Silver Screen Streak List #25: AACTA 'Best Film' Winners
Written by dorrk |
The Aussies have been out in force during the Silver Screen Streak, with 3 of the 26 selected lists focused on the island nation's film output. The last of those lists is AACTA 'Best Film' Winners, picked by Flickcharter Josh Haysom.
Josh is a veteran of my movie challenges and often fares exceptionally well at picking movies that fit my needs. In 2017 he picked the two movies that ranked highest overall in my Potluck Film Fest, and four of his five picks made the Top 15 (out of 134). I'm not sure that his display of patriotism here will serve him well, however: I see two potential pitfalls near the top of his list.
The First Two
I'll watch the first two movies from this list. If I don't like what I see, I will move on to the next list.
Gallipoli (1981)
Dir.: Peter Weir
I may have watched this once 30 or so years ago. I remember nothing except that maybe it has something to do with war and Mel Gibson runs somewhere, dramatically. I'm a fan of Peter Weir's output up until the flaming shitbag that is Dead Poets Society (1989), so I'm looking forward to this.
Hacksaw Ridge (2016)
Dir.: Mel Gibson
This is the first red flag. The off-screen behavior of filmmakers doesn't often interfere with my consideration of their work. What worries me about this Mel Gibson anti-war movie is its potential for a maudlin sentimentality delivered with the same forcefulness that Gibson employs in his depictions of violence. I'm slightly more favorable now to star Andrew Garfield than I was when this movie was originally released, but I'm not sure I can take dewey-eyed pacifist pieties coming from his uniquely muppety face.
What happens next
If I make it past Hacksaw Ridge (2016), here's what lies in wait for me.
Strictly Ballroom (1992)
Dir.: Baz Luhrmann
I don't have any expectations about the remaining movies on this list, but I've never met a Baz Luhrmann movie that didn't give me dry heaves, so if I make it any further on this list, we've witnessed a miracle.
Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002)
Dir.: Phillip Noyce
Lantana (2001)
Dir.: Ray Lawrence
Proof (1991)
Dir.: Jocelyn Moorhouse
