We discussed two films in August.  These were Mothering Sunday and To Olivia.
 
To Olivia is the story of Roald Dahl after the loss of his older daughter, and how this affected his relationship with his wife, Patricia Neal, and his other children, particularly his second daughter.  The performances were excellent, with particular comments on the performance of Isabella Jonsson who played the younger sister, Tessa.  It did show some background to Roald Dahl’s life and writing, but as a person he was not liked.  Overall, the film was liked and rated as 3.5-4.5/5.
 
Mothering Sunday is based on a book by Graham Swift.  The performances and cinematography were thought to be excellent.  In general the characters were not likable.  There was a significant discussion around the nudity used, which did not really add to the story, although it was in the original book.  We did have a short discussion about how our enjoyment of the story as compared to the performances and other aspects of a film impact how we rate a film.  Basically, this is not a film that members of the class would recommend.  Ratings were between 2.5-3.5/5.
 
Our next film class is on 14 September.  The films which were thought to be most interesting are Falling for Figaro, Where the Crawdads Sing and The Phantom of the Open.

​Joy Shirley

With Winter on us, the numbers in the class were down this month.  We discussed the film Operation Mincemeat.  This is based on a WWII operation to outwit German troops.
 
Operation Mincemeat was a successful British deception operation of the Second World War to disguise the 1943 Allied invasion of Sicily.  Two members of British intelligence obtained the body of a tramp, dressed him as an officer of the Royal Marines and placed personal items on him identifying him as a fictitious Captain.  Correspondence between two British generals which suggested that the Allies planned to invade Greece and Sardinia, with Sicily as merely the target of a feint, was placed on the body.  Consequently German reinforcements were shifted to Greece and Sardinia before the invasion of Sicily.
 
This was a marvellous piece of history.  In general it was close to accurate.  There were a couple of characters that were introduced that were not part of the actual history.  These provided some extra tension opportunities, including one to provide some romantic tension.
 
We found it a good production with complex relationships.  Tensions between the various characters and around the issues that needed resolution were well handled.  All the main characters were well played, and even the more minor characters fitted well into the story.  Favourite scenes were towards the end.  One of these was the waiting to hear whether the Sicily landing was successful with the Germans believing the plan had been to invade Greece instead.  And the final scene rounded the film well with the two main characters (played by Colin Firth and Matthew MacFadyen) having resolved the tensions between them.
 
Generally the class found this a good story with ratings between 3.5/5 and 4/5.
 
Our next film class is on 10 August.  We will be discussing the film To Olivia (the story of the relationship between Roald Dahl and Patricia Neal) and possibly Mothering Sunday (based on a book by Graham Swift). 

​Joy Shirley

With Winter on us, the numbers in the class were down this month.  We discussed only one film – Downton Abbey: A new Era.
 
Generally we found the film watchable.  This was a feel-good film with no bad actor or character.  Not everyone had seen the television series or the previous film.  Because of the range of underlying stories that were based on previous events it did not stand alone well.  For others who had seen the earlier film, this was thought to be superior.
 
The main actors are Michelle Dockery (Lady Mary), Maggie Smith (Dowager Violet Grantham), Hugh Bonneville (Robert Grantham) and Elizabeth McGovern (Cora Grantham).   As the Dowager, Maggie Smith, was a real presence, although her physical appearances were not as frequent as in previous shows.  It was her story that dominated some of the scenes even though she was not present.  One of her classic and true to character statements was “do I look like someone who would turn down a Villa in France?”
 
The more minor characters were all important to the story as it unfolded.  The actors maintained their characters well, with appropriate growth in maturity.  The film did provide some tidying up of stories for some of the characters.
 
The cinematography at the start seemed to be over the top, with a wedding that did not mean much for anyone who was not familiar with the background to the characters.  There were a couple of scenes that were not quite as expected.  For example, while on a motorboat, there was no indication of wind, with hats not moving and hair not blowing as would be expected.  In discussing the soundtrack we decided it was fitting, with no intrusion and not particularly notable.

Our next film class is on 13 July.  We will be discussing the film Operation Mincemeat.  This is based on a true operation that that took place in World War II.


Joy Shirley

Our film for discussion this month was The Duke.
 
The Duke stars Jim Broadbent as Kempton Bunton and Helen Mirren as Dorothy Bunton.  In 1961, Kempton Bunton, a 60 year old taxi driver, steals Goya's portrait of the Duke of Wellington from the National Gallery in London.  He is on a mission to remove BBC television licences for aged pensioners and returned servicemen.  What happened next became the stuff of legend, with an interesting twist towards the end. 
 
Performances were excellent.  Many people who have seen the film did not realise Dorothy Bunton was played by Helen Mirren – a indication of a great actor.  There were several smaller parts, all going to show Kempton’s character as he tried to help the underprivileged.  The cinematography incorporated some split screen work that showed Kempton’s visit to parts of London to attempt to have some writing published and to lobby the government on his cause.  There were some court scenes that were particularly noteworthy and humorous. 
 
An uplifting true story about a good man who set out to change the world and managed to save his marriage.  This was enjoyable, funny and heart-warming.  Ratings of the film varied from 4/5 to 5/5.
 
Other films screened at BPACC during April/May were predominantly animated films as the period included school holidays.  These films are fun to watch and have valuable messages for both the children and adults.  For example:
Sonic the Hedgehog 2:   theme – you will find your time to use your talents
Rabbit Academy:             theme – trust; not just “I”
The Bad Guys:                 theme – there is some good in everyone (perhaps)

​Our next film is on 8 June.  For those who have been hanging out for the next Downton Abbey film, Downton Abbey: A New Era is screening from 26 May and will be our film for discussion at the class.

Joy Shirley

​Our films for discussion this month were Marry Me and Death on the Nile.  Most of the people attending the class had managed to see one and many had seen both the films.  We also had a quick discussion around Off the Rails. 
 
Death on the Nile stars Kenneth Branagh, playing the Agatha Christie sleuth Hercule Poirot.  When Poirot holidays aboard a river steamer, his holiday turns into a search for a murderer when a couple's honeymoon is tragically cut short.  Set in Egypt against a landscape of sweeping desert and pyramids, this is a tale of passion and jealousy, with twists and turns that can leave audiences guessing – unless you have seen earlier versions or read the book.  The scenery impressed, although it was not filmed on location. 
 
There were several interesting characters with lovely costuming.  Included were several well-known actors including Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders.  In the main, performances were reasonable.  The bride’s role was not demanding and seemed to be overacted.  Branagh’s performance as Poirot was better than in Murder on the Orient Express.  It is always hard to see him as Poirot though as David Suchet’s interpretation has been around for so long.  The opening scenes were a bit of a puzzle.  We were introduced to Poirot in the trenches during World War I, then in hospital with injuries to his face – hence the moustache to hide the scars.  And there is a scene at the end where he has shaved off his moustache which seemed to have no relevance to the film.
 
Overall a watchable but not outstanding film.  Ratings of the film varied from 3/5 to 4/5.
 
A few people had seen Marry Me.  Music superstars Kat Valdez and Bastian are getting married before a global audience of fans.  When Kat learns, seconds before her vows, that Bastian has been unfaithful, she decides to marry Charlie, a stranger in the crowd.  Starring as Kat is Jennifer Lopez.  It was a fun light-hearted film.  Charlie and Kat both learn a bit more about themselves as the film progresses.  There are a couple of messages that come through.  Perhaps key of these is the theme ‘all that glitter is not gold’.  The acting was average, with the best performance by Chloe Coleman who plays Charlie’s daughter, Lou.
 
Generally it was well received as a light happy film, with most of the class rating it as 3/5, with one giving it only 2/5.
 
We also briefly discussed Off the Rails.  Three fifty-something women set out to repeat the European inter-railing adventures of their youth, after their close friend passes away leaving them rail tickets, and a final request: to take her teenage daughter with them.  Many of the events were totally implausible, but if able to overlook these it was an entertaining way to spend 90 minutes.  We rated it around 3/5.
 
 
April is school holiday period and many of the films screening at BPACC are animated children’s films.  This is not to say these are unwatchable.  Many of these films are fun to watch and have valuable messages for both the children and adults.  There is one film that is not animated that looks to be interesting and fun.  This is The Duke and is the primary film for our next class on 11 May.

Joy Shirley

Our films for discussion this month were Belfast and King Richard
 
All the class had seen Belfast.  It was based on the troubles in Belfast at the end of 1969.  Filmed predominantly in B&W, it fitted the era well.  It did show some of the violence, but this was not in your face and was necessary to bring our what was happening at the time.  Performances were excellent.  Themes brought out were the living conditions, the importance of family, difficulties around migration and that religious differences did not matter if the people were caring and good.
 
Everyone found it a film worth seeing, rating mainly around 4/5 to - 4.5/5, although there was one 5/5.
 
A few people had seen King Richard.  It is the story of how Richard Williams coached Serena and Venus to bring them to top ranked tennis players.  We were given a new picture of Richard Williams.  Media have over the years made him out to be an ogre when it came to their training (he might not have always been a very pleasant person outside the era covered).  The film showed a different side.  He was certainly single minded about their coaching, but also wanted the girls to have a childhood and education.  As a result he did not allow them to join the junior tennis circuit as young as some other tennis players.  For example he saw how Jennifer Capriati who struggled after her initial entry into professional tennis and he did not want this for his daughters.  Performances were good.
 
Generally it was well received, with a rating of 3/5.
 
We also briefly discussed Spencer.  It covered just three days at Sandringham as the marriage between Prince Charles and Diana finally broke.  It was not sympathetic towards Diana, focussing more on her mental and physical problems.  The character of Diana seemed to be overplayed, with some of her mannerisms too repetitive.  The only redeeming feature was the comparison between Diana and Anne Boleyn when her marriage with Henry VIII came to an end.
 
We are again looking at two films for our April class.  These are Marry Me, a light romantic comedy, and Death on the Nile, a new version of the Agatha Christie book starring Kenneth Branagh as Poirot.  Class members can watch either of both the films for discussion on 13 April.

​Joy Shirley

This was our first class for the year, with some new members joining.

The focus for our discussion was the film “House of Gucci”.  The class enjoyed the film.  It is based on the life of the Gucci family.  When Patrizia Reggiani, an outsider from humble beginnings, marries into the Gucci family, her unbridled ambition begins to unravel their legacy and triggers a reckless spiral of betrayal, decadence, revenge, and ultimately...murder.  There was not any one villain or victim.  They were all a victim or villain at different stages during the film.

Most of the performances were excellent.  Lady Gaga’s performance as Patrizia was outstanding – you saw the character she was playing, rather than the actor, which is an indication of a strong performance.  One character that did not sit well for us was played as a bit of a buffoon.  I am not sure whether this was true to the family, the script or poor interpretation.
Costuming was excellent, and the soundtrack seemed to move with the era.  Cars in the film were all fancy sports cars, which reflected the lifestyle of the family. 

Simple phrases used to summarise the film included poisonous family, shared disintegration, best action film, emotional, excellent performances.   We rated it as 4/5.

Other films watched during the Christmas break were:
“West Side Story”:  A remake of the film from the 1960s.  The performances were good with excellent photography, sets and dancing.
“Julia”:  A documentary on the life of Julia Child.  An interesting story of how she became a chef and where it took her.
“Kingsman”: A prequel to the Kingsman films and set in the leadup to the First World War. An enjoyable film, but some of the fight scenes were too long.

There are two films the class members are interested in seeing for discussion at our March class.  These are “Belfast”, based on growing up in Belfast in the 1960s and “King Richard”, based on the story of how Richard Williams coached Serena and Venus to bring them to top ranked tennis players.
​
Joy Shirley

A small group of film watchers met and discussed two films this month.  The films were “The Last Duel” and “No Time to Die” – the recent James Bond release which is last one starring Daniel Craig.
 
“The Last Duel”: The film was about the last Royal sanctioned duel in France in the 14th century.  It was fight to the death, and the philosophy was that the one to die was the one in the wrong – that God would save the one in the right.  The duel was between Jean de Carrouges (Matt Damon) and Jacques Le Gris (Adam Driver), two former friends who had fallen out at some time in the past.  De Carrouges’s wife, Marguerite (Jodie Corner), had accused Le Gris of rape while her husband was away.  It also transpired that if Marguerite has wrongly accused Le Gris, she would also be killed.
 
We found the film confronting, thought provoking and boring.  There was a scene with Marguerite’s mother-in-law where she was told to put up with it and get on with life.  All women were raped and they had to accept that it was a fact of life.  It really brought home that in many ways, the world has not changed for many women.  Because the film showed the story from three different perspectives, meaning lots of repetition, it did become a bit boring.  This repetition idea was not bad, it just did not come off on this occasion, as the differences were very subtle. For example in the rape scene (a bit confronting in itself), from Le Gris’s perspective there was little screaming; from Marguerite’s perspective, there was a lot more, but everything else was identical.  Every scene was identical except for the screaming.  We rated it as 2.5/5.
 
“No time to Die”:  In this new James Bond film, James had retired, and a new agent had been assigned as 007 – this time a female agent.  James is contacted by his old friend from the CIA to help track down a kidnapped scientist, Obruchev.  James was pitted up against the new 007, Nomi, in trying to find Obruchev.  He had developed a new biological weapon that targeted people with specific DNA.  Theoretically this meant only the selected people would die.  Of course, James finds the final villain, destroys the weapon and the world is saved.  But there were several differences from previous James Bond films.

Earlier films started with James Bond wrapping up an assignment.  This time the opening scene was of a man dressed in white crossing the snow to a house where there was a child and mother alone.  It was not James; it was a man in a mask (Phantom of the Opera style) who proceeded to kill the mother and chase the child.  And then we had a different 007.  The regular characters M and Q where played by different actors, and particularly M had a different approach to his job.  James has a new love in his life but is tricked into not trusting her and leaves.  When they finally reunite, he discovers she has a child (was it his?).  Villains from former films are destroyed along the way.

Overall, an entertaining film with lots of action.  It is a long film, but generally does not drag.  Few of the scenes could have been shortened.  Sub stories could have been removed, but this would have changed the dynamic of the film.  We rated it as 3/5.
 
This was the last class for 2021, and we are looking forward to meeting again in February to discuss some new films, with the class under a new name – “Film Discussion group” which better reflects the way the class works.
 

​Joy Shirley

The main film for discussion this month was “Shiva Baby”, but we also shared comments on “Red Notice”, “Eiffel”, “Respect” and “The Rose Maker”. 
 
“Shiva Baby”: While at a Jewish funeral service with her parents, a college student has an awkward encounter with her sugar daddy and her ex-girlfriend.  It was different from many other films we have watched.  It was primarily a “real time” film, based on an event rather than a story.  Apart from the first scene, all the action took place in or around the house where the Shiva (Jewish mourning period) was taking place.  The main characters are Danielle, her mother (Debbie), her sugar daddy (Max), Max’s Wife (Kim) and Danielle’s ex-girlfriend (Maya).  The film explores the relationships between these key people, but also Danielle’s relationship with the Jewish culture and money.  It was the first film for director Emma Seligmann who also wrote the script.  The film was promoted as a comedy, but we did not find it particularly humorous.  Some of the characters were not very likable, and Max was certainly not seen as a very nice person.  There was a degree of stereotyping the Jewish culture but this was consistent with experiences some have had with Jewish friends.  The cinematography used lots of close ups, but I am not sure whether this was a good or a bad thing.  Overall perhaps a well-directed film, but the film itself was frustrating and unenlightening.  We rated it as 2.5/5.
 
“Red Notice”: When an Interpol-issued Red Notice (the highest-level warrant to hunt and capture the world's most wanted) goes out, the FBI's top profiler John Hartley (Dwayne Johnson) is on the case. His global pursuit finds him in the middle of a daring heist where he is forced to partner with the world's greatest art thief Nolan Booth (Ryan Reynolds) in order to catch the world's most wanted art thief, "The Bishop" (Gal Gadot). The high-flying adventure that ensues takes the trio around the world, across the dance floor, trapped in a secluded prison, into the jungle and, worst of all for them, constantly into each other's company.  It is full of twists and turns, and you can never be sure who were the “goodies” and who are the “baddies”.  It is totally implausible, but a piece of enjoyable escapism with references to James Bond, Indiana Jones etc.  Rated as 3.5/5.

“Eiffel”: The story behind the building of the Eiffel Tower. The government is asking Eiffel to design something spectacular for the 1889 Paris World Fair, but Eiffel simply wants to design the subway. Suddenly, everything changes when Eiffel crosses paths with a mysterious woman from his past.  It is in French, with subtitles, needing a lot of concentration to keep across all that was happening. Intriguing, informative and stimulating, rated as 3.5/5.
 
“Respect”: the story of Aretha Franklin’s life.  An interesting film, with a sound focus on her music.  Perhaps a little long, but this could be because they include large excerpts of her songs, not just a few lines which is often the case with documentaries.  An inspiring film rated as 4/5.
 
“The Rose Maker”: another sub-titled French film.  A gentle film, light and easy to watch.  It included some magnificent roses, fostering talents and with a message that the process of growth (people or plants) is more about the nurturing than the actual steps.  Light and easy to watch rated as 3.5/5.
 
For our December class discussion, we have a choice of two films – “No Time to Die”, the new James Bond film, and “The Last Duel”, an historical drama based on the final judiciary duel in France in the 14th century. 
 
 Joy Shirley

It was a small gathering of the Film group in October.  We were able to discuss the film selected for the month – “Buckley’s Chance”. 

A year after the loss of his father, 12-year-old Ridley and his mother, Gloria, move from New York City to Western Australian to live with Ridley's estranged grandfather, Spencer.  In an attempt to establish a relationship with Ridley, Spencer takes him camping.  While there Ridley comes across a wild dog entangled in an old barbed-wire fence and saves the dingo from certain death.  This was against all that his grandfather believed and he tried to convince Ridley of his foolishness.

Ridley discovers some intruders planning to burn down his grandfather’s barn and hides in the tray of their vehicle and ends up lost deep in the outback.  Here he again comes across the dingo who saves him this time from an attack by a snake.  The two develop a bond and both boy and dog work to survive the elements to get Ridley back home.

This was a watchable film, with some elements of tension and humour.  There were some errors made in the filming and dialogue.  The story was set in Western Australia, but the airport showed a sign “Silver City” which many know is in fact Broken Hill.  Editing should have noted this and removed it.  And there were several American terms used by rough Australian farmers.  Why would a couple of outback farmers use the terms bathroom (toilet or bog), hog (pig) or gas (petrol)?  This led us to question if the film was targeted at an American audience
.
The lead characters were Bill Nighy (Spencer), Victoria Hill (Gloria), Milan Burch (Ridley) and Kelton Pell (Jules, a farmhand working for Spencer).  Performances were reasonable, with a stark contrast between characters of Spencer and Jules.  Spencer was hard on Ridley, trying to discipline him, while Jules was more inclined to help him find his own way.

The cinematography showing the deserted outback of Australia provided a good view.  There was an element of stereotyping of the Australian outback characters, but this was not as exaggerated as sometimes.  In some ways the story was a bit farfetched, but overall it was a watchable film that we rated as 3 out of 5.

With BPACC and other cinemas in regional Victoria open, the film for our November class will be “Shiva Baby”, a comedy starring Rachel Sennott, Danny Deferrari and Fred Melamed.  And for anyone interested, the latest James bond film, “No Time to Die” opens at BPACC on 25 November.  We will need to consider whether this could be the film for discussion for our December class.
​
Joy Shirley

Once again, the lockdown prevented us from meeting face to face in September.  Some members of the class were able to watch at least one the two films we had chosen for discussion this month.  They shared their thoughts with the class via email.

The following are the films that some of the class members talked about:

“Dream Horse”:
Based on fact, the film revolves around a decaying Welsh mining town and the need for locals to have some hope in their lives. They form an alliance to buy a horse (Dream Alliance) and the plot follows the horse’s rise to fame, with the various problems needed to be overcome.  It was a very pleasant film and the ending credits are a must – don’t miss them.  Overall, the class rated it as 3 out of 5.

“From the Vine”:
A man who was born in Italy experiences an ethical crisis when he is asked to change the focus of a manufacturing company which had previously been focussing on sustainability.  He travels back to his hometown in rural Italy.  With a few locals he tries to reinvigorate his grandfather’s old vineyard to produce wine.  It was a light drama with a touch of romance and a hint of comedy.  There were talking leaves and gargoyles which in retrospect could have been a mechanism for the lead character’s internal thoughts and conflicts.  It was a feel-good film that most of the class enjoyed and was rated at around 3 out of 5.

With BPACC and other cinemas in regional Victoria again open, the film for our October class will be “Buckley’s Chance”.  This is an Australian film set in Western Australia.  A year after the loss of his father, Ridley and his mother, Gloria, move to Western Australian to live with Ridley's estranged grandfather Spencer.  Ridley ends up lost deep in the outback on a quest to try to get home.  A second film for people who are unable to see “Buckley’s Chance” is “The Rose Maker”.
​
Joy Shirley

The regional lockdown was lifted the day before our class, and so we were spoilt in being able to meet for our August class.  BUT with the four-day lockdown leading up to this time, not many were able to see “From the Vine”, the film we had selected to discuss at the class.  So, each class member was invited to talk about a film they had seen recently, or a favourite film, or perhaps a film they had not liked.  This meant we had a wide range of films to share.

The following are the films that some of the class members talked about:

Dream Horse: A family drama based on a true story.  There were moments of comedy with some good performances and cinematography.  While formulaic, it was a very watchable film, with those who had seen it rating it as 3-4/5.  If you have a chance to see it, do not rush off before the end credits.
From the Vine: A drama, with touches of humour.  There was good development of characters.  It was set in Italy and had some great cinematography showing the Italian countryside.  There was some historical scenes and some animation which may not appeal to all, but which in retrospect were used for a purpose.  Rated between 3.5 and 4.5/5.
Man in a Hat: basically a comedy, but elements of a travelogue.  There was no dialogue, with only an occasional word or grunt.  Good usage of facial expression, cinematography and music created the story.
The Wipers Times: A comedy drama based on the true story of a satirical newspaper published on the front lines of World War One.  Generally good performances though there were some overdone stereotypes.  The cinematography did a good job representing the front line though at times it was rather dim and dark and hard to see1 what was going on.  Rated as 4/5.
The Bookshop: An excellent – exquisite – film.
A Quiet Place Pt 2: This is a horror film.  It provides a precis of the first film in the series, but from a different perspective.  The music helped build the tension.  It was watchable, with quality actors and rated as 3/5.
Little Women (recent remake): Those who had seen this new version were not impressed and would not recommend it for viewing.

Looking at the upcoming films, there were a two that some class members were interested in seeing, but which one or more members of the class had seen.  As there were some screenings of “From the Vine” later in the week, and “Dream Horse” was again screening later in August, we decided that we would each watch one or both for discussion at our next class on 8 September.
​
Joy Shirley

We are back in lockdown!  So now we need to think about the class for Wednesday as we cannot meet.  I am concerned that many people would not yet have been able to see “From the Vine”, the film we would have been discussing on Wednesday.  But if anyone has seen it, please share your thoughts and rating with the rest of the class via email.  For those of you who have not seen “From the Vine”, share your thoughts and rating for any other film you have seen recently.  As you already have (I hope) Wednesday afternoon allocated to the class, you could use this time to prepare your thoughts and then share with the rest of the class.
 
And as a reminder, your thoughts could include:
 

• What do you think was the genre?  Is it a good representative of the genre?  Is it a genre you generally watch?
• What did you think of the storyline?
• Did you enjoy the film?  What did you like?
• Was there anything that you did not like?
• What did you think of the performances?  Any that you found strong?  Any that you found weak?  Why?
• What did you think about the cinematography?
• What did you think of the sound?  Music?  Why?
• Finish your ideas with a rating out of 5.

 
I am being optimistic that we will be out of lockdown in another week, so I suggest that the films for discussion for our September class be one of “the Rose Maker” and “Dream Horse” both of which are screening at the end of August.
 
Looking forward to seeing you all again in September (8 September is the date to put in your diary).
 
Joy

It was a small group that gathered to talk about films watched during the month.  The main film for discussion was “June Again”.

In heartfelt drama/comedy “June Again”, a twist of fate gives family matriarch June a reprieve from vascular dementia. Much to the amazement of her adult children, Ginny and Devon, June re-enters their lives only to learn that 'things haven’t gone according to plan'. With limited time June decides that it’s up to her to get this wayward family back on track. When her meddling backfires, June sets out on a journey of her own and soon discovers she needs help from the very people she was trying to rescue.  The film stars Noni Hazlehurst (June), Claudia Karvan (Ginny) and Stephen Curry (Devon).  It is not a film about dementia, but relationships, mainly family.

The group generally liked the film but did not find it the best film of the year.  The performances were good, showcasing some of Australia’s talent.  The title for the film did not do it justice, and perhaps resulted in lower attendances.  It sounded more like a “Groundhog Day” film.
All the main characters developed during the film.  June, as the matriarch, learnt how her overbearing approach to her children stifled their dreams.  Ginny and Devon both learnt the value of talking to move forward in life.  The film showed some promise but did not deliver.  It did avoid getting “super mushy” but did not have as much humour as expected.  One aspect that has become apparent to me is the use of facial expressions, and Noni Hazlehurst’s performance showed her skill in depicting her character using facial expressions.  When suffering from dementia, she has a blank look, but when out with her children her face is more open and vibrant.

Overall, this was a watchable film, but we rated it only as 2.5/3 out of 5.

Two of the class had also seen “Cruella”, a live-action prequel film following a young Cruella de Vil. Before she becomes Cruella de Vil, teenaged Estella has a dream. She wishes to become a fashion designer, having been gifted with talent, innovation, and ambition all in equal measures.   It stared Emma Stone as Estella/Cruella and Emma Thompson as the Baroness, a high-class fashion designer.  The film shows how Estella’s character develops into Cruella, based on her relationship with the Baroness.
 
The performances by the “two Emma’s” were excellent, again showing how talented actors can use facial expressions to show character and emotion.  Emma Stone’s facial expressions were totally different depending on whether she was Estella or Cruella at the time.  Costumes were interesting and in some cases spectacular.  Overall we rated the film as 3.5/4 out of 5.
​
Our film for the August class discussion is “From the Vine”, screening at BPACC from 29 July.
​
Joy Shirley

Our film for discussion in June was “Six Minutes to Midnight”.  Due to the sudden introduction of restrictions not everyone was able to view the film, and we were not able to meet in person to discuss the film.  Those who did see it shared their review via email.
 
East Sussex, Southeast England, August 15, 1939.  Seventeen days before WWII, an English teacher disappears from Bexhill-on-Sea's Augusta Victoria College: a prestigious finishing school for the daughters of Germany's most influential, upper-class families.  He has made a panicky call about a missing camera before he disappears.
 
Six days later a new English teacher, Thomas Miller (played by Eddie Izzard), turns up at the school.  When he first turns up, the headmistress (Judy Dench) is suspicious of him.
 
As Miller teaches Adolf Hitler's league of Nazi girls, against the backdrop of the unaccountable disappearance of his predecessor, the new tutor finds himself trying to shed light on the mystery. German spies enter the picture.  Now, the clock is ticking, and strange behaviours raise suspicions among colleagues.
 
It turns out that both the missing teacher and Miller work for the British Government.  Judy Dench’s character is an innocent, being fooled by the PE teacher who is the German operative.  And of course the girls are saved but kept in Britain.
 
This was promoted as a thriller and drama but missed the mark.  There is a scene where Miller is running from the police when he is suspected of killing someone.  It ends up being a bit of a “Keystone Cops” scenario, rather than serious chase. This may have been intentional to relieve the tension, but I am not convinced it was the right approach.  There was also a scene where Miller is hiding under a desk that I think missed the mark in creating tension.
 
No performances stood out.  Judy Dench will always perform well, but her role was minor.  There was potential for a good performance from one of the girls, but the screenplay let this opportunity slip, even though it was important to the end of the film. 
 
The cinematography was the highlight with coastal scenes and wild seas.
 
The film had potential, but the portrayal was weak with too much predictability.  The start was quite slow, without much indication as to where it was going.  Overall, we gave it a rating of 2 out of 5.
 
At our July class we will be discussing “June Again” and “Cruella”.

The things we will watch for in viewing the film include:

• Did you enjoy the film?  What in particular did you like?
• Was there anything that you did not like?
• What did you think about the cinematography?
• What did you think of the performances?  Any strong performances that stand out?  Any weak performances that spoilt the film?
• Overall rating out of 5.

Joy Shirley

Our film for discussion in May was “the Father”, the story of Anthony struggling to come to terms with his deteriorating mental health.  He refuses all assistance from his daughter, Anne, as he ages. As he tries to make sense of his changing circumstances, he begins to doubt his loved ones, his own mind and even the fabric of his reality.  It stars Anthony Hopkins as Anthony and Olivia Colman as Anne, who both deliver excellent performances.  Anthony Hopkins was awarded the Academy Award for his performance and between them they were nominated and won a number of other awards.

This could not be considered an enjoyable film, but it is powerful and confronting. It depicts well the frustration of both a sufferer of dementia and a family member struggling to come to terms with the “loss” a loved family member.  It can be confusing as there are scenes in current time as well as Anthony reliving versions of events from the past. 

The setting is all indoors, which perhaps reflects Anthony’s mental state.  While based on a stage play that would have had limited opportunities for more scenes, many films based on plays extend the cinematography to widen the settings.  For this film it was appropriate to keep the setting so simple.

For Anthony, the deterioration is seen with his body language as he becomes a little more stooped, and his clothing moves from well-dressed to constantly in pyjamas.  There was just a touch of humour, with Anthony constantly losing his watch, but even this was a frustration for Anne.

This is a film that shows real life for a family going through changes in an aging family member.  Overall, we gave it a rating of 4.5 out of 5.

At our June class we will be discussing “Six Minutes to Midnight” (trailer below), which screened at BPACC from 20 May.  

​The things we will watch for in viewing the film include:

• Did you enjoy the film?  What in particular did you like?
• Was there anything that you did not like?
• What did you think about the cinematography?
• What did you think of the performances?  Any strong performances that stand out?  Any weak performances that spoilt the film?
• Overall rating out of 5.

Joy Shirley

​This month we discussed a range of films recently screened at BPACC.  One member who had not been able to attend BPACC spoke about a film seen on television.

High Ground: Inspired by history this tells of the treatment of aboriginal people in the 1930s.  Very confronting, particularly as it shows the dreadful treatment of aboriginal people in recent times.  Rated as 4-4.5/5.
The Nest: An entrepreneur moves his American family to England, espousing his status and wealth as much better than reality.  It was a dark story with cinematography to match but came across as a bit disjointed and the end was not quite clear.  Rated as 2/5.
Long Story Short: A comedy around a newly married man whose life moved forward a year every time he woke up.  It was easy watching, with a message around the importance of family and friends rather than money and time.  Rated as 3/5.
Wild Mountain Thyme: The story of two young people in Ireland, who eventually come together.  It is a light and gentle film.  The music was excellent, but not enough of the rolling Irish hills included in the cinematography.  Rated as 3/5.
Minari: The story of a Korean family who move to Arkansas in the 1980s.  A story of determination and emotion with some excellent performances.  Rated as 4/5.
Peter Rabbit 2: An animated film as a sequel to the earlier “Peter Rabbit” release.  Only one class member saw this film and thoroughly enjoyed it – felt it was better than the original.  Rated as 4.5/5.
Raya and the Last Dragon: In a re-imagined world, a young warrior sets off to find the last dragon to help save her father and world from a dark mass that turns everything to stone.  It has a great message about greed and trust, as well as providing colour and action to appeal to younger audiences.  Rated as 4/5.
Nomadland: Based on a book about a woman embarking on a journey in a converted van, this includes mainly real people who have various reasons for living a nomadic life.  We were introduced to some interesting characters, with some great comments.  “I am houseless, not homeless”, “things remembered will never die”.  Rated as 3.5/5.

At our May class we will be discussing “The Father”, which is screening at BPACC from 6 May.

​The things we will watch for in viewing the film include:

• Did you enjoy the film?  What in particular did you like?
• Was there anything that you did not like?
• What did you think about the cinematography?
• What did you think of the performances?  Any strong performances that stand out?  Any weak performances that spoilt the film?
• Overall rating out of 5.

Joy Shirley

We discussed two films at our March class.  These were “A Call to Spy” and “Penguin Bloom”.

“A Call to Spy” is based on true events.  During World War II, Churchill orders his new spy agency to recruit and train women as spies.  The film is based on the lives of two of the women, Vera Atkins and Noor Inayat Khan.  There were a series of short interactions, helping to build the tension.  Vera, who had a wooden leg, proved to be extremely proficient in building a strong resistance cell.  When her identity and cell were revealed by a double agent, she escaped walking across the alps.  She retrained as a radio operator and returned to Europe.  Noora was a radio operator.  When caught she was tortured but refused to reveal any locations and was executed.  Performances were excellent, depicting the bravery of these women.  Scenes that stood out were the crossing of the Alps, and the performance of Noora’s mother when she learned of Noora’s death.
Members who watched the film rated it as 4 out of 5.

“Penguin Bloom” was also based on a true event.  Sam Bloom is injured in a fall in Thailand and ends up a paraplegic.  She is the mother of three sons and struggles to find her identity as she cannot do all the things she had done as a wife and mother.  Her eldest son, Noah, believes the accident was his fault and his mother blames him.  When Noah finds an injured baby magpie, he brings it home to nurse.  The magpie is named Penguin – hence Penguin Bloom.  Noah asks his mother to care for it while he is at school.  This is the start of Sam’s journey out of depression.  She then learns to kayak.  The scenes provide a clear picture of her awakening, as well as the emotions of the key characters.  These were all relevant to the relationship to Sam.  The class particularly enjoyed the down to earth approach of the kayak instructor, as well as the actions of the two younger boys who came across as “real boys”.  Perhaps the greatest performance though was by the various magpies who played Penguin.
The class rated the film as between 3.5 and 4/5.

Our April discussion will be on a range of films screening at BPACC on during the remainder of March.  These include “A long Story Short”, “The Nest”, “Wild Mountain Thyme” and “Minari”.
The things we will watch for in viewing the film include:

• Did you enjoy the film?  What in particular did you like?
• Was there anything that you did not like?
• What did you think about the cinematography?
• What did you think of the performances?  Any strong performances that stand out?  Any weak performances that spoilt the film?

Overall rating out of 5.

​Joy Shirley

What a treat!  We were able to meet face to face for our February Film discussion.  We have some new members to the class, although not all were able to join us for our first class.  One of our members opened her home, making it possible for us to meet for our class.  We hope to have access to a second room that is being made available for U3A use once the renovations are complete.  This will mean a face-to-face meeting on 10 March.
 
The film we discussed for our February class was “The Dry”.  This was based on the book by Jane Harper.  It is set a fictional town in Australia. 

Federal Agent Aaron Falk returns to his hometown, Kiewarra, after an absence of over twenty years to attend the funeral of his childhood friend, Luke, who allegedly killed his wife Karen and son Billy (a baby daughter was spared) before taking his own life.  Luke’s mother is sure that this was not the case and persuades Aaron to stay and investigate.  Aaron is sure the deaths are connected to the death twenty years earlier of friend, Ellie Deacon, when they were all teenagers.  With the help of the local sergeant, Aaron investigates the events.  He eventually solves the death of his friend and family.  In the final scenes, he discovers who killed Ellie.  As with murder mysteries in general there are twists and turns along the way.
 
Three key characters are Aaron Falk (played by Eric Bana), school friend Gretchen (played by Genevieve O’Reilly) and Greg Raco, the sergeant (played by Keir O'Donnell).  It was filmed predominantly in the Wimmera-Mallee area of Victoria with Minyip and Beulah key among the towns used.
 
The film moves back and forward between the events twenty years earlier and the current time.  It does mean concentrating to keep track of what was happening when, but this does not detract from some good performances and cinematography. 
 
The screenplay was generally close to the story, with some of the dialogue lifted straight from the book.  Depiction of Australian rural life and scenes gave a true picture.  There was specific mention of the houses and the pub as being authentic.
 
Overall a good film and a pleasant experience back in a cinema!  Members who watched the film rated it as 4 out of 5.
​
Our March discussion will be on “A Call to Spy” which opened at BPACC on 18 February.
 
The things we will watch for in viewing the film include:

• Did you enjoy the film?  What in particular did you like?
• Was there anything that you did not like?
• What did you think about the cinematography?
• What did you think of the performances?  Any strong performances that stand out?  Any weak performances that spoilt the film?
• Overall rating out of 5.

 
 Joy Shirley

With BPACC re-opening in December, a number of people in the class took the opportunity to visit and watched ‘Rams’, an Australian film starring Sam Neill (Colin) and Michael Caton (Les) as feuding brothers.  The relationship was reasonably well portrayed, with some serious moments mixed with a little bit of comedy.  An example of the comedy was Colin loading Les in a front-end loader to provide transport to hospital when he was suffering from alcohol poisoning.
 
Raising separate flocks of sheep descended from their family's prized bloodline, the two men work side by side yet are worlds apart.  When Les's prize ram is diagnosed with a rare and lethal illness, authorities order a purge of every sheep in the valley. Colin attempts to stealthily outwit authority, but Les opts for angry defiance. The film has a “happy” ending with the two brothers in the hills looking after a growing flock of their prized sheep.
 
The cinematography was appropriate, with some great shots both of the countryside and what we see when our country is on fire.  So good to see a film made on location that can provide us a good view of the country where we live.
​
There were certainly elements of Australian rural life portrayed well: people taking jobs they would not otherwise consider, young people planning to leave town etc when there is a downturn whether by drought or, as in this case, the loss of all income.  There were some stereotypes (eg hard drinking) but I cannot decide whether this a good or bad.  Perhaps there was an implication of smaller paddocks and flocks of sheep than reality, but this was not major detraction.

Overall a good film and a pleasant morning back in a cinema!  Members who watched the film rated it from 3½ to 4½ out of 5.

Our February discussion will be on “The Dry” which opened at BPACC on 14 January with several screening through the rest of January.

December was our last class for 2020.  We took the opportunity to catch up at one of the local cafes.  What a treat it was to see faces of our classmates again.  We discussed the process we had been following and how much we had enjoyed finding out about a wide range of films.  And some of the class had also sent comments about films watched during November.
 
The Man Who Knew Infinity (2015): This is based on the life and academic career of the pioneer Indian mathematician, Srinivasa Ramanujan.  A powerful aspect of this movie lies behind the fact that his theories are still being proven a century after they were first foretold.  An enjoyable and interesting film that many could enjoy, rated as 3.5 out of 5. 
Warm Springs (Foxtel 2005): This is the story of how President Franklin D Roosevelt struggled with his polio diagnosis in 1921.  It is a feel-good movie and rated as 4/5.
The Fastest Indian (2005): It is the true story of New Zealander Bert Munroe, an eccentric motor bike enthusiastic, whose ambition was to go to Bonville Flats, Utah, to take part in a speed record event. How close to the truth it was is debatable!  It was an enjoyable film, with a lot of humour, and well-acted by Anthony Hopkins, rated as 3/5.
One of the class also watched several films screened at Wangaratta recently as it re-opened a few weeks earlier than BPACC
‘Never too Late’ is an Australian film about life in aged care! Don’t be dissuaded – I found it a very thoughtful and, at times, a fun (dark comedy) film. My rating 3/5
‘Honest Thief’ with Liam Neeson was a bit unbelievable but it was pacey. In the end, it could have been about 10 minutes shorter. My rating 2.5/5
‘Rams’ is another Australian film and it ventures into many issues, using two feuding brothers as the focal point.  It stars Sam Neil and Michael Caton and each are very convincing. My rating 3.5/5
‘Radioactive’ is about the life of Marie Curie, a very curious and driven person. It too could have been about 10-15 minutes shorter. My rating 2.5 – 3/5
‘Misbehaviour’ starring Keira Knightley uses the Miss World Pageant of the 1970s as a backdrop to highlighting women’s (in)equality. It has fun and serious moments and the ending (which shows the real people on whom some characters are based) is quite enlightening. My rating 3.5/5.
​
‘Let Him Go’ is a thriller starring Kevin Costner and Diane Lane. The title is ambiguous, as you may find if you happen to see it. The ending is somewhat gruesome and melodramatic. My rating 3/5.

‘Happiest Season’ is (supposed) to be a light, fun comedy which never took off for me. I debated whether to go, but my desire to see a movie at the theatre was too great! My rating (a generous) 1/5.

In thinking about the films we have watched during 2020, it is interesting that a strong majority have been based in true stories.

We of course hope that in 2021 we will be able to once more meet face to face for a discussion of a film screened at BPACC, which re-opened on 17 December.  However, if anyone would like to share some comments about a film they watch over the Christmas break, you are invited to share your comment by sending them to me.  You can send me a message on jshirley@internode.on.net.  Contributions are due by 13 January for our next “class”. 
 
Our February discussion will be on “The Dry” which opens at BPACC on 14 January with several screening through the rest of January.

November was another month of watching and writing about films we have seen during the month.
 
The Sapphires (2012):  a musical/comedy/drama telling the story of four Aboriginal girls from a mission who managed to sing their way to fame as the Sapphires who entertained American troops in Vietnam.  This was fitting as our class was during NAIDOC week.  Rated as 4/5.  (one of the singers retired to Rumbalara, the Yorta Yorta co-op just out of Shepparton. She died a few years ago.)
Tinker Sailor Soldier Spy (2011):  This is a drama, mystery and thriller, based on John le Carré's novel.  In the bleak days of the Cold War, espionage veteran George Smiley is forced from semi-retirement to uncover a Soviet Agent within MI6.  Rated as 3.5/5.
The Passionate Stranger (1957): This is a story within a story, with the real story shot in black-and-white and the imagined story shot in colour, to help keep you on track.  A chauffeur gets the wrong idea when he reads his lady boss's erotic novel and believes the novel is telling a “real life” story and that she is in love with him.  Rated as 3-3.5/5
A Beautiful Day In The Neighbourhood (2019):  Based on the real life story of Fred Rogers it offers a message about acceptance and understanding, of a man living a story of kindness triumphing over cynicism.  It was less interesting as it was based on the American children’s TV presenter who was little known in Australia.  Rated as 2.5/3.
63 Up (2020): Director Michael Apted revisits the same group of British-born adults he has been interviewing every seven years since they were 7 years old.  They are now 63.  The subjects are interviewed as to the changes that have occurred in their lives during the last seven years. Rated as 5/5 as it is a favourite series.
 
We are continuing with this approach for the class as the group is enjoying the variety of films and comments.  We would welcome anyone who wishes to participate by sharing thoughts about films they have watched and interested in hearing comments about films others have watched.  You can send me a message on jshirley@internode.on.net.  Contributions are due by 9 December for our next “class”.  We will continue this approach for 2021 until we are able access a film at BPACC.

​Joy Shirley

We watched another wide range of films during October, although a couple of themes are apparent.  Many of them are biographical with two relevant to recent occurrences – the deaths of Helen Reddy and Ruth Bader Ginsberg.  And there are a couple of Australian films included. 

​I have included the ratings that members of the group have given for the films, although not everyone may agree with these as each of us looks for different things from the films we are watching.

Skin (2008): a biographical drama, a fictionalised retelling of the life of Sandra Laing, born to white Afrikaner parents, but classed as black in the apartheid era because of her dark skin.  Rated as 3-4/5.
I am Woman (2019): This is a biographical drama, telling the story of Helen Reddy’s life as she moves to the US to start her recording career.  Rated as 3 out of 5.
Julie & Julia (2009) Julia Child's story of her start in the cooking profession is intertwined with blogger Julie Powell's 2002 challenge to cook all the recipes in Child's first book.  Rated as 4/5.
Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears (2020): Australian mystery adventure film based on the Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries television series and the series of Phryne Fisher novels written by Kerry Greenwood.  Rated as 3/5.
Two hands (1999): a 1999 Australian Comedy/Crime movie starring Heath Ledger, Bryan Brown, Rose Byrne, David Field and Susie Porter.  A 19-year-old finds himself in debt to a local gangster when some gang loot disappears and sets him on the run from thugs.  Rated as 3/5.
On the Basis of Sex (2018): The true story of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, her struggles for equal rights, and the early cases of a historic career that lead to her nomination and confirmation as U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice. Rated as 3.5/5.

And one member of the class provided some comments on a book read recently – “The French Photographer”, the story of a war correspondent during WW2.   A great read.
​
We are continuing with this approach for the class as the group is enjoying the variety of films and comments.  We would welcome anyone who wishes to participate by sharing thoughts about films they have watched and interested in hearing comments about films others have watched.  You can send me a message on jshirley@internode.on.net.  Contributions are due by 11 November for our next “class”.

Joy Shirley

We watched another wide range of films during September.  I have included the ratings that members of the group have given for the films.  Of course, different people enjoy different genres and actors, so I expect many may not agree with the ratings.

The Shawshank Redemption (1994): Set in a male prison, run by a corrupt warden, sadistic guards and some predatory inmates.  Rated as 4/5.
Bed Among the Lentils: an Alan Bennett monologue starring the incomparable Maggie Smith.  Rated as 4+/5
Still Alice (2014): The story of a highly intelligent university lecturer’s descent into Alzheimer's Disease and the impacts it had on her family.  Rated as 2/5. 
Foyle’s War (Series 1, episode 3, 2002): An episode of the series set during WWII, involving Detective Chief Inspector Foyle, aided by his Sergeant, Paul Milner, and his driver, Samantha Stewart.
Carrie (1952): A melodrama from the 1950s starring Laurence Olivier and Jennifer Jones.  A bit of nostalgia with plenty of twists and turns.  Rated as 3/5.
Three Pines (2013): Based on a book, Gamache and his loyal inspector Jean-Guy Beauvoir investigate the murder of a much-loved retired schoolteacher.  Rated as 3/5.
Stan and Ollie (2018): a fictionalised biography of the comedy partnership of Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy which started in 1927.  Rated as 2+/5.
Colossal (2017): It is a sci-fi fantasy about Gloria (Anne Hathaway) who moves back to her hometown after a relationship breakdown/job loss. 
The One and Only Ivan (2020): An animated film based on best-selling author Katherine Applegate's award-winning 2013 book about Ivan, the headline act at a mall-based circus run by ringmaster Mack.  Rated as 4/5

We are continuing with this approach for the class as the group is enjoying the variety of films and comments.  We would welcome anyone who wishes to participate by sharing thoughts about films they have watched and interested in hearing comments about films others have watched.  You can send me a message on jshirley@internode.on.net.  Contributions are due by 14 October for our next “class”.
​
Joy Shirley

​We have continued watching a film of our own choice, sharing our thoughts with the class via email.  The films watched for August were:​

The Bookshop, 2017:   Based on the book of the same name, rated as 4/5.  It had some haunting background songs and beautiful photography of the quaint seaside town and surrounds and good performances.

The King’s Speech, 2010: A biographical historical drama, telling the story of King George VI, his impromptu ascension to the throne of the British Empire in 1936, and the speech therapist who helped the unsure monarch overcome his stammer.  Rated as 4+/5, winning a number of academy awards.

The Piano, 1993: In the mid-19th century, a mute woman is sent to New Zealand along with her young daughter and prized piano for an arranged marriage to a wealthy landowner.  Another 4+/5 film, winning academy awards.

Midnight in Paris, 2011:  Classed as a fantasy/comedy/drama, Owen Wilson stars as an aspiring writer, Gil Pender, who arrives in Paris with his fiancée, Inez, played by Rachel Adams and plans to finish his debut novel.  This was rated as 3/5, an entertaining and feel good film.

The Children Act, 2017: A drama starring Emma Thompson as a judge (Fiona), married to Jack, a university lecturer (played by Stanley Tucci).  This film is based on the book of the same name by Ian McEwan, telling of a court ruling intervening to force a blood transfusion for an 18-yearold against his parent’s religious stand.  It was rated as 3/5.

Stan and Ollie, 2018:  A biographical comedy-drama film based on the later years of the lives of the comedy double act Laurel and Hardy.  The film strays from the truth a bit, but the result is a film that portrays the era well and was rated as 3/5.

Mary, Queen of Scots, 2018:  This told of the relationship between Mary, Queen of Scots and Elizabeth I.  This was intriguing as a period drama and the costumes were beautiful.  All actors were wonderful & I give it a 4+/5

War of the Worlds (TV series), 2019:  The new series on SBS. WAR OF THE WORLDS.  Rated M15+.  Some scenes are subtitled.  There are 8 episodes, with filming in England, Belgium and France.  This is still screening on SBS and available on SBS OnDemand.

The Last Song, 2010: The parents of Ronnie and Jonah are divorced, and the children have not seen their father for quite some time.  The story tells of the developing relationships between the children and their father when they are forced to spend time with him.  It was rated as 3+/5

The class members continue to enjoy the process and we will continue with this approach until we are able to resume our usual class sessions.  We would welcome anyone who wishes to participate by sharing thoughts about films they have watched and are interested in hearing comments about films others have watched.  You can send me a message on jshirley@internode.on.net and I will share your thoughts with the class.  Our next “class” is scheduled for 9 September and comments are due around that date.

Joy Shirley