Kicking off in Melbourne tomorrow is the annual Melbourne International Film Festival. The Iris will be bringing you tonnes of coverage from the event throughout its two-and-a-bit week run, but before it starts, on the off chance you’re still not sure what you want to see, we bring you our picks of the festival – in no particular order:
BABYLON
Babylon is a sharp, satirical take on the police and citizen journalism. Brought to you by the makers of two great TV shows – The Thick Of It and Peep Show – it sounds like it will be the perfect storm of comedy and drama – Nat Salvo
PULP: A FILM ABOUT LIFE, DEATH AND SUPERMARKETS
This concert film is set on 8 December 2012 where British band, Pulp are performing their last ever show to their hometown of Sheffield. What ensues in New Zealand filmmaker, Florian Habicht’s (Love Story) documentary is a Northern party and celebration of the gangly genius of Jarvis Cocker et. al. – Nat Salvo
THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ELEANOR RIGBY – HIM and HER
The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby centers on Eleanor and her husband Connor Ludlow (James McAvoy), and how a life-altering event shakes the foundations of their marriage. Apparently written specifically for Jessica Chastain, Ned Benson’s feature film debut is broken into two films, ‘Her’ and ‘Him’, to explore the different perspectives on the event. This film looks so different to any other in the festival and with two amazing actors at the helm it’s sure to be a powerhouse. – Amy Nancarrow
BOYHOOD
Richard Linklater’s much talked about new film was filmed over the course of 12 years to achieve an accurate portrayal of a boy’s coming of age. We genuinely watch actor Ellar Coltrane grow into a young man, and we watch his family (Ethan Hawke, Patricia Arquette) go through the aging process themselves, and growing together, giving the film a sense of closeness and authenticity that only comes with such commitment and persistence. – Amy Nancarrow
Shot intermittently over a twelve-year period using the same actors, Boyhood is the film to place at the top spot of your MIFF list. When Ellar Coltrane started shooting the film he was just seven years old, allowing the audience to watch him age and mature over time. Reviews so far have been almost unanimously positive, with a 99 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The film’s soundtrack also spans the story’s 12 years, ranging from early Coldplay to Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs (2010). Unfortunately most tickets have already sold out, but more tickets will be released at 5pm the night before each screening. – Amelia Barnes
20,000 DAYS ON EARTH
Nick Cave stars in this ficticious account for 24 hours in his life. Directed by Brits Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard, this film recieved rave reviews at Sundance and, come on, it stars and was co-written by one of Australia’s greatest musicians. The rock journalist is replaced by a therapist in this sort-of doco, as reality and fiction blur into something that comprises of both. – Amy Nancarrow
TWO DAYS, ONE NIGHT
Getting rave reviews out of the Cannes in May, and winning the top prize on home soil at the Sydney Film Festival, the Dardenne Brothers story of a woman who must save her job over the course of a weekend is sure to be affecting and masterfully executed. – Alexandra Donald
MOMMY
25-year-old Quebecois wunderkind Xavier Dolan is at it again, with his fifth feature film in as many years sure to be a festival highlight. The story of a single mother struggling to raise her uncontrollable son, it won the Jury Prize at Cannes and if the reviews so far are anything to go by, an absolute must see. – Alexandra Donald
ELECTRIC BOOGALOO
Mark Hartley’s 2008 documentary Not Quite Hollywood was an incredible portrait of Australian cinema’s wilder side, and the untold story of Cannon Films will surely be a similarly brilliant exercise. – Alexandra Donald
ADVANCED STYLE
Since being launched in 2008 by photographer Ari Seth Cohen, Advanced Style has gone onto become a popular fashion blog showcasing the outfits and style among the New York elderly. With fashion videographer Lina Plioplyte on side, Cohen is now bringing his subjects’ stories to life as they tell discuss their passions and creativity with wisdom. – Amelia Barnes
GOD HELP THE GIRL
Belle & Sebastian’s front man Stuart Murdoch is making his directorial debut with this musical featuring leading ladies Emily Browning (Australia’s own star of Sucker Punch) and Hannah Murray (who you might know as Cassie from the first cast of Skins or from her more recent stint in Game of Thrones. The plot follows Browning’s character as she escapes hospital where she’s been treated for depression, forming a band and discovering pop music as recovery. – Amelia Barnes
WISH I WAS HERE
All eyes will be on Zach Braff as he releases the much-awaited unofficial sequel to his 2004 directorial debut Garden State. Funded partially by an enormously successful Kickstarter campaign, backers of the film will no doubt be interested to see where their hard earned cash has been spent. The plot of the film follows a financially struggling family who choose to home-school their children over sending them to public school. – Amelia Barnes
The 2014 Melbourne International Film Festival runs from tomorrow, July 31st, until August 17th. To grab tickets to any of these films, or to find out more about them and the festival, head to: http://miff.com.au/
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