Urban Cinefile
 The World of Film in Australia - on the Internet Updated Thursday September 9, 2010 - Edition No 705 
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0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

  LAND OF THE DEAD – HORROR IN THE SUBTEXT
George A. Romero has again infused his latest zombie movie, Land of the Dead, with socio-political commentary, namely the disintegration of western industrial society, says long-time Romero watcher, Richard Kuipers, giving horror a whole new – and extra - meaning.
LANTANA, CHOPPER, MYTH & MEANING: WINNERS LANTANA, CHOPPER, MYTH & MEANING: WINNERS
For a chance to win one of 5 prize packs of the scripts of Lantana & Chopper, plus the book, Myth & Meaning (interviews with Australian directors), we asked you to nominate which Australian film would make a good novel and why. Lantana, Mad Max, Stone, and Priscilla were all favourites, as were The Castle, Mullet, Redball and Paperback Hero (appropriately enough, that was indeed novelised).
  LARA CROFT TOMBRAIDER 2: THE CRADLE OF LIFE
In a season dominated by figures of fantasy, there is one heroine who keeps at least one foot firmly on the ground: Lara Croft. Eleanor Singer looks at the making of Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life.
  LARS AND THE REAL GIRL – THE LEADING LADY IS A REALDOLL
One of the year’s most entertaining films has a leading lady without an agent, without a limo, no personal assistants and no dietary needs. Expat Australian director and the cast talk about working with a RealDoll.
  LAST KING OF SCOTLAND, THE
Kevin Macdonald takes us inside Uganda of the 70s while Forest Whitaker channels Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland, which combines historical adventure with human insight.
LAST KISS: WINNERS LAST KISS: WINNERS
We asked: How would you Italian-icise your name (to help with a romantic introduction)? Our Italian readers had trouble, but most entries got the hang of it pretty well, and many captured the essential romantic Latin flavour with style and humour. The judges deliberated over the entries, aided by a Chianti, and chose the following winners, who will each receive one of 100 double passes to the Italian romantic comedy, The Last Kiss, for sneak previews (Sydney & Melbourne only) on the weekend of April 19 - 21. The Last Kiss releases April 25, 2002. Prizes courtesy Palace Films.
LAST ORDERS - TORONTO FILM FESTIVAL LAST ORDERS – TORONTO FILM FESTIVAL
Fred Schepisi’s Last Orders (pic), one of three films at Toronto directed by Australians, has a high calibre cast (who stuck to low alcohol Kaliber beer) yet was maddening difficult to finance, as Schepisi tells Geoffrey Macnab.
LAWRENCE OF ARABIA - RESTORED & REVEALED LAWRENCE OF ARABIA – RESTORED & REVEALED
A fully restored 70 mm print of Lawrence of Arabia with a new DTS soundtrack can again be called a masterpiece – and piece by piece, Patrick Conlan* points out what was cut and when, and how it was all restored. But he finds one missing shot … of 8 seconds. (Sydney: Cremorne Orpheum, June 14 – 22; Melbourne: July 6 –20, 2003.)
LAWRENCE OF ARABIA IS HERE LAWRENCE OF ARABIA IS HERE
Lawrence of Arabia is a big film. It’s so big, in fact, it was made in two halves, with an intermission. On DVD, its majesty and its compelling entertainment value has been retained – indeed, enhanced. But it also manages to be an intimate film, revealing characters, motives and relationships.
  LEAN, DAVID – 101st ANNIVERSARY RETRO
On the eve of the 101st anniversary of his birth (March 25, 1908), David Lean is being honoured by the Austrian Film Museum in Vienna, in collaboration with the BFI National Archive, with a programme mainly consisting of newly restored prints.
LEGEND OF BAGGER VANCE, THE LEGEND OF BAGGER VANCE, THE
No one knows better than a golfer that in the game of golf are contained all the lessons of life," says Robert Redford about his latest movie, The Legend of Bagger Vance. Dick Niro reports.
  LEGEND OF SURIYOTHAI, THE
  LETTERS REPUBLIC
Readers respond to Andrew L. Urban's COMMENTS on the question of a Republic and a Head of State.
  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (1) NOV 98
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (2): Jun 99 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (2): Jun 99
Letters to the Editor are welcome; we’d like to hear your movie related stories, anecdotes and – of course – your opinions (preferably no more than 350 words). Please include your name and city where you live. The Editor has the right to edit.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - APRIL 2000 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - APRIL 2000
Letters to the Editor are welcome; they can be on any relevant subject (relevant meaning relevant to this zine) and preferably no more than 350 words. Please include your name and city where you live. The Editor has the right to edit. We’d like to hear your movie related stories, anecdotes and – of course – your opinions. Drop us a line to editor@urbancinefile.com.au
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - MARCH 2000 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - MARCH 2000
Letters to the Editor are welcome; they can be on any relevant subject (relevant meaning relevant to this zine) and preferably no more than 350 words. Please include your name and city where you live. The Editor has the right to edit. We’d like to hear your movie related stories, anecdotes and – of course – your opinions. Drop us a line to editor@urbancinefile.com.au
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR : Jul 99 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR : Jul 99
Letters to the Editor are welcome; we’d like to hear your movie related stories, anecdotes and – of course – your opinions (preferably no more than 350 words). Please include your name and city where you live. The Editor has the right to edit.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR : Jul 99 (2) LETTERS TO THE EDITOR : Jul 99 (2)
Letters to the Editor are welcome; we’d like to hear your movie related stories, anecdotes and – of course – your opinions (preferably no more than 350 words). Please include your name and city where you live. The Editor has the right to edit.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: APRIL 2001 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: APRIL 2001
Letters to the Editor are welcome; they can be on any relevant subject (relevant meaning relevant to this zine) and preferably no more than 350 words. Please include your name and city where you live. The Editor has the right to edit. We’d like to hear your movie related stories, anecdotes and – of course – your opinions. Drop us a line to editor@urbancinefile.com.au
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: April 99 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: April 99
Letters to the Editor are welcome; we’d like to hear your movie related stories, anecdotes and – of course – your opinions (preferably no more than 350 words). Please include your name and city where you live. The Editor has the right to edit.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Aug 99 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Aug 99
Letters to the Editor are welcome; we’d like to hear your movie related stories, anecdotes and – of course – your opinions (preferably no more than 350 words). Please include your name and city where you live. The Editor has the right to edit.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: August 2000 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: August 2000
Letters to the Editor are welcome; they can be on any relevant subject (relevant meaning relevant to this zine) and preferably no more than 350 words. Please include your name and city where you live. The Editor has the right to edit. We’d like to hear your movie related stories, anecdotes and – of course – your opinions. Drop us a line to editor@urbancinefile.com.au
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: DEC 98 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: DEC 98
Letters to the Editor are welcome; they can be on any relevant subject (relevant meaning relevant to this zine) and preferably no more than 350 words. Please include your name and city where you live. The Editor has the right to edit. We’d like to hear your movie related stories, anecdotes and – of course – your opinions.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: December 2000 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: December 2000
Letters to the Editor are welcome; they can be on any relevant subject (relevant meaning relevant to this zine) and preferably no more than 350 words. Please include your name and city where you live. The Editor has the right to edit. We’d like to hear your movie related stories, anecdotes and – of course – your opinions. Drop us a line to editor@urbancinefile.com.au
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Feb 2000_1 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Feb 2000_1
Letters to the Editor are welcome; we’d like to hear your movie related stories, anecdotes and – of course – your opinions (preferably no more than 350 words). Please include your name and city where you live. The Editor has the right to edit.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Feb/Mar 98 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Feb/Mar 98
Letters to the Editor are welcome; they can be on any relevant subject (relevant meaning relevant to this zine) and preferably no more than 350 words. The Editor has the right to edit. We’d like to hear your movie related stories, anecdotes and – of course – your opinions.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: FEBRUARY 2001 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: FEBRUARY 2001
Letters to the Editor are welcome; they can be on any relevant subject (relevant meaning relevant to this zine) and preferably no more than 350 words. Please include your name and city where you live. The Editor has the right to edit. We’d like to hear your movie related stories, anecdotes and – of course – your opinions. Drop us a line to editor@urbancinefile.com.au
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Jan 2000_1 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Jan 2000_1
Letters to the Editor are welcome; we’d like to hear your movie related stories, anecdotes and – of course – your opinions (preferably no more than 350 words). Please include your name and city where you live. The Editor has the right to edit.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Jan 2000_2 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Jan 2000_2
Letters to the Editor are welcome; we’d like to hear your movie related stories, anecdotes and – of course – your opinions (preferably no more than 350 words). Please include your name and city where you live. The Editor has the right to edit.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: JAN 99 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: JAN 99
Letters to the Editor are welcome; they can be on any relevant subject (relevant meaning relevant to this zine) and preferably no more than 350 words. Please include your name and city where you live. The Editor has the right to edit. We’d like to hear your movie related stories, anecdotes and – of course – your opinions.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Jan/Feb 1998 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Jan/Feb 1998
Letters to the Editor are welcome; they can be on any relevant subject (relevant meaning relevant to this zine) and preferably no more than 350 words. The Editor has the right to edit. We’d like to hear your movie related stories, anecdotes and – of course – your opinions.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: JANUARY 2001 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: JANUARY 2001
Letters to the Editor are welcome; they can be on any relevant subject (relevant meaning relevant to this zine) and preferably no more than 350 words. Please include your name and city where you live. The Editor has the right to edit. We’d like to hear your movie related stories, anecdotes and – of course – your opinions. Drop us a line to editor@urbancinefile.com.au
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: July 2000 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: July 2000
Letters to the Editor are welcome; they can be on any relevant subject (relevant meaning relevant to this zine) and preferably no more than 350 words. Please include your name and city where you live. The Editor has the right to edit. We’d like to hear your movie related stories, anecdotes and – of course – your opinions. Drop us a line to editor@urbancinefile.com.au
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Jun 99 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Jun 99
Letters to the Editor are welcome; we’d like to hear your movie related stories, anecdotes and – of course – your opinions (preferably no more than 350 words). Please include your name and city where you live. The Editor has the right to edit.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: JUNE 2000 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: JUNE 2000
Letters to the Editor are welcome; they can be on any relevant subject (relevant meaning relevant to this zine) and preferably no more than 350 words. Please include your name and city where you live. The Editor has the right to edit. We’d like to hear your movie related stories, anecdotes and – of course – your opinions. Drop us a line to editor@urbancinefile.com.au
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: MAR 99 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: MAR 99
Letters to the Editor are welcome; they can be on any relevant subject (relevant meaning relevant to this zine) and preferably no more than 350 words. Please include your name and city where you live. The Editor has the right to edit. We’d like to hear your movie related stories, anecdotes and – of course – your opinions.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: MARCH 2001 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: MARCH 2001
Letters to the Editor are welcome; they can be on any relevant subject (relevant meaning relevant to this zine) and preferably no more than 350 words. Please include your name and city where you live. The Editor has the right to edit. We’d like to hear your movie related stories, anecdotes and – of course – your opinions. Drop us a line to editor@urbancinefile.com.au
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: March 99 (2) LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: March 99 (2)
Letters to the Editor are welcome; we’d like to hear your movie related stories, anecdotes and – of course – your opinions (preferably no more than 350 words). Please include your name and city where you live. The Editor has the right to edit.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: MAY 2000 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: MAY 2000
Letters to the Editor are welcome; they can be on any relevant subject (relevant meaning relevant to this zine) and preferably no more than 350 words. Please include your name and city where you live. The Editor has the right to edit. We’d like to hear your movie related stories, anecdotes and – of course – your opinions. Drop us a line to editor@urbancinefile.com.au
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: MAY 2001 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: MAY 2001
Letters to the Editor are welcome; they can be on any relevant subject (relevant meaning relevant to this zine) and preferably no more than 350 words. Please include your name and city where you live. The Editor has the right to edit. We’d like to hear your movie related stories, anecdotes and – of course – your opinions. Drop us a line to editor@urbancinefile.com.au
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: May 99 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: May 99
Letters to the Editor are welcome; we’d like to hear your movie related stories, anecdotes and – of course – your opinions (preferably no more than 350 words). Please include your name and city where you live. The Editor has the right to edit.
  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: NOV 98 (2)
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: NOV 98 (3) LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: NOV 98 (3)
Letters to the Editor are welcome; they can be on any relevant subject (relevant meaning relevant to this zine) and preferably no more than 350 words. Please include your name and city where you live. The Editor has the right to edit. We’d like to hear your movie related stories, anecdotes and – of course – your opinions.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: November 2000 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: November 2000
Letters to the Editor are welcome; they can be on any relevant subject (relevant meaning relevant to this zine) and preferably no more than 350 words. Please include your name and city where you live. The Editor has the right to edit. We’d like to hear your movie related stories, anecdotes and – of course – your opinions. Drop us a line to editor@urbancinefile.com.au
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Oct 99 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Oct 99
Letters to the Editor are welcome; we’d like to hear your movie related stories, anecdotes and – of course – your opinions (preferably no more than 350 words). Please include your name and city where you live. The Editor has the right to edit.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: October 2000 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: October 2000
Letters to the Editor are welcome; they can be on any relevant subject (relevant meaning relevant to this zine) and preferably no more than 350 words. Please include your name and city where you live. The Editor has the right to edit. We’d like to hear your movie related stories, anecdotes and – of course – your opinions. Drop us a line to editor@urbancinefile.com.au
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Sept 99 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Sept 99
Letters to the Editor are welcome; we’d like to hear your movie related stories, anecdotes and – of course – your opinions (preferably no more than 350 words). Please include your name and city where you live. The Editor has the right to edit.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: September 2000 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: September 2000
Letters to the Editor are welcome; they can be on any relevant subject (relevant meaning relevant to this zine) and preferably no more than 350 words. Please include your name and city where you live. The Editor has the right to edit. We’d like to hear your movie related stories, anecdotes and – of course – your opinions. Drop us a line to editor@urbancinefile.com.au
  LIBERTY IN RESTRAINT – FETISH UNFETTERED
Michael Ney’s debut doco, Liberty In Restraint, takes a tour around the controversial and forbidden world of sexual fetish in Sydney, through eyes of fine art fetish photographer Noel Graydon. Graydon also satirises the child abuse scandal that involved the Catholic Church and Cardinal Pell recently, on the eve of voting in which Dr Pell is said to be a Papal contender. The film is due to screen later this month at Brisbane’s Queer Film Festival. Andrew L. Urban reports.
LIES AND DAMNED CENSORSHIP LIES AND DAMNED CENSORSHIP
We’re being lied to,” fumed the famous David Stratton, as he attacked the classification (“now the censorship”) office and its review board, as well as Attorney General Darryl Williams, while the ABC’s David Marr called on the Labor Party’s supporters to “stop accepting private statements of good intentions [from Labor politicians] followed by public acts of bastardry…” during tonight’s impassioned and crowded protest against censorship at Sydney’s Balmain Town Hall. Feature by Andrew L. Urban.
LIKE MIKE: HOOP OF DREAMS LIKE MIKE: HOOP OF DREAMS
Like Mike is a contemporary fairytale about a kid (played by teenage rapper Lil Bow Wow) who realises his dream of becoming a basketball star. But, says Max Levant, you don’t have to be a basketball fan to ‘get’ what the movie’s about.
  LIVE AND BECOME – THE DIRECTOR IN A MIRROR
Writer & director Radu Mihaileanu, whose latest film, Live and Become won three major awards on its world premiere at Berlin, outlines how he came to make the film after finding a story that mirrored his own life, and how it espouses some important points about humanity in the 21st century.
LIVING OUT LOUD LIVING OUT LOUD
We take a look behind the scenes of Living Out Loud, starring Holly Hunter and Danny DeVito.
LOLITA LOLITA
The Office of Film & Literature Classification is this week pondering what to do with Lolita: but in the meantime, the film is also being questioned over its perceived political incorrectness from a feminist point of view, to ANDREW L. URBAN’S dismay.
LOLITA - CONCEIVED 1939, MISREPRESENTED 1999 LOLITA – CONCEIVED 1939, MISREPRESENTED 1999
What a lot of (well intentioned but ill-considered) baloney surrounds this film and this story, which Vladimir Nabokov began writing 60 years ago in Russia. ANDREW L. URBAN responds to calls for the banning of the film and does a reality check on some of the charges against the film.
LONDON FILM FESTIVAL 2001 LONDON FILM FESTIVAL 2001
From Monster-makers to Bank (Robert’s), from The Bedroom to Sinatra, from masterclasses to a Dark Blue World, London this month might make Everybody Happy. Helen Barlow previews this year’s London Film Festival. (Pic, The Birthday Girl)
  LONG LOST SON – MEMOIRS OF A DIRECTOR
Expat Australian Director Brian Trenchard-Smith recalls the making of Long Lost Son on a Caribbean island with a German dictator … er, producer, as his foray into Douglas Sirk emotional melodrama territory, and including his Oedipal decision … plus his special relationship with a stray dog
LOOKING FOR ALIBRANDI LOOKING FOR ALIBRANDI
Andrew L. Urban talks to the filmmakers during the shooting of Looking for Alibrandi, in the very house where Josie Alibrandi's 'Nonna' used to live.
LORD OF THE RINGS - THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING LORD OF THE RINGS - THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING
ConsideRed by millions tO be the gReatest fantasy-adventuRe stoRy ever told, J.R.R. Tolkien's phenomenaL epic tRilogy The LoRd of The Rings chRonicles the stRuggle between good and evil foR possession of a magicaL Ring that can shift the baLance of pOweR in the woRLd. A woRk of sheeR invention on a staggeRing scaLe, The LoRd of The Rings cakes us back to MiddLe-eaRth and an eRa that pRedates wRitten histoRy, wheRe humans shaRe the woRLd with immoRtaL eLves, poweRfuL wizaRds, industRious dwaRves and…
  LORD OF THE RINGS, THE - INDEX
Urban Cinefile’s compleat coverage of the world's biggest movie undertaking is indexed here for your convenience. We present our entire text and audio visual coverage in a menu of links, updated and refreshed throughout the time-frame of the entire trilogy, from the theatrical to the DVD releases.
LORD OF THE RINGS: INSIDE THE TWO TOWERS LORD OF THE RINGS: INSIDE THE TWO TOWERS
The Sydney premiere of The Two Towers brought together some of the stars and filmmakers from The Lord Of The Rings trilogy. But, as Andrew L. Urban, says, something seemed to be missing. He spoke to David Wenham, Miranda Otto and producer Barrie Osborne about it. (Pic courtesy David Morgan)
  LORD OF THE RINGS: RETURN OF THE KING – POSTCARD FROM THE RED CARPET
Impressions from the biggest red carpet in the world: Urban Cinefile’s hobbit-like reporter with big ears and bulging eyes (and perhaps large feet but we didn’t look) attended the world premiere of The Return Of The King in Wellington and captured these verbal snapshots for a virtual postcard.
  LORD OF THE RINGS: RETURN OF THE KING–POETS RULE
Viggo Mortensen rises to the occasion as Aragorn, the King who takes up his destiny to lead mankind out of damnation and into a new future as The Lord of the Rings trilogy comes to an end. Mortensen himself is a poet and a musician, which feed into his personality and in turn into Aragorn, making this the single most important link to our sensibilities in the contemporary world, argues Andrew L. Urban.
LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS, THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS, THE
In the movie world of 2002, Christmas means one thing: the release of Part Two of Peter Jackson’s epic Lord of the Rings trilogy. But, says Nick Roddick, the appeal of The Two Towers has to do with a lot more than just the extraordinary scale of the undertaking.
LOST IN SPACE LOST IN SPACE
The original TV series was a vintage piece of sixties camp. But, reports ALAN JONES, the megabudget big-screen version of Lost in Space has a lot more action, effects and excitement - plus, of course, a fair share of humour.
LOST WORLD: AUDIENCE AND STORY BEFORE FX LOST WORLD: AUDIENCE AND STORY BEFORE FX

Spielberg was brave to embark on a sequel to one of the all-time great adventure films ever made, Jurassic Park. He started by putting the audience first, with a strong focus on the story itself, not the clever effects, as he explains in these notes to the production, edited by Andrew L. Urban.
LOTR GOBLETS - PEWTER ELVES AND WIZARDS LOTR GOBLETS - PEWTER ELVES AND WIZARDS
Tolkien’s characters from Middle-earth have found their way onto goblets, shot glasses and chessmen, in a piece of pricey, Australian-designed merchandising that came before – not after - the movie, reports Andrew L. Urban.
  LOVING & HATING HOLLYWOOD - BY JANE MILLS
“An introduction to Hollywood cinema which explains how it influences and in turn is influenced by alternative cinema traditions,” says the blurb, and even that sounds good. Jane Mills has delivered an accessible and fascinating book that is at once academically astringent, entertaining to read and cinematically literate, writes Andrew L. Urban.
LUCAS, GEORGE - THE FORCE BEHIND THE FORCE LUCAS, GEORGE – THE FORCE BEHIND THE FORCE
George Lucas came to town last week, giving us an insight into the creation of the Star Wars series, one of the most popular and penetrative moments in cinema; ANDREW L. URBAN reports.
  LUCKY MILES - IN HIS OWN WOR(L)DS
Writer/director Michael James Rowland’s debut feature, Lucky Miles, is a comedy but it addresses serious themes that involve the first and third worlds, as Rowland explains in his own words here.





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