Well, here we go again! Another year has arrived and this January Rialto Channel has another superb lineup of films ready to go, including a series of documentaries profiling a collection of filmmakers and actors such as Michael Haneke and Harry Dean Stanton.
And Cleaver Green, our favourite Aussie lawyer is back in his brand new series Rake, while Ant Timpson continues to challenge and entertain us with his Incredible Strange series screening every Friday evening at 8.30pm.
Here are a few of my highlights for the week:
Dom Hemingway
Starring: Jude Law, Richard E. Grant and Emilia Clarke
Directed by: Richard Shepard
Screening: Rialto Selection, Saturday 10th January, 8.30pm
Jude Law stacked on the weight (don’t panic, only 13 kg ladies), grew some truly horrible facial hair, and stepped into the shoes of a seedy, foul mouthed, larger-than-life criminal called Dom Hemingway for this off-beat British crime comedy. Letting loose with director/writer Richard Shepard’s Tarantino-like script, Law looks like he’s having the time of his life as he spits, yells and threatens his way through this film. He brings his shallowly written character to life, seeking retribution from a crime boss he’s just done 12 years in prison for. Due to an anger management and alcohol abuse problem, Dom Hemingway isn’t a very likable character and deserves whatever befalls him, however Jude Law is in such fabulous form, he’s well worth catching in all his scoundrel glory.
Rake: Series 3
Starring: Richard Roxburgh, Matt Day, Kate Box and Adrienne Pickering
Directed by: Jess Hobbs, Kate Dennis and Rowan Woods
Screening: Tuesday 6th January, 8.30pm
Speaking of scoundrels, Cleaver Greene is one of my favourites and he’s back and as reckless, brilliant and self-destructive as ever. Series 3 starts with Greene (Richard Roxburgh) languishing in prison (along with many former colleagues and enemies), spending his days keeping the peace between unstable inmates and fending off advances from his cellmate. It makes for a nice change of setting, but it’s not long before he’s out and creating havoc for those around him. Just like the first two series, Rake is well written, and if you’re a little late jumping on the Rake bandwagon, then don’t worry, an episode or two in and you’ll be all over who is who. The other great thing about this series is it stars Robyn Malcolm and Danielle Cormack, and is co-directed by Jess Hobbs.
Wild Horse, Wild Ride
Starring: Wylene Wilson, Kris Kokal & Charles Chee,
Directed by: Alex Dawson and Greg Gricus
Screening: Wednesday 7th January, 8.30pm
You don’t have to be a horse lover to enjoy this debut feature film from husband and wife filmmakers Alex Dawson and Greg Gricus. Both television documentary makers, Dawson and Gricus take us into the world of horse training, following eight contestants from varied backgrounds that take on the challenge of training a wild horse in three months. It’s part of the annual Extreme Mustang Makeover Challenge in Fort Worth, and what makes this documentary interesting is that both professional and amateur ‘horse-whisperers’ can enter. Their motivations and techniques are wide-ranging making Wild Horse, Wild Ride a fascinating look at the relationship between man and horse, as well as an entertaining sports flick. It’s a conventionally told story, but a heartwarming and enjoyable one.