Time for a film

I saw 20 films at my first ever film festival and it was a really great experience with a wide range of movies. I saw most of what I wanted to see, with Undefeated and The Intouchables being the main ones that I missed out on. I had 5 films I loved and 4 I thoroughly enjoyed so to come away with 9 films I can’t wait to talk about has been great.

I’ve gone and ordered all 20 films with a brief summary of my feelings for each below. Would love to hear which ones you enjoyed or are looking forward to!

Loved:

#1 – Moonrise Kingdom
I reviewed this film and it was my clear favourite of the festival. So charming and likeable, full of laughs and beautifully shot. A-
Australian Release Date: August 30
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#2 – Safety Not Guaranteed
This fun movie had a lot of charismatic characters and was really just a superb mix of humour, intrigue and a good plot. Only 86 minutes long, it felt like a perfect length and had me interested the whole way. B+
Australian Release Date: October 18
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#3 – Bully
An amazingly moving documentary, it was hard to fight the tears back for this one. The multiple stories work well and I really felt the pain of each character. It’s message is a strong one and while I do think US kids will relate to the movie moreso then Australian ones, it’s still a world issue that needs to be addressed. B+
Australian Release Date: August 23 
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#4 – The Imposter
Another great documentary, this had one of the best stories I’ve ever heard. It’s crazy that it’s all true, as it’s the type of story that would be hard to even imagine let alone conceivably believe. I loved the ‘Imposter’ himself, such a character. The movie itself is beautifully constructed, releasing pieces of information bit by bit. Definitely a must see. B+
No Current Australian Release Date
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 #5 – The Sessions
Sure to move some more then others, John Hawkes could well get Oscar nominated for his lead role in this touching movie. B+
Australian Release Date: November 8
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Really Liked:

#6 – Monsieur Lazhar
This Canadian film was hard not to like as we see an Algerian immigrant who is hired to replace a popular teacher who committed suicide in her classroom. We observe how the students deal with the grief, but the subplots in this movie are also key with deeper meanings hidden throughout. It didn’t quite move me but I appreciated it, especially the ending. B
Australian Release Date: September 6
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#7 – The Hunt
Mads Mikkelsen puts in another stellar performance in this Danish movie, after being so great in A Royal Affair earlier in the year. I found the premise the movie was based on to be a bit unrealistic, although an argument could be made for the way things unravelled. That aside, it’s touching and emotional throughout, full of many tense scenes as well. It’s quite frustrating though, especially when the ‘issue’ begins. I’m also not to fond of animals being harmed in movies which happens a few times. Still, a very good movie. B
No Current Australian Release Date
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#8 – ParaNorman
The animation in this movie is a real winner and it’s selling point. I also really enjoyed the charismatic characters, voiced by numerous actors with awesome voices including John Goodman, Christpoher Mintz-Plasse and Anna Kendrick. The message is great, and for a kids film it’s really dark and almost more suited for adults. B
Australian Release Date: January 10
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#9 – No
A great Chilean film with a very likable Gael García Bernal as he comes up with an ad campaign to defeat Augusto Pinochet in Chile’s 1988 referendum. A highlight was the intertwining of real footage and also the humour that accompanied a pretty serious and real story. I had not seen Pablo Larraín’s first two films which were apparently much darker, but this one is a gem even with it’s minor flaws. I think most would enjoy it. B
No Current Australian Release Date
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Middle of the road:
#10 – Beasts of the Southern Wild
There were aspects of magic in this indie film, which is an early Oscar frontrunner. Set in an interesting place, six-year-old Hushpuppy is faced with her father’s fading health and environmental changes. For the positives: An amazing soundtrack, beautiful cinematography and great sound editing/mixing. I found it had many negatives though, including being slow at times and ultimately not really reaching out to me. I appreciated some parts of it though, and many will love it. B-
Australian Release Date: Spetember 13
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#11 – Sightseers
Extremely dark, I was in stitches at times at how funny this movie was. It often made me cringe and felt like it went too far, but that’s part of why it was so good. I actually felt somewhat sick towards the end, something I haven’t felt in a movie before. For this reason it loses a couple of points. Some of the brutal sounds of a skull cracking when hit just really got to me when I think about it. Definitely an experience! B-
No Current Australian Release Date
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#12 – Killer Joe
I don’t know what I was expecting coming into this film, but it definitely surprised me… It’s very different, offensive, crazy. Matthew McConaughey was great, as was Juno Temple and Emile Hirsch. The audience loved it, but I can’t help but think that if I saw this in a non sold-out session that wasn’t packed with enthusiasm like this one was, that I wouldn’t have liked it at all. As it was it passed the time and has some very memorable moments. B-
No Current Australian Release Date

Average:
#13 – Alps
An interesting concept, it actually managed to hold my attention for the most part. It did however have very little happen and ended a bit strangely. Just an average film with no strong emotion either way for me. C+
No Current Australian Release Date
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#14 – Amour
Amour was a movie I was disappointed in. It opens so well and the first 45 minutes of the film I was entranced. From then I found it extremely frustrating (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing) but I also found it slow and extremely long. The final hour did nothing for me, with the big finale something I was waiting for and expecting the whole time. I must have no heart because while I found the topic a tough and heartfelt one, I felt nothing at the end and was glad it had finished. I will probably be in the minority on this one though so it’s probably worth watching and making your own mind up. C+
No Current Australian Release Date
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#15 – Caesar Must Die
I’m not sure if this movie was trying to entertain or move me but I suspect it was the latter. Inmates at a high-security prison in Rome prepare for a public performance of Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar.” I didn’t realise that they were real inmates at the time and I think movie does a really poor job of highlighting that, I may have been more appreciative if I had known. It has it’s moments but to be frank, it bored me. C+
No Current Australian Release Date
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Disliked:
#16 – Holy Motors
It’s at the top of my dislike list because there were maybe 3 scenes I loved. However, I found the movie to be pointless, silly and extremely unlikable. The plot is insane and while many loved it I didn’t get anything out of it. It had no message for me to relate to or comprehend, it was entertaining in moments but tiresome for a whole movie. I really didn’t like it, perhaps it’s just not my type of movie. C
Australian Release Date: August 23
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#17 – Mental
Ahhh… not sure what to say about this film. It had moments I enjoyed, especially the first third in which I thought the film was fine. It had some likable characters, mainly the kids and teenagers. I thought all the adult characters were simply annoying. Ultimately, it became painful when it dragged on with irrelevant subplots. A comedy at over 110 minutes of length, the final 30 minutes simply kill it. C
Australian Release Date: October 4
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#18 – Paradise: Love
It wasn’t the racism or offensive nature of the film that really turned me off it (although I’m sure many will find the racism too much to handle in this ‘comedy’) but it’s slowness throughout is the real killer. It again has it’s moments, and again they seem to be very early on in the film. I would definitely not recommend it. C
No Current Australian Release Date
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#19 – In the Fog
This was really serene at times, and it’s grade is probably a little harsh as I didn’t hate it, I was just extremely bored and tired of it by the end of it’s 127 minute runtime. Cut 30 minutes off and it’s decent enough. C-
No Current Australian Release Date
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#20 – Seeking a Friend for the End of the World
A movie I absolutely hated, this is almost certainly the worst film I have seen this year. I don’t like to shoot down movies but after a bright opening 15 minutes (mainly thanks to Rob Corddry who I loved) it descends into absolute dribble. So painful to sit through, Steve Carell is actually ok but it’s Keira Knightley that was a lowlight. I never minded her as an actress as far as my memory serves me, but every time she came on the screen I cringed, was annoyed and was very close to walking out. Probably the only film of the festival I’ve felt really strongly towards negatively. D+
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And that’s my round up! I really loved so many films this year, with Moonrise Kingdom being one I will definitely watch again when it gets released. Hopefully I see The Intouchables and Undefeated over the next month. I’d love to thank all the people that made my MIFF amazing, from all the volunteers to all the great cinema lovers I’ve met!

I’d also love to hear what movies you enjoyed or are looking forward to in the comments!