“If you’re going to handle such a difficult problem with sensitivity, you’d need to give it to two master actors. Welcome Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Coleman. Watching Coleman and Hopkins play off each other is a joy”
“Florian Zeller has done a wonderful job. You get a sense of each character without the exposition and verbiage.
– Con Nats
5/5 Missing Watches
It’s an age old problem but one that is more prevalent important now that Baby Boomers are seeing their parents suffer it. Dementia. And anyone who has seen a parent suffer it, will know how deeply it’s felt by those who care for them.
It follows the decline of Anthony, (Anthony Hopkins) who can be two parts grumpy and one part charming. He is being looked after by dutiful daughter Anne (Olivia Coleman), who is torn between her love for the old man and love for a man of her own.
Anthony likes to upset his carers, (Imogen Poots is the new one) and partners of his daughter.
This takes the point of view of Anthony which opens up a world of clever and disorientating shifts. Suddenly, you’re not sure what’s real, imagined or remembered, what’s in the past or present. You certainly grasp an understanding of the tribulations of dementia. It’s an excellent concept, even if it’s not an original one.
If you’re going to handle such a difficult problem with sensitivity, you’d need to give it to two master actors. Welcome Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Coleman. Watching Coleman and Hopkins play off each other is a joy. They receive enough close ups to convey their emotions without as many words. It’s touching acting.
With actors this good, the writer may as well direct it themselves. (Believe me, it puts a stop to the pointless script changes.) And Florian Zeller has done a wonderful job. You get a sense of each character without the exposition and verbiage. It’s what great actors can bring out. The editing is tight, the sets are nicely lit and the camera work is simple. All he had to do was sit back and watch Hopkins and Coleman play.
This is an adaptation of the award winning play, and is already nominated for a slew of Academy Awards. They’re all deserved. It’s short, to the point and doesn’t delve too deeply into the character’s past, but it doesn’t have to. This is about the labyrinth of the decaying mind, which provides two top class actors the grounds to play with.
If you still haven’t ventured into the cinema, now is the time to. This film is more than worth it.
Con Nats, On The Town
The Father
Released Nationally April 1st
PARTICIPATING CINEMAS — CLICK TO BOOK
NSW
Cremorne Orpheum
Ritz Cinemas, Randwick
Regent Cinemas Albury Wodonga
Roseville Twin
Dendy Newtown
Empire Cinemas, Bowral
Palace Norton Street
Palace Verona
Palace Central
Palace Byron Bay
Glenbrook Cinema
Event George Street
Event Macquarie
Event Castle Hill
Event Bondi
Event Miranda
Event Tuggerah
Event Glendale
Event Kotara
Mount Vic Flicks
Reading Dubbo
United Opera Quays
United Warriewood
United The Edge
Forum Tamworth
Forum Wagga Wagga
Odeon Orange
Gala Cinemas, Warrawong
Hoyts Cronulla
Hoyts Broadway
Avoca Beach Picture Theatre
Majestic Port Macquarie
Majestic Singleton
Majestic Kempsey
Majestic Sawtell
Majestic Nambucca
The Picture Show Man, Merimbula
Blue Room Cinebar
Griffith City Cinemas
The Regent Cinema, Murwillumbah
Star Court Theatre, Lismore
Arcadia Twin, Ulladulla
Cooma Twin Cinemas
Plaza Theatre, Laurieton
Metro Cinemas Lake Haven
Metro Cinemas Bathurst
Saraton Theatre, Grafton
Nelson Bay Cinemas
Cooma Twin Cinema
Griffith City Cinemas
Narooma Kinema
Belgrave Cinema, Armidale
Inlet Cinema
Huskisson Pictures
Our Golden Age
Jindabyne Cinema
Kyogle Cinema
Riverside Theatre, Parramatta
Broken Hill Cinema
Great Lakes Cinema 3
SA
Palace Nova Eastend
Palace Nova Prospect
Wallis Mitcham
Wallis Mount Barker
Wallis Noarlunga
Wallis Piccadilly
Event Marion
Greater Union Glenelg
Reading West Lakes
Victa Cinemas, Victor Harbour
The Regal Theatre
Gawler Cinema
Lobethal Cinema
Capri Theatre
Roxbylink Cinema, Roxby Downs
Cameo Cinema, Murray Bridge
Lincoln Cinema, Port Lincoln
Middleback Theatre, Whyalla
TAS
State Cinema, Hobart
Metro Cinemas Burnie
Village Launceston
Star Theatre, Launceston
NT
BCC Darwin Casuarina
Alice Springs Cinema
VIC
Cinema Nova
Lido Cinemas
Classic Cinemas
Cameo Cinemas
Palace Brighton Bay
Palace Dendy Brighton
Palace Balwyn
Palace Como
Palace Pentridge
Palace Westgarth
Palace Kino
Sun Theatre, Yarraville
Village Rivoli
Village Southland
Village Jam Factory
Village Knox
Village Geelong
Village Airport West
Village Bendigo
Village Karingal
Village Morwell
Village Shepparton
Reading Sunbury
Reading Warun Ponds
Regent Cinemas, Ballarat
Hoyts Chadstone
Hoyts Eastend
Peninsula Cinemas Rosebud
Peninsula Cinemas Sorrento
Peninsula Cinemas Warragul
Pivotonian Cinema, Geelong
Croydon Cinemas
Wallis Mildura
Echuca Paramount
Wangaratta Cinema Centre
Sun Cinema, Bairnsdale
Thornbury Picture House
Mansfield Armchair Cinema
Theatre Royale, Castlemaine
The Memo, Healsville
Arts Centre, Warburton
Star Cinema, Eaglehawk
Stadium 4 Cinema, Leongatha
ACT
Dendy Canberra
Palace Electric
Limelight Tuggeranong
QLD
Regal Twin, Graceville
New Farm Cinemas
The Elizabeth Picture House
Red Hill Cinemas
Dendy Portside
Dendy Coorparoo
Palace Barracks
Palace James Street
Event Chermside
Event Indooroopilly
Event Pacific Fair
Event Townsville Central
BCC Maroochydore
BCC Cairns Earlville
BCC Toowoomba Strand
BCC Coolangatta
BCC Noosa
HOTA, Home of the Arts
Reading Harbour Town
Reading Newmarket
Limelight Ipswich
Cineplex Balmoral
Cineplex Victoria Point
Warrina Cinema, Townsville
Majestic Wynnum
Bribie Cinema
Majestic Nambour
MyBigScreen, Hervey Bay
WA
Luna Leederville
Luna on SX
Luna Windsor
Palace Raine Square
Event Innaloo
Reading Mandurah
Hoyts Carousel
Grand Cinema Warwick
Grand Cinemas Armadale
Grand Cinemas Bunury
Grand Cinemas Currambine
Grand Cinemas Joondalup
Grand Cinemas Cygnet
Kookaburra Cinema
