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 [email protected].  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 [email protected].  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 [email protected].  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 [email protected].  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 [email protected] 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

We have continued watching a film of our own choice and then sharing our thoughts on the film with the class via email.  The films watched were:

Peter Pan Live! - A live studio production, made for television, based on the old story about Peter Pan and Tinkerbell
Military Wives -  a 2019 British comedy-drama film starring Kristin Scott Thomas, Sharon Horgan and Jason Flemyng
A Good Woman - the romantic comedy/drama (2004), based on Noel Coward’s play ‘Lady Windermere’s Fan’
Last Chance Harvey - a romance about Harvey, a divorced man whose job is to write advertising jingles.
Mao’s Last Dancer - This film tells the story of Li Cunxin, an 11-year-old Chinese boy from a rural area of China and his extraordinary rise to fame in the United States as a ballet star.
Toast - a British biographical comedy drama.  It is the story of Nigel Slater, the British chef and TV presenter
Self Made - inspired by the life of Madam C.J Walker an African American washerwoman who rises from poverty to build a beauty empire and become a self-made millionaire.
Captain Fantastic - The story of Ben Cash, (Viggo Mortensen), his wife, Leslie and their six children who live deep in the off the grid wilderness of Washington State.
Django - Django was born Jean Reinhardt, a Romani/French jazz guitarist and composer, also a talented violinist and pianist.

Some of the films were based on true life stories, but is as often the case, the films stray from the real story.  In some cases, the class member indicated that they were pleased they had seen the film before reading about the life of the main character.

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.  I expect that over recent weeks many others have watched various films and we would be happy to receive your thoughts on a film you have watched.  You can send me a message on [email protected] and I will share your thoughts with the class.  Also let me know if you agree to share your email address with the members of the class.
​
Joy Shirley

We have continued watching a film of our own choice and then sharing our thoughts on the film with the class via email.  There were a variety of films watched across many genres, with a number based on real-life characters.  The films watched were:
 
Florence Foster Jenkins (based on a true story of someone without talent who wanted to be a singer)
Parasite (a Korean black comedy around class conflict)
The Sound of Music Live! (live performance filmed in a studio)
The Frightened City (B&W film that led to Sean Connery’s James Bond roles)
The Best of Enemies (based around desegregation of schools in 1971 in North Carolina)
The Kitchen (watched by a fan of MasterChef)
Red Joan (based on the life of Melita Norwood)
Downsizing (classed as a social satire)
A Lady of Letters (a monologue performed by Patricia Routledge)
 
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.  I expect that over recent weeks many others have watched various films and we would be happy to receive your thoughts on a film you have watched.  You can send me a message on [email protected] and I will share your thoughts with the class.  Also let me know if you agree to share your email address with the members of the class.
​
Joy Shirley

This month we again watched a film of our own choosing and then shared a review of our reactions.   Of course, there was a wide range of films watched, including a documentary and a TV series.  These included “Lawrence of Arabia” (which has perhaps not met the test of time), “A little Chaos” (set in the time of Louis XIV), “Dolittle” (a recent release that did not meet expectations), “Hunt for the Wilderpeople” (an adventure/comedy with underlying drama ), “Whisky Galore” (a remake of a 1949 film), “Les Misérables” (good story, good performances and good music making a great film), “Bonfire of Destiny” (a Netflix series), “Diana, Her Story” (her story from childhood to her death), “The Devil Wears Prada” (an engaging comedy/drama), “The Boy in The Striped Pyjamas” (set during WWII, an emotionally charged film that makes you think).
​
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.
​
Joy Shirley

We decided to watch a film of our own choice during the month.  During our scheduled Film as Literature class time, we will write up some thoughts about the film and share this with the rest of the class.  This worked well for our April 8 time.  There was a wide range of films watched and it was interesting to read about these.  I would be interested in watching some if I can source them, and I am sure other member of the class would also be interested in following up on some of them.  Films watched included Brassed Off, Arthur Newman, Bran Nue Dae, The Physician, The Stranger (a Netflix series), the new Phryne Fisher movie, Lion, and Shaun the Sheep.  In general, the class members enjoyed the process and are interested in continuing until we can resume our usual class sessions.
​
Joy Shirley

Our film for March was “Jojo Rabbit”, a World War II satire that follows a lonely German boy whose world view is turned upside down when he discovers his single mother is hiding a young Jewish girl in their attic.  Aided only by his idiotic imaginary friend, Adolf Hitler (played by Taika Waititi who wrote the screenplay and directed the film), Jojo must confront his blind nationalism.  It was based on the book “Caging Skies” by Christine Leunens.

All members of the class agreed that the film was clever, with comments on the excellent usage of music.  This was not an easy film, and some did not enjoy it, while acknowledging it as a great film.  Others felt it was the best film they had seen this year.  There was some humour which perhaps helped relieve the blackness of the storyline.  It won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.

The performance by Roman Griffin Davis as Jojo was extremely good.  He showed the impact of the brainwashing of children, but also how meeting with the young Jewish girl, Elsa, changed his perception of those who he had been taught were “alien”.  One line stands out.  At Jojo’s request, Elsa draws a picture of where the Jews come from – it is a picture of Jojo’s head.  When Jojo questions this, she agrees – it is where they come from, in his head.  We were alerted to how myths and rumours can impact on how people think.  Another line worth noting is Elsa’s comment: “You’re not a Nazi, Jojo.  You’re a 10-year-old kid who likes dressing up in a funny uniform and wants to be part of a club”.

Other comments were around the performance by Jojo’s friend Yorki, played by Archie Yates, Americanisation of some of the dialogue, and some great one-liners from Rebel Wilson’s character.  Shoes played an interesting role in the film, used in one of the most challenging scenes when Jojo finds his mother has been hanged by first seeing her shoes, and later with Jojo, previously unable to tie his own shoe-laces, able to tie Elsa’s.

We felt that a younger audience may not have recognised some of the subtlety, although at one session some young people certainly appeared to enjoy the comedic aspects.  We rated this as 4 out of 5, even those who had not actually enjoyed the film, acknowledging the cleverness and performances.

To keep us in touch while we are unable to meet let’s do the following:

• Watch a film before 8 April (our scheduled class time).  This can be any film of your choice, from any source available to you
• On 8 April (our scheduled class time) write some comments on the film to share with the class.
• Send your comments to the whole of the class.

Joy Shirley

You may have seen on the website that all U3A classes have now been cancelled.  This related mainly to classes where people are together.  I have checked with Dorothy and she has agreed that on-line classes can go ahead where an approach can be worked out.  I would like to try the idea that I shared with you a few days ago.  And to make this easier, I am asking your permission to share your email address with the rest of the class.  If I do not hear from you, I will assume that you agree to this.
 
The process as I see it will be as follows:

• Watch a film before 8 April (our scheduled class time).  This can be any film of your choice, from any source available to you
• On 8 April (our scheduled class time) write some comments on the film to share with the class.
• Send your comments to the whole of the class using an email list that I will provide in my next email.

 
To help you focus your comments, you could use the following ideas:

• What genre (type of film – comedy, drama, animated, science fiction etc)
• Provide a brief idea of what the film was about (2-3 sentences)
• What did you like about the film – performances, music, cinematography, etc
• What did you not like about the film – language, weak performances etc
• Who do you think would like the film – children, adults etc
• Give the film a rating out of 5

 
Remember if you do not want me to share your email address with the rest of the class, you need to get back to me as a matter of urgency.  I will send out the complete list of class members with email addresses by Tuesday.   I hope that you will all participate in this process.  It gives us a chance to keep in touch with the rest of the class.  This is particularly important as we find ourselves more isolated over the coming weeks.
 
Joy
0417 065 351

You may have seen on the U3A Page that we are not able to use the Library for our classes until further notice.  With the class the size it is, it is not practical to meet in another venue unless a time slot opens up in the U3A room.  This will not be known until we know which classes will continue.

​BPACC is still operating, but the program of films screening is changing – it has already changed twice.  As I let you know earlier this week, the two films we nominated for our April discussion have both been  dropped from the program – mainly because the distributors want to hold them until they can be sure of a reasonable audience level.  In other words they do not want to lose money.  You can see the latest program at http://bpacc.com.au/benalla-cinema/#coming-soon.  There are extra screenings of “Call of the Wild” and “Onward” is now screening from 26 March.  Both of these are on the list I handed out at the March class.
 
I have been thinking about how we can still watch a film and share our thoughts without meeting face to face.  My best idea so far is the following:
 

• Watch a film of your choice anywhere – BPACC, another cinema, DVD or TV (SBS World Movies, streaming service such as Netflix) – there are number of options
• Send your comments on the film you choose and send it to me by the scheduled class date – I will send you some generic questions you can consider to help you prepare the comments
• I will forward the comments to the rest of the class.  OR I could share the email addresses and you can send to the rest of the class yourself.

 
So my question now is whether you like this approach for keeping the class going.  Please respond and let me know, or if you have a different idea for keeping our involvement in Film going while we are having problems meeting as a group.  It is essential that you let me know your thoughts or I will not be able to proceed.
 
Thanks
 
Joy
0417 065 351

We welcomed some new members to our first 2020 Film as Literature class.  It is always good to have some different perspectives on the various films we watch.

Between us we had seen a range of different films over the Summer break – “Little Women”, “Jumanji”, “Bombshell”, and some of the great oldies such as “On Golden Pond”.  And while most people enjoy a range of different genre of film, it seems that Science Fiction was the least favoured.  Maybe there is an opportunity to challenge those who are not in favour of these to attend one and then contribute an alternative view to the discussion. 

We also had a brief discussion about the role of language in films, with many not liking the tendency for bad language that seems to be the fashion in some current films.  It was suggested though that in some cases it can be appropriate to the story or character. 

Overall, a great start to the new U3A year.

The film we chose for our March class (11 March) is “JoJo Rabbit” – a satire set during the Second World War.  The full March program listing the screening times for “JoJo Rabbit” should be available soon, at http://bpacc.com.au/benalla-cinema/#coming-soon.

​Looking forward to our next class on 11 March.

​Joy Shirley

We discussed the film ‘Judy’ at our last 2019 class.  This was the story of Judy Garland’s English performance tour towards the end of her life.

The film included background to Judy Garland’s rise to fame, with the treatment she received as Dorothy in “Wizard of Oz” and as a rising star.  This provided an understanding of her behaviour and problems in her later life with her addiction to prescription drugs and alcohol.  She did not lead the life of a normal teenager and started to realise what she had missed towards the end of her life.  In many ways it was a sad film, so in that sense not enjoyable, but we enjoyed the insights into her life and some excellent performances.

We are looking forward to returning in February 2020, with a new name for the class – “Film AS Literature”.  As it will be the first class for the year and we may be welcoming new members, our discussion will be for everyone to talk about a film they have watched over the summer break.  This could be at BPACC, Swanpool, on television or DVD.  This will be a great way to introduce everyone & learn about a range of different films.
​
Joy Shirley

We discussed the film “Downton Abbey” at our November class.  Some of the group had watched the television series that is the basis for the film.

We found this a feel-good film that tied up several loose ends from the television series, with a happy ever after ending.  It was not a deep film, but pleasant with some great costuming and picture of the cars and the era (it was set in the late 1920s).  A favourite character was the one played by Maggie Smith – a classic quote from her was “I don’t argue, I inform”.  Others also appreciated the cook – Mrs Patmore played by Lesley Nicol – a down to earth well-rounded character.  The film included a homosexual relationship which some critics found unnecessary (stating is was influenced by the ‘liberal left’) and could not see why it was included.  In discussing this view we decided that it was relevant as it tied up the loose end around one of the characters – Barrow whose character had developed from a nasty schemer to a man who eventually found himself.

The class generally agreed on a rating between 3 and 4 out of 5.

Several class members had also seen “Ride Like a Girl” – the story of Michelle Paine’s battles to end up as the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup.  We found the family story amazing – a single father bringing up 10 children.  Michelle’s persistence in the face of the many barriers she met was seen by some as inspirational.  The rating was again mixed but was generally around 4 out of 5.

Our film for discussion in December is “Judy”.  This is about Judy Garland and according to the web site Rotten Tomatoes, “Led by a deeply committed performance from Renée Zellweger, Judy captures the waning days of a beloved performer with clear-eyed compassion.”  For those of us who saw or heard Judy Garland in our younger days it could be an interesting film to view.
​
Joy Shirley

Our movie for discussion this month was “Abominable”.

The film was a challenge as it was a children’s’ animated film.  Many had not seen an animated children’s film and were surprised to find it enjoyable and entertaining.

When teenage Yi encounters a young Yeti on the roof of her apartment building in Shanghai, she and her mischievous friends, Jin and Peng name him "Everest" and embark on a quest to reunite the magical creature with his family at the highest point on Earth.

The film was advertised as Animation, Adventure, Comedy.  It certainly was an adventure story for the children involved but we did not agree that it is a comedy.  There are a couple of humorous moments worthy of a chuckle, but these did not turn the film into a comedy.

In talking about the film we thought about it like an old style “goodies and baddies” film.  There were the children trying to save the yet – the goodies – and a scientist and a collector of unique things, both of whom wanted to capture the yeti for their own less than worthy purposes – the baddies.  As part of the quest, almost all the characters grew – Yi grew to understand that her dead father was always with her, Jin learns that there is more to life than clothes and girls.  Even the selfish collector learns that the yeti needs to return to his own home.  And the children as a group learn about persistence.

Most of the class rated it as either 3 or 4 out of 5.

Our film for discussion in November is “Downton Abbey”.  There are also a couple of other films screening at BPACC that could be of interest – “The Australian Dream” which is the Adam Goodes documentary, and “Ride Like a Girl” Michelle Paine’s story and we may have time to talk about these if any of the group have seen them.  Anyone who has watched any of these films is welcome to join us on 13 November at 1:30 in the library to join in the discussion.
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Joy Shirley

​Our movie for discussion this month was “Late Night”.

The film was a piece of light entertainment.  There were a couple of excellent performances, with the three most appreciated were Emma Thompson (Katherine), as the bitchy late night television presenter, Mindy Kaling (Molly) as the new writer recruited as she was female and from the sub-continent, and a smaller part by John Lithgow (Walter) who played Katherine’s husband.

The film was promoted as a comedy, but mostly we found just a few chuckles, rather than lots of laughter.  It did reflect some real-life scenarios which many of us had encountered during our professional lives.  And it did remind us of the film “The Devil Wears Prada”.

There were a lot of different relationships developed during the film, ranging from Katherine’s relationship with her team of writers (all white males, and whose names she did not know, so she gave them numbers), her relationship with Molly as the new token writer, Molly’s relationship with her co-writers (who did not welcome her as an interloper) and Katherine’s relationship with her husband.

Most of the class rated it as 3 out of 5, although a couple rated it lower.

With the school holidays, films in September and early October are predominately aimed at children.  Apart from these, the most interesting for most of the group is “An Australian Dream.”  This documentary, based on Adam Goodes, does not start screening until just prior to our class, so we decided that we would focus on attending one of the animated films screening towards the end of September.  So our film for discussion at the 9 October class is “Abominable”, a children’s animated film which screens at BPACC between 20 September and 4 October.
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Joy Shirley

Our movie for discussion this month was “Red Joan”.

Everyone enjoyed the film, although some did not think it was worth a second viewing.  It is loosely based on the life of Melita Norwood, a Cold War Spy.  It was originally a book by Jennie Rooney who took Melita Norwood’s life story and turned it into a spy novel of the Cold War.  A statement made by Norwood that she hoped her actions would help "Russia to keep abreast of Britain, America and Germany" was slightly reflected at the end of the film, although perhaps not quite the same intent.  Addressing the media Joan Stanley said that her actions had been influenced by the Hiroshima nuclear bomb and her desire to keep the major countries equal and so help keep peace in the world.  This is perhaps the closest the film comes the real life of Melita Norwood.

The film was more about the people than being a spy film which made it more enjoyable than had been expected.  The story hung together well with perhaps one exception where at the end Joan’s son, who had previously rejected his mother, suddenly came out in her support.  The performances by the key characters were solid, with Judi Dench performing strongly in her role as the older Joan Stanley.  We were left wanting to know more of the story as to how Joan came back to England as the story (not the real life Melita) had her migrating to Australia with her husband.

We went on to discuss the issue around seeing films either based on real life or on books.  It was generally agreed that seeing a film when knowing the real story can detract from enjoyment as there is always a tendency to compare the film with previous knowledge.

Our film for discussion at the 11 September August class is a Late Night, (with Emma Thompson,) which screens at BPACC between 16 to 23 August.
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Joy Shirley

We had two films for discussion at our July class.  These were Poms and Men in Black: International.

Poms is a comedy about a group of women who form a cheer leading squad at their retirement community, proving that you're never too old to 'bring it!'  It starts with Martha, terminally ill, moving to the retirement village with the intention of dying without joining any activities.  Her neighbour is the total opposite, always looking to have good time.  Martha is the one who ends up establishing the squad.  There are many contrasting characters, reflecting the range of people we come across in life – downtrodden wife, elderly mother whose son has control of her finances, women who want to live their dreams.  These are in contrast with some who want everyone to toe the line in a prescribed way.  There is also the contrast between the older women and the teenage cheer leading squad.  Some good performances and an entertaining film showing that you are never too old to find yourself, and that family is not necessarily those related by blood.  It is a fun film, generally well liked.  We could not agree a rating with opinion ranging from 2.5 to 5 out of 5.

Only two people were able to see the second film – Men in Black: International.  This is the latest film in the Men in Black franchise.  For the genre it was a reasonable film with some good performances.  It started slowly, but once things started happening it improved, even though there were holes in the plot.  In hearing the comments about the film, it sounded very much like the old style “Goodies and Baddies” films of an earlier era, brought into the future.  Science fiction, with good use of CGI.  It was rated as 3 out of 5.

Our film for discussion at the 14 August class is a Red Joan, (with Judi Dench, Sophie Cookson and Stephen Campbell Moore) which screens at BPACC between 18 July and 30 July
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Joy Shirley

​At our April class we discussed the film “Top End Wedding”.  This genre is publicised as Comedy, Romance.  We thought it could also be classified as a tourism film with some great scenery of the northern parts of Australia.  

Lauren and Ned are engaged, they are in love, and they have just ten days to find Lauren's mother who has gone AWOL somewhere in the remote far north of Australia, reunite her parents and pull off their dream wedding.

Generally everyone enjoyed the film.  As a romantic comedy it was predictable but was entertaining.  It was a family story, emphasising the importance of family, and living without regrets, rather than slapstick comedy.  It was typically Australian in many ways, with the depiction of the indigenous community positive.  Some of the characters were fun.  Lauren’s father, upset about his wife’s absence, often retreats to the pantry with 1980’s music to cry.  Ned’s dog was very cute.  And the development of Lauren’s boss from “boss lady” to an important part of the extended family was well covered.  The use of TIWI island songs was a bonus.   And we enjoyed the quirky approach to the end where the screen displayed a warning that it was not the end, showed some still photos of the “wedding”, then confirmed the “real end”.  Overall, an enjoyable although light film.

In comparing the film with other films, the group thought of “Crocodile Dundee”.  The story is different but had a similar approach to the Australian humour.  We rated it as 3-3.5 out of 5.

Our film for discussion at the 10 July class is a choice between “POMS” currently screening at BPACC OR “Men in Black: International” which screens from 4 July.
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Joy Shirley

At our May class we discussed the film “Swimming with Men”.  This has been promoted as a Comedy, Drama, Romance.

Some of the group were a little dubious about how interesting the film would be, but everyone ended up enjoying the film.  A man who is suffering a mid-life crisis finds new meaning in his life as part of an all-male, middle-aged, amateur synchronised swimming team.  He had left his wife, believing she was having an affair and had rejected him.  As his relationship with the team evolved, he realised the problem was his own fear of growing old; his wife had not rejected him. 

The relationships within the team also evolved as they all learnt the value of working together and the importance of supporting each other in their different needs.  Our group did not see it as a romance in a traditional sense, but it does fit a wider definition of the term to include relationships and feelings.  There was an element of drama, and some humorous moments.

The film was reasonably light and enjoyable, with some thought-provoking moments.  Performances were good, including several actors who are more often seen in television series, including Ron Brydon (Would I lie to You, A Cock and Bull Story), Jim Carter (Downton Abbey), Nathaniel Parker (Inspector Lynley).

We rated it as 3.5 out of 5.

Our film for discussion at the 12 June class is “Top End Wedding” screening at BPACC from 30 May.  It is an Australian film set in the “Top End” of the country and looks to have some spectacular scenery from this area.
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Joy Shirley

For our April class we had a choice between “A Dog’s Way Home” and “Captain Marvel”.

“A Dog’s Way Home” is the story of Bella who is confused when sent away from the ones she loved – Lucas, his mother and Olivia.  She did not understand that this was only temporary and escaped to try to find her way back.  It was shown from the dog’s perspective of her adventures in finding her way back home.  She met many different animals as well as people on the way, but it was only Bella’s voice that was dubbed.  The story was lovely, with pleasant and believable characters and magnificent scenery.  We gave it a rating of 4 out of 5.

“Captain Marvel” was a totally different film.  Carol Danvers becomes one of the universe's most powerful heroes when Earth is caught in the middle of a galactic war between two alien races.  There is an unexpected twist around the mid-point of the film which possibly makes it more interesting.  Performances by the stars were excellent, and the computer graphics is getting better as the technology evolves.  It led to discussions around the introduction of female super heroes (Marvel has done it before) and the comparison between super hero and science fiction films. Overall it was reasonably interesting, a typical Marvel story.  We rated it as 3.5 out of 5.

Our film for discussion at the May class is “Swimming with Men” 

​Joy Shirley

​Our film for discussion at our March class was “Green Book”.  Everyone enjoyed watching the film, with some strong reactions to the treatment of African-American people in the south of the USA in the 60s – and questions as to how much has or has not changed in the 50 years since.
This film was the winner of the Best Movie at the Academy Awards (although there was some controversy) and Mahershala Ali who played an African-American classical pianist won the award for Best Supporting Actor.  We agreed that it was a great film, and Ali’s performance was worthy of the award.

The film is based on a true story.  Tony Lip, a working-class Italian-American bouncer becomes the driver for Dr Donald Shirley, the classical pianist, on a tour of venues through the 1960s American South.  The title of the film comes from the Green Book that listed accommodation available for African-Americans.  The film was full of contrasts – Tony a racist Italian bouncer: Dr Shirley an African American; Tony with a close Italian family: Dr Shirley a lonely man; treatment of African-Americans in the north of the USA: treatment in the south.  It follows how both the men grow and appreciate the other’s strengths.  While there were some disturbing scenes as the men face the problems of an African-American in the south of the country, the film had a happy ending with the men becoming close friends until their death, both dying in 2013 within a few months of one another.

Reviews have compared the film with “Driving Miss Daisy” (friendship between an African-American driver with an upper-class employer), but we thought it was closer to “The Help” (showing the difficulties experienced by African-Americans).  A very enjoyable movie that we rated as around 3-4 out of 5.

It was decided to select two films for our April class – “Captain Marvel” and “A Dog’s Way Home”.  Everyone is invited to watch at least one of these movies for our April class on 10 April. 
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Possible discussion points could be around the use of the computer graphics in “Captain Marvel” or comparisons of “A Dog’s Way Home” with the lost animal films we have seen in the past.
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Joy Shirley