By Travis Johnson
Actor Paul Dano’s directorial debut Wildlife will be the opening night film for the 67th Melbourne International Film Festival. Based on Richard Ford’s novel and starring Carey Mulligan, Jake Gyllenhaal and Australia’s Ed Oxenbould, the film tells a tender and empathetic story about a teen dealing with his family falling apart in 1960s Montana.
Wildlife is only one of a bumper crop of films announced today. The festival, which this year runs from August 2 – 19, have released the names of 33 “first glance” films that promise an incredible range of cinematic experiences, including critically acclaimed festival films, highly anticipated local offerings, documentaries, and more.
Highlights this year include:
First Reformed
A career-best Ethan Hawke stars in cinematic legend Paul Schrader’s latest provocation, a compulsively watchable feast of brooding menace and pulpy thrills that won the Green Drop Award for environmental filmmaking at the Venice Film Festival.
In a remote part of upstate New York, Ernst Toller (Hawke), a reverend haunted by the death of his son, becomes inescapably drawn into the lives of new parishioners Michael (Phillip Ettinger) and Mary (Amanda Seyfried). The young couple’s marriage is being wrenched apart by Michael’s fixation on the coming environmental apocalypse and when Ernst realises the true depth of Michael’s fervor, he is set on a path he never expected.
The Miseducation of Cameron Post
Winner of the Sundance Grand Jury Prize (US Dramatic), Desiree Akhavan’s sophomore feature sees Chloë Grace Moretz turn in a career-best performance as a teen sent to a conversion therapy camp.
Adapting Emily M Danforth’s acclaimed Young Adult novel, Akhavan brings the same fierce intellect she displayed in Appropriate Behavior (MIFF 2014) to the story of Cameron Post, a recently orphaned adolescent girl who is caught in flagrante with another girl at her high-school prom and promptly shipped off to a ‘pray the gay away’ camp called God’s Promise.
Let the Corpses Tan
Spaghetti Western, ’70s Euro-pulp and delirious psychedelia collide in this stylised genre mashup about a gang of bandits locked in a wild, day-long shootout with cops in a Mediterranean hamlet.
In this frenetic homage to cinema’s seedier retro fringes, a band of thieves make off with a truckload of stolen gold and find themselves in an all-out firefight at the home of a bohemian artist who lives among ruins.
Island of the Hungry Ghosts
Christmas Island’s famous migrating crabs, lost souls caught in limbo and political detainees intersect in lyrical, highly cinematic fashion in the Tribeca Film Festival Best Documentary award winner.
The tiny Indian Ocean Territory of Christmas Island has been a centre for migrating populations for millennia – first, the distinctive Christmas Island red crabs; then phosphate miners from Malaya in the 19th century; and most recently, people seeking asylum in Australia. It is here, at the nexus of the three, that first-time feature documentarian Gabrielle Brady locates her extraordinary essay, an expansion of her award-winning 2017 short The Island.
You Were Never Really Here
Lynne Ramsay returns with an intense, evocative exploration of trauma and vengeance, anchored by a masterful performance from Cannes 2017 best actor winner Joaquin Phoenix.
Joe does a job no one else will: a war vet and ex-FBI agent turned hitman, his new line of work includes rescuing children from paedophile rings. The confronting task takes a considerable psychological toll but that’s just one of his worries after he’s hired to save a senator’s daughter. When the situation goes south, the duo is soon caught in an unrelenting conspiracy of corruption, violence and abuse.
West of Sunshine
Pawno’s Damian Hill stars in this Venice-premiering exploration of fatherhood, trauma and second chances, shot in Melbourne’s inner southeast by first-time local filmmaker Jason Raftopoulos.
Friday is no ordinary day for courier Jim (Hill, MIFF 2015’s Pawno). His loan shark wants $15,000 by close of business; his boss wants him to stick to his normal deliveries; and, being school holidays, he’s supposed to be looking after his adolescent son (Hill’s real-life stepson Tyler Perham). From dawn until dusk, Jim endeavours to juggle all three – come up with cash he doesn’t have, keep his job and entertain the boy he doesn’t spend enough time with – all while trying to avoid further trouble.
Mr Inbetween
Nash Edgerton brings The Magician’s charismatic killer-for-hire Ray Shoesmith back to our screens in his TV series directorial debut. MIFF presents all six episodes.
Ray Shoesmith began life in Scott Ryan’s blackly comic mockumentary The Magician (MIFF 2005), about a deadpan hitman being trailed by an aspiring documentarian. Edgerton (Gringo, The Square, and MIFF 2007 short film Spider) was a producer and editor on that film but for this new six-part series he’s stepped behind the camera to delve further into Ray’s life as he attempts to juggle his bloody profession with his love life and being a good dad, brother and friend. Ryan returns as scriptwriter and star, alongside Justin Rosniak, Brooke Satchwell, Damon Herriman and newcomer Chika Yasumura – Edgerton’s real-life stepdaughter. Kriv Stenders and David Michôd also cameo.
McQueen
During the ’90s, Alexander McQueen’s daring, darkly humorous aesthetic became synonymous with London fashion. His clothes combined Savile Row tailoring with experimental technologies and political critiques. His lowrise ‘bumster’ pants brought down waistlines for the next two decades, and his signature skull-motif scarf was copied around the world. But how did an ordinary Lewisham lad named Lee become Alexander, couturier to the stars and edgy king of runway theatre? And what demons drove him to end his life in 2010, aged only 40?
The Bill Murray Stories
Urban legend has it that Hollywood actor Bill Murray crashes karaoke sessions, drives taxis and photobombs engagement pictures. Now, director Tommy Avallone wants a Bill Murray story of his own.
You’ve probably heard the stories. The famously private star is spotted doing dishes at a house party, or serving drinks at a local bar. As if hunting Bigfoot, Avallone follows the trail of Murray’s alleged appearances – from Los Angeles, where Murray served ice creams from a street stall, to Austin, where he played tambourine at a houseparty
gig. The stories often finish with Murray slyly saying, “No one will ever believe you.” But like Fox Mulder, Avallone wants to believe.
Other films announced include An Elephant Sitting Still (China), Angels Wear White (China), Apostasy (UK), Beast (UK), Blaze (USA), Bodied (USA), I Used to Be Normal – A Boyband Fangirl Story (Australia/USA), John McEnroe: In the Realm of Perfection (France), MATANGI /MAYA /M.I.A. (USA/UK), People’s Republic of Desire (China / USA), Pig (Iran), Pity (Greece/Poland), The Cheaters (Australia), The Deserted (Taiwan), The Guilty (Denmark), The Insult (Lebanon), The Seen and Unseen (Indonesia), Tigers Are Not Afraid (Mexico), Transit (Germany), United Skates (USA), Wayne (Australia/NZ), Who Are You, Polly Maggoo? (France), and Zama (Argentina/Brazil/Spain/France/Netherlands/Mexico/Portugal).
“We are thrilled to announce Wildlife for this year’s Opening Night Gala. Paul Dano’s debut as a director provides a glimpse into a successful shift in his career from on screen to off, and the cast including Australia’s very own Ed Oxenbould (a special name here at MIFF) is an impressive way to kick off proceedings,” said MIFF’s Artistic Director Michelle Carrey. “This in addition to the sneak peek of the rest of the program is an exciting time. Finally we can start talking about the most important thing… the films!”
The remainder of MIFF 2018’s 500+ screenings will be announced on Tuesday, July 10, with tickets going on sale Friday, July 13. Limited Opening Night Gala tickets are on sale now, and MIFF Members have exclusive access to a pre-sale period from July 10 – 12. For full details, hit up the festival website.
