MIFF 2013 - Day 9
LYGON STREET - SI PARLO ITALIANO
A history of the iconic Melbourne strip, told by the Italian immigrants who made it what it is. Depressingly, it shows that Australia hasn't really changed the way it treats immigrants, both then and now they're demonised. An old newsreel is shocking in its open racism. But the film doesn't dwell on the negatives, and focuses on how these men and women remade Melbourne, and in turn Australia, bringing espresso machines, pizza and other delights to the masses. I love how one guy admits to inventing the "Aussie" pizza, and also putting pineapple on them, with a sort of comical shame. It's a great potted history of Melbourne and its culture. Watch out for it because it's a dead cert for a release at the Nova.
MAGIC MAGIC
Umm, yeah. A girl goes to visit her cousin in Chile, hangs out with her friends and goes insane. Or maybe she was possessed by a demon when someone attempted to hypnotise her. But she was already crazy and paranoid before that. Or maybe the friends are arseholes, Michael Cera plays a real jerk. This really doesn't amount to much. Disappointing and underwritten, but not so bad if you take it as a nonsensical mood piece. Maybe that's what it meant to be, I don't really know. When I was over I shrugged my shoulders and forgot about it.
TWENTY FEET FROM STARDOM
Oh dear lord I hope this gets a cinema release here. This is an amazing documentary about the unsung heroes of the music industry, the backup singers. Some do it because that's where they want to be, some because they couldn't break out into solo careers, and others are still trying. The film covers some of the luminaries of the backup scene, letting them tell their stories and they're absolutely fascinating. How the vocals for Gimme Shelter were recorded is hysterical, and you'll get yet another reason to be disgusted with Phil Spector. The fact that some of the biggest hits of yesteryear were "ghosted" by session vocalists then lipsynched by the stars is enlightening, you'll be surprised at some of 'em. But the main reason to see this on the big screen is for the big sound. This is a film about music and you'll want to hear this on the loudest, biggest soundstage you can find. Awesome.
A history of the iconic Melbourne strip, told by the Italian immigrants who made it what it is. Depressingly, it shows that Australia hasn't really changed the way it treats immigrants, both then and now they're demonised. An old newsreel is shocking in its open racism. But the film doesn't dwell on the negatives, and focuses on how these men and women remade Melbourne, and in turn Australia, bringing espresso machines, pizza and other delights to the masses. I love how one guy admits to inventing the "Aussie" pizza, and also putting pineapple on them, with a sort of comical shame. It's a great potted history of Melbourne and its culture. Watch out for it because it's a dead cert for a release at the Nova.
MAGIC MAGIC
Umm, yeah. A girl goes to visit her cousin in Chile, hangs out with her friends and goes insane. Or maybe she was possessed by a demon when someone attempted to hypnotise her. But she was already crazy and paranoid before that. Or maybe the friends are arseholes, Michael Cera plays a real jerk. This really doesn't amount to much. Disappointing and underwritten, but not so bad if you take it as a nonsensical mood piece. Maybe that's what it meant to be, I don't really know. When I was over I shrugged my shoulders and forgot about it.
TWENTY FEET FROM STARDOM
Oh dear lord I hope this gets a cinema release here. This is an amazing documentary about the unsung heroes of the music industry, the backup singers. Some do it because that's where they want to be, some because they couldn't break out into solo careers, and others are still trying. The film covers some of the luminaries of the backup scene, letting them tell their stories and they're absolutely fascinating. How the vocals for Gimme Shelter were recorded is hysterical, and you'll get yet another reason to be disgusted with Phil Spector. The fact that some of the biggest hits of yesteryear were "ghosted" by session vocalists then lipsynched by the stars is enlightening, you'll be surprised at some of 'em. But the main reason to see this on the big screen is for the big sound. This is a film about music and you'll want to hear this on the loudest, biggest soundstage you can find. Awesome.
posted by Andrew Lee at 11:45 PM
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