In the wake of the Brisbane International Film Festival I was also fortunate enough to review the latest Marvel blockbuster over at Indooroopilly cinemas on Monday the 1st of November, 2021.
Eternals became a little infamous for its muted critical reaction in comparison to other film from the franchise. I found it a film not without some merits but ultimately I too shared a frustration at what may have been and was not. You can read my review here https://scenestr.com.au/movies-and-tv/eternals-film-review-20211103
Of note to Beetley Pete maybe that the cast includes the talented actress Salma Hayek.
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Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Two Marvel releases in a row. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
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Indooroopily Cinemas. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Karen and I. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
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Another lanyard of power. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Produced by Eyeball Media Enterprises Scenestr is an online national magazine with local offices around Australia. Having started in 1993 they’ve excelled at moving into the digital realm but they remain at heart from the streets. They still publish magazines in print for Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland every month.
I was back on assignment for Scenestr for the second and final weekend of the Brisbane International Film Festival 2021.
On Friday night the 29th of October I went to New Farm Cinemas to see the latest film from 75 year old Paul Schrader – The Card Counter.
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Copyright Lloyd Marken.
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Schrader has been on a revival run of late and this feature is part of that while continuing his “Man in a Room” stories. American Gigolo may remain his masterpiece, but I enjoyed partly how this film seemed a counterpoint to that. I also enjoyed the performances from the cast that includes some of the great actors that have come to stardom in the past year including Oscar Isaac, Tiffancy Haddish and Tye Sheridan.
The next night I was back at New Farm Cinemas late at night in one of their cinemas at the back to watch Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn from Romanian filmmaker Radu Jude. Karen and I both had dinner at Ombra before I went to see the movie.
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Karen at Ombra. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
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Back at Ombra. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
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Me at BIFF 2021. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
There was not a massive crowd in the cinema but there were some young people who occasionally cackled at what was unfolding on the screen. That felt right. Young people at a film festival watching something foreign and wild that provides a way of looking at things.
That was it for another year at BIFF, I am very glad to have been on assignment to watch and review six films at BIFF. I am very glad that the Brisbane International Film Festival continued in the wake of COVID and remain a staple of my hometown showing 81 features and 22 short films during its eleven day run.
Produced by Eyeball Media Enterprises Scenestr is an online national magazine with local offices around Australia. Having started in 1993 they’ve excelled at moving into the digital realm but they remain at heart from the streets. They still publish magazines in print for Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland every month.
I returned to the Brisbane International Film Festival October 23, 2021 as a freelance writer for Scenestr. Having a long association with the festival going back to the days when I used to be a Volunteer at it, it was a particular joy to get to review so many films at the Festival for Scenestr. As it always with such a wonderful program there were plenty of films I would have liked to have seen but did not get the chance one of them being You Can Drive My Car which went on to win an Oscar for Best International Feature Film. Others were The Worst Person in the World and Zola. I do have to say I feel like those films found audiences in any event and the films I got to see and maybe champion are still to be discovered.
BIFF was under new management having switched from the Gallery of Modern Art to be run for the next three years by Film Fantastic Limited who have been responsible for several years for the running of the Gold Coast Film Festival.
Following the film there was a Question and Answer session with the two “stars” of the documentary Phil Robinson and Tim Boyle, editor Navas Illava and writer/director Neil McGregor led by film academic Ruari Elkington. One of the pleasures of such film festival screenings and particularly special when it is something home grown.
Arriving at Newmarket Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Next up I went to New Farm Cinemas that afternoon and discovered a new Italian place outside the cinema named Ombra. It is just a fairly small place, beautifully decorated and with friendly staff who served delicious meals at reasonable prices. I fell in love with it immediately and have gone back from time to time with Karen who was sadly not joining me for these BIFF screenings.
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Inside OMBRA before the dinner crowds. Copyright Lloyd Marken
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Oh my God this was so delicious. Copyright Lloyd Marken
Preview of things to come. Copyright Lloyd Marken
Painting of new releases outside New Farm Cinemas. Copyright Lloyd Marken
A rainbow. Copyright Lloyd Marken
I was in attendance at New Farm to watch eight locally produced shorts, I found something to commend about all eight of them but a personal favourite was James Latter’s Home. I also found Stephen Lance’s Torch Song riveting and was touched by Loani Arman’s Our Greatest Escape.
There were quite a few people packing into the New Farm lobby waiting for this one.
It was such a joy to be back at the Brisbane International Film Festival and to be reviewing so many movies and Undine was easily one of best films of the year.
Produced by Eyeball Media Enterprises Scenestr is an online national magazine with local offices around Australia. Having started in 1993 they’ve excelled at moving into the digital realm but they remain at heart from the streets. They still publish magazines in print for Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland every month.
The second show I saw at the Brisbane Festival 2021 was ‘What’s Going’ on assignment for Scenestr magazine. Tyrone Noonan and his band Palimpsest performed in concert Marvin Gaye’s 1971 album What’s Going On. It was a real pleasure to see this show in person, the album itself is so beloved that to see these songs performed in person by such musicians who are fans themselves was very special. It was an interesting to attend such a performance where Boomers jumped up and boogied together en masse while COVID was gripping New South Wales and Victoria.
I also enjoyed that one of my images made the grade for being included in the review as it is not exactly my strong suit.
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Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Katie Noonan made a special appearance. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
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The entrance to Suncorp Piazza. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
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Tyrone Noonan performing. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
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The crowd on the night. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
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Karen and I. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Once the tracks of the album were done, we were treated to renditions of other Marvin Gaye classics including a song that Marvin Gaye covered called Abraham, Martin and John. This is such a beautiful song, in the weeks ahead I would listen to it whenever I was feeling a little melancholic. Thank you Tyrone, and thank you Marvin.
Produced by Eyeball Media Enterprises Scenestr is an online national magazine with local offices around Australia. Having started in 1993 they’ve excelled at moving into the digital realm but they remain at heart from the streets. They still publish magazines in print for Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland every month.
Back to the Drawing Board Productions 