Father Geek here with another of our reports from our underground outback offices, and AICN's Downunder Editor Latauro...

You stay here and mind the girl; I’ll head ’em off at the pass...

AICN-DOWNUNDER

There were many things I enjoyed about turning eighteen and being an adult in the eyes of the law.

I enjoyed, as an adult, being allowed to gamble (even though I don’t like casinos or betting).

I enjoyed, as an adult, being allowed to go into a strip club (even though I’ve never actually been in one).

I enjoyed, as an adult, being able to buy alcohol (which I *do* actually do, but it lost its appeal when it became acceptable).

These thoughts were going through my head when I watched grown adults being told by the law that they were not allowed to watch a film. Cameras caught the action as the police busted SBS film critic Margaret Pomeranz for playing KEN PARK at a hall in Balmain (see original article at: Its AICN Archive Location).

The screening was held by a group called Free Cinema, comprised of Pomeranz, filmmaker Martha Ansara (THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS), Leichhardt’s Deputy Mayor Jamie Parker, and others. Cr Parker summed up the situation when he said that members of the group were “not interested in seeing the film, but concerned about the issue of censorship”.

Personally, I don’t think it’s a contradiction to respect others’ views while believing in moral absolutes. We have screened films in the past that have contained “real” acts of sexual intercourse. ROMANCE, INTIMACY, BAISE MOI, the recently unbanned IN THE REALM OF THE SENSES, to name a few. What is the difference here? Is it simply that the Office of Film and Literature Classification are uncomfortable that these actors are younger?

The moral absolute here is that we decided what’s allowed and what’s not. We made rules, and they are reasonable rules. What’s unreasonable is treating them in a cruel and unusual way; applying those rules when we see fit, when we find something we may or may not find comfortable.

Those fighting this decision are displaying more maturity in their argument than OFLC has in theirs (though they’ve been oddly silent of late). They didn’t necessarily want to see the film, they just wanted to be given the *choice* not to.

That’s a freedom I wish, as an adult, I could enjoy.

NEWS

* Sydney may not have had luck with their KEN PARK screening, but the fifty or so who attended a screening in Brunswick, Melbourne were able to enjoy (or not, if they so chose) the downloaded copy of the film. A woman who attended the screening claimed that she “certainly [didn’t] feel like going out and stabbing my grandmother or abusing a little kid after watching it”... Whether she’s telling the truth is yet to be seen.

* Australia’s turning into the ban capital of the world at the moment. A judge has been asked by Melbourne’s Jewish community to stop the screening of two films; THE SEARCH FOR TRUTH IN HISTORY and THE ISRAEL-PALESTINE CONFLICT: A PALESTINIAN PERSPECTIVE. The former is an address by Holocaust revisionist David Irving in response to a 1993 decision to prevent him from entering Australia. The latter has been objected to on the ground that it “vilified the Jewish State”. Judge Michael Higgins is yet to make a decision.

* Many prominent Australian actors will strike for a day this month to protest minimum wages. They are seeking a higher share of profits made by their shows, as well as higher wages for guest actors. Geoff Brown, executive director of the Screen Producers Association of Australia, says that the deal “has such an impact on budgets it is almost impossible”. Despite attempts, the two sides have yet to broker a deal.

* Brisbane’s animation studio Liquid Animation has been selected (alongside two other studios) to produce Disney’s animated series THE PROUD FAMILY. The show has been cunningly described as an “African-American Simpsons”.

AWARDS AND FESTIVALS

ACTIVATING HUMAN RIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL July 4 to 6

If you’re in Byron Bay check out this festival, which will premiere local and international documentaries, shorts and features, all of which raise awareness of human rights issues.

UPSTARTFILMS July 9 to 10

This coming Wednesday and Thursday, Cinema Europa will play host to this short film festival. The festival screens short productions from RMIT and VCA. For more info, head to www.upstartfilms.com.au.

SPARK February 2004

The feature film script development program from the Australian Film Commission (AFC) and the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) is currently seeking applications for the next workshop. For more details, head to the AFC (http://www.afc.gov.au/) and AFTRS (http://www.aftrs.edu.au/) websites.

BOX OFFICE

Banner took down all competition, keeping Bruce down to second spot and Neo down even further. Aside from Oscar nominated TRAVELLING BIRDS (WINGED MIGRATION) at number nine, everything in the top ten is American product.

That said, here’s the top five...

• 1. HULK
• 2. BRUCE ALMIGHTY
• 3. DADDY DAY CARE
• 4. 2 FAST 2 FURIOUS
• 5. MATRIX RELOADED

RELEASED THIS WEEK

Lat’s three current favourite gals have a feel good time, John Malkovich tries Being Javier Bardem, Terry Gilliam makes me cry, and Dreamworks finally release a film voiced by people who have slept with Gwyneth Paltrow.

Here They are:

• CHARLIE’S ANGELS: FULL THROTTLE
• THE DANCER UPSTAIRS
• LOST IN LA MANCHA
• SINBAD: LEGEND OF THE SEVEN SEAS

REVIEW

CHARLIE’S ANGELS: FULL THROTTLE

It’s really not healthy how much I loved the first movie. Everything was so perfect, as far as I was concerned. Even the moments of awful dialogue seemed to fit. I loved it.

After taking my seat next to the overweight woman with the horrific body odour problem and then relocating several rows down, the trailers began. I only mention this because I thought it was funny when the trailer for LEGALLY BLONDE 2: BIGGER, BOLDER AND BLONDER came up. Apparently we in Australia have no problem with seeing an American fight for American Rights in Washington D.C., but just don’t subtitle it RED, WHITE AND BLONDE or none of us will go. Gave me a giggle.

Okay, so the movie. It was one of those ‘you had me at hello’ moments, only they had me from the moment Cameron Diaz walked in the door. A friend speculated after how the actresses felt being portrayed as nothing but flesh... but I disagree. I don’t think anyone could play Nathalie like Cameron Diaz. She’s completely unselfconscious, and knows exactly which facial muscles to pull to achieve maximum effect.

The film, as always, had a relatively simple plot upon which wire-fu and dress-up sequences could comfortably sit. And why not? When I walk into CHARLIE’S ANGELS, I’m not hoping to see THE USUAL SUSPECTS. There’s something about the scope and the Michael Bay-as-cartoon feel of these films that just rings perfect. I get really bored with action films that have two guys beating each other up with nothing but their fists. Where’s the creativity in action scenes? Jackie Chan has it down; you almost can’t believe what you’re watching when he swings around. It’s the same with the wire-fu and the slow-mo and the arguably unnecessary camera movements. It’s an adrenaline rush – that’s what it’s trying to be.

Favourite moments? The note-perfect SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN reference at the MAXIMUM EXTREME 2 premiere, and the seductive moment between the Thin Man and Dylan. The Thin Man is undoubtedly one of my favourite characters ever, and the way he and Barrymore play off each other in the hair-sniffing scene had me laughing out loud.

Whether you’ll like this film can be judged entirely on whether or not you liked the first one. Not more of the same – just more.

NEXT WEEK...

- Eric Bana meets Mark Twain in HULKLEBERRY FINN

- Arnie unblocks toilets in TERMINATOR 4: RISE OF THE LATRINES

- Jackie Chan gets banned for THE LEGEND OF DRUNKEN PARK

Peace out,

Latauro

downunder@aintitcoolmail.com