My Brilliant Career

 And this week's Friday night movie has been... My Brilliant Career!

Original image located here. Accessed 17th July 2026

Given the passing of Sam Neill earlier this week, this is an obvious watch: His breakthrough role that brought him to attention of the movie-going public. 

And honestly it couldn't have happened in a better film: It seems that this is indeed a classic of Australian cinema, boasting an impressive cast, wonderful cinematography, and showing this country, and indeed the world, how to make a movie about us. 
The thing that stood out of me is just how quiet this movie is: It's telling a story of defying the gender roles of the day but it's less interested in beating the audience over the head with it and more interested in letting everything on screen sink in (case in point: that striking wide shot that ends Sybylla and Harry's final scene). And that's the greatest strength of this movie. 

It's fair to say that Harry Beecham is the Australian answer to the likes of Mr. Darcy and Rhett Butler. And Neill delivers the quiet charisma the role demands - and some. But even then, this movie is still Judy Davis' show, giving her all.

Seems this is a classic of Australian cinema for a damn good reason. 

Kramer vs Kramer

 And this week's Friday night movie has been... Kramer vs Kramer!

Original image located here. Accessed 4th November 2024

Best Picture Oscar winner no.: 52 (1979)

Actually forget what I said about The Sting: This has a more compelling case for being the 'forgotten' movie of 70s Best Picture winners. So while everyone props up the other eight, The Sting and Kramer vs Kramer are left fighting over the table scraps.

Still, this movie has plenty going for it: Firstly it is showing a divorce in process which is already a ballsy move.
Secondly, we are seeing a lousy dad slowly improving himself to become a better dad.
And thirdly there is a degree of nuance that would be foreign to modern audiences: Both the mother and father are treated well and not made out to be the bad guy. 
Its certainly a bold move to show divorce on screen and how it effects the people involved, socially and psychologically. Certainly it seems that a lot of people can relate to the situations being put forth on the screen - so if the film has resonated in such a manner, it must be doing something right.

It seems to me that other people are annoyed that this won Best Picture over Apocalypse Now. But to me, there's something to be said for the long, bombastic film losing out to smaller film. 

And with that, we leave the 1970s, it's cynicism and the era of New Hollywood behind. Ahead lies.... *checks schedule*....Hoo boy....

The Muppet Movie

And this week's Friday night movie has been... The Muppet Movie!

Original image located here. Accessed 2nd February 2022

It's a been a childhood favourite for many people but I have never, in my thirty nine years of existence, gotten around to seeing it. Well, time to rectify this I would think!
Time has certainly been kind to this movie. Over forty years later and this is still very entertaining with the jokes on point, the technical and practical effects being impressive and the heart. It's pretty much the Muppets doing their shtick and proving that what they do on TV can translate to the big screen with ease (and thus justifying the numerous movies that followed in it's wake).
I mean hey, it's the Muppets: You can't go wrong, right?
And it says a lot that I can still enjoy this movie even when I'm on the wrong end of my thirties XD

Oh and new friendship goal: Learn the words to Moving Right Along so i can sing it in the car with some other like-minded people.

Anne of Green Gables: Road to Green Gables

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Akagi no An (Anne of Green Gables)!

Original image located here. Accessed 22nd January 2021

Yep, we taking another dive into the anime well - and in this case, the World Masterpiece Theater. And what is World Masterpiece theater you may ask?
From 1979 to 2000, Nippon Animation would annually produce a TV series based on famous work of classical literature. Such titles to get the anime treatment would be Little Women, Heidi, Tom Sawyer and others. Some of these would even get shortened down into a feature length release.
World Masterpiece Theater is also notable for being a early work for future Studio Ghibli founders Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki. And this is one such work with Takahata directing, Miyazaki doing layouts and another Ghibli alumni, Yoshifumi Kondo, proving character designs.

I must admit that watching this movie was a challenge on multiple fronts. Firstly I have no familiarity with the source material so this was going through new ground. Secondly, this is a a one hundred minute movie made up of the first six episodes of a 50 episode strong (!) series, thereby making it a glimpse into something greater. And thirdly, I have found a lot of anime made in the late seventies tend to age quite drastically.
But to view this movie as an early Ghibli work is a fascinating one. Already some of the Ghibli trademarks are in place: Detailed artwork, gorgeous scenery, animation with realistic movement, moments of whimsy, and a female protagonist who is both spunky and charming. And Takahata once again proves to be the master of the quiet moment.
It may not be on par with the future triumphs that Ghibli would bring but from the looks of it., it was already on it's way.

Being There

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....Being There!

Original image located here. Accessed 17th November 2017

I heard about this movie largely through it being something of a passion project for Peter Sellers. In addition, it won him critical acclaim and whilst it isn't his final film many people choose that it rather be.

Personally I found this movie a very strange movie, even for the standards of the late 1970s. It may seem improbable in this present age but it wins purely due to Sellers' performance and director Hal Ashby's direction.
Sellers' performance is indeed his finest hour. I certainly believe that this was a part he persued with a passion and it shows in his commitment to it.
Ashby's direction is indeed something else: It has been pointed out that this movie could've been a parable on gullibility but thankfully it didn't go down that path - and I agree the movie is all the better for it.

This movie is a subtle one: it has been billed as a comedy but I don;t think it's meant to be: Sure it's farcical and a Comedy of Errors but I think, at it;s heart, it's something different. It's a deceptive piece, offering one thing but delivering something else that ultimately sticks within the mind of the viewer - indeed that final scene is the clincher, challenging everything the viewer saw beforehand.
And if a movie can do something like that, then it must've done something right
And hey, I'll take subtly over constant explosions any day.

Apocalypse Now

And this weeks Friday night movie has been....Apocalypse Now!

Original image located here. Accessed 25th July 2014

Can't say war movies are my thing but this was....something. Still, I don't regret watching it and am now interested in seeing Hearts of Darkness.....