dream) and a reportedly great performance from Rockwell, who is basically the films only cast member, Moon looks to have the makings of a modern paranoid sci-fi classic in the vein of Silent Running or 2001.
Moon will be in theatres in Australia from October 8th. You can view the trailer here.
4. THE BROTHERS BLOOM
I still haven't seen Brick, director Ryan Johnson's first feature film, but I cannot wait to see his follow up, a quirky, light hearted con caper with a cast of fantastically under-rated actors including Mark Ruffalo, Adrien Brody and Rachel Weisz. This movie looks like a great time at the theatre, reviews have been glowing, and Johnson's reputation as a stylish film maker precedes him.
The Brothers Bloom will be in theatres in Australia from November 12th. You can view the trailer here.
3. WORLD'S GREATEST DAD
With no scheduled release, I would be surprised if we ever see this movie in Australia, which seems to me like a massive shame, given that everything I have heard about it has been positive. I love black comedies, and this movie looks like it's about as dark as they come. The movie has a big twist that comes about twenty minutes in that I won't reveal seeing as it isn't even hinted at in the trailer, which still manages to give a good tonal impression of the film, and promises a long awaited return to excellence from Robin Williams.
Words Greatest Dad currently has no Australian release date. You can view the trailer here.
2. THE HURT LOCKER
Everyone is singing the praises of this movie, a high octane, gritty, intense and apparently extremely realistic Iraq War action film from veteran action director Kathryn Bigelow (Point Break). Movies about this particular war have never really been successful, and so I cannot wait to see one that finally got things right. The movie nearly went direct to DVD here in Oz, and then it was slated for a theatrical release this October. Sadly, it has been pushed back to next year, so until then I remain dizzy with anticipation.
The Hurt Locker will be in theatres in Australia from February 4th 2010. You can view the trailer here.
1. IN THE LOOP
Since I first got the complete Yes Minister boxset for Christmas many years ago, I have loved a good political satire. Based on a British TV series that has actually been called a modern version of Yes Minister, In The Loop tells the story of a simple miscommunication between British and American governments, and the disastrous political fallout that follows. The trailer is brilliantly put together, and the movie looks absolutely hilarious.
In The Loop will be in theatres in Australia from December 24th. You can view the trailer here.
