manfromplanetx
Joined Jan 2015
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Reviews112
manfromplanetx's rating
Bonjour Balwyn reflects on the conflict between living a bohemian lifestyle and the pressing need for social conformity to make a living. The feature is considered to be the strongest work to emerge from Buesst and Melbourne's independent inner-city cinema movement.
John Duigan stars and gives a tremendous performance as Kevin, the editor of a struggling underground magazine. Kevin had turned his back on a lucrative position at his father's firm, he prefers instead to meander throughout his days with no commitment to important matters. Kevin's debts pile up and his magazine business begins to fall apart, he makes enemies and loses friends before drifting into a disreputable line of work... Bonjour Balwyn is an outstanding bittersweet tale. For us Melbournians especially, it is a nostalgic film giving a fascinating glance of the Australian cultural and social atmosphere of the era, and visually, of the inner suburban streetscapes, the setting of the film.
Unconventional and leisurely paced, the charms of this low budget offbeat Australian story may seem obscure. My rating on reappraisal reflects my familiarity and a hometown bias, nevertheless Bonjour Balwyn is a distinctive, bona fide classic Australian film.
John Duigan stars and gives a tremendous performance as Kevin, the editor of a struggling underground magazine. Kevin had turned his back on a lucrative position at his father's firm, he prefers instead to meander throughout his days with no commitment to important matters. Kevin's debts pile up and his magazine business begins to fall apart, he makes enemies and loses friends before drifting into a disreputable line of work... Bonjour Balwyn is an outstanding bittersweet tale. For us Melbournians especially, it is a nostalgic film giving a fascinating glance of the Australian cultural and social atmosphere of the era, and visually, of the inner suburban streetscapes, the setting of the film.
Unconventional and leisurely paced, the charms of this low budget offbeat Australian story may seem obscure. My rating on reappraisal reflects my familiarity and a hometown bias, nevertheless Bonjour Balwyn is a distinctive, bona fide classic Australian film.
A fascinating documentary on the life and crimes of an infamous underworld figure, Melbourne's Public Enemy No.1 Leslie (Squizzy) Taylor, 1889-1925.
Fraudster, blackmailer, burglar, Taylor had a hand in it all, illegal gambling, narcotic traffic, armed robbery and murder.
Buesst brilliantly reconstructs the life and times of flamboyant Taylor, with archival photos, newsreels, newspaper clippings, and first-hand witness accounts. Re-enactments add a real-life dimension to the compelling story which builds through Buesst's resourcefulness and ingenuity into a riveting tale of a career criminal...
Fraudster, blackmailer, burglar, Taylor had a hand in it all, illegal gambling, narcotic traffic, armed robbery and murder.
Buesst brilliantly reconstructs the life and times of flamboyant Taylor, with archival photos, newsreels, newspaper clippings, and first-hand witness accounts. Re-enactments add a real-life dimension to the compelling story which builds through Buesst's resourcefulness and ingenuity into a riveting tale of a career criminal...
The second instalment of a four-part Cold War espionage thriller, 'Fate of the Resident' follows the 1968 film Oshibka rezidenta (Resident error). With a continued focus on the character and his dilemma, professional intelligence officer Mikhail Tulyev, passionately portrayed by Georgy Zhzhyonov.
Soviet counterintelligence officers aim to infiltrate their western enemies' secret service by enlisting the help of recruited spy Tulyev, who having been captured and arrested is now in a Soviet prison.
The psychological spy story is compelling viewing, unveiling much about the 1960s Cold War era and the clandestine activities of the eastern and western intelligence agencies. It is intelligent multi-faceted drama, aside from the political skulduggery, the film tells a poignant personal tale of the selfless commitment that the 'resident' assumes. Perfectly cast with a diverse group of characters: patriots, double agents, blackmailers, the blackmailed, a lover and even a femme fatale. Tulyev's confessions under Soviet interrogation expose the covert activities and terrorist plans of the hostile western agencies; there is a striking familiarity here, today, within the current geopolitical brinkmanship.
Sudba rezidenta is an intriguing film, a film to enjoy rewatching, one gains a clearer insight of the many details and numerous players entangled in this intricate espionage web.
I have the original 1970 art poster from A. Fyodorov, a wonderful display and daily reminder of the fondness I have for classic Soviet cinema.
Soviet counterintelligence officers aim to infiltrate their western enemies' secret service by enlisting the help of recruited spy Tulyev, who having been captured and arrested is now in a Soviet prison.
The psychological spy story is compelling viewing, unveiling much about the 1960s Cold War era and the clandestine activities of the eastern and western intelligence agencies. It is intelligent multi-faceted drama, aside from the political skulduggery, the film tells a poignant personal tale of the selfless commitment that the 'resident' assumes. Perfectly cast with a diverse group of characters: patriots, double agents, blackmailers, the blackmailed, a lover and even a femme fatale. Tulyev's confessions under Soviet interrogation expose the covert activities and terrorist plans of the hostile western agencies; there is a striking familiarity here, today, within the current geopolitical brinkmanship.
Sudba rezidenta is an intriguing film, a film to enjoy rewatching, one gains a clearer insight of the many details and numerous players entangled in this intricate espionage web.
I have the original 1970 art poster from A. Fyodorov, a wonderful display and daily reminder of the fondness I have for classic Soviet cinema.