Melbourne Film Diary 23rd Jan - 29th Jan

Welcome to the first edition of the RAOC weekly Melbourne film diary.

THE WEEKLY TOP 5

1. This week represents your last chance to catch ACMI's excellent Star Voyager exhibition.I expected to see more props and so forth from space based films (of which there are still several), but instead found myself enthralled with footage and artifacts from actual space exploration. My highlight is a camera that was attached to one of the Apollo lunar landers, displayed next to a monitor showing moon footage shot with that very camera. A must see.

Star Voyager, ACMI, 23rd-29th Jan, Full $16.50 Concession $14 Child $9 Members $11

2. Thursday is Australia Day, and and discerning cinemas around Melbourne have your ocker movie needs covered. The least whelming of these offerings is the three movie Australia Day Eve marathon at the Village Coburg. For $25 you get to see Underworld: Awakening, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and Jack and Jill. Starts 9PM. Also on the day before the big one, Rooftop Cinema is showing Muriel's Wedding. On the day itself ACMI is serving up a smorgasbord of local film. Take your pick from Strictly Ballroom, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Muriel's Wedding and Mull. Pick of the crop however is The Shadow Electric, with an outdoor screening of Ten Canoes at the Abbotsford Convent.

Australia Day Eve Marathon, Village Coburg, 25th Jan 9:00PM $25
Muriel's Wedding, Rooftop Cinema, 25th Jan 9:30PM Full $20+BF Concession $16+BF
Various Australian Movies, ACMI, 26th Jan various times, Full $15 Concession $12 Member $11
Ten Canoes, The Shadow Electric - Abbotsford Convent, 26th Jan Sundown (circa 8:30) Full $19 Concession $16 Child $14 Pensioner $14

3. Pick of the crop at the marvellous Astor Theatre this week is Wednesday night's double feature. A pair of critically acclaimed recent releases are lined up in the form of Take Shelter, followed by Moneyball. Both films have been attracting strong notices, particularly for their leading men, Michael Shannon and Brad Pitt respectively. As an added bonus, Wednesday is the Astor's cheap night, so you can see both these gems for a mere tenner!

Take Shelter / Moneyball, The Astor, 25th Jan 7:30PM, All tickets $10

4. ACMI is continuing to shine this week with a pair of documentaries covering very different subjects. Firstly Being Elmo looks at the story of Kevin Clash, who created and handles the fuzzy red Sesame Street star. This is the second run for this doc, and has returned due to popular demand. In a very different vein, The Interrupters is the much anticipated new documentary from the creators of 1994's Hoop Dreams. Tickets have been selling fast for The Interrupters, with new sessions having just been announced. Book soon to avoid disappointment.

Being Elmo, ACMI, 25th Jan - 30th Jan, Full $15 Concession $12 Member $11
The Interrupters, 23rd Jan - 5th Feb, Full $15 Concession $12 Member $11

5. The summer heat has arrived making it the perfect time to visit on of Melbourne's fine outdoor or rooftop cinemas. Top option for this week is the Rooftop Cinema showing of We Need To Talk About Kevin. Starring the always great Tilda Swinton, this harrowing film examines the bond (or lack thereof) between a mother and her troubled teenage son. If it all sounds a bit maudlin, just remember the attached bar will be open after the film until 1am to drown your sorrows.

We Need To Talk About Kevin, Rooftop Cinema, 27th Jan 9:30PM Full $20+BF Concession $16+BF

NEW RELEASES

Slim pickings this week, with a wedding based British romcom, a 3D video game inspired action fourquel and a Clint Eastwood picture that has been getting mixed reviews at best. This week is a lull in the usual Jan-Feb glut of Oscar Bait pictures.

A Few Best Men: Hoyts, Village, Palace, Greater Union
Underworld: Awakening : Hoyts, Village
J. Edgar : Village, Palace, Greater Union