Special effects maestro Brian Cox and producer and costume designer Catherine Martin were both honoured at the Australian Production Design Guild Awards on Sunday.
Cox, whose 40-year career has included credits such as The Matrix and Moulin Rouge, was awarded the Canal Road Artisan Lifetime Achievement Award, while Martin -Australia’s most prolific Academy Award winner – was recognised with the Cameron Creswell Outstanding Contribution to Design Award.
The awards, which celebrated their 10th anniversary, also marked the end of an era as Apdg president and founder George Liddle announced he was stepping down after more than a decade at the helm.
Speaking at the virtual event, he said the future looked positive for the guild.
“Technological advances change the way we work, but they are mere tools,” he said.
“The creative design mind remains. That means design practitioners will remain an essential part of all successful productions in the live performance,...
Cox, whose 40-year career has included credits such as The Matrix and Moulin Rouge, was awarded the Canal Road Artisan Lifetime Achievement Award, while Martin -Australia’s most prolific Academy Award winner – was recognised with the Cameron Creswell Outstanding Contribution to Design Award.
The awards, which celebrated their 10th anniversary, also marked the end of an era as Apdg president and founder George Liddle announced he was stepping down after more than a decade at the helm.
Speaking at the virtual event, he said the future looked positive for the guild.
“Technological advances change the way we work, but they are mere tools,” he said.
“The creative design mind remains. That means design practitioners will remain an essential part of all successful productions in the live performance,...
- 11/10/2021
- by Sean Slatter
- IF.com.au
High Ground, The Invisible Man and 2067 lead the feature film nominees and Hungry Ghosts, Stateless and Bump television for the upcoming Australian Production Design Guild (Apdg) Awards.
Production designer for High Ground Ross Wallace and The Invisible Man’s Alex Holmes will compete for the night’s top gong against Relic‘s Steven Jones-Evans and True History of the Kelly Gang‘s Karen Murphy.
In television, battling for the production designer award are Hungry Ghost‘s Carrie Kennedy, On Becoming A God In Central Florida‘s Annie Beauchamp, Stateless’ Melinda Doring and The Luminaries‘ Felicity Abbott.
There are 23 categories for this year’s awards, including the traditional live performance, film, television, event, animation and costume design awards, in addition to new categories that include set decorators, screen graphic designers and live performance video designers.
“Over the past 10 years our young emerging designers have flourished,” production designer and Apdg president George Liddle said.
Production designer for High Ground Ross Wallace and The Invisible Man’s Alex Holmes will compete for the night’s top gong against Relic‘s Steven Jones-Evans and True History of the Kelly Gang‘s Karen Murphy.
In television, battling for the production designer award are Hungry Ghost‘s Carrie Kennedy, On Becoming A God In Central Florida‘s Annie Beauchamp, Stateless’ Melinda Doring and The Luminaries‘ Felicity Abbott.
There are 23 categories for this year’s awards, including the traditional live performance, film, television, event, animation and costume design awards, in addition to new categories that include set decorators, screen graphic designers and live performance video designers.
“Over the past 10 years our young emerging designers have flourished,” production designer and Apdg president George Liddle said.
- 7/15/2021
- by Staff Writer
- IF.com.au
‘Tidelands’.
The nominees for this year’s Australian Production Design Guild (Apdg) Awards have been unveiled, with 140 nominees across 19 categories.
Those behind the worlds of Hotel Mumbai, Judy and Punch, Ladies in Black and Storm Boy are in contention for the best production design on a feature film award, while those who helped to put together A Place To Call Home (Season 6), Black Mirror: Striking Vipers, Bloom and Tidelands will vie for the equivalent award in TV/web series.
Overall, Netflix series Tidelands leads with four nominations, while feature films I Am Mother and Ladies In Black have three each.
Apdg president George Liddle said: ‘The guild is thrilled to represent all the talent from the diverse areas of design and to highlight and award the outstanding work produced over the last year in our annual awards.”
Hosted by Mc Adam Eliot, the Apdg Awards will be held on December...
The nominees for this year’s Australian Production Design Guild (Apdg) Awards have been unveiled, with 140 nominees across 19 categories.
Those behind the worlds of Hotel Mumbai, Judy and Punch, Ladies in Black and Storm Boy are in contention for the best production design on a feature film award, while those who helped to put together A Place To Call Home (Season 6), Black Mirror: Striking Vipers, Bloom and Tidelands will vie for the equivalent award in TV/web series.
Overall, Netflix series Tidelands leads with four nominations, while feature films I Am Mother and Ladies In Black have three each.
Apdg president George Liddle said: ‘The guild is thrilled to represent all the talent from the diverse areas of design and to highlight and award the outstanding work produced over the last year in our annual awards.”
Hosted by Mc Adam Eliot, the Apdg Awards will be held on December...
- 11/17/2019
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
‘Jirga’ won the Aacta for Best Indie Film.
Director Benjamin Gilmour’s Jirga took home the inaugural Aacta Award for Best Indie Film – designed to honour films made under $2 million – at the Aacta Industry Luncheon in Sydney yesterday.
The film, produced by John Maynard, beat out Strange Colours, Brothers’ Nest, West of Sunshine and The Second. Starring Sam Smith as a former Australian soldier who returns to Afghanistan seeking forgiveness, Jirga is also Australia’s submission for Best Foreign Language Film at the upcoming Academy Awards.
Some 35 awards were given away at yesterday’s Aacta event, hosted by actress Kat Stewart and comedian Nazeem Hussain. Other key feature film winners were Sweet Country and Ladies in Black, which each took home three gongs.
David Tranter and Steven McGregor won Best Original Screenplay for Sweet Country, while film’s director and Dop Warwick Thornton was honoured with the award for Best...
Director Benjamin Gilmour’s Jirga took home the inaugural Aacta Award for Best Indie Film – designed to honour films made under $2 million – at the Aacta Industry Luncheon in Sydney yesterday.
The film, produced by John Maynard, beat out Strange Colours, Brothers’ Nest, West of Sunshine and The Second. Starring Sam Smith as a former Australian soldier who returns to Afghanistan seeking forgiveness, Jirga is also Australia’s submission for Best Foreign Language Film at the upcoming Academy Awards.
Some 35 awards were given away at yesterday’s Aacta event, hosted by actress Kat Stewart and comedian Nazeem Hussain. Other key feature film winners were Sweet Country and Ladies in Black, which each took home three gongs.
David Tranter and Steven McGregor won Best Original Screenplay for Sweet Country, while film’s director and Dop Warwick Thornton was honoured with the award for Best...
- 12/3/2018
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
‘Upgrade’.
The nominees for this year’s Australian Production Design Guild Awards have been unveiled, with 106 nominees across 27 categories – six of which are new.
The production designers behind Winchester, Upgrade, Peter Rabbit and The Lego Ninjago Movie are in contention for the best production on a feature film award, while those who helped to put together Harrow, Top of the Lake: China Girl, Friday On My Mind and Picnic at Hanging Rock will vie for the equivalent award in TV.
Apdg president George Liddle said: “The Guild is thrilled to represent all the talent from the diverse areas of design and to highlight and award the outstanding work produced over the last year in our annual awards.
With a growing membership from screen and live performance design practitioners, and the inclusion of the six new categories, we can also highlight the achievements of designers working on international productions, web series and in the game industry.
The nominees for this year’s Australian Production Design Guild Awards have been unveiled, with 106 nominees across 27 categories – six of which are new.
The production designers behind Winchester, Upgrade, Peter Rabbit and The Lego Ninjago Movie are in contention for the best production on a feature film award, while those who helped to put together Harrow, Top of the Lake: China Girl, Friday On My Mind and Picnic at Hanging Rock will vie for the equivalent award in TV.
Apdg president George Liddle said: “The Guild is thrilled to represent all the talent from the diverse areas of design and to highlight and award the outstanding work produced over the last year in our annual awards.
With a growing membership from screen and live performance design practitioners, and the inclusion of the six new categories, we can also highlight the achievements of designers working on international productions, web series and in the game industry.
- 11/16/2018
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
Sue Milliken and Bruce Beresford (centre) with the cast of ‘Ladies in Black.’
Bruce Beresford’s Ladies in Black has grossed $11.4 million in seven weeks, encouraging Sony Pictures, which acquired the worldwide rights, to start devising plans to release the comedy-drama in offshore markets.
“The film was always required to establish itself here first before leveraging that success internationally,” Sony Pictures Releasing executive VP Stephen Basil-Jones tells If.
Produced by Sue Milliken and Allanah Zitserman, the 1959-set film is heading for $13 million here and in New Zealand is about to surpass $NZ1 million, which Basil-Jones rates as a superb result, particularly considering Oz films often struggle when they cross the ditch.
In Los Angeles last week he discussed with his colleagues rolling out the film, which stars Julia Ormond, Angourie Rice, Rachael Taylor, Ryan Corr, Alison McGirr, Noni Hazlehurst and Vincent Perez, in the UK and North America. Also he...
Bruce Beresford’s Ladies in Black has grossed $11.4 million in seven weeks, encouraging Sony Pictures, which acquired the worldwide rights, to start devising plans to release the comedy-drama in offshore markets.
“The film was always required to establish itself here first before leveraging that success internationally,” Sony Pictures Releasing executive VP Stephen Basil-Jones tells If.
Produced by Sue Milliken and Allanah Zitserman, the 1959-set film is heading for $13 million here and in New Zealand is about to surpass $NZ1 million, which Basil-Jones rates as a superb result, particularly considering Oz films often struggle when they cross the ditch.
In Los Angeles last week he discussed with his colleagues rolling out the film, which stars Julia Ormond, Angourie Rice, Rachael Taylor, Ryan Corr, Alison McGirr, Noni Hazlehurst and Vincent Perez, in the UK and North America. Also he...
- 11/7/2018
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Nicole Kidman and Joel Edgerton on the set of ‘Boy Erased.’
Joel Edgerton and Simon Baker have scored nominations in the feature film direction and acting categories for Boy Erased and Breath, the first time that’s happened in the same year in AFI | Aacta history.
Edgerton and Baker will compete for four prizes at this year’s awards which will be handed out at an industry luncheon on December 3 and at the ceremony on December 5. Both titles have been nominated for best film and Edgerton and Baker are also in the running for best supporting actor and adapted screenplay.
In total 19 features received nominations, with five vying for best film: Boy Erased, Breath, Yolanda Ramke and Ben Howling’s Cargo, Bruce Beresford’s Ladies in Black and Warwick Thornton’s Sweet Country.
The five titles competing for the new category of best indie film budgeted under $2 million are the Jacobson brothers’ Sibling Rivalry,...
Joel Edgerton and Simon Baker have scored nominations in the feature film direction and acting categories for Boy Erased and Breath, the first time that’s happened in the same year in AFI | Aacta history.
Edgerton and Baker will compete for four prizes at this year’s awards which will be handed out at an industry luncheon on December 3 and at the ceremony on December 5. Both titles have been nominated for best film and Edgerton and Baker are also in the running for best supporting actor and adapted screenplay.
In total 19 features received nominations, with five vying for best film: Boy Erased, Breath, Yolanda Ramke and Ben Howling’s Cargo, Bruce Beresford’s Ladies in Black and Warwick Thornton’s Sweet Country.
The five titles competing for the new category of best indie film budgeted under $2 million are the Jacobson brothers’ Sibling Rivalry,...
- 10/29/2018
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Women working at a fancy Sydney department store in 1959 are the subjects of “Ladies in Black,” an uneven dramedy directed and co-written by veteran Australian filmmaker Bruce Beresford. After establishing an interesting picture of conservative Anglo-Australian values clashing with worldly views brought to the new land by post-war immigrants, “Ladies” is let down by a screenplay lacking the sharp wit and emotional depth to bring its characters and themes fully to life. Attractively packaged, optimistic to a fault, and well performed by an ensemble including Julia Ormond and rising local star Angourie Rice, “Ladies” should register as pleasant enough entertainment for general domestic audiences, predominantly older females, although offshore prospects look iffy.
Set in the Sydney of Beresford’s youth and based on the 1993 novel “The Women in Black” by his University of Sydney contemporary Madeleine St John, “Ladies” unfolds in the golden rays of summertime leading up to Christmas.
Set in the Sydney of Beresford’s youth and based on the 1993 novel “The Women in Black” by his University of Sydney contemporary Madeleine St John, “Ladies” unfolds in the golden rays of summertime leading up to Christmas.
- 9/23/2018
- by Richard Kuipers
- Variety Film + TV
Eamon Farren and Amber McMahon in Girl Asleep.
George Miller will present the Cameron Creswell Award for Outstanding Contribution to Design at the 6th Annual Australian Production Design Guild Awards.
The event takes place on November 7 at Sydney.s Nida, and celebrates the achievements of designers across 24 categories. New categories this year include Virtual Reality and Game Design.
The Apdg will again acknowledge masters of the craft with three Industry Recognition Awards: The Cameron Creswell Award for Outstanding Contribution to Design, the Global Creatures Artisan Award for Lifetime Achievement in Live Performance and the Canal Road Film Centre Artisan Award for Lifetime Achievement..
For the first time, the recipient of the Thelma Afford Theatre, Stage, TV or Film Costume Design Award will also be announced at the ceremony..
Nominations include:
Production Design on a Feature Film: Jonathon Oxlade - Girl Asleep, Jo Ford - Holding The Man, Roger Ford a.
George Miller will present the Cameron Creswell Award for Outstanding Contribution to Design at the 6th Annual Australian Production Design Guild Awards.
The event takes place on November 7 at Sydney.s Nida, and celebrates the achievements of designers across 24 categories. New categories this year include Virtual Reality and Game Design.
The Apdg will again acknowledge masters of the craft with three Industry Recognition Awards: The Cameron Creswell Award for Outstanding Contribution to Design, the Global Creatures Artisan Award for Lifetime Achievement in Live Performance and the Canal Road Film Centre Artisan Award for Lifetime Achievement..
For the first time, the recipient of the Thelma Afford Theatre, Stage, TV or Film Costume Design Award will also be announced at the ceremony..
Nominations include:
Production Design on a Feature Film: Jonathon Oxlade - Girl Asleep, Jo Ford - Holding The Man, Roger Ford a.
- 10/28/2016
- by Harry Windsor
- IF.com.au
The first round of Aacta Award winners have been announced today at the 4th Aacta Award Luncheon held at the Star Event Centre in Sydney.
Celebrating screen craft excellence in Australia, 22 awards were presented, recognising the work of screen practitioners working in television, documentary, short fiction film, short animation and feature film.
The Luncheon was hosted by writer/actor/producer/director Adam Zwar, who was also joined throughout the event by a list of distinguished presenters. including Aacta President Geoffrey Rush, David Stratton, Damian Walshe-Howling, Alexandra Schepisi, Charlotte Best and Diana Glenn.
In the feature film category, Predestination took home the most Awards; with Ben Nott Acs taking out the prize for Best Cinematography, Matt Villa Ase winning the award for Best Editing, and Matthew Putland scooping Best Production Design.
Tess Schofield was honoured with the Aacta Award for Best Costume Design for her work on The Water Diviner while...
Celebrating screen craft excellence in Australia, 22 awards were presented, recognising the work of screen practitioners working in television, documentary, short fiction film, short animation and feature film.
The Luncheon was hosted by writer/actor/producer/director Adam Zwar, who was also joined throughout the event by a list of distinguished presenters. including Aacta President Geoffrey Rush, David Stratton, Damian Walshe-Howling, Alexandra Schepisi, Charlotte Best and Diana Glenn.
In the feature film category, Predestination took home the most Awards; with Ben Nott Acs taking out the prize for Best Cinematography, Matt Villa Ase winning the award for Best Editing, and Matthew Putland scooping Best Production Design.
Tess Schofield was honoured with the Aacta Award for Best Costume Design for her work on The Water Diviner while...
- 1/27/2015
- by Emily Blatchford
- IF.com.au
Russell Crowe-Directed Movie Up for Australian Film Award; Crowe Shortlisted Only in Acting Category
Director Russell Crowe Movie up for Best Film: Australian Academy Awards 2015 nominations (photo: Actor-director Russell Crowe in 'The Water Diviner') Aacta Awards: Feature Film Categories Best Film The Babadook Kristina Ceyton and Kristian Moliere Charlie's Country Nils Erik Nielsen, Peter Djigirr and Rolf de Heer Predestination Paddy McDonald, Tim McGahan, Peter Spierig and Michael Spierig The Railway Man Chris Brown, Andy Paterson and Bill Curbishley Tracks Emile Sherman and Iain Canning The Water Diviner Andrew Mason, Keith Rodger and Troy Lum Best Director The Babadook Jennifer Kent Charlie's Country Rolf de Heer Predestination Peter Spierig and Michael Spierig The Rover David Michôd Best Actress Kate Box The Little Death Essie Davis The Babadook Sarah Snook Predestination Mia Wasikowska Tracks Best Actor Russell Crowe The Water Diviner David Gulpilil Charlie's Country Damon Herriman The Little Death Guy Pearce The Rover Best Supporting Actor Patrick Brammall The Little Death Yilmaz Erdogan...
- 12/3/2014
- by Steve Montgomery
- Alt Film Guide
The Australian Production Design Guild has announced the shortlist for its inaugural awards.
Across 13 categories, the awards recognise outstanding design talent in the screen and theatre industry.
The Apdg Awards will be held at Nida on the 21st September.
Apdg Awards Shortlist
The Docklands Studios Melbourne Apdg award for design on a feature film
The Tree - Steve Jones-Evans; production designer Daybreakers – George Liddle; production designer Beneath Hill 60 – Clayton Jauncey; production designer
The Encore Apdg award for design on a short film
The Cartographer – Jane Shadbolt; designer/director The Missing Key - Jonathan Nix; designer/director, Shane Ingram; 3D designer The Telegram Man – David McKay; production designer
The Matchbox Pictures Apdg award for design on a television drama
Hawke - Carrie Kennedy; production designer, Ben Morieson; production designer Cloudstreet - Herbert Pinter; production designer Paper Giants – Jon Rohde; production designer, Scott Bird; art director
The Next Printing Apdg award...
Across 13 categories, the awards recognise outstanding design talent in the screen and theatre industry.
The Apdg Awards will be held at Nida on the 21st September.
Apdg Awards Shortlist
The Docklands Studios Melbourne Apdg award for design on a feature film
The Tree - Steve Jones-Evans; production designer Daybreakers – George Liddle; production designer Beneath Hill 60 – Clayton Jauncey; production designer
The Encore Apdg award for design on a short film
The Cartographer – Jane Shadbolt; designer/director The Missing Key - Jonathan Nix; designer/director, Shane Ingram; 3D designer The Telegram Man – David McKay; production designer
The Matchbox Pictures Apdg award for design on a television drama
Hawke - Carrie Kennedy; production designer, Ben Morieson; production designer Cloudstreet - Herbert Pinter; production designer Paper Giants – Jon Rohde; production designer, Scott Bird; art director
The Next Printing Apdg award...
- 9/2/2011
- by Georgina Pearson
- Encore Magazine
Remember that one year (2001) when the list-happy AFI (American Film Institute) decided to compete with the Globes and the Oscars in year end prizes? No, that didn't last long. But there's another AFI, The Australian Film Institute, that has been around for a long time and is in no such danger of being a one-off. This year, they're all about the amazing family crime drama Animal Kingdom which they awarded with a record breaking 18 nominations. Sure, the film is in danger of being way overhyped for people who are coming to it late (which is just about everyone given the sorry state of international distribution for dramas of virtually any kind) but for those who can slough off the "omg" raves, I guarantee you'll think it at least an insinuating and well executed crime drama.
AFI Favorites with multiple nominations
Its main competition for the coveted prizes, if you go by nomination counts,...
AFI Favorites with multiple nominations
Its main competition for the coveted prizes, if you go by nomination counts,...
- 10/29/2010
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
Animal Kingdom received 18 nominations for this year’s Australian Film Institute Awards, followed by Beneath Hill 60 (12), Bright Star (11), Tomorrow, When the War Began (8), The Tree, Bran Nue Dae (7 each) and The Boys Are Back (4)
The Best Film category will see Animal Kingdom competing against Beneath Hill 60, Bright Star, Bran Nue Dae, The Tree and Tomorrow, When the War Began.
Australia’s top rated drama productions – Packed to the Rafters and Underbellly: The Golden Mile – were both absent from the main Television categories (except for Underbelly‘s two acting nods).
The winners will be revealed on December 10 (Industry Awards) and 11 (main Awards Ceremony) in Melbourne.
This is the full list of nominees:
AFI Members’ Choice Award
Animal Kingdom. Liz Watts. Beneath Hill 60. Bill Leimbach. Bran Nue Dae. Robyn Kershaw, Graeme Isaac. Bright Star. Jan Chapman, Caroline Hewitt. The Boys Are Back. Greg Brenman, Tim White. Tomorrow When The War Began.
The Best Film category will see Animal Kingdom competing against Beneath Hill 60, Bright Star, Bran Nue Dae, The Tree and Tomorrow, When the War Began.
Australia’s top rated drama productions – Packed to the Rafters and Underbellly: The Golden Mile – were both absent from the main Television categories (except for Underbelly‘s two acting nods).
The winners will be revealed on December 10 (Industry Awards) and 11 (main Awards Ceremony) in Melbourne.
This is the full list of nominees:
AFI Members’ Choice Award
Animal Kingdom. Liz Watts. Beneath Hill 60. Bill Leimbach. Bran Nue Dae. Robyn Kershaw, Graeme Isaac. Bright Star. Jan Chapman, Caroline Hewitt. The Boys Are Back. Greg Brenman, Tim White. Tomorrow When The War Began.
- 10/27/2010
- by Miguel Gonzalez
- Encore Magazine
Julien Temple's The Eternity is a not a movie one should watch if they enjoy the delights of plot, dialogue or subtlety. If, instead, you enjoy your movies to be all pyrotechnics and razzle dazzle mise-en-scène then perhaps it is for you. And even then you will have to get past the singing. Oh yes, there will be singing. I will be the first to admit that opera isn't exactly "my thing", but I can handle it all well and good in small doses and if, ya know, performed well. And yet while I can't call myself a particularly good judge of what makes one opera good and another bad, I must say I found the nauseating operatic warblings in The Eternity Man to be an insufferable mess.
Starting with a ten minute long sequence that recalls the opening passages of Baz Luhrmann's equally radical musical Moulin Rouge!
Starting with a ten minute long sequence that recalls the opening passages of Baz Luhrmann's equally radical musical Moulin Rouge!
- 3/27/2009
- by Kamikaze Camel
- Stale Popcorn
Opens: Venice Film Festival.
Punk documentarian Julien Temple goes way out on a limb with “The Eternity Man, ” a strident mash-up of noir opera and documentary which should please fans of neither. It recounts the true-life story of Arthur Stace (Grant Doyle), an alcoholic war veteran who found God after a stint of homelessness and gained a degree of local notoriety by repeatedly chalking the word “Eternity” on Sydney’s footpaths over 40 years.The colorful evocation of the city’s 20th century bohemian underbelly might be of passing interest to Sydneysiders. But the shadowy title character is a footnote and not interesting enough to sustain the necessary histrionics of an opera. The film may find traction as a festival curiosity.Temple (“The Great Rock and Roll Swindle, ” “Joe Strummer: The Future is Unwritten”) stages the opera, featuring a libretto by poet Dorothy Porter, on the streets of a seedy-looking Sydney. The Brit director has a keen eye for the distinctive architecture of the place, from the art deco corner pubs to the iconic Harbour Bridge. His painterly compositions are quite sumptuous, and the large-scale projection of newsreels as a backdrop to Stace’s progress through the decades is an effective device.But the evangelical Stace skulks about mostly at night and the only person he interacts with is his shrill brothel-madam sister, Myrtle (Christa Hughes, ) producing a flatlining narrative. When Myrtle screeches about “mirth and muck” in an introductory aria interspersed with images of kinky sex, it’s easy to see what attracted Temple’s interest. It’s just not enough to hold ours.Production companies: Goalpost Pictures, Essential Viewing Group, Illumination Films. Cast: Grant Doyle, Christa Hughes. Director: Julien Temple. Screenwriters: Julien Temple, Dorothy Porter. Producers: Rosemary Blight, John Wyver and Alex Fleetwood. Director of photography: Mark Wareham. Production designer: Felicity Abbott. Music: Jonathan Mills. Costume designer: Wendy Cork. Editor: Rodrigo Balart. Sales: ABC International and Sunday Night Movies...
Punk documentarian Julien Temple goes way out on a limb with “The Eternity Man, ” a strident mash-up of noir opera and documentary which should please fans of neither. It recounts the true-life story of Arthur Stace (Grant Doyle), an alcoholic war veteran who found God after a stint of homelessness and gained a degree of local notoriety by repeatedly chalking the word “Eternity” on Sydney’s footpaths over 40 years.The colorful evocation of the city’s 20th century bohemian underbelly might be of passing interest to Sydneysiders. But the shadowy title character is a footnote and not interesting enough to sustain the necessary histrionics of an opera. The film may find traction as a festival curiosity.Temple (“The Great Rock and Roll Swindle, ” “Joe Strummer: The Future is Unwritten”) stages the opera, featuring a libretto by poet Dorothy Porter, on the streets of a seedy-looking Sydney. The Brit director has a keen eye for the distinctive architecture of the place, from the art deco corner pubs to the iconic Harbour Bridge. His painterly compositions are quite sumptuous, and the large-scale projection of newsreels as a backdrop to Stace’s progress through the decades is an effective device.But the evangelical Stace skulks about mostly at night and the only person he interacts with is his shrill brothel-madam sister, Myrtle (Christa Hughes, ) producing a flatlining narrative. When Myrtle screeches about “mirth and muck” in an introductory aria interspersed with images of kinky sex, it’s easy to see what attracted Temple’s interest. It’s just not enough to hold ours.Production companies: Goalpost Pictures, Essential Viewing Group, Illumination Films. Cast: Grant Doyle, Christa Hughes. Director: Julien Temple. Screenwriters: Julien Temple, Dorothy Porter. Producers: Rosemary Blight, John Wyver and Alex Fleetwood. Director of photography: Mark Wareham. Production designer: Felicity Abbott. Music: Jonathan Mills. Costume designer: Wendy Cork. Editor: Rodrigo Balart. Sales: ABC International and Sunday Night Movies...
- 6/13/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Creepy and promising at first, "In the Winter Dark" is ultimately a misfire, despite rugged lead performances by the down-to-earth cast, including Oscar nominee Brenda Blethyn.
The small, character-driven, but muddled Australian pyscho-thriller unspooled recently at the Palm Springs Film Festival.
Director James Bogle stresses the gloomy moods of the four leads with little subtlety, while the whole murky scenario swings on foggy details and the possible madness of one or more of the backwoods characters.
Ida (Blethyn) and Maurice (Ray Barrett) still work the family farm, but he's old and paranoid, and maybe cracking up. Their gloomy neighbor Jacob (Richard Roxburgh), helpful but gruff, is an escapee from civilization.
One night another couple in the quiet valley fights, and freaked-out Ronnie (Miranda Otto) wanders into Jacob's life. Together, they bond with Ida and Maurice, particularly when it appears a strange animal is attacking local livestock at night.
Screenwriters Bogle and Peter Rasmussen like to show dead animals and other nasty things, with Maurice emerging as a tortured soul. Someone is destined to become his victim in increasingly alcohol-soaked confrontations with an unseen menace. Savvy moviegoers may make some sense of the bummer finale, but overall it plays as indecisive and cowardly enigmatic after putting an audience through endless unpleasantnesses.
Blethyn is restrained as likable Ida, who has an emotional girls-will-be-girls evening with Ronnie. Overall, veterans Barrett and Blethyn are solid, despite the often leaden material. Otto plays the most exotic character and constantly steals the attention from lackluster Roxburgh.
IN THE WINTER DARK
Southern Star A R.B. Films production
Director: James Bogle
Producer: Rosemary Blight
Screenwriters: James Bogle, Peter Rasmussen
Director of photography: Martin McGrath
Production designer: Nicholas McCallum
Editor: Suresh Ayyar
Costume designer: Wendy Cork
Color/stereo
Cast:
Ida: Brenda Blethyn
Maurice: Ray Barrett
Ronnie: Miranda Otto
Jacob: Richard Roxburgh
Running time -- 92 minutes
No MPAA rating...
The small, character-driven, but muddled Australian pyscho-thriller unspooled recently at the Palm Springs Film Festival.
Director James Bogle stresses the gloomy moods of the four leads with little subtlety, while the whole murky scenario swings on foggy details and the possible madness of one or more of the backwoods characters.
Ida (Blethyn) and Maurice (Ray Barrett) still work the family farm, but he's old and paranoid, and maybe cracking up. Their gloomy neighbor Jacob (Richard Roxburgh), helpful but gruff, is an escapee from civilization.
One night another couple in the quiet valley fights, and freaked-out Ronnie (Miranda Otto) wanders into Jacob's life. Together, they bond with Ida and Maurice, particularly when it appears a strange animal is attacking local livestock at night.
Screenwriters Bogle and Peter Rasmussen like to show dead animals and other nasty things, with Maurice emerging as a tortured soul. Someone is destined to become his victim in increasingly alcohol-soaked confrontations with an unseen menace. Savvy moviegoers may make some sense of the bummer finale, but overall it plays as indecisive and cowardly enigmatic after putting an audience through endless unpleasantnesses.
Blethyn is restrained as likable Ida, who has an emotional girls-will-be-girls evening with Ronnie. Overall, veterans Barrett and Blethyn are solid, despite the often leaden material. Otto plays the most exotic character and constantly steals the attention from lackluster Roxburgh.
IN THE WINTER DARK
Southern Star A R.B. Films production
Director: James Bogle
Producer: Rosemary Blight
Screenwriters: James Bogle, Peter Rasmussen
Director of photography: Martin McGrath
Production designer: Nicholas McCallum
Editor: Suresh Ayyar
Costume designer: Wendy Cork
Color/stereo
Cast:
Ida: Brenda Blethyn
Maurice: Ray Barrett
Ronnie: Miranda Otto
Jacob: Richard Roxburgh
Running time -- 92 minutes
No MPAA rating...
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