Brisbane is well known for a lot of things, but the film industry isn't one of them. And that's a pity, because there have been some great Aussie movies that have been filmed and set in our city. Check out these flicks for your next movie night.
48 Shades
Director: Daniel Lapaine
Starring: Richard Watson, Emma Lung and Robin McLeavy
Rated: M
To call this movie a Brisbane movie is something of an understatement. It was adapted from the book
48 Shades of Brown by popular Brisbane author
Nick Earls, it was set and shot in inner city Brisbane and Brisbane Boys College and one of the lead characters is apparently the bass guitarist for Brissy band
Gazoonga Attack. Yep, this one is an excellent choice to get the night started.
48 Shades is a coming of age tale about Dan, an awkward seventeen year old. Just before Dan begins year twelve, his parents move to Geneva and he chooses to move in with his twenty-something aunt Jacq and her roommate Naomi. Thrust prematurely into an adult world, Dan must negotiate relationships, adult parties and acquiring the taste of beer.
48 Shades is entertaining and sweet, and Dan's attempts to impress his crush are absolutely hilarious.
He Died With a Felafel in his Hand
Director: Richard Lowenstein
Starring: Noah Taylor, Sophie Lee
Rated: MA
If you think that your share house is bad, this movie will make you feel a million times better. Warning: this is not for the faint of heart.
He Died with a Felafel in his Hand consists of a series of vignettes that follow Danny through hellish share accommodation situations. The title refers to the opening scene, when Danny discovers his roommate dead in front of the TV with a felafel in his hand. As it turns out, this is one of the movies tamer scenes.
This movie was filmed on location in Annerley and was based on the book of the same name by
John Birmingham, another Brissy writer.
Blurred
Director: Evan Clarry
Starring: Matthew Newton, Craig Horner, Jamie Croft
Rated: M
Featuring an ensemble cast,
Blurred follows a cross section of school leavers as they make their way to the Gold Coast for Schoolies Week. The acting is not great and there's not a lot of actual Schoolies action (most of the film takes place on the road and some of the characters don't even make it there) but it's a fun romp and a must see for those of us who were at the Gold Coast for Schoolies.
