toperr1
I don't have much exposure to Aussie film as they rarely make it mainstream USA theater. I think the last one I saw was "Mureil's Wedding", which was incredibly funny, touched with enough raw emotion to make you identify with the cast, and leaving with a good warm feeling. That was my take on this one. I have a twisted love for the disturbing films ("Requiem for a Dream", " Black Swan"....)...you get the drift. But there is something about Aussie film that I find very appealing. Maybe it's their Disneyesque, all is well feeling with just enough realism to be believable. The acting is superb in "My Year Without Sex" , especially the the children, Louis and Ruby....where are they now?? Thank God for the Sundance Channel!!!!
sharkies69
Not many laughs from the audience at tonight's screening in Sydney. I started losing interest in this film around the time it got to 'May'.This is a mildly amusing comic drama about an average Aussie family and their year from hell. I found the film neither funny nor particularly moving. You'd think it would be considering it is about a woman battling back from an aneurysm and having huge doubts about her faith, relationship etc.The script just isn't polished enough and secondary characters (the blokey brother in law and his trophy wife etc) were like cardboard cutouts.The photography is unimaginative and the film seems dated, like it was made for television ten years ago.Disappointing. Like many Aussie films, this one needed a few more drafts done before it was given the green light.
Ed Yates
The film explores how people go about making sense of their lives. Despite the reality of life portrayed in the film, Sarah Watt has managed to put together a story that is incredibly funny as well as having a strong emotional resonance.The "truth" of the film comes from the way by which audiences will be able to relate their own lives with the everyday Australian characters, partly because of the brilliant performances of the cast, perhaps more so because of the writing, direction and editing. There was nothing throughout the entire film that broke me out of the narrative. A special mention must go to Sacha Horler, who I have not seen in anything since Praise - she is just amazing - although the whole cast work exceptionally well.I loved Sarah Watt's previous film Look Both Ways, which like My Year Without Sex also made me laugh and cry, so I had some expectations going into this film. Expectations can be dangerous, as if the experience of watching the film does not live up to them then they can be crushed. But the blend of ideas, acting, direction to create consummate storytelling meant that I was thoroughly entertained.
The Jash
I really enjoyed this movie, although I felt it suffered a little from a common blight of Australian Cinema whereby directors and writers seemingly want to make a movie all things to all people. It was initially touted to me as a comedy but I think it would be better put into the lighthearted drama category. When some catastrophic events occurred within the first 10 minutes I wondered what I'd let myself in for. Many parts of it struck a chord with me, particularly the couple fighting to keep intimacy under the monotony and strain of everyday life. Matt Day gives a stunning performance as the husband with a lot of his plate fighting temptation. I found the little pseudo cliché touches to be masterful, the lottery ticket, the guy at the movies - magic. Well worth a look, but take your tissues ;)