A film critic recently compared blockbusters to arthouse films, noting that the former is more geared towards linear storytelling and mainstream entertainment. However, that doesn’t mean blockbusters aren’t art. In fact, they are.
Kirsty Stark, the director of Adelaide’s Mercury Cinema, unveiled a new subscription model for her independent film hub in June. The insanely affordable offer gives subscribers 24/7 access to the theatre’s state-of-the-art facilities.
Blockbusters
The cast of Blockbuster is a strong one, with “Fresh Off the Boat” star Randall Park leading the pack as the overzealous manager of the titular store. The series also stars Melissa Fumero (Brooklyn Nine-Nine), Tyler Alvarez (“American Vandal”), Olga Merediz and JB Smoove (Curb Your Enthusiasm).
The first season of Blockbusters does a decent job of establishing its characters and building the comedy’s foundations. However, despite its best efforts, the show never finds a comedic identity of its own. The series leans so heavily on gags about Blockbuster being an anachronism in the digital age that it ends up feeling generic and interchangeable with any other workplace comedy.
The 186-seat venue is the heart of Adelaide’s film community, promoting and supporting local and international films. The theatre is run by a not-for-profit organisation and is dedicated to cultivating’screen culture’ in the city. This independent cinema offers a range of ticket options, including the popular subscription model, which provides movie lovers with access to state-of-the-art facilities for less than the cost of two regular cinema tickets.
Documentaries
Adelaide’s film-lovers are spoiled for choice when it comes to documentary cinema. From a rousing look at the life of one of Australia’s most iconic bands to a gripping film about climate change, there is something for everyone at the Mercury Cinema’s documentary series.
The Mercury’s Silverscreen daytime screenings bring old and new film lovers together for conversation, connection and complimentary morning and afternoon tea every week. Presented by the Mercury and Office for Ageing Well, this unique cinema experience is the ideal way to spend an afternoon with friends or meet like-minded people.
In a cage on a trailer in the middle of the desert, BlackWoman (Mwajemi Hussein) is left to die, but this isn’t the end. She escapes, and then, in a city as unforgiving as the wilderness, she searches for an unknown beginning. This is a poetic and scorching work of survival and identity from AFF favourite Rolf de Heer. This movie is a gripping drama that explores the tension between human nature and the unforgiving world in which we live.
Lebanese Film Festival
The Lebanese Film Festival (LFLF) is an international cultural event that promotes Lebanese cinema and the Lebanese international society. Its first edition took place from 7 to 11 October 2020 at the Lincoln and 7 Parnassiens cinemas in Paris and its second one will take place from 30 September to 3 October 2021. LFLF invites filmmakers, distributors, actors, and anyone interested in the world of film to participate in its mission.
Set on the eve of a civil war, Borhane Alaouie’s melancholic docu-fiction study of longing and life amid conflict centers on two former university friends. When the Christian woman and a Shiite man reconnect at school, they must contend with the everyday system of checkpoints and tension that define their experience of Beirut.
Located in the heart of Adelaide’s West End, the Mercury Cinema is home to a diverse range of independent releases and classics. The theatre is also home to Silverscreen, a daytime screening program for older adults. Presented by the Office for Ageing Well, the program offers conversation and connection each week. Guests are invited to enjoy complimentary morning and afternoon tea before the screening.
Transitions
The Adelaide Film Festival celebrates film culture with an exciting program that includes world and Australian premieres, inspiring talks, COVID-safe galas and events, and engaging workshops. It is a bold program that explores emerging trends in film and screen culture, making it one of the most innovative festivals in the country.
It features a variety of cinematic delights, including the critically-acclaimed psychological horror Us, starring Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke and Elisabeth Moss. Another must-see is the Aussie production Assassination Nation, which stars Cate Blanchett as a high school student whose life takes a terrifying turn.
The GU Film House is an independent cinema with a beautiful art deco design in the heart of Adelaide’s West End. It offers an engaging experience that is fully licensed, so you can enjoy a glass of wine or beer while watching your favourite movie. They also offer a range of screenings for people with access needs, including captioned and subtitled cinema, Auslan interpreted discussions and talks and a series of audio described films. GU Film House also has a range of specialist youth programs, workshops and industry networking opportunities.
OzAsia
For over 13 years the Mercury Cinema’s Silverscreen has welcomed old and new film lovers for conversation and connection each week at their daytime screenings. Featuring a range of Cannes Film Festival winners as well as global hits, the program aims to entertain and educate while providing plenty of inspiration.
The OzAsia International Arts Festival is Australia’s premier arts festival engaging with Asia and showcases contemporary theatre, dance, music, visual art, literature, food and cultural events from across Asia. It features a wide array of Asian and Australian premiers and has grown stronger cultural ties between Australia and the Asia region through its focus on particular countries each year, including Korea (2010), Japan (2011), India (2012) and Malaysia (2013).
Since 2015 Joseph Mitchell has been the festival’s Artistic Director. He shifted the program rationale from a country of focus to widening the scope and has commissioned major works such as the Hong Kong Dragon lantern trail for the Moon Lantern Parade, a major outdoor hub called the Lucky Dumpling Market since 2017, JLF Adelaide (an offshoot of Jaipur Literature Festival) and In Other Words, a free writing and ideas event.