Australia Blog

Sunset Cinema

Went to a screening of Gettin' Square tonight at the Sunset Cinema in the City Botantical Gardens. This Aussie movie has won a few domestic awards recently and I was looking forward to seeing it. I'm a sucker for cool crime stories in the mold of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and The Usual Suspects.

The venue is a cool way to catch a flick. You've got the city lights around you and a downward sloping natural amphitheatre to sit in. You need to bring your own blankets and cushions, and one of those Thermorest seats would have been perfect. My only gripe about the venue was that the toilets were over 100 metres away. They serve beer as well, so you really have to decide how much of the movie you're prepared to miss if you don't plan your trips well. Some nearby port-a-loos would have been a better option in my opinion.

The screening started off with the finalists from the Courier Mail Short Film Competition. Some of them were pretty clever and others were downright shite. Truly awful and 5-10 minutes can seem like a very long time when you're put through that torture.

The movie itself was so-so. There was nothing really original and I found myself easily guessing what was coming because I've seen it so many times before in films with a similar genre. There were some funny moments and I thought the acting was very good from the main characters, but otherwise don't rush out and see it.

Kudos must go to Ging, whose organising skills meant I did not have to pay $13 to see the film, got a comfy blanket to sit on, and a box of BBQ Pizza Shapes to bring home. Result!